"Well now I want to make it work but in a different way that would not offend Anitami sensibilities."

"You're not even green and there's probably more low-hanging fruit."

"And that sounds really hard. Anitami sensibilities are soooo down on Oahk."

"I can't tell if you're trying to encourage me."

"Still not green!"

"I'm trying to encourage you if and only if true facts about how difficult this would be are encouraging. And, yes, if you don't expect to make more than twenty-five percent of what you make with your day job, tops."

"Grumble grumble humpf."

Pat pat.

"I suppose if we all get married it doesn't make much of a difference if it's published under my name, does it..."

"While it's really hot that you're offering to commit fraud for me I think it's better not. Also I don't seriously think I would be a very good science fiction writer."

"No? Why not?"

"Well, whatever 'being a grey' may mean in our outlying butts, I still have not tried any of it at all as a hobby and probably would need to work very hard to get anywhere near 'good'."

"Our outlying butts."

"Would you call your butt typical?"

"As butts go? Sure."

He giggles.

"So you're saying your butt isn't perky and shapely and very nicely-sculpted?"

"One, I'm pretty sure that's typical for greys, and two, are we at that stage of flirting already?"

"I will leave my shapeliness for others to judge."

"That sounds like an invite."

She flops onto her back on the picnic blanket and rolls over.

Peer. "I deem them perky, shapely, and very nicely-sculpted."

"I've seen you naked so really it's not like this is any more informative," he says, but checks her out anyway.

"Lucky bastard," says Ohan without heat.

"I did tell you we met at the pool!"