Page 27 of Legends and Longing

“Humans have come up with a variety of products we do not eat. It seems like our…chefs…yes, that is the word…were very curious about nuggets.” Zorin shrugged to get another giggle out of our Earth mate. “Wren of Earth was expounding on their importance but our scientists do not understand how to obtain the right meat for them. It seems to be a protein texture issue.”

Shiloh shook his head like we were both what he would call ridiculous. “He has to stop confusing everyone with what he thinks is the most important foods. Your scientists have more important things to do than pick out nugget meat.”

Several Earthlings had explained that because of what was called his little side, Wren found them to be very important.

Was this Shiloh’s way of explaining he was not little?

He had not indicated any distinct food preferences and seemed to be enjoying our dinner which was what he said was similar to foods he called a pork loin and mashed potatoes. “He’s enjoying all the attention which is probably part of the problem.”

Our mate was so opposite from Wren, it made me question if their versions of submission must be vastly different. Shiloh had been pleased to quickly come back to Zorin’s home to enjoy a quiet meal, but the last I had seen Wren and Toman, they were both enthusiastically discussing the distinctions between their shopping places.

The people of Earth shopped extensively.

“Is the expression attention whore negative or neutral? It was mentioned several times, but when I asked for clarification, people left the conversation quickly.” As the question made Shiloh cough, Zorin cocked his head in the Earth movement to show confusion. “There seems to be missing context in the translation spell. How is he selling his attention?”

Was our mate choking or just showing surprise?

After a few seconds of coughing and silence, Shiloh blushed and swallowed. “I…I don’t think anyone means it literally. But I don’t know where the expression came from originally. It’s…it’s more about someone who craves attention so much they make questionable decisions on how to get it.”

“Ah. Money is not actually involved.” Zorin performed the nodding motion to get attention from Shiloh and looked pleased when our mate smiled. “That makes sense.”

“It’s…it’s not really a positive thing to say but sometimes it’s meant to tease a person you know really well.” Swallowing hard like something was in his throat, our human mate’s tone evened out but it felt forced. “I think it’s one of those phrases you should write down for us to talk about but not use in casual conversation.”

Were we moving away from practical and toward stressful things that would cause our mate to shut down? He was still doing a good job of communicating verbally with us, but his emotions were changing.

Zorin took in the information and glanced down at his data pad. “In the same way the Earthling Betty is called a naughty slut by her mate?”

When our mate groaned, Zorin glanced up to see Shiloh blinking oddly. “Does your expression mean it is offensive? My understanding of the word and his use of it do not align. She obviously saw it as pleasurable of some kind based on her expressions and movements.”

Shiloh did not seem to be able to answer the question because he nodded, shook his head, and then groaned again all in quick succession. Zorin was so confused he looked to me for help, which was shocking in itself. “What is your impression of his answer?”

Was he being polite by including me or performing the Earth activity of throwing me under the bus? I’d seen that phrase used to discuss mating differences between our people, and I was not looking to experience it firsthand.

Assuming his behavior was neutral, I answered it as clearly as I could. “There is some personal connection to the question you did not anticipate.”

If our mate could answer a question about attention whores, then logic said naughty slut should not shock him. It seemed like the difference was in paid or unpaid labor, which was not offensive to the people of Earth.

Giving away something for free should not shock someone from Earth even if it was physical attention. From what I had been told many of them dated and had relationships that were outside a mating bond.

“What was the situation where you heard the phrase being used?” It seemed like a reasonable question for me to ask but it got confusing sounds from our Earth mate.

“They were kissing and showing mate affection in a corner they thought was more private than it actually was.” Zorin shrugged as Shiloh closed his eyes. “They said they couldn’t find a closet? I explained how to politely excuse themselves for…mate time.”

The way Zorin studied our mate’s reactions out of the corner of his eye said he was doing his best to find a phrase or word that would not upset our mate.

Shiloh’s sounds were decreasing, so I indicated approval of the phrase which had Zorin looking pleased as he responded. “I think while we grew to have too much caution, they are more strongly impulsive.”

Quickly looking frustrated, Zorin’s change in behavior confused me until he sighed like an Earthling. “That sentence is wrong but English has too many words that are similar but not the same.”

It may have been a deliberate shift in the conversation, but even if it was not, it let Shiloh function. He opened his eyes and sat up, swallowing hard again. “I’m…I’m starting to think the spell is doing something that lets you know when the word is wrong. Is that possible? You guys always know if it doesn’t sound right even if it feels like you shouldn’t.”

Practical versus submission had somehow engaged again.

His behavior around the words naughty slut indicated they were connected to his submission in some way. However, knowing the definitions of the words was not the same as understanding how Shiloh saw them.

Zorin was obviously pleased that our mate was speaking again and let him change the subject. “I have not been told that is part of the spell, but it would not surprise me that it is…a side effect.”

“That’s the right expression.” Shiloh’s smile looked strange in some way but I felt relief through our faint bond. “You’re both very easy to understand even if you get frustrated with the language sometimes.”