Quills

"I guess I will confess to him tonight. It is nice to know that his mother looks after him in her own way. I thought he might not like women to begin with. If he does not want to be with me as a lover, he could always be my friend. I will protect him." Nora said. 

Janel had learned many things well, serving his mother and family. No matter how special you are, you do not want to anger the Allari. Janel was relieved that he had not inadvertently affected Liem's chances, he thought that he had been out of line. Nora needed a push. The Allari were one of the most powerful in the world and the top clan in the province. He had also counseled Liem before due to issues with his twin. He did not like how women behaved. Nora was culturally distinct, so she did not share the same beliefs as women in their society. Janel was certain that he would never bond after that trauma.

"Do not worry. I will not abandon Liem, I will talk to him. I do not want him to be with me if it is forced, anyway," Nora said. "If it is clear that he has not been pushed, there is no guilt for the attack in any sort of manner. Then I will take responsibility." Nora said, she palmed her own face. Liem was her life jacket in this new world. Janel sighed wistfully at the words and smiled at her. It was so romantic. Nora smiled in return, but her thoughts became chaotic in her head. Seeing a shift in her face after they exchanged smiles, Janel decided to change the subject. Janel helped her pick a gesture and phrase that would activate the new defense privileges given to her. Nora had picked a word from her language. 'Bang' did not sound like anything in their language. It did not come up translated on her screen, she would not forget it. Nora felt her stomach start to rumble. Janel heard it. 

"It sounds like it is time to eat." he said, looking at her stomach.

"He has my stomach trained." Nora smiled and laughed.

"It seems like he is cooking everything himself." Janel said and smiled as he heard the lively sounds and the smells coming through.

"He has always been so good to me, I prefer his cooking to the kitchens." Nora said. He cooked a bit spicier than the food offered in the delegate tower. She took a deep calming breath and exhaled. Janel gave her a kind look. 

"So you are going to do it tonight?" Janel asked. Nora nodded.

"So you will not be staying for dinner then?" Nora said nervous.

"No, I do not think Liem would ever forgive me." Janel said and laughed.

"Well I guess it is time for me to face the music," Nora said.

"Like a nervous performer? Interesting" Janel said bemused. He was finding her northern sayings hilarious as he would try to guess what she would mean by them. Nora raised a brow at Janel playfully.

"Spot on," Nora said. Janel quirked a brow mimicking her playfully.

"That means I was right?" Janel said. Nora laughed and nodded.

"Wow, you are long passed the end of your day. Sorry." Nora apologized as she checked the time on her interface. She was surprised to see the three hours that Janel was going to stay for today had long elapsed. He must be hungry as well. He was always patient and kept things warm. That did not quell the guilt she felt about being waited on and making somebody wait for her like that. Outside, Liem was laying out the biggest meal of the day. Her stomach had already become accustomed to the meals and routine. She had learned dining etiquette and learned that in this world only children eat off of single plates. Adults of the same household would share a platter of food except when they dined with someone outside the family. Somehow they had ended up sharing the same platter, whether it was a slip of etiquette or a sign that puzzled her.The two of them got up and Nora began to walk Janel out of the room.

"Remember practice will help you when you feel panic, remember to focus on your breathing first and dismiss intrusive thoughts. I will see you again in a week" Janel said as a reminder to Nora on the way out. Liem looked up, looking at Nora happily chatting to Janel by the doorway. The two embraced before Janel left. Nora sauntered over to the table and took a seat. A look of delight flooded her face. Liem's nervousness ebbed. She plucked an Uzuzua from its stem and chewed on it, quietly chewing. The meal looked sumptuous. Finally, she saw something familiar on the communal platter. It was asparagus. Happiness at finding something familiar to her flooded her. She eagerly grabbed it with her chopsticks. Her skills using these chopsticks had increased immensely. She bit into the vegetable which had been sautéed in delicious fat. Liem sat in front of her oddly quiet. Nora thought back to the awkward conversation with Janel. She put her chopsticks down, mustering her courage. She looked at Liem, who started to eat after her. Nora nervously cleared her throat, deciding to rip the band-aid off now. 

 'He must be worried about it too,' Nora thought. 

"Liem, I." Nora said, then she coughed as her throat dried out. She had never had to be this assertive, and she did not quite know how to ask. The only boyfriend she had was Mark and she was a novice. The most forward she had ever been with a male was returning a kiss. Nora felt like a child. She had never asked anyone out in her eighteen years of life. Let alone ask anyone to essentially marry her. 

'I should have thought this out more, planned a speech. F***.' Nora cursed at herself in her thoughts. 

Janel made it the repercussions of not taking responsibility for Liem would have on his life if she chickened out. She was very likely stuck on this planet for the rest of her life. She could not chicken out. She had envisioned a proposal like she saw on television shows, and now she had to use these techniques to propose to an alien. At least it might be unique here, her English accent was surely bumbly like Hugh Grant in the romantic comedies she would watch with her mother as a child. She felt her palms start to sweat. This was the most awkward she had ever felt, topping the time she loudly farted on microphone, during a presentation at a conference for a few seconds. She nervously continued. This was one guy, not hundreds of academics.

"I really like you, I, more than like you, actually. I would like to stay with you permanently. If that is something you want. I do not want to force you. That is the last thing I want to do. " Nora rambled nervously. Liem looked up at her; stunned at her words. He was going to talk to her about his feelings over the meal, that is why he had his mother send Simas shoots. He had wanted it to be very special. He was going to beg for her to accept him and come home with him, and she beat him to it. The tension left his body after she finished her sentence. Relief washed over him as she quietly spoke in front of him.

"I do not want to push you into something you do not want. I cannot even imagine being forced to be bound to someone your entire life against your will. I care too much about you to do that to you." Nora said as she continued nervously. Liem felt like time was moving incredibly slowly. This arrangement was just as forced upon her as it was him, but she was giving him the option to choose. However, the more he learned about her people and their history, the worse he felt. The fact that even if they wanted her back, the implants and the interface would make it impossible. Even if some other clan from the North made contact and facilitated the means for her to return, they could not surgically remove the interface itself. He could not imagine not having a family. His eyes watered with happiness and sadness. 

"Most women in Callor at my age have at least three spouses. That is overwhelming to me." continued Nora, relieved she was not rejected. She rapped her knuckles on the edge of the table nervously. "If you accept. I would prefer if we kept it to the two of us for sometime before I meet anyone else. Until I get more comfortable. Can we delay the move? Can it just be you and me for now?" she said, trying to sound like she belonged. She saw a blush and a goofy smile spread across his face. She breathed a somewhat relieved sign that he seemed to be happy and did not suspect her.

"I will see how long I can delay." Liem said as he stood up from his seat and pulled an ornate box from his pocket. He then got down one knee and took her hand and placed a tender kiss on it. He opened the box and offered his dowry charm to her. In the box was a beautiful chain bracelet with a single jewel on it. Nora's eyes watered with tears. He had already thought this out. The meal was special. Nora's heart pounded with excitement. He fastened the platinum bracelet around her delicate wrist, the gemstone that represented his family hung upon her wrist. He was overjoyed, and planted another kiss on her hand.