|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:32 am
The mall was big enough that they could easily get around. Although Aliez had the distinct feeling that the Commodore was drawing a lot more attention than any of the storefronts. It wasn’t his fault that the humans were mostly small in stature, at least compared to the Commodore. He was very impressive as a Velencian, of course, but just as impressive as a human, even if Aliez had no fondness for how curved human ears were.
“Should we tell the Commodore we know how to exchange currency, and that we just didn’t know where to exchange it?” he whispered to Vyn, hoping it wasn’t too obvious. He didn’t want to seem stupid. Not when they had so much resting on them to learn about Earth.
After the Commodore rescued them from being detained by the security, he must have thought it important to make sure they were taught not to make the same mistakes again. But while the Commodore hadn’t specifically taught them about the human’s currency, he and Vyn were aware of it enough to know how it worked. At least they thought they did.
But now they were going to have lunch with the Commodore, and Aliez was trying very hard not to just stare, awestruck, at the man who was pretty much his sole reason for joining the Vanguard in the first place.
All the while trying to not be utterly distraught over the fact that the security guard thought that he and Vyn were the Commodore's children.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 5:31 pm
Aliez’s question presented a bit of a conundrum.
Vyn didn’t want to ruin this opportunity to share lunch with the Commodore, but he didn’t want to seem stupid either. He already doubted himself; Vyn didn’t often think himself worthy of his place in the Vanguard. To have the Commodore question his intelligence would bring more shame to Vyn than being detained by mall security. Just the thought made him sick to his stomach.
Or maybe that was nerves. Even in his human guise, the Commodore was handsome extraordinary. Vyn couldn’t look at him for fear that those thoughts would be written all over his own face.
Instead, he met Aliez with a wide-eyed look, like Aliez was somehow capable of calming his pounding heart or making him look like less of an idiot.
“We thought we knew how it was done,” Vyn admitted, assuming it was best to be truthful, while also preserving the opportunity for a lesson. “It was just that the stores were small and crowded, and there were long lines at their registers, so we thought that, since the storefronts all open up to this common area, there might be a more centralized location where we could make the exchange for everything we wanted at once.”
It seemed logical. Only in retrospect did it also seem logical for each individual store to have their own individual areas for payment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 7:22 pm
“It is misleading, isn’t it?” Lyndin asked, acknowledging that this whole place seemed poorly structured. “It would make things easier. But, no. They are very particular with their wealth here. I think Earth is a bit greedy. A bit selfish. It’s not like back home.” Back home, where they were quick to correct, but to do so politely. Where they were kind and understanding, where they looked after one another. “I am not used to seeing shopping venues so large. They used to have stalls outside, all lining the street. But they had smaller tables and booths. It was easier to tell who was selling what. For what it’s worth, I don’t blame either of you for this misunderstanding. It almost seems as if this building is designed to be a bit overwhelming. So big, and yet it all feels so small. Where do you want to eat, have you found anything you like yet?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:55 pm
Aliez tried not to look at the Commodore with too much wonder and awe, but he didn’t think he was able to manage that very well. Everything the Commodore said was absolutely fascinating and he would happily listen to stories from him and his life for hours and hours.
But that seemed a little excessive, especially since they all knew how busy the Commodore was. For him to have to save him and Vyn, and have lunch with them, well. That was already more than a dream come true.
It was enough to summon memories of when he and Vyn would talk about all the things they’d read about the Commodore doing to help protect their world. He knew he did a bit more hero worshiping when he was younger. He just hoped he didn’t seem too starry eyed now.
“The food here is so strange,” Aliez admitted, but he could smell what seemed like a lot of food nearby. “I tried something called pizza the other day. There were many options available. I am not sure if they’d have that here.” Then again, Earth was full of so many surprises.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2021 10:24 am
“I haven’t had the opportunity to try much of the local cuisine,” Vyn admitted, “except for some of what has been shared with us."
He didn’t sound particularly troubled by this. On the contrary, he hoped the admission would be to his benefit, that it might highlight his focus on their mission, and his unwillingness to be distracted by all the wondrous things Earth had to offer.
Not that he didn’t want to try some of the fascinating smells that reached his nose. Even so, Vyn was a bit wary. What food they consumed on Velencya might not be the most adventurous, but it suited Vyn’s tastes just fine. There were so many strong scents on Earth, he assumed some of the flavors that went along with them would be just as pungent.
At this large monstrosity of a shopping complex, the mingling scents in the air led them to an open area full of tables and chairs, surrounded on three sides by individual food stalls. There were signs depicting what each stall served, but Vyn had no idea which might be the pizza Aliez had mentioned.
Cautiously, Vyn glanced up at the Commodore. “I expect the food has also changed since you were last here.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:18 pm
“Quite so,” Lyndin agreed, eyeing the array of fast food stalls. It might not have been what he had in mind but he didn’t shy away from a challenge. “I have no idea what any of this is. So, it’ll be exciting, I suppose.” Being able to read the language without having to rely on the ComTech was an advantage, but it only worked well enough if he understood what he was reading. Bits and pieces, sure, but he didn’t know the difference between a hamburger and a corndog. Neither sounded like something he wanted to eat. Vegetarian Options were words that sounded good to him but the aroma of everything else was unfairly tempting. He nodded towards the stall that seemed to cater more to his tastes. “We should start there if nothing else calls to you. I can read the menu to you, if you like. I know the ComTech is a bit limited but we’ll see if we can’t make improvements. We have other priorities, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure we’re not at a disadvantage while on Earth. I won’t keep you with me if something else is calling to you. I haven’t tried pizza. Was it good?” He took a step towards the stall but never walked so quickly that it would have been difficult to keep up, and he didn’t move in any way that implied he wasn’t ready to change his course if either Vyn or Aliez wanted to go somewhere else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
