It's xeno time

Tʜᴇ Xᴇɴᴏᴘʜɪʟɪᴀ Mᴇᴍᴇ

No judgement, only tentacles.
Come one, come all, and bring your non-humans, your aliens and furries
and monsters and angels; if you have none, bring those who would love to
approach those who are inhuman in shape and mind; if you have neither, be free
to alter your characters so they may fit one side, or both. Love knows no boundaries,
after all, nor does attraction; why should species deter one from pleasure and joy?

Directions:

1. Post your character, with preferences and suggestions for those who wish to tag you. Include any information that you think will be relevant and help you find a partner!
2. Tag out to others! A thread takes two, and so does a horizontal tango. You can pick out one of the scenarios suggested below, or do your own thing, whatever. The prompts are mostly there to kick off ideas, not to bind creativity!
3. Be excellent to each other, dudes.

AU Prompts:

i. Enemy Mine

You may not have gotten off to a good start, but trapped, alone together, in a wild place-- well, there's nothing that brings two people closer than relying on only each other for help and survival, and something has bloomed where the land was thought to be barren. So what if you are from different worlds? This is a new world, and there's no one to say that what you do for pleasure or love is wrong.

ii. Pulp Science Fantasy

After being kidnapped by the horrible Xalgonions of Xon'marx XIII, you prayed for someone to save you-- and someone did, clothing ripped and sweat shining on their skin as they cut down your cruel captors. Swoon! How could one not fall in love with someone so very, very swashbuckling, and who cares if their skin happens to be blue or bioluminescent, or if their weapon was clutched in a tentacle instead of a hand?
or...
Perhaps no rescue came, and you are at the mercy of your cruel and perverse captors. Oh no! What horrible, lewd, awful, terrible things will they do to you? What pornographic use will they put you to? ~~Is the rumor that they have amazing dongs true?~~ There's only one way to find out!

iii. High Nonsense Fantasy

Does anyone care about why the incredibly powerful wizards filling the world haven't just magic'd away all disease with their boundless and eternal power? No, of course not; the really important thing is that elves, dragons, centaurs, and fairies are all real, and they are all willing to bone every other intelligent critter around (though some dragons might have a particular taste for royalty).

iv. Urban Fantasy & Modern Magic

Dating in a modern day and age can be hard; it gets harder if you have to plan around your monthly transformation into a canine, or turn into a mermaid every time your date takes you to the beach, or any other issue that arises from your inhumanity in a city built around human needs. Still, perhaps there's something you can offer because of your magic-tainted condition, instead of in spite of it...
or...
Knowing magic is real, and demons are real, led you to those shelves at the back of the library, where everything has disclaimers that you shouldn't try this at home. But if they didn't want you to try it, then they wouldn't have given directions, right? And so you wound up with a demon, or spirit, or ghost, or some other phantasmal or fantastic being following you everywhere you go-- including the bedroom. (The downside: you can't get the salt from the summoning circle out of your carpet, no matter how much you vacuum. #summonerproblems )

v. Fun Fur Everyone

Animal-people are common-- perhaps everyone is an animal-person, with a cat's ears or logic-defying winghands, with whiskers and fur or scales and frills, and the edges of 'attractive' have shifted to include them all. Oh, sure, there might be humans as well (who are attractive in their own right), but think of all the things that animals can do that humans can't, and all the attributes they might not share, and how exciting it could be to learn something new every day you're with your partner of a different breed...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fortune for once was smiling on Nickov. He had a pouch full of coin and for once was not living on the barest rations. Still, he couldn't go spending it all on frivolities. It had to last him until he got to port where he could take a job and make enough to get off this planet.

Which also meant sleeping on the road. It was dangerous to do so but most sentient species left him alone thanks to the hostile reputation Valcovlians had, so he risked it to save his coin from being plundered by some greedy innkeeper.

The sun had just begun to rise-he preferred traveling by night-when he spotted a small camp not far off the road. At first he ignored it but as he drew closer he realized they had a wagon and cargo. And not the fruits and veggies sort. He'd never seen his kind before, but he knew all too well what a collar meant. All three slavers were humans. Unusual on this planet but they'd likely been stranded thanks to the new anti-slave transportation laws put into place and were waiting for a ship to come pick them up.

He knew he ought to keep his nose out of it but...he'd been there, on the market, and he wished no other to suffer such a fate if he could prevent it.

Sneaking up would be impossible, there wasn't so much as a shrub on this prairie for some yards away. But as he drew closer with the intention of making it seem like he needed directions, he realized they were all drunk asleep. Dismounting from Odyn, Nickov silently made his way to the green-haired one, tapping his nose to wake him up, though pressing a clawed finger to his lips to indicate to keep silent as he examined his bindings. He had a gag across his mouth and his wrists and ankles were bound together and attached to the wagon. Tough leather, not chains, well some luck was on their side. He pulled a knife from his sleeve and began to saw through the bindings.

Miin was curled up in the back, having made themselves as small as possible. The attempt to cross the star system had really not gone as well as they had hoped, and being sent off to be mined out of their kiipa stones was not a good future. They were honestly still hoping that the humans would change their minds, but the collar was still there and they refused to speak to the young alien at all.

As the light returned with the sun, Miin's ears twitched as someone touched their nose. Blinking, they almost jumped in surprise at the blue face close to them. It wasn't another kiirik, their brain helpfully provided as they managed to calm down and stay still and quiet. Too tall and no markings.

Still... it seemed like the blue one wanted to help them, and that has their eyes widen in surprise and joy. As soon as that knife snaps through the bindings, Miin extends their own claws to rip away the gag and rub their jaw. Quickly looking around for their pack, they grab it and start kicking away the ties at their feet.

"Thank you," they whisper softly, ears perking a bit and the tip if their tail wagging just a bit. "Who are you?"

"Talk later" he whispered as the other thanked him. He moved to the peg in the ground where the wagon's horse was tethered to. He pulled it out with a muffled grunt but then decided to just remove the beast's gear for good measure.

Odyn came over and sniffed Miin, massive compared to the horse but relatively harmless.

"Get up on him" Nickov whispered to the kiirik as he set the bridle and gear down on the ground. Odyn turned so that he was lengthwise with the wagon to make it easier for Miin to climb on him

Nickov was going to sabotage this group as much as possible giving them no chance to come after them, so next he climbed under the wagon and used his knife to loosen a few screws in the axle before crawling out and giving the horse's rump a smack to get him going off in some nameless direction.

Edited 2016-06-14 16:56 (UTC)

The other creature is... frightening, and now the blue male wanted them to get upon it? Miin hesitates for a moment before they carefully put a hand on Odyn's flank, as if making sure it was a real thing and not a dream. Looking over at Nickov, Miin bites their lip and then pulls themselves up on the mount.

Legs a little shaky, they do the best they can to not move on the beast and scare it, their pink eyes following their savior's movements as he sabotaged the wagon and sent the horse off.

The captors were still out drunk, which was a blessing. Miin wasn't sure they could handle any kind of fight.

Odyn turned his head to look at Miin as though making sure he was on before walking over to Nickov who was glancing around and making sure he'd given them the best possible head start. He rifled through the wagon's supplies for good measure and took a bag of dates before hopping up behind Miin and gripping Odyn's mane.

The great beast took off without any verbal command and they were off back down the road. For his size, he was very quick, long strides covering great distance and once they were a good deal away from the slavers, Nickov finally slowed Odyn down to a walk and slipped off him to walk beside him, though had the other stay up.

"My name is Nickov and this is Odyn" he introduced himself as well as the great beast who threw his head a bit as though to say 'Yup, that's me'. "Hungry or thirsty?" Nickov asked. They were still a day out from next town and fresh supplies but he had enough to last them.

Miin grasps whatever they can to hold on, a little bit frightened that they'd fall off from the big creature and crack their skull open. Riding wasn't really a skill they had to learn as a musician, after all. Finally, they just decide that holding on to one of Nickov's arms was the safest way to go.

Leaving the wagon and the slavers behind, the kiirik gives a relieved sigh against said arm. Closing their eyes for a moment, they hold their pack close and smile a little bit to themselves. Free!

When they have enough space between them from the slavers and Nickov gets off the mount, Miin is back to carefully balancing again, nervously looking down at the blue alien. "Nice to meet you," they say politely, ears flicking a bit to listen behind them before they relax again. "I'm Miin. I... I'm really grateful that you go me out of there."

Saved, introduced and now offered food? It really felt like their luck had changed!

"Um, a little water would be good? If that's okay?"

Without making Odyn stop, Nickov dug around in his satchel before pulling out a canteen and handing it to Miin.

"We will be in the next town by sundown" he said, taking a small swig from the canteen himself once Miin had given it back. traveling by day was rough for him and Odyn but the farther they got from the slavers, the better. "After that we are heading for the port. Your best bet is to make a little money and get a ticket to hop aboard a merchant as soon as possible" he advised.

Merchant vessels were massive ships that carried goods and supplies from planet to planet. Any room left over was sold for cheap to as many travelers as they could pack in. It was the easiest and least expensive way to get from planet to planet if you have no particular destination in mind and if you were qualified, you could even get on for free if you worked as a cook, janitor, or on security. Nickov would apply for a security job, but as Odyn wasn't exempt from a ticket, he still needed to make more money between now the then. He was also not counted as a passenger but as cargo so his ticket was far more pricey than his own would be.

Deciding to get this next question out of the way for both their curiosity's sakes, he said, "I am Valcovlian, you are...?"

Miin takes the canteen and has a few mouthfuls of water before they give it back. "Thank you..." they say softly, wiping their mouth with the back of their hand before they look over at the horizon. "Have you been to this town before?"

Miin was unsure if there would be more slavers on this planet, after all, and they had to admit to being rather worried. Getting money and leaving the planet seemed daunting, too... but they could probably do that. They were a decent musician, and a big port might want some entertainment. "I should go back to my home planet."

The next question is met by the kiirik's ears perking up again, and Miin smiles. "Valcovlian? I don't think I've meet one of your species before. I'm Kiirik," they say, tapping black claws against their collarbone. "From Pau."

"Unlikely, my kin tend to avoid messing in the affairs of others." he said, then cocked his head "Kiirik?" Oh that explained it. He'd heard of his kin but had never seen one. Slavers were probably harvesting the stones his kin produced. Which meant he was more valuable alive than dead and he may have just bought them both a lot of trouble. No, it was worth it, he'd helped Miin from a fate worse than death. Harvested like some plant until he no longer produced was likely where he'd been headed.

Hard to say for sure how much time they'd bought themselves. A week at most before the slavers caught up to them in the port, more if they believed Miin had rode away on the wagon horse.

For now though, the focus was on the town ahead. Some proper food, and a bed instead of the ground to sleep on.

"Yes, briefly. Its busy for its size, which is good, means we will not stand out so much." he said in reply about the town they had to stop in.

They go quiet for a moment, giving the mount a little pat. They're worrying about the same thing, wondering how angry the slavers must be right now and if they could track them. Maybe they were even sending messages to allies.

Little fangs biting their lower lip, Miin looks down at the blue man. "Are you a fighter?" They ask, a little unsure. Nickov didn't need to stay around and protect them, after all... but it would feel better. At least until they reached the spaceport.

The town sounded decent, though, and Miin digs through their pack a bit to get out their goggles, sliding them over their forehead. The ear piece is next, and they're quite relived that everything else was still accounted for. Even their flute.

"The slavers took my credits, but I think I can make some coin for food... I owe you at least a dinner."

Odyn turned an eye on his passenger when he was pat but didn't seem to mind otherwise.

Nickov nodded, "I can, though I prefer not to. I draw enough attention for what I am without needing to cause trouble" he answered.

He hoped the slavers were stupid. The fact they'd camped out in the open with their valuable cargo stated they didn't have all their marbles as the saying goes.

He looked up at the other when he...she?...They took out some gadgets from their own bag and put them on. "What is all that?" he asked curiously.

"I understand..." they say softly, flicking an ear again to listen behind them. No yelling people or horses or vehicles. "I don't really... fight. Which is why they got me." It was embarrassing, really. They were a very trusting person, and they had been easily deceived and lured into the trap.

Touching the goggles, Miin smiles a little. "Kiirik can't see in darkness, we don't have that on our planet. Lack of light means we collapse, so I have these infra-red goggles for safely... and the earpiece is good for translations." One of the best inventions they had gotten their hands on, really. Kiirik rarely left their planet, and the darkness issue was a big part of that.

Nothing like passing out every night in the less resting way, after all.

He wondered how they had been persuaded by those humans to go with them. Then decided it best he not know. Kiirik were a trusting people he said, what reason would they have not to trust whatever it was they'd promised?

That was rather interesting, good thing he'd found him when he did so that travel would be fairly easy for the other. But his kin were the opposite, light on Valcovla never got much brighter than it was right now. But even so, they didn't pass out or the like. Though Odyn, not being used to it like Nickov was, would likely start to tire and rely on the blue alien to guide him. Which was also why Nickov wasn't riding, he didn't want his friend stepping on anything he shouldn't in the brightening day.

The morning pressed on and Odyn had his eyes closed as they walked, Nickov keeping his hand on his neck. He remembered he'd stolen a bag of dates so he opened them and had one to check to see if they were good before offering the bag to Miin.

"Does it hurt when you lose a stone?" he asked. The idea of bits of him coming off every so often was rather gross to think about, but for the Kiirik it was likely as natural as any other bodily function.

A promise of a gig had been the young musician's downfall, and they knew better now than to follow humans into back alleys. Lying wasn't really a kiirik thing, so it had been... painful, really. They were learning a bit too quickly about the less decent sides of the world.

Taking a date with a soft 'thank you', Miin happily munches on that before they point out the town in the distance. Looks like they would be reaching it pretty soon, and with no trouble following them.

The question is a bit unexpected and Miin looks down at the Valcovlian with a raised brow. "Well... some can sting. Especially around sensitive areas like the eyes." They reach up and run a finger over the pebbled growths under the lower lid. "...but as long as you don't force it, it doesn't. It can itch a lot, though."

They move their tail a bit down and points to the tip cluster. "I have one about to drop there," Miin explains, and the mid sprout is a little swollen with a slight split at the tip. "Maybe in a day or two. The slavers said they wanted to cut them out, though." There's a shudder at that. "Stupid, really. They won't be gems until they're ready."

"Well, if slavers were smart I would not have been able to rescue you from them" he pointed out.

He observed the swollen nodule and made a face at the thought of cutting it out, flicking his own tail with a shudder. He then thought of something. "If it does fall out when you are still on this world, you had best hold onto it."

He wasn't sure what Kirriks did with their shed gems but while it would likely fetch a good price-more than enough to buy a ticket-it might draw attention and lead the slavers right back to Miin.

The town was within sight now but at their current pace, it would be another couple hours before they got in. Nickov stroked Odyn's flank encouragingly. "Almost there old friend, then you can rest" he murmured.

That makes them laugh a little bit, and they smile down at Nickov. "True, true." It's not really funny, but maybe it would be one day in the future. Captured by idiot drunks.

Miin reaches to stroke to tip of their tail a little bit, nodding. "I have space on my clothes for it. We rarely get rid of our kiipa stones." There's a little bit of a shrug. "...but if you want it as a thanks, it's yours."

They owed the Valcovlian a great debt, after all, and the stone was precious both in value and in custom.

The Kiirik looks over to the city in the distance again, and hears Nickov speak to the mount. It makes them a little embarrassed that they're riding along like this without question, but they're not sure they could walk that long after spending days in the cart.

Another gentle pat and a 'thank you' is offered as praise for Odyn instead.

He wasn't sure how to answer that offer. After a moment, he shook his head. "No, it is best you keep it" he said. A big ear flicked back when Miin patted him and he gave a snort. Nickov smiled at Miin. "He likes you."

It seemed like days before they reached the town, though as soon as they did, their surroundings went from quiet wind to a noisy hullabaloo. Nickov stayed on the ground, guiding Odyn through the crowd and not making eye contact with people.

He steered them to an inn he knew, having Miin dismount as they went inside the stable. The stable-hand looked at the three of them, but didn't question things, likely having seen a number of odd passersby in his time being so close to a port.

After paying the boarding fee, Nickov led Odyn down to the biggest stall and helped him settle in with fresh water. "Sorry Odyn, hay is all you can have for the moment, I'll bring you some dinner later" Nickov promised as the beast tucked his legs under him and settled down on the floor after the satchel was removed. The Valcovlian looked to Miin, "Come, let's get some food and drink and some rest." he said, holding out his hand.

"He does?" That makes them beam, their smile bright and infectious as they gently pat the mount again. They had always been very fond of animals, so making such a friend eased a bit of the anxiety in their chest.

...at least until they reach the town.

Big crowds were still a bit awkward for the kiirik, and they stay very close to Nickov after dismounting. Saying goodbye to Odyn, Miin hesitates for a moment before they take the valcovlian's hand and follows along to the inn. "What does he eat besides hay?" They ask with a curious look, ears flicking back as they cross the road.

Their thoughts are a bit interrupted as they step inside, however. The inn is fairly big and full of people, but there are rooms available and the food smells amazing even from the entrance. It makes them perk up a bit, tail-tip flipping back and forth with mild excitement. How long had it been since they had anything to eat other than dry space rations?

"Brobarkes eat just about anything. From insects to grass, to chasing down prey as big as themselves." he replied, expertly winding his way through the crowds with Miin in tow. "We have been riding for the better part of a week so I'll see what this place has and bring a plate out to him."

He managed to snag a table with his back to the wall. Touching the button in the middle of the table, a digital screen popped up in front of both of them and he began to flip through his, eventually settling on something he liked and something he knew Odyn would as well. Pushing the button again once Miin had highlighted his choices, the menus vanished and their orders went straight to the cooks.

Nickov yawned widely, showing off his pointed teeth, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh how I loom forward to a shower and a real bed tonight." He looked to Miin. "How long since you were captured?" he asked.

Miin picks something cheap but filling from the menu, stomach twisting a bit in hunger. As long as it was nice and hot, they didn't really care... and the table had plenty of hot sauce available. Instead they take a moment to just enjoy sitting down and relaxing, a little sore after riding.

The mention of a shower makes the kiirik purr low in their chest, beaming with a sweet smile again. To get all the muck off them, and rebraid their hair? That would be paradise right now. (They're pretty sure their hair is an utter mess of mud and horror.)

As for a bed? That would be a life-saver. Sleeping in the wagon had not been easy at all.

"About a week, I think," Miin says with a little shrug. "Measuring time is a little odd here, but there was darkness seven times." That meant a week, right? That, or they had passed through some very dark areas.

That wasn't too bad, though he knew from personal experience a week in deplorable conditions felt like a year.

As they waited on their food, he looked up at the stage as someone got on and tried to entertain for a bit of coin. They weren't particularly good but Nickov still tossed a coin up when the performance was over.

Their food finally arrived and Nickov dug in, trying a bit of everything first before enjoying it all. He only ordered them water to drink, alcohol disagreed with him and besides, it was far more expensive.

He spoke little, too wrapped up in his first hot meal since the last town, and too worn to make light conversation anyway.

They still had quite a bit of road between here and port so they'd likely get to know one another during that time.

They had spent most of the time sleeping or dozing, so it had all blurred together for a while. Yelling and crying only got them harsh words and threats, so sleeping everything away had seemed... well, the best way to cope.

Miin mostly ignores the performance on the stage, ear flicking a little towards the music - but otherwise they just looked at the table, trying to force their stomach to not rumble. When the food arrives, they grin brightly and grabs the utensils, digging in.

It was fairly plain, but after a long time of just rations it was amazing to the kiirik, and they're purring a little bit again as they eat. The silence didn't seem to bother them at all, giving them the opportunity to just enjoy the food to the fullest.

"...thank you." Miin finally says, reaching for the water. "You didn't have to do any of this."

The food was far more varied at the port so it was likely Miin would find something more to his taste there. Most people came to this place for a hot meal and a bed, not for any unique dining experience.

"I know, but no one should be sold into slavery, least of all to a fate like yours." he said with a smile. As they ate he asked, "Have anyone waiting for you back on Pau? Friends? Family?...Mate?"

They're smiling again, leaning a bit to the table and watching Nickov between bites of food. It was a bit fascinating how similar their species looked compared to other aliens, like humans. It might be why they felt so much more at ease now than they had during all their previous traveling... kidnapping aside.

Most other aliens were just so... dull in color.

"Me? No... that's part of why I left." They say with another little shrug. "I wanted to learn more about the galaxy. Few kiirik even leave Pau, so I wanted to do something unusual." There's a small laugh from them, and they shake their head. "...now I know why the only ones who leave are soldiers and not musicians."

Drinking a bit of water, they lean back to the chair for a moment. "What about you?"

"I am headed back to a friend's place." he replied. "Actually the same one who saved me from a fate like yours. After that, probably back to Valcovla to see my mother."

It'd been some time since he left his home world...

He finished his plate and drained his glass. "Come, let's go give Odyn some dinner" he smiled, picking up the still full plate set aside. He didn't want to leave Miin alone here, despite how unlikely it was anything would happen.

Tʜᴇ Xᴇɴᴏᴘʜɪʟɪᴀ Mᴇᴍᴇ

Directions:

AU Prompts:

i. Enemy Mine

ii. Pulp Science Fantasy

iii. High Nonsense Fantasy

iv. Urban Fantasy & Modern Magic

v. Fun Fur Everyone

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wtf notifs?! :<

dw has been weird today

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