"I think you're being unreasonable," John said before ducking under a table of knives being carried by some camel-faced alien.
Aeryn turned around just long enough to shoot daggers out her eyes. "I'm not being unreasonable. I'm being upset. The two are mutually contradictory." She turned to a nearby street vendor and looked at something designed to clean lice out of fur-worms. Not that John knew that. "How much for this?"
Crichton leaned against the stall next to her. "Okay, so I got a little date movie. What's the big deal?"
"In front of the whole crew. D'Argo and Rygel and Chiana and…"
"Won't someone please think of the shipmates!" John cried. "C'mon. You're being unreasonable… just a little bit."
"Unreasonable?" Aeryn ignored the double-camel-faced vendor as he told her how much the lice-cleaner cost. "I lose face and you tell me I'm being unreasonable?"
"Lose fa—"
"A public display of affection. On a Peacekeeper ship, that kind of thing could earn you a demerit."
"We weren't on a Peacekeeper ship," John said, before taking a thoughtful pause. "Okay, technically, yes, but… a hug? Come on. I've seen everyone else on Moya displaying more affection than that… except for Rygel and there's a mental image I really didn't want."
Aeryn crossed her arms as the vendor tries unsuccessfully to shove the comb into her hands. "You called me a baby."
"I called you babe. It's a sign of affection."
"Why would you show me a sign of affection?"
John's hands gestured frantically as if trying to pluck an explanation out of mid-air. "So you would feel… affected?"
"I think it's just as likely that you could be trying to show your dominance over me in front of other potential mates?"
John rolled his eyes. "Aeryn, what are you talking about?"
"All of them know better. They all keep their affections private."
John took a step closer to her, their bodies almost touching. "Maybe I don't want it to be private… babe."
Aeryn tightened her arm-cross, but didn't back down. "Are all men from Earth this arrogant?"
"Nope. Just me. Look, I'm sorry if I offended you. I was just trying to… make you feel good."
Aeryn looked down for a moment. "And it might've been possible I… overreacted. I'm not good with unsanctioned relationships. I always thought they were a waste of time and energy. But I like wasting time with you."
John smiled and took her hand. Aeryn looked at their interlocked fingers and rubbed her thumb over his knuckles.
"This is another one of those signs of affection," Crichton explained unnecessarily.
"No point to it?"
"None whatsoever."
Aeryn smiled. "I guess it's good to try something pointless once in a while."