As First Dates Go

Chapter Two

"Dashi? You ready?" Shellington inquired loudly  through the door of his girlfriend's quarters, fiddling absent-mindedly with a tawny button on his green checked shirt as he waited for her to reveal herself. Quite often, his sea otter relatives had quite - interesting fashion sense, and he had taken the time earlier this week to show Dashi his family photos on the Octopod hard drive, advising her on what she might want to wear to the party (though he was hardly the right person to go to for any kind of fashion advice in general). He had asked her last night what she had chosen, but Dashi had simply smiled mysteriously and said that it was a surprise for today. On the invitation, Pearl had jokingly recommended that he wear a kilt, but Shellington wasn't planning to be quite that traditional to meet his relatives, instead preferring to wear a simple shirt and shorts, with his customary blue bag hung around his shoulder. "We need to head out pretty soon," he warned a moment later.

"Coming!" came the just audible reply from within the room, and just moments later the automatic doors slid open in front of him.

Dashi smiled hopefully at him from the doorway, twirling a little in her lilac skirt. "What do you think? Okay for being the great scientist's date?"

Shellington could only stare.

She looked ridiculous in her pink oversized hat and tie.

She looked like a child playing dress up.

She looked... perfect.

"Perfect," he said completely truthfully. "Amazing."

Dashi adjusted her large hat so her eyes were only just staring coyly out from underneath its brim. Her camera swung on its strap around her neck. "Thank you," she smiled shyly. "Hope your family like it, anyway."

"Oh you know Pearl. She loves you whatever you're wearing. She was delighted when I informed her that we're finally together. And thank you for being my date," Shellington assured her quickly.

"Hey, we're licensed to go on dates every now and then. After all, we're boyfriend and girlfriend, aren't we?" Dashi grinned, before her expression fell briefly. "We are, aren't we?" she inquired with an urgent tone. "I didn't just dream all that, did I?"

"If you did, that would have been a pretty amazing dream," mused Shellington. "And yes, we are dating. I love you, you look wonderful, etc. Shall we go?"

Dashi giggled and took his arm. "We shall."

Tweak couldn't refrain from clapping her hands together when she saw them coming into the Launch Bay together. "You guys look great!" she enthused. "Looking forward to your big date?"

"Oh yeah," grinned Dashi, high-fiving Tweak as they passed the engineer. "Shel's taught me all I need to know to survive his relatives, and I've got the outfit for the party. I think I'm all set!"

"Hey, my relatives aren't all that bad," reprimanded Shellington jokingly.

A faint 'yeow' alerted them to the expected arrival of Kwazii, and Tweak smartly stepped aside as the cat shot out of the Octo-Chute, careering straight into Shellington.

"Whoa!" was the sea otter's alarmed exclamation as he lost his balance and nearly toppled backwards into the Launch Bay tank. Dashi immediately grabbed Shellington's flailing hand and pulled him back from the brink of the water just in time.

"Now those are fast reactions," grinned Tweak, and the best friends high-fived for the second time in as many seconds.

"Oops, sorry!" grinned Kwazii, apparently unfazed. "Are you two off out already? Is it Peri's birthday today? And -" Suddenly his eyes fell on Dashi. "And what in parrots sake have you got on your head?"

Tweak stepped quickly on her boyfriend's foot, hissing sideways to him. "Oy! Be nice, you!"

Dashi smiled slightly nervously. "Shel did tell me it was a family convention, and to dress accordingly. You don't think the hat's a bit - big, do you?"

"Well I think -" started Kwazii brashly, then winced as Tweak quickly stepped on his foot again. "It's pretty. Pretty nice," he finished weakly.

Dashi didn't seem to notice his indecision. "Aww, thanks Kwazii," she smiled, and both Tweak and Shellington sighed inwardly in relief. No-one wanted to hurt Dashi's feelings. It was like kicking a puppy. A dachshund puppy.

"So are your relatives all going to be there?" Tweak asked curiously.

"It's Peri's birthday, and we sea otters - when we do rarely get together - like to throw pretty big parties," explained Shellington. "Also, it's Pearl hosting it, so most of my relatives should be there. I would bring you all, but -"

"We're all busy," finished Tweak a little too quickly. "Really busy. Aren't we, Kwazii?"

"Well, actually -" the cat began, and Tweak was forced to subtly step on his foot for a third time. "Yeah ... I'm really busy as well," he winced, getting the message at last.

Tweak nodded in satisfaction. "We wouldn't want to ruin their first big date, would we now, Kwazii?" she asked empathetically.

This time Kwazii was quicker to the mark. "No," he agreed fervently. "Have a good time."

Tweak grinned. "Yeah. Enjoy it, you two lovebirds. Tell Peri hi and a happy birthday from me."

"Will do," agreed Shellington with a grin, leading the way to the already set-up Gup A. As he approached, Tunip hopped out, carrying two empty trays and chirping something enthusiastically. Shellington peered inside the back of the Gup and saw a pile of food in boxes: kelp cakes, fish biscuits and some green seaweed sandwiches as well. "For the party, Tunip?" he asked aloud.

Tunip chittered an affirmative, jumping up and down.

Shellington bent to hug his friend tightly. "These look great, thank you! My relatives will love it; we'll have quite a feast today."

Tunip looked as pleased as a Vegimal could look.

 Dashi hopped into the drivers seat, and the scientist briefly checked his bag for his magnifying glass and notebook before settling in beside her.

"Open the OctoHatch, Tweak," they both told her in unison, then fell about laughing at the identical surprised looks on both of their faces.

"You got it, Dashi - and Shellington," Tweak said, rolling her eyes at their awkwardness together as she pulled the lever down. Dashi waved, then closed the windscreen and manoeuvred the controls forwards as the Gup A slid smoothly underwater and out of sight of the Launch Bay.

When they were both safely out of the OctoHatch, Kwazii turned to Tweak a little accusingly, attempting to rub his foot back into some kind of feeling. "Ouch," he complained. "Did you really have to keep stepping on my foot? Wouldn't a gentle nudge suffice?"

Tweak giggled, kissing him swiftly on the cheek before beginning to head off to her workshop. "Sorry Kwaz. It had to be done. It's my duty as best friend, you know - to make sure Dashi's big date goes well. She's been dreaming of this moment since they got together, you know."

"Hmph." Kwazii replied grumpily.  "I'll have a bruise there tomorrow, you know," he called hotly after her as she disappeared.

"Ah well!" was the only airy reply.