Page 149 of Every Almost

Charlie laughed. "I did say that."

"I liked it," Selowen said. "One day, you'll have to tell me exactly what that means, but I imagine it is something close to my story."

"I'd love to hear it," Charlie said. "If you're willing to tell me."

"Why would I have invited you to tea, dear child, if not to regale you with my tales of anthropological origins?" Selowen's mouth twitched in a teasing smile, causing Charlie to chuckle softly.

"I stand corrected."

"As you should. Now, how is it your Earth brethren begin tales? Once undone a time?"

Charlie laughed heartily. "Onceupona time."

"Ah, that's it." Selowen adjusted in her place on the bench, set her cup of tea down, and sat forward, luring Charlie in. "Well, then... onceupona time..."

And then she spent the next however long telling Charlie her story. Not the whole story, but enough, about the two worlds, the two cultures, and the body that didn't quite fit either. TheBrontari frame mixed with the Kaelari markings, those same markings that had always been brighter than expected and more responsive than the Kaelari species was prone to, because her mixed biology amplified what pure Kaelari biology would have muted.

"The Brontari are built for patience," Selowen said. "The Kaelari are built for expression. I received both. It makes me very good at my job and very bad at dinner parties."

Charlie snorted.

Selowen's gaze drifted to the Luminthra pressed against Charlie's side. Its glow had shifted, almost imperceptibly, toward a purple undertone.

"So, dear," Selowen started. "You've been on our beautiful vessel for almost a month now. You've traversed her hallways and met and worked alongside her vibrant crew. What have you come to think of our ragtag group?"

Charlie chuckled softly before going quiet in consideration. She felt the Niblet in her lap pulse warmly, her hand still stroking through her moss. "Tavi is the most enthusiastic person I've ever met, and I'm from a world where everyone on the planet takes professional sports personally." Selowen laughed at that, but then urged Charlie to continue. "But then he's also passionate and driven for what he feels is right and, despite hissmallerstature, won't back down for anything or anyonehe thinks is wronged."

"To that, I can agree wholeheartedly," Selowen said. "What else?"

"Well, Maren - she is such a visionary, in ways I never knew were even possible. She sees things I miss, which has never happened often for me before, and I think the world of her for it. I know she can teach me so many things, and I look forward to any lessons I may learn. Her memory itself is its own kind of wonder, and I'm constantly in awe of her and her skills."

"Maren is very special," Selowen agreed. "She is often overlooked because of her quiet and kind nature, but she is a power force, that one. I myself appreciate you seeing her the way you do." Charlie smiled at that. "Who else?"

"I would have to comment on Borran next, who just named me 'Spark Plug' the other day, by the way."

"Did he now?"

"That he did. Do you have a Borran nickname, Selowen?"

Selowen sat up at that, and firmly commented, "That is a tale for another day." Charlie immediately understood there was no arguing there.

"Understood. Well, Borran has this gentle way of knowing exactly what you need when you yourself don't, and I've never felt more seen." Selowen nodded her head, letting Charlie own that sentiment all herself. So Charlie continued by her own choice.

"Okay - Kess? Absolutely terrifies me, but I think that's the point," she remarked with a fake grimace. Selowen actually chuckled at Charlie's expression. "I kind of respect the hell out of her though. I feel like she'd take on the biggest beasts for her friends and loved ones. And though she's intimidating as all hell, she carries it well and makes it clear she's focused, and driven, and willing to lay down protecting those she cares about, you know?"

Charlie paused, then, thinking of the other crew members onboard. "Torvax, well, he asked me seventeen questions in a row once and I'mstillnot sure if it was an interrogation or a conversation. I like to think it was his way of getting to know me, and I can only hope my answers were right."

"They were."

"They were?"

"Yes, I know personally." Selowen chuckled again, this time low, quiet, and long, the sound settling into the grove like onemore layer of the peaceful calm blanket they were under in its atmosphere. Charlie joined her, until Selowen's next question. "And what of the Captain? How do you think she fairs in our group?"

Charlie's hand stilled on the Niblet's back. She looked down at the creature rather than at Selowen. "The Captain..."

She searched for words. "The Captain is..." But nothing she came up with seemed to fit.

She had a dozen answers but none of them wereright.