Boundless

(Miss)Givens

"By all means, should you not be resting?" Lar'jar demanded, once Ah'kaedh opened communication way too quickly.

"Is everything alright?"

"Paya be merciful, are you in the commanding deck?" Lar'jar ignored the question upon identifying the background. "I'm sure you have a home".

"Lar'jar, it's late", Ah'kaedh grumbled.

My fool of a brother, indeed. "Have you explained to Fer-de-Lance how hunting and mating are interconnected in our culture?"

"No", Ah'kaedh was curt.

"That ooman sure is poison to your common sense", Lar'jar sighed. "Think, Ah'kaedh. We both should be sleeping", he added that last bit on purpose.

There was a reason for Lar'jar to be calling at that hour. Besides rightfully concluding Lance was asleep, Ah'kaedh's stressed brain could only draw blanks.

That and obsess over the fact his Pest was still avoiding him (and Gods, that stung). They would talk, yes, but Lance always sounded subdued and was quick to call Lar'jar to take up her place. The one good thing about being swamped by duty was how well that distracted him from how much Lance's absence (and avoidance) consumed his insides.

"Lar'jar, I'm asking you; be direct. For the past ten days, I have endured more than a fair share of political games", Ah'kaedh sighed.

"Very well, brother. I'm quite positive you have not told her about your duties on the mating pity. What else have you failed to inform her? Since I'm babysitting, I might as well do the job".

"I told you, it's better if I do it", Ah'kaedh countered. "I have way more insight into their culture".

"I would agree, brother, if you ever used it", the Medic poked. Lance was upset about being in the dark regarding Ah'kaedh's offspring, both of them agreed, but that was not all.

"Lar'jar, leave it. Oomans tend towards jealousy, I've seen it".

"So you have withheld this information on purpose?"

"Not exactly. Since it never came up naturally, I believe it would be unproductive to talk about problems before they even happen".

Lar'jar shook his head. His younger brotherhood was known for being sharp-minded, and yet...

"Ah'kaedh, as you know, I had little contact with her species, and even I am able to see how unwise that would be", there was a tiny bit of frustration in his voice.

"Why do you care, brother?" Ah'kaedh demanded.

"If she reacts badly?"

"I would be the one managing her temper, not you", Ah'kaedh was not being aggressive - just stating facts.

Good question. Why do I care? Lar'jar looked up. The answer didn't matter now, however.

"I will tell her to direct those questions to you, if the matter arrives again", he answered.

"How did she react?" Ah'kaedh asked after a moment, not without some anxiety in his posture.

"Shocked. We discussed the biological aspects of our females' heat. I changed subjects before her mind could wander further. She was quite embarrassed throughout the whole talk, though".

"Yes, sex can be a taboo subject", Ah'kaedh noted.

"You mentioned. In any case, avoiding such subjects has not served you well, as we are both aware", Lar'jar had to insist. Following Ah'kaedh's request, Lar'jar refrained from prying to better understand the Lance's upset - since it was pretty clear that not knowing about Ah'kaedh's children had been the reason for it in the first place.