This is the 2nd chapter of the story of Dave and Tina. It will stand on its own, but please check out chapter one: The Magic Mug.
"Would you like to go on a free adults-only cruise?" Tina asks Dave out of nowhere while they're sitting on the couch.
"Um, sure?" He responds, confused.
"Remember that former teacher at my school who became a travel agent? She just emailed me with an offer. She's working with a new company and needs to fill spots for a new cruise. She's offering us 2 spots, all expenses paid."
"Adults only? Is it going to be us and a bunch of 20-somethings. Do you really want to be on a boat full of bros?"
"Yeah, but...free cruise. Let me read the details." Tina spends a couple minutes scrolling through her email and reading about the offer.
"It looks like it's a 35-45 age range," she reads.
"That's oddly specific. Seems like it would be hard to fill the ship with such a narrow range."
"It's a smaller ship than we're used to, so I guess.....oh wait." Tina pauses for a few seconds. 'Oh I see," she says as she laughs a bit.
"What's so funny?"
"It's Magical Adventures Unlimited Cruiseline."
"The magic mug people?"
"Yeah," she confirms. "So they probably don't have to worry about actually selling tickets, 'cause they're not actually a business."
"Well, great! I'm up for a free cruise. When is it?"
"It's the week the is away at summer camp."
"Of course it is," Dave jokes. "I bet she has camp one day on either side of the cruise, right?
"Well, shit. Let's go on a cruise."
A couple months go by, and they prepare for the trip.
"So where is this cruise going exactly?" Dave asks, assuming Tina told him and he forgot.
"It leaves from Long Beach, and heads to a private island, then back. Short trip."
"Do we need to pick any shore excursions?"
"Nope. It's all included. We're only on the island for 24 hours, and it's all planned out."
"Well if it's anything like the limo ride, I'm sure we'll have a great time."
They pack up everything they need for the cruise and the kid needs for camp. Their trip takes them from Phoenix to Flagstaff, then to Long Beach. It's a long drive, but they've gotten used to car rides. The ship leaves early the next day, so we stay at a hotel the night before. Twelve hours in the car is draining, so they go straight to sleep. The next day they get up early and head for the boat.
"I don't remember much of this," Tina says as they near the dock, thinking back to a previous cruise.
"It's a smaller ship. Maybe they use a different dock?" Dave offers.
The directions take them to a secured parking lot. They pull up to a call box in front of a large swinging gate. Dave pushes the only button on the keypad.
"Welcome to Magical Adventures Unlimited Cruiseline. What is the last name of your party?"
"Armstrong, Dave and Tina," I respond to the voice on the speaker.
"Welcome, Armstrongs" the voice continues. "Please park wherever you like. Transportation to the dock is on its way, and will meet you at your car."
The find a shaded parking spot and get their luggage out of the back. After a few minutes, a familiar black limousine pulls into the lot. It stops about ten feet from them, and out steps their favorite chauffeur.
"My dear Tina and Dave," Gerald says, "It is great to see you again. I would expect your upcoming cruise to greatly exceed our previous tour of Winterhaven."
They both chuckle as Gerald tells them how to get on the ship.
"So are you based in Phoenix, or here in Los Angeles?" Dave asks.
"I serve where I am needed, sir." He loads their bags into the trunk, and opens the door for them. They fall again into the low car, but are soon on their way.
Gerald's voice sounds over the limo's intercom, "I'm so glad you've decided to join us again. Your time in my car will be very short compared to last time, but your experience on the ship will be one to remember for a lifetime. Just sit tight, and we'll be at the dock in a few minutes."
They drive out of the parking lot, through the gate, and around many tight turns. Dave can't tell what direction they're going anymore, and given their experience in Winterhaven it's likely that directions to the dock can't be shown on an actual map.
The car stops, and Gerald opens our door. Dave and Tina step out and grab their bags from the trunk.
"I'll make sure your bags are safely delivered to your room. I hope you have a magical experience," he says. Gerald returns to the driver's seat and heads to the other side of the ship. The Armstrongs walk up the ramp with a few other couples boarding the ship. They are all guided to a small concert hall where they find about 50 other couples waiting for something to start. After ten minutes or so, a woman comes out from backstage and begins her presentation.
"Welcome, beautiful passengers, to Magical Adventures Cruiseline's brand new ship, 'The Wanderlust.'" The voice if familiar. It's Faye, the representative they spoke to from MAU on the phone. The assembled passengers applaud and cheer. "You have all been invited to participate on the maiden voyage of the Wanderlust because of your past experience with Magical Adventures Unlimted. Some of you have received the Mug of Mitigation. Others the Gift Card of Goodwill, or any of our other wonderful sexy artifacts. This cruise is our gift to you for being part of our unbroken chain. You may not know that Magical Adventures Unlimited has existed in some form for over a thousand years. Technology changes, methods update, but you are all part of a long and passionate history.
She continues, "By now our on-board wi-fi should have downloaded our entertainment app to your phones. We'll use this app to coordinate your adventure while on-board. You can't delete it, so don't try. Every so often, you'll get a notification. Sometimes everyone on the ship will get the same one, but more often it will be customized for you and your partner. At...carefully selected times, you will receive special directions. They are open to interpretation, and we leave that up to you. Just beware that failure to caryout the directions will end the Adventure. If you need help finding inspiration for a task, text "PROMPT" for an idea. But now it's time for the ship to get underway. The best view of the harbor is from the private balcony outside each of your staterooms. So if you would, please, gather your belongings and head to your rooms. I hope you're all ready for a fantastic voyage. Welcome aboard!"
Everyone leaves the theater and makes their way to their various rooms. Dave and Tina are surrounded by dozens of couples of all types taking their best guesses on what the cruise will be like.
A younger couple ahead of them asks aloud, "so...is this just a non-stop orgy or something?" His wife doesn't respond, just smacks him on the back of the head.
A gay couple behind them responds to the question as if it was asked to them. "If so, I hope there's separate rooms. I don't know about all you hetero-weirdos," he says joking.
They make it to their room to find their luggage in the corner and a chilled bottle of wine on the table. "Well, she said we should watch from the balcony," Tina says. She slides the door open as Dave picks up the wine and glasses. Outside is a simple loveseat overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Tina sits down, and her husband pours them each a drink. After just a few minutes they hear the ship horn sound, and they start their voyage. A few hundred yards away from the dock, Tina's phone beeps.
"What's that sound?" Dave asks, confused at a sound he'd never heard before. Her phone repeats the short melodic sequence.
"I don't know," she says as she picks up her phone and unlocks the screen. "Oh," she says.
"What is it?"