Chapter 4: Blind Date
Nutritional Warning: This chapter contains no angst.
.
Asari underground base.
Even the bathroom was normal. It had a toilet, a sink... and everything was so impeccably clean that she'd almost felt sorry to use it.
Alice rubbed her face in front of the mirror.
The others yawned and said goodnight before leaving. You don't do that before preparing the operating room to dissect me... or to make human sushi... And I just can't picture them being evil. I think I'm safe. I guess...
Alice didn't want to leave. Everything inside her wanted to drop to her knees and beg Kali to take her to the stars. It was overwhelming.
But... Either the whole evening is a misunderstanding, or this really is a blind date. Kali's sexual innuendo and staring at my tits can't just mean "we come in peace"... What the hell should I do...?
She was used to the blind date routine. When the guy would realize she was, usually by far, the smarter one, he would suddenly "not deserve her", "respect her too much", or "want to be friends", then run away to nurse his bruised ego, and never call again.
And now, this.
Alice had a fantasy, deep down inside her lonely heart. She just wanted someone who would not worship her, or feel threatened by her, or any of that angsty crap. She wanted something normal and simple.
Compared to Kali, she'd probably be a cavewoman. She'd learn new things everyday...
Hmm... I'd love to work here! Maybe they'd take interns?
Alice had a bit of confidence. A bit of cynicism. She was a bit of a renegade. She thought about the way Kali filled her dress, and a delicious warmth invaded her...
She's so damn gorgeous and out of my league and... an alien! This is insane, but... if I don't do it, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.
She did her best to tame the butterflies in her stomach, opened the door, and emerged back into the common room. It looked very different, dark and inviting, as the only light came from the candles on the coffee table. A scent of flowers. The background music was a whisper.
God. I'm done for.
Alice's resolve had lasted all of three steps. She stopped dead in her tracks, right in front of Kali, who had been waiting for her, standing. The asari wrung her hands. "You took so long I was afraid you might have had, uh... second thoughts..."
Alice mumbled something and flushed like never before.
Kali caught her in an embrace, adding "I'm sorry about all the bad jokes... I can't keep my foot out of my mouth. Don't be scared."
The hug was warm, pleasant, gentle, and long enough for Alice to notice her arms were hanging limp at her sides. She hugged Kali back, and found the nerve to whisper "I'd like to stay... get to know you better..."
Kali sounded relieved as she replied "Me too." She sat Alice down by her side on the couch. Besides the candles, on the coffee table, were two bottles and glasses. Vodka and juice.
After a long, awkward silence, spent listening to her heart beating way too fast, Alice inquired "What were Nel and Ch'ara doing right in front of us? Making love? Their eyes turned black..."
"Not really," Kali grumbled "it's more like sharing their minds... but I am so single that I will vomit rainbows if I have to watch such soppy romantism for more than two seconds. And they do it for hours!"
Alice giggled nervously. "Wow, you really spend too much time on the internet!"
Kali regained her composure. "You have no idea what they were doing, right?"
"Well, we melded in the elevator... she wanted to check on me..."
Kali seemed sorry. "Goddess... your first time, inside an elevator, of all places. Did it work?"
Alice smiled, and answered in a dreamy tone "It was... very intriguing... and..."
Before she finished her sentence, Kali interrupted with "It really worked? You also felt her presence?"
"Yes, she felt nice, but she didn't show anything else. She said 'I'm not single'."
Kali stared at her, then poured herself a glass of vodka, downed it and muttered "Goddess!"
Alice ventured "Can you show me... biotics? I didn't dare to ask before."
Kali closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, extended a glowing hand, and lifted a book from the shelf with her mind. She made it slowly fly towards Alice, but half-way her hand began to shake, and she lost focus. The book fell to the floor. She seemed strained and tired by the effort, panting.
"You see... not quite useful..."
Alice was still quite impressed, but as Kali downed another drink, she wondered "Why do I get this fruit cocktail, while you get vodka?"
Kali laughed. "I shouldn't take advantage of drunk aliens, no matter how insanely fascinating and cute they may be."
Alice gulped, flushed, and had really no idea what to do. She attempted a "That was... direct..."
Kali frantically tried to disarm the situation. "Was I too direct? You know, asari dating is veeeery long, subtle and complicated... while on the other hand, the way you guys do it is... damn, did I say something completely inappropriate again?"
Alice actually loved the way this gorgeous alien scientist was trying to hit on her across the cultural barrier in a completely misguided and goofy way. How she had turned from a very confident professional into a shy, mumbling mess, desperately trying not to ruin her chances. Kali was such a failure in that matter that she dearly reminded Alice of herself... And she found this horribly cute. Alice poured herself a shot of vodka, and moved a little bit closer to Kali.
"So... those tentacles on your head..."
Kali displayed all her teeth in a perfect grin. "Yes. Of course. They are for latching onto prey while we suck the blood out."
Before Alice managed to rise and run away, Kali tackled her into submission on the couch, laughing. "Come on. They're also our biotic sensory organs. I can sense your presence, mood and heart rate, even if you hide behind that wall. Evolution-wise, that's a killer feature. And they do flop around!"
Kali made her tentacles go limp and turned her head left and right, which resulted in a mess of blue appendages flopping. Alice burst into laughter.
Kali waved a tentacle, slowly, so Alice could observe. The first inch or two near the base was fixed to her skull, but the rest appeared soft and free to move. As Alice seemed extremely intrigued, Kali leaned forward and let her touch.
It felt really weird, warm, squishy yet firm, and... very much alive. it wiggled and curled itself around her finger. It didn't have any suckers, though. Alice wondered if suckers would make it sexier... Her curiosity won. She investigated. She poked, squeezed, fiddled, bent and tickled.
Alice noticed too late that Kali was gone. Right when she let out a loud, uncontrolled moan, clutched Alice's thigh, and let her head fall into her lap.
Alice gasped and quickly removed her hands, then a wave of red spread over her face as she realized she had no idea what she'd just done... although it seemed to have been pleasant enough. The asari was purring in delight, softly rubbing her face against Alice's belly.
Damn, she got me. I should really have seen that coming.
"Did you... did I...?"
Kali purred "Mmmmh. A little."
Alice grumbled "You could have warned me, you know."
"I could have. Don't you like surprises?"
"How did that feel like?"
"If we meld, you will know."
Alice gasped "Holy shit."
Taking advantage of the opening, Kali reached for a drawer under the couch, and picked up a navy blue polar fleece blanket. Then, she turned over, her head still in Alice's lap, but now looking at her eye to eye, and smiled.
She kicked her shoes off, slid a toe under her socks and pulled them away. Then, she covered herself with the blanket, leaving only her head out. She made no effort to keep her tentacles tucked behind her head; they were strewn across Alice's lap.
Those eyes... and her smile! Alice thought, with a silent laugh. She was cornered between an extremely comfortable couch, and an adorable alien doing her best to get into her pants. She placed her hand on the blanket, feeling Kali's shoulder below.
Kali meekly said "This isn't for my work, or studying you, alright? It's just you and me... I really don't want to screw up with you. Will you... please... help me?"
Alice was at first flattered, then... flabbergasted. "You're asking for my help to flirt with me?"
"Uh... Well, yeah... Am I doing well? Would you like a bit more vodka?"
Alice had a little giggling fit, considering how things were going. Kali seemed really sincere, almost pleading. That was insanely cute. She tried to explain. "Well, normally, we'd talk a lot about ourselves, and if you feel I'm interested, you'd make a bold move." - her mind went on - like pin me on that couch and kiss me right now, oh God yes!... uh... when did it get so hot?
Kali smirked "Good, then. Biotic perk!... I can sense you're... very interested! I wish you could see it... Alice, you are a beacon of horniness."
She grabbed Alice's hand, and pulled it under the blanket, resting it on her belly.
So warm and soft... *gulp*
Alice tried to push away the thought of her lips on the alien's skin and attempted a futile last-ditch defense, blurting out a shy "But, I am, *ehrm*, straight!" – she forgot to add "unless I'm drunk enough to dare act my fantasies", but Kali made her feel tipsy anyway.
Kali grinned, savouring her victory, and nailed "I'm not exactly a woman, you know?"
Then, she lectured playfully "We refer to ourselves as girls and use 'she', because you see us that way. It's more convenient for everyone. Alice, don't overthink it. I'm just me, alright?"
During the entire speech, her hand had been playing with Alice's hair. She rose from Alice's lap to sit by her side, eye to eye, and went on. "Alice, we're adults, I guess... I should say it... Will you meld with me?"
After a long, heavy silence, Alice inquired... "How does this work?"
"Don't take your clothes off yet, we're not going to make love right now, okay? Just... lie down... I will tell you what to do. Don't worry."
Alice reclined down on the couch. Kali motioned Alice's legs apart and sat between them. She gently laid her back upon Alice, her head resting on her shoulder, cheek to cheek.
She whispered "Hold me...", and Alice complied. Kali wrapped the blanket around them.
"The Meld is communication... We use it for many things, like learning, teaching, sharing, getting to know each other... or as a deeper form of... conversation. It... defines what we are, biologically and culturally, Alice. Alright? Of course, it really enhances the... the sex, but it is much more than that."
Alice nodded... Kali added "So, right now, we're just going to... get to know each other a bit better, and see where it goes..."
Alice's thoughts were quite the mess, as she considered how fucked-up it was for her first contact with friendly aliens to almost reach making love after only a few hours... but on the other hand... Kali's weight on her chest, the delicious warmth they shared under the blanket, Kali's belly under her hands, and Kali's hands on top... her fingers softly running on Alice's forearm, then settling right where they should be. Tentacles softly tickling her neck. Everything was just right. This was it. She shivered, and felt her heart rise in her throat.
Kali then turned around, snuggled her face into Alice's neck, and embraced her too. They wiggled against each other, basking in the warmth of their embrace.
Then, Kali said in all simplicity "Human. Your alien overlord needs a bit more cuddling."
That sent them both in a hectic giggling fit. It was Just what Alice needed...
Kali asked "There is so much I'd like to show you... Are you afraid?"
Alice replied "Yeah..."
Kali took a deep breath and said, in a surprisingly sad voice "You know, two hundred years old is enough for lots of regrets and missed opportunities... So I'd rather be too brash and direct, rather than just watch you walk away. And, yeah, I'm afraid too..."
She closed her eyes, wiggled and snuggled against Alice, pleading "I'm in your arms... Am I that scary? What are you waiting for? You say the words, I'll do the rest."
Alice ventured "Embrace Eternity?"
She did her best to control the unconscious urge to reject the alien presence. Alice imagined a kiss to welcome her, since it had worked last time. That worked a little too well however, as Kali was much more... eager than Nel, and her purposes clearly different. They found themselves sucked into a sloppy, wet, scorching hot mental kiss. Alice felt their motionless bodies, which made it all even weirder.
Their thoughts locked together.
"Wait, what?"
"What's wrong?"
"This kiss doesn't feel like a kiss at all!"
They stopped for a while and realized kissing simply was a completely different experience for a human and an asari... Then, Kali frantically moved her hand all over Alice's body, softly poking with a finger... and felt Alice's sense of touch feeding back into her mind, in the correct spots, but with different sensations. She urged Alice to do the same, and it also worked. Kali sent a memory of her family, of her baby sister coming out of her egg shell, holding one of her fingers in her tiny blue hand, which moved Alice to tears.
Kali asked "How do you feel? Any ill effects?"
Alice couldn't find any words, but her thoughts were clear enough. She wanted more.
Kali let her feelings flow through, and did her best to reassure Alice she wasn't just a scientific experiment. They were both amazed by their feelings being so similar: surprised at falling for each other so quickly, absolutely delighted, and scared about where this would go. Alice suspected Kali tried to hide how scared she was, though.
They shared random memories and feelings as they popped into their minds, from the whimsical and funny to the deeper and much more personal. Some things were off-limits, of course, especially asari technology, but that wasn't the point. They talked using images, perfumes, feelings, music... They saw each other for who they really were, and when they compared to how they had imagined each other before melding, they burst out laughing uncontrollably.
"Oh, Goddess, you're so..."
"You too, Alice, and you said Goddess. I'm flattered."
"Huh. I expected you to flood my head with naughty thoughts, though..."
"You like surprises."
Alice laughed... "What about mind-sharing like you said?"
"Hmmm... alright."
They are both adrift together, weightless in the air, basking in the warm sunlight caressing their skin. Kali summons a breathtaking landscape from another world. Alice adds an extra moon, flowers and birds. They stay like that for a while, enjoying each other, then Kali slowly brings them back to reality.
"We're inside each other's imaginations... it can be anything we want, really."
Alice takes her turn. She is on the top of a mountain, as the first rays of sunlight begin to shine. She feels the icy cold air in her lungs, runs her hand through the frosted grass, and watches as the dawn enraptures the valley below, while Kali is holding her.
Their memories were no longer fragments from the past; they could make them alive again, share them, write stories with them. They focused on bringing out something Alice had almost completely forgotten, an insignificant moment from her younger life... and spent hours filled with bittersweet nostalgic recollections.
When they finally opened their eyes, Alice summed it all up. "God. This is the best day of my life."
Kali looked at her, and they saw each through the other's eyes. They gasped.
Their photo-receptor cells had different peaks. Kali had an additional type, sensitive in the near-infrared. Their field of view was different. Everything was different. Perhaps it was the meld playing tricks... or their own minds. They could not agree on how exactly each color should look like. Alice insisted her hair did not really look that fiery and sublime... or could it? Kali could not respond, as she was lost playing with it.
"Damn, you know how to flatter a girl!" Alice said.
Hours passed. They ended up too tired to go on. Kali smiled at Alice's sleepy eyes, and remarked "you're drifting off..."
Alice's "I guess...I should go, then..." made Kali wince, but she helped her to her feet. They exchanged phone numbers, and promised to call, then hugged, then promised again.
They were both expecting the other to say or do something which didn't come. Kali's eyes begged, but she didn't dare.
Kali quickly slipped on her long sleeves, a corny human-colored balaclava and wig with fake dreadlocks. It was 4AM, that would do. She blindfolded Alice again.
In the elevator, once more they promised to call. Kali asked for a few strands of hair as a souvenir, "just in case". Alice plucked and offered them.
Right before helping her into the taxi, Kali put something into Alice's hand, folded her fingers around it, then kissed her hand. She said "This is what I should have put into your drink. If you take it before falling asleep, you will forget everything. Please... please throw it away."
She sobbed, and ran away.
Later, in the taxi, the driver inquired why Alice looked so bad, as if she just had a breakup.
She opened the window and threw the little pill away.