Chapter 8

They headed back into the tent as I stood and Drusera bobbed up with me. "So how do you like Myala?"

"She- she was… not what I expected."

"I should probably warn you that you just got adopted."

"A- adopted?"

"Myala does that. She adopts things. Me, cute critters, occasional veggies, stray goddesses. She just loves to love everything."

"What does… adoption mean?"

"That she views you as part of her family. And probably as a consort candidate if you want to accept."

"I- I am family?"

"You are now. My family, which includes Myala. Arwick and the other consorts."

"Does- does that mean I am a consort too?"

"That, my dear, is entirely up to you. I have no doubt Myala finds you every bit as seductive as I do, but she's likelier to wait till she knows for sure how you feel about me before she'd make an attempt to seduce you." I giggled. "She won't want to get in the way of my "first time'."

Drusera's circuits flickered like mad as she processed that. I was quite happy that she was willing to be bolder about showing herself while by my side. I also noticed that a few royal troops seemed to have set up a cordon around us shortly after Myala had come out, probably on Arwick's orders, since all they were doing was keeping people from getting too close and none of them were armed. They were all members of Myala's personal guards and I knew most of them at least casually. Looked like Arwick was keeping his promise to run interference.

Drusera's circuits finally quieted. "I have only a few records on 'family' but I think I understand. Myala views me as a… child?"

"Not so much a child as just someone to care for. You are an adult even if you're rather innocent for someone a thousand years old."

"Innocent?"

"Not in knowledge, but in experience. I'm guessing you've been locked away in that prison all alone with him all this time. You haven't met many people, have you?"

"No…"

"How about we change that?"

"W- what do you mean?"

"I'd like to introduce you to a friend, if you don't mind."

"Okay."

I took out my comm and called Blok and found out he was in the bar. I told him I'd be there in a few minutes and that I had a surprise. Then I went over to the guy in charge of the guards and told him I was off to the bar. I was both aggravated by the guard and grateful. It wasn't the first time I'd had to deal with a guard detail, but I'd kinda thought I was done with them now that I wasn't a palace dancer anymore.

Still, with a blue goddess following me like a balloon, it was better to have them than not. And only about five of them followed me into the bar. I called out to Blok as I entered and got exactly the wide-eyed shock I was looking for as he took in Drusera bobbing over my shoulder.

"Bunny? What tha hell?"

"You remember the blue ghost girl?"

"Uh… yeah?"

"Meet Drusera. And yes, she floats."

She did a little nervous bob in midair.

Blok buried his face in his large hand. "How the hell do you keep doing this stuff?"

"I told you. Dumb bunny luck."

"I'm starting to think that's a superpower."

I turned to Drusera. "This is my buddy Blok. He's a Granok, and about 80% rock. Aurin and them don't always get along, but Blok here is a nice guy. And he actually likes Aurin."

Her rabbit ears twitched as she nodded. "Queen Myala says I can claim to be Aurin. So he will like me?"

"He'd probably like you even if you weren't Aurin."

"Yeah sure, she's a real cutie." He reached over to pick up the bottle and just chugged it.

"Bunny, did you seriously make the biggest mystery on Nexus your girlfriend?"

"Not yet, but working on it."

He sighed and shook his head. "Bunny, you are way too insane."

"G- girlfriend?" Drusera asked in puzzlement.

"It's what you would be if you choose to accept my courtship."

"Is- is that different from family?" Blok snorted behind his hand.

"Yes and no," I said. "A girlfriend can be family, but you can be family without being a girlfriend." I pointed at Blok. "Basically, if I courted Blok here- "

"Not gonna go there." He muttered.

"He would be my boyfriend."

"So, designating the gender before the word friend denotes a courtship relationship?" "Yup."

"I see." Her circuits flared briefly. "Then I believe it would be correct to call me your girlfriend."

I did my best not to shout out a cheer.

Blok waved to the bartender, "Hey, I need the biggest bottle of space barnacle remover you got!"

Drusera blinked at him for a second, then turned to me. "Should we copulate now? I believe that is part of courtship is it not?"

"Make that two bottles!"

I smiled at Drusera. "Drusera, dear. Copulation usually takes place in a bed in private."

"But I have archived data of you performing copulation behavior with trees in a public setting?"

"Yes, but that was for artistic purposes. And it's not really in public since it takes place on a set. It's a culturally accepted practice on Arboria, but generally not acceptable among mixed species, dear." I said trying furiously not to blush. I wasn't ashamed of my movie career, but it was slightly embarrassing at present.

I guess someone at some point had uploaded my movies to the net here on Nexus, and Drusera obviously could access it. She had said she wasn't exactly an A.I. but she wasn't exactly not an A.I. either. Her behavior certainly shared a lot of similarity with them. She was every bit as logic focused as a Mechari and obviously only just now learning to have emotions.

"But you are highly acclaimed for your copulation performances, are you not?"

"Well, yes. But dear, I would much rather play with you in my bedroom than in the bar."

"So, it is a matter of comfort?"

"Works for me."

"Then I will wait until we return to your bedroom. I am quite curious about Aurin copulation customs. As I am to be part of your family, I desire to live up to your and Myala's expectations."

"Oh. By all the gods, Bunny." Blok muttered.

Drusera bobbed anxiously. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No dear, it's just we don't have any expectations like that. Neither Myala nor I want you to do anything but what you choose to do."

"Do you not wish to copulate with me?"

"Of course I do. dear, but only if you desire me too."

"If- if I desire you too?"

"Yes dear. I very much wish to have sex with you, but I won't order you to, nor would Myala." "Did she not order you the other night?" Blok nearly choked.

"It was an order I knew I could refuse if I wanted, I simply chose not to. It is complicated to explain. The easiest way to explain it is that sex should always be at your choice and noone else's. I followed Myala's orders because I knew she wasn't seriously ordering me, just playfully ordering me."

"Playfully? Like… a game?"

"Yes. More or less. It's a game Myala and I play. I don't know how to explain it in a way that is logical. Just… well, perhaps it's best if you simply observe us. Just for now, understand that sex must always be because you desire it. Sex without desire is unacceptable among Aurin."

"So… sex must be desired. Then if I desire to copulate with you, you would?" Blok silently pounded the table, trying not to laugh.

"Uh… yes, of course!"

Drusera tilted her head at me. "Query. Why is your face so red?"

"Um… It's called blushing. You do it too. Remember at the pool? You blushed your way right out of visibility!"

Drusera's circuits flared brightly, and her eyes widened as she suddenly poofed.

Blok blinked then shook his head. "Bunny, you crashed her." He laughed "Dammit, you seriously bsod'd your girlfriend!"

"Drusera, please come back." I'm sure my voice sounded forelorn.

Blue lights swirled where Drusera had been, making chaotic patterns for several seconds before she reappeared in holo mode, her hands covering her face. She peeked between her

fingers, her circuits flashing wildly. "Do- do you know what this feeling is? I do not understand why I want to hide so badly!"

"I'm sorry, dear. It's called embarrassment."

"I do not like this feeling."

"I know, hun. No-one does. If it's any consolation, you're really cute when you blush." Her cheeks glowed so blue I worried about Cherenkov radiation.

I reached out to embrace her as she hid her face in my hair, stroking the back of her hood as she slowly solidified again.

"You… were embarrassed?" she finally asked.

"A little. I wasn't expecting you to ask me for sex so directly is all. You did nothing wrong. I was just a little surprised."

Drusera let out a soft, unsure hum against my shoulder, her circuits flickering in slow, pulsing waves. "I do not wish to make you uncomfortable," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

I chuckled, nuzzling her cheek. "Oh, sweetheart, I think you're misunderstanding. I wasn't uncomfortable, just caught off guard. You're just very direct, and I wasn't expecting it."

She peeked at me from beneath her hood, glowing eyes uncertain. "Should I not be direct?"

"You can be as direct as you like, I'm just not used to it yet. I will adapt."

Drusera seemed to consider that, her circuits pulsing in slow, thoughtful waves. "You… would change for me?" she asked, as if the concept itself was foreign.

I smiled softly. "Of course. That's what people do when they care about each other. We learn and grow together."

She looked down at our joined hands, running a finger along my palm as if testing the sensation again. "Then… I must learn as well." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the conviction in it was unmistakable. "If I am to be… your 'girlfriend,' then I must understand how to make you happy."

Blok, who had been attempting to mind his own business, slammed his glass down. "Okay.

I tried to stay outta this. But damn, Bunny, you got this girl on full-speed romance mode and I ain't seen anything like it."

Drusera turned to him, tilting her head. "Is… that bad?"

Blok just pointed at me. "It ain't bad, unless you like watching Bunny melt into a puddle of goo."

I rolled my eyes. "Ignore him, dear. He's just mad he's not in a romance of his own."

Blok snorted. "I like my relationships simple, thanks. No glowing goddesses about to rewrite the rules of intimacy on my watch."

Drusera turned back to me, circuits flickering. "Would… you prefer our relationship to be simple?"

I grinned. "Sweetheart, nothing about you is simple. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Her circuits flared a soft blue, her hands tightening around mine. "Then… I will not hold back." She looked me in the eyes, unwavering. "I will learn to love you."

Blok groaned, grabbing the entire bottle off the bar and downing half of it. "By the gods, I ain't never seen a woman declare love like she just signed a damn contract."

I just laughed, stroking Drusera's fingers. "Then I look forward to every moment of it."

"God's above, Bunny. I don't know how you do it. But congrats all the same."

I gave him a smug grin. "Thanks Blok."

"Now go on, stop torturing me and take that girl to bed."

I turned to Drusera. "Would you like that?"

Her circuits glimmered for several seconds. "I believe I would, yes."

I smiled as I stood and admired her as she swirled around me to float over my shoulder. I looked up into her face, noting her soft smile.

And no, I'm not gonna tell you about it, that memory is MINE.