...does Temperance consider it rude?

Color her mildly confused but intrigued.

"Let's go, then?"

"Sure thing. I am curious about the," she waves, "the Isra situation."

"What about it?—had you thought we'd broken up or something?"

"Nah, just occurred to me just now, that I was supposed to ask what I am supposed to expect."

"Well... he's pretty open? And I don't really have a lot of experience with this, but monogamy always sounded like... a drag, really."

"I never tried other options besides monogamy, but it sounds like a thing to try."

"You dated much?"

Temperance does a so-so gesture. "Had a lot of first dates? My longest relationship was just six months. You?"

"Er, I'd never been with anyone, actually."

"Shy?"

He laughs. "Not exactly. Merely weird."

"...Why exactly?"

"Why what? Why I'm weird? I'd hope it was obvious by now."

She giggles. "Well, you could be hiding a multitude of interesting facets. A girl can dream."

"I'm incredibly interesting! How does that preclude being weird? Or vice-versa."

"Hey! I never said it precludes. If anything, I believe quite the opposite!"

"Didn't seem so, what with those judgy eyes." He raises both hands to his eyes and wriggles his fingers there, pointing at her and squinting.

"Judgy? My eyes? I think you need to take a closer look!"

She comically bats her eyelashes at him, then giggles.

"I could, couldn't I."

"Of course you could," she bats her eyelashes again.

So he takes a step closer, and then another, until his nose is barely an inch from hers.

Temperance makes a serious face, until she cracks up and kisses him.

!!!!!!