Pretend this is real for a while

R E M I Remi's jaw dropped. Being around Vai was this strange mixture of mother-son bonding vibes that every so often was shattered by information such as what she'd just said. Acrobatics between the bars? The alchemist made a comical sort of queasy face, scrunching up his nose and shaking his head to get the image from his mind. He couldn't hold in his laughter though, and he flashed her a boyish smile. "Noted." Remi shook his head in agreement. "No I do not recall it being a pleasurable experience for them either." Eyes wide, the alchemist nodded immediately, a bit stunned that she'd even think he could proceed with something like that without consulting with his partner. Though the lack of judgement on her face suggested that it was probably just her way of thinking through the problem. "Yes. He...he said he does not feel things physically. He...ah...there were no physical indications he was enjoying it, though he said he was." Closing his eyes for a moment, feeling like he was pressing against that strange mother-but-not-quite-son barrier, he continued. "He had never been with anyone, not even before he was ascended. He did..kiss me though." Remi murmured, biting the inside of his lip to still the buzzing he felt there at the memory. Before he could say more, about not wanting to take advantage of Sam, Vai's words caught him off immediately. "Oh." He said, feeling instantly stupid and slow. "No..of course. I suppose that makes perfect sense. Like..a...ah...survival mechanism." Putting it like that definitely chilled whatever heat had built up in his system because of this conversation. Whatever it was, it hadn't even been lust for Sam. It had just been survival.