June Bonus Story

Hey y'all,

So, my production schedule has been a little bit scrambled cuz I got a 'permanent layoff', but I'm bouncing back. The money I make from writing isn't nearly enough to pay my bills at this time (or else I'd just do this full time tbh), but it does mean that I'm not in any like, immediate danger while I'm looking for a new job. So don't worry about me too much!

Job search or no, I'm still writing! I've got the story that won last month's poll for you today, a return to weekly Twitter fics this week, and more stuff coming up! After the dramatic rise of your Patreon support in the last couple of days, we're getting really close to the $700/month goal of me writing the top 2 poll stories, which is really exciting!

Anyway, I'll stop rambling on about logistical stuff, and get to the bit y'all came here for: flirty hive mind content.

~Benn 'Doomgender' Ends

Winning prompt:  A hivemind, one soul in many bodies, has decided that you're cute when you blush 

Suggested by: Relia (thanks a bunch!!)

~2754 words

CW:

• Human/Bio-synthetic alien hivemind expressed through a multitude of malleable physical bodies 
• Space travel
• Embarrassment
• Diplomatic nightmare scenario
• Inscrutable flirting
• Elements of exhibitionism
• Touching the enormity and grace of a unified mind
• Not explicitly sexual, but there is some definite getting felt up vibes in there for sure

~~~

Your steps echo as you stride down the hall from the command deck. Pausing a moment, you look out the bay window at the cool steel frame of the refueling station, backdropped against the reddish glow of the nebula, so close now. You’ve been in space most of your life, but even still the beauty strikes you time and again.

Your reverie ends suddenly with the telltale clacking of sharp metal limbs on the smooth floors. The guests.

You bow your head respectfully as they pass, a trio of Va Vi Dah emissaries. You look up as they pass, to see one of them looking curious at you with their bright, teal eyes. They can’t smile, but you get the sense of one anyway.

After they pass, you continue walking. Your shift monitoring the Waveform Current Writer is done, and tomorrow’s your day off. Time to forget about work and relax. Well, as much as you can when you currently live on your job site and won’t be back on shore leave for another three weeks.

Making your way through the mess hall, you see another group of emissaries. It’s a big ship, but they’re all over. Usually a species petitioning to join the Trans-System Convocation sends something like, three diplomats and maybe ten guards, tops. There is precisely seventy-nine Va Vi Dah emissaries on board. No distinction between diplomat and guard. You remember being on hand when the captain was discussing lodgings with one of them. They asked the maximum additional capacity of the ship. The captain looked to you with a ‘I haven’t the faintest idea’ look. “Um. Like, eighty-four more people without running out of space I think?” The captain barely managed to negotiate down to seventy-nine. “In case we have to pick up people in some kind of emergency,” she said. You got the feeling they would have brought a thousand of their own if the ship was big enough. “We don’t like to be lonely,” one of them said.

You’ve never seen a species like the Va Vi Dah before. A hybridized cybernetic networked intelligence. You can’t tell which parts are organic and what’s synthetic. If the distinction even means anything to a being like that. They look something like if quicksilver was something you could knead in your hand like flesh. Their silhouette is humanoid, but you’ve heard a rumor that they weren’t shaped like this when first contact was made.

There’s something hauntingly beautiful about them. You try not to stare.

But, distracted as you are, you ram into another pair coming through the door as you leave. You’re falling like a baby deer that hasn’t learned to walk yet, but one of them catches you, clasping your arms and pulling you upright. You have never been this close. Their eyes are so bright. Their voice thrums with energy and life.

“Are you quite alright, Reader?”

When you hear your title you snap back to the real world, scrambling back like some sort of small, frightened animal. Your cheeks warm with embarrassment.

“Oh, yes! I’m sorry about that, I should really look where I’m-”

You trail off as the Va Vi Dah you bumped into stares at you curiously. The one standing next to them is staring too. Faintly, you realize that you can see the other group staring too from the corner of your eye. However self-conscious you felt already, it’s getting a lot worse.

“Um.. S-sorry?”

“What is your face doing?”

You blink.

“I’m- Sorry?”

One of the other crew members finally swoops in to save you, apologizing profusely and leading you away. The Va Vi Dah don’t say anything. They just watch you go.

After a light scolding in the crew quarters wing, you flop down on your bunk. You have your own little room, with a door and everything. Letting out a long tense breath, you listen to the sounds of the ship, feel the tiny rippling sensation of artificial gravity shifting around you.

“But what was my face doing?”

~~~

After you get some sleep, you decide that you can’t hide in the crew quarters forever, and venture out towards the mess. Normally if you messed up like that you’d try to stay out of the way of the person you offended for a while. In this case, that’s essentially impossible. All Va Vi Dah share a mind. By running into one body, you’ve run into all of them. All seventy-nine of them.

Er. You’re actually not sure how their communication works. There is a nonzero chance that you’ve actually bumped into. Every single member of their entire species.

That’s.

You’re gonna try not to think about that one too hard.

~~~

After you eat, you decide to go for a walk through the ship. You’ll have to face them eventually, so you might as well act like it wasn’t a big deal.

You smile and say hello as you pass a gaggle of Va Vi Dah by the lounge. They watch you curiously.

As you turn the corner nervously, another Va Vi Dah appears out of nowhere and bumps you. You’re a bit stunned, but you keep your balance as the lone Va Vi Dah clasps your upper arms, just like yesterday.

“Oh gods, I can’t believe I did it again,” you say out loud, even though you’re pretty sure they ran into you on purpose.

“There, you’re doing it again. What is that?”

Your cheeks are burning, and they haven’t let you go yet. Though you haven’t pulled away either. Their hands are warm and soft.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean?”

They release you, and pat the sides of their face, where cheeks would be.

“Oh. Am I blushing?”

A wave of sound not unlike a giggle surrounds you. The other Va Vi Dah by the lounge have circled you.

“Yes, that’s it. What is blushing?”

“Um, um.”

What is happening?

“Well, it’s um. An automatic response to embarrassment?”

There’s a sort of concerned energy that runs through the assembly.

“So it’s a negative response?”

“Well not necessarily, it can be the result of social stimulation, overexcitment, um. Attraction.”

The Va Vi Dah which seems to have taken charge of this whole situation looks thoughtful, which gives you a moment to ponder what kind of diplomatic nightmare scenario you’ve gotten yourself into.

“Well then Reader. Which is it?”

“W-what do you mean?”

They lean close, and your breath catches as their lips move.

“What are we doing that’s making you blush so much?”

“Ah, well, this, um. You see.. I’m sorry I’m not trying to confuse you or cause distress or anything. I could get in trouble for making problems with emissaries…”

One of the Va Vi Dah standing on your left runs a hand down your arm, slowly. Every muscle in your body goes taut, your eyes widen, your heartbeat quickens. The one in front of you smiles.

“Call it a learning exercise then. We love to learn new things.”

And without a word or a gesture beyond that, the small crowd disperses, all heading off to different directions in pairs and trios. You’re left alone to catch your breath.

It takes a while.

~~

“So… What the hell is up with you and the emissaries?”

You hesitate mid-bite, and your pickle flops out of your sandwich onto the plate. You frown at it.

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean?”

She gestures at a Va Vi Dah on the other side of the room staring at you. They look away innocently when attention is called to them.

“A crowd of them follow you like lost puppies everywhere you go.”

“O-oh? I didn’t notice.”

You set your sandwich down in an attempt to reassemble it.

“Bullshit. They’re trying to be subtle about it, but being brain linked to your entire community your whole life doesn’t do your sneak skill any favors.”

“Shut up! I’ll tell you if you can just. Be quiet about it.”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

“I’m serious!”

“So am I!”

You sigh, and rub your temple. You catch a glimpse of another Va Vi Dah casting their eyes elsewhere.

Leaning close, you whisper conspiratorially. 

“Every since I bumped into one of them, they’ve seemed fascinated with me.”

“Like in a, how could someone fuck up that bad kinda way?”

You thwap her shoulder.

“No. Like. I dunno.”

“Is it like a horny thing?”

You turn bright red, which in turn causes the Va Vi Dah three tables over to start tittering. Your friend’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Shut it! I don’t know! They said something about wanting to learn from me.”

“I can’t believe my best space friend is gonna get nailed by all seventy-nine Va Vi Dah diplomats before we even get back to the Convocation.”

“Fuck you! It’s not like that!”

“I bet you tap out at… seven, tops.”

You push down the immediate reaction of indigence at getting such a low estimate.

“Shut upppppp,” you moan. “I think they’re just playing with me cuz I’m fun to tease.”

“You are fun to tease, can’t argue there.”

“Just. I don’t know.”

You bread has gotten completely soggy, so you just start picking at your chips.

“Do you want them to stop?”

“I. Well..”

“You are horny for them!”

“Gahhh why did I think I could talk about this with you.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll behave.”

“Liar. No, it’s more. It’s kinda nice? But I’m worried that I’m gonna accidentally do something wrong, or take advantage of their curiosity or something.”

“I mean there’s eighty of them and they’re taking the initiative I don’t think you’re the one with the power dynamic in this scenario.”

“I guess..”

“They’re consenting adults. Or. A consenting adult? I have no idea how that works. Anyway, if you like whatever it is they’re doing, you don’t have to stop them just because you’re worried about the optics or whatever.”

“Well isn’t their some rule against fraternizing with diplomats?”

“Sure, but it’s like that rule about how dogs can’t play basketball. It hardly ever comes up so no one cares about it.”

“I thought it was that there was no rules about dogs playing basketball?”

“Even better.”

She puts her hand on your shoulder.

“Go play some basketball.”

And you’ve never blushed harder over being told to do sports.

~~~

One week later, after your shift on the Waveform Current Reader, you enter your bunk room to find one Va Vi Dah sitting on your bed and the other leaning against the wall. Your heart very nearly stops.

“Hello Reader,” the one on your bed says.

“Um. Hello emissary. How can I ah. Help you.”

“We would like to sleep with you,” the one leaning against the wall says.

“Oh what do you mean by that” you say faintly.

“We want to know what humans do when they sleep.”

Relief or disappointment?

“Okay, that makes sense. But I want you to answer something for me first.”

They both shimmer playfully.

“Ask.”

“Why do you always travel in groups? Does your connection have a limited range?”

You can tell they’re deliberating on how much to give you.

“No range. We just get lonely without ourself around.”

You nod slowly.

“Bedtime?”

“R-right.”

The two Va Vi Dah watch intently as you brush your teeth at your tiny sink. There’s barely enough room in your room for one body, let alone three. You take out your pajamas (shorts and a crop top) and then turn bright red.

“Look away while I change!”

The Va Vi Dah giggle and oblige.

Changing clothes in a tight space with someone you don’t know well is such an intimate experience. Even if they are behaving themself and not sneaking a peek, you are inescapably aware of their presence, their closeness, your own vulnerability, your caught breath, the shiver that electrifies your body when you have to bend near one of them topless to pick up your shirt.

“Okay, you’re good. Can I get to my bed?”

Once you’re laying down, you realize that they’re both just kind of. Watching you, fascinated. A little awkwardly, you say “Are you gonna stand there all night, or like. Do you want to lay down?

They were just waiting for permission as it turns out. You have no idea how both of them fit into the bed with you comfortably, but they do. Silver faces glimmering in the dark, one pressed against your cheek, one resting on your shoulder.

In the tangle of them climbing all over you, your shirt got pulled up a little and their skin is pressed against your side and one of them has a hand resting on your stomach, and they’re warm and smooth and squishy and close and lighter than you expected. They shift as you do.

It’s comfortable.

Close.

Safe.

You take a breath, finally letting your muscles untense.

There’s been so much.. pressure. Not from the Va Vi Dah, from within you, an expectation and unsureness following you for weeks, but somehow. Right now. It melts away, and you can just enjoy the sensation of being held on both sides. The shock of decompression hits, and you fall asleep almost instantly.

~~~

You wake up, a few hours later, bleary eyed and not sure if you’re still dreaming. One of the Va Vi Dah stops petting your belly and looks at you inquisitively.

“What does it feel like? Being so close to each other?”

“We could show you, for a moment, if you’d like.”

“How?”

“It’s difficult to explain. We go by feel.”

“Okay. I wanna feel it.”

“Of course, Reader.”

The other Va Vi Dah traces their finger up your spine, and you quiver under the sudden stimulation. Their fingers slow to a stop at the nape of your neck and

It’s

Loud

A thrumming heartbeat of heat and noise and love and playfulness that enraptures and encircles left from right undoes and unmakes

Uninhibited

Unjudged

Awash in the soothing words and gentle hands of a million facets of a single self. One among many. No division no strangers just Us for We Are Us and We Love Us and We can still feel Us with Our hands on that body and We ask and We answer and hands slip under shirt and under shorts and and explore what it means to be human even as We together learn and teach at once what it is to be not human.

To be not alone.

We explore.

We play.

We caress and touch and hold and experience it all together, from all perspectives.

We bring more bodies, so that We may see more, with more eyes, so that We feel more, with more hands.

And it feels good. We feel so good.

We can hardly imagine any other way, it seems so lonely to Us. Even the part of Us that was not always with Us agrees. But still, those who are not Us are so fun to play with.

When you are just you again, you fall limp, sinking into the embrace of the many bodies of Va Vi Dah that are with you. The walls dividing you from them are back, unchanged, as if all of that was just a dream.

But it was a good dream.

You entwine your fingers with theirs, and this time you and they move together, in harmony. Because even though you are separate, you yet understand each other.

You fall asleep again, more comfortable than you’ve ever been in your life.

~~~

The next morning, your friend catches you as you head for the showers.

“Hey. You look like you lost a wrestling match what-”

They stop, then raise an eyebrow. You steadfastly do not look at the dozen-odd Va Vi Dah bodies leaving your room.

“Big night?”

“There was only two when I went to bed.”

“Did you.. Make more of them?”

“No! More showed up. They don’t really see the difference as long as they can physically fit in a space.”

“I see. Is your room bigger than I think it is, or was it just wall to wall hot aliens.”

“More of a pile really.”

“Fuck that’s incredible. At this rate they’re gonna invite you to sleep in their quarters with all eighty of them.”

“Well..”

“Haha they already did didn’t they.”

“It wasn’t like that though!”

“Totally innocent pile of hot aliens.”

“Well..”

“Okay you have got to tell me everything.”

~~~