Yes! THE QUESTION: At Last!

"Then, you can help me with this, flame, that's threatening to burn me up inside, right?" She asks, and I grin, the emotion true and genuine.

"Yes, Lance-Corporal, I can, and if you want me to do it, I'll be happy to help," I state calmly, but with a sub-vocal whine of repressed need which is only partially feigned.

"Great! When will you have an opening?" She asks.

"I'm free now, if you like, " I say, but I sense this is spooking her, just a touch. "I'm not very 'In Demand' yet, you're going to be my first client on this ship, you see," I explain, to calm her fears.

"Oh!" She exclaims, momentarily taken aback by the revelation, but in no way doubting my sincerity. "Well, I hope that we 'click' then, because I have to be honest with my fellow federation citizens about your performance..." She says feeling slightly apprehensive; as if her performance will determine my own experience of success or failure in my profession.

"Don't worry, if we do not 'click' I am sure that as long as you report not only that we did not 'click' but also what things were obstacles to such an event there will be some members of the crew who will think 'Whoh! Honey, I am going to take two: and do not even bother with the gift wraps!' My skill-set is something that will inevitably become 'in-demand', as they say, once it is known what I have to offer," I explained, soothingly, and, (as expected), her fears receded.

We had been walking toward her quarters, this whole time, and now stood before the doors. "Is it traditional in your culture for the host or the hired-girl to enter first?" I asked.

"I'll go first." She said as the door swished open...