Page 24 of Pirate By Parrot

“You are moving so calmly.”

“I don’t bounce out of vessels. I get the feeling at my current size that it might cause some kind of armed response.”

Liona blinked. “Oh... right.”

Mel smiled and watched Annabelle walk back to the village with a grin on her face.

“She’s having fun.”

Liona smiled. “I think this is what Veth was doing earlier. He ordered... things for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Someone is almost ready to court you.”

“What?”

“Sure. This is how they do things when you have established hobbies. Food, clothing, making you comfortable, and then the seduction. Frankly, by the time they get that far, you are just willing to pin them down and jump them. No social mores here, no other Terrans making faces at you for falling in love with another species. No guys calling you unpleasant names. If you want to, and they want to, go for it, but make sure you understand their social structure. For example, there is one species that has a trigger word. Hospitality. If you ask them for hospitality and they accept the responsibility, they are duty bound to make you cum until you pass out and your body has no need.”

“I can’t find any information on the Vendari. I don’t know if Ves is missing the info or hiding it from me.”

“Probably hiding it.” She sighed. “The Vendari were a little on the brutal side from what Neevath has told me.”

“So, they had a reputation.”

“They did, which is why the planets and celestial bodies got together and exterminated them, diluting their population with others until they were effectively eradicated. It was about five thousand years or so ago, and the Vendari are kind of the boogeyman species now.”

“Wait, were they always so tall and heavy?”

Liona sighed. “No, I think that was the consolation that they agreed to for Vendar. He needed a female, and they had to make you unable to be happy on any other worlds.”

“So, they put a tether on me. I have to wear the reinforcement and live in heavy grav, so no friends for me.”

She nodded.

“Well, Annabelle is with you, and you are here now.”

“And if my suit blows, I start coming apart.” Mel rubbed her forehead. “And the station has to be on light gravity for her to be there, so I can’t even change clothing without my body feeling really weird with things on light.”

Liona touched her arm. “I am sorry.”

Mel nodded. “I wish you and your pregnancy all the best. Congratulations on the next generation.”

Liona looked down. “I am not even showing yet. How did you know?”

“I can hear the heartbeats. Big slow for you and rapid hamster for the baby.”

Annabelle walked by with more armloads of fruit. “Ves says we can go now.”

Liona frowned. “So soon?”

“Yes. We are taking Annabelle to Rai. She needs therapy and someone to look after her for a while.”

“Why?”

---