[Trilska Space]

“Indeed I am well aware of the situation,” she looked across the table at the diplomat from the planet Dalsuut and attempted to not show her distaste both for the situation that had brought him here as well as for his actual company. Deneve was a peculiar type of ugly, it wasn't really his fault, his entire race had the look of an abomination out of a horror holovid. It was the skin, the waxy coloration, and the strange way parts were loose and saggy while others were taught and tight. For some reason his species had the skin on the forehead tight, pulled like a piece of cloth over a skull, but just under the forehead it started sagging, folding on and over itself in ways that made her uncomfortable to even look at.

But worse than any of that was the three eyes that sat placed in that face. Rather it was not the fact that he had three eyes, the Yurisan race was another species that had three eyes and they were able to pull it off and still look attractive. No, even if he had two eyes it would still be, unnerving, what with the fact that they were a milky white, with red lines running through them, it gave them a haunted almost undead look, it lead to their nickname as well.

Deadeyes.

But looks aside this man sitting across from her was a very important individual, and he was here for a very important reason, as such she couldn't allow her dislike for the race’s looks actually color her interactions with the man himself.

“Then you are aware that without those resources we will not survive?” He folded his waxy seven-fingered hands together in front of his chest and leaned in. “I need your help, I need you to appeal the blockade.”

“Doing so would paint a large red target on my back, you know as well as I do how fickle the court is, and that subject is a touchy one,” she sighed, and leaned back in the chair. “I don't hesitate because I don't care, but you must realize that not only do I have to look out for myself, I also have to take care of my family, and my people.” He opened his mouth but before he could say anything she held up a hand to stall him. “Be that as it may we also cannot allow your people to starve, now can we?” She gave him a soft smile and was quite pleased to realize that she really didn't have to fake it. Hideous though he was, he was still a good person and she was going to do everything in her ability to help his people out. “I cannot promise anything will come of it, but I will appeal the court and see what I can do.”

“I can ask no more, thank you.” he bowed deeply, the folded flaps of skin hanging down as he did so and she repressed a shudder. She stood up, and he moved to follow. “Speaking of your family, I have heard some interesting rumors of late,” he said, there was a bit of joviality in the words, and she had to suppress a biting retort, instead she simply took a deep breath and plastered on the mask that she wore in situations like this, she turned and gave him an inquisitive look, one eyebrow raised and her lips twisting up with an only slightly crooked grin.

“Have you now?” she asked, playing dumb, she too had heard these rumors, and she didn't like them one bit. She still didn't know if it was the fact that others were gossiping about her family that upset her more or her actual anger at the situations her daughter had actually caused.

“Yes, it is about your middle daughter, the word in the circles I walk is that she stood up the barons and lords sons that had been asking for her hand and instead married a commoner,” he laughed. “The reaction to which seems to be divided into two camps, the, romantics, if you will, who see it as a bold act of defiance and love, and the others who seem scandalized by it.” He looked at her, his milky eyes searching her face. “Begging your pardon if it seems rude of me, but I wonder which it actually is?”

“Deneve,” she said with a smile as she turned her gaze to meet his. “You have been miss informed, My new son-in-law is an Legate for his people.” She only felt a little bad about the lie, and perhaps if relations between the galactic federation and this Earth were ever set up then he would be the natural choice for such a position due to his new connections. Besides so long as her daughter’s husband stayed on his planet it wouldn't really be an issue right? Legate was an ancient position that held no real authority, it was the sort of position you put someone that was due some office but you did not want to hand them too many responsibilities. Yes, she decided right then and there she would make sure this Jack was registered as a legate of his planet, what as his race called again? Hoomans? Something like that.

“Ah, excuse me,” he bowed again, the loose skin swaying nauseatingly with the motion,“I did not mean to pry, I wish her the best of luck with her marriage.” he said as he straightened up. Deneve was a well-connected individual, not that at the current moment it was really helping his people all that much, but perhaps with him telling a different tale the rumors would subside.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“I appreciate that,” she smiled, and with a sweeping gesture she escorted him out of the meeting room and back into the house proper, all the while the smile never reached her eyes.

[Earth]

Jack shuddered, and had to close his eyes and take a few deep breaths, in, and out, in, and out, before he found the strength to look at the screen.

$210.99

For someone on his budget spending this was like choosing between Between Scylla and Charybdis. He either spent the money and got the goods, or he didn't, and he would be a total dick. Damned if he did and damned if he didn't. He glared at the hateful green blocky numbers that taunted him ferociously. Never before in his life did he think he would spend that much on swimsuits, but then again never in his life did he think he would have to buy seven of them all at once. With a silent prayer for deliverance Jack swiped his card, and his soul bled when the receipt was printed out and handed to him. In the haste of packing and organizing for this last-minute trip he had forgotten to pack his swimsuit, as had Jessika and Jean. As for Hethuk, Tirs, Arka, and Hisra, well, they never had one to begin with….

“Have a nice day!” the cash register employee said, and Jack had to shoot down the irrational anger that sprung up at the man’s happy attitude, after all, it was not his fault that he had come unprepared, or that his budget was so tight, as such he ignored the urge to throttle the man and nodded to him with a grunt before he grabbed all the bags and went outside.

His bad mood wasn't just due to the money either, if it had just been that then he wouldn't feel so worn down. But as the only man there that wasn't considered a Dad he had been subjected to a deluge of questions about how this one looked, and how that one looked, and if this color made her look fat, from all five of the girls.

How exactly a color could make a person look fat was a mystery to him, but apparently in the reality-warping way of women it did, as did apparently stripes, and polka-dots, and probably even God damned swirls, he just didn't know at this point.

At first it wasn't so bad who would complain about watching five women not unattractive women try on skimpy clothes? Not him certainly, no sirree. The real issue popped up however when he answered the questions of any girl other than Hisra, in such circumstances he had to be careful.

Extremely careful.

If he answered a question too nicely he would get a look from her, it was honestly kind of terrifying. She would narrow her eyes and look at him like she was looking at a bug she was about to squish. But if he didn't answer it nice enough the other girls would also get mad.

And thus he had spent the last four hours dancing on the edge of a cliff, or perhaps it was like playing minesweeper with actual mines and being blindfolded. He thanked God that the day was drawing to an end, and also sent up a prayer of thanks for his continued existence and the fact that he hadn't been shredded limb for limb. The plan was to spend the evening on the back deck cooking some hotdogs and going for a swim.

It was going to be glorious.

“Well well, if it isn't Jack,” Jack froze, and closed his eyes, his prayer of thanks morphing into one that instead asked God why he saw fit to punish him so?

“Millar.” He said as he turned to the speaker, he hoped his voice emphasized how joyful he was to see him again, which was to say, not at all. He had known him since they both were kids in sixth grade. His family had, and now that he thought about it, probably still did, own the vacation home across the water. They were an interesting lot, and by interesting he meant scum of the earth. There were few people that he actually personally knew that he actively detested, sure there were people he disliked, but never downright hated, other than the Millar clan that was. They were the sort of stuck-up snobs that had to always be better at everything, and they wanted, no needed for you to know it.

“Haven't seen you in a few years, I thought you had run away after the last tournament.” He was referring to the vacation tournaments held by the families who had houses around the lakes. Families would compete with one another, and honestly they all took it a little too seriously, and if he was being honest with himself, which he tried to be at all times to varying degrees of success, his family had been in that category as well. “You gonna be at the games tomorrow so I can kick your ass again?”

Honestly Jack hadn't planned on it, but this jerk…

“Sure, me and the fiance will be there, where's your girlfrie- oh wait that's right you don't have one, your fat ass couldn't score one no matter how much money you toss at 'em huh?” Millar wasn't actually fat, he had a few extra pounds but he also had the muscle underneath to support that much weight, still it gave him a little soft around the edges sort of look and Jack knew it was the exact right button to push in this circumstance.

“Yeah, right, I saw that P.O.S. you drove in with, you don't have enough money to afford the lotion for your hand let alone a fiance! ”Millar laughed, but that laugh seemed to dim quickly as Jack felt a set of arms wrap around his neck from behind. He didn't even have to look,the smell and feel alone told him who it was.

“Come one honey, I want to get some hot dogs, I’m staaaaaaarving,” Hisra said, stretching out the word in a rather adorable way.

“Sure thing babe,” Jack said, a triumphant smile on his face, a smile that he was unsure whether the look on Millar’s face caused, or Hisra’s general presence. “I'll see you tomorrow Millar,” he said, turning around and walking away, feeling like he had just won the Lotto.