warpfairy | hormonal imbalance

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?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

warpfairy

Isabella is in no condition to be picky.

From:

dream_me_up

Floor it is.

From:

warpfairy

Yes. This floor will eminently do the job of not allowing them to float off into the vacuum while they become one hundred percent less dressed.

The sensation of not being going to die is, when it appears, like a punch to the gut in the best possible way. This might be a stupid way to design a species, but it is not without some advantages.

From:

dream_me_up

And Lalita is not just doing this out of selfless generosity. Isabella is delightful, and he would happily have sex with her for a week even if it wasn't a lifesaving measure.

From:

warpfairy

That will make her feel better about the whole business after she sobers up. For the time being all she needs to be aware of about him is that he's present and is her mate. (For the time being.)

From:

dream_me_up

Oh, but he aspires to be so much more than just present.

From:

warpfairy

His aspirations are well, if incoherently, received!

From:

dream_me_up

Good! That is just how he likes them to be.

From:

warpfairy

Possibly she will produce more detailed compliments later. In the meantime she can take advantage of the fact that in space no one can hear you scream.

From:

dream_me_up

One person can.

He chooses to take it as encouragement.

From:

warpfairy

It is absolutely meant that way.

From:

dream_me_up

Good.

Eventually one or both of them might need to sleep, but for now, they haven't nearly finished making use of this floor.

From:

warpfairy

Isabella can go without sleep for a week! She does this by default when there are interesting things to accomplish! This is such a thing. It is an open question whether she could sleep if she tried at the moment.

From:

dream_me_up

Lalita would probably have trouble getting to sleep if he tried it at this exact second.

A few hours later, though - maybe if they make it all the way to the living quarters of the ship - he might give it a shot.

From:

warpfairy

Isabella will allow it. As long as he doesn't try to go anywhere she can just as easily wrap herself around him and hold still by way of reminding herself that she has successfully found a mate and is not going to die.

From:

dream_me_up

In that case, after about six hours of various exertions, during which time they do indeed make it to the bed, he curls up and wraps his arms around her and tucks his face into her shoulder and naps for a while.

From:

warpfairy

Snuggles. Not-going-to-die-ness. Eventually he will wake up! That will be nice.

From:

dream_me_up

Snuggles! It is a snuggly nap. Those are one of the best kinds.

Eventually, he does wake up, and immediately kisses her.

From:

warpfairy

Saying she goes from zero to warp instantly would imply that she is capable of being not at metaphorical warp right now, which is false, but kisses increase metaphorical warp factor.