Premature Acceptance

Aria and Richard exchange glances, communicating silently the way some couples learn to do over time. Richard wasn’t actually listening to her though, probably because the cute woman in their room practically asked to be used. A crucial circuit in his brain switched on, causing a cascade of others to shut off, making him mistake Aria’s bug eyes and smirk as, “Wow, they are really taking full-service to a new level!” instead of the “You have got to be fucking kidding me!” it was meant to convey.

“Oh!” Richard recovered enough to speak. “Alright! I guess this will take a little time to get used to, but we look forward to... using... the ship’s... hospitality.” He blushed at his own thoughts. Willow blushed at his blushing. Aria flushed with anger, which Richard then mistook for a blush and further agreement. “In fact, we were just about to start now... if you want to...”

Willow froze with nerves, having tried to psych herself up for this possibility, but not having actually done it before. She certainly didn’t think she would be asked to fulfill this duty quite so soon... but Good service requires enthusiasm, as her boss had drilled into her regularly. “O-of course, sir! How w-would you like me to assist?”

Richard was too enraptured in his blossoming fantasy to notice Aria approach Willow with a stern face.

“Willow, will you step outside for a minute? We need a quick talk.”

Willow started to agree automatically, but felt obligated to offer more information first. “I certainly can, ma’am, but there are a lot of passengers moving about and not much space to walk. My sleeping compartment is nearly soundproof when closed. It is preferable to my boss that I wait inside... She said that I am a tripping hazard,” she added, sounding sensitive about it.

“Fine.” Aria waved her to the sleeping chamber, watching Willow climb in and slide the privacy screen. Aria noticed a shaft of light where the screen was slightly ajar. “All the way, Willow.” Willow let out a guilty squeak and thumped it closed.

Richard was just starting to realize that he and Aria were not actually on the same page at all. He cursed at himself, quickly pulling his shorts back up just before Aria turned to him.

“Richard...”

“Yes, love?”

“We went through a lot to get here, right?”

“We did.”

“We are going to have a great time, right?”

“Absolutely!”

“Good. But we need to set some rules regarding Willow.”

“Sure thing!” He coughs to cover the sound of zipping his shorts.