"Coal is - one of the worst things you can use for energy, on an industrial scale. It creates toxic waste, the smoke is horrible for people - if a global population uses coal for any significant length of time, the planet will be harmed irreparably. I don't know if this planet even has eezo, though, and in its absence there aren't a lot of great options. If we find plutonium, I'll be over the moon."

"Over the—that is such a strange expression and I understood it."

"This translation magic is endlessly delightful, yes. I wonder... this is a long shot, but do you know of any stones that cause sickness in people who are exposed to them for a long time? Not even eating or touching them, just being around them."

"There are places that exude corruption... but it affects you very quickly, you do not need to spend a long time around these places to start feeling the effects."

"Enough radioactive material could cause acute radiation sickness! You'll have to take me on a field trip sometime. I'll give you a suit like mine to resist the radiation, I'm sure you'd fill it out."

Was that too much. Tintin blushes just in case. 

"Fill it out...?"

"Um. You'd look good in it. Your muscles. And. Everything else."

this was a mistake

"Oh," says Taharqi with a half-smile.

Raziya bursts out laughing. "Do the two of you need some time for yourselves?"

"We are not stopping our walk for this, we'll have plenty of opportunity to spend time together at any planned stops for food or rest," says Taharqi firmly. He is eyeing Tintin with naked interest, though.

"Oh, me and my, I think I hunger," says Raziya, putting a hand on her forehead. "Perhaps we should take a break now for food. And rest."

Horan makes a very hyena-like laughing sound.

"Yes, yes, everyone get a good laugh," Tintin says, his cheeks and ears beet-red. "Because apparently I haven't gotten any better at flirting since college."

"Do you want to take a break for food and rest?" Taharqi asks, a half-smile forming on the corner of his mouth. "And then maybe you could learn a thing or two about our culture's understanding of clothes and the appropriate amount thereof."

Raziya seems torn between amused and slightly irritated. Amusement is winning out, though.

"Well - I could eat, certainly, I'm not exactly -"

The rest of Taharqi's statement catches up to him and he has a short but intense coughing fit. "I - um, here?"

"...well I suppose we could walk a little bit longer? I do not think the scenery is likely to change much, though, it is grass all along the way."

"I." He shakes himself slightly. "If we're going to - jump right into things - I'd prefer we do it... in private?"

It takes Taharqi a few seconds but then it clicks. "Oh, right, you said your, ah, people have something about sex and privacy?"

"That's not that weird," says Raziya. "Many people prefer privacy."

"Hmm. Maybe I am ill-accustomed with Kush."

"And the Exiled Lands, yes, where men live and mate like beasts," she sighs.

"You say that as if it was a bad thing."

She raises an eyebrow at him. "You are going to need more than that to impress me."

"Oh, thank God, I thought I might have to explain the concept on my own. I'm not used to - performing for an audience."

His shoulders slump slightly. "Or, um, at all, really. So if you're looking for - someone who knows what he's doing..."