Getting to Know a Yaujta

Chap 9

A question of age.

"Hey, Krone, how old are you?" I asked as I waltz in the garage.

He only stopped tinkering with his ship for a second before he resumed, "Why do you wish to know...?"

I shrugged, "Just cuz..."

"Things like age are irrelevant in my planet..."

"Aw, c'mon, please?" I asked, "things like age are sorta important in my planet..."

"Why?"

"Well..." where do I start? "Like, depending on your age, you get to be in either 6th of 11th grade...or like when your old enough to go to certain clubs...or drink, or drive, or work, or maybe date-"

"Date?"

Date? I almost choked. "Um...yeah..." I sweat, he's waiting for a definition, "dating is...when you go out with someone you like..., like..."

"A mate?"

This time I did choke. "Um...n-no! nothing like that..." I cleared my throat, "I mean...well, I" mate is such a strong word... "a person usually goes on a date with another person to see if they can become boyfriend or girlfriend..."

"An evaluation..."

"Y-yeah!" I hyped, "like that...and then when they're a couple they could continue dating...but not to evaluate each other anymore. Just because they like to."

"I see."

"Of course, you could also breakup with your boyfriend or girlfriend, and even in marriage you could get a divorce, nothings ever a given here and... " I started going on about relationship issues, rambling, rambling, rambling....

"Things are different in my planet," he said quite matter-a-factly, breaking my ramble, "all you have to do to get a mate is impress her, and then she's yours, regardless of age..."

I nodded absently, a Yautja's view on dating is shallow water I didn't want to argue with.

"So, how old are you?"

"You wish to 'date' me?"

OMFG! "No! no! no! nothing like that!" I shook my hands frantically, "I was just curious is all! Not like that, no way!"

He continued to work on the wires of his ship. Oh, he was joking. I cough.

"I suppose..." he actually looked like he was pondering on this, "I might be younger than your father but much older than your brother..."

"Oh, like Mr. Jamus..."

He turned his head, I bet if he had an eyebrow, it would've been raised.

"25...27..."

He got back to his work.

I nodded, "27."

"You know, a young pup like yourself would be greatly honored to be chosen as a mate for a male much elder than I..."

I got up and crossed my arms, "Hey! I'm not thatyoung!"

He chuckled.

"Jerk."

More chuckling.