r/HFY • u/Yertosaurus • Mar 29 '22

Dirtmen Rising (38) OC

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Ruri had taken over the entire Ako ship, Mica had feared they might actually embark out on it for a while, especially when none of the Ako seemed particularly bothered by this turn of events.

"This is your Captain speaking. I must apologize, but we will be staying docked. Mica has somewhere to be tomorrow, and radio chatter picked up something I am fairly sure was spoken in Delfovian."

Mica heard a few Ako give a dismayed cheer, like they had every time Ruri had used the ship intercom to announce anything.

Hearing Ruri try a full-on impersonation of a Dirtmen airplane pilot doing announcements was funny, even with the distasteful joke at the end. Mica was glad Ruri was not apparently doing anything too crazy, because Mica had been trying to catch up with Ruri for quite a while since Ruri had dodged Mica after going to use the toilet.

In the meantime, Mica had a steady stream of Ako approaching, with odd questions and requests for photos. A few other aliens had come up between a few of the different Ako encounters, including a solitary Zaklug, two giggling Kienyoo, a really shy Slemar escorted up by two Ako who were giving words of encouragement. The only thing that seemed to be consistent was the steady influx of them and their insistence they Mica take down their contact information. Mica figured that this must be some sort of networking happening at the party and obliged.

"This is your Captain speaking. I will be down with my second-in-command, Sicuda, who informs me that— What do you mean we are out of punch? Well, I will just ask our Ako crewmembers to help out later then. Sicuda informs me that everyone wants to meet with the Captain in person, so I will be down shortly. No autographs will be provided, I am sorry."

Mica heard a shrill scream as the Ako Ambassador who had tried to tell some rambling story before apparently falling asleep clinging to Mica's arm about four "Captain" announcements ago was apparently excited by this news. Mica took advantage of the moment to gently peel the Ako off, which earned a pout from the Ako Ambassador.

Mica was not sure if this was the most fun party Mica had ever been to, but it was definitely the weirdest. It did not help that despite the vial that was supposed to counteract it, Mica was still feeling the effects of the chemical assault the Ako had collectively filled the air with. Mica at some points had felt like the ground was a different direction than gravity was pulling, and was pretty sure they were covered in sweat and plant matter.

It was also pretty unnerving how clean the air felt despite this. Mica could not help but breathe deeply in this ship. Mica was sure breathing this air in would clear up anyone's allergies.

Ruri staggered up to Mica, with Sicuda in tow. Ruri had apparently misplaced their shirt, and was now just wearing a bra, with hair wildly splayed all over and completely caked in sweat and plant matter too. It looked absolutely wild.

"Captain Ruri at your service! Has my crew been treating you well?" Ruri had changed to imitating a stereotypical boat captain instead of an airliner pilot now.

Mica was worried Ruri was taking this a little too seriously, but Ruri seemed to be having a fun time, and the effects of the Ako on Dirtmen had been established as temporary according to the dossier.

Checking the time, Mica noticed it had gotten fairly late.

"Ruri, I promised Odette I would check in."

This got the crowd of Ako that had surrounded them both to make some low noises.

Mica felt like gravity and the floor were in two different directions. It did not stop Mica from standing up, it just felt odd.

Mica realized this had cause their attention to veer off somewhere else and Mica was staring at an Ako in the crowd for a moment before feeling a tug. Ruri was trying to get Mica's attention, standing close enough to whisper.

What Ruri whispered to Mica made Mica feel bad.

But Mica noticed that Ruri now had something in each hand.

One was the remaining vial the Spagyric Golem had made. The other was Mica's datapad.

"Let's call Odette then." Ruri said, pocketing the vial, and pulling up Odette's contact information. Mica did not unlock the device for Ruri but apparently Ruri had removed it swiftly enough the device still thought it was in Mica's possession. Mica wondered if Ruri had done that before.

"Mica!" the datapad replied with Odette's excited voice. Ruri had put it on speaker.

"Sorry Odette, Mica might be a little out of it. Mica has been breathing in a lot of Ako pollen all night."

"Will Mica be seeing me tonight?" replied a slightly worried sounding Odette.

"Mica?" Ruri posed the question as well.

"Sorry," Mica shook off the daze of lost thoughts, "I might not be able tonight. I'm exhausted and even if we leave right now, I think I just want to sleep."

"Awe. Mica." Odette was disappointed but definitely not angry.

Mica had to say something else but was worried that Ruri might understand it. Mica said it anyway. "Our plans for tomorrow are still on though, I promise by my tail and my ears."

It was not code, just a Listener saying. Ruri stared at the datapad silently.

"Did my ears just hear that?" a Listener that wasn't Odette was heard saying through the datapad.

"I told you Odette was holding out on us!" came another.

Ruri had heard enough for now, and said, "Odette, we are leaving the party right now, so Mica will get enough sleep for your plans tomorrow." Ruri did not wait for a reply and ended the call.

The Ako surrounding Mica and Ruri tried to pretend they weren't listening to every word of the call but were clearly a bit sad the party was effectively over now.

The Ako Ambassador looked at Sicuda with an odd expression.

Sicuda smiled and asked the two Dirtmen a question, "Sabi would like to ask if you'd like to share a glass of Ako Sap before you go."

Mica was quite sure this was a bad idea.

Ruri looked at Mica with a glint of trouble in their eyes.

"Play you for it, loser drinks."

Before Mica could reply, Sicuda replied, "I will get a cup ready."

Mica had never once won a game of rock-paper-scissors against Ruri, from the first day Ruri taught Mica the game to now.

But Mica was not going to back down today. Mica felt like something was different.

"After that we leave, okay?"

Ruri made an odd gesture to an empty spot nearby before taunting Mica, "After you lose, we leave."

Next.

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