Lucas sat in the mess hall of the medical wing, staring at the bowl of nutrient paste in front of him. It smelled vaguely of mushrooms, but the consistency was like wet cement. He poked at it with a spoon, debating whether it was worth the effort.

Across from him, Vaylara sat quietly, her claws tapping against the edge of the table. She had been unusually reserved since their last conversation, her usual barrage of scientific inquiries absent.

Lucas sighed, setting the spoon down. "Alright. Let's talk about the whole… repopulation thing."

Vaylara's golden eyes flicked up to meet his. "You are ready to proceed?"

"No!" Lucas groaned, rubbing his temple. "I mean, we need to talk about how humans handle this kind of thing."

She straightened. "I see. I have miscalculated."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Miscalculated?"

Vaylara exhaled—a slow, deliberate motion, almost like a sigh. "I did not take into account human courtship."

Lucas sat up a little. "So you do know what that is?"

"Only in the academic sense." She clasped her hands together. "Among my species, reproduction is a purely biological transaction. A viable specimen is chosen based on genetic fitness, and once the process is complete, both parties continue their lives separately."

Lucas frowned. "No relationships?"

"Correct." She tilted her head. "The idea of bonding emotionally with a mate is… foreign to me."

Lucas let that sink in. To her, their previous conversation hadn't been an awkward, sudden proposition—it had just been logical. He exhaled. "Alright. So in human culture, relationships aren't just about producing offspring. There's emotional connection, trust, and, well… romance."

Vaylara nodded, absorbing the information. "I understand. If this is a necessary component of human reproduction, I will adapt."

Lucas blinked. "Wait, what do you mean by—"

She stood abruptly. "I will return shortly." And with that, she strode out of the mess hall, leaving Lucas with his sad excuse for a meal and a creeping sense of unease.

--

That evening, Lucas had just settled into his quarters when his door chimed.

"Come in?" he called.

The door slid open, revealing Vaylara. But something was… different. Instead of her usual lab coat, she was wearing a flowing garment of deep blue fabric, draping over her shoulders and cinched at the waist with a silver clasp. Her frills had a subtle shimmer to them, and her golden eyes had a strangely focused intensity.

Lucas slowly sat up. "Uh… what's going on?"

Vaylara stepped inside, clasping her hands in front of her. "I have researched human romantic customs and have formulated an approach to establish an emotional connection."

Lucas had a very bad feeling about this. "Vaylara… what exactly did you read?"

She pulled out her tablet, scrolling. "Multiple sources describe the importance of 'romantic gestures' in human bonding rituals. I have synthesized several into a cohesive plan."

Lucas groaned. "Oh boy."

Vaylara set the tablet down and took a deep breath. "Lucas," she said solemnly. "Your cranial structure is… symmetrical. And your ability to digest a wide range of substances is biologically impressive."

Lucas blinked. "What."

She continued. "Your capacity for problem-solving exceeds that of many recorded species, and you possess a remarkable resistance to environmental toxins compared to my kind. These are optimal traits."

Lucas pressed a hand to his forehead. "Vaylara, are you… complimenting me?"

She nodded. "Yes. Courtship requires verbal affirmations of attraction. Have I done so adequately?"

He let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. "That's… not exactly how it works. It's not just about listing traits—it's about how you feel about the person."

Vaylara frowned. "Feelings are subjective. How does one quantify them?"

"You don't. That's the whole point," Lucas said. "It's about connection, about wanting to be around someone, not because they have strong genetics but because they matter to you."

Vaylara fell silent, her frills twitching slightly. "Then… I have failed in this attempt?"

Lucas rubbed his face. "No, not failed. Just… this is new for you, right?"

She nodded.

"Then you don't have to rush it. Maybe instead of trying to follow some weird checklist, we just… take things slow."

Vaylara considered this. "A gradual approach to bonding?"

"Yeah." Lucas smiled a little. "Maybe start with just… getting to know each other outside of a lab. Maybe have a conversation that isn't about ancient pyramid death rays or mating strategies."

Vaylara nodded slowly. "Very well. I will recalibrate my approach."

Lucas chuckled. "That's a start."

For the first time since waking up, the idea of his future didn't seem quite so terrifying. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have to face it alone.