Ruby Stardust (Ruby Rose fanfic)

SEVENTEEN (RUBY POV)

"Come on, I can't wait..." I whisper excitedly putting my hand on my girl's lower back to push her forward gently. Iselen obeys laughing while shaking her head bewildered and sits down in one of the red painted gondolas. The ocean breeze feels cool but the nanotechnology in her black uniform should keep the fabric at an optimum temperature so my precious mate doesn't feel cold.

"It's just a ferris wheel, Ruby, nothing special: you'll be able to see the beautiful landscape from up there but Anunnaki are used to heights, you see the Earth from your transport ships every day."

"But this time is different because you're with me and this is a date. I've never went on a date before, I hope I can do it right, I've been doing some research with Alrisha and reading a lot although human courtship seems to be different depending on culture or the country where they live. It's a bit confusing."

"You're doing great," Iselen answers laughing again and taking a look around while our gondola moves up slowly. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that you have taken this idea from a film..." I frown, concerned all of a sudden: she told me I was doing fine but seems to find the situation amusing at the same time, maybe I took things too far... "Babe, don't worry, everything is fine..." The beautiful human touches my cheek with her hand and my heart skips a beat like it always does when she touches me. "This is wonderful, in fact, most humans don't even bother to go through all this trouble and would be satisfied with a dinner and a movie night but you have picked out a fair on a pier."

"It was Alrisha's idea, actually, I didn't even know this thing existed." I point down at the noise and lights that are reflected by the sea, music and smell of food, hundreds of humans wandering around, laughing and dancing. The situation is quite disconcerting from my point of view and a bit overwhelming due to the excess of sensory stimuli but Iselen looks happy and this is the only thing that matters to me. My mate went crazy with joy when I told her that we were going back to Earth for a short visit tonight.

"Did the computer suggest you to invite other humans with their Anunnaki too?"

"Yes, Alrisha told me that having dates with other couple friends was pretty normal. I know you get on well with Vivienne and I like Segin, he works with me at the lab and is a great scientist." I look back over my shoulder at the other gondola where the pregnant human and her mate are sat down, she smiles while putting her hands on her belly protectively and Segin looks as baffled as I am by the situation but satisfied because Vivienne is happy visiting the Earth tonight. I can't see the other two couples that have travelled with us, the girls are friends of Vivienne and Iselen too, but I guess my compatriots are looking around with similar shocked faces. I thought I was well prepared thanks to my research and yet, the way humans have fun never ceases to amaze me.

"Why Anunnaki don't have dates? What's your form of courtship?"

"Well, our computers run DNA tests from all those who are looking for a mate and if the rate of compatibility is high they live together in an apartment..."

"Just like that? Even if they don't really know each other?" I nod cautiously because I don't understand why Iselen looks upset all of a sudden. "And what about your special friends, the ones to have sex occasionally without emotional involvement..."

"Oh well, we meet at work usually or through friends and family that work with them... You tell them you'd like to have a casual relationship with them and express your preferences, they decide if they accept your proposition... Sometimes they turn it down because they already have a friend to have sex with or they decide to break up with them and choose you instead..." I shrug and look down to check how high we are.

"How civilized!" My girl shakes her head and chuckles. "I don't think humans would be able to behave like that. And do you go anywhere? I don't know... to have lunch or go for a walk..."