Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I appreciated that, but I wasn’t sure any of my questions would be appropriate in return. “Thank you for that. I’ve had a startling number of dragons offer to show me their other form, but it seems…too personal.”
And that hint of a smile peeked out again.
“Is it their other form that feels personal or the fact that they’d be getting naked in front of you?” He clearly thought my reservation about that was funny, and I had to admit that from his perspective it probably was.
“Humans just don’t randomly get naked in work-related situations except in some very particular circumstances…especially outside.” This wasn’t a weird cult or some kind of nudist retreat, so I was going to do my best to make sure everyone kept their clothes on around me. “I’m in a…unique position here, so I don’t want to do anything that my boss back on Earth would frown upon.”
Okay, well, anything his boss would get pissed about.
Mark was…well…he was unique and could justify a lot.
Something shifted about Klynn’s expression but I either didn’t catch it fast enough or read him right to be able to guess what the problem was. His normally dry and slightly stern tone didn’t help the situation. “I have heard there are many different cultures on Earth. Would your supervisor have issues with some of the more unique ones on your planet?”
I wasn’t sure exactly what he was asking, but since this was Klynn, I gave him a more thorough answer than I normally would’ve otherwise. “Yes. He has always been involved in gathering intelligence. He has never been part of what we might call the diplomatic side of our government.”
They were not the same thing and didn’t attract the same type of people.
“My parents are both involved in diplomacy in different ways. I was exposed to more cultures than the average American growing up, but that also means I’ve seen situations go from ‘come see the local performers’ to nearly an international incident very quickly.” I wasn’t sure if that would make sense given his limited understanding of Earth cultures, but he gave me another nod.
“The dragon who I obtained my reading device from had several series based around political situations and drama.” When he went still that time, I knew he hadn’t liked the words he’d picked, but he didn’t fuss over it too much. “Some of it was confusing, but I was able to see examples of those circumstances.”
Hopefully they were at least slightly based on reality.
“My immediate supervisor would do his best to understand other cultures, but he hasn’t had a lot of exposure to the more interesting parts of human culture.” For a variety of reasons, he’d grown up slightly sheltered and I’d seen firsthand how confused he’d gotten when we’d seen a man wearing a collar in public one time. “I am going to do my best to keep the work side of this trip very professional.”
God, I sounded like a prude.
“With the number of people who’ve offered and the difficulty I have in reading their intentions, I’m not willing to put myself in what might end up being an awkward position.” I thought I’d managed to explain it better when Klynn’s shoulders finally relaxed and he slowly nodded.
“Humans see nudity in different ways. I think your views make sense and I am glad to know that you aren’t avoiding our other forms due to any…due to being uncomfortable.” Klynn frowned as he paused and gave an adorable huff like he was barely holding back stomping his foot. “That is not the right word.”
“I think it’s close enough and I think you’re doing a wonderful job of sorting through a very difficult language.” It wasn’t until they’d gone into more detail about how they’d learned English that I realized how many words we used that hadn’t started out as English.
Klynn shifted side to side, but the faint wiggle motion said he was feeling a lot more than I was able to read. “Reading has helped me expand my understanding of English and of American behavior, but Toman has more practical experience with them.”
“Because he found his mate and he was the outward-facing part of your team.” It was easy to see why Klynn hadn’t been comfortable with the locals outside the gate.
They were all insane and entirely too open about their personal lives.
“You gathered information in the best way possible for you and guarded the gate.” He’d still been helpful in very practical ways. He also hadn’t ditched them like the other guy they’d come with. “You went to a completely foreign land through a portal you had no idea would stay open or not. I’m very impressed.”
As I hoped he could read my sincerity in my words, he went still for a few long moments before standing straighter again. “The experience was educational in unexpected ways, but thank you.”