Four-way discussion

The day after the Yuran had left the system, Dustin woke late and made his way through to the ready room to find Bleu waiting for him. “Captain” she nodded as he sleepily retrieved a drink and helped himself to the last plate of breakfast that Naera had left for him under a warming lid. Seating himself, he got about halfway through the food before realizing the Queri medic was watching him over steepled hands. “What’s up?” he asked, guessing from her expression that she had something she wanted to talk to him about.

Bleu sighed, tapping her fingers on the desk for a moment before she replied. “Captain, I have to ask - is there a reason you, Rye and Meli have yet to have your discussion regarding offspring?” Dustin half-choked on his mocha. “What?” he managed to splutter as he cleared his throat. “Exactly as I said; I was under the impression that you would be having a talk as soon as we were all reunited following your honeymoon. However, as far as I can tell no such discussion has taken place. The ladies are becoming quite… tense as a result, but none of the three of you seem to be making a move so I thought I should speed things up to prevent any potential stress-based injuries from occurring.”

The slime woman’s tone was plain, but with overtones of sarcasm as she smiled at him. Dustin frowned before he replied. “There’s no real reason - I’ve been busy with the whole Yuran business, and then there were Naera and Emely’s date nights - and Rye’s been busy with the modifications for Sammie’s fighters… I assumed the ladies would let me know when they were ready to have that talk. Also, why is it you and not Trea’k asking me this? It seems like more of a counselling issue than a medical one.” Bleu stood, crossed the distance around the table to him, and flicked him rather hard on the forehead. “You are insufferable, captain. I know you’re smarter than that - I don’t fall for idiots, otherwise I’d have been fucking half the Queri government. Firstly, you should be the person setting the schedule for talks as you’re the one from the species with the weird hang-ups about sex as well as being the one in charge of this ship.”

Dustin nodded, rubbing where she’d flicked him as Bleu continued. “And secondly - Trea’k is a Vex’ess envoy. Her entire biology from the moment she hatched has been screaming at her to get knocked up - the fact her stress hormone levels are as low as they are is to be frank a testament to her mental fortitude. Making her think any more than necessary about other people getting their contraceptives turned off would be just plain cruel.” The slime girl sniffed at that point, before leaning down and staring into his eyes. “Not all of us have been with you long enough to be ultra keen on reproducing, but I would strongly suggest that once you’ve had a discussion with Meli and Rye, you outline your plans moving forward to everyone so the others can make their own minds up. But regardless, go and talk to them before I end up with all three of you in my sickbay.” She finished the sentence by kissing him rather firmly, then half dragging him from his seat and pushing him in the direction of the door.

Once the door to his ready room had closed behind him, Dustin found himself unsure of how to proceed. If Bleu thought it important enough to raise, he really should make that discussion happen sooner rather than later. Musing on that, he let his feet carry him around the ship with no clear destination in mind until he found himself standing in front of the doors to the counselling suite. Pausing for a moment, he pondered his options - and then hit the door controls. As the door slid open, he found Trea’k sitting reading, her form draped over one of the comfortable custom chairs that had been adjusted for her unusual shape. Seeing him enter, the Vex’ess woman looked up and smiled, setting her tablet to one side. “I was not expecting this visit, my mate. I trust nothing is wrong?”

He paused on the threshold, then shook his head and crossed to her. “Bleu gave me a talking to, I wandered and ended up here. One moment.” Activating his communicator, he gave a quick request for the chief science officer and chief engineer to join him before turning back to his lovebug. “I was going to have a discussion with the ladies” he began, settling into the chair opposite her. “But after thinking about it on the way here, we were being unfair to you. So, I want you in on this talk too.” Trea’k leaned forward at that, all four eyes looking at him with curiosity. “Oh?”

Meli and Rye arrived a few minutes later; Dustin had waved off any further discussion until they got there and so was discussing the mental well being of the new pilots and their crews as the others arrived. “What’s up Dusty?” Rye said, bending down for a kiss while Meli pulled more chairs closer to the little gathering. “Right. Sit please, Rye” Dustin began, wanting everyone to be comfortable for what came next. “So, the reason I’ve called you all here is that there is something we need to discuss. Several somethings, to be honest. Rye, to start off, we’ve not spoke about the gift that Meli gave you since the wedding.”

The bunny girl grinned, pulling on a cord around her neck and revealing that the other end was tied to the medspray. “Got it right here. We gonna have that chat now then?” Dustin nodded, before turning to Meli. “There’s also what we discussed on our honeymoon. And after talking to Bleu this morning, I’ve realized that it’s unfair for the three of us to have that talk without Trea’k also being involved.” The Vex’ess woman’s eyes were wide at that comment, and the normally composed insect woman shifted nervously in her seat. “My mate, I…” she began, but Dustin gestured that he hadn’t finished talking and she fell silent.

“Before we begin, I think it best if I state where I stand on the matter. On our honeymoon, Meli and I discussed the prospect of having kids; we reached the conclusion that waiting for a time when things felt safe wasn’t really an option any longer - with everything we know, and with what happened to Naera’s home, safe is relative rather than a finite place.” He took a deep breath and continued “which brings us to today. I believe I am ready, and I think we should discuss what people want, expect or need in that regard - I’ll raise it with the others too, although Bleu basically hinted this morning that she wasn’t interested at the moment. We’re talking first, though, because you three are the ones I suspect will have the strongest views on the matter.”

Meli nodded instantly, as did Trea’k. Rye glanced down at the medspray necklace she was wearing before grinning up at him. “Yea, I’ve got views alright. So, you and the nerd already discussed the matter? Way to jump the queue, Meli.” The grin remained as the bunny girl finished speaking, reassuring Dustin that it was just banter and she wasn’t actually irritated with their mutual love. Trea’k meanwhile was looking contemplative. “What about you, lovebug?” Rye asked, leaning forward and staring intently at the Vex’ess woman. “Ya ready to get all unrestrained with Dusty?”

Trea’k glanced from the Rabyth to Dustin and back. “I am… unsure.” She admitted, one hand gesturing in the air as she continued. “Biologically I’ve been craving it since I hatched, but mentally - you remember that I had not yet had a clutch when you rescued me, and the reasons why? I wish for safety for my children - and yet, your comment about the lack of safety rings true. I… I think I may need more time to dwell on this, if you are agreeable my mate?” She paused, eyes flickering to the other women in the room. “Please don’t let my own internal debate get in the way of anyone else reproducing with our mate should they wish though. At least, as long as they are part of our relationship.”

Four eyes flickered back to Dustin at that point over the top of a far more vicious grin than was normal for the insect woman. “I would hate to think that our mate would be one to get so enamoured of producing offspring as to stray, but I understand it can happen… It would be ill advised.” A rattle of fingertips against chitin punctuated the sentence, which would probably have bothered Dustin if he were not utterly devoted to his loves. “No worries there, lovebug.” He replied, closing the gap between them to hug Trea’k close. “You are all more than enough. And besides, if I were… that kind of person, I’m also an ambassador. Getting new people in our relationship is kinda part of the job.”

Meli coughed at that point, drawing all eyes to her. “Well, with that settled as far as Trea’k is concerned - I shall state that the only reason I didn’t turn my contraceptive off on our honeymoon is that I wanted Rye to have the option of joining me. Love, what do you think? It’s safe for you once we’ve activated that spray.” Rye turned the bottle around in her hand before replying. “Yea and nope. Dusty, do I want to have kids with ya? Fuck yea. Do I want to have them now? Kinda yea. Can I afford to get knocked up right now when I’ve got a million things to do on the ship getting ready for our next trip? Fuck nope.”

The bunny girl glanced up at the others. “So here’s what I want, if we’re sharing. Let me get the ship ready, get the new engineers I’ve been promised up to speed, and get the ship’s nursery ready ‘cause I looked in there while you were off alone and let me tell ya, it sucks ass. No way any kids of ours are spending time in there while it’s like that. Then, once that’s all done? I’m gonna monopolize Dusty for a bit; dunno what the rest of you ladies are gonna want from me in return but I’ll make it up to ya no problem.”

The others nodded at that, and Dustin stretched. “Alright. So that’s organized with you all, any issues with me talking through the situation with the others over dinner?” Meli and Trea’k both raised their hands. “Several problems, husband.” The Velca began, continuing “one, Yril’k and Sammie will be there tonight - it might be awkward for both them and the other interested ladies.” Rye snorted at that point, interjecting “the human’s already an interested lady, nerd” before Meli silenced her with a glare and resumed “two, meal time is important to Naera, and also while you taste good I’m not sure we want to be thinking about intimacy while eating. And three, we have a date night scheduled with Sammie after dinner. Given that the others may have questions, I’d rather you didn’t start something that might need more time than we can give it.”

Another snort from Rye interrupted her again at that point. “Ya got played there nerd. Shoulda just denied anything funny was going on, and then got right back to making Dusty’s toes curl. Still, guess you giving up one of your date nights is a good way to properly start scouting the pilot.” The bunny girl hesitated then, seemingly turning something over in her mind. “So, Dusty, ya need to go talk to Emmz and Nae-nae before dinner. Think they’re both in the galley, Emmz likes acting as a sample taster. Before that tho - I got a favour to ask ya, and Meli too.”

Walking over to the Velca, she undid her necklace and pressed the medspray into the other woman’s hand. “Dusty, come here and give me a kiss. Nerd, while he’s doing that hit me up with your magic juice before I start second guessing myself, ok?” In answer, Dustin moved closer and the pair wrapped Rye in their arms. With Trea’k smiling to herself as she watched, Meli pressed the spray to the nape of the blonde’s neck. Dustin’s lips met Rye’s, and in the silence of the room the only sound was a gentle hiss as the spray activated.