Shrimp Sauce
Nannaras X
June 25th YC 120
Monden finally caved in and gave Suha his response “…It would be my honor.” While he failed by being hesitant about it, he remained professional about agreeing to it. Monden never had any strong opinion about religion, he didn’t care about whatever he or she believed in. He was only ever bugged about people getting killed (or some cases enslaved) over it and when he’s pestered about religious metaphors. One thing Monden liked about wayism is that he never even knew it existed until he jumped ship to this place. The Caldari had a rep for keeping this stuff to themselves and not letting it influence decision making upstairs. Here however? Far louder and more obnoxious.
“Marvelous!” Suha said with a tooth flashing smile.
Monden sticks out his left arm out in the direction he’s heading, he returns the smile back. Suha accepts the gesture to take the lead and walks forward, Monden following behind on her left flank. The hallway they were in was wide, this is good too, it avoids traffic getting congested in the busy hours. Currently there was no activity in the halls aside from Suha and Monden, everyone else was already out on break twenty minutes ago.
Suha is quick to toss a topic out to get their talks on a roll “So tell me about yourself Monden, you’re from the Federation, yes?” She turns her head to speak over her shoulder so Monden hears her clearly.
A spark of pride ignites inside Monden “Yep! Born and raised.” He flashed a smile she wasn’t going to see. Monden was a man to never once place his blame on the Federation for his misgivings, maybe on a politician, but the Federation was his benevolent homeland. Being here in a stronghold of old Caldari customs wasn’t going to change his opinion on it.
“Do you ever get homesick?”
“Depends on which home you refer to, the office or the planet I grew up on.”
A chuckle erupts from Suha “Whichever one you identify more with.”
Monden can’t even recall how many years of his life have been wasted away chained to his office complex back on Elarel II. An absolutely depressing dust ball of an environment, he even got into watching old frontier-drama holovids in some vain hope to make his surroundings more interesting. “Would have to be my homeworld then, Billie VI. Knew my colony like the back of my hand, every street, shop or restaurant there. You could say that makes it a bit of a comfort zone for me.”
“Are you not comfortable here?”
Something about the question came off as dangerous to Monden. As if she was trying to probe for some discontent within him. “Well, I get three hot square meals a day, a nice bed to sleep in and alcohol that isn’t watered down. Can’t ask for much more.”
“I suppose not!” Suha leaves it at that, not following it up with another question.
Monden, one to be polite when necessary, made a good habit to always pitch in his own questions whenever he found himself in a “get to know you" kind of conversation. It was a way of him pulling his weight, not taking it all about him and flattering the other party with his curiosity. “What about you? From the State I take it?”.
“I was born there, but raised elsewhere.” She says, once again not following it up.
“Oh, so your family migrated to the Federation?” it was the only other place Monden could guess she could had hailed from. Would’ve been a pleasant answer and enable him to maybe connect with her.
The two make it to the corner of the hallway where there is a squared staircase leading down to the ground floor. Suha is the first to take a step down “Nope, to Venal.”
It didn’t hit Monden immediately, took his brain a second to realize what she just said. It was a telling choice of words in regards to who’s borders she lived within. He stops at the top of the staircase.
Suha, who has made it to the plateau before the next case of stairs running down the right side of the wall, stops and looks up to Monden. “Something wrong?”
Monden wasn’t angry, just confused at hearing that kind of answer. He, and thousands of other planet dwellers just like him knew of the reputation Venal had as being the haven for the Guristas pirates. “Venal…W-Were you a pirate?” he asks while squinting at her.
Suha blinks at him “…Should I have been one?”
“N-No, just…” Monden takes two steps down the first staircase “…Must had been rough living out there. Living out in some pirate infested null-security region, light years away from proper civilization.” Monden was of course referring to empire-space. He refused to consider anyplace run by pirates (or Capsuleers for that matter) to be on the same level, rather they would just be some backwater enclave with horrendous values to him.
Suha raises an eyebrow and remains silent, she puts both of her hands behind her back.
Monden leans to the left, up against the railing of the stairs. He uses his right hand to scratch the back of his head. “I mean hey…If you don’t want to talk about I understand. Can’t imagine what the Guristas did to your home.”
Suha tilts her head to the left “Monden, what if I told you my home was a Guristas built and owned colony?”
“…Well, doesn’t sound like a peaceful place to hail from, with the Guristas having control of it. Probably some slump that attracted a bunch of thugs and ruffia-"
Suha cuts him off and stares at him calmly, her tone reflects this. “We had one school, one hospital, one police station, and farmland as far as the eye could see.”
Monden darts his eyes away for a moment, he got himself tangled in this awkward situation. Instead of drawing this pathetic attempt at mining for substance to support his narrative out any longer, he comes to terms to what Suha is trying to say. He looks back at her “Uh…Sorry, guess I never pictured a peaceful sounding place like that existing in Guristas space.”
Suha smiles warmly “No offence was taken, Monden. I know it’s not the first picture everyone’s mind has in store first, I’m well aware of their reputation after all.”
“Right…You said something about a uh…” Monden raises his left hand to snap his fingers as the listed item comes to him “Police station? Yeh, never thought I see the word “police" posted up anywhere in a pirate owned colony.”
“It’s not like the Guristas were our actual police force.” Suha turns and continues walking down the stairs “Many of our officers were local to the colony.”
Monden followed “Who exactly were these locals?”
“Families, I suppose you could’ve considered it a gated community. As none of us were forced to live with the riff-raff that flee to Guristas space. All in thanks to the service of a relative, everyone there was a sibling, cousin, spouse or child to someone working aboard a Guristas ship.”
The two are at ground level, they take a left and walk down another, short hallway before reaching the lobby of this office building. It was shaped like an octagon, by far the widest public space in this building. Once they emerge from the corridor, the receptionist’s desk would be to their left, doors leading out to the right.
“So which one applies to you?” Something about Monden’s tone appears bitter. While he’s aware by now Suha couldn’t have been an actual pirate. He’s still disgusted about ever hearing anyone join those scumbags.
“Child, my father served aboard a frigate as a technician during his lifetime.” Suha leads him to the right, out the door and into the sunlight.
Monden shoots a nod toward the Male receptionist that stands up to bow at the two. He then addresses Suha’s answer as he follows her out “During his lifetime?”
The courtyard was, as you could imagine, a wide open space. The ground the two walked on was made of cobblestone bricks and to their left and right were structures almost identical to the one they walked out of. This was known as known as a ‘Block’, an administrative district connected physically via monorail to the capital building of Hoiyori. This block was intended to populated by Lucrative Excavations, but sadly didn’t have enough pencil pushers to warrant exclusive space. As such, they shared the block with some of the eggheads of the Ohrion Conglomerate. The buildings sported an ornate look, almost entirely made of wood and crafted with a prestigious Raata flair. In the center of the courtyard itself was a cliche set up of flower planters that make up the insignia of the Raata Zaibatsu. The outside layer was five curved planters of white lilies , the five notches are to represent the five great spirits, or winds as they’re referred to in Wayist spirituality. Next layer is a solid circle of white petaled flowers, this part is to represent the flesh, our human forms. Then lastly, inside the center with just a small gap between it and the second layer is a patch of red Cassovous flowers to represent the fiery spirits (supposively) inside all of us. The only thing unique about the flower is that it was only local to this world. Looked nice and smelt nice, that’s about it.
Suha stops and sighs “Yes” she turns around to face Monden “Unfortunately, my Father perished in his service with the Gur-”
She is interrupted from a voice above them “Hey!”. The two look up, above the entrance to spot Akels on the balcony connected to their office.
Monden places his hands on his hips “What is it?” he shouts up to him
“Shrimp sauce!”
“Shrimp sauce?”
“Yeah, can you add shrimp sauce to my order?” Akels ask, leaning further on the balcony railing.
Monden scoffs and reaches into his suit for the notepad before “Take it you also want me to get you some shrimp?”
“Nah, just add the sauce.”
Monden pulls the notepad out “The hell you eating the sauce with then?”
“The rice of course.”
“W-" Monden is taken back for a moment “Why? It’s sauce for shrimp, ain’t it?”
Suha was silently waiting all this time. She only now speaks up as Monden questions the use of shrimp sauce with fried rice “Have you ever consumed shrimp sauce before?”
Monden looks at her, jerks it back to Akels then back to her “Well no, but I assume its sauce for shrimp. It’s called shrimp sauce afterall.”
Akels holds up his hand with his pinkie and thumb pressed together to make a “O.K" sign “Shrimp sauce and fried rice is a magnificent combination, pops.”
Monden moves the notepad into his right hand and goes searching in his suit for a pen “Sounds disgusting.”
Suha squints at him “You say that, but didn’t you just admit previously to never trying shrimp sauce before?”
Akels rests both his arms on the balcony railing and gently nods “Yeah…You did say that.”
Monden retracts his left hand out and holds it above his shoulder along with his right hand. He takes a few steps back “Am I being attacked right now?”
The two burst out laughing at the man. Monden puts on a frown and gently lowers his hands. Akels is the first to settle down “Relax Dad! Look, if you can just get me some shrimp sauce as well I’d greatly appreciate it.”
Monden pats down the outside of his suit “I need a pen to write it down.”
Akels taps his left temple with his left index finger “Can’t you just remember it?"
“its these small details I always lose track of.” Monden raises his left hand and folds his fingers back and forth to gesture to Akels to ‘hand it over’. “Just toss me down something to write with.”
“Nah, this is why your memory is rotting away. You’ve depended so heavily on notes written down that you neglected your ability to store the information in your head.”
Suha pipes in “Use it or lose it, as they say.”
“Precisely!” Akels announces pointing down at her “She knows what’s…” Realization settles in “Oh wow…Suha Raibuya? Windchime Order?”
Suha looks up at Akels with a smile “That is correct” She crosses her left arm across her chest and dips into a bow. She picks her head back up “…From the exchange you two had-" she looks over to Monden and back up to Akels “-You must be Monden’s son, correct?” Akels Searbier?”
Akels starts grinning wide “Y-Yeah! Though I’m sure you could’ve pieced that together when comparing our devilishly good looks.” he says, pointing back and forth between him and Monden with his left hand.
“Still two leagues ahead of you, kiddo.” Monden says, folding his arms. Akels remark was more than a terrible joke, it was flirtatious. Monden could already see these two hooking up, both young adults who already share a common interest in the misuse of condiments., a match made in heaven, clearly. Akels’ remark also hinted at this insecurity Akels struggles to deal with, one that Monden had grown exhausted from his countless attempts to get Akels over it. Sharing more of his mother’s Matari side, Akels had a much more darker skin complexion. Akels feared this would make it difficult for people to make the connection they were father and son, or related at all for that fact. In no way did the kid loathe himself for this, but found it troubling that he was Monden’s only son, yet didn’t look much like him.
“Well you do share the same charming eyes” Suah says with a smile, looking between the two. They both had bright eyes that resembled the color of gold.
Monden could already picture the god damn wedding in his head as Akels breaks eye contact and starches the back of his head in response to the comment. Ain’t like Monden had an issue with it, Akels was a grown man who needed to find the mate perfect for him. Didn’t matter who, so long as they had a job. Though with Suha’s case he’s unsure if it’s a career or passionate hobby. Still eager to get some food, Monden breaks up the moment before it draws on for an obnoxious amount of time “Alright, shrimp sauce, I’ll remember it.”
Akels looks down to Monden who was already turning to continue his trip “Thank you!” He shouts
Suha turns to follow, but pivots her torso around to Akels to give him a wave goodbye “It was a pleasure to finally meet you Akels!”
Akels waves back “Likewise!” he stands there watching them walk of for a minute before turning around and heading back into the office.
Who’s perspective should be followed?
- [Continue following Monden’s perspective]
- [Follow Suha’s perspective]
- [Follow Akels’ perspective]