1:4:1 Cambridge (Part 3)

They had such a wide range of options open to them. A seemingly infinite number of room configurations appeared before them. Although initially, it didn’t seem like that big of a decision, they didn’t want to run the risk of alienating Char or appearing like they were coming on too strong. Deciding against bunkbeds, Lore instead opted for the largest bed they thought they could get away with; they scaled the room with the bed so as to make it appear more normal sized. They were also sure to fill the room with what they thought to be the essentials: A bath and shower combination room, a wardrobe each and a small fabricator unit for food and drink. Seeing that Char would likely be stuck between the arguing siblings for a little while yet, they decided to have a look at the room they had designed for themselves. The room was bigger than they had expected; scaling everything with a slightly larger bed than they were used to had given the room almost church-like proportions. Lore wandered over to the mirror. They still hadn’t had time to get used to seeing their new reality.
“Well done Tolan.” They turned their head from side to side. “Looks pretty good.” They ran their fingers around their eyes, feeling the dimples and divots in their skin. They stood there, entranced for a moment by the milky grey of their eye. Slowly, they started to undress. They began with their bottom half before moving upward. As they came to their tee-shirt, they felt an unpleasant feeling they had forgotten they should have been expecting. The fabric clung to them as they peeled it away from their shoulder. A small cluster of pinpricks started to reform on their shoulder. They had forgotten all about it. They tapped the fabricator’s screen causing a plaster and a bandage to be created. They covered the wounds with the plaster, neglecting the bandage, before settling into their bed and waiting for Char. They had a feeling that they had a little extra time to themselves so they decided to neatly fold away their clothes into their bedside cabinet. As they closed their door, Char opened hers.
“Someone’s excited.” She beamed, removing her own jacket.
“No…” Lore responded reflexively. “Just wanted to get comfortable.” They were quick to add.
Char chuckled softly. “You’re alright Lore. Get comfy then.” She finished stripping then returned her skin to its usual complexion before grabbing some light pyjamas from her wardrobe. “Suppose that’s a bonus. We’re all the same size.” She clipped her implant into the top then twirled around. “Nice fit and really soft. Have a feel!” She jumped at Lore on the bed, arm extended.
Lore ran their hand down her arm. “That’s some nice feeling synthetic cotton.” Lore nodded.
Char flipped up the bottom lip of her top and scanned the side seams for a label. “No. It’s a hundred percent cotton. Straight from a Turkey. Didn’t know they could make clothes… I suppose it’s not outside of the realm of possibility.” Char chuckled.
“Turkey is a country. On Earth. That top is probably from a contemporary shop.” Even though Lore was being serious, Char couldn’t help but continue to chuckle.
“I know, I was joking. I don’t often get to pull the alien card. Thought it would be funny.” She smiled.
Lore cracked a subtle smile. “Well done then.” They patted the bed beside them. Char settled down. She stroked their arm back.
“Hmm?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Are we doing this then?” Lore spoke softly. “Is ‘us’ going to be a thing?”
Char backed away slightly. “When I woke up after Reid shot me, all I could think of was you, alone, on that ship. Nothing could have or did stop me from getting to you and getting you out.” She pivoted off of the bed and dug into her bag pockets. “Syd ‘gave’ me this as well as the gauntlet. I was going to use it on Reid.” She twirled the pen between her fingers.
“Oh.” Lore paused, unsure of quite how to take the news. “Thank…you?”
She put the pen down. “What I’m trying to say is that memories alone don’t do that to a person. I care for you, I really do. The memories just mean we don’t have to waste as much time on the past.” She smiled.
“I knew you were coming for me, knew you were still alive. Somehow I could feel you getting closer.” Lore pulled themselves in closer. They closed their eyes and still, there she was; glimmering as though she were made of golden light. Lore approached her, eyes wide shut, and went in for a kiss. Char reciprocated. The instant clung to the present, unwilling to become past but its grip eventually faltered. They pulled away from each other slowly. Lore opened their eyes. The golden aura they had seen still surrounded Char. They couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re glowing.” They whispered.
“I bloody hope not.” Char recoiled. Lore’s confused look gave a little context. “Normally, when a human says that, they mean that the other person looks pregnant.” She laughed.
“Sorry, I meant you’re actually glowing.” Lore ran their fingers around Char, trying to feel her aura. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Char checked herself before she moved back to Lore. “Come here.” She kissed them again before moving her attention lower. Lore snuggled into her love, losing themselves in the ecstasy, but as she moved below the sheets, something began to feel wrong.
“Woah. Please.” Lore tried to be as gentle as they could while they moved themselves from Char’s warmth. She was hesitant to stop but got the message after the second move. “Sorry.” Lore blushed.
“What’s the matter?” Char repositioned herself to put her arm around Lore.
Lore just shrugged as they shrank into themselves. “I don’t know.” A lump formed in their throat.
Char just nodded. She kissed their cheek then lowered them and herself into the bed. “Let’s get some rest. We’ve got an interesting day ahead of us tomorrow.” She smiled sadly.
“Lights on or off?” Lore smiled back.
“Off.” She nodded.
They lay together in the same bed but not in the same darkness. No matter how hard they tried to dismiss it, Char’s aura was still glowing as brightly as she had with the lights on. Even with both eyes shut, even when they were facing away from her, they couldn’t escape her brilliance. While it was somewhat comforting to know that she was so close, there was something about the aura that was beginning to cause them pain, as if they were straining a part of themselves they never knew they had. They lay awake, hoping that once she started sleeping, it would fade but it failed to do so. Morning eventually came and the simulated light of dawn danced and mingled with Char’s aura, together filling the room with an amber light that Lore could see even with their eyes closed; they looked down at their Breacher to check the time only to find that they themselves were glowing too. A white aura effervesced around them; a centimetre thick cloud of light clung to them. Using it, they could see every part of their body. Slowly and gently, they got up out of the bed. Two sets of footprint’s appeared about where Lore was about to put their feet, four glowing white outlines on the floor before them. After choosing a pair, a second set appeared, then four more and four more after that. The set after that was different, with only three footprints appearing. Confused and curious, Lore chose the path with only a single outline. They quickly deduced why as they kicked the corner of their bedframe before staggering their other foot onto the prediction. Quitting while they were close to ahead, they slid back into bed, their head now not hurting as much. They didn’t have long to wait before Char woke up and their day in the past could properly begin.

Lore had already dressed themselves before waking Char. They had already left the room before she woke up and were half way through a dry bowl of cereal before they saw her again. Compounding their discomfort about the events of the previous evening was the fact that Lore still wasn’t used to Char’s ‘human’ skin. She sat opposite them and peered into their bowl.
“Aren’t you supposed to put something with that? A liquid of some kind?” She moved in for a closer inspection. “Looks drier than your ration packs somehow.”
Lore didn’t know how to respond so remained silent and continued eating. They just watched as Char walked over to the fabricator and retrieved her own breakfast.
“You want anything to wash that abomination down?” She chuckled. Lore just shook their head. “Fine. Then I think I’ll have a cup of tea and a glass of cool apple juice with mine.” Char set everything down on a tray then brought it over to the table. She had fabricated herself what looked like plate of bright red scrambled eggs. Lore’s eyes narrowed. “The machine said it was Loralias bean smash. I don’t think it is though.” She paused waiting for Lore to say something but they didn’t. “There’s no way the fabricators, even on a time ship have access to Regnis root or Golarianis…” Lore just nodded. “Look, is this about last night?” Char dropped her fork on the table.
“I’m sorry.” Lore swallowed.
“Look…” They said in unison. Char gestured for Lore to talk.
“Look, it’s not that I didn’t like what you were doing. I really did.” They smirked. “It’s just… I don’t know if I’m quite ready for what comes next.”
“Next?” Char thought for a second before she realised. “Right. I’m no floozy but I can see how you’d think that would lead to sex. Never shag on the second date. Third maybe but never second.”
“Maybe not third either.” Lore eked out.
“Something you’re not telling me?” Char smirked.
“It’s not that I don’t want to… I’m just not sure just yet.” They looked down at their bowl, disappointed in themselves.
Char rested her hand on their shoulder. “Look, it’s alright. Whenever you’re ready, we can try again.”
“Like I said, I wouldn’t mind seeing the first bit through again but perhaps, a little bit of notice first?” Lore cracked a slight smile.
Lore pulled away unexpectedly but the reason soon became apparent as the siblings appeared.
“Morning! What’s the plan for today then?” Sky stretched as they sat down between Char and Lore.
“We were thinking that if the weather stays nice, we could go to a park and have a picnic.” Char shrugged. “Either that or there’s a few pubs nearby we could… Ah. Never mind, picnic it is.”
Blue groaned. “Why can’t we go to the pubs? That sounds like more fun than whatever a picnic is.”
“Because you two are too young. We might have been able to get away with Sky but you’re way too young to drink.” Char shook her head.
“Come on, Mauve let us drink.” Blue looked as though they were trying to force themselves to cry but it just left them looking confused and constipated.
“A nice picnic will do you two some good. I’m guessing Illia’s the only fresh air your lungs have ever had.” Char chuckled.
They both thought about it. “Damn, you’re right.” They both coughed.
“I’ve never actually breathed ‘air’ before. Just whatever we had on Rexel.” Sky sat, paralysed by the revelation.
“So that’s it settled, a picnic in the park.” Lore smiled.