[Pink Basic] The Cruise

My ex-girlfriend invited me on a cruise, but not because she wants to get back with me. She invited me because one of her friends pulled out past the cutoff date and so as not to waste money. The money in question had been provided by her uncle, who is the youngest of her uncles.

I jumped at the opportunity, but have no interest in getting back with my ex. She had broken it off on her terms, so if she were going to rekindle the relationship, it would also be on her terms. I’m not getting my hopes up down that avenue. That’s because I’ve found a light down another road and that light is colored in bright pink. Up until recently, I have found interest in X-Change and in my luggage, I have brought a small bottle with me. I also have the identification of my female persona, but I must arrange a small appointment with the cruise ship's administrators about my status as an X-Change passenger. I have planned to board as my male self but will be free to take the pills once on board, with their knowledge and permission, of course.

My ex’s uncle, his name being Nathan, is the one to pick me up from the airport and take us to the port. Upon check-in, I announced that I had an appointment with the administration. Not caring, Nathan boards without me. I'm escorted past a door, and I am sat down in a chair opposite someone with an L-shaped desk. I am aware that they had taken my luggage to another room, but they did not say they were scanning or inspecting it. Having been on a cruise before, I'm sure they are taking it straight to the cabins, so that passengers are hauling them throughout the ship. Before I can wonder about the fate of my suitcases, my name is called. "Charles, your information checks out. I'll have my colleague her finalize the authorization and put it on paper. Your information, male and female identities, will be transferred to your room key and so will be pulled up whenever it's scanned. This is usually when you are purchasing items onboard the ship," the female administrator says and gestures to the male behind the desk to input the information. Papers are printed, stapled and handed back to me. I'm also issued a keycard for my room. The woman gestures me to the door, where I'm met with my escort. The same person who escorted me to this back-office space leads me back out and fast-tracks me past security and onto the ship.

Once on board the ship, I find no sign of the rest of my group. I assume they are most likely already out by a pool or eating food at the buffet. I have no interest in joining them, much less my ex, Stephanie. I instead make a trip to the decks containing all of the cabins. Being just hours after the first passengers stepped on board, there are a bunch of housekeepers out and about, making sure the cabins are fresh and ready for the passengers, who usually make their way to the cabins in the late afternoon and evening. I want to head straight to my cabin so I can discreetly pop a Basic and start my trip as my female self, Charlene. When I get to my assigned cabin, there is a tall and dark-skinned housekeeper with what I believe is a Jamaican accent, holding up his hand to stop me in my tracks. I present the papers I was given by the administrators and he takes a moment to familiarize himself with the information printed on it.