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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?"
warpfairy
warpfairy
"I have discovered an unexpected need to spend the next seven days meditating. I do not wish to delay you. You have my permission to operate the Prometheus, dock at Betazed, and depart while I am in meditation."
dream-me-up
"Would you maybe like to explore other options," he says. "Other than spending seven days meditating."
warpfairy
She swallows. She looks away. "My - my judgment is compromised at this time, please do not - make insinuations if you do not mean them, I will eventually regain my, my usual faculties and do not wish to do anything I will regret."
warpfairy
An indelicate full-body shudder ensues. "I have - somewhere, written down, a - I spend a great deal of time away from other Vulcans, I hoped to avoid this but knew I could not be sure, I have - a speech of sorts prepared." She reaches for her temple, winds up with one hand clenched in her hair as she teeters towards the computer and goes looking for the file.
warpfairy
She finds what she's looking for eventually, with considerable fidgeting, fumbling, and lip-biting.
Her speech of sorts opens with common knowledge about pon farr, of which none is new to anyone who can identify the phenomenon merely by virtue of "an unexpected need to meditate for seven days". And then: "If I am reading this speech then I have not found myself among the lucky half-Vulcans who evade the problem entirely, and have instead fallen prey to the unpredictable timing that affects those of us who do experience this phenomenon. I was not betrothed in childhood, and even if I had been, my intended would almost certainly have died when Vulcan was destroyed. I am prepared to address the issue with meditation and medication, but this would be at some risk to my life; exact figures regarding how much risk are unreliable due to the rarity of half-Vulcan half-humans. If, given the kindness of another person, I opt for the traditional satisfaction of the hormonal imbalance, there is no guarantee I will have the wherewithal to comprehend, let alone abide by, a change of mind during the process, which should be understood before beginning. Regarding practical matters - I will not regard assistance during this time as any sort of ongoing commitment - I am fitted with a contraceptive implant -" She trails off; there's a bit of formal thank-you-for-your-time language at the end but she's apparently opted to skip it in favor of scrunching her eyes shut and trembling violently. If she has any of the Vulcan emotional suppression, it's not helping her much now.
Her speech of sorts opens with common knowledge about pon farr, of which none is new to anyone who can identify the phenomenon merely by virtue of "an unexpected need to meditate for seven days". And then: "If I am reading this speech then I have not found myself among the lucky half-Vulcans who evade the problem entirely, and have instead fallen prey to the unpredictable timing that affects those of us who do experience this phenomenon. I was not betrothed in childhood, and even if I had been, my intended would almost certainly have died when Vulcan was destroyed. I am prepared to address the issue with meditation and medication, but this would be at some risk to my life; exact figures regarding how much risk are unreliable due to the rarity of half-Vulcan half-humans. If, given the kindness of another person, I opt for the traditional satisfaction of the hormonal imbalance, there is no guarantee I will have the wherewithal to comprehend, let alone abide by, a change of mind during the process, which should be understood before beginning. Regarding practical matters - I will not regard assistance during this time as any sort of ongoing commitment - I am fitted with a contraceptive implant -" She trails off; there's a bit of formal thank-you-for-your-time language at the end but she's apparently opted to skip it in favor of scrunching her eyes shut and trembling violently. If she has any of the Vulcan emotional suppression, it's not helping her much now.
dream-me-up
"I understand," says Lalita. "And the offer's still good."
He takes a step toward her.
He takes a step toward her.
warpfairy
"Nnng, computer, park," says Isabella, and over the sound of the Prometheus acknowledging her and dropping out of warp so that they don't crash into Betazed while distracted, she pounces on him like he is - literally - a lifeline.
dream-me-up
He catches her, wraps her up in his arms, and gives her a kiss.
They should be in fewer clothes right now. He can help with that.
They should be in fewer clothes right now. He can help with that.
warpfairy
He is so helpful.
Technically Isabella is no longer in danger of death after having convinced her body that she has located a mate, but that doesn't mean the hormones recede instantly. That will take the full week.
Technically Isabella is no longer in danger of death after having convinced her body that she has located a mate, but that doesn't mean the hormones recede instantly. That will take the full week.
dream-me-up
He is very helpful! And if he has any say in the matter - which he does - it's going to be a fun week.
They probably aren't going to make it all the way to the living quarters the first time. So: floor, or captain's chair? Which one will it be?
They probably aren't going to make it all the way to the living quarters the first time. So: floor, or captain's chair? Which one will it be?
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.