S'Niri & Ixi

Posted on Sun Jan 12th, 2025 @ 6:29pm by GM Nicole & Ensign S'Niri

1,486 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave & Ship Repairs
Location: Barisa Prime
Timeline: MD 3, After Medical Gone Wild Part 2

It was more like two hours before Ixi was actually relieved from her shift. The bar was busier than usual, and her boss was getting frustrated at the number of patrons taking off after their big wins. Still, they were coming out ahead at the Dabo wheel, so he really didn't have much to complain about. There would be no use for Dabo if it did not turn an appropriate profit.

Ixi changed clothes. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable in her Dabo girl outfits, in fact they were tailored to her and she found them quite easy to wear. She just didn't want any of the customers at the bar to think she was still on duty so she'd put on a white linen sundress with straps that tied behind her neck and around her back, but left her back mostly exposed. The skirt hung loose around her hips and stopped a few inches above her knees.

She scanned the crowd briefly and started walking toward the front of the bar, staying on the periphery and away from the larger crowds in the center.

S'Niri comes padding over with a flick of her tail and a feline smile. The Ferasan hybrid takes a moment to admire the girl's outfit before quipping, "Took you long enough. Want me to get you anything? My tab. You've had a long enough day, I'm sure." She purred. "Anyway, you did just see me win a whole ton of latinum." S'Niri snickered.

"Oh, hey you," Ixi responded. Now that she was off duty her color had shifted slightly toward an emerald green with just a hint of a blue undertone. "While I do like my job, I tend to want to leave when I off shift. There are some smaller places nearby if you wanted to grab a bite to eat."

"Are there! I'm sure you know this place better than I do, so lead the way!" S'Niri replied, ears twitching excitedly. Food was always a plus in her book, especially when shared with someone else. "What do you recommend?"

"There's a seafood place around the corner? A little bit of everything from sushi to Valarean Sea Bass. Um. They have other stuff too if you don't like fish." Ixi's people evolved eating mostly seafood, and some poultry. Certain foods were harder for her to digest.

"Perfect. I'm totally down for that! I love squid." S'Niri smiled at the dabo girl and let her lead them out the door and down the corridor. She couldn't help but study her along the way, and wonder exactly what species she was. She'd never seen anyone else like her in her travels so far, after all.

"So, Ixi. What brought you here? To this station, I mean." She asked. "And where's home. Is it far?"

"A chance to get away from home mostly," Ixi shrugged. She rushed ahead with small, but quick steps to pull the door open for S'Niri. "Despite what they say about Ferengi, the pay here is good. The planet has labor laws, and Greck and Flog have never tried to push them."

"Really! Well, that's pretty good if you ask me." S'Niri purred as they walked through the door together. "Better than treatment by other Ferengi who might not be quite so compliant, heh. What would you recommend from here? Still gonna get the squid, of course." The two sat down at one of the tables in a relatively quiet corner together. S'Niri picked up the menu (Printed menus? In this day and age! Shocking!) and pawed through it with an approving hum. "God, everything looks amazing."

"The squid is good. Do you want your food raw or cooked?" Ixi asked. Now that she was off duty and out of uniform her entire demeanor had shifted slightly. As a Dabo girl she played a certain role, acting a part. Bold, flirtatious, always trying to sell the next roll.

In her interactions with people off duty she was more conscientious about not imprinted her opinions on others. She asked more questions, watched more for invitations to speak instead of assuming her turn.

"They have a dish here that changes almost daily depending on what is fresh. It is a variety of raw seafoods: fishes and squids and others. I enjoy ordering that one because I can eat a little of many things," she said with a shy smile.

"Then that's what I'll have too. Can't go wrong with a local's recommendation." S'Niri smiled toothily as she picked up the PADD at their table to order. "I'm sure you don't see a ton of people like me. Caitians maybe, but Ferasans not so much. Most of us don't really leave Ferasa for any purpose." She raised an eyebrow at the dabo girl, fully expecting to be asked about why if that was the case, what was she doing here, then?

"I've never actually heard of Ferasa," Ixi admitted. "I didn't realize, I just assumed you were Caitian. They are two races? But they must get along, you are a hybrid then?" She asked.

"Oh, no, no. We usually don't get along. Ferasans think Caitians are lesser life forms, for one. But yes, we are two totally seperate species. You'll meet more of us one day, I'm sure." S'Niri smiled toothily as she scrolled through the menu. "I think I'll get... ooh, Bleeding Heart. Nice name for a mocktail. I'll have that." She decided. "Though everything here looks amazing." She slid the PADD over to let the girl order. "Got any long term plans?"

"I'm still working on what might be next. There are a lot of jobs here in tourism. There are some good schools on Denobula if I wanted to do something that required a degree. It's hard to decide though. My people are pretty sheltered, so I don't know what I could contribute to a lot of careers. I'm a little behind," Ixi said lamentfully.

"Tell me more about Ferasa. You said the people are superior, but they don't leave home very often?" Ixi asked curiously.

"They think they are. I guess in some ways, we really are. Physically." S'Niri purred. "Though we usually don't leave home except to do business or something. By 'something' I usually mean something pretty nasty, though. Being kicked off the planet because there are people actively trying to kill you, for one." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Been there. Long story."

Ixi giggled softly then immediately covered her mouth in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she apologized, her cheeks and forehead shifting from teal to purple. "I'm really sorry that sounds awful. I wasn't making fun. It's just the way you kind of purr when you talk is really cute."

"Really." S'Niri raised an eyebrow at her. "That's the whole feline package, heh. I could do it a bit more if you'd like." The Ferasan hybrid wiggled her eyebrows. "Gets better if... well, I think we're not at that point yet. I do miss home, though, considering I've not been there for years. Best I not go home, I guess, especially if the elders still want to carry out their ethnic cleansing campaign..."

A Ferengi waiter approached the table. "Good evening fine patrons. Can I interest you in any of our local spirits. We have a white wine from a nearby vineyard on special tonight, and Barisa Prime also is known for their rum. We have the Barisa Boomerang cocktail made special with it. Also, we have the swordfish as the fresh catch, served any way you like with roasted vegetables and a side salad for a small fee."

Ixi looked over to the waiter, "I know we both would like the Chef's sashimi special. I'll try the cocktail. S'Niri what else did you want?"

"I'll have the Boomerang." S'Niri grinned toothily at the waiter. When the Ferengi waiter left them, at least for the moment, she smiled at Ixi. "Got any plans after dinner? You're free for the night?"

"Yeah, I'm free," Ixi responded, smiling a little more confidently. "Was there anything you were wanting to do?"

Their drinks arrived almost as quickly as they ordered them - Two hurricane glasses filled with a delicious looking concoction that was blood orange on the bottom and cherry red on top. "For the lovely ladies," the waiter said quietly before backing away from the table.

Ixi reached across the table and put a blue hand on S'Niri's arm, with her fingers she felt the softness of S'Niri's fur. "You're pretty," Ixi said sweetly. "I think you'll like the food here."

The two inched closer together as the food arrived. Both were voraciously hungry, and could eat more than their small frames would suggest as they talked and laughed over dinner. Before they parted ways Ixi passed S'Niri a small metal chip.

"In case you ever want to get a hold of me."

RSS Feed