"How can you drink that stuff?" "What? Iced Mate'? It's good."How can you drink that stuff?" "What? Iced Mate'? It's good." "It's boiled tree bark." "Oh, yeah, and this is coming from a human who drinks gfi." "Hey, I like gfi. But I suppose our eternal argument about what is and is not good food isn't really why you asked me to meet you here after your shift." She smiled again. "No, it isn't." "Then, what?" She paused, staring off at the far wall for a few seconds, then she sighed and said, "In less than two days, we're going to be in orbit around Pin. We're already inside Pendor Controlled Space. We passed the Oort cloud about an hour ago, it's on the PBBS." "I suppose this is the discussion that's going all over the ship. What are we gonna do when we get home, right?" "Well...Yes. And no." I raised my eyebrows. "I know almost exactly what were going to do when we get home. You're going to go back to P'nyssa and M'ress and Paul and your home and settle down for another century or so, until you get bored again. And we both know that I'm going back out into space as soon as possible, although I'd love to go with Ian if I can. He likes me, and I like him, and all personal feeling aside, he's a great captain. Wait, please, I can see you're dying to interrupt me. I love you, Ken. You know that, and I know that, and I love you, too. The times we've had aboard the Eldarfaroth are unforgettable, and in my case, pretty indelible." I smiled. The rings I'd pierced through her labia were constant reminders, to both of us, just how far we'd explored her need to give, and my strength to control. I wore the keys to her heart, almost literally, around my neck. She continued. "So don't tell me what you feel, and that it'll be alright, and give me all of the Shardik bullshit you're so good at, and you know it. |