When Worlds Collide (MxM)?

Kade could usually catch on to small details. Yet he still somehow overlooked the fact that Pelo was a guy.

Under all those sparking jewels and fancy cloth, was a guy.

Pelo had cautiously approached Kade just before the big presentation. He recognized him as the 'woman' who had started the trend of covering their nose whenever Kade was around.

Without the urgency of work and anxiety of being relocated, he was able to tune into obvious details. He should have known better than to assume a Terran's gender based on clothes, especially when the majority of them were so androgynous.

"Good luck with your presentation." Pelo held his head high, meeting Kade's gaze.

"Thank you." He nodded, and that was the extent of their exchange. But when he later passed Oyu in the hall, he pulled her aside and confirmed his suspicions.

"Yes, she is physically a male." The consort confirmed. "Nyx chose her as his first consort even though he was supposed to pick a woman. There was a lot of drama over the situation, and Pelo has since stopped referring to herself as a man. So it would be wise not to call her a 'him'."

This verified that once a Terran picked a physical gender, there was no changing it. Still, it was more of a choice than humans got.

"Is Nyx in love with her?" Kade wondered. "Is that why he took Pelo as a consort anyway?"

"It's worse than that. Pelo was a stand-in. His Highness was in love with another male but was rejected. King Nyx assumed it was because of customs and took a male consort to prove that he didn't care about gender. But that didn't change anything. Now Pelo has a...." Oyu checked to make sure no one else was in earshot. Then leaned in and whispered. "Complex."

"You don't like Pelo very much, do you?"

She shrugged. "She picks on every new consort. I'm the newest member of the hall, aside from you. But you're not a consort, so you don't count."

He scratched his head, better understanding the situation. Pelo must lash out from frustration and cling to Nyx to try and earn his affection. Overall, he was glad to not be part of this drama.

Later that day, Kade had to host a presentation all in his own, and Nyx made a very big deal out of it. The king hosted yet another grand party, invited all the nobles, and gave Kade a seat of honor.

The less informed nobles didn't seem very impressed with Kade and his accent. But then the other attendees filled them in on the stuff he'd done since arriving as an envoy, and their attitudes changed.

Nyx made a toast, introduced Kade to the new arrivals, and then after eating, went to the station. There was a large tarp over the locomotive, and Kade stood proudly in front, waiting.

He noticed for once that Sep was hanging onto the king's arm. And Nyx was holding her by the shoulder as she smiled gleefully. Pelo stood on his other side looking confused.

Kade worried that he may have caused more drama for the Hall inhabitants.

"Alright Inventor. Everyone's here, let's show them what you've been working on." Nyx called from the front of the crowd.

Kade straightened his lab coat and got started.

The presentation went pretty well in his opinion. He went a little too much into details and had to cut his speech short when people started talking. So he pulled back the tarp and had the conductor blow the whistle. The harsh noise recaptured everyone's attention. Then they demonstrated the machine by having it pull forward and make a full round.