« Talı… » asked Simkha, « …in skerm… gyn myn eagen… howwe gyo my ın ferdomme HUD gyun? »
Simkha reached out a hand in wonder. She must have been trying to touch her display, presumably unaware that her SIGN frame projected its image directly into her eyes. Simkha wouldn’t yet know how her SIGN worked given that it was practically Clarke-tech in comparison to every other device she had ever used. Simkha’s wide eyes and tender smile certainly made her look like she had just discovered real magic. Oh, Simkha had so much wonder ahead of her.
Tali couldn’t stop herself from beaming. Despite Tali’s breakdown, she had earned that smile from Simkha and it felt stupidly good. Tali was still fighting off exhaustion and worry… she was still on an emotional roller-coaster… but she felt so much better about this shit-show of a night. She liked knowing that she shared a SIGN network with Simkha now.
But Tali had to keep a cool head, so she couldn’t lose sight of her goals. First, she had to keep Simkha on her SIGN network until Hannah and Elkano came to rescue her. Second, she had to avoid any emotional entanglements that would hurt Simkha. Third, she needed some goddamn sleep. Fourth, she really should teach Simkha how to use her SIGN. God, Tali really should help Simkha make the most of it, given how much Simkha was helping her.
To hell with it—Tali was going to learn Simkha’s new language. Tali was going to use that language to teach Simkha all about her SIGN. Tali would be damned if she let a few foreign words keep her from acting like Simkha's friend now that they were on the same network.
Tali created a new SIGN index and pinned it to her default view. Tali pondered for a minute. Tali pointed to herself.
« Tali, » Tali said. Tali pointed to Simkha.
« Simkha, » Tali said.
Tali stood up and walked over to Simkha’s kitchen. She went through Simkha’s cupboards until she found a mug. She held the mug up and pointed at it. She looked at Simkha and waited.
Simkha looked at the mug. She looked at Tali. She looked at the mug. She pointed at the mug. She pointed at herself. She crooked her head inquisitively.
Tali just smiled and crooked her head right back.
« Um, » said Simkha « Kop. Mog. »
« Kopmog? » tried Tali.
Simkha narrowed her eyes.
« Kop. Mog. »
Tali narrowed her eyes.
Simkha sighed. She slowly stood up. She walked over to the kitchen and took out two tall glass cups and one more mug. She took Tali’s mug and lined them all up.
« Kop, kop, kop, kop, » said Simkha, pointing to each in turn. She crooked her head at Tali.
« Kop, mog, kop, mog, » she said, pointing to a cup, a mug, a cup, then a mug.
Tali squinched her face up. After a moment, she rearranged the cups and mugs.
« Kop, kop, mog, mog. »
Tali got a smile from Simkha. Tali gave a big old smile back. She noted her new words down in her new index.
Tali reached into the back of Simkha’s cupboard and pulled out a pair of foiled packets.
« Ahhh, » said Simkha. She grinned. « Weerme kegao. »
Tali prepared both mugs of hot cocoa while she continued her interrogation. She boiled the water, poured, stirred, and set the mugs out on Simkha’s little table.
Meanwhile, Simkha followed wherever Tali pointed and named various English words. She devised little methods of clarifying meaning wherever she thought a word was unclear. By the time the hot chocolate was ready, Simkha had given Tali words for
> 1. Cup
> 2. Mug,
> 3. Hot Cocoa,
> 4. Hot,
> 5. You,
> 6. Heart,
> 7. Boob (?),
> 8. Torso,
> 9. I / Me / My,
> 10. Talk,
> 11. English,
> 12. Word,
> 13. [Question indicator](?),
> 14. [negation] (might be « stop »?),
> 15. Eye,
> 16. See,
> 17. Necklace,
> 18. HUD (head-up-see?),
> 19. Hoodie,
> 20. Jumper,
> 21. Garment,
> 22. Good,
> 23. Happy, and
> 24. Friend.
Simkha also futzed around with her SIGN system by herself. She figured out that her SIGN’s HUD was projected from her pendant. She figured out that people could only see the display that their own pendant projected. She could tell when Tali was using her HUD, because her eyes sparkled. And she could dim, but not block, her HUD's visibility by covering the pendant with her hand.
Tali and Simkha perched across from each other and took up their hot cocoas. They smiled at each other, sipped, and relaxed. They were getting more comfortable with each other. They were getting a little more giggly too as the night wore on.
Hmm.
Tali would learn to speak Simkha’s « [English] » language.
Tali would teach Simkha to use her new HUD.
And Tali would do all that while keeping a safe emotional distance from Simkha.
But perhaps Tali should do all that tomorrow morning? After a chance to sleep? Tali had just noticed the time was 2.00 am. She was surprised at how tired she felt after sipping cocoa and learning a few dozen English words. Tali would need to sleep soon. Tali could tell Simkha was exhausted, but perhaps not as sleepy.
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Yeah, Tali would delay the HUD lessons for the morning.
Except Simkha had started to excitedly draw on a sheet of scrap paper. And wow. Simkha was drawing out the entire default view from her HUD. She was even including all the High Tongue glyphs she couldn’t read. She was doing a shockingly good job at it.
But Tali was fading fast.
« Simkha, » said Tali. She pointed at herself. Then she slumped over, closed her eyes, and pretended to snore.
« [Sleep!] » said Simkha, excitedly.
Oh, my Sweet Simkha.
Tali let out a punch drunk giggle. She shook her head and pointed at herself.
Talitha struggled to string her new English words together.
« [No. sleep… er… happy] Talitha. [I. Sleep good.] »
Simkha narrowed her eyes and cocked her head. Deep in thought.
« Um, [snore]? »
Tali shook her head no. Tali narrowed her eyes. On unsteady feet, she raised herself up out of her seat. She shuffled over to stand next to Simkha. Tali leaned over Simkha’s drawing of the HUD. Tali placed her pointer finger on the status bar for sleep.
« [Sleep,] » said Tali.
She pointed to the right side of the bar.
« [Sleep good,] » said Tali.
She pointed to the left side of the bar.
« [Sleep good not,] » said Tali.
Tali grabbed a bright red pencil and drew a little red bar almost all the way to the left side of the bar. Tali only exaggerated her need for sleep by a little bit.
« Talitha [sleep good not,] » said Tali.
Simkha stared at Tali. Simkha stared at the drawing. Simkha stared at Tali. After most of a minute, she pointed a finger at the sleep status bar.
« [Sleep?] »
« [Sleep,] » Tali confirmed.
Simkha erupted into a broad smile. She practically vibrated with excitement. She pressed a hand to her chest. Her eyes sparkled. She grabbed Tali and hugged the shit out of her.
« Wım Ryochts on Maksıs, gean tunsye, » muttered Simkha. « [I] ın sımulearre mınsge pın. »
Simkha pointed a finger to the left most status bar on her diagram, and asked « [What word?] »
How? How am I supposed to find the strength to stay awake for this?
Simkha made a cute little pout and pressed her palms together.
Fine. That works.
Tali could probably stay awake through one last round of questions. Tali followed Simkha through the line of default status bars, pointing one-by-one. Tali had to sleepily act out the meaning of each status bar before Simkha could tell her its English name.
Tali had an easy time communicating the status bars for
> 25. Cleanliness
> 26. Exercise
> 27. Food
> 28. Sex, and
> 29. Sleep
Although in retrospect, both Tali and Simkha acted a little too performatively comfortable when Tali mimed « [sex.] » Tali didn’t have such an easy time acting out the other status bars. She needed several tries before she could get Simkha to understand
> 30. Relaxation, and
> 31. Socialization.
When it came time to act out
> 32. Waste Purge,
Tali didn’t even try. She just walked to Simkha’s bathroom and pointed at the toilet.
Simkha had to run back to her diagram and add labels to each status bar before she would calm down. Simkha remembered Tali’s exhaustion when Tali pressed her face into Simkha’s arm and groaned « [sleep.] » Simkha looked sheepish.
Simkha led Tali by her hand to the bathroom. She stood Tali up in front of the mirror, handed her a clean toothbrush, and made her brush her teeth. When she offered Tali use of her fancy face scrubs, Tali picked just one of them. At Tali’s insistence, Simkha used it to gently clean Tali’s face for her. When Simkha washed her own face, Tali sat down on the floor and hugged Simkha’s leg.
Simkha pulled Tali up by the hand and led her to her bedroom.
Oh no, thought Tali. Just one bed. I guess she expects us to share it. Probably doesn't even see it as intimate. I wouldn’t want to offend her. Guess I have to do it. I can still keep my distance.
Tali climbed into bed and nested under the duvet. She kicked off her pants, unclasped her bra and slipped it out of her sweater, then snuggled into a pillow. She listened to the sounds of Simkha shuffling around turning off lights. Tali frowned. Simkha was shuffling… away? Not back to bed? Tali was sure of it. Simkha was leaving to sleep in her living room. Tali was so tired. But she made herself think through the situation.
No… thought Tali. I… put her out. She should sleep… her own bed. I should… be couch… if she doesn’t…. wanna share.
Tali set her sleepiness to the side with the greatest imaginable force of will. She crawled out from under the duvet. She had to do… the right thing. She climbed to her feet. She had… to do… justice. She shuffled out to Simkha’s living room.
Simkha lay curled up on a loveseat that was clearly too small for her. She hid under a fuzzy blanket.
No. Wrong. I fix.
Tali shook Simkha by the shoulder. Tali took Simkha’s arm and pulled her to her feet. Tali grabbed the blanket. She climbed onto the loveseat and buried herself under the blanket. Tali pointed one hand out towards Simkha’s bedroom.
« Mmmh, » Tali mumbled. « [You. Sleep.] »
Tali tugged the blanket tight and closed her eyes. She started to fade into sleep. But then she felt Simkha’s arms under her, lifting her, scooping her into a bridal carry. She was being carried back to the bedroom.
« Nooooo, » whined Tali. She squirmed in Simkha’s arms. She nuzzled at Simkha’s collarbone. Tali felt secure here, in a way she was certain she shouldn’t. God, Simkha was so strong.
Simkha set Tali back down in her bed. She tucked Tali in beneath the duvet.
« Goeienacht, » said Simkha.
Tali groaned when Simkha left the room again.
No… thought Tali… I fix.
Somehow, Tali did it all again. She crawled out from under the duvet. She creaked to her feet. She schlepped to the living room. She found Simkha back in the loveseat, with a new blanket. Tali tried to pull Simkha to her feet again. But Simkha resisted her this time. Simkha wouldn’t be moved. So Tali climbed on top of Simkha and curled up.
« [What] te fugg? » groaned Simkha.
« Hmmmrrrnnnggghhh » rebutted Tali.
Simkha groaned. She didn’t even bother to stand up before she scooped Tali.
Tali squirmed all the way back to Simkha’s bed. God! Simkha is such a stubborn bitch! Tali was not going to give up. Tali got put down on the soft mattress. Tali started to climb out of bed. But then the bed shifted under her and she almost fell backwards.
Rrrgggrrr? What?
Oh.
Ohhh.
Simkha’s arm wrapped around Tali’s waist and pulled her into bed
Guess Simkha… expects us… share bed. Oh well… wouldn’t want to… offend her.
Tali… was in bed with Simkha. Cuddling with Simkha. Being held. She turned to face Simkha. Tali buried her head in Simkha’s hoodie. Tali breathed in that reassuring scent. Heh heh, part of Tali’s head was wedged between the pillow and Simkha’s boob. Tali moved a hand under Simkha’s hoodie, to the warmth of Simkha’s lower back.
« [Happy, friend?] » mumbled Simkha. « [Good?] »
« [Happy…] » purred Tali. « [Sleep.] »
« [Sleep,] » agreed Simkha.
This is fine. Platonic. Easy to… keep… emotional distance. Not… too close… to Sim… Simkh… Si…
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