SSSD - Talk all night

Making love in a narrow bed that’s really more of a cot is a challenge, and so is spending the night in one with another person. Golda and Alison aren’t rail-thin little elves like Ro; lying side by side, they would take up the entire bed without a millimeter to spare. One of them would probably have a hip half-off. So they can spoon or they can face each other, and Alison chooses the saucier of the options.

Of course, lying body to body with legs entwined and faces nose to nose isn’t conducive to the most intellectual conversations. When she’s dressed and with her makeup on, Golda is not what Alison would describe as kissable. But in the dark with her hair a mess and wearing a facial expression of post-orgasmic vulnerability and the slightest shyness at being in this situation with a relative stranger, Golda comes off to Alison as intensely kissable.

It's hard to carry a conversation when it’s punctuated with soft kisses and touching under the covers. They can’t seem to stop. Neither of them will be getting off again, but it’s still hot. The language and culture barrier also don’t help.

Alison sees Golda’s eyes flick to the side, as though she’s thinking about whoever’s on the other side of the wall. Their neighbors are Julie and Ro. Across the hall is Signe. Does Golda know that? Her room is behind her office; she doesn’t sleep in this part of the Outpost.

“In my sorority house, listening to people have sex is just like a nightly thing,” Alison whispers to her.

Golda focuses slightly. “What house?”

Alison has some difficulty explaining the concept of a sorority, which apparently doesn’t have a counterpart in Norway. That makes her want to ask about Norwegian college life, but Golda is more interested in CCL. She grows increasingly shocked and fascinated as Alison talks about things like the traditional CCL initiation of riding the Sybian in front of everyone, the dungeon in the basement, and the interesting game of observing which pledges come through the door hoping for the tender touch of Meredith Powers, the President, and which pledges you can tell that Meri wants to get her hands on.

Deep in the conversation, Alison realizes that Golda probably doesn’t realize that CCL is not a typical sorority. She thinks that Alison is describing sorority life across the U.S., and is picturing a significant percentage of the American college population engaging in brazen lesbian antics.

Alison finishes telling the story of one of her first experiences at CCL House before she even pledged. She had gone to a movie night with a friend, and they hadn’t ended up on the same couch because of limited seating. Alison, two beers and half a pint of ice cream in, had been enjoying the movie and the vibes and thinking that CCL wasn’t as crazy as everyone said. She’d been well aware that the girls under the blanket right beside her were getting hot and heavy, but something like that in a dark room in a sorority house didn’t come off to Alison as being especially wild.

But then the blanket had slipped and Alison had choked on her beer as a third girl appeared that Alison hadn’t even realized was there. With her chin dripping with juices, she’d climbed into the lap of the girl beside Alison and stuck her tongue down her throat. Alison still remembers the womanly scent that had hit her went the blanket got moved, and watching those three girls, all holding hands, head upstairs together.

Golda is entranced by the story. The look on her face is too perfect. Alison suppresses the urge to laugh, holds Golda close, and kisses her.

SSSD

Nights in Antarctica offer the possibility of intimacy and eroticism.

Antarctic mornings are another matter entirely. It’s cold, and leaving the warmth of bed, especially with a soft body to snuggle, is the ultimate test of will. And nobody is at her sexiest when she’s short on sleep, all messy, and grumpy about having to get up.

Alison’s only half awake when she feels what is probably Golda’s lips on her cheek, a cursory kiss goodbye. She opens her eyes in time to see Golda’s jeans being pulled up to cover her round hips, and then Golda is out the door.

Reluctantly, Alison rises and braves the chilly walk to the shower.

Signe is there, just finishing up. Alison’s in no mood for lewd thoughts, but she can still appreciate the sight of the towering Signe washing off her body. She has a big, barrel chest, but small breasts. Her hips and thighs are huge but with defined muscles. Bush is thick and wild, utterly untamed.

Yikes.

Just from one mild look and a brief: “Good morning,” in English as she walks out, Signe is able to convey that she knows what happened last night.

“Good morning,” Alison replies with a smile.

At breakfast, it’s clear that everyone knows. It’s not a huge deal. It’s not as though these Norwegians are prudes, but there’s not much to talk about with such a tiny crew at an Antarctic research station, and a newly-arrived American college student seducing the woman in charge of everything understandably has their interest.

They don’t talk about it while Alison is at the table, of course. And Golda hasn’t emerged from her quarters.

Ro will not meet Alison’s eyes.

Marit and Birgitte both seem to find Alison much more interesting now.

Julie doesn’t seem to care. Neither does Linda.

Niv and Signe seem more amused than anything else.

Alison has a choice for how to spend her day. There are some tasks to be performed out on the ice, and that’s going to be handled by Julie and Signe. It will take the whole day.

Meanwhile, there’s still plenty to do at the station. One of the interns has to go, and one has to stay. As usual, Ro isn’t speaking up.

Should Alison go with Julie and Signe?

Or send Ro and stay at the Outpost?