While the Doctor wouldn’t let Blemishine visit Engineering, that didn’t stop the engineers from visiting her, and one in particular had taken an interest in seeing her whenever the mood struck him.

“Hey, Shiny.” Chiave nonchalantly fell into step with her as she walked to work for her shift. “Got plans for tonight?”

“Hey, Chiave! Not yet - want to make some?” The smile she gave him said she certainly did.

He set his hands behind his head with a smirk of his own. “Nah, but I’ll probably stop by and see ya since yer not gonna be busy. Auntie Z still tryin’ to keep tabs on ya?”

“She’s getting better about it,” the Kuranta shrugged. “Sneakier or more laidback, I’m not sure which.”

“Still wants you to call her your sister, though?” The gearhead tossed his wrench in the air. “Who does she think she’s foolin’? The way she treats you and Marge makes it so obvious.”

Maria ruffled his hair - admittedly, it didn’t make much of a difference. “If she acted her age, she’d probably- are you getting softer?”

“That shampoo ya sold me on. She’d probably what?”

“If she acted her age, people’d believe she’s my sister.” Blemishine’s hand stayed in his hair, playing with it to her heart’s content. “Until then, I’ll just do my best not to call her ‘auntie’ in front of too many people.”

The Vulpo yip-chuckled. “Good luck with that, doll. Alright, I’ve gotta dip back to the ‘shop, make sure someone didn’t come lookin’ for me, but I’ll see you tonight.”

“Aww, you can’t walk me to the door at least?” She gave him the eyes.

“Alright, ya got me.” Chiave gave an exasperated’ sigh and walked her to the entrance of her post, even opening the door for her. What a class act. “See ya tonight.”

The Kuranta managed to steal a kiss before he let go of the door...However, she wasn’t the only Nearl in the room. “Maria?”

“...Well, this is awkward,” the mechanic in her arms noted as Blemishine turned to face Whislash.

“You’re lucky you’re here a few minutes early,” Zofia continued, “because as it is, you’ll be feeling today’s workout. What’s your name, foxy?”

The Vulpo blinked. “Can’t tell if ya just called me hot or profiled me. Chiave.”

“Ohhh, I’ve heard about you, then. Saves me a few questions. How long have you been seeing my sister?”

“...Shiny?” He looked to his girlfriend for guidance. “I’ll do it, you know I will.”

Blemishine cleared her throat. “I’ve yet to introduce him to Margaret, but we’ve been dating for two months, auntie.”

“I asked you not to call me that in front of our other Operators!” She waved her whipping hand in the poor third party’s direction.

“Well, unless she’s not telling me something, alone in her room’s fair game, ain’t it?” That earned him a soft elbow to the shoulder, which he took without complaint. “‘Sides, I’ve got nothin’ to be ashamed of, and neither do you. If yer anything like yer niece, someone’ll think yer a catch.”

That flummoxed her long enough for her niece to add, “He’s funny, he’s handsome, he likes tinkering - I love him, and I bet you will, too, if you give him a chance.”

“I...How did I miss this? Two months? Alone in her room? Two months?” Whislash was trying to pinpoint when that would’ve- ah. Funny how that happened.

“Um, Zofia? Everything okay?” Maria leaned over to try and catch her eye. “I don’t think I ever-”

*CRACK!* A whip lash struck the ground in front of her. “Two months ago was when my boyfriend and I started going out! Of course I missed you two hooking up! Well, thanks for letting me know. I’ll get Dobermann and the Doctor’s approval to put both of you on my training regimen from now on.”

Chiave gave her a confused look. “Hooking up? What do ya think we do together?”

“What every young couple does alone together?”

“Well, ain’t that presumptuous.” The Vulpo bravely tossed his wrench in the air as Maria watched her knight in puffy red jacket step forward. “That’s not how it is at all. Shiny’s waitin’ for a ring, so I am, too.”

The older Kuranta furled her whip as she replied, “Then why her room?”

“Because yer not letting her come to the workshop, I’ve gotta bring the workshop to her.” The end of a whip cracked immediately next to his head, and he didn’t flinch.

“Is that true, Maria?” Zofia looked at her niece, now fully back to annoyed. “You’re ‘tinkering’ with him in your room?”

Blemishine reached into her pocket and pulled out a bladeless sword grip; when she pressed a button on the hilt, a light-sword manifested from it. “It’s the best part of my day.”

“...I underestimated you, Chiave. The stories make you sound like a wilder person. Go on now, wouldn’t want you to be late for your shift.” She waved him away.

“Late for my- shit!” He kissed the knight on her cheek before bolting. “See ya tonight!”

Maria looked back at her aunt, beaming with pride. “We should go on a double-date sometime.”

“Sure. Go ahead and get started without me.”

“Eh?” Blemishine watched Whislash walk through the door. “Where are you going?”

Her aunt gave her a look she’d never seen before, one she couldn’t place without Zofia’s verbal reply. “It’s been less than an hour, and you made me miss him. Laps until I come back.”