Friday, August 12, 2011

PINOCCH E O



Aug 12th 2011, 12:36 by E O Hatterpol | 1228 AU FROM SUN


"So, best outer space friend," Ravi said with a smile, "have you spent my salty space booty on those rare books yet?"


I fidgeted nervously like a guilty defendant in court.  No, I hadn't gotten those rare books - in fact, I had lost all Ravi's booty gambling at the Calamari Casinos, but I just wasn't ready to tell him yet.


"Still working on that," I stammered, averting my eyes.  "Been very busy with zonbi murder mysteries, underground Ragga Dancehall fight clubs and, well, prison."


"You're going back to get them, right?" Ravi asked, glossing over my problems in favour of his.  "Starbase Octopus has the only rare book shop for fifty billion miles in any direction; I'd go get them myself but the Carptain says I can't do anything until these books are back in place.  That's why I really appreciate the time you're taking to do me that favour."


"Why do you want these books?" Nixie asked, curious.


"Well, you saw how I eat," Ravi replied.  "It's different from the way humans eat, but the principle of satiation is essentially the same.  While high quality writing sticks to my ribs like sirloin steak, low quality writing is like eating pickled beets canned by the grocer - there's no flavour or substance."


"So you're after these rare books because you're treating yourself to a nice meal?" Nixie said, comprehension building slowly with each word.


"Exactly.  I try to treat my body like a temple, you see; feed it only the best, most nutritious literature," Ravi said proudly, thumping the Canon.


"Except for when you bring those pulp mags and comic books to Friday Film night," I jabbed.


"You bring candy, too!  I've seen you eat so many Skittles your throat closes up from the corn syrup," he protested.


"That's only when I've been drinking," I countered, thinking that ought to put him straight.


Nixie turned to me.


"E O, I am so impressed that you would do something nice like this for your book friend," she said, beaming.


"We've been through a lot," Ravi explained, turning to me with a glowing best friend grin on his face.


I looked at my feet.


"Yes, we have," I said guiltily.


Snap out of it! I thought.  You can still pull this off, broheem-a-trons.


I conscientiously pulled my head back up and put on my best double-decker anti-frown, taking Nixie's hand in mine under the innocent pretext that I simply needed to hold her hand in order to best lead her through the ship.  Surprisingly, she didn't pull hers away.  


My smile turned into a real boy's.  I puffed out my chest; sure, I thought, it might get sticky with Ravi later when the truth finally comes out, but it's just fine and dandy right now!


"Well then, Nixie!" I said, jazzed up by the creamy white skin of her warm palm in mine.  "Why don't we take you on a tour of our ship?"


---

WHERE should we go first, Flybrarians?

Take a look at what we've built together, pick your favourite place, then show me what you've chosen in the comments section below, on FacebookGoogle+ or @EOHatterpol.  Feel free to write how you think it should happen, too!  

Storyline and other brainstorms can be mailed to EOHatterpol[at]gmail[dot]com.

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