This time when Delphine wakes she finds herself disoriented. She barely remembers leaving for the cryolab. Nevermind arriving there. Whatever drugs they'd given her to prevent memories of going into torpor must have prevented that too. What had she been doing? Delphine remembers her last physical, unfortunately with Dr. Leekie. Cosima had gotten … Dr. Tanaka? Delphine remembers their last meal, where some of the passengers had started singing. Some folk song? Something English she didn't know. But it had been joyous, had been a moment she had started feeling at least some connection to the other passengers, who would be her neighbours and colleagues.
She remembers being summoned before breakfast the next morning to take the first part of the cryo prep. She couldn't go to breakfast, as she was no longer permitted to eat then. But she remembers kissing Cosima afterwards, feeling like they'd run out of time too quickly. But the walk back to the lift, and then to the cryolab was absent. The memory of Cosima kissing her intently, promising her they'd be back together soon. That there was no rush. That was clear. They'd run out of time, Delphine muses. Especially with their periods coming a week before the end of the wake cycle. But there were more days coming.
She blinks in her thermal blanket burrito. Dr. Leekie is somehow still awake. Or awake again. She can make out his balding head.
"Ah Dr. Cormier… Nice to see you back among the living. How are you feeling?"
"I am barely conscious right now." Delphine warns. "I feel very disoriented. More than usual. Did you change the cryo prep contents? Or ratios?"
Leekie noticeably avoids the question. "Your body temperature took longer than we like to come up."
"That happens every time. Nearly." Her head is foggy and she's having trouble remembering. This was different and she's wondering if she's been drugged.
"Yes, well. We had to give you a little extra sedation intravenously. Because you were in a torpor state for ten hours longer than planned."
Delphine glances around, she's clearly still in the cryo lab thawing area. She is not, happily, in a medical lab. She does see an IV behind her, but cannot feel her arm well enough to tell if it's still connected.
"That explains it. Am I free to go?" Delphine wonders if she can actually sit up, her first guess is no.
"Yes. Once you can get up and walk, you will take the blue drink to get your bowels moving again. And then you are free to return to your bunk room to rest."
"Good." Delphine closes her eyes. She wants to be in her bunk, but she sits up slowly and finds that it is simply enough. She lets the blankets loosen a little, trying not the mind that she is naked. She is handed the blue drink. Delphine hesitates eyeing the drink suspiciously. Hasn't she slept enough with the extra sedation?
"I do want to get back to my regular duties. If you don't mind, Dr. Cormier. Let's speed things up." Dr. Leekie prompts her.
Delphine drinks it. Finding it identical to every other time she's taken it. "Is it a sleeping pill or a sedative?" She opts not to ask about the passengers seemingly to all begin menstruating around the same time last wake cycle. Cosima told her it was probably induced somehow, something put into their food. And Delphine finds she agrees more and more with Cosima's suspicions. Everything is so controlled, so monitored and precise. Though she couldn't imagine the wisdom of trying to co-regulate all their menstrual cycles. Especially if they were bent on people procreating.
"Pardon?"
"In this drink. Or does it react with the gel in our stomachs? What is causing the immediate sleep?"
"Those are questions you don't need answers to, Dr. Cormier. Go get some rest. I am sure… your bunkmates are…eager to see you again."
Delphine feels herself harden, her brow furrowing. "What… What are you inferring?"
"You and Ms. Niehaus are getting close." Leekie shrugs again. "But we are in transit, and you don't have very many options for companionship . You do seem to have a difficult time going without, don't you?"
"That is… not relevant." Delphine makes herself sit up. She's handed more blue gray clothing and pulls it onto her body. She pulls on the boots too, zipping them onto her feet. It doesn't surprise her that their activities are monitored. No doubt a variety of security camera footage and whatever input their devices register. Not that it matters. Surely there must be some oversight in case of violent behaviour among passengers.
"I suppose not… It is a long trip. We see this sometimes… with some of the men. It stops or…mostly stops on arrival. And then they go on to normal partnerships and have children. It's well recorded."
Delphine doesn't respond. It's not anyone else's business. And she walks calmly away once she's dressed. Whatever Dr. Aldous Leekie has to say on the subject, it isn't important. At least he hadn't called her a nymphomaniac again.
Yea i
She reaches the bunkroom, to find Cosima still up. Her nose ring has been placed back in, and Cosima's dreads are down and loose around her shoulders. She looks tired, Delphine thinks, and she wonders if Cosima is recently thawed as well.
"Cosima!" Delphine cannot contain her joy. Cosima is sitting on her bunk, looking like she's waiting for her. And she needs to sleep. She knows that. But right now she just wants to sit with Cosima.
"Hey…" Cosima speaks slowly. A bright smile speaking across her face in response. And it feels the same, Delphine thinks. The same as last time. She approaches Cosima only to watch her stand up to greet her.
"How long have you been up?" Delphine asks, hands gently going to Cosima's shoulders.
"Only a day. An eternity." Cosima leans in for a kiss, and Delphine sees no reason to refuse. Cosima's lips are soft and pliant against her own. Nothing has changed. It feels like a day or two apart. No more. She kisses Cosima until her head begins to swim with fatigue.
"Sleeping meds kicking in?" Cosima speaks softly and she nods.
They climb wordlessly up into her bunk and close the curtain. She kisses Cosima again. She pulls Cosima into her arms, and finds it comforting.
Cosima hums happily in her arms, into her mouth. But she cannot resist sleep. And once she is laying down, she falls asleep nearly instantly.
She wakes curled around a warm sleepy Cosima. And it's… Delphine cannot quite describe how it makes her feel. There's attraction there, Delphine acknowledges. And a deeply increasing tenderness for the sleeping brunette in her arms. But having Cosima so vulnerable against her like that is…
"Hey." Cosima responds sleepily.
"Hey."
"I guess we've slept together now." Cosima shoots her a look. It's mischievous and pleased.
"Emphasizing sleep, yes." But only in an entirely literal sense. Delphine thinks with some amusement. She knows their bunkmates have noticed their growing closeness. Knows it is entirely likely they know Cosima was in her bunk. But what of it?
"For now."
"Yes… For now." Delphine agrees. Realizing that it is becoming more and more inevitable she will go to bed with Cosima. That is where all this is leading.
"You know, I'm a pretty good lay." Cosima brings up teasingly as they're getting up. Cosima clambers down from the bunk to the floor. There's not much to do, she retrieves her device, and watches Cosima do the same. She is hungry, and will need to eat very soon.
"Cosima!" Delphine laughs, she cannot help herself.
"I am… it won't be disappointing." Cosima assures her, looking deadly serious.
"That is not my concern, ma chérie." Delphine tries to soften her words. That, that she doesn't doubt. Kissing Cosima has more than demonstrated their…connection. And Cosima clearly knew what she was doing. It would be fine, at least on Cosima's end.
"So there is a concern." Cosima points out, even as she's taking her hand and leading the way to the cafeteria. It's not like they don't know this route well by now.
"My first concern is breakfast… or dinner. Really… any meal will do." Delphine brushes it off. It has been longer than usual, with her extended torpor, and she finds she is too hungry to really consider sex.
"Uhh that doesn't really answer the question."
"Did you ask one?"
"Not exactly." Cosima leans in, her mouth closer to Delphine's ear as she lowers her voice. "But… I do want to know what has you holding back."
"Holding back?" Delphine recalls a series of increasingly impassioned makeout sessions, kissing Cosima wherever and whenever. How that constituted holding back she's not quite certain. She'd been rather public about it. She was fairly certain most of the group knew that there was something between she and Cosima. She'd made no effort to hide it.
"We haven't had sex yet… and I know you're into me. And I am definitely into it."
"Yes… and we will." Delphine assures Cosima. Likely soon at that. "But first, food." It shouldn't be that big a deal. Delphine thinks to herself. It is just a logical conclusion.
"OK." Cosima smiles at this, and follows along to breakfast.
It is as she expects it, a few fresh fruits and rations. But Delphine helps herself to rations and strawberries, blueberries and cantaloupe.
"Ooh this looks good." Cosima comments happily, helping herself to a plate and a serving.
"But you've eaten?" Delphine brings up.
"Yeah. Yesterday afternoon, and evening… then you showed up." Cosima smiles softly at her. "So I stayed with you."
"And Sol? Celia? Eden? Priya?"
"All up and around." Cosima sighs. "But we figured you were either taking longer than expected or in the next batch. It would only be a few days."
They eat, and others arrive. Cosima waves to a few people, friends, and greets a few others. Finally Sol settles herself down at their table.
"Good to see you up." Sol comments cheerfully as she begins to carefully devour her fruit.
It is good, Delphine thinks. They'd done a good job with the hydroponics. And it was worth it. Every bite. Presumably this would continue on the surface. Something she very much looked forward to.
"Yeah… Delphine took longer this time." Cosima shrugs, munching happily.
"Are you two up for a game… or do you want to be alone?" Sol asks casually just as Celia ad Eden show up.
"I am starving." Celia announces, eating quickly. "And I really need a shower."
"You didn't shower when prompted?" Priya joins them, teasing. "I showered when my device told me too, after eating yesterday."
"I put mine in the lockers like Cosima." Celia comments. "I want to see how the charge lasts. Also, the chirping is annoying. Plus… all of us getting our periods within 48 hours? Spooky. I think Cosima is onto something."
"They're probably spying on us." Delphine adds, not even under her breath. "And regulating us, in more ways than one." It had been incredibly inconvenient timing, with first herself and then Cosima getting their cycles. It had put a damper on things.
Most of the faces across the table nod. But even understanding it makes no difference.
"Yes, but we can't do anything about it." Eden agrees. "There's nothing we can do to change it. But they won't work once we arrive. They're wired into the ship."
"So freedom… in… what? About 37 years?" Cosima laughs. "We're 53 years post-departure now."
Delphine takes this in. It isn't that much longer, but it makes her feel… lost. Her parents are dead. Her brother is dead. Almost everyone she knows is dead. Except perhaps children of the few friends that had gotten child permits. And none of them would remember her. They'd been toddlers when she'd left. Their parents were too preoccupied to manage a real goodbye.
"About that." Delphine answers instead, picking slowly at her cantaloupe.
Cosima's device begins chirping at her, and Cosima groans as she looks at it. "It wants me to shower. Now… You'd think it would want me to exercise first… stupid thing."
"Now?" Delphine tries to hide her disappointment.
"It won't take long." Cosima assures. "Plus I will be like, squeaky clean. Total advantage." Cosima gives her shoulder a soft squeeze as she gets up to go. Quickly finishing off her breakfast.
Delphine watches Cosima go and feels her heart sink. It's not that she doesn't like her bunkmates well enough. But… everything is easier with Cosima.
"I also need a shower." Celia announces with a grimace. She follows after Cosima, who seems unperturbed. And Delphine thinks she should go with them. Except seeing Cosima naked, even briefly, suddenly carries a very different connotation.
"What is going on with you and Cosima?" Priya doesn't mince words. Particularly after Cosima has gone to shower. Delphine supposes her bunkmates rarely see her alone. She's almost always with Cosima. Though she feels like she has a decent rapport with them, especially Celia and Sol.
"We… have a connection. I… I don't know what else to call it. It's… not about sex." On that Delphine is insistent. If it were, it would have happened already. It is clearly not just about sex. That much is certain.
"The way I've seen you kissing and it's not about sex?" Sol eyes her doubtfully. And Delphine wonders what this looks like to them. Maybe it does look merely sexual.
"You cannot actually want to…" Eden wrinkles her nose. "It's so unhygienic."
"What?" Delphine's brain tries to connect whatever dots set in front of her.
"What lesbians do." Priya quips instantly. "Not something any of us would do."
Delphine's brain quickly suggests the activity they are talking about. Something few people did. Something entirely associated with homosexuality and a few very strange men. Something she'd never yet encountered in over a decade of being sexually active.
"Non. Of course not." Delphine quickly confirms. "There are toys for that, yes." That hadn't even crossed her mind. Was it something Cosima really wanted from her? Was it something Cosima did? Surely not all lesbians would do that. Cosima hadn't said anything about that . Maybe it was an overgeneralization.
"Of course." Eden nods. "You know… they have pulse stimulators. In the private VR booths. Fully sterilized. Individual use. You… have options ."
Delphine doesn't want to admit she's now wondering if she can remove one from the booth, to use on Cosima. Feeling that might be the easiest way to go about things. That she'd be able to provide an acceptable level of pleasure for Cosima that way. That Cosima would be satisfied more easily by a device than whatever she could manage to do for her. But somehow, she thinks Cosima would refuse that.
"It's not that big a deal." Sol sighs. "No one is making any of you do it. If Cosima and Delphine start eating pussy, who cares?"
"You have?" Eden startles, looking at Sol.
"No I haven't. Certainly not with a woman. Personally… I like men." Sol shrugs. "But I've known lesbians before. Homosexuality just happens. I mean it's normal throughout history some people just do."
"Not at random." Priya points out and returns her attention to her food. "It doesn't matter why it's happening. Not really. It's just… uncommon."
"Nope." Sol shrugs. "I have delivered the baby of a lesbian couple before. It isn't that big a deal. They were cool. Their son was healthy. Everything went well."
"You have?" Eden seems surprised. "I've known lesbians and gays, but… I don't know any who ever got a child permit!"
"Yes. One of them had a dad who was high up in the government… I think they got their permit through nepotism… but they got one, so they had a baby."
"Do you think they used a friend or a donor?" Priya asks. "I guess they couldn't have done it the old fashioned way."
"I didn't ask." Sol answers shortly. "I met them 10 weeks into the pregnancy, and everything was super normal. Except the baby had two moms."
"I can't imagine it." Priya shakes her head. "Having a baby without a father. It's cruel."
"No. It's just unusual ." Sol shakes her head. "Just because you haven't seen it before, doesn't mean it cannot work."
Eden hums as if she's thinking about something. But Delphine remains silent. Delphine dwells on that for a little. What are she and Cosima doing? What will happen once they arrive? Will it all be… difficult?
"I thought we were talking about sex. Not babies. The two things do not have to be connected." Eden pitches in. "And … I barely miss sex. I figure I will get to it when I find a man I like. A few months after landing we're probably going to start pairing up."
"Almost certainly." Sol agrees. "I think Cosima is right, the system is set up to make us all… very open to partnering. Or at least meeting and mating."
Priya sighs. "Micah and I will be happy to be reunited. That is certain. I miss him. The way he smells. His laugh… It is sad. Even if it only feels like a few months."
"I mean, no woman could… take me like a man could." Delphine thinks it out. Whatever would happen with Cosima would be different.
"Definitely not." Eden agree with her with a small laugh.
Sol looks her over. "Does that matter?" Sol seems genuine in her question, but Delphine doesn't have an answer.
Delphine is left thinking about it long after the meal has ended and the system prompts her to go take her own shower. She does, but Cosima is long gone from the showers. And she washes herself with the provided soap wondering what on earth she's getting herself into now. She's gotten glimpses of Cosima in various stages of undress. Seen… much of her body. It doesn't frighten her, as… different as it would be. Sex would certainly be less straightforward. She had no issues having sex with men, as long as they'd been considerate it had usually been a fairly pleasant experience. But what would it even be with Cosima? Would Cosima look at her as desperately? Want her as badly? Would she be as into it as Delphine?
"Come on.." Cosima cajoles her shortly before dinner the first night. And Delphine knows she will follow along. No matter what. The device was prompting them to relax. Or exercise, but Cosima had her own ideas.
"Are you sure you are permitted to bring me to your lab? Shouldn't we wait for you to be prompted to go?"
"I think I am not going to ask permission. Unfortunately for us, my device is what will make the lift take me there. It's not in the habitat section."
"Oooh." Delphine is intrigued. Getting to see a little bit more of the ship. See Cosima's lab. Even if it was mostly the virtual simulator she'd have access to in flight.
They go to the lift. And sure enough it opens. Cosima stands in the lift and speaks clearly "Genetics lab."
The device chirps at them a few times, but they ignore it. The lift works and Delphine holds her breath. It seems to be allowing them. Good enough, Delphine thinks.
Please proceed to your genetics lab for a tutorial.
"So this stupid thing." Cosima pokes at her device. "Is telling me my lab is between here and the crew quarters. On a level with other labs that are all modular. Meant to be pulled out of the ship and built elsewhere. Probably yours too, if we could break in." Cosima adds teasingly which makes Delphine giggle under her breath.
When the doors open, Delphine steps out. It's different. The walls are a plasticy white, and the lights are bright, but dimmed.
Please proceed to door B21
"Right. Door B21." Cosima walks halfway down the hallway. The doors are all orange for some reason, and Delphine thinks the colour scheme is quite odd. They pass about ten doors before the name plate above indicates what the below room is. The number itself is embossed on the door.
"Looks like a fucking creamsicle in here." Cosima shakes her head, but door B21 opens for her, and both she and Delphine step inside without incident.
The lab is also white, but the lights are more muted. A large computer terminal with a glass screen display dominates the front. Interior doors on either side lead… somewhere. A couple fake-leather couches flank one side of the room. A waiting area, Delphine realizes with amusement. For Cosima's work clients. Presentations. Consultations. Test results.
"So this must be the actual lab." Cosima thinks poking at the far door. "And then one of these is just to cryostorage…Or something else? And… this one is probably my office." Cosima raises an eyebrow. "I was promised a nice office. Though, the colour scheme could use work."
"It is nice." Delphine glances around. "Even if it does look like a creamsicle."
"This room is for virtual scenarios… presentations… things like that. Meeting clients…err patients." Cosima waves her arms around. "I want to see the actual lab space… but of course…"
No access to laboratory space is available in transit.
"Oh come on you stupid thing. I just want to look. I know I have no samples to run. I have been promised state of the art equipment."
"What about cryostorage." Delphine muses. "I assume it is accessed through the lab."
"That makes the most sense… So what the hell is my other door for?"
No access to cryostorage is available in transit.
"You are a useless spy device." Cosima sighs. She tosses her device onto the floor near the door.
"I will drop mine too." Delphine deposits her device with Cosima's. It hardly makes a difference. "It let me accompany you."
"Yes well… I mean it is a lab." Cosima throws it out. "I will have people in and out of here."
"You'll mostly have fetal DNA samples…" Delphine runs her long fingers along the terminal and watches it light up.
Welcome Cosima.
The words scroll across the large screen. And Cosima smiles at it. "Well at least this one is friendlier."
"It is probably a tutorial."
"Yeah." Cosima touches the screen. Immediately the names of all passengers come up, marked by archaic little pink or blue icons. Cosima frowns at them as soon as she sees them.
"So…" Delphine figures this out pretty quickly.
"I have DNA samples on file of everyone on board… Want to see yours?" Cosima grins, and reaches to touch the screen, expanding and minimizing various areas until she hits on the mark.
"That's me." Delphine points, and Cosima quickly brings it up. A small white window appears with a picture of Delphine and her basic biological data. A few things are listed. But Cosima rifles through the information briefly.
"That's your carrier status… Clear." Cosima nods with a small smile. "Well there's something… nothing life threatening. That is fine…"
"So our DNA is in this program?"
"Yep. I can run population scenarios…. Want to run one?" Cosima looks over at her. Cosima raises an eyebrow playfully.
"What… does that do?" Delphine looks. Cosima taps a few more buttons.
"OK. Let's run an interactive what-if scenario." Cosima speaks to the terminal looking hopeful.
To use voice commands, please place your device on the terminal.
"Ugh… Fine." Cosima retrieves her device which is chirping and rests it on a glowing white square on the terminal.
"So what now?"
"OK. Run population scenario… three generations. Assuming no second ship, no backup ships. Randomize mate selection. Assume… a quarter of all relationships fail. And repartnering happens."
Cosima taps a few more buttons, clearly trying to set parameters.
"Begin." Cosima watches the small icons move on the screen, and new icons appear. The children appear as numbered, which makes sense. Delphine watches as icons spread out and web across the screen. Lines appear between names marking partners.
"Oh yeah. A date… umm 100 years post landing."
A few red warnings appear on the screen. They grow quickly and various warning prompts display on the screen.
"Euhh… Cosima… A lot of the children seem to be…related." Delphine looks at the red lines between certain icons. It doesn't look good.
"Yeah cousins, second cousins, siblings… Remember how I said to assume the second ship doesn't arrive?"
"Yes. I mean I hope it does." Delphine looks at the interrelated population. It is limited. They need more people. More varied genes. And she worries then, what would happen if only half of the ships arrive? What if they are the only one?
"Me too… Look." Cosima pulls up a small blue icon. "Here's your hypothetical great-grandson."
"Great." Delphine looks through. "Why does he have congenital adrenal hyperplasia?" She notices the large red text, it flagged the condition.
"Ah… Because his great-grandfather and grandfather carried it… See?" Cosima points it out. "And then… his mother married her second cousin… And he's got CAH."
"Well it's not deadly…"
"Which is why a man carrying it is onboard this ship." Cosima scrolls quickly to the affected passenger. "And his name is… Santiago Garcia. And in this scenario… your daughter with… uhh… Wilder Bradley… married one of his sons. And he had two families. Three kids in one, two in the other… and generations down…you see? CAH. We need the second ship."
"We need a better breeding strategy." Delphine comments. Maybe it shouldn't be left to fate. At least after the first generation. She says nothing about her hypothetical mate, it is uncomfortable. But it is just a simulation for academic purposes.
"Oh don't worry. I will be meeting with Santiago Garcia and telling him, he can have one family. With one woman. And that is it." Cosima waves her arms around, and Delphine wonders exactly how that will go over. How this man will take being told what to do.
"Because he carries CAH?"
"Yes." Cosima nods. "Also… inbreeding. Not cool. Look." Cosima shows her a few partnerships marked as second cousin. "I cannot calculate much about the third and fourth ships… Or I think I can't. If they've launched, can we get that information? Their genetic catalogues? Would we get that in our transmissions?"
"I don't know… Try to access it?"
"I mean the ships are in contact with each other, even sparsely… So… I want to request that information."
Cosima's device remains silent. Then slowly provides the information.
Information on passengers on the Swan Princess is available.
"And their genetics database? Can I get that?"
Processing… Information is available. It has already been downloaded into your virtual lab.
"Great. Rerun the scenario assuming all ships arrive. Using all available data." Cosima looks at the screen again and sure enough when it is complete there are far fewer inbreeding occasions and a minimum of carriers and those affected by genetic conditions.
"Well this looks better."
"Yeah… Except in this scenario.. You bred with this guy. Yuck." Cosima pulls it up. "Rune Andersen… Blonder than blonde… Norwegian dude? Danish? Something like that. Or his parents just wanted their son to sound like a Viking."
"Cosima…It is a randomized hypothetical scenario you are running for testing reasons." Delphine reminds her. There's nothing particularly offensive about her hypothetical mate, but it makes her uncomfortable. Perhaps, because she and Cosima are growing so close.
"Anyways… So these are the scenarios I get to run. All the time. And run testing… and early days I mostly advise the council of what we've got going. Cautions. But we will see… With all ships. The gene pool looks decent."
"What about… other genetic disorders?" Delphine goes through the possibilities. With so few children permitted to be born back home the pressure for perfect healthy offspring was high. She supposed it would be much the same.
"Do you mean.. Like stemming from deletions? Or errors in meiosis?"
"Yes." Delphine nods. "We cannot prevent those."
"No, but in those cases I can refer the family to one of the OB GYNs for an abortion. They are both trained in it. And the fetuses in the colony will be submitted to a battery of genetic testing in utero."
"So any trisomies, any deletions…" Delphine fills in the blanks.
"Should all be caught, yes. The tests are very accurate… there is some room for error. All erroneous blood test results will refer for amniocentesis to make sure before referring for termination of the pregnancy."
"So… couldn't you sort out the carrier status too?"
"I am not advising a couple to terminate based on carrying one of the few conditions allowed." Cosima shakes her head. "Affected child? Maybe. Carrier child? No."
"That makes sense. At least until we genetically engineer it out of the population."
"Hah… that's a waste of resources." Cosima shakes her head. "What we want is as easy procreation as possible. As low tech as we can make it. We have resources for emergencies of course… but our supplies are not limitless. We need to have standards for accessing those supplies. If you don't meet the criteria? It won't be offered."
"I suppose. Only the supremely wealthy modify their children anyway. At least in Europe. It is frowned upon."
"Yes and even then it goes wrong a lot."
"What else can you do?"
"In transit? Mostly this. I can also try to see which genetic matches produce the most robust offspring. But that's time consuming and pointless. I'm not interested in playing god here. Though it can suggest several 'ideal' breeding partners for people…"
"What are you interested in?" Delphine gets closer, looking at Cosima. With her dreads pulled back, and her glasses on. How different Cosima looks from everyone here. Even with the provided clothes. How incredible she is. How… could she have predicted any of this? How could they try to suggest matches when they should simply let people fall in love.
"You." Cosima speaks it simply, soft brown eyes probing her face for a reaction. Delphine cannot resist any longer, she reaches out and kisses her.
Cosima moans deeply into her mouth, clutching at her hips and there's no reason not to. She holds Cosima in her arms. Cosima has become… so important to her. The touch of her lips massaging her own. The little squeak Cosima makes when she opens her mouth to allow her tongue entrance. How can she not? How can she resist any longer? It doesn't matter, Delphine decides. Not if it is sex or not sex . None of her damn preconceived notions have to matter. Not when Cosima feels this good.
"I want to feel you." Delphine murmurs, breaking the kiss. She rests her forehead against Cosima's. Looking at her eyes through her glasses. And maybe it has to be now. Maybe now is the time that they have. She strokes Cosima's face, and down her body.
Cosima shudders softly, and looks up at her hopefully. "Like…?"
"Inside of me. Against me." Delphine punctuates her demands with another needy kiss. It doesn't matter. She'll have an orgasm somehow. And that will have to be enough.
"Hey… I would love that… seriously. But… I want you on a bed…" Cosima strokes her face back, and Delphine quickly retrieves both devices, leading Cosima back to their bunkroom. Cosima takes her hand and follows. The lift returns them to the habitat ring slowly, much more slowly than their assent.
Dinner is served! Why don't you go get something to eat?
Delphine glances down at her device, noting that Cosima's is silent. For now. But it is meal time. And they will be late… does that matter? Wouldn't there be food left over anyway?
"What about dinner?" Delphine asks, noting that the halls are largely clear. Everyone must be eating.
"So we'll be late for dinner… I'll get to have you all to myself."
They find the bunkroom empty, and Delphine breathes with relief. They have it to themselves. But they will have to be quick, she thinks. She kisses Cosima eagerly, intent on moving quickly. It feels as good, as alluring as previously. And Delphine doubts it's deprivation coming over her.
Cosima responds with soft tempting hands, a hot mouth to her neck. Hands beginning to slide under grey fabric. The soft touch of Cosima's hands to her bare skin makes her shudder, makes her cling more.
"Now?" Cosima asks between sessions of nibbling on her neck.
And Delphine knows what she means. Knows more or less what Cosima is offering. "Yes. Now." Delphine agrees.
Cosima groans low in her throat and guides her back to settle on Delphine's bunk. The curtain is pulled closed, Cosima's hand guiding hers along
"I want you ." Cosima murmurs at her. And her voice, the neediness in it, sends a thrill down her
They shed their layers, the grey shirts and pants, their tanks. Cosima gently caresses her breast and her breath catches in her throat. But Cosima moves on, continuing to explore her body. She doesn't get stuck there like most of her boyfriends did. And Cosima goes to her underwear, drawing soft teasing patterns against her. But the crotch fabric is too thick. It is a shame, Delphine thinks. That all the underwear they are provided are padded, and suitable to use during menstruation. The extra padding gives no hint of her excitement, and no real pleasure with touch. Cosima seems to notice and ease off, sliding fingertips along her thigh instead.
She kisses Cosima as eagerly as she can, trying to convey her feelings. Her…attraction. It has to be enough, Delphine tells herself. She's already decided no matter how this feels that she will be telling Cosima how much she wants her. Their emotional connection, Delphine reasons, means so much more. And she must deepen it, for both of them. Something she is not quite sure how to do. Something she's never been good at before. But the touch of Cosima's hands on her bare skin is more thrilling than she'd imagined. She pulls Cosima's underwear off. But she doesn't get a good look at her beyond wiry curls and a flash of intimate skin. Maybe, Cosima doesn't want her to.
"What do you want, Delphine?" Cosima asks when they're naked. She presses against her but doesn't move to touch her. She waits.
"I want to make love… I want to make love." Delphine murmurs at her, and Cosima will not resist. Cannot resist. Neither of them can resist their connection. And then Cosima is touching her, fingers sliding and pleasuring against her. A little moan emerges from her lips when she feels arousal.
"Mmmm…." Cosima smiles at her, enthralled. "Like this?"
It's simple, Delphine thinks. Cosima's hand against her. Touching her. But it's certainly effective.
She nods, and hums slowly. Trying to convey pleasure as Cosima's fingers gently slide against her. She cannot stop looking at Cosima's face, cannot stop wondering how this feels for her. If it could be enough without being able to take Cosima in.
Cosima kisses her, and continues toying with her. Touching her. Delphine finds she relaxes into it more than she thought she would. It feels safer than she'd expected for something new. For someone new.
"You feel so good." She's not used to this going on so long, not when she's clearly wet and ready. But then again, what else can Cosima do to her? She begins eagerly caressing Cosima's body with her hands, letting them rub and grope at her as they… make love . Cosima reacts to her touching with a soft moan and a deeper kiss. Letting her tongue probe deeper. She caresses her ass, her belly, her hips and finally her breasts. Cosima feels good under her hands, skin sliding under her fingers. She cannot come back from this, Delphine realizes blankly, as she wants to touch. Wants to connect. Wants…everything.
"Delphine…" Cosima whines at her as she lets her own fingers play, tentatively stroking a nipple. Needing to know what this is like.
The flickers of pleasure intensify with every well timed brush against her sensitive nub, and Delphine begins to make more noises, to hold Cosima closer. She doesn't mean to tear up, certainly doesn't mean to cry. But she does.
"Hey… Are you OK?" Cosima slows her movements.
"Yes… Don't stop…Please…Please Cosima." She speaks, and her voice is thick and she continues to cry. To sob. How could she have known? How can Cosima already mean so much to her?
Cosima kisses her neck, and continues her slow drawn out teasing. It's enough, easily enough and her climax comes so easily. She wasn't expecting it to feel this intense, this perfect. When she's… empty.
"Ohh… Delphine…" Cosima moans at her, looking down at her and her heart skips a beat. What is she going to do with this? The sheer… loving tenderness of it all?
Delphine is heavily breathing in Cosima's ear when her new lover speaks again.
"Do you want more right now? Do you want me to…?"
She nods quickly, not trusting her words to come out correctly and feels Cosima haltingly enter her with two fingers. It's not a big intrusion, but… having Cosima…
"Oh!" Delphine mutters the syllable. Cosima feels good, she grins at the discovery. Really good to have Cosima there. And Cosima is inside her. She bites her lip, clinging on for dear life. She may cry again, but perhaps Cosima doesn't mind. Maybe, Cosima might even understand.
"Like this?" Cosima murmurs, testing her with clearly practiced fingers.
"Please!" Delphine begs and Cosima keeps moving softly, rebuilding the tension. "You feel so good… Cosima… Cosima…"
It is nothing like being with a man. Cosima doesn't just thrust with her fingers. Instead, she curls her fingers twisting and probing to stimulate her internally. Trying to bring her pleasure. Bringing tears back to her eyes and sobs from her throat.
"Delphine… I…." Cosima murmurs at her, and she clings fiercely.
Sooner than she anticipates, she comes around Cosima's fingers, feeling dazed and breathless. Sated, Delphine thinks. Two perfect orgasms. In Cosima's arms.
"Oh my god…" Cosima breathes out, looking down at her. "Oh my god."
And it's true, Delphine understands. They have a connection, a deeper one than she was expecting. And making love with Cosima has left her… satisfied.
"Oh…" Delphine sighs and begins kissing Cosima again, holding her close. Feeling her pressed against her. Her heart thuds in her chest. And she looks at Cosima. Her sweet face, her smile. Her lips. Her…. breasts.
"That… was really amazing." Cosima speaks happily, curling into her body to cuddle. It's then Delphine feels more. The wetness of Cosima's dripping sex pressing against her thigh.
"You're so wet," Delphine speaks without really meaning to. And it's silly. Of course Cosima is wet. If she weren't, after what they'd just shared, she'd be very concerned. Would have to be. But… now… She must…finish things. They are not done, Delphine thinks. Not until she's at least tried to please Cosima. Try to ensure this…connection runs both ways. That… it is enough.
"Yeah." Cosima agrees. "I am."
"I mean… I knew you must be. But to feel it right now, like this. I feel… wanted." She searches Cosima's face for an answer.
"Do you want to be inside me?" Cosima asks softly, gently resting against her. "Is that what you want?"
She looks at Cosima's dark eyes. Her lovely face. "Yes!"
"OK." Cosima moves on top of her. "It might be easiest if you sit up."
"Why?"
"I am just going to sit on your lap… And let you do whatever you want to me." Cosima says this with a grin.
She's guided through it, Delphine acknowledges. Cosima is hot against her lap, she looks down and barely gets a look at her. A flash of labia in shadow. But she feels her. And Delphine lets herself probe the folds of Cosima's sex. Hoping that this brings Cosima pleasure. Brings them…closer.
"You feel… good." Delphine offers softly. Cosima is soft under her fingers, and warm.
"Yeah?" Cosima smiles at her, amused. And she wonders. How many girls has Cosima done this with? How many women has she seduced into her bed with her intellect and her charm? Her wit and humour? Her fluid movements and beautiful face?
She nods and continues stroking before Cosima lifts her body and helps guide two fingers into her body. She is encased, surrounded. Cosima trapping her in her arms. Cosima's inner muscles around her fingers.
Cosima begins to move, and she moves with her. It isn't perfect. Delphine admits. But she tries. She kisses, and presses her free hand to the small of Cosima's back. To hold her closer. They need to be closer, Delphine thinks. And yet, they're pressed together from breasts to thighs.
"Like this." Cosima moves one hand to show her, to guide her. And she kisses her then, moaning into her mouth when she copies the motion. Cosima's movements grow more frenzied, more desperate. Cosima's sounds, her little moans in her ears make her gasp.
"You feel so fucking good." Cosima groans, digging her nails into her back. "Delphine!"
The cry of her name has her whimpering again. Deeply moved, she curls her fingers. Trying to mimic Cosima's movements. Trying to get this right.
It's beautiful. Delphine thinks moving her fingers gently as a smile forms on her face. Cosima's pleasure is beautiful. How could it be anything else?
"Delphine…please!" Cosima begs, clings, wants her. Desperately wants her. And her heart responds.
"Anything." Delphine breathes back, redoubling her efforts, moving her free hand to stimulate Cosima's clit. To bring her to orgasm. To make sure Cosima has what she needs. It is probably not as good as a toy, Delphine worries. But her gentle stroking has a surprising effect.
Cosima nearly screams. A loud whining cry, as she clings to her shoulders. Cosima comes and she watches Cosima move and writhe against her her until she's done.
"Ma chérie…" Delphine coos at her, kissing Cosima's lips as she comes down.
"OK…I … That was…" Cosima is breathless and delighted.
"Should we eat?"
It's only once they climb down from Cosima's bunk and begin redressing do they notice that their devices have both gone haywire. Chirping various directives at both of them.
Time for work!
"Seriously? We need to eat." Cosima shakes her head. They dress quietly, and are nearly fully dressed again when Eden and Sol return.
"You missed dinner." Eden points out as she watches Delphine put her shirt back on. Eden glances at Sol and Delphine knows that there is no way that they cannot guess what she and Cosima were just doing. Sol and Eden exchange a look, and Delphine wonders if the bunkroom smells of her and Cosima now. If it is too obvious. Or offensive.
"We had something else to do." Cosima quips. "Delphine and I are going to eat now." Cosima takes her by the hand with a squeeze.
"Sure you did." Sol teases them, and Delphine lets Cosima lead her towards the dining hall.
"I am so hungry." Delphine realizes as she's walking. Has she ever been this hungry after sex before?
"Me too… Let's eat and go back to bed." Cosima offers.
"But… our bunkmates."
"We can be quiet. Close the curtain." Cosima suggests. And Delphine isn't sure how she'll manage to resist. If she could even feign wanting to.
"So…. you and Cosima." Celia comments over breakfast. No one had said much of anything last night. They'd eaten their curried tofu and rice eagerly with vegetables. She'd been hungry. And then they'd gone to bed. Ignoring their devices.
"Yes. Me and Cosima." Delphine confirms with a nod.
"Yes. Her and Cosima." Sol buts in. "Cosima climbed into her bunk last night. Her foot was on my bunk to do that. Definitely noticed."
They'd only touched each other gently after dinner. Trying to not make any noise. Trying to be still. But she'd needed Cosima in her arms. Needed Cosima's body against her own. And after a few lonely minutes in her bunk, Cosima had obliged her and climbed in.
"Just don't make a racket when I am trying to sleep." Celia sighs.
Cosima just squeezes her hand, and continues eating their breakfast of rations and fruit. "These things happen in transit."
"They do." Celia agrees. Sol nods as well.
Priya for her part, stirs her coffee-substitute and drinks it. Delphine still isn't sure it tastes anything like coffee.
"What are your plans for the morning?" Eden looks around the table.
"I want to exercise and then play some games. Something…. Different." Sol thinks. "Celia… Do you think we can race?"
"I don't see why not. Your legs are a lot longer than mine though." Celia seems to be thinking this over, one hand playing with her red hair. "I think it may not be a fair deal."
"Exercise, shower and then… I think I will go with Cosima to the genetics lab."
"Oh the lab is open." Priya recalls. "Are you running simulations?"
"Simulations. Generate reports. All of it. Yesterday I ran the tutorial." Cosima comments calmly, unphased by the slight awkwardness at the table.
"It is fascinating… I wish… I wish I had access to my lab." Not that she'd be able to do anything with it without samples to run or patients to examine.
"Pathology in transit? I hope not. But I guess we could like be attacked by aliens. You never know." Cosima teases but she leans in and Delphine finds it is easy. Easy enough to be with Cosima.
"Emergency lab time?"
Exercise time!
Cosima scowls. "I guess I am hopping on an elliptical before getting to work."
"I will join you… as soon as I can." Delphine smiles. She continues eating.
"So… this a whole thing." Priya comments unnecessarily.
"Yes. Cosima and I…are romantically involved." Delphine figures that is the most accurate thing to call it. They are a couple. At least for now. And that has to be enough as they figure things out between them.
"Romantically." Priya repeats.
"They're going around holding hands even more now." Celia points out. "They're a thing… and the settlement will have to adapt."
"Adapt? You mean two lonely men without partners." Priya points out. "We are supposed to pair off and… breed."
Delphine remains silent, she won't be guilted for leaving some stranger single. Someone she doesn't even know. What is the point of getting into that sort of hypothetical scenario? How is any of that even relevant now.
"Well. Plans change." Sol muses as she shovels strawberries into her mouth eagerly. "Not much anyone can do about it."
"I guess not." Priya comments quietly.
And while it's not outright rejection, Delphine admits it stings.
She exercises directly next to Cosima on the neighbouring elliptical. She ignores her devices chirping that she needs to do weight training or a stationary bike instead. Her device however, which is supposed to be reporting her stats on the bike has other ideas.
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"I am not interested." Delphine speaks clearly.
Weight training would help with bone density.
"I prefer to do cardio first."
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"You ignoring it?" Cosima looks over, only briefly. Cosima is sweaty, and the sounds of her laboured breathing are getting to her. Makes her think of how Cosima was breathing yesterday in her arms. Think of the rapid breaths Cosima took while she was inside of her. While Cosima was moving over her.
"Yes." Delphine agrees. She eventually gives in to the chirping and does a few minutes of weight lifting. But only after Cosima does. There are easily a half dozen women working out and stretching. Most chatting casually. A few seem intent on finishing the exercise requirement and returning to more enjoyable tasks.
"We do want to maintain decent bone density…" Cosima points out.
"Yes."
"But… actually… I think I am going to hit the showers…In say ten minutes."
And she hasn't done enough. Hasn't completed her circut. But it can wait. Delphine thinks. She can always do it later. So when she sees Cosima leave, she follows Cosima from the gym. Cosima looks back over her shoulder with a smile. And they go immediately to the showers. Heading for the stall at the very back.
Cosima undresses wordlessly. A few women are leaving the showers, but it's empty. Delphine removes her clothing and hangs it up and grabs a towel off of the pile. She watches Cosima vanish into the stall and hears the water turn on.
"I'll give them this. The water is always a really decent temperature. " And Cosima is so casual, she hesitates. Maybe Cosima doesn't expect this. Maybe it is just the longing for Cosima getting away with her.
"Yes…" Delphine wrestles with herself for a moment. She's perfectly certain that showering with Cosima is not allowed. And yet, she follows Cosima into her shower stall. Pins her small body to the wall and touches her.
"Oh good… For a second… I didn't think you'd follow me."
"I would follow you anywhere. N'importe ou." Delphine breathes back. She kisses Cosima then, feeling her soft strong hands caress her body.
"What do you want?"
"You." Delphine continues to touch, continues to probe gently until Cosima is rocking her hips into her, and clinging. Until the breathy cries are in her ear and Cosima comes in her arms again.
"Oh… that is my favourite alternative cardio…" Cosima jokes and Delphine laughs.
"Mine too." And Cosima kisses her again, and then begins to lower her body, until she's on her knees in the shower in front of her. "Oh… Delphine."
Cosima nuzzles the small patch of wiry hair, one hand clasping at her ass. And she understands then what Cosima means to do, even as she's laying kisses against her inner thigh.
"What… are you… Cosima we can't do that . Not here." Delphine stops her new lover with a hand. There have to be some limits.
"I want… to eat you." Cosima sticks out her tongue when she offers this. "I… I like it. And… I am pretty good at it."
"That's… unhygienic." Delphine makes a face. And it is. No one does that . Such behaviours are heavily associated with homosexuality. And not much else. There are toys for such purposes, toys that provide similar stimulation with no risks, toys that can be well sanitized and reused. Toys that are small and can be used during intercourse to excellent results. There was no point to something like this. At least, there wasn't before.
Cosima sits back on her knees and looks up at her. "Why? We are literally in a shower right now. You can rinse off right before if that helps you feel comfortable."
"Because it is. There are discharges. Fluids. It is…easy to pass infections that way." Delphine struggles to find other reasons. But all the reasons she can find revert back to disgust and the act being unhygienic.
"But… putting your boyfriend's penis in your mouth isn't?"
Delphine grimaces. "Non… That is also unhygienic. And… few people do that . At least without a flavoured sheath. Even then… there are better and easier ways to…provide pleasure. Hands. Toys. Intercourse." Delphine brushes it off. It wasn't necessary. It… wasn't often demanded to be perfectly honest. And she'd gotten away without it coming up seriously before.
"So you've never had oral sex?" Cosima confirms slowly to her nodding.
"Non. I've used stimulators."
"OK." Cosima seems to take this in stride and looks up. "Want me to show you the ropes?"
"Cosima…"
"What? I do it all the time. It's not… what you think."
"But you're a -"
"A dirty lesbian who eats pussy?" Cosima quips unamused from down on her knees. But she's no longer smiling. She's observing her now. As if wondering how she'll react. As if recalculating their compatibility.
It was nothing she hadn't heard implied before, but she is reluctant to call Cosima that. And after all, she'd been enthusiastically and deeply kissing said lesbian.
"Cosima…"
"Hey. It's just a request… because I love it."
"You love it?" Delphine repeats.
Cosima closes her eyes and groans softly. "You have no idea."
She offers Cosima her hands and helps her up to her feet. "I think… We should get to work."
"Work? Or… 'work?" Cosima looks straight at her, and helps herself to some soap to begin bathing in earnest.
"You will have to wait and see until we get there." Delphine offers, sounding braver than she feels.
There's only one place remotely private enough to do what Cosima is suggesting. Which still, unnerves her. They steal a couple of towels from the shower room, and head up to the lab once they are fully dressed.
"Drop them." Cosima says once the lab doors open, they drop the devices to the floor. The devices chip from the floor. Ignored. Delphine couldn't care. Cannot care. Not when Cosima pulls her back in. Not when their clothes are slowly removed, hands mapping new flesh. Learning each other. Not when they kiss ravenously, pushed back against the nearest couch. Not when Cosima moves to enter her again.
Not when she accidentally whispers two words into Cosima's ear. " Je t'aime. "
Cosima whimpers in response, and pushes more deeply inside of her, a leg going over Cosima's hip. Everything. They can have everything, she thinks. Everything that matters.
"Tu me fais sentir… tellement bien…oh." Delphine doesn't bother to translate her thoughts. Cosima can live with the mystery. Cosima is as eager for her pleasure as she is. And when she is coming down. Cosima kisses her body. Her breasts. Her arms. Her belly. Her hip bones and finally, her thighs. And it feels good. So at first she lets her, but then Cosima's mouth inches closer and closer to her sex.
"OK." Delphine agrees, eyes closed. "If you want."
"So… you want me to eat you, but you don't want to watch?" Cosima teases.
"I'll try it." Delphine says instead. It is agreement, she thinks. To let Cosima have what she wants. To sate her own curiosity in a way as well.
"So open your eyes." Cosima asks. And she does, only to see Cosima brush the hair out of her way with her hand. "You are delicious."
She very much doubts that, but Cosima licks her, softly and then deeper. Her lips part and she lowers her mouth. She's sensitive and she cries out, it feels good. She cannot help it.
Cosima whimpers and groans and continues. And it feels good. Delphine acknowledges. Cosima's tongue against her sex. Cosima licking and massaging her sex with her lips feels good. Of course it does. It is stimulation. But what does this mean? What does this make her?
"Oh Delphine.." Cosima moans breaking away briefly to breathe, to adjust position and then eagerly returns her mouth to her sex.
She's overthinking it. Delphine thinks, pushed back on one of the couches, her legs spread and Cosima between them. Cosima is doing something that feels good. She is overthinking it. Why can't she stop overthinking it?
She's fairly certain her vulva is not attractive enough to be right up in anyone's face. Certain that the taste must be… off-putting. And yet there is nothing but delight on Cosima's face. Cosima's hands caress and hold her eagerly. There's desire here. And pleasure.
"Ohh." Cosima murmurs and begins to stimulate her more firmly. Not just licking her but sucking her into her mouth eagerly.
She stops thinking. Cannot think. She rocks her hips up into Cosima's mouth. She pleads with her and clutches at her dreads. When her second orgasm comes over her, Cosima eagerly clutching her, tasting her. She comes completely undone.
"Oh…" Delphine moans afterwards, when Cosima slowly works her way up. When she finds herself smelling herself, tasting herself on Cosima's lips. This… is not as dirty as she imagined. Maybe messy. But sex tended to be messy regardless.
"Thoughts?"
"That was… very enjoyable. But…"
"But what?"
"I do not know how to…. I cannot return the favour… at least not that well… and I… I think… I want to."
Cosima kisses her again, pulling her into a cuddle on the couch. "Give it time. We have time, Delphine."
"OK." Delphine agrees, but she cannot resist whispering. "Mais je veux que tu comprennes comme tu me fais sentir."
"Delphine… I know. I get it." Cosima speaks into her ear.
"But you don't…" How a connection this strong has eluded her, maybe forever. How nothing else has been like this. How… she doubts everything now.
"I understand enough. Feeling. Understanding… Delphine… this goes both ways. I… I want to be with you. We have time, Delphine. There's no rush."
And she cannot resist, she takes Cosima on the couch. Lets her hands show Cosima how she feels. How she wants. And Cosima lets her.
The next two weeks become a blur of lovemaking, of pleasure. They spend their spare moments tangled up in the lab or in Delphine's bunk. They sneak to the observation deck and dance, and kiss under the stars. They make love there very slowly. Hoping that they will not be interrupted. But they are not. No one stops them. No one can, Delphine realizes. At least until they land. She has Cosima cuddled against her each night, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop them. They're falling in love. And nothing can fix or change that.
Sol and Celia adjust easily to their new arrangement. And by the end of the second week, Delphine sees even Priya and Eden begin to shrug it off. They do not need to know, Delphine thinks. How could they need to know exactly what they've been doing? How Cosima always tastes her now, every time they make love in private. In the showers when they're empty.
Dephine looks over the newest simulation. They'd made love in the lab a dozen times since first coming here. And each time was better, more enjoyable if anything. She skims through the results of a decent population scenario. 200 years after landing, three ships arriving. One marked as lost. And it looked… OK.
"Delphine… Come back to the couch…" Cosima whines, naked on the couch. They'd fallen asleep here. And while they would have to return to the habitat ring for food, and to bathe… there was no reason to leave the lab. Though, the devices would kick them out. And Cosima had joked that they could depressurize the section if need be to get them out.
Delphine notes that several same colour icons appear to be paired. Going back to the first generation. Same sex couples. Cosima… was Cosima capable of altering the rules? But they had genetic children. Something that was not an option on the colony. Something done in a handful of experiments over 150 years ago. Something that couldn't and shouldn't be done. Why had Cosima done this? It was messing up the genetics.
"Cosima there is something wrong with this simulation." Delphine keeps looking back, she can see a variety of rules Cosima had introduced but nothing that seemed like it would have this result.
"No there's not… Come on… Come back to the couch… I'll make it worth your while."
"Cosima… You have same sex couples having biological children… this is not an accurate simulation of what could happen."
"Maybe not genetically … But you know, socially. Totally possible. If these weirdos think their kids cannot be queer as heck they're kidding themselves." Cosima walks over, pulling the grey tank over her body for warmth. "I upgraded the system."
"I thought you wanted me to come back to the couch." Delphine rifles back, generation 4, generation 3… all the same. When had Cosima introduced this change?
"Decided to come to you." Cosima leans up and kisses her, and Delphine sighs. She reaches down, her hands go to Cosima's fesses, she cups them in her hands. Fondles the soft flesh over layers of muscle.
"Cosima…" Delphine catches a glimpse at generation one. A line connecting Delphine Cormier to Cosima Niehaus appears… along with two impossible children. Both girls, generated by the system. Scanning, she finds that there are no other same sex couples in generation one. And the pairs, otherwise seem less random.
"I turned off randomization." Cosima whispers. "And made some really good improvements. For diversity and inclusion. I think it's much more true to real life now."
"You hacked it." Delphine realizes quickly.
"I did…" Cosima shrugs. "It's an improvement, don't you think?" Cosima teasingly smiles, raising an eyebrow at her.
"It will not work as intended, ma chérie… unless you turn it back."
Cosima shakes her head. "It's working exactly how I intended."
Delphine's eyes follow the line. And realizes what Cosima is proposing here isn't a genetic match. It is… a social and romantic one. It is… a suggestion of what could happen when they land.
"Just… think about it." Cosima leans in for another kiss and Delphine takes her eagerly. Kissing her new lover intently. Trying to pour in her love, her desire. How everything between them feels right.