The Flow of Love

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"Oh," Unna looked down sadly. "Okay...Master Stephen is probably wondering why I haven't returned from my contemplation anyway..." Unna wasn't really worried about Master Stephen, but was just saying so to make Ni excusing herself less awkward. "I will go put my clothes back on," Unna said before walking over to the locker and taking their things out and putting Ni's belongings back on her chair. "Thank you for the swim suits and for spending time with me."

[Gar]

Ni sighed and nudged shoulders with Unna. "That doesn't mean I'd like to end our date, shy one," she said calmly, "I think it would be best to just relax like this and talk."

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"We should still get out of these wet clothes," Unna smiled, humbly. She walked back to the changing rooms and put her dress back on.

[Gar]

Ni followed suit, only she came out with her dry white bikini instead, the sarong around her hips. "I forgot how much I missed the feeling of wind against my skin," she commented with a rueful smile, "The first thing I did when I left the academy was walk completely naked on a beach in Zeltros." She sat on one of the plastic chairs and patted the chair next to her, motioning Unna to join her.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna sat on the chair next to Ni. "I don't think we can be naked most places. Even if I could, I don't think I would. My people are much more modest when it comes to our bodies. I am okay with that though."

[Gar]

"I wasn't raised with that way of thinking," says Ni, "If a zeltron has never tried something, they try it. It is part of our culture to experience all things and encourage others toward new sensations. And if we don't like something we try, then we know not to try it again." She gives Unna a knowing look and places her hand on the Iktachi's knee.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna didn't protest the hand on her knee, but she did wiggle a little. She discovered on this day that her virgin skin is very ticklish! After letting out a little giggle, she responded to Ni. "I understand trying things that you want to experience, but don't you just know that some things aren't for you? What about things that you feel are wrong or things that you can never undo? I save my body for when I establish a connection that goes deep beyond what is physical, because that is special to me. Once I give up my virginity, I can never have it back, so I need to be sure that I am ready. I know that not all cultures hold this sacred, but mine does."

Unna looked down sadly, having come to the realization that she and her beautiful date held such different values, "Ni," Unna said softly, looking her companion in the eyes, "I don't think we could be together without one of us giving up a part of ourselves. My virginity means as much to me as your desire to always experience new beings. I can't give that up and I can't ask you to give up your beliefs either."

Unna gently released Ni's hand. With a sigh, she bowed her head down and focused her eyes on the waters of the pool.

[Gar]

Ni couldn't help laughing. "I wasn't talking about that, shy one," she says between chuckles, "You must think that I'm some sort of... sex rancor? Or something? The crazed sex rancor, out to deflower virgins or something?" she shakes her head. "Granted, I wouldn't protest if you agreed to experience that with me but that is not what I've been trying for today, since you made it quite clear thats not what you were interested in..." she leans forward, urging Unna to look in her eyes, "Perhaps I should have known you would not know this, shy one. But there is more to intimacy than just sex. And it feels almost as good. How else do you think I stayed abstinent while I was at the academy, once I hit puberty?" She has to pause for a moment to laugh it off.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna wasn't amused. She couldn't shake the feeling that the difference between their cultures would be more than their budding relationship could overcome. "I know you weren't talking about sex, but it goes back to the topic of trying new things, just as you equated trying new people to sniffing new flowers or seeing many fountains. You dive into pools and I approach them with caution. We seem to approach life the same ways we approach pools. I take comfort in my traditions and you take delight in experiencing the new. It isn't what you were talking about, but the topic still made it impossible for me to not draw the connection." As Ni continued to laugh, Unna only felt worse.

[Gar]

Ni noticed that Unna wasn't taking it well and her laughter faded. She didn't like these serious talks, but she understood that they were necessary. "But if it wasn't for my approach to life we wouldn't have had this day. Are you saying you had a bad experience that you wish not to try again?" she asked so calmly and earnestly.