Carpathia IV: Episode 59 - Music and Pink Undies
Draconis Colony, NCCS Shadowdancer
Amenaru made one more pass around his cabin, making sure everything was just so. A guest was an infrequent occurrence, given the size of his accommodations, and usually only reserved for bed-related activities. In those cases, he didn't care what his room looked like. This time, however, Sylvar was coming to partake in some education about musical culture of both humans and nekomi.
When Amenaru was finally satisfied that everything was ready, he sat on the edge of his bed and awaited the door chime, which came in short order.
Amenaru: Come in!
The door slid open and in walked Sylvar, who immediately looked around in awe of Amenaru's cabin.
Sylvar: Wow, this is the first time I've seen an officer's quarters on this ship. It's so much bigger than on the Sentinel.
Amenaru: I'm just a junior officer, so mine's one of the smaller officer's quarters. You should see Captain Valro's cabin. It's like a full apartment.
While Amenaru spoke, he noticed that Sylvar was no longer looking around his cabin but at him and slightly downward. It was at that moment that Amenaru realized that as he devoted all his thoughts to getting his cabin ready, he neglected to put on pants, leaving his pink, bikini underwear exposed under his t-shirt.
Amenaru: Ah. Heh heh. I forgot my pants.
Before they could make any more small talk, Mrs. Tiggywinkle leaped onto the bed and arched her back, directing her discontent directly at Sylvar.
Ms. Tiggywinkle: Hiss!
Sylvar jumped back, holding up his hands to prepare for an attack.
Sylvar: What's that?
Demonstrating that the possibility of an attack was very real, Amenaru hurriedly scooped Mrs. Tiggywinkle into his arms. There, she calmed somewhat, but kept her eyes locked on Sylvar with a fierce glare.
Amenaru: Sorry, it's been so long since I've had a new person here, I forgot that I had to introduce you. This is Mrs. Tiggywinkle, my pet cat. She's always hostile to new people until I calm her down.
Still holding Mrs. Tiggywinkle tight to his chest, Amenaru redirected his attention to her, petting her head gently with his free hand.
Amenaru: Tiggy, this is Sylvar. He's one of the refugees from the vashta. He's here to learn about music.
Amenaru's cuddling and petting, probably also his soothing voice, had an immediate effect on Mrs. Tiggywinkle, who was now markedly calmer. She no longer glared at Sylvar and instead tilted her head, looking at him with interest.
Amenaru: Okay, now hold out your hand slowly, close to her nose, so she can have a sniff.
Keeping a wary eye on Mrs. Tiggywinkle, Sylvar held out his hand, but did not bring it close to her nose.
Sylvar: Like this?
Amenaru nodded.
Amenaru: That's right. Now just hold it closer. Don't worry. She won't bite you.
Sylvar slowly brought his hand closer to a now very expectant Mrs. Tiggywinkle, who was stretching her neck to meet his hand. Once he was finally close enough, she had several good sniffs before finally licking Sylvar's fingers.
Sylvar: Oh, she's licking me. Is that good or bad?
Amenaru: That's good! She's okay with you now.
Amenaru kneeled and let Mrs. Tiggywinkle loose on the floor and she raced into the sitting room.
Sylvar: That was unexpected. Why do you have an animal living with you?
Amenaru: It's a pet. They provide companionship and other sorts of fun. I've had Mrs. Tiggywinkle since I was three years old. A bit unusual for a cat in that she's kind of protective of me, which is why I had to let her know that you were a friend. She nearly died of an infection when I was ten and, since then, she doesn't like to be away from me.
Sylvar thought for a moment, rubbing his chin.
Sylvar: A pet, huh? Come to think of it, some high-ranking women are allowed to have pets. It's not something you see very often.
Amenaru: That's too bad. They are a lot of fun and they're very comforting after a bad day.
Sylvar: It seems nice, but it's a bit complicated, isn't it?
Even as Sylvar was speaking, he was already looking around the room spotting the various musical instruments scattered around, in particular a large drum set that took up more than half the room.
Sylvar: Nalma was right. You really are into music. Not much room to move around, is there?
Amenaru nodded as he rose from the bed and sidled around the wall to the stool behind the drums.
Amenaru: I manage. This is an electronic drum set. It sounds pretty bad unless you have headphones on.
Picking up his drumsticks, Amenaru banged on the thin, black pads surrounding him, each hit landing with a disappointing "thunk." After only a mercifully few seconds of that, Amenaru handed Sylvar some headphones and plugged them in.
Amenaru: Put those on over your ears.
Sylvar did as he was instructed and Amenaru played again, this time longer, and though an observer would have merely heard the same thing, Sylvar heard an aggressive, full-bodied drum solo, starting with two hearty whacks on the cymbals. Utterly transfixed, Sylvar not only enjoyed the music, but watching Amenaru expertly flail about on the drum set. When he finished, Amenaru watched with glee while a wide-eyed Sylvar removed his headphones and gawked.
Amenaru: That was Rammstein.
Sylvar: That was great!
Amenaru stood and sidled around the drum set again, now standing in front of it.
Amenaru: The drums are my favorite. Also, space isn't really an issue. This is a special set designed for small spaces.
Amenaru pushed a button on one of the stands and the drum set immediately folded itself up flush against the wall. Suddenly, Amenaru's cabin felt significantly more spacious.
Sylvar: Oh, well, that makes a big difference.
While Sylvar continued marvelling at the fold-up drum set, Amenaru was already picking out another instrument from his collection, this time the fiddle he played while on the Sentinel.
Amenaru: You recognize this, right?
Sylvar's face split into a wide grin.
Sylvar: Yeah, I remember that! You were playing and dancing at the same time and I couldn't stop watching!
Amenaru put the fiddle away and picked up a guitar-like object with a diamond-shaped body with a skin stretched over it, a narrow fret, and five strings.
Amenaru: Let's go through the rest and then you can tell me what you're most interested in. This is a nekomi instrument called a kondo. Humans have a similar instrument called a shamisen, It has a bit of a different shape and only three strings.
Amenaru strummed a bit on the kondo before setting it aside and reaching for a flute.
Amenaru: This is a flute, a human instrument. Nekomi can't play this because of the shape of their lips. Even most nekohumans can't play this. Our lips look human on the outside, but they're more different in shape than they seem. I got the more human-like body of my brothers and sisters, though. I can even sing a little, but it's usually better if I have some technological enhance...
Sylvar was, quite obviously, not listening, his eyes directed intently at Amenaru's pantsless lower half.
Amenaru: Are you really here to learn about instruments?
Amenaru's sudden change of tone seemed to snap Sylvar out of his trance, but not enough for him to regain coherence right away.
Sylvar: Yes! I mean, no! I mean... um...
Amenaru waited patiently for Sylvar to calm himself.
Sylvar: Yes, I came here to learn about your music. I still want to, but you don't have pants on and I got to thinking that the word is that you're the second horniest person on the ship and... well, you know.
Ears perked on his head, Amenaru felt almost offended.
Amenaru: Second horniest? Who...
This time, it was Amenaru's turn to calm himself.
Amenaru: Right, Nalma. Nobody beats Nalma.
Taking a seat on the edge of his bed, Amenaru considered what he'd like to do next. The last several months was the longest he'd gone in years without a random sexual encounter, up until meeting Baal the other day, at least. His mind was, and still is, preoccupied with a single person. With that possibility fading fast, he thought, perhaps, that it might be time to go back to his old ways.
Amenaru: I can still show you my instruments and music if you want, but if there's something you want to do first, then I'm game.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
