Sorry, more questions first :(

"But in the meantime, ask me. I don't know, I like it. It's like I'm controlling the flow of information if I just open up and tell you whatever you want to know. Then you're not spending the whole meal trying to figure out how and what and when to ask."

He cleared his throat. "Ok. Um, what about like getting hurt? Like if someone pinches you while you're... out, do you feel it?"

She grimaced. "It can be kind of unpleasant. Basically, as I come out of shutdown I feel everything that happened to me while I was out. Like, cumulatively. The worst pain I've ever felt was when I broke my leg hiking and zoned out. The guys I was with weren't briefed on that aspect of my condition, so they thought they should let me stay out until paramedics arrived. Two hours of broken leg pain in two seconds."

"...fuck," Derek said quietly. "That sounds- no, actually, you know what? Thank you for answering my questions, but let's not dwell on that, huh? You're on your first date! We can reminisce about the worst experiences of our lives on our own. So does that apply to good stuff, too? Like if you zone out with chocolate on your tongue?"

"Mmm," she said through a mouthful of noodles. "Chocolate is best for like, three minutes tops. After that it's wayyy too intense. I think one time I let it sit for like two hours and it burned my tongue. Now, something like a haircut - amazing! Like getting an entire scalp massage compressed into a second. Your whole head tingles!"

His eyebrows shot up and he tried not to let his mind wander down any unsavory paths. Judging by the look in her eyes, she was already well acquainted with those ideas.

"What's the longest you've ever been out?"

"Two months at one point. One of the researchers said they'd gather valuable data. I don't know if it's valuable or not, but I still turn into a sexdoll every time someone asks me to move or says 'take a seat.' I guess I wish the data had been more valuable."

"Yeah," he said with interest. "What are the odds of a cure, or even something to help?"

"That's my handler service. I guarantee you, they are going to catch a major lawsuit for bailing on me. I could be sitting in my apartment in the dark, staring at the wall." She smiled mischievously and leaned forward. "I guess I owe you one. Thanks for hitting on me. You know, I think I'll go one farther. Wanna mess with me while I'm shut down?"

He put down his sandwich. "Mess with...?"

"You know, man. Fuck around with me! Poke and prod and whatever!"

"Poke and prod?" he looked around. "Here? In public?"

"Yeah, I mean, not like feel me up. Although that's not off the table. No, you know, just mess with me. Not many people get to study a human face, for example. Like really look at it, you know? Even if someone consents, it feels too weird. And you can examine people while they sleep, but they're just sleeping. I'm like the opening screen of Mario 64 when I'm out!"

"Sorry, you said you're 28?" he interjected. She laughed and gave him the middle finger. After a moment, he replied. "So do you... want me to do this to you? Let you zone out and play with your face?"

She nodded. "Look, it's fun, it's a new experience for you, and when I wake up it feels like a massage on my face. It might be a little weird to do it while I'm shut down, but you seem really cool about it. What do you say?"

He nodded. "Then can we finally end this fucking conversation?" she asked with a smile. He nodded again.