With this blog entry, we depart the usual format of narrating from the JE staff viewpoint – especially given the recent confrontation when Rival forces seized the old Outpost and converted it to their own purposes. Instead, we provide descriptions and images of the newly opened Rival Resort provided by colonists who visited there on the way to other destinations.
Because it sits on a heavily used transportation route between major asteroid mining locations, Rival Resort continued the longstanding practice offering room and board to travelers, as had JE and other previous owners. Those earlier hotel offerings were quite modest, usually subordinated to other more important services related to the strategic location. However, Rival chose to focus on hospitality, while minimizing or even eliminating those other services, which he saw as undermining his larger goals and purposes (more on that in later entries).
Rival realized that he could generate substantial profits by not only upgrading the hotel rooms and eateries, but also by adding new facilities geared toward recreation and entertainment. Denizens of the asteroid belt, especially the miners, endured difficult working conditions as well as isolation, so understandably they sought relief from that daily grind. Moreover, this particular demographic generally preferred somewhat boisterous pasttimes – Rival fully grasped this situation, and determined to extract maximum profit from it, despite the potential dangers when these desires sometimes pushed to extremes.
The Dance Club introduced new excitement to this once stodgy facility. Gone were the quiet chats and subdued lighting favored in JE lounges – replaced by flashing neon, booming music, and lively dancing. To be honest, even JE folks (whom the miners ridiculed as snobby elites) might have enjoyed this more vigorous and exciting milieu, if only they were more willing to loosen up a bit. As with nearly all Rival offerings, the décor tended toward dark smoky atmospheres but punctuated by bright flashing signage. The Dance Club proved an immediate success, humming around the clock, and soon drew new visitors to Rival Resort beyond those just passing through to other destinations.
After dancing, guests could relax in the tropical-themed “Solarium” where they could soak up artificial solar rays while enjoying (synthetic) tropical drinks and snacks. The miners, mostly hot-blooded young men, preferred the company of shapely, scantily clad women – which the facility could provide if they did not bring along their own (although they might be gynoids). But the solarium also catered to lady guests, and could provide scantily-clad gentlemen if desired (who likewise might be androids). Moreover. LGBT guests could also find companions to fit their preferences as well. Rival took pride in offering services to all quests without discrimination, as long as there was profit to be gained.
Although not shown here, we should mention that Rival set up an elaborate red light district, offering not only traditional brothels but also BDSM playrooms and other erotic activities. Both human and artificial sex workers plied their trades there. Guests with sufficient funds could indulge whatever fantasy they desired, although Rival banned activities which physically harmed sex workers, so as to preserve his substantial investment in them. (Due to the controversial and exploitative nature of sex work traditionally, not to mention the introduction of artificial sex workers, we'll not pursue this matter further here – but future blog entries may revisit the topic in more depth.)
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