NOVEL NEXT Chapter 90: Decorum
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Claire: Harry. Oh. . .HARRY. DECORUM!
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Sol 499 FY 26,07:48 Mars Time, Bonestell Crater Colony, Hab Layer, Cafeteria
When Gordon got back to the table, he found himself the last to arrive: a somewhat troubled looking Marie was receiving earnest looking whispers from Jillian, with Jaz smiling on beside her.
Gordon's arms were crowded with trays—he'd decided to try something of everything, especially since he didn't know what everybody liked.
"What goes where?" he asked.
"How comfortable are you with adult content, cowboy?" asked Jillian, apropos of nothing.
He paused, his brain skipping like a damaged CD, and then decided to ignore the question. And, if anybody didn't like what they got, it was no longer his fault. He distributed trays quickly, keeping the beefy stroganoff looking food for himself and giving Marie a fruit selection.
"So?" Marie asked, drawing out the word like a question she already knew the answer to. "I've been reminded that I forgot to mention a few aspects of Mars culture to you. And these goons—and Vera—have decided to remedy the situation."
Gordon looked to his right, where Jillian sat with Jaz hanging off her arm, both of them radiating mischief. To his left was Vera, serene but very much tuned in. He heard the rustle of cloth as Lark, next to him, shifted slightly, giving himself away—present, listening, silent, and all ears.
Adult content.
He weighed it. Decided: what the hell.
"Yeah, okay," he said. "We've been fortunate enough that our relationship contains some. . .adult content."
Marie grinned happily, not at all put out by his phrasing.
Vera cackled like an old witch. Marie corrected him: "No, no. I mean like—on Ghostlands."
"Virtual reality intimacy," Jaz supplied, wiggling her eyebrows.
"You haven't seemed interested," Gordon commented, casually. "And I think I remember telling you how I feel about it."
"Oh yeah," Marie said. "You did. But that's not what she meant either."
"The kids," she gestured toward Jaz and Jillian, who both looked delighted to be referred to as kids, "are now legally adults by both Earth and Martian standards. They have been for two years, here, because nearly everything we ask them to do after sixteen could kill them. Anything outside could have radiation, or atmosphere loss, what have you."
"If you can die for the colony," Jillian added cheerfully, "you can have a beer, drive a rover, and live in your own hab, too."
Gordon nodded. That. . .actually made a lot of sense.
"We don't all. I didn't move out until you got here," Marie noted. "But: Ghostlands is administered from Earth, so this is the year our local reprobates gained full access to humanity's worst excesses."
"She means sexual expression," Jaz said, grinning wickedly.
Marie raised a hand. "I felt it was only fair to let you know that's normal here. In the colony."
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"Sexual expression," Gordon repeated, nodding along.
"Depravity," Lark muttered into his tea.
"I expressed myself sexually by telling everyone I wanted Gordon in my bed," Marie offered.
"She expresses herself," Vera said, jerking a thumb at Jaz, "by queuing up—"
"—instead of the specifics, let's just approach this from an engineering standpoint."
"Okay," Gordon said, clearly outpaced.
"So what's the relative advantage of virtual intimacy?" challenged Marie.
Jaz leaned forward, suddenly serious. "Yeah. Why would a couple, who have real-life access to one another, use it?"
He thought for a second. "Well, there's no risk of pregnancy or disease. You can simulate activities. . .with simulated people. You're guaranteed someone available and interested."
"Mm-hmm," said Marie. "And?"
Jaz and Jillian exchanged a look. Jillian gave him a wink.
"Oh," Gordon said slowly. "That's clearly not the problem."
"Right," said Jaz.
"You've already got each other. You're not likely to be hotter in virtual space," he continued. They preened.
"Well thank you," said Jillian, giving Marie a light elbow and a nod of encouragement.
"They've already shared everything they've got to share," Vera added. "You've got physical access around the clock."
"And pregnancy isn't a concern," Gordon finished. "So it's not about the partner."
"Without a partner," Marie prompted, motioning for him to continue.
"It's NPCs—so, basically, group activities—"
"—or dangerous content," Jillian cut in. "Do I look like a one-trick pony to you?"
Marie sighed, drained her mug, and set it down like a judge delivering a sentence.
"The kids," she said solemnly, "are not all right."
"Don't worry, it's not as bad as all that for everybody," Vera said dryly. "It's just the eighteen-year-olds who are this far gone. Not that there's anything wrong with kink—but you needed a warning."
Jillian gave her a look and folded her arms—not actually mad, but visibly not agreeing either.
"Openness just happens when you live on a colony ship for months," Vera offered. "You can't not learn each other's habits. There's no privacy. And that became the colony norm."
Gordon nodded. "That makes sense. You get desensitized, I guess."
"No," Vera said, "we are sexual beings, Gordon. We had needs. Even when it wasn't convenient, or always dignified."
"Are they. . .needs, though?" Gordon asked cautiously.
Jillian rolled her eyes and mimicked in a stupidly low voice: "Says the guy dating the hottest girl on Mars—except for Jaz."
"Oh, thanks, babe," said Jaz, giving her a shoulder nudge. "You're definitely in the top hundred yourself."
"There are like eight girls in their generation," Marie pointed out.
"So what you're saying is," Gordon deadpanned, "there are eight massive perverts in this ecosystem? That's. . .not a lot."
"It's not the existence of the perverts," said Marie primly. "It's that they're all in my friend group."
Gordon raised an eyebrow.
"I was their big sister," Marie explained.
"Marie practically raised us," confirmed Jillian.
"That's why I'm so fucked up," Jaz added sweetly.
Marie kicked her under the table.
"I was a big sister to two generations of Martians," Marie said, not even trying to argue. "Or maybe I should say batches. And now I'm Auntie to the third."
"They're checking," Vera added, "to see if you like kids. And if you're gonna stick around."
"And if you're prejudiced," commented Jillian.
"And honestly?" Lark shrugged. "I'm interested in the answer to some of these, too. Without that, all this gum flapping has just been wasted air. But, I figure," he said, "you'll show us. Sooner or later."