The Occasion

ㅤ The fact that Lambda merged with Asbel was very interesting from a scientific perspective—and not only from that one—so Asbel wasn't surprised by Pascal's interest. Fortunately, all her experiments, while time-consuming, were… quite enjoyable. Body examinations always turned into a gentle massage, and brainwave testing into a relaxing meditation accompanied by pleasant music. We often had to test different dishes for taste preferences, and Pascal always joined in the tasting to complete the picture. Pascal had been bothering him for months. And while Asbel had initially approached the research calmly, reassuring Lambda that everything was fine, at some point he himself began to get nervous. He'd intended to show Lambda the best of the world, but had only just returned him to the lab. "Pascal," Asbel began hesitantly, not wanting to offend his friend, "we spend too much time in the lab, and I wanted to show Lambda the world…" "Exactly! We need a more informal setting! It's decided: we're going to the hot springs!" "Eh…?" Asbel only managed to say before everything was already arranged. As it turned out, Pascal was not only a passionate scientist but also an excellent guide, perfectly managing to combine scientific work with travel. They traveled extensively on their way to the springs. Pascal managed to choose places whose existence Asbel had never even suspected, while becoming enlightened together with Lambda. She enthusiastically recounted the historical background, transforming the dry text into something energetic and captivating. She also took care of food and lodging, creating the most comfortable conditions for the subject of her research—incomparable to the laboratory restrictions. Although, it was worth noting, Pascal did everything possible to make things comfortable in the lab, too. She even tried to create a cozy home environment, just so that Asbel and Lambda would feel good. She entertained them every evening with board games and puzzles. Asbel, however, considered them an intelligence test, as he often failed it, while Lambda aced it reliably. For her own convenience, Pascal chose shared hot springs. She eased the awkwardness with a naive remark: "Come on, we've been together for so long! We've been through so much!" He had to accept it: nothing could really stop her… Asbel certainly couldn't do it. Despite her apparent fragility and slender fingers, Pascal was strong enough to give a thorough massage. Which she did, while entertaining Asbel and Lambda with conversation. "How long do you plan to continue researching Lambda?" Asbel asked purely out of curiosity. He showed neither irritation nor tension. "…Well, I finished a long time ago," Pascal answered after a moment, not wanting to lie. "Back in the first weeks of your unification," she added, not at all embarrassed. "But…" Asbel hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Then why all the experiments?" "What experiments?" Pascal expressed genuine confusion. "Well, examinations, music tests, food reactions, puzzles." "Hmm…" Pascal thought seriously, trying to understand what Asbel meant. Finally, it dawned on her: "You mean relaxing massages, meditation sessions, romantic dinners, and just plain fun?" Looking into Asbel's uncomprehending eyes, Pascal had to add: "So I did all this for you. Well, and Lambda got a bit of something in the bargain. And anyway," she went on to confess, "I'm not particularly interested in Lambda; I just used it as a pretext, combining business with pleasure. My true goal was you." There was a silence as Asbel tried to digest the information he had received, and Pascal gave him time to do so, carefully watching his facial expressions to understand what stage of understanding he was at. "That is…" "All for you!" "So…" "I like you." "Oh…" "It's okay, you'll get used to it!" Pascal continued cheerfully, not at all disheartened. Pascal had no reason to worry: Asbel, although sometimes slow on the uptake, was a caring and kind person. Sometimes even too much so… But Pascal liked him just the way he was. And she knew he wouldn't hurt her with a sudden refusal. He'd at least think about it. Thoroughly. And most likely, he'd agree, after all, Pascal did everything she could to make Asbel happy with her. 'The question is how long he'll think about it…' Pascal became wary at one point, worried about Asbel, who was so lost in his thoughts that he was in danger of nodding off into the hot mineral water of the springs… 'Perhaps I should have suggested going out first. He'll overheat…' ㅤ