“Whoop!” Chirped Neirdith as she almost spilled her third drink. Giggling a bit she grabbed it and took another pull from the glass before setting it back down on the table in front of her.
The small bar had an open front that connected directly to the main street out front via a small patio. She was currently seated at a round silver table with Seth and Briyn. Skorr was standing at the front of the establishment, the huge metal cyborg drawing many strange looks from passing residents, their arm slightly extended as Neirdith was sitting in the palm of their huge metal hand.
“You… you should be more careful, captain Neirdith.” Seth chuckled.
“I, for one, am pleassed that you have been graced with sssuch good fortune.” Briyn said, his hissing accent slightly more slurred than normal. He lifted his mug with one of their upper arms and said “A toasst then, to the new captain. May fortune favor your huntss and the sshade ssshield you from detection.” He spoke the ancient formal salute with pride and Seth raised his drink in response, as did Neirdith who had at this point begun to blush a particularly violent shade of purple.
Seth pounded their other hand on the table and said “I'll drink to that.” Throwing the rest of his drink down his throat he wiped his mouth with a slightly unsteady hand and declared “And good riddance to that foul son of a bitch Medrigorp or whatever he calls himself.” Turning towards Neirdith, who was sitting across from him, he asked “So you aren't going to keep calling it that awful name, what was it again? The Doomed one, The Bastards Doom?”
“The Bloody Doom, and no, I was going to rename him… I was thinking, nah its stupid.” Shaking her head she leaned back into Skorr.
Skorr rumbled appreciatively “I can feel your hesitance, is the name embarrassing to you Neirdith?”
“No it's just,” she paused before turning and looking into one of Skorr’s glowing mechanical eyes “I was going to name him after you.”
“You are going to name your ssship Ssskorr?” Briyn asked in a neutral tone, one antennae lifting slightly higher than the other “I rather like it, it ssseemsss fitting.”
Seth just laughed at the notion but Neirdith interjected sheepishly “No, I was going to name it the Shining Knight. It’s kinda silly I know.”
Seth looked abashed but it was Skorr who broke the silence “How can a night shine Neirdith?”
Hearing the genuine confusion in their voice Seth started laughing again and Briyn joined in, slapping the table with four of their lower arms in merriment. With the patience of one teaching a small child, Neirdith explained calmly “Not that kind of night Skorr, knight with a K, it means an honorable warrior. Knights were generally depicted clad in shining steel armour, kind of like you. Well, except you are a little more of a dark grey.” She said, looking him over.
Skorr seemed to mull this over for a few moments before replying “It is an honor to be the namesake of such a grand vessel, I hope to live up to its stature.”
Sighing in relief that Skorr seemed not to mind Neirdith turned her attention back to her still chuckling tablemates. She gave a winning smile that was reciprocated by Seth and answered with a trio of raised arms from Briyn who was starting to sway slightly side to side.
Neirdith took another pull from her crecini ale. It was made using the mycelium fibers of a type of mushroom known for its paralytic toxin. While not potent enough to paralyze in its fermented form, it was more than capable of intoxicating a nerivith to the same degree as human whiskey or vinarfel yorg.
Seth had been nursing rum and soda all night while Briyn seemed to be drinking some flavored iteration of traditional vinarfel yorg. While she was starting to get a little tipsy and Seth seemed about the same, Briyn seemed to be quite far gone as the large insectoid was swaying side to side and their normally bright blue eyes looked a little dull.
With a hiccup and a giggle Neirdith said “And I have the wonderful commander Briyn to thank for such an opportunity, what ever convinced you to sell a corvette for such a low price?”
Not noticing she had spoken to them, Briyn continued their slow bobbing until Seth nudged him and he slurred “Ehhh? Waasssatt?”
Smirking, Seth repeated her question “Hey, why did you sell the ship to us so cheap?”
Looking around furtively Briyn leaned forwards and said in a near whisper “SSssshshhhh… Thatsss a ssssecret. They aren't sssupossed to know that we have a job for them yet. Heheheeh” His slurred speech dissolved into unintelligible chittering as they went limp and slumped onto the table, a sort of slow whistling coming from his slightly opened faceplates as he expelled a constant slow stream of air.
“A job, now that's rather cryptic.” Said Seth in a matter of fact way that caused Neirdith to giggle once more before giving a startled sound as Skorr rocked back a step almost dropping her.
“I am sorry, I didn't realise I could become incapacitated by being blended with you in this state. It would be prudent of me to set you down, Neirdith.” Skorr rumbled as quietly as they could.
Lowering their mighty arm they stopped when Neirdith scolded “Skorr, I don't want you to put me down unless you dislike the feeling of being intoxicated through me. If that's so, then and only then will I allow you to drop me.”
Skorr swayed slightly and replied “I will admit the feeling is strange, it is not unpleasant though. It is warm and joyful, with a hint of confusion. It is quite novel to me, I suppose I could just lock my joints, would that be an acceptable alternative, Neirdith?”
Shaking her head and chuckling, she said “You don't have to ask me, Skorr you already know what I am going to say don't you.”
“I do.” They admitted “But I don’t assume the thoughts under the feelings. It would be imprudent of me to assume to know your full mind.” Skorr finished.
Waving her hand she turned her attention back to Seth and motioning at the now unconscious form of Briyn she said “I hope they have a forklift here cause I don't think we can drag Briyn out of here. If he's anything like the average vinarfel he has got to weigh over three hundred kilograms. Well I'm sure Skorr could lift him easily but I feel like Briyn wouldn't appreciate that.” She said with a bit of a laugh.
Looking at the sleeping vinarfel’s six meter form Seth stated “We should probably lower his head to the ground, maybe he will stop snoring so loud if we do.” Looking at Neirdith he said “Come on, give me a hand with him Neirdith.”
“Okay one sec.” She said as she scooted off of Skorr’s hand. Landing on her somewhat unsteady feet she wobbled over to Briyn’s other side and together they lifted his bulky form off the table and laid him, somewhat gracefully, on the ground. To her surprise his snoring subsided to a much quieter, but still audible, whistling. “Wow, how did you know that would work?'' she asked, looking at Seth with a hint of surprise.
Shrugging self-consciously he replied “Well, when my uncle Todd would come home from a night at the bar, sometimes one of his vinarfel buddies would come over to watch the latest G-Ball game on the holo. When they passed out I would straighten them out so that they were quiet enough for me to sleep. I guess I just learned it from that.”
Nodding in understanding, Neirdith tried to step over Briyn’s slumbering form but stumbled into Seth and with a startled yell they both tumbled to the ground.
Neirdith landed on top of Seth and her breath caught in her throat as she locked eyes with him. Her hands were on his chest and she could feel the dense high gravity muscles under the skin, all the thoughts and feelings she had been suppressing over the last week came rushing back to the surface and she found herself blushing furiously. She wanted to tell him everything right there and almost did, but managed to hold her emotions in check just barely. She was nerivith, not some pretty little human female, he was probably not interested in her anyways she thought.
Breaking eye contact she pushed herself unsteadily to her feet and said “Well, I should probably call it a night now. I'm going to head back to the ship.” Looking back at his face she thought she saw a hint of sadness there, but it could have just been the alcohol. Not wanting to make a mistake she would later regret, she said “Seth, you are a good friend. You are probably my only friend, well besides Skorr of course.” Not trusting herself to say more she turned and left quickly. As she walked away she thought she heard him mutter something under his breath but didn't hear it. He would tell her if it was truly important.
**********
Seth was surprised at Neirdith’s casual acceptance of his lame explanation of how he knew how to keep a passed out vinarfel quiet. She had just nodded her horned head and helped him shift the huge security commander.
Two things had then happened in quick succession, the first is that Seth noticed how attractive Neirdith really was, her tall lithe body contrasting acutely with her natural curves in such a way that made his mind tingle. And the second was that Neirdith tried to step over Briyn and stumbled, right into Seth’s arms.
As their combined centers of gravity caused them to tumble to the ground, Seth ended up underneath her. Her weight pressing down on him, her hands on his chest just like in his dreams that he refused to dwell on. Locking eyes with her, his mouth opened slightly as he held his breath. She blushed strongly which only worked to make her more stunning. His brain was frozen, as it tried to process what was happening she pushed herself off his chest and stood quickly.
Turning from him she seemed to wilt slightly, as he scrambled to his feet she said “Well, I should probably call it a night now. I'm going to head back to the ship.” with a strong pang of longing he saw her look towards him before she continued “Seth, you are a good friend. You are probably my only friend, well besides Skorr of course.” With that she turned and strode away, Skorr following shortly behind her with heavy steps.
As she walked away Seth muttered “Stupid, Stupid, why didn't you say something to her, you should have told her how you feel.” If she overheard him she gave no indication as she continued away.
Sitting back down heavily he ordered another rum even though he no longer felt like drinking. After what just happened he was determined to get blackout drunk like Briyn whether he felt like it or not.
The ceiling mounted robotic crane made its way to his table with his new drink and he thought about what he would have said if he hadn't been so locked up with uncertainty at the time. He thought about all the times she had flirted at him recently and it seemed to click in his alcohol fuzzed brain like a switch. “Oh my Luck, you fucking idiot. She likes you but thinks you don't like her the same way. Oh I'm such a stupid moron.” He bemoaned.
As he finished this revelation his new drink plopped down in front of him and he chugged it in one go. Coughing slightly he motioned for another and the small robotic arm made an accepting noise and zipped off. Oh he would be getting very drunk indeed. He would need all the liquid courage he could hold if he was going to reveal his true feelings to her. Seth decided to make a mental note to come clean to her tomorrow, but for now his only goal was to get hammered.
**********
‘Why does he have to be so thick headed?’ Neirdith thought to herself angrily as a tear leaked from the corner of one eye. ‘It's not fair, he's so kind and funny, there's no way he would even look at me that way. I am just imagining it all. He wants a strong, smart, and self confident girl, not an overly emotional self conscious wreck like me.’ She smacked a nearby wall angrily at the thought.
Stifling a sob she felt Skorr’s presence encroach on her from behind as they asked “Neirdith, you are distressed? What is the trouble?”
Lying, she straightened and wiped her eyes on her sleeve “It's nothing Skorr, I’m fine” Immediately feeling bad for lying to her friend she stopped and heard the clank as Skorr pulled up short behind her. “I'm sorry Skorr, I lied, the truth is, I feel terrible but I don't know how to fix it? Do you ever get the feeling that the universe hates you?” She asked, turning to look at the huge alien cyborg.
Hearing a very rare genuine chuckle rumble from behind her, Skorr replied, “I may be old, but I'm not too old to see what's going on here. You are upset that Seth doesn't reciprocate your feelings back to you. It's understandable that you would not see, you are not able to blend together.”
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“Can't see what Skorr, what do you mean?” she asked, turning to look at the behemoth that was standing before her.
“Surely you have noticed the way Seth looks after you. The way he reacted when you met me was clue enough to make me suspect, but I wasn't sure until more recently.” Skorr prattled, not seeming to notice the look that was spreading slowly over Neirdith’s face.
Rushing forwards to place her hands on his armoured front she asked again, more earnestly “What do you mean, are you saying that Seth likes me too?”
She felt nothing but a wave of gentle amusement from Skorr as they replied “Yes it's rather obvious if you put all the pieces together. He is fiercely protective of you, like me, but unlike me he seems to be uncomfortable around you. Seth plays it off by cracking jokes and teasing, but the fact that he has no idea what to say to you speaks of his internal struggle. He is probably worried that you are just teasing him and are not interested in a romantic relationship.”
With this thought finished Neirdith felt a wave of calm resolve from the ancient cyborg. She stepped back and put her hands to her head trying to organize the rapidly flashing thoughts in her mind. Seth liked her, and was just as unsure of her feelings as she had been of his. This revelation sent a wave of elation through her followed quickly by reservation, how would she explain it to him? Would she even need to? With an idea forming quickly in her mind she spun around and strode off towards the market area of the station. She was only a little unsteady on her feet while Skorr followed dutifully behind, always vigilant for the slightest hint of danger.
**********
“Oh my head.” Groaned Seth as he woke to pain and noise.
Hearing a low hissing sound he looked to his left to see the laughing form of Briyn laying on the ground next him, his many legs splayed out to the sides as he rested on his softer underbelly. Looking around and trying to make sense of how he got to this predicament, he thought about last night and remembered his revelation about Neirdith. Sitting up straight, he gripped his head as another pounding pulse of pain lanced through his brain.
“Being unprepared doesssn't sssuit you friend.” Briyn chuckled at Seth’s obvious discomfort. Reaching into a small pouch on his long jacket Briyn removed a small vial of pills, he then offered them to Seth saying “Here take one of thesse, they should remove the effects of your overindulgence. Consssider it a thanksss for the enjoyable evening. I have not passsed out drunk ssince I visssited my broodmother on Highland Sstation a few years ago.” Briyn said with a chuckle, seeming to briefly relive a pleasant memory before looking back at Seth and shaking the small bottle invitingly.
“At this point I'm willing to try anything.” Seth groaned, reaching for the proffered container. He shook one of the small amber tablets into his hand and knocked it back with a grimace. Replacing the top, he tossed it back to Briyn with a nod of thanks and sat back against the wall before asking “Wait a minute, where the hell are we?” He sat up and took a look at his surroundings. He was sitting on a vinarfelien couch, similar to an elongated ottoman stool with stiff cushions. The walls of the room were colored with dark red and brown stripes.
“Oh, after we lossst conssciousnesss the ssstation sstaff moved uss to my apartment as it wass closse by. I asssumed you would not mind, better than lying on the table at the bar sstill.” As he spoke he waved all ten of his arms and a fair few of his legs around causing Seth's vision to swim a bit and making the explanation harder to grasp for a few seconds.
“So this is your place? I like the colors, are they specific or just happenstantial?” Seth asked, tearing his eyes from the vinarfels frantic gesticulations.
“Oh they are my personal choice, they remind me of my broodmother and are fashioned after her unique patterning.” Briyn replied enthusiastically “She is quite stunning, would you like to see a picture of her?” He asked suddenly.
Looking pensively at the large figure Seth said “Sure?” His voice wavering a bit as he was unsure of what he was about to be shown.
Briyn spoke rapidly into his assistant before his wall projector turned on and an image was cast onto a screen across the room. What met Seth’s eyes was an image of a slightly smaller, somehow more feminine looking vinarfel. He was surprised, he had never actually seen a female vinarfelien before.
Seth leaned forwards with genuine interest as the picture switched to a video of the same vinarfel speaking in their native tongue. The movements of her faceplates as she spoke was intriguing and her subtle movements were somehow more gentle, more reserved than those he was used to seeing in their kind. The experience made for a generally softer, and more delicate appearance that was similarly endearing and alluring. He looked more closely to see the bright red slashes of her carapace armor that contracted heavily with the muted brown undertones of her body. The effect was quite striking really and Seth could very well see the reason for Briyn’s fascination.
Turning to his erstwhile companion he stated “Wow, she is quite stunning, I can see the reason why you would want to be reminded of her.”
Nodding his armored head Briyn agreed “Yesss, sshe isss all that I could ever assk for. What about you, friend Ssseth? Do you have anyone sspecial that makess life worth living?”
Thinking for a moment Seth replied honestly “I'm not sure, I have someone that I wish to be that for me, but part of me is afraid to take the leap and ask her, you know what I'm saying? What I mean is, I'm not sure I'm really ready to take that step.” he finished lamely, bowing his head to look at the floor.
Looking at him with a strange look the large vinarfel asked “And who would thiss sspecial sssomeone be? It wouldn't happen to be a certain new captain would it?” Briyn finished with a hissing chuckle.
Seth's head snapped over to Briyn, his eyes wide “Is it that obvious?” He asked incredulously.
“Young man, if it wass any more obviousss I’m sssure even the robotic bartender could have picked up on it.” He said, chittering in amusement, his antennae waving above his head.
Blushing in embarrassment Seth looked at him dumbly, mouth open, before gazing down and muttering “Wow, I guess I really am a moron then.” hearing a small sound from Briyn he looked back over.
“Not ssso, It took a long time for my dear Kealrith to pin me down, oh how I frustrated her as ssshe tried to gain my attensssion. But I wass a thickheaded young vinar at the time, too engrosssed in my own path to notice the door open before me. Ssshe had to go asss far as coiling herssself around me while I tried to work to finally get her point across.” he recounted, laughing at the memory before continuing “Imagine my ssshock when I found myssself in the vice grip of a beautiful creature that I had been too busy to notice before then. Sshe refussed to let me go until I could tell her without a twitch of my antennae that I wass not interessted in her. Of coursse by then I wasss very interested and could not do it, sshe did eventually let me go, but not before making sure I knew just what I had been misssing out on.” Briyn told Seth.
As Briyn recounted the strangely romantic tale of their first encounter with his beloved, Seth asked suddenly “Wait, I thought that males were dominant in your culture like mine?”
“And are the malesss truly dominant in your culture, human?” Briyn asked slyly.
Seth was about to reply that of course they were before thinking of all the times his mother had admonished or chastised his father, his father would always make a case for his defense but would always relent and follow her directions. He thought of how his old girlfriend had always taken the lead about how they would spend time together and where they would go. The more he thought about it the more he began to realize that men sure did a lot of groveling when women took the reins. “You know what, I guess you have a point, but what is your point?” Seth asked the many legged insectoid.
“You don’t remember? In nerivith society, females are the dominant sex. They are just as hard headed and stubborn as you human males.” The vinarfel said with a wave of his arms.
The revelation struck him like a hammer blow, suddenly all her veiled hints and blunt remarks seemed to gain focus painting a now very obvious picture in front of him. Putting his head in his hands he groaned “How could I have not thought of that, It's so obvious now that you say it!”
Chuckling and shaking his chitinous head Briyn asked “How'ss your head now?”
It was then that Seth noticed his headache had entirely disappeared while they were conversing. He looked at the alien in amazement “Wow what is that stuff, where can I get some?”
Tossing the mostly empty bottle back to Seth, Briyn replied “It iss extracted from the sssap of a tree native to vreefell, my people have been ussing it as a powerful anti-inflammatory for millenia. I believe it isss very chemically ssimilar to Asprikick.” Briyn looked back to the paused video of his spouse on the viewscreen before he turned back to Seth and said “Now that you are functional, I recommend trying to make the connection to your ssspecial friend before they are forced to do sssomthing asss drassstic as my beloved Kealrith.”
“Thank you I will.” Seth said before standing resolvedly and striding to the closed door, when it did not open immediately he looked at Briyn who pressed a button on his assistant. He waved merrily to Seth as he repositioned from the floor to the now vacated couch with an audible sigh.
Smiling to himself Seth exited the large vinarfelien’s apartment and took the stairs down to the ground floor. Upon exiting the building he spotted the bar from the previous night just down the street. He quickly used it to calculate his location in his head. Deciding that his first step would be to go and freshen up, he made his way to the hotel where he had checked in after arriving at the station and quickly took a shower. He dried and dressed quickly before grabbing his assistant and strapping it to his wrist. Deciding that he would buy Neirdith something rather nice to commemorate her newly achieved position as Captain he took a mini mag-rail to the market district.
Seth stepped out into the brightly lit area, he was immediately assaulted with numerous sounds and smells. Judging from the relative clamor this was a busy day at the market. While New Dundas was primarily a research base it did host a dedicated staff of several thousand, add in their families and the personnel needed to run the day to day operations and their families it quickly added up to well over sixteen thousand people. Many of them living lives as full and exciting as many other colony worlds, albeit with a bit more decorum.
Seth began to wander the markets and shops, noticing everything but looking at nothing, deciding that if something caught his eye he would grant it closer inspection. He was quickly carrying several packages and boxes of things he had always wanted to try but had never had the funds to justify purchasing. A new wrist assistant, sturdy new boots and a beautifully crafted pocket knife were all purchased and equipped. He stopped at a rather expensive restaurant offering genuine beef hamburgers imported from a nearby human farm world. After a fully satisfying cheeseburger lunch he once again set out on his quest for a suitable gift.
Seth wandered the shopping district for another twenty minutes before a small shopfront caught his eye. It was dark and brooding and recessed back from the others but this just made it stand out more to his oversaturated eyes. Feeling that, if nothing else, this store would offer a reprieve from the assault of garish colors and noise.
He wandered in and was pleasantly surprised by the antiquated bell that jingled when he opened the door. Walking up to the register area he was even more delighted to see a small silver call bell on the worn countertop. Freeing his inner child, he gleefully rang the bell a procession of times before restraining himself when he heard an irritated noise from the back room area. Chagrined he readied himself for an old woman or something similar to hobble out and was floored when instead a fit, and very attractive, nerivith female glided out of the back and behind the counter.
Glaring daggers at him she joked mirthlessly “Oh pick up your jaw off the floor, you're not impressing anyone with that display.”
She huffed at him when he snapped his jaw shut and blushed furiously before stammering “I'm so sorry I just wasn't expecting, a, well, you know?”
“What?” she asked snidely “You were expecting some old, wizened geriatric to come crawling out and ask you to buy something in a dusty voice? Well that was my father, and he's gone, so I run the business now. And on that note, are you going to buy something?” She finished, sweetly posing in a cute way with her hands framing her pink face and her eyes big.
Despite himself Seth couldn't help but laugh at the change in tact “I’m sorry, yes please. I'm actually looking for a gift for my… friend… uh, she recently made a big purchase and I wanted something to kind of congratulate her success?” He finished with a questioning tone.
“Wow, that does not inspire confidence. Do you even know what your… friend… likes?” She asked in a disapproving voice, the sound of her tail irritably flicking the shelf behind her making him wince slightly in embarrassment.
“Um well, I know she likes butter sauteed mushrooms and is interested in exotic aliens like the jeseo?” He replied quietly, thinking hard.
“Well, am I to assume that this friend of yours is nerivith?” The shopkeeper asked matter of factly.
Seth looked at her in surprise “Wait, how did you guess?”
“Well the buttered mushrooms are a dead giveaway, I can't get enough of those myself if I'm honest…” she trailed off briefly, a look of bliss on her succubine features, shaking herself slightly she continued “Well it's definitely a start, so your friend is nerivith, female, and likes jeseo huh?”
Seth just nodded in affirmative, silent.
She turned around before pulling out a dusty book and rifling through it. She settled on a seemingly random page “Ahah! Here we are, this here is one of a kind and very expensive but I'm sure it will bring you all the good will you are after.” she said with a knowing grin “This is a fully contained, scent proof and leak proof automated counter fryer, you generally see these bad girls in restaurant kitchens and the like. This will cook up anything you throw into it, including buttered mushrooms without letting the smell out till it's done, that way she wont drive herself mad trying to eat the finished product too fast and hurt herself. But I would probably watch her so she doesn't indulge, dairy cramps are no fun, trust me I know.” She said with a pained look.
With wide eyes Seth breathed “It’s perfect. Wait, you said it's expensive, how expensive exactly?”
“Well, it's not cheap, that's the truth, I am selling it used for the price of 5,000 credits, if that's too much then I apologize for getting your hopes up…”
Seth cut her off saying “I’ll take it.” with no hesitation at all.
She made an odd look that didn't quite fit on her face, like it was unused to the expression, before she answered “Alrighty moneybags, I'll go grab it now, don't go anywhere.” Glancing at him over he shoulder as if to confirm he was real, she disappeared into the back before clanging and cluttering along with ample swearing was heard. Seth was about to ask if she was alright when she came back out carrying the aforementioned item in her arms.
With a huff of released effort she plopped it onto the counter and looked expectantly at Seth as he fished his credit card out of his pocket. Accepting the card she whistled appreciatively as it scanned with no problem, handing it back to him she asked with genuine sweetness this time “So hun, is there anything else I can do for you.” she asked him with a raised eyebrow and a sultry smile.
With a wide grin Seth said “No, but I will keep this shop in mind, you have some really cool things for sale here.” He smiled again at her dejected look and bade farewell once more as he shuffled out of the store carrying his newly acquired goods. He made a quick stop by one of the markets where he bought a pound of butter and a stack of portobello mushrooms that were on sale. With his newly acquired weapon he made his way confidently to the hanger deck in order to give this wonderful contraption to his beloved friend.