Challenge #02497-F307: Beginning to Look a Lot Like TERROR
A: oh god, oh fuck it’s happening again
B: what? What wrong?
A: not again, I’m not strong enough
B: for what?!
A: it’s coming, it’s coming
B: WHAT THE FUCK IS COMING
A: Christmas -- Anon Guest
Some Humans are major league into their holidays. Often to the point that Station Regulations have to intervene in regards to what is on public display. Some are not very excited by their holidays, and some... despise them. Companion Huruk found this out whilst escorting Human Zae through one of the commerce districts.
All had been well. Human Zae seemed happy enough, even singing along with the music on the public system, and then a look of horror began to grow on her face. "Oh god. Oh flakk, it's happening again..."
Companion Huruk was alarmed. If something could disturb a Human, it had to be serious business. Major-alert-level bad news. Ze made sure hir stunner was clear for drawing and fully charged. "What is it? Where is the trouble?"
"Not again, not again, it can't be happening again... I'm not ready. I'm not prepared. I'm not... I'm not strong enough."
Huruk flipped on hir livesuit's HUD, scanning on all vectors for approaching trouble, but all the assembled cogniscents were registering as non-combattants. The decorations and plantlife registered as non-toxic and non-harmful. Ze was drawing a lot of blanks. "For what? What is there here to fight?"
"Its coming, I had an excuse before, but now I know... it's coming."
Huruk fought the urge to panic. "Human Zae, I do not understand the threat. Please explain it to me?"
"It's Christmas," said Human Zae in the same dreadful tones that one might announce a feared disease or disastrous pathogen in the air circulation systems. "I'm not ready..."
Companion Huruk took a deep breath and restored hir default HUD settings. "This is a sit-and-talk situation," ze said. "There is a tea house nearby." Human Zae was fond of tea. "We can get a bloom brew and we can become calm. Then you can start at the beginning."
Prescription accepted, Human Zae got a booth and a glass pot with an interesting blooming tea to watch. As soon as she felt secure, she started to talk. "Do you have any idea what it's like to have a demanding family with a mental disorder that dissociates you with time?"
Companion Huruk was familiar with Human Zae's maladapted temporal sense, but not the other half. "I'm not familiar with 'demanding family'?"
"Lucky you. I have a big family. Everyone else can easily keep track of who's related, their birthdays, important holidays, likes and dislikes... I... can't. So every year, I'm on everyone's shit list for not remembering Christmas. Like... not just that it's Christmas, but to give an individualised message to every single person in the family. Like... I can be forgiven for being late on birthdays because I travel, but Christmas? It's the cardinal sin. I'm not strong enough to handle this again..."
Fortunately, Companion Huruk knew how to handle this. "I have checked the Human Calendars versus your home annual calendar," ze soothed. "This is months in advance of your home region. You have four entire months to prepare, and I will help you every step of the way."
"Huruk, I could kiss you if we weren't completely toxic to each other."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / digidreamgrafix]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends!
Send me a prompt [51 remaining prompts!]
I was just thinking awww what sweet friends on the way through and then I get to the part where they're completely toxic to each other and I can't help but burst out laughing and feel sorry for them XD
Literally toxic. Not emotionally.
They can still hug though.