<span style="font-style: italic">Talking while asleep?</span>Uriel thought, mostly just glad that Ryan was listening to them now and had stopped acting strange.<span style="font-style: italic">How very strange.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Yes, of course. Except for sexual intercourse, expressing love for another is greatly encouraged--"</span></span>she hesitated and trailed off when she caught a glimpse of Anak out of the corner of her eye.<br/><br/><span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Unless you're of the same gender,"</span></span>he helped her, his eyes narrowed.<span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Or if one or both of the persons is an Indigo, or if the relationship is interracial, or if more than two people wish to be in the same relationship, or if you're siblings or cousins. In these cases, you have to show restraint. In some cases, you can't show any public affection."</span></span><br/><br/>Uriel sighed and gave a nod.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"We really aren't so closed-minded,"</span></span>she told the half-breed.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"We are accepting of other people's cultures and traditions, but we have cultural normalities of our own... Ones that are rarely deviated from. Well... Whatever. You do what is acceptable by your standards, and we will use our tolerating your culture as an excuse for bypassing Vortian social codes."</span></span><br/><br/>Anak felt more at ease once Uriel had pointed this out, and considered making an advance on the human. However, the harsher codes of conduct imposed on Indigos, which had been drilled into him extensively, stalled him. The deep groaning sound coming from the human was a welcome distraction for his troubled mind.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"You are hungry,"</span></span>Uriel stated.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Apologies. We had no time to bring food. You will have to do with... What is a proper translation? Mineral water? Regardless, I can't say how it will taste or how satisfying it will be, but it will keep you "fed"."</span></span>