Discussion

Rye looked down at her hands and seemed about to speak, but Meli reached over and put a finger to her lips. “Chief engineer. I believe we discussed this a short time ago. I also believe that this was an order from your captain. Do not disrespect your office by being timid. State your desires.” The bunny girl looked up at that, eyes flicking from Meli to Dustin before nodding. “I want to be Dustin’s. It’s as simple as that. Umm… Meli’a tells me she didn’t go much into explaining pairing, and she said she thought if I suggested it you’d probably be hung up on how today was my first time because of some human stuff, so while I think I want that, I’m happy to work towards it.” At this, her voice started to trail off as she concluded “that is if you want me to be yours” in a half-whisper.

Dustin gave her a reassuring smile - but he wasn’t going to reply to any of this until all of them had spoken. Meli seemed to sense this, leaning forward to say her piece. “We are Li’ah’an you and I, Dustin. But, if I must be honest, I’d quite like to spend more time with Rye as well. She is fascinating, so different from other Rabyth I’ve spoken with. She’s also adorable when she gets flustered, wouldn’t you agree?” The Rabyth woman glared at Meli then, her usual fire flickering in her eyes. “Shush nerd, we’re supposed to be being serious here. For the record though, since this is supposed to be an open discussion thing for the captain - I’d quite like to do stuff with the Velca too.” Dustin shook his head at the banter between his women, then paused at that thought.

“Well, fuck me.” He muttered under his breath - not quietly enough apparently as two sets of sensitive ears flicked his way. “Is that all you want?” both women said at the same time - then broke into giggles at Dustin’s embarrassed blush. “Damn it you two.” He said louder this time, before collecting his thoughts and stating his own wishes. “Honestly, this is crazy to me - one woman as attractive as either of you would have been insane luck for me back on earth, let alone two. I know there will be other people joining… us - over time. But as far as this goes? Meli, you’re my fiancé. I said before you’re the first person I fell for since leaving earth, and I want you in my life. Rye - you’re smart, and Meli’s right, adorable. I can’t see a situation where I don’t want to have you around either. For us three at least, I’d like our relationship to be mutual between all of us.”

Both women smiled at him then, the Velca’s ears flicking into a triumphant posture and the Rabyth’s eyes almost tearing up with relief. “So does that mean…” Rye began, before Meli took hold of her chin, turning the bunny girl firmly to face her and silencing her words with a kiss. When Meli pulled back a moment later, she nodded as if she was pleased with whatever she saw in the other woman’s eyes. “Yes, it means Dustin is going to keep you.” Then she murmured something to the Rabyth in her native tongue that Dustin couldn’t catch. Whatever it was, it caused Rye to blush deeply before she turned back to face Dustin.

“Do I get to know what that was about?” he asked, at which Meli shook her head, and Rye replied “Nope. Meli told me something but it’s up to her to explain it to you in her own time.” Dustin noted something in that statement however, and raised an eyebrow. “Meli?” he asked the Rabyth woman, before glancing at his Velca lover. “I didn’t ask her to become Li’ah’a, if that’s what you’re worried about my love” Meli said, before adding “I merely agreed to an arrangement we had discussed while we were in the shower. And no, you do not need to know what it is - only that it is in your best interest given everything you have said. To be honest, I’d made it conditional on you wanting all three of us to be in a relationship together.”

Dustin’s puzzled look must have been obvious as Meli sighed before continuing “not all ambassadors wish for any - even just two - of their partners to also pair up. Some don’t care, some do - some are actively hostile to the notion. All depends on the species. If you’d just wanted to continue helping Rye with her problem whenever she went into heat, then there would have been no relationship changes needed. But as you opted to give us all what we want, well…” Rye glanced between the two before shaking herself out of whatever social interaction induced trance she was in and said nervously “so now what do we do?” Dustin glanced at her, then smiled and leaned forward. Kissing first her, then Meli before sitting back leaving both women a little surprised at his sudden boldness he shrugged. “We make plans for the next mission. Chief science officer, if you would be so kind?”

Meli flashed him a look and adjusted her towel as she turned to the table and brought up a hologram. “It’s a simple enough one. This species has a particular love of music and have an open request for new musical recordings for trade. We won’t even need to land for this one - just enter orbit and transfer some data from the data-banks. They’re even further behind earth in their expansion into space - only a single off-world colony on their second moon. Don’t have humanity’s drive to explore it’d seem. As such, they haven’t even gotten a proper link into the intersystem network setup for all their people yet - the download will get us into good standing with them, and they’ll send us some interesting samples of their own music in return. Not really a mission as such.”

Then she paused, before flicking the holo onto a view of a different world. “This final one is a little more complex - but still pretty simple. They’ve got some issues with an orbital beacon array and need assistance realigning it. Doesn’t really need a ship with the specs of the Solar Ascent, but we’re closer than any other ship that does have the capabilities required, and it’s important enough to them for them to offer a signature in exchange for the work.” Dustin nodded at that, before adding his own thoughts. “So, swap some blues for some alien music, get the drones to go do a bit of repair work - and then on to Feliax space. We’re heading to their home world, aren’t we?” Meli nodded at that, tapping a finger on her chin thoughtfully. “We are. Given our new status - the three of us I mean - we will need to approach this a little more carefully. I did start planning for this eventuality, but if you don’t mind captain I’d like a few more days to work everything out fully before we discuss the details of that part of our trip.”

Then the Velca woman turned to Rye. “Rye, your heat should burn out in a week or so right? That’d be probably just as we’re arriving at the second mission’s destination.” When the Rabyth woman nodded, Meli continued “in that case, I’ll aim to get everything organized to go over with you both by then. I think Rye will need a clean head for this discussion.” For her part, Rye nodded firmly. “That’d be best. Right now I don’t know what I’d do if one of the Feliax was on board. Umm… actually, I probably do know. Captain?” her voice took on a sultry tone as she finished her reply. It didn’t take a genius to work out what was going on; Rye’s breathing was getting faster and her face was flushed. “Sorry, umm… It’s just all this talk and then Meli kissed me and then you did and then…” she began. Meli shook her head. “Don’t apologize for anything to us Rye. Do you want the captain to take care of you? I can step out if you’re…” This time it was Rye’s turn to silence someone with her mouth, clamping it to Meli’s as her hands tugged at the towels between them.