First Impressions

Dustin walked down to the shuttle-bay in a state of unease. For all things were going well with his lovers, and for all Sola was running smoothly, the somewhat unplanned arrival of a princess in their midst had oh so many things that could go wrong. The fact that she was being delivered by an imperial honour guard didn’t make things much better.

“The bay is all set up the way Emely suggested, right Rye?” he asked for about the fifth time that morning, the blonde walking alongside him sighing as she adjusted one of the straps of her overalls.

“The answer’s the same as the last four times ya asked me Dusty. Yes, it’s been set up exactly like Emmz asked me to, even down to the adjustments to the floor plates to provide markers for the guards while the handover occurs. Everything will be fine with ya new ’friend’.” The humour and sarcasm in Rye’s tone was blatant, but it did a lot to reassure Dustin as they reached the bay and stepped inside.

The greeting party had been carefully selected. Emely and Meli were obviously there as the consorts that Jaisyl had theoretically already met, but in addition they were joined by Bleu in her official capacity, Rye in case the new arrival needed any engineering work doing to her quarters, and Trea’k to allow her to make an initial assessment of the Tho’unn woman’s state of mind.

Jaisyl took one last glance at the imperial palace before she climbed into the shuttle. Whether she would return in a year or not, it would be some time before she saw the place she’d called home her entire life again - the longest she’d been away before had been the tour of planets with her brother, and that had only lasted four months. It was funny - when she’d been small the palace had seemed like the entire world, endless corridors and rooms. Now she was looking at it as a departing adult, it looked… just like a building. A big, suitably decorated building for the imperial family, but a building none the less.

Frowning, she turned back to the shuttle. She hadn’t been expecting her parents to see her off, not really - her father was busy with parliament and where he went her mother followed, but she’d have at least expected one of her siblings to say goodbye. Sighing, she closed the shuttle door and settled into her seat. “We may depart,” she said, her finger pressed firmly on the intercom to contact the pilot.

“Roger that, sis. One drop off to meet my brother-in-law coming right up.” The voice crackled through the speakers as the shuttle slid smoothly out of it’s moorings, Jaisyl’s eyes widening as she recognized the confident tones of the crown prince.

“Theo, what the hell are you doing?” She hissed, glancing at the professionally neutral expressions of her honour guard where they were sat opposite her. “We’re not supposed to travel in the same craft!”

The window to the pilot’s cabin slid back, allowing her to see her brother grinning at her. “Technically, we’re not. You’re travelling in the craft, I’m flying it. Besides, I asked dad and he said it was fine as you’re leaving. Couldn’t let you go off without any family there, and I’m the only one that’s flight-certified.”

Jaisyl rolled her eyes, but smiled at Theodisus (XVIII if he actually survived to inherit the throne, her elder brother being a self confident fool who loved doing stupid stunts in Jaisyl’s opinion) regardless. Being an idiot was just what he did, but she was genuinely glad that she wouldn’t be departing without any send-off.

The shuttle slid into the bay with a gentle hum as it’s engines spooled down. To Dustin’s surprise, before the passengers disembarked the cockpit roof slid back and the pilot scrambled out to slide down the nose of his craft. The young man stomped across to the welcome party and glanced along the line before pausing on Dustin and sticking his hand out. “You’re the Earth ambassador, right? Believe this is your traditional greeting?”

Dustin blinked, but human expectations kicked in. He took the offered hand and shook it. “Ambassador Dustin Smith, and you are…?”

“Right, my manners - mother tells me I’ll have problems if I don’t sort them out. Theodisus Rhe’unn, crown prince at your service. Just here to see my little sister off and make sure you’re going to treat her right.” The voice was cheerful, but the hand gripping Dustin’s grew a little firm as the Tho’unn finished his greeting.

Frowning, Dustin nodded. “It is certainly my intent to. And since we’re on my ship and thus technically on Earth territory, and your sister and her honour guard are both out of earshot - I hope I will treat her better than your family has, given the way they organized this ‘marriage’.”

To his surprise, the crown prince just nodded, then replied. “Dad jumped at the opportunity without giving either of you time to think about it. That’s always been his way - politics first, feelings second. I’d say sorry, but it’s not really my fault or place to apologise. I do appreciate you looking out for Jaisie though. For all she’s a monumental pain in the ass, she’s still my sister.”

At that point, further conversation was stymied by the door on the side of the shuttle sliding open and the honour guard stepping out. With a formal salute, Theodisus moved to stand at attention by his craft, breaking protocol only to smile at his sister as she walked past.

Jaisyl came to a dead stop in front of Dustin, then dropped into a curtsy that spoke of years of regimental practice. “Ambassador, I present myself in accordance with the imperial command. Please take care of me.” Her words were respectful, but her tone had an edge to it that made Dustin sigh internally. This was going to be complicated.

The rest of Dustin’s lovers were waiting for them in the ready room. Jaisyl’s belongings had been loaded onto drones by the guard before Theodisus bade his sister farewell and departed, while Meli and the others had gone on ahead, leaving Dustin to lead the somewhat chilly princess through the ship alone. He’d opted to give her a brief tour - showing her the viewing gallery, the gardens, the swimming pools and galley before heading to his suite with only a brief detour to the bridge for her to meet Yril’k who was currently sitting in Dustin’s chair, keeping an eye on the goings on outside the ship.

While he had been traipsing around the ship, his inner circle had been sitting waiting - Meli and Emely doing their best to answer questions they didn’t really know the answers to from the others about the new arrival. As a result, when the door slid open the assembled group turned to get their first look at Jaisyl with a range of expressions from curiosity to irritation.

The princess walked in, inclining her head respectfully to Meli, Emely and Trea’k; whatever her private thoughts, etiquette said that she should be polite to Dustin’s existing partners, especially those who were carrying his offspring. A seat on the far side of the table was clearly his - the other chairs naturally angled around it in a way not too dissimilar to her father’s seat at any table where matters of import were discussed. Walking over, she smiled sweetly at a Hoxx woman - some kind of athlete, probably a maid for one of the ambassador’s women - and gestured to the seat she was sitting in. It was close to Dustin’s, and suitable for one of Jaisyl’s station to sit in while being introduced. “I will sit here.”

Yaerwen looked up at the princess. White and black hair, overly-polished horns, and an attitude that suggested nobody had ever said no to her before. Oh, this was going to be good…

Dustin winced as Jaisyl ordered the amber-haired Hoxx to give up her seat. Knowing Yaerwen, that could lead to almost any outcome, several of them physical… He blinked. The athlete had looked up, smiled sweetly, then leaned back and patted her lap. “A bit forward, princess, but if you want to straddle my thigh already, feel free. I’m under orders to be on my best behaviour after all.”