A non-shitty proposal

Dustin had taken the time the next morning to have a quiet word with Emely. In addition to ensuring that a very specific form was indeed going to be transmitted at priority one, he’d also gotten her to pull the most recent grav-ball recording off the net - one he knew that Sammie hadn’t yet had chance to watch.

A discussion with Naera had arranged a basket full of snacks, while Yaerwen accompanying them to one of Sola’s many rooms kitted out for large holo-playback had given him cover against Sammie suspecting that this was anything other than him inviting his lovers to watch the game. Once the show was underway the dark skinned pilot nestled into his arm on one side, periodically leaning forward to yell at the teams, the referee, and on one occasion a popcorn vendor in the holographically projected stands.

When the match had only a few minutes to go - and the winner was obvious - Yaerwen excused herself to head to the bathroom, leaving the pair alone. Dustin bit his lip. He’d done a lot of impulsive things in his life, but this one was just adding to an already agreed action. It was also a decision that both Meli and Trea’k had agreed was sensible when he’d spoken with them about it in soft whispers in the dark after Sammie had fallen asleep the previous night.

As the referee announced the final score, he slid off his seat, pulling the box he’d been carrying from his pocket and cracking the lid. Sammie turned her eyes from where she’d been cackling about her team winning at his motion, before her mouth slowly dropped open.

“Samantha Coastwood, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife? I…” Dustin didn’t manage to get any further with his carefully planned words before his pilot did a good impression of Emely’s usual missile-like hug-tackles, her lips crashing into his as she knocked him backwards onto the floor.

“Yes! Fucking yes of course!” The pilot managed to vocalize her acceptance between kisses - at which point every light in the room suddenly glowed brightly. The doors slid open, and multiple voices called out as one. “CONGRATULATIONS!”

Dustin hadn’t planned for all their lovers to be waiting to surprise Sammie after his proposal. It turned out that had been Yaerwen’s idea, the woman preening her mane when he questioned her on it. “I figured she’d appreciate knowing we’re all happy for you both. It’s not like anything will really change - I mean, you’re already married to Meli after all. But it makes her happy, and she’s great. Even if she is wrong on so many sports-related things.”

Now sitting with all of them in the viewing gallery rather than the ready-room for once, Dustin smiled to himself as Rye and Sammie sat with their heads together discussing a hen night. Meli stretched up contentedly where she was leaning against his side, before dragging one of his hands around to rest over her stomach where their twins were busily kicking up a storm. “The boys seem happy about everything,” she murmured, then added “are you planning on having a big ceremony like we did? I’m pretty sure Sammie doesn’t care either way - she seems more keen on the party beforehand than the actual wedding service.”

Dustin stroked his wife’s abdomen gently for a moment before he replied. “I dunno yet. Mostly after she asked me last night I just knew I should organize a proper proposal for her so it wasn’t some rushed paperwork thing because she wanted to get our engagement sorted before Jaisyl joined the crew. Honestly, I had been planning on having a discussion with all of the ladies that are… I can’t think of the words besides ‘just our lovers’ which doesn’t come close. But yea, I was going to discuss with all of them now you, Trea’k, Emely, Rye and I are all officially joined in one form or another, and see if they wanted something similar. I can’t imagine life without any of us, can you?”

The woman in his arms snuggled closer into him. “No, I can’t. And you’re right - especially if they’re planning on following me into this ungainly state.” She chuckled as she patted his hand on her stomach, right as one of the twins kicked rather firmly. As Dustin marvelled yet again at the feeling, Meli’s chuckle trailed off into a wince. “I really have got to stop eating those root crisps Naera makes. They’re so tasty and I crave them, but there’s something in them at least one of the twins really doesn’t like.”

Pausing, the Velca woman craned her head back for Dustin to kiss before she spoke again, something he gladly did. “Seriously though, husband. I think you should talk to the others before too long. Maybe clear it with Sammie first, let her have her moment - but at least for Bleu and Naera you should find out if they want to take their connection with you to a deeper level. The other three are still a little new to be making any plans.”

It was Dustin’s turn to chuckle. “If I asked Defia, she’d jump at it. The other two I’m not so sure,” he said, then put on a passable imitation of the void-black woman’s voice. “Statement. I want to be ordered around because I am a kinky woman just like Emely. Please make me your permanent property, prime unit.”

Meli’s giggle attracted attention from the others, and Dustin lost himself in enjoying the moment with his lovers, forgetting about the matter entirely until much later. Specifically, until he got in a turbolift back to the ready room with Defia, and the instant the doors closed she turned to face him. “Statement. Your imitation of my vocal patterns was inaccurate. I am not just like unit designate Emely. She is able to retain her form when you make her cum her brains out. I would not object to becoming linked with you however - although I agree with unit Meli’s opinion that I am too newly added to your inner cluster for that to be stable.”

As Dustin’s jaw dropped and the door hissed open at their floor, Defia smiled at him - all teeth as usual. “Inquiry. Did you forget I have exceptional hearing? Addendum. As payback for your earlier quasi-mocking commentary regarding my speech patterns, I request you oblige me by pinning me down and turning me into a puddle tonight, Dustin.”

Far away from Sola and the sounds of a rogue Fractal being repeatedly pounded into a mattress later that evening, Jaisyl paced her room irritably. It wasn’t that the bulk of packing was hard - she’d already had servants fold and store all her dresses, gowns and other outfits. Including, much as she hated the idea, the one that she’d picked out for when she and her future husband first… Shaking her head, she paused, glared at herself in the mirror, and resumed pacing.

There was no way she would be getting intimate with that stupid, irritating clerk - no matter how much he might plead to be allowed to mount her. No, that wasn’t happening, delicate lace underwear or not. Back to the matter at hand, packing. If she packed too much it would be accepting her fate - that she’d be leaving permanently with the human (she had at least now got his species name correct), and only returning on rare occasions. On the other hand, if she didn’t pack enough of her things, she would be incredibly, soul-suckingly bored for the next year before her marriage contract ended - and boredom could lead you to fooling around with men, her handmaids had always told her.

Conceptually, she was pretty sure that even without her cross-stitch she would at least rely on her own two hands before seeking her ‘husband’ and his cock, but on the other hand more than one of her maids had already had a calf or two of their own, so they probably knew more about the matter than they had any right to. “Uugh, why is this so fucking hard,” Jaisyl groaned, flopping face first onto her bed and kicking her feet until she felt better. “Alright, packing. I’ll take the cross-stitch.” The princess rose, glad at making a decision, and shoved the wicker box she stored her needlework in over to the growing pile of things she’d decided to take before turning back to a shelf of romance novels with a wince, her pacing resuming once more. “If I take my library I’m practically declaring that I’m happy shacking up with that hornless oaf, but...”