They had been sitting on the dock, Avaline leaning against her travel pack, and admiring the shape of the Aquila in the moonlight. No one was on board at the moment, the crew scattered in anticipation of a long journey. Connor had let them, keeping watch over the ship, and Avaline, not being particularly drawn to the modest entertainment the town afforded, kept him company.

She was good company, and he always seemed to say more than he meant to. But even when she teased, she was perfectly willing to explain things that other people flushed and flapped about. Which had led them to their current subject.

“Seriously?” she laughed. “Nothing? Your people don't even play kissing games?”
“It is more of a serious thing; enjoyed yes, but not frivolous. I mean, I know other people do, but no. I've never... done anything like that.”
“What about self enjoyment?”
“What?”
“Touching yourself for pleasure.” she clarified. He flushed at her frankness, which only made her laugh. “I see you know how it works, at least.”
“I do not really have the time to... “he felt like jumping into the water to derail the conversation; it had taken a strange turn, but instead Connor mustered a sally- he could fight battles he could manage a conversation; even one on such a bizarre subject. And the moonlight made him feel hidden, and bold. “So you do?”
“When I get the time.”
“Have you been with a man?”
She scoffed. “Yes. And women. On occasion.”
Connor knew how things worked between a man and a woman, even if he didn't participate, so he had a hard time picturing that.
“How does that work?”
“Do you really want to know?”
He found he did.
“A lot of it is a lot like pleasuring yourself, only with the intimacy of being close to another person.” She talked with her hands making gestures, and sketching out curves. She was an excellent storyteller, giving Connor a beautiful mental image of how female forms might fit together, and how, exactly one might bring them pleasure. He had to shift his position a few times. But he thought she might have been shifting a bit too.

“That sounds a great deal more complicated than men with men.”
“And how does an innocent little babe like you know about that?” she asked, laughing.
He gestured to the ship.
“I have spent much time on the seas.” he explained. “Sailors are not necessarily shy, when the ship is small, and the crew is tight.”
“I see. And you don't see anything wrong with that?”
“No.” he accompanied that with a head shake. “It is simply another form of … that sort of activity.”
“you ever thought about it?” she asked, leaning forward eyes full of mischief. “In a personal way?”
“I... I do not think it would be appropriate for me to investigate things like that with my crew. Or the recruits. And I do not have anyone else I would trust that much.”
“What about me?”
“You lack the equipment.” he felt this was a sound argument.
“Equipment is exactly the word you're looking for.” She dug in her pack and produced, a slightly curved and shaped wand. It was polished smooth, and the carving, at least on one end, made it obvious, even to Connor what it was. It looked a great deal like a penis. “Very versatile.” She said teasingly. “I can use it on myself if so inclined, or on a woman if that's what's wanted, or on a man. Many men like the feeling of something inside them. Turns them into complete idiots sometimes.” He couldn't take his eyes off it and all that it was implying. So when a hand touched him, fingers spread so the palm was on his belt and the fingers brushing over his groin. “So?” she asked. He exhaled slowly, and met her eyes. “I would.”
She smiled, slowly.