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“Can you turn off the music and bring the lighting up a bit? It’s so dark in here I can barely see you.”

Kav’eth looks confused but complies, touching something on a wall panel that makes the Boyz II Men fade away and the lights brighten to a more reasonable level.

The immediate improvement in atmosphere is notable, instead of feeling like a set piece, the room suddenly feels like a space where two people might actually want to spend time together.

“That’s better,” I say, moving to rearrange the chairs so they’re sitting side by side instead of facing each other like an interrogation. “Much more comfortable.”

I settle into my chair, noting how Kav’eth sits with perfect posture even in the more relaxed arrangement.

“So, now that we’ve established that your research sources were…

questionable… maybe we should start over.

What’s something you actually enjoy doing?

Not for work, not for your people, just for you. ”

“I am uncertain what you mean.”

“Hobbies. Fun activities. Things you do in your free time because they make you happy.” I lean back, studying his confused expression. “Please don’t tell me you don’t have free time.”

“I have periods designated for personal maintenance and rest,” Kav’eth says carefully.

“That’s not the same thing.” I turn in my chair to face him more directly. “Come on, there has to be something you do just because you like it. Even workaholics have guilty pleasures.”

Kav’eth considers this, his bioluminescence gradually returning to more normal levels. “When I was a juvenile, I wanted to be what you would call a deep-sea explorer.”

“Yeah? What changed?”

“My family needed someone to enter diplomatic service. The position offered better opportunities for advancement and service to our people.” He pauses, then adds more quietly, “Though I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to spend my time discovering new places instead of negotiating treaties.”

I take a moment to process that admission, the quiet longing in his voice, the glimpse of dreams sacrificed for duty. It’s such a personal thing to share, especially for someone who keeps himself so carefully controlled.

“That’s romantic,” I tell him, and his eyes widen with surprise.

“How is career regret romantic?”

“Because you just shared something real with me. Something personal that you probably don’t tell many people.

” I lean back in my chair, noting how his posture has relaxed slightly now that we’re having an actual conversation.

“That’s what romance is, Kav’eth. It’s not mood lighting and scripted music.

It’s two people being honest with each other about who they really are. ”

“I… had not considered that perspective.”

“Most people don’t, actually. That’s why so many relationships fail, people get caught up in the performance of romance instead of the reality of connection.

” I smile at him. “Though I have to say, your research sources explain a lot about why you thought I’d be compatible.

Instagram Derek probably does look like ideal boyfriend material. ”

“You disapprove of our selection criteria?”

“I don’t disapprove, exactly. But Instagram Derek isn’t the whole picture.

That’s just the parts of my life I choose to share publicly, the workouts, the achievements, the good angles and perfect lighting.

” I gesture at myself. “This is actual Derek. Less optimized, more complicated, probably way more sarcastic than your research indicated.”

“I find actual Derek significantly more appealing than the social media documentation suggested,” Kav’eth says, and there’s something in his voice that makes my pulse quicken.

“Yeah?”

“The documentation failed to capture your intelligence, your adaptability, your capacity for finding humor in unexpected situations.” His golden eyes meet mine directly.

“It certainly failed to convey the way you challenge assumptions and make me question everything I thought I understood about compatibility assessment.”

“That’s definitely not something I post about,” I admit. “Hard to get likes for ‘made an alien diplomat reconsider his entire worldview today.’”

That gets me a smile, a real, genuine smile that transforms his entire face. “Perhaps that is unfortunate. I suspect many beings would find such content… engaging.”

“You know what?” I stand up and extend my hand toward him. “Let’s try this date thing again. No protocols, no research, no optimal parameters. Just you and me figuring it out as we go.”

Kav’eth looks at my outstretched hand for a moment, then takes it, his skin warm against mine, his bioluminescence brightening noticeably at the contact. “Where are we going?”

“Wherever feels right,” I tell him honestly. “That’s how the best dates work, you start with a plan and end up somewhere completely different because you’re having too much fun to stick to the schedule.”

"That sounds highly irregular,” Kav’eth says, but he doesn’t let go of my hand.

“Yeah,” I say, grinning. “It’s going to be great.”