Upon Vestia: Chapter Twenty-One

Luka made a face. "gross. Computer, regular clothes please." She looked relieved as the gown disappeared and she was just in her usual cargo pants and vest. "Who should we go annoy then?"

James looked a bit amused at Luka's reaction. "Hey, could be worse. Ethan was telling me about foot binding the other day. Now that was nasty stuff." He thought over the options, "Someone from Vestia's crew, maybe. Esk will just, like, shoot us if we annoy him." He wouldn't, but he would be bitchy and mean, probably.

"Foot what?!" Luka looked horrified. "What the heck?" She flinched a little at the remark about getting shot. "Let's avoid him."

"Foot binding," James said, "They like, tied up the feet of the little girls to keep them from growing normally. That was only in China I think, I'm pretty sure the rest of the Terrans thought it was messed up."

"but... why?" Luka stared at James. "what for?"

"Ethan said it was about keeping the noble women from being too independent. And then all the women started doing it, because peer pressure. And then the guys all decided it was the hottest thing," James shook his head. "Messed up stuff, they stopped doing it a long time ago though, for obvious reasons."

"so they ... intentionally crippled themselves so men would find them attractive? That's so horrible and... desperate. Poor stupid women." She shook her head.

"Something like that," James said. He lead the way out of the holodeck. "I mean, cultural pressure is kinda hard to fight. You just kind of want to fit in with your people, you know? Or a lot of people do, anyway."

"Well sure, but there's fitting in and there's crippling yourself. that's just dumb." Luka reasoned. "really.. really dumb."

James snorted. "I see your point." He shook his head at the foolishness of Terrans. "Hmm, wonder if there's anyone in the cafe. We can watch them eat and judge them."

Luka snorted. "You're silly." but hmm, coffee sounded good. And cake. "I kinda want a drink though, you going to judge me as I eat?" She laughed.

"I'll only judge you a little, because you're my friend," James said soothingly. "Never fear, Luka."

"hah." Luka smirked and lead to way to the cafe.

James followed, grinning to himself.
He did like the cafe, it was a nice place to hang out even if you weren't organic. Sawna really had done a good job making the place inclusive. He peered in to see who was there.

Tala was at a table, drinking a very large black coffee. She glanced up and twitched her ears in greeting.

"Hello Tala." Luka waved. "James wants to judge our eating habits."

---

Matt and Ellie had found the tablets and Matt had taken two with the suggestion that they tell the medics where the rest were so they knew there was a stash.
Now they could go find Asher and Kay with the er... peace offerings.

"James will find that I am most excellent at the consumption of calories!" Tala proclaimed, "However with utmost pain I must concede for it is not yet my luncheon hour!"

James snickered. "Drinking habits, then."

"Pray continue!" Tala said approvingly.

~~
Ellie went with Matt on search of medics. "Do you think Kay is even awake yet?" She asked.

~~
Asher had done a rather worrying amount of paperwork while waiting for patients. He really did like all that writing, he found it almost as relaxing as fixing machinery.

Matt shrugged. "not a clue, we can tell Asher and he can tell Kay. Maybe that'd be better, then I don't have to talk to Kay." Matt nodded, yes, he liked this idea. Avoiding Kay just in case he changed his mind and decided to throw something at him after all.

---

Luka snorted and went to order a drink and a cake.

"Okay, that works," Ellie agreed. "Maybe it'll seem less like we're buying his favor that way, too. Yo Vestia, where's Asher at?"

"In the med bay," Vestia said.

Ellie nodded and tugged Matt that way.

~~
"Luka!" Tala called. "I have heard that you had unpleasant encounters with minotaurs! Shall I have words with them?"

James winced. "No Tala, just no."

Matt followed along. "Yeah, less like a bribe more like.. we're just so nice yeah?"

----

Luka flinched. "I don't... I don't think that will help" She frowned.

"Exactly," Ellie said cheerfully. "We're just good, thoughtful people who nobody could be mad at for long."

~~
"We could try," Tala said.

James shook his head. "Don't mess with them, they're so not worth it."

Tala snorted and nodded. "All right young ones, we shall not pursue them. It is most pleasing to see you both on this fine morn!"

Luka nodded and sat down near Tala, thankful she'd dropped the subject. "Did you enjoy the party?"

--

"Totally." Matt agreed. They made it to the medical room and he looked in warily, just in case Kay was about.

"Can I get you anything?" Sawna asked, looking to Luka and James as they came in to join Tala.

"I did not stay for the show, bit what I saw of the festivities was satisfactory," Tala said. "There were magics that turned the color of the hair, and many tasty foods. May I have a salad!" She asked Sawna.

~~
Ellie peered in as well.

Asher looked up and smiled at Matt and Elle. "Hello again. How can I help you?" He asked, standing to come over.

"uh.. a coffee, no milk... sugar.. and whatever muffin you have." Luka told Sawna. "thank you."

---

Matt held up the tablets. "We got you guys a stash of tablets." He declared, thrusting one into Asher's hands. "Uh.. we... figured a while back that you guys kept losing them so we should like... have a backup"

Sawna nodded and got the asked for items tehn brought them over to the three. "Here you are."