"-and that's how it happened that all the guys at Southern have to wear dresses for a day," M'noq finishes.

Chelsa tries to smother a laugh, failing utterly.

"Hey, you promised you wouldn't laugh if I told you the story!"

"You can ask a feline not to bite, too, but you'll have just about as much luck with that!"

M'noq sighs, rolling his eyes, as Chelsa pours tea.

"Okay, sorry, sorry!" she says. "I'm sure I can come up with something. You want long or short?"

"How about something practical, with pants?"

"A dress with pants. Riiiiight, I'll see if I can find that for you."

Again, a long-suffering sigh from the brownrider.

"You really should do something about all that sighing. I bet getting laid regularly would help you relax."

"What have I told you about asking about that?" M'noq says, holding up a hand to halt this line of conversation.

"Seriously, I'm sure it'll help. I know it's been difficult since the break up, but it has been well over a Turn now."

M'noq glances away, his voice dropping. "That's not a problem anymore, okay?"

"Whaaaat?" Chelsa almost drops her tea cup, she's so distracted as she leans in. "Tell me! Another rider? What's she like?"

"Yes, a greenrider. He… is a wingleader."

Chelsa sits back in her chair and briefly considers this information. "Well, I'm happy for you. So, is this serious, or what? How long has it been going on? Has he moved into your ship yet?"

Again, M'noq lifts his hand to ward off the questions. "A few months. And I don't think he'll be moving in anytime soon. We're taking it slow."

Chelsa still watches her brother intently for any possible clues. "Do I have to go to Southern to meet him, or what?"

"You sure you want to? He isn't exactly the easiest guy to get to know."

"Well, you like him, right? And he's a wingleader, so he has to be at least somewhat responsible and well-respected. How bad could he be?"

"You know the guy whose fault it is that all the Southern guys have to wear dresses? That's him."

"Oh. Oh!" Chelsa's smile turns sly. "Well that means if you guys are still together after he did something like that, he must be either really good in bed, or you're in l-"

"Chels!"

"Just saying! Ooh, what will he be wearing? Does he need a dress too? If we plan ahead, you guys can go together without all being all matchy-matchy. This is going to be great."

Sigh. "I never should have told you, should I?"