Also, the inspiration for this piece came from James Clavell's Shogun. If you've read it, you'll recognize the scene.
Nalia sat at one of the tables in the mess, nursing a cup of nearcaf quietly, cup held in both hands. A datapad rested next to her elbow, screen blanked and a half full plate of synthesized eggs slowly congealed in front of her. The Gorion’s engineer stared out the viewport and off into the space, lost in her own thoughts.
So absorbed in her reverie she didn’t hear the mess doors slide open, revealing the ship’s redheaded operations officer. Imoen looked around the nearly empty mess and waved to Nalia before heading off to the draw a cup of nearcaf from the ever percolating dispensor. Dropping in generous amounts of sugar, she lifted the cup and took that first satisfying drink. Now with some sugar and caffeine in the system, she could actually turn her attention to the room’s other occupant.
Noticing that Nalia didn’t even look like she’d seen her yet, Imoen strolled over and plunked herself down in the seat opposite. The engineer’s face was drawn, almost pensive. Never one to miss a chance to cheer someone up, or at least find out what was bugging them, she reached over and poked Nalia, “Hey Nals?”
Nalia started, eyes flying wide, nearly dropping her mug. Carefully putting the mug down, she turned her attention on her smirking friend. “Imoen! I.. I didn’t see you come in.”
Imoen grinned. “Too busy stargazing I guess.”
“Yeah,” Nalia shrugged. “I guess I was.”
Nalia lapsed into silence again, this time lowering her mug and picking up her datapad. Silence reigned in the small mess as Imoen, expecting some further elaboration from her friend, sipped at her nearcaf. After a minute of agonizing silence for Imoen, she put down her cup and stared at Nalia, willing her to speak. Once even this tactic failed, she finally spoke up. “Hey Nals, why so glum?”
Nalia didn’t look up from her datapad. “I’m not glum Im. I’m just trying to read.”
Imoen cocked her head to get a better view of the auburn haired engineer’s face. After a few moments of study, she nodded to herself and put down her mug. Smiling, she pointed a finger at Nalia and cheerfully said, “I think I know what what’s wrong!”
That did get Nalia to lower the datapad. With one eyebrow arched, she replied with a tone that could freeze oceans, “Oh? And what is that?”
Imoen’s face broke into a huge smile. Leaning forward, she proclaimed, “Well, Ms. Crabbypants, I’ll even be so kind to tell you. We need to get YOU a man.”
Nalia’s eyes narrowed at her friend’s bubbly proclamation. “I don’t want a man, Imoen. Now leave me alone.”
Imoen’s mouth made a perfect O. Her hand flew to her mouth and she gave Nalia a look of sheer disbelief. “You don’t want a man?” she exclaimed.
“No.”
“Okay.. okay.. this will be more difficult,” Imoen said aloud, stroking her chin. She snapped her fingers and pointed right at Nalia. “I’ve got it then! We’ll get you a woman!”
“What!?” Nalia exclaimed in a combination of annoyance and surprise. “No! No! I don’t a want a woman either!”
Imoen shrugged. “Well, you said you didn’t want a man, so…”
“Gods above, Imoen!” growled Nalia, shoving her chair back noisily. Datapad firmly gripped in one hand, she yelled, “Just leave me alone!” and stormed off.
Not a minute after the doors of the mess closed on a fuming engineer, they opened for the ship’s medical officer. The blonde Avarielian cast a concerned glance back at the door she just entered in and then at the smug redhead in front of her. Thumbing towards the closed door and the corridor beyond, Aerie asked, “Wh.. what’s wrong with Nalia?”
Imoen sat up in her seat and cheerfully replied, “Well, we were discussing her sexual interests, but apparently she has a few too many hang ups on that subject to really get to the heart of her problem.”
Aerie blinked. “Um.. I..I see.”
“Indeed,” she said with a firm nod. “We discovered that she is not interested in men nor in women. But before we could get any further, she just blew up at me.”
Aerie’s eyes went wide as Imoen continued. Thoroughly confused, Aerie stammered, “N.. not i..interested? F..further?”
“Yup. Surprising that. However, its probably a good thing I didn’t have a chance to offer her the duck. I don’t think she was mentally ready for that kind of an experience.”
“D.. d… duck? I…” Aerie regarded Imoen with a look of almost fear. She slowly started to back away from the grinning redhaired imp. As the doors slid open, she said quickly, “I.. I really think I better go check on her. T.. talk to you later.”
With that, Aerie hurried off, leaving Imoen alone in the mess. She leaned back in her chair and propped her booted feet on the non scratch table. Savoring a few sips of nearcaf, she smiled to herself quietly until she could no longer hear the sound of feet in the corridor beyond. Pumping her fist victoriously, she chortled to herself, “The Duck always works. Go me.”
