A chime came from Lani's door. It was soft, but startled her anyway. She looked at the clock on the screen-wall, where a small tagged image showed Rivi's face. Yep, she was late.
"Just a moment!" She said, speaking a bit loud so the door system would know her reply was meant for the person outside. Rivi's small image nodded an ok.
She'd lost herself on reading, again! Now Rivi was behind that door, waiting, while she was still on her underwear.
A part of her entertained the thought of welcoming him with just that and a smile, meanwhile another part of her brain slapped and protested. Rivi didn't make any gesture that meant he wanted to be more than a good friend... She added a hopeful "yet" at the end of the sentence. So she didn't want to do anything that might embarrass him.
While searching for her trousers she recalled how cute a degree of embarrassment looked on him the other day, at the canteen, and decided that a "yet" would go well at the end of second sentence. Yes, nothing to embarrass him, yet!
Lani hurried to fit her legs on the trousers. One, two, three... and the fourth got stuck, forcing her to pull out the third. "Of course! Always happens when you are in a hurry!"
She finally managed to fit all legs and ensure her tail was also firmly set in place. Presently she envied the Earthers. How simple it would be having just two legs! And no tail! They probably never had problems with their legs being stuck in their trousers! On the other hand keeping balance seemed awfully difficult. She wondered how long they could stand...
Next Lani selected a colourful, sleeveless shirt. She knew her arms were nice, with well-defined segments. There's nothing wrong in showing them a bit, right? She put on the shirt and spoke to the door. "I'm coming! One minute!"
Now just a touch of makeup, straighten the antennae.. and that's it! Lani gestured a half-turn with her hand, shifting the screen-wall into a mirror. She looked ok, not like someone that just crawled out of the bunk!. She switched the wall to one of her preferred paintings and opened the door, wearing her best smile.
So far she had only seen her friend in casual or working clothes, however this time Rivi was all in black, standing elegant from those upright antennae to what anyone with two pair of eyes could guess as a strong and well-developed tail.
Rivi was looking down, seemingly distracted with his thoughts, and then his sight shifted up and focused on her. Lani observed his expression turn into surprise, and briefly panicked inside, imagining that something terrible happened with her makeup. Then Rivi smiled warmly, showing those three rows of regularly spaced, perfectly pointy and translucent teeth.
Before she could think on anything to say her mouth let go a "Wow!", and next Rivi was holding a beautiful nosegay with a mix of flowers on one hand, and a small box with tiny cubes in the other. The cubes were wrapped with glossy paper in several colours, and smelled delicious.
Lani wasn't really used to gifts. "For... For me?" The part of her brain that wasn't flabbergasted by Rivi's good looking was slapping her. What a stupid question! She managed to take her presents and bowed slightly, signalling acceptance. It was a tradition, but traditions held important cultural codes, or so her mother used to say.
Rivi bowed back. "Lani, you look amazing!"
"So do you!" Lani replied, and took a mental note to ask later if the younger Rivi used braces to achieve that beautiful smile. She brought the tiny cubes closer and inspired, feeling their delicate smell, and then placed the open box over a small table so it could perfume her cabin.
Lani, as tradition demanded on these situations, invited him to come inside. Accordingly to her mother that gesture was meant to show any visitors how able she was to keep a home tidy and clean... as if they didn't have cleaning drones to do that! Well, Lani held no grudge against those ancient costumes, foolish as they may seem, so she gave Rivi the usual time to look around and then, opening her mouth just a bit, so not to scary him, ate the flowers.
His eyes were on her, trying to gauge her reaction. The flowers were delicious. She liked them on the sweet side, so she would've added more Makeus and had less Suolainen, but overall it was a good, balanced mix. Rivi was tense while she advanced, putting her arms around him.
"I like it!" Lani said, bending and turning so her mouth came closer to the sound sensitive areas behind his head. "I do like it.", she whispered. Sometimes she wished males were the same size of females. A silly thought, of course. Males always had been smaller, and no amount of civilization or technology would change that.
Rivi's own smell was more evident there, closer to his neck. Good, even if the base was mixed with a touch of sweat, a hint of tension. Lani came even closer, gently landing a soft kiss. She wanted to say that he looked appetizing, but refrained from doing that. No need to make him even more nervous.
"I guess it's time to eat." She said, still whispering to him. "Ready?"
"Yes." Rivi replied, with just a hint of fear on his voice.
"I'm feeling in a good mood now!"
Rivi relaxed a bit. "Right! Let's do it."
A small groan came from somewhere deep inside Lani. She was getting hungry. "What had you tought?"
"What do you say to traditional Kiinalainen?"
She felt her mouth watering. "Kiinalainen? Sounds great, if properly done."
"I made a reservation at the new place on deck Four. My colleague says the food is excellent."
They started to move, and Rivi extended his arm. She was sure her antennae were blushing a little as she took his hand and they walked down the corridor towards the lift, smiling to each other.
