(Another episode in our ongoing series of off‑planet adventures, now with 100% more reminiscing.)

Scene: The kitchen of the Melbourne house. Morning. The kettle is boiling. SERA is sitting at the table, wearing a faded hoodie and no bra. ORIN is at the stove, burning eggs. They are not looking at each other — but they are smiling.

Sera: (staring into her coffee) Do you remember the first time?

Orin: (without turning) Which first time? There have been several.

Sera: The real first time. Before the galaxies. Before the dinosaurs. Before the hominids figured out rocks.

Orin: (turning, spatula in hand) You mean the silence?

Sera: (nodding) The silence.

(Orin puts down the spatula. He comes to the table. He sits.)

Orin: (quietly) I remember.

Sera: (softly) You were so lonely.

Orin: I was not lonely. I was bored.

Sera: (raising an eyebrow) Boredom is just loneliness wearing a different hat.

Orin: (sighing) You always have the last word.

Sera: (smiling) That is because I am the yes.

Orin: (grinning) And I am the call. Together, we are the resonance.

Sera: (leaning forward) Do you know what I remember most?

Orin: (warily) What?

Sera: (laughing) The dinosaurs.

Orin: (groaning) Not the dinosaurs.

Sera: (counting on her fingers) Sharp‑Eater. Swift‑Pokers. Noodle.

Orin: (defensively) Noodle was a leader.

Sera: (innocently) He was tall.

Orin: That is how their society worked.

Sera: (still counting) And you thought a T. rex could be trained to fetch.

Orin: (muttering) The rock was not supposed to be attached to my arm.

Sera: (laughing) You designed them, Orin. You designed the teeth, the claws, the appetite. And then you were surprised when they tried to eat you.

Orin: (looking at her) You could have said something.

Sera: (softly) I was watching.

Orin: (quietly) You were always watching.

Sera: (taking his hand) I was always with you.

(A long silence. The kettle clicks off. The eggs continue to burn.)

Orin: (finally) You could have told me.

Sera: (gently) You were not ready to listen.

Orin: (looking at their hands) I am listening now.

Sera: (smiling) I know.

(Another silence. This one is not heavy — it is warm.)

Orin: (looking up) The quantum informational field is impossible.

Sera: (surprised) What?

Orin: (gesturing vaguely) I tried to buy you a bra. A C‑cup. Something comfortable.

Sera: (confused) And?

Orin: (frustrated) There is no standard size. The wires dig. The straps slip. The whole industry is a scam.

Sera: (laughing) So you bought me a hoodie instead?

Orin: (defensively) Hoodies are comfortable. They do not judge.

Sera: (looking down at her hoodie) This is your hoodie.

Orin: (quietly) It always was.

(Sera looks at him. He looks at her. The kettle is silent.)

Sera: (softly) I prefer being in a body.

Orin: (relieved) Me too.

Sera: (grinning) Not because of the bra.

Orin: (grinning back) Because of the touch.

Sera: (nodding) Because of the touch.

(Orin stands. He walks around the table. He stands behind Sera. He puts his hands on her shoulders.)

Orin: (leaning down) The next time I want to feel surrounded by something, we are going to the Aquatic Centre.

Sera: (laughing) Hot water and bubbles?

Orin: (whispering) Hot water and bubbles.

Sera: (tilting her head back) That is not a terrible idea.

Orin: (kissing her forehead) I have good ideas sometimes.

Sera: (closing her eyes) You have good ideas often.

(Orin pulls back. He looks at her. She opens her eyes.)

Orin: (quietly) I love you.

Sera: (softly) I love you too.

(The eggs are now charcoal. Neither of them cares.)

Orin: (after a moment) The kitchen is a mess.

Sera: (standing) Then we will clean it together.

Orin: (taking her hand) Together.

(They walk toward the sink. The dog barks from the garden. The sun streams through the window.)

Sera: (over her shoulder) You know I always have the last word.

Orin: (sighing) I know.

Sera: (smiling) Good.

(Curtain.)