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

[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?"

[dream_me_up]

"Not that long. A week, a few months - something in that range."

[warpfairy]

"Do you want to meet me somewhere later or would it make more sense for me to come along?"

[dream_me_up]

"Well, if you didn't come along you'd have to find me again," he says. "And I don't know how long it's going to take, or where I'll be when I'm done."

[warpfairy]

"There is that. It will delay PN-115 - but then, there is already a civilization in the pipeline, and they may be a little more densely clustered than is ideal."

[dream_me_up]

"Just a little," he agrees.