You could practically see Haruka's ears twitch as she slowed her previous "frustrated stalking forward" to something more along the line of "did someone mention racing?"
Setsuna smirked and slowed her pace so as not to outpace the other Outers.
A small group of Mongoians, wearing fairly simple rugged-looking clothing were speaking among themselves. Loudly enough to carry though, and from the various flasks held in gesticulating hands - they were speaking fairly freely.
"...seen them?" A sandy haired youth wiped his nose with the back of his hand and blinked owlishly at his companions.
"Yer fergettin' who you're talking to. I've got a cousin who works with General Mille herself!" Another youth, this one with his back to the Outers, proudly proclaimed. "I hadda deliver a bubbly pie from Aunt Sludge to cousin Wedge, I did. Which was when I saws them!"
"So what they look like? I heard they be all graceful and elegant-like. Beautiful princesses from some of them there Earth Kingdoms and they just so attractive they take your breath away," a third youth exclaimed, this guy seeming to be mainly nose sticking out from under a truly ridiculous hat.
Hotaru blushed. Michiru automatically posed with Haruka. Setsuna raised an eyebrow.
"Yer daft," said a fourth, this one looking like some particularly unenlightened Buddha. "What I heard was that they be assassins come here to kill the new Emperor, they look okay - but they're nasty foul insect warriors from some Moon Queen Hive."
Hotaru winced. Michiru and Haruka frowned. Setsuna shook her head.
"Here's the straight up," said the bubbly pie deliverer. "They're led by some scowling pretty-boy type named Ur Asshole."
Haruka made a startled noise and didn't look happy.
"Funny name," said the sandy haired youth. "Though I suppose ours would probably sound odd to them."
"If'n I may continue," said the bubbly pie deliverer. "He's one of those uptight sorts. Probably will cancel the races, seems the sort to have no sense of humor at all. Real hardcase. He's got this gal with the green hair. Probably a secretary. Looks like a real S&M type. And no, Fil, I don't mean Spaghetti and Meatballs. How you got so big eatin' such weird food. Anyhow they got two others wit' em. They've got two soldiers. One looks to be a young cadet type - probably a scholar. You can tell she don't get out inna sun much. The others some real icequeen type. Probably freeze a man solid she would."
Setsuna's mouth quirked at teenage boys being teenage boys. Apparently even on other worlds. Haruka frowned and was all for going over and having a word with the youths for saying she had no sense of humor. Michiru looked thoughtful. Hotaru looked embarrassed.
Setsuna decided to defuse things by gesturing the others to remain back while she approached the knot of youths. Close up she could see (and smell) that her earlier observations were correct. Six youths of approximately Middle School age, with rough hewn but serviceable clothing - most with stains and other signs of wear. "Excuse me, did you say there were going to be races?"
One of the youths looked and seemed to freeze in place. The sandy haired youth just pulled out a book. "Aye. Someone thought'd be good to have a skychariot race in honor of that foreign delegation visiting. They've still got two slots open, but with 'Crash' Herkimer competing it's a done deal. Best odds I can give ya are 40:1 for anyone else."
"I see," said Setsuna, glad that it wasn't going to be something barbaric.
"Are skychariots fast?" Haruka asked from her position.
"Yeah they're..." the sandy youth and the others looked towards Haruka and froze. If they didn't recognize the group initially, the sight of the Imperial Guard was enough to indicate they'd overspoken. "Ahhhhh. Run away!"
Setsuna shook her head as the boys scattered. So much for any additional information.
"Dinner is ready, miladiessss," hissed a short reptile in a guard uniform.
"So are skychariots fast?" Haruka asked the reptile.
(Posted Tue, 20 May 2003 13:58)
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