Chapter 2 #3
"Your latent potential must be great indeed," he said.
"Not finding your purpose is something to celebrate, because of all the experiences you get to explore while you seek it.
Your home world is called Earth, yes? In my culture, your name would be Róisín-Earth.
If you were one of my kind, you would be called Róisín-Oame.
If you took many more actions of walking beyond the structures that others set for you, then you would become Róisín-Exlith. "
Even as he broke things down to explain them to me, he raised more questions.
"But you have used the term Oame in another way," I said. "You said 'Let us be Oame'. What did that mean?"
"Oame isn't just the name of our home world," I said. "It is the concept of us as a single being. All Oamelithica are Oame. All niches serve Oame. Let us be Oame is a phrase that means, let us acknowledge that we are one and speak together from a space of oneness."
I couldn't help myself; I giggled again.
"It pleases me as well to think of being one with you," he said in response, his voice as chocolaty as his delicious scent.
I was not mature enough to handle this.
"Oh my god, stop," I said, and I lifted my hands and covered my face, stopping for a moment as I let out a groan that carried the full weight of my intense scent-triggered physical agitation.
I dropped my hands from my face to see that he had stopped in front of me and was staring at me intently.
"You have turned pink again," he said. Then he lifted his hands to cover his face briefly. "What does this action mean?"
"It is an acknowledgment of the desire to hide from the moment because it is overwhelming. It can also indicate the intention to stay in the moment rather than run, despite wishing to run and hide," I said, giving my best explanation.
"I have frightened you?" he asked. "I did not intend to come across as threatening."
"No, not threatening; it isn't an expression of fear, as that would be accompanied by screaming or other more dramatic actions. In this context, it means a request for the moment to pause because of overwhelming embarrassment," I said. "As does my skin turning a pink color, mostly."
"You were embarrassed by me declaring a desire to be one with you?" he asked.
I fucking giggled again.
I handled it this time by breaking out into a brisk walk. The sauna was up ahead. I could just drop him off in the shower, rinse off real quick myself, and go straight into the cold plunge.
"Is your increase in speed a result of wishing to flee from me?
" he asked. "Please do not feel like you must accompany me if I cause you any discomfort.
I can look up the ship's map or request another guide.
I would appreciate it if you explained what I have done wrong so I can avoid embarrassing other humans. "
Fuckityfucksticks, when he put it like that, I had to explain.
It was easier if I just kept up the pace and didn't look at him.
"Like I said, I'm not offended, and I am happy to be your guide," I said.
"I'm embarrassed because humans, well, when we say we want to become one with each other, it is often a very romantic declaration.
Becoming a beast with two backs is a phrase to describe the act of mating.
I know that wasn't how you were using the phrase.
My embarrassment is my own fault, not yours. "
"You made the sound of enjoyment as well," he said, his tone thoughtful. "So you were embarrassed and also pleased when you thought I was suggesting mating?"
I made the most god-awful noise as I tried to stop the next giggle. It was a grotesque snort, like I was choking in the middle of trying to hock a loggie.
"What does that sound mean?" he asked.
"We're here!" I said, diving through the sauna's entry doors.
"It means we have arrived?" he said, following me into the entry room. Cubbies lined the walls, stacked with different size robes and towels. There were lockers for people to put their clothes, as well as a chute to put them in if the individual wanted to send them off to get cleaned.
I gestured at one of the doors leading out of the room, frantic in my desire to avoid explaining my desperate need to go hide and rub one out before I interacted with him anymore.
"We need to wash before we go into the rest of the facilities.
The public showers are through there, and the private ones are over there," I said, my flush growing deeper as I pointed to the smaller rooms where one or two people could go to find some soundproof privacy, hoping he would go in one on his own without me having to say it, because I was half a breath away from inviting him to join me.
A cold shower wasn't going to be enough.
I needed to take care of this tension immediately.
"Lead the way," he said, smiling at me as he waited to see where I would go.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
I stared back at him, wondering if I went into a private room, he would follow me in there, and a few moments later, I remembered that I was a grown-ass woman.
I could tell him to go shower by himself and then meet him in the sauna if I wanted to.
I didn't have to mince words or go along with anything I didn't want to.
I could do whatever I wanted, even break my own rules.
"Sure," I said. "Follow me."