1.5 - The Talk

~~*~~

A week passed and the two were still close, having met up several times to hang out and get to know each other more. Having one other date that ended the same as the last. Though they had both decided that they liked the other, they had yet to actually define their relationship or even admit to the other of their feelings.

Cali was surprised how much he liked Jim, not having felt so strongly for his last partner, and was anxious about bringing up his usual explanation of having an open relationship. Normally, he got it over with pretty quickly, deciding that it was better to tell them at first so they knew and could be scared off before he got too attached to them. But with Jim, he'd fallen too fast and now didn't want to bring up the subject in case it really did scare him off or made him feel uncomfortable with the thought of sharing him, knowing that humans were an especially jealous species when it came to those they liked.

A little logical voice in the back of his mind told him that he shouldn't worry so much since he knew that Jim preferred having lots of one-night-stands than relationships anyway so an idea of an open relationship would probably be good for him, but the voice was too quiet in comparison to his apprehension and thus he didn't bring it up.

Jim felt rather similarly, though his anxieties were due to how new relationships were for him. Cause yeah, he was a playboy. He'd never really had a girlfriend before, and he'd definitely never had a boyfriend before, and thus didn't really know what to do with one. He'd always let the girl bring up the emotions if they ever even got that serious, but he wasn't sure if Cali would. Especially since he hadn't yet. He surprised himself with how much he wanted things to work out with Cali but had no idea how to tell him how badly he had fallen. He never thought of himself as the chick flick moment sort of guy.

The two just decided they'd enjoy the other's company and delay the talk as long as possible until it had to be brought up. Content to just continue on with their flirting and making out.

That was until they were on a date later that week.

~~*~~

Sitting at a table in the corner of the bar they frequented on campus, Jim and Cali were enjoying each other's company and flirting when an attractive woman came over and invited herself to their table. She'd had her eyes on Jim since he had entered and had finally had enough liquid courage to approach him and his friend to flirt.

Jim was shocked at first, not sure what to do as he was flirted with. He looked over the girl and couldn't deny that she was attractive. He would have probably approached her on any other night, but he'd stopped his playboy ways since finding Cali. He awkwardly answered back to her flirts, obviously wanting to do more but also wanting her to leave him in Cali's presence.

Cali could see the conflict and made him slightly amused. He was a bit too drunk to really remember that he hadn't told Jim about him being polyamorous and just laughed at his misery. After a while of the girl not getting the hint, Jim began actually flirting back though still not as strongly as he normally would cause of his inner conflict.

Cali could tell that Jim wanted to go with the girl, who was trying to not so subtly invite him to her place and finished his bottle to make his way out. Leaning over the table so that his lips were barely an inch from Jim's ear, "Go for it, I'm gonna head home." Jim's smirk quickly faded as Cali pulled back and started getting up. Looking at him with a conflicted and confused frown, Jim asked if he was sure but Cali just shook it off, giving him his usual warm smile, that still had a hint of amusement, to calm him and nodded. "We'll talk tomorrow." Cali said as his parting words and he left Jim to continue flirting with the girl.

Shortly after Cali left, Jim did as well in the flirting woman's company on his way to her dorm. He definitely had fun but not as much as he had before with his one-night stands. His conflict kept whispering that he was cheating on Cali, even though they weren't even officially together. Plus, Cali had told him to. But he was drunk. Maybe he didn't know what he was saying. He'd have to talk to him tomorrow

~~*~~

The next morning, Jim woke up to a message from Cali on his communicator saying to meet in the library in an hour. Though nervous, he headed there right away and spotted Cali in the back corner with two to-go cups of coffee. He smiled as soon as he saw Jim approaching and lifted one of the cups up to offer to him as he greeted him, "Good morning love. Thought you might use some coffee, help with the hang over."

Feeling very awkward, Jim tried to join in on the casual conversation and replied as normally as he could, "Yeah, still have no idea how you wake up fine after drinking so much."

Cali laughed, watching as Jim tock a stiff sip of the drink, "Thank the Elder. Don't know what I'd do without them." Though Jim smiled back at him, Cali could see the strain in it and sighed, deciding to skip more small talk and just move on to the actual conversation they needed to have. "Okay, Jim, love, if we're gonna keep seeing each other then we need to talk cause I can tell you're uncomfortable right now."

Jim quickly tried to deny it shooting a "I'm not." But the answer convinced neither Cali nor himself as he kept his eyes on the cup of warm coffee in his hand.

"Love, you can't even meet my eyes." Cali prompted softly, trying not to push but also to steer the conversation in the right direction.

Pausing his action, Jim sighed, clenching his eyes for a moment before looking up to meet Cali's gorgeous blue eyes. "I know, I don't know why, I've never been like this before."

"It's okay." Cali smiled kindly making Jim feel so much better even if the anxiety was still there. "I don't think I've told you before, about my species being polyamorous?" He begun to explain.

Looking confused for a second, Jim questioned, "What's that mean?"

Looking to the side in thought, Cali quickly tried to think of an example to help Jim explain the foreign word. "You know how humans date one person and then later marry and stick with just that one person."

"Yeah." Jim nodded, curious as to where he was going with it.

"Well that's monogamous. But polyamorous is more like the animal kingdom on Earth. Animals never settle on one partner, mating with multiple at a time. Well, poly is more sophisticated than that but that's the best example I can think of."

"Okay?" Jim questioned, still looking confused causing Cali to sigh.

"It means I have the ability to love multiple people. So, I always leave it so my relationships are mostly open. So, if you want to go and sleep with random girls at bars, that's fine, as long as you tell me beforehand that that's the plan." He explained before giving Jim a cheeky look and continuing, "Or at least after if you were too drunk to warn me, cause I know you."

Though Jim wanted to make a flirty comment about how well Cali knew him, he still felt awkward about the idea and voiced his concern. "It feels like cheating."

Sighing again, Cali put on an understanding smile, trying to explain again, "It's not as long as we communicate." He looked Jim in the eye and could see the confusion and apprehension about the whole idea. Feeling saddened, he continued, "If you don't feel comfortable then we can stop and you can go back to being a playboy guilt free, I'd understand."

"No!" Jim quickly spoke out making Cali look back up, slightly shocked before he continued, "I want this. I've never felt this way with someone, it's like the first time that I actually want to be with someone rather than just have sex with them. I want this to work; It's just so new."

"I get that," Cali smiled, feeling much more confident knowing that Jim wanted to be with him the same way as he did. "It's normal for me to be in these sorts of relationships, if you ever are unsure, talk to me. The only way they work is with communication. Which, I know it's hard for humans, but you've got to try."

"Yeah. I will." He answered honestly, surprising himself how much he actually wanted it to work with Cali. Thinking for a moment, he decided to clarify, making sure he understood completely so he didn't end up hurting the silver-haired-love in any way, "So, I can still hook up with girls while being with you?"

"Yes," he nodded, "as long as you tell me and listen if I say that I'm uncomfortable with it."

"And same for you?" Jim raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, same for me, though it'll be boys not girls and I prefer to have multiple long-term partners than one night stands. I always tell my partner first in case they're uncomfortable with it. I did with my ex on the night you were too drunk to remember."

"Really?" For some reason, this shocked Jim. He'd almost forgotten that Cali had only recently broken up with his last boyfriend. "And he let you sleep with me?" He asked incredulously, smirking.

"Yeah, well, I didn't give a name."

"What did you say then?"

"Some playboy is flirting with me. Yes or no?"

"Seriously, just that?"

"Hmm."

"Wow, okay, that's easier than I thought." Jim sighed in reassurance, feeling much better about his emotions knowing that it was so easy. It made him hate Cali's ex even more knowing that communicating was so effortless to do and yet he still cheated on him.

Cali laughed as he watched all tension completely fade from Jim's face as he relaxed casually into his seat, hands on table. Smiling warming, he leant his hand across the table and laid it out on top of Jim's one, getting a squeeze from the brunette man. "Anyway, I've still got an hour until I've got class if you wanna talk some more?" Cali commented, taking a sip of his previously abandoned and practically cold coffee.

"Sure," Jim replied with an easy-going smile, "I'd actually love to hear more about your species. I've tried to avoid doing my own research since you said not a lot of it was accurate but it makes it hard to understand you."

"'Course love," Cali smiled, feeling warm at the idea that Jim actually listened to him, "You can ask anything."

Thinking for a moment for a good question, Jim looked over Cali and spotted something, "Do you always wear eyeliner everywhere?" Cali's face showed pure confusion for a moment before bursting out laughing. "What?" Jim questioned, not understanding the extreme reaction but happily smiling at Cali's carefree laugh.

"Sorry, it's just," He paused, trying to get control of his laughing, "That wasn't the sort of question I was expecting."

"Well, I've noticed you always wear it and I got curious."

"I'm not wearing eyeliner though."

"Wait, you're not?" he asked, eyebrows furrowing in genuine confusion as he looked closer at Cali's eyes, definitely seeing the black line under his eyes like definitely that looked like eyeliner.

"No, it's just my skin. Though I can't deny that I understand the confusion, it does look like it." He answered honestly, the amused smile not leaving his face and only getting bigger when he saw Jim looking at his eyes even closer to look at it.

"Wow, okay, I'm guessing that's natural to Polyvores?" he asked, backing up a bit so he wasn't completely in Cali's face as he nodded. Seeing Cali wait for him to ask another question, he asked the next one that popped into his head. "What about your gods? You've mentioned them before. There are three, right?"

Cali smiled again, "Yeah, there's The Twins, Salutem and Partum, and The Elder. They don't have a name."

"Yeah, you mentioned the Elder earlier, how come they don't have a name but the other two do?" Jim asked, genuinely curious about this foreign culture.

"Well, The Twins are the main gods that my people worship. The Elder is just the god who looks after them. Not many people actually worship them, but I favour them to the twins." Looking intrigued, Jim asked for him to go on, so Cali explained. "Well, The Twins are both children. They safeguard freedom, peace, and joy for the children of my species, and since children are the most important people in my culture, they are the main gods. Salutem also represents good behaviour, learning and health for the children while ­­Partum represents childhood curiosity, creativity, and imagination. The Elder is the only adult god. Their job is to look after The Twins and ensure all adults are able to do the same for their children. Since The Elder focuses on adults and not children, they are often forgotten in leu of The Twins favours."

As Cali explained, Jim nodded along, loving listening to him explain something he was passionate about. There was something about it. Maybe it was the way his tone and the speed of his words portrayed his enthusiasm or maybe it was his electric eyes shone as he did.

They continued on like this for a while before they had to leave for classes.

~~*~~

Sorry for not uploading yesterday, the holidays made it slip my mind.

Translations:

Salutem means health.

Partum means creativity.