hormonal imbalance

[warpfairy]

They study Klingon. They work out a sleep schedule. They approach Betazed.

They are two days away from the system when Isabella notices something - troubling.

She takes longer than usual to compose herself that morning, and emerges from the living quarters with carefully measured steps, and avoids eye contact.

"Do you," she asks Lalita quietly, "have the ability to fly this class of ship?"

Comments

[warpfairy]

"...I wasn't counting. But. It was. I simply - I am not sure that - I am aware of cultures that consider it isolable from other facets of life but outside of recent context I do not appear to fit into such a culture."

[dream_me_up]

"Does this mean you don't want an alien concubine?" he asks, blinking innocently.

[warpfairy]

"You are not an alien relative to me," Isabella points out.

[dream_me_up]

"Well, all right. I want to follow you around the galaxy and help you steal fire from the gods and talk to you and snuggle with you and have sex with you, because I like you and you're fun and I'm going to miss you when you die. What parts of that plan don't you like?"

[warpfairy]

"The plan does not contain objectionable parts. It - does not have a recognizable shape if I presume those parts are the only ones operative."

[dream_me_up]

"Does it need a recognizable shape? What's missing?"

[warpfairy]

"It would be easier to think about if it corresponded to something I have a label for. I can't tell if you want to be my - physically affectionate friend - or my sa-kugalsu or something in between."

[dream_me_up]

"Well... yes," he says. "Yes, I want to be one of those things."

[warpfairy]

"Which of those things?"

[dream_me_up]

"One of them. Something in that range. I'd be more specific if I wanted something more specific but I don't."

[warpfairy]

"I do not understand."

[dream_me_up]

"Then maybe neither do I. What do you want?"

[warpfairy]

"I want to know what you are - insinuating, suggesting, asking."

[dream_me_up]

"I keep trying to tell you!" he laughs. "I don't know how else to say it!"

[warpfairy]

"I will react differently to suggestions of affectionate friendship, offers of - boyfriendhood - and proposals of marriage!"

[dream_me_up]

"But I'm trying to tell you I wouldn't. I mean, I'd feel a little differently about them, but all three are fine."

[warpfairy]

She peers at him, dumbfounded.

[dream_me_up]

He blinks back at her.

[warpfairy]

"I am not sure what to make of that. I suppose I could just imagine that you'd been more specific and produce reactions to the individual ideas."

[dream_me_up]

"That sounds like a fine plan to me."

[warpfairy]

"While it would not have been culturally uncharacteristic for me to have been betrothed at age seven, I do not wish to become so now to a man I met less than two weeks ago. I believe I would find physically affectionate friendship emotionally confusing. I would be willing to be your girlfriend."

[dream_me_up]

"Well, that's simple enough, then," he says with a laugh.

[warpfairy]

"I suppose it is at that."

[dream_me_up]

Lalita grins.

[warpfairy]

"And - yes, you can come with me if you want to. How long do you think it will take to rescue your ship and find a new home for her?"