It had been awhile since Xai had had a chance to catch up with her parents. They were always so busy! They being...well...all parties involved; Xai, her mother and her father. It wasn't out of the ordinary, it was common for families to lose track of each other even if they lived together because of how busy they were usually kept, especially if they were not in the same profession. Power Core Compression and Stabilization was a very intense job that required one's undivided attention! Good thing Xai was a researcher? But today seemed to be one of very few days where all three of them were not busy, and so Xai was lounging comfortably in her chair in front of a large screen where a man and a woman were seen. The woman looked incredibly similar to Xai; they had the same eyes, even the same hair color, but she looked far more serious and strained than her daughter, and her tattoos were bright orange and very vine-like. The man was how Xai had described him, with blue and green eyes, but his hair was violet and his own tattoos were a deep red and very straight and clean. It seemed Xai inherited most of her mother's looks! Though both the man and the woman did share the same expression...they looked fairly exasperated with their daughter. Xai was lounging and humming to herself, having...totally forgotten her parents were even there to be quite honest. "" The woman said with a sigh, but she got no answer. "<...Xaisholimikoki...>" Xai giggled and sighed.

"<...XAISHOLIMIKOKI.>"

"GAH!" Xai jumped and nearly fell out of her chair, a bright blush rising on her cheeks as she stared up at her parents. Crap! Crapcrapcrap! She forgot all about them! "" Her mother rolled her eyes.

"possibly make you drift off like that? That's something only small children do!>" Xai winced a bit and nodded. She really was sorry. "" Huh? Oh! Oops! She blushed more and sat properly, folding her hands neatly on her lap and smiling up at her parents.

"" Her father raised a brow and glanced at his wife and then back down at his daughter.

""

"" Xai was playing dumb. They knew she was playing dumb. Xai answered any question she heard even if she didn't want to, she was just compelled to! Her mother sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something to herself that her father merely chuckled at. Xai frowned, finally sighing like a bothered teenager. "" Her mother's hand dropped from her face and she looked down at her daughter with a raised brow. Oh? Well it was a given that their daughter would meet people on that planet, it was why she was there, but for one of them to distract her even when talking to her parents? This seemed rather...suspicious.

"" Xai couldn't help but smile, toying with her fingers and blushing again as she made herself shrug. Shrug? Over Donovan? That was just crazy! But she had to keep some kind of face in front of her parents. They could have her be forced to come home! And while Xai was incredibly homesick sometimes she didn't want to go home...not yet.

"

"" It was more than they needed to know, apparently. Xai shut right up but looked about ready to let her mind wander again. Her father frowned, watching her behaviors and her heart rate which was beating wildly. So she had met a man? On that planet? That hardly seemed like a good idea, she shouldn't be getting attached to things over there. Children, friends, men. She was acting so peculiar, so...loose...and lazy. This girl was not behaving like their Ursontaean daughter. Was sending her here such a good idea? ""

"" Xai's eyes were wide with excitement as she went on and on, purposely leaving out specific details for now. She knew they wouldn't want to hear that she had slept in his bed and shared quite a few kisses with Donovan after just barely knowing him. Heh, they definitely wouldn't want to hear about their second date then. Oh, but it was definitely Xai's favorite so far. She couldn't wait to go on many more dates with her boyfriend...hehe! Her boyfriend! That was never going to get old! Her parents exchanged a look.

"" Her mother asked, taking advantage of Xai's moment of distraction.

"" Xai blushed again and tensed up in her seat, pursing her lips and staring up at her parents with wide eyes. They both frowned; though she recognized that frown...it wasn't necessarily disapproval, just concern. And Xai knew exactly why, she just didn't want to think about it, and she hoped neither of them would bring it up. Please, oh please! Xai didn't want to hear it! "" To put it lightly.

"

"" Xai interrupted her father, frowning now. She knew interrupting was rude, but she just...didn't want to hear it. He let up and sighed, frowning. Her mother glanced to her husband and then down to her daughter, quirking a little smile.

"" Xai perked up again at that question, very surprised to hear it. Oh? Oooh, she understood now, her mother was trying to cheer her up and make this less...scolding. Xai smiled.

" Her mother chuckled. Xai was smitten with this man, they could tell just from her wording. Most researchers did not use biased words such as 'loveliest' and 'wonderful'.

"" Xai paused for a moment, which was the wrong thing to do since that really caught their attention. Her mother raised a brow, tilting her head a bit. "" There it was. The mother tone. Xai didn't hear the mother tone very often. She squeaked and blushed even more, fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"

""

"" Was that what she wanted to know? Because if she needed to know then fine, damnit. "" Xai gasped and bit her hip after that, trying not to look directly at them. Crap! She should've said at his house. His house, always his house. Never her house in--

"your bedroom, even?>" Craaaaaaap.

"this planet it isn't-->"

"" Her father was obviously unhappy. Xai shook her head, standing up out of her chair.

"did it's not like I'd be breaking any laws. He is considered the age of sexual maturity on this planet, and he even has a tattoo.>" Xai answered very matter-of-factly, putting her hands on her hips. "their laws and customs? I cannot fully immerse myself in their culture if I do not make exceptions.>"

"

"very relevant. I'll have you know that here there is nothing wrong with a man sleeping in a woman's room if all they are doing is sleeping. It's very nice to be held, and it makes me happy when he holds me. Isn't my happiness important?>" She raised a brow at the both of them. ""

"" Xai frowned.

"" If they didn't know what they were apologizing for then she wouldn't accept it. They knew that. They sighed, exchanging a look and nodding to each other.

"" Her mother said with a sigh, as if admitting they were wrong was painful. It probably was. No one liked to admit to being, or even be, wrong about something...especially a supposedly all-knowing Ursontaean. Xai eyed them critically for a moment before finally relenting.

"" The only reason she knew was because the lights had suddenly turned on in that room and so that monitor had caught her attention. ""

"" Xai paused a moment, having been about to end the connection.

Come...and visit? Could they do that? It would take them a bit to get here and everything but...could they even get away from their work long enough? Though perhaps it'd be okay, they surely could go without two power core technicians for a short time? Hm. Xai smiled.

"" She ended the connection after that, letting out a heavy sigh and falling back into her chair. Ugh! Parents. So much unnecessary stress!