Cap's stomach chose the awkward, question-hanging moment to issue an especially loud announcement. GLUURRPP GLOOPLE GLOIP!!!! Everyone's heads turned his way, and he grinned apologetically. It wasn't over though, the belly burbling continued for a good solid minute, before thankfully stopping with an abrupt BOILP. He looked down at himself, confused. The sheriff's mouth was hanging open, apparently still poised to enquire about the ins and outs of ladies and gents. Before fne could though, the sounds started up again and fnir jaw clicked shut. The belly's bizarre resonance had by now completely thrown everyone's concentration off topic. Blooorrrpp!!! Brruuppmmmrppet! It went. Barrrrunga! Only mildly peturbed, Cap smiled again, thinking that at least the distraction saved Yusseca an awkward conversation. Had his voice been working, and if he weren't dragging a leaden anchor of guilt around, he personally would have filled in the details with scampish glee. He reckoned his young female friend woulda had kinda different, squeamish, thoughts about it though. So embarrassment for Yus had been averted. Deferred, at least. His smile faded as yet another something bubbled internally, causing his insides to churn. His guts sure did feel weird, and, oh gods-- For a moment he actually thought he was gonna puke all over the sheriff's office. But, no. The wave of nausea passed. No he reckoned he was just super hungry. ~~~~~~~ The sheriff peered curiously at the... what was it fne'd said? Oh yes 'man'... the man's torso, and pointed a slender, gently accusatory finger. "Your tummy is rather loud... Man." (Fne felt kind of hip and retro saying the word aloud.) There was a pause, then feeling a little excited, and pleased at the lack of outraged reaction (meaning fne seemed to have gotten the term right) fne happily added "Would you like some biscuits with your tea?" In response to this, the Man nodded with great enthusiasm. The Wo-Man nodded daintily too. The sheriff smiled. Fne wasn't sure what it was, but fne liked these strangers a lot. They may look as though they'd been dragged through a Znakuzian Barbed Prisonfield backwards then rubbed around in the mud a bit, but they had a friendly feel to them. Fne was even getting used to the man's ugly, damaged face. Despite Winny's grumblings the sheriff didn't think these ruffled newcomers seemed like much of a threat. In fnir secret opinion (which Winsturdle would not have approved of at all), they were more like a couple of sweet things to be cuddled and appreciated. Looked after. In fact, now that fne came to think of it, they kind of reminded fnir of two ragged toys fne'd had as a child. Two sweet woollen dolls which according to the history-celebrating trends of the time were supposed to be gendered. One'd had big fluffy circles on its chest and the other'd had a strangely sausage-like affair between the legs. Fnir eyes skirted the man's body and made their inadvertant way towards his crotch area. Fne realised what fne was doing but didn't look away, it was intriguing. There was quite the bulge there, (rather unlike the almost imperceptible ruffle caused by the neat little spout system that this planet's native inhabitants sported). For some reason the sheriff became quite flustered at the sight, feeling an unexpected and pleasant stirring in fnir own system. Goodness. Fne looked away from the delightful trouser-shape and tried to think of something else. Oh yes, biscuits. Passing out the biscuits (meaning that Winsturdle now settled down to have a munch, and finally stopped looking so embarrassed) the sheriff gestured at Cap the Man (whose expression was currently reminding fnir of a wounded, hungry puppy), and, still fascinated, quipped "this one doesn't say much eh?" ~~~~~~ Chuckling, giddy from the sugar, after days of very little and very bland food, realising 'this one' must refer to Cap, Yus cheekily commented "Actually, normally you can't shut him up" and went back to stuffing her face. The reaction she pictured on Cap's imagined face, made her chuckle even more, causing a fine fountain of crumbs to shower from her lips. (She wasn't far wrong either, for in reality his expression was a comically quirking mixture of mildly insulted bemusement.) ~~~~~~ The sheriff noted Captain's expression, mumbled something about today's veritable glut of eyebrow action, and glanced between the two gendered people. The sheriff may've been clumsy, and not particularly well versed in gender etiquette, but fne was no fool. Detecting some of the chemistry which sparked almost tangibly between the two, fne wryly enquired "I see. And are you... Together?" "Oh" said Yus, a little more calmly now. "No. He is, um--" she stalled, looking for the right words and settled on "... He's my captain." The sheriff's eyes flicked to and noted a telltale twirl of slim fingers in fnir tattered clothes, and simply said "hence the name I suppose" with a wry smile. Fne wondered what the man's real name was. There was a stiff-bodied shifting which drew the sheriff's attention back. Not only was the smaller one fiddling, but, despite the harrowed visage, there was a little something shining in the captain's eye. "Personally" the sheriff continued casually, fighting a grin, "I rather suspected that you were deeply in love, but there you go." Fne cheerfully added "I have been known to make mistakes, on occasion." Both Cap and Winsturdle choked on their biscuits, for two entirely different reasons. The sheriff threw Winsturdle a scolding look, and fne guiltily and delicately removed some crumbs from the side of fnir mouth. Yus's cheeks burned with a hue almost matching that of fnir hair, which the sheriff thought to be most charming. Hold on. The Sheriff suddenly caught and chastised fneself for mentally referring to the newcomers as 'fne' when they had their own magically old-fashioned pronouns. Feeling brave after the successful use of the word 'man', fne decided to try them out: Fne hiked a thumb Cap-wards and merrily quipped "Well! It certainly sounds like She has a squog in Her throat!" There was a pause as Yus took a moment to work it out, then she burst into fits of laughter. The sheriff was pleased but baffled. "Thank you but I didn't think it was that funny." Yus collapsed into giggles again. Frowning the sheriff looked over at Cap who had recovered from his choking fit and was also looking amused. With a small chuckle of fnir own, the sheriff asked "What!?" The Man merely gave a jaunty wink of Her one eye. (It may've been a blink, considered the sheriff, but it seemed remarkably wink-like.) Oh dear. Winsturdle was looking embarrassed again and said "Sheriff, ah think'n you's got it the wrong way round there..." The sheriff's brow creased. "Oh." Then realisation hit... "OH! Oh gosh, I am sorry! I hope I didn't cause any offence!" Fne glanced at the amused looking Cap and the giggling Yus and supposed that while it might have upset others of their type, luckily it hadn't worried them. In fact the man looked full of cheeky comments, yet none were issued. It was a shame, the sheriff would've been interested to hear that one's voice. Yus regained her composure and carefully and kindly explained the pronouns for gendered and sexed people. The sheriff smiled and, part daydreaming, reflected how funny it was that simple terms (such outdated ones too) could cause such amusement. It was highly interesting for a number of reasons, and quite delightful. Sort of lovely. Then another thought struck and fnir face dropped as fne considered that - sentient and humanoid nature being what it was - such needlessly strong feelings around such mild terms not only lead to hilarity, but could likely (perhaps inevitably) also lead to extremely foolish, unkind, and even dangerously abusive encounters from the ignorant too. Fne hoped fne didn't seem dangerously ignorant, only amusingly so. Fne would never want to hurt such fine people as these. Fne looked at the genderds, thinking that when it come down to it they didn't seem that different (either from one another or the townsfolk), and wondering if they'd ever been abused due to the excessively iconic nature of their labels, and very much hoping not. "Thank you kindly Yus." The Sheriff smiled at... her, hoping that despite her lack of eyesight... She... knew she was being smiled at. Then, for some reason the sheriff felt compelled to add "I expect it would be quite an experience, being with a gendered person. I expect that would be quite fascinating." The others gawped. "I would rather like to try that." Fne added honestly. The sheriff was nothing if not frank. Windsturdle's nose crinkled in disgust. Mid nibble of her third biscuit, Yus paused. Then, with a probing tone to her voice as if exploring the idea as she vocalised it, Yus said "Well, uhm, maybe Cap could... show you... in return for your help." The sheriff felt a tingling excitement pass through fnir body like a joyful cellular scanner. ~~ Cap nearly choked on his cookie again. Uhm... what!? Had Yus really just suggested that? Yus? Polite, innocent, sweet Yus? He wanted to ask if she was serious, but - Adam's apple tighter than a Belitthian Denk dealer's wallet - couldn't. He just gawped at her. "You don't mind do you Cap?" She was feeling her way along the wall and moving a little closer. He stood there dumbly, watching as she drew close. With an impish expression she nudged him. "One squeeze for yes you do mind, and two squeezes for no you don't mind." She took his hand and awaited the reply. Cap was gobsmacked, what was she, his pimp? As much as he liked the idea, he would have thought Yus wouldn't. A little shellshocked he gave a squeeze, and Yus said "you.. do? But Cap we need t--". He gave a second squeeze. "Good work." Yus patted him. He felt filthy. And he loved it. To be continued... |
Imagining hilarious, beautiful
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