sharpfins

[sharpfins]

The Niakanu stood, making a few notes on the device in his hand.

"Qessyn Vrayaka, yes I remember you. Karda Senenol. We met at a medical conference about a year ago, concerning the ianthim release, the transfusion aid."

"Safe to say I didn't expect to run into you again, unless perhaps I ended up on your operating table."

He crouched again to haul the unconscious alien over his shoulder.

"And I can promise you, this one won't be causing anyone any trouble after tonight."

He paused.

"Is a bloody nose all the damage he dealt you?"

Qessyn hesitated, closing her eyes. Taking in a deep breath, she sighed and shook her head.

“No. As far as I’m concerned, he made his every choice of his own free will. What happens to him is no longer our concern.”

Admittedly…it would be nice to not have to live in fear anymore. Though she felt a tinge of guilt, she did her best to brush it off.

Clearing her throat, she shuffled a bit. “I realize these circumstances are…a bit awkward. But um. Qessyn. Dr Qessyn Vrayaka. Trauma surgeon at Vraacoi Memorial Hospital.”

[sharpfins]

"unrepentant" is one of my favorite things to be. "don't you feel bad about what you did" no lol

[sharpfins]

Touching. But her worry was unnecessary. He glanced down at the sliced sleeve and cut forearm, and felt himself more aggravated about the coat than the injury.

“It won't even need stitches. Don't concern yourself,” Karda said, already pulling away and crouching to roll the unconscious alien onto his back. He pulled a small device out of one pocket and started scanning his head. It flickered with data and his tail gave an interested flick, the mint green fins fluttering gently.

He looked back to her.

“Repay me with this information: do you or your family care at all what might happen to this man next?”

Chur’nus was an asshole, but he was no fighter. He wielded the knife clumsily, only managing to get in a lucky shot before going rigid, his body going limp after a few moments and the knife slipping from his grasp.

Qessyn’s own tail thrashed, as she looked at the Zechitanian laying motionless on the ground. “Is…he…?”

She looked at Karda, gasping softly. “You’re injured…I’m so sorry. It’s because of me…”

She leaned in to get a look at his arm. “Thank you for defending me. I realize we don’t know each other, but you helped me regardless. If there’s any way I can repay you…”

[sharpfins]

It took all Karda's willpower not to roll his eyes as the asshole launched into a tangent. Sounded like someone's parents never told their little shitbag of a kid that you don't always GET what you want… Especially not on Sigma Rhada, ESPECIALLY if you weren't local. Karda could name a few gangs that would eat this fucker for breakfast. 

But at the moment he had a knife to worry about. 

Karda lunged just as he saw the metal glinting in the street light, seizing at the man's wrist to try and keep the knife under control. In the tangle of limbs and press of bodies, he got in a lucky shot, but the surgeon only gripped him tighter as pain lanced up his arm. In the next heartbeat, Chur’nus went rigid, eyes wide as the Niakanu's electricity shot through his system.

Chur’nus looked taken aback; as if he were unaccustomed to being told “no”.

“I don’t think I heard you right,” he said, his voice wavering in anger, “she is coming with me.”

Qessyn glared. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Chur’nus. Not now, not ever again.”

The mask was starting to slip from the Zechitanian, and his smile grew crooked. “You think you can just walk away from me? ME? I am one of Zechitania Prime’s preeminent neurosurgeons. I get what I want, and I get it when I want it. And I say that you’re MINE. You hear me? MINE!”

As he was speaking, he was quietly reaching behind his back; which Qessyn noticed. Eyes widening, she shrieked in alarm. “KNIFE!”

[sharpfins]

He knew where this was going. Karda was no knight in shining armor. If he stepped aside, the woman was going to end up dead in an alley somewhere before morning, her and at least ten others across the city. Same as every night. That's just how it was.

... but the longer the surgeon examined her antagonist, he became aware of a few differences in his biosignature... differences that aligned with someone having implants or prosthetics. Ah, he had something to gain from helping after all.

He put himself further between the two of them, one hand out towards the man in warning.

"She's not going with you. She's made herself clear," he said slowly. "I advise you to walk away and forget whatever it is you have in mind."

It wasn't the Niakanu's claws he had to be careful of, but the electricity he'd fry him with if he dared come within grabbing distance of either of them-- but only enough to knock him out. Karda wasn't going to risk damaging the implants inside his body.

@sharpfins from here

Qessyn was glad to run into someone familiar, at least.

It had all happened so fast. There had been a knock at her apartment door, and when she went to answer it, there was the last person she ever expected to see again; her ex, Chur’nus, a Zechitanian.

He’d practically demanded that they get back together, ignoring any and all attempts for Qessyn to shut down the conversation, and when she refused one too many times, he’d struck her. Hard.

Her bloody nose was a testament to his cruelty.

“HIM!” She cried and pointed, trembling behind the person she’d met at the medical conference. “H-He’s trying to force me to go with him!”

Chur’nus drew himself up, and smiled coldly. “I’m so sorry you got involved in this, friend. I’m just trying to take my girlfriend back to the safety of Federation space where she belongs.”

“I am NOT his girlfriend!”

His face seemed to twitch in annoyance, but he tried to keep his cool. “Sweetie, be reasonable. This is no place for you. You can never make it out here. What would your father think?”

Qessyn glared. “My family already KNOWS I’m here, you jerk. And they already know about YOU!”

Another twitch. “I can change their minds.” He took a step closer.

[sharpfins]

... did I make a hc somewhere that Niakanu are apparently tasty if you prepare them properly?

[sharpfins]

swat (LET'S BE A MENACE)

Touch the Tail || Not Accepting! Send "swat" to swat the tail away

They'd been on the same path for at least two blocks. He wasn't being followed with ill intent-- the masked being behind him would have surely been smart enough to keep at a distance if they were.

His tail, of course, swayed with his walk, and he was keeping enough of a pace to mostly keep ahead of them. But at the third time he felt his tail bump them, he felt a distinctive SWAT a second after. He halted and half turned to glower down at the masked being, their pale mask reflected in the mirror of his own.

"Don't. Touch. Me," he hissed. "Or GO AROUND ME for fuck's sake."

[sharpfins]

What is their body language like when they talk to somebody? Are they the type of person to stand close to the other? Do they keep eye contact? Are they the type to touch the other on the shoulder or arm?

Minor Details || Accepting!

Karda is very physically distant when it comes to conversing with other people. He doesn't stand close to whoever he's talking to (making sure he's generally out of arm's reach if he's able), his eye contact is solid, and he doesn't touch anyone if he can help it. The only exceptions to these are if he's working, whether that means surgeon or bounty hunter.

[sharpfins]

swat (i hold out to u byan in their little bounty hunter-in-training sci-fi verse...)

Touch the Tail || Accepting! Send "swat" to swat the tail away

He'll admit... he'd started dozing. He was usually good about keeping his various limbs to himself, but his usual lack of sleep (as well as the swaying of the monorail) was getting to him. It was only the solid thwap of someone swatting his tail that he jolted awake and snapped his head around to look down at the shorter being sitting just behind him.

"Find somewhere else to sit and maybe you won't get hit with it," he growled, facing forward again.

As if there was anywhere else TO sit on the crowded transport and Karda knew it.

[sharpfins]

// And just so there's no surprises, I deleted Naru and Iseu's blogs. They'd been bugging me for a LONG time and I haven't been on them for even longer, so.

I'll just remake them if I ever get the itch to write them again.

Also I'm going back to the species' original appearance. the remade one was just a desperate attempt to be interested in my own aliens again and it didn't work (and I wasn't happy with how it turned out after a while so, back to the original)

[sharpfins]

caress - a curious nudge from Manticore!16!

Touch the Tail || Accepting! Send "caress" to gently touch the tail

Most people had the manners to not touch someone's tail without permission, and most tailed persons had the sense to mostly keep their appendages out of the way so they wouldn't be stepped on.

This... whatever he was sensing behind him (their electrical signature was MASSIVE) apparently didn't HAVE those manners. He turned, whipping his tail out of touching range... and pausing. As the creature seemed to be curious about him, so did Karda's curiosity hit harder than expected.

"Hello there," he said quietly, looking it over with vested interest. "And what exactly might you be?"

[sharpfins]

Qessyn: wrap?

Touch the Tail || Accepting! || @cosmic-gemstone Send "wrap" to let the tail wrap around a part of your body

She'd almost run into him with how fast she'd come around the corner. He recognized the sandy fur and green eyes, even through the downpour of Sigma Rhada. She was the... Thal'ni from the medical conference.

She'd only recognize his coat and mirrored helmet, but it must've been enough. Before he could even ask what was wrong, another silhouette appeared around the corner.

He nudged her behind him, keeping one arm out and his tail curled loosely with the fin flared up as he stared the newcomer down.

[sharpfins]

If they hear a song they like what do they do? Do they tap their foot? Quietly dance? Nod their head? Etc.

Minor Details || Accepting! || Also asked by @phoenix-the-seeker

That depends on what he's doing! If he's working on removing a prosthetic or implant where he otherwise has to stay still, he'll mouth along with the words. If he's sitting at his desk, he'll tap his foot to the rhythm. There's no music during surgery and if he's moving around his office/lab, again he'll mouth along with the words. He doesn't do much in the way of dancing.

[sharpfins]

Huh... Karda seems to be one of the few wartime muses I have who isn't dealing with much of the trauma that usually comes with it.

[sharpfins]

Oh? I see her signature has disappeared. Congratulations, Nanachi. You’ve finally managed to do it. I would like to express the extend of my gratitude to you. I would very much like to see you again….

[sharpfins]

Headcanon: Karda's curiosity and desire to know doesn't outweigh his common sense and sense of self preservation.

Despite his interest in studying other species, he's no Sweeney Todd to most of those those who come to him for help. He'll do the job that he's supposed to and put them on the path to recovery, since he still has a reputation to keep as a reliable surgeon.

And if they come in with someone, of course he won't pull anything, even if they do pique his interest. He's very selective of the fights he's willing to put himself through and anything more than one on one is too risky.

[sharpfins]

Had a wrench thrown into my weekend plans to do nothing so any spoons to draw are out the window but

On a dark colored Niakanu like Karda, the blue of the inside of their mouth really stands out, especially their tongue and buccal flaps (the membrane connecting the back edges of the mouth, like on a T-rex)