Chapter 21

Capitol Plaza Apartments
Unit #25
Washington DC

"The term you're looking for is demi-sexual." Penelope said.

Penelope, Spencer and Essa were still sitting in Spencer's living room, eating ice cream and talking human and Quadranian sexuality. "The first part of that did not translate." Essa said.

"It means half or partial. See, for us there's two ways of becoming sexually attracted to someone. You can either get to know them slowly, build trust and emotional closeness over time. Or you can sometimes just see them across the room, the way they look, the way they carry themselves, and that alone will arouse you. And then if you work it right you can take them right home and into bed."

Essa blinked at her. "A complete stranger."

"Uh huh. It happens. We have a friend who used to do that a lot."

"You can also start chatting with people over a comm device." Spencer said. "There are programs that facilitate meeting people just for that."

Now Essa blinked at him. "I cannot even imagine what that would be like." He actually shuddered. "The thought of being approached like that is terrifying."

Spencer beamed out a smile. "I am not the only one!"

"And there is nothing wrong with taking the slow approach." Penelope said. "Maybe an example. How did you and Lira meet?"

"We were serving on the same ship. It was my first week. She was in the mess hall, reading a book and I had to stop and ask her about it."

"Because you wanted to get to know her better." Penelope said.

"Because I wanted to know the book better." Essa replied. Spencer nodded eagerly, he would have stopped for the book too. "And then I sat in when Nar took a fencing class with her, and we landed in the same lecture, and then we decided to eat together and talk about the books we were reading and one thing led to another, next thing we were comfortable in touch, and so were Cass and Nar…"

"Comfortable in touch?" Spencer asked.

"Yea. Most of us are so hypersensitive that casual touch or physical contact can be remarkably uncomfortable, almost painful at times. It's only once you truly feel at home with someone and you know you can trust them that touch becomes a comforting, pleasant thing. Only when you've been at that point with someone for a time is when most people start thinking of trying more intimate touch."

"More intimate." Penelope said. "But not that?" She pointed to her now locked tablet with her phone."

"No. Like I said, genital penetration is reserved for certain, almost sacred, rituals. It's certainly never that rough or violent when it does happen. But with the right person….um…". He actually started blushing.

"Oh! So they stop at fondle and foreplay. Got it." Penelope dug back into her ice cream.

"I can see it." Spencer replied. If you were going to do anything why not stick with something that seemed like it would engender maximum intimacy and risk minimal discomfort. The thought of being able to go that far and no further and have your partner be okay with that…

"Fondle and foreplay, that translated reasonably well, yes." Essa said.

"So, is it normal to reach your age and not have gone as far as fondle and foreplay yet?" Penelope asked.

"Well, that depends." Essa replied. "You have to take culture into account. If you grew up in a big Q house, with a large cohort of people close to you in age, then no. You would have had ample opportunity to experiment with people you trusted and knew well. If you were the only Q on a planet who's native sexuality was like that then yes, I wouldn't expect it. I'd be more concerned if they actually tried. My question would be, do they have a group of close companions around them that they could consider taking that step with, if they thought the other receptive. People with whom they were comfortable sharing casual touch. That would mean they had a healthy relationship structure."

Penelope looked over at Spencer. "Well?"

"Well yeah, the team." Spencer replied. "I mean, now it makes sense why shaking hands just feels so…"

"Invasive?" Essa asked.

"Yes. But. I hug everyone on the team. I've even hugged Hotch before."

"But would you consider going further with anyone?" Penelope asked.

Spencer considered. Maeve, of course, and Stephen. And Derek was…and JJ…and Emily… "I don't think I'm going to answer that question."

"You're blushing."

"I know."

"See. Perfectly healthy given the circumstances." Essa said. "And to be honest, with your in-depth knowledge of an entirely new culture, on ship everyone would want to get to know you."

"Not only are you a perfectly normal alien but you're a hot one as well." Penelope said.

"That's kind of comforting, to be honest." Spencer replied.

"Now between Nobles and Companions it's a little different." Essa said. "There's a certain pheromone Companions give off, it engenders a nearly instant feeling of trust in a Noble. To an extent they all do that to all of us, but when you find the right one it's just…impossible to resist. You want to…"

"Cuddle?" Penelope asked.

"Really hard." Essa replied. "And they do as well. We're all kind of made that way."

"So we just need to find you your cuddle bunny. Out there among the stars. What?" Penelope asked as Spencer started turning red and Essa started chuckling.

"Wait, do you have single Companions here?" Penelope asked. Essa nodded. She turned to Spencer. "Did you get the whole pheromone thing going?"

"I'm not going to answer that." Spencer said.

"The whole house noticed." Essa said.

"No, they…."

"The Mrr'tani noticed."

"No, it's just…"

"Look, there is a standing invitation for evening meal, Come over whenever. Get to know everyone."

"Maybe." Spencer replied. "Maybe."

"Fair warning, Lira's whole family is of of the more…traditional…religious sorts."

"Good to know."

"Totally going to drop you there." Penelope said. She got up and wandered off in the direction of the bathroom.

"So about this whole religious ritual thing?" Spencer asked as soon as Penelope was out of earshot. It was the one thing that concerned him.

"Unfortunately I can't really go into detail. It's technically classified still, I am still in the service and you're…"

"No, I get it." They were both employees of their respective governments after all. "But you think it matters."

"It is the way a Noble binds a Companion, yes. I believe we drew a parallel between that and Terran marriage."

"And everyone in your house would insist upon that?"

"I'm afraid so, eventually anyway. But, you know just because we can't talk about why it's important that doesn't mean…."

It took a moment for the penny to drop. "You think she would know? Well yeah, she was married, wasn't she"

"To Lord Garron and to her Companion Kati Grenoble."

The import of that finally hit Spencer. "She lost everything, didn't she?"

Essa smiled. "She kept you."

Penelope came out just then. "So I am still thinking big family dinner at Dave's. What do you think?"

Spencer smiled. "I think that's a great idea."