Thank You Mario But Our Space Pirates Are In Another Fic
"Topaz?"
The captain didn't look up. Their spacecraft was a small one, and there was no navigation room to speak of; the controls were strictly manual. There were no screens, just a wide, four-plated window that currently provided a lovely view: the purple-pink nebulae of the Ovan galaxy. Gloved hands gently held the U-shaped handlebars, applying just enough pressure at just the right moment to steer around the various debris.
"Topaz?" The beaded curtain rattled as Paudha stepped through. She walked in that curious way of hers, her toes touching the floor before her heels did. Two of her four arms were crossed in front of her chest; one hand rubbed her cheek. Another hung languidly by her side. Her voice, usually monotonous and detached, had a sing-song quality to it, and she had discarded all her bracelets save for the one on her first right arm, the peony charm reflecting the LED lights of the control panel. "Topaz, we need to talk."
"I'm busy," Topaz replied. Paudha promptly pulled her left arm away and slid onto her captain's lap, facing her with a half-formed smile.
"You are always busy. It is no excuse."
Topaz didn't flinch. "I can't see where we're going like this. If we hit an asteroid, you're fired." Paudha opened her mouth, but Topaz immediately went on: "I'll give you a job and then fire you from it. Get off me."
"But I wanted to talk about jobs," replied Paudha, one hand smoothing over her dark, glossy braid. "Do you not agree that we need a quest of sorts? A goal? A motivation? I was born into a prophecy. I know about these things."
"I think we both know the four-one-one on that prophecy of yours, Lakshmi. How's being the goddess of wealth working out for you?"
"You are angry with me," Paudha smiled. "I talked to Ruth. She agrees with me. Maybe we could attempt to take over a world, or save it. Or look for a precious hidden artifact with maps." Her eyes grew noticeably more dull. "They are just some ideas."
"They're bad ideas. Just like blocking my vision. I'm serious, Paudha. Get off."
Paudha obliged gracefully, but didn't leave the cockpit just yet, clasping all four hands together. "I read something that might interest you. I left it on your bed. Think it over, captain Topaz. What use is there in life if not to strive towards a certain goal?"
The beaded curtain rustled once more. When Topaz finally handed over navigational duties to Ruthie, she went to her bunk only to find a worn copy of Treasure Island. She couldn't help but smile.
The captain didn't look up. Their spacecraft was a small one, and there was no navigation room to speak of; the controls were strictly manual. There were no screens, just a wide, four-plated window that currently provided a lovely view: the purple-pink nebulae of the Ovan galaxy. Gloved hands gently held the U-shaped handlebars, applying just enough pressure at just the right moment to steer around the various debris.
"Topaz?" The beaded curtain rattled as Paudha stepped through. She walked in that curious way of hers, her toes touching the floor before her heels did. Two of her four arms were crossed in front of her chest; one hand rubbed her cheek. Another hung languidly by her side. Her voice, usually monotonous and detached, had a sing-song quality to it, and she had discarded all her bracelets save for the one on her first right arm, the peony charm reflecting the LED lights of the control panel. "Topaz, we need to talk."
"I'm busy," Topaz replied. Paudha promptly pulled her left arm away and slid onto her captain's lap, facing her with a half-formed smile.
"You are always busy. It is no excuse."
Topaz didn't flinch. "I can't see where we're going like this. If we hit an asteroid, you're fired." Paudha opened her mouth, but Topaz immediately went on: "I'll give you a job and then fire you from it. Get off me."
"But I wanted to talk about jobs," replied Paudha, one hand smoothing over her dark, glossy braid. "Do you not agree that we need a quest of sorts? A goal? A motivation? I was born into a prophecy. I know about these things."
"I think we both know the four-one-one on that prophecy of yours, Lakshmi. How's being the goddess of wealth working out for you?"
"You are angry with me," Paudha smiled. "I talked to Ruth. She agrees with me. Maybe we could attempt to take over a world, or save it. Or look for a precious hidden artifact with maps." Her eyes grew noticeably more dull. "They are just some ideas."
"They're bad ideas. Just like blocking my vision. I'm serious, Paudha. Get off."
Paudha obliged gracefully, but didn't leave the cockpit just yet, clasping all four hands together. "I read something that might interest you. I left it on your bed. Think it over, captain Topaz. What use is there in life if not to strive towards a certain goal?"
The beaded curtain rustled once more. When Topaz finally handed over navigational duties to Ruthie, she went to her bunk only to find a worn copy of Treasure Island. She couldn't help but smile.