S-word Questions

Okay a lot of these answers are predictable for Ari but I haven't done this one before

2, 3, 5, 12

2. Any past relationships (canon or otherwise)? What impact did that have on them? Okay so she had her station hookups. The Tradeline initiation just after she qualified - nice guy but they were both very drunk. A female mechanic on an outpost station. And then Captain Laitinen which she remains quite pleased about.

The effect was pretty much like - Ari likes casual sex, so do many other spacers, this is fun so let's keep doing it. Then @ Lab there was Moon Piercer which was supposed to be FWB (by contract!) but he disappeared. Which creeped her out a bit and has made her warier of approaching people again.

Other than that - her childhood friend Kaizen had a crush on her but she didn't realise it. But that's as close as she gets to shippy stuff. No romance for Ari!

3. How do they feel about monogamy vs. non-monogamy? Okay so because of how Ari approaches things right now this isn't really an issue for her but in the event that she ever did end up in partnership contract with someone, she'd expect monogamy unless it were a purely political arrangement.

If you don't want to be monogamous, that's fine, but don't get in contract. That's how she sees it.

Oh also @ Sail she actually attended a wedding between 3 people and was the first time she'd come across a poly relationship. She was surprised and it's not something she'd want for herself but she figures if that's what they're all signing up for, no reason they can't have the contract they want.

5. What soothes them when they need comfort? Someone she trusts touching her arm and telling her she's valued. That's perfect for her. If there's no such trusted person around? Solitude and/or distracting herself with something productive.

She can't really accept comfort from anyone unless they're on 'friend and shipmate' level with her, because needing comfort in the first place is showing weakness, and accepting it is worse and puts you in intangible debt.

12. Which of their CR are they most and least willing to kiss under mistletoe? An all-way tie for last place? She'd kiss Moon Piercer because she knows he wouldn't be weird about it. Least willing is harder because there are so many. Sticking to fairly close CR I'm going to say Jasmine because she knows how close she and Aladdin are

so neither of them would appreciate it lol

ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ᴛᴇᴀᴠɪ for you!

ty!

elfwife It's okay! She has happy memories of him.

4, 7, 13!

4. Do they crave touch, or are they uncomfortable with it? Neither, both? Both! I think she craves it more than she'd let on. She's tactile in intimate situations, but platonically it's a lot more complicated. She does not want touch if it'd make her look weak, vulnerable or needy in any way, or if it invites unwanted informality.

Which she believes is usually the case cross-culturally (in games!) She'd much rather be seen as standoffish Lieutenant Tayrey who does not do touching than cute Ari who you can hug. So much more comfortable for her.

On the Tradelines she can be freer about it. It's very hierarchical so that has to be allowed for but within limitations there's more touching than you'd expect. Lots of casual linking arms and patting shoulders and occasional playfighting (which she'd never do outside of her ship!)

7. Will they initiate intimacy? Are they likely to take the lead in bed? Absolutely. Her first time stationside she was nervous and her friends had to encourage her to ask, but now she's confident and will straight-out ask people if they 'want an overnight'. She's that direct, too. No timewasting, no misinterpretations.

She likes others to be the same, and in spacer culture they generally are. It does mean that what others might see as gentle flirting she'll just take for friendliness.

She does take the lead, too! She's still figuring out what she likes - she's less experienced than she tends to make herself sound - but she does know she likes taking charge, being assertive. Which sort of goes with her being the one to do the asking in the first place.

I think this gets even more pronounced after her game trauma where Ari knows that the one thing she does not want is not to be in control.

13. They have to fake-date one of their CR for a month. Who do they choose? Oh, such a disaster. It'll have to be Nobunaga, with the caveat that she has to be allowed to tell Klaus it's fake. But he's probably the only person she's close enough to be able to do it with, since they spend a lot of time together anyway

Becca for you! <3