Both women giggled.  

“What about music from the Milky Way?”  Avela questioned as she set the revaan aside to be further studied at another time.  “Surely you’ve heard some of our music as you’ve walked through the marketplace, but I haven’t heard any music from your own galaxy.”

“We have a lot of different styles and genres,” Ryder explained.  “But it’s not so different from what I’ve heard here, all things considered.”

“Were you able to bring any music with you?  On your journey through dark space?”  Hope and curiosity were evident in her expression.  Though they’d had many conversations comparing and contrasting and explaining their own cultures, neither had grown tired of the nuances.

Ryder began to punch some commands on her omni tool.  “Yeah, I brought some.  It didn’t take up that much data for a couple songs.  I heard someone stashed some guitars somewhere too, but I don’t know about that…”

She quickly pushed past her workout playlist, since it included a couple more swear words than Angaran first contact with music merited, even if the words didn’t translate…

After finding a suitable playlist, Ryder hit shuffle and let the music play.  

Avela smiled as she listened to the beat, clearly intent on understanding the melody and the lyrics to compare them to the songs of her own culture.  

Instead of standing in place, Ryder started to dance.  She knew her dance skills weren’t the best, but it was about fun, right?  Avela chuckled as she saw Ryder move in time to the music.

“C’mon,” Ryder said and extended her hand toward Avela.  “Angara must dance, right?”

“Some Angara do, certainly, but not so much me…”

“Well, you do now.” She tugged on Avela’s hand and pulled her into the center of the room where she hesitantly joined Ryder in dancing to the song from another galaxy.  “See?  Not so bad!”

“Oh, stars,” Avela laughed, but she didn’t stop dancing.  

As the song ended, the pair danced together to a couple more upbeat songs, before the tempo slowed down into a slower song, meant for two.

“What a beautiful melody,” Avela stated as she stopped dancing and listened to the opening instrumental.  

“This is one of my favorite songs,” Ryder admitted.  She reached over and took Avela’s hand to pull her in close again.  This time, Avela didn’t protest.

Ryder gently placed her hands on Avela’s waist.  If Avela wanted out, they could just chalk it up to a cross-cultural misunderstanding, right?

Instead, Avela took the cue and wrapped her arms around of Ryder as well so that they could sway together. Avela rested her forehead against Ryder’s.

“Well, that settles it,” Ryder said.

“Settles what?”

“This is definitely my favorite song.”

Avela giggled and Ryder blushed.  

After a moment, Avela asked, “What is courtship for humans like?”

“Well, it’s… it’s probably something like this…”

“I see.”

“Is that bad?  I didn’t mean to cross any lines or anything.”

“No.  I think it’s good.  Very good.”

“Me too.”

“Do humans kiss?  I mean, press their lips to someone they care about?  Family or friends or… romantically…”  She explained in case the translator didn’t pick up the word, then turned her face away from Ryder in embarrassment.

Ryder put a hand on Avela’s cheek and gently brought her back center.

“We do.”

Avela smiled at Ryder as each leaned in closer, their lips meeting with trepidation.  This was such unknown territory, but, as they figured out how they fit together, each kiss felt all the more familiar, like home.

As they broke apart, they rested their foreheads together once more, still in each other’s arms though the song had long since faded away into another.  

“Stars,” Avela laughed, “when you started teaching me about human culture, I didn’t realize I’d be getting such a personal treatment.”

“Just for you.”