Ficlet | The Exes Headcanon | The Strange Case of Starship Iris

[jaggedwolf]

2191

It’s Brian’s fault.

He’s the one who started telling Krejjh about drinking games, who had found it fascinating because apparently Dwarnian drinking practices are very different from those of humans. Because of course they are.

That means the next time Sana breaks out the moonshine, Krejjh insists they all play “Hot Seat” or something, which Arkady determines is possibly the stupidest drinking game in existence after they explain it to her. Is this what college kids did for fun, ask each other questions and drink to not answer instead of just…drinking? Weird.

Arkady stops herself from saying so, leans a little into Violet sitting next to her and occupies herself with a sip of moonshine. Violet looks at her, amusement clear on her face. “You think this game’s pretty stupid.”

Violet keeps her voice low enough that the others, busying themselves with arguing over who goes first, don’t pay them any attention. Arkady made a face. “At this point, what don’t we all know about each other? I give it two rounds before Krejjh gets bored.” “I’d say at least four, but you’re not wrong.”

They’re somewhere in the middle of round three when it lands on Arkady’s turn again. She’s drunk in a way that makes her feel relaxed and loose, and the game’s even been entertaining. They’ve all learned what Krejjh thinks each of them would look like as Dwarnians, Violet’s told them about that girl from her freshman year who joined a cult, Brian doesn’t actually know how many mafias are after him, what Sana’s favorite shower song is, and that, yes Krejjh, Arkady did in fact think Violet was cute before they got together, what a shocker there.

So, sure, she’s ready for her round.

“Hit me,” Arkady says, nodding to Krejjh.

Krejjh grins wider than ever, all four of their eyes intent on Arkady. “First Mate Patel.”

“Yep, that’s me.”

“How many people, say, in this room, have you kissed?” Krejjh waggles their eyebrows.

Arkady pauses drinking long enough to answer. “Uh, two?”

Brian spits or snorts out a mouthful of moonshine, and since he’s sitting on the other side of Arkady, that means she gets sprayed.

“What the hell, Jeeter?” she yells, because, really, what the hell Jeeter.

Brian coughs a few times, Krejjh thumping his back, before speaking. “Me? What about you?”

What about her, she’d just answered Krejjh’s question like she was supposed to - and oh, shit.

She looks over at Sana, whose look of entertainment, says “I thought you were the one that didn’t want it mentioned, but hey, be my guest”. Brian’s back to sputtering, Krejjh’s eyes are split between Sana and Arkady in that uncanny way.

Arkady steals a glance at Violet, who, instead of looking at Sana or Arkady is staring at Brian and Krejjh in confusion, like she’s puzzling out yet another mystery. Violet frowns. “Uh, did you guys not know?”

“You told her?” Sana asks, sounding very much like she’s proud of Arkady for her honesty or whatever.

“Uh, no.” Arkady squints at Violet. “And it’s not like I have journals of feelings lying about my room. Uh, no offense Sana.”

“None taken.” Sana’s looking confused at Violet too.

Violet’s shoulders are raised so high they’re at her ears, and her face has managed to get even pinker than it did from the alcohol alone. Violet gestures helplessly. “I kind of just…assumed? And I thought everyone knew? But apparently not?”

“No,” says Krejjh, a terrifying grin on their face, “we did not.”

2189

A smarter person wouldn’t do this, Arkady thinks, as she lets Sana deepen the kiss, as she takes a step forward to press Sana against the wall, as she lets her hands roam a little. A smarter person definitely wouldn’t risk the only safe place for her to sleep these days for a little temporary fun. The cramped engine room hums and their combined breaths smell of alcohol, but Arkady’s senses have narrowed focus to the pressure of their bodies against each other.

Screw it, Tripathi feels a little awkward tomorrow, throws her off the ship, so be it. Besides, they’re near Triton quad. Easy enough place to find a new gig.

Sana breaks off the kiss and Arkady looks her over. Her hair’s a mess, she’s smiling with those damn dimples and her fingers are playing with Arkady’s hair. Good. She’s still interested. Arkady smirks up at her. “You hear someone coming?”

Sana shakes her head. “No, I’m fairly certain they’re still on-planet drinking something better than homemade moonshine.”

“Eh, their loss.” Arkady shrugs.

“But they’ll be back at some point,” Sana says, “so I was thinking we could take this back to my room. Or yours, of course.”

“Yours is fine.” Arkady gestures to the door with an outstretched arm. “Lead on, captain.”

“Okay, if this is actually happening, no "captain”-ing. It’s bad enough you’ve got the rest of them saying it regularly now.“ Sana rolls her eyes, a small smile still on her face.