This hebdomad ’s concept art is “ Rug Monster ” by photographerTodd Baxter . We antecedently featuredBaxter ’s whimsical photos here .
Whimsical Photos from the Tapir Planet
Alright folks , get your “ munching carpeting ” jokes out of the agency and get to writing .
When Erik get , the group was already four beat and three flat solid into the Nox . Most of the subway maintenance work party were still in their jumpsuits , but Erik had been work on the Gleeson transit tubes — the ones the ‘ Phibs mostly traveled — and the cleaners call for to dissolve the goop made his skin itch . So he was impertinently showered and trim in a span of navy canvas pant and a wool sweater .
“ bet at Mr. Hygiene , ” Paolo laughed as Erik sat down and pulled a patsy from the stack . The large man , his cheeks already pink , poured Erik a drink from the kettle . Erik sip , let the het up alcoholic drink cut though his olfactory organ and throat , clearing out the residuary chemicals of the day .
“ Where ’s Gem ? ” Cora call for . Her face was still smear with fungogrease . The lady friend swore it was good for their skin , and would leave it on for hours after work . Erik was certain it was just plain sometime dirt , with as few witching place as any other dirt on the station , but right now he would give anything for some old - fashioned poop . Well , anything but the lavishness acknowledgment blow he got for cleaning the Glesson tubes .
Erik swallowed another mouthful of drink . “ She ’s got an eval . ”
Cora arched an eyebrow . “ Routine ? ” she asked , trying to keep the quiver from her vocalization .
Erik swayed his head from side to side . “ She ’s trying to get another hump . ”
Paolo narrowed his eye . “ Her too ? You guys are n’t applying for repro , are you ? ”
Erik grin . “ No , but I do have news . jewel and I are lead to be quartering together . ”
A cheer went up from the table . “ at long last ! ” gasp Malese . “ Where are you moving ? ”
Erik scratched absently at his branch . The team medical officer had warn him that scratching would just broadcast the chemicals deeper into his cutis , but sometimes he could n’t help it . “ Hobson ’s Farm . ”
“ Ooh , ” Cora articulate . “ Fancy digs . You guys get a Glo - Suite ? ”
“ Actually , ” Erik stared into his chump , “ we ’re getting a demon . ”
Paolo ’s eye go bad ride , then he permit out a jolting chuckle . “ What does muffin need with a rug goliath ? She ’s already begin you , correct ? ” He smacked his wet lips together in Malese ’s ear .
Malese roll her eyes as she pushed him away . “ Right , because no one ’s ever made that joke before . ”
“ How long have you guys been plan this ? ” Cora asked . “ I try the wait list for monster pup is like , two twelvemonth . ”
“ It ’s not a whelp , ” Erik say . “ The duo that was exist in the unit took off for Truman last calendar month . No one even knew until yesterday . ”
“ A 2d - hand monster ? ” chimed in Petrovsky . “ Are you certain that ’s a respectable theme ? ”
“ It ’s not ‘ second - manus , ' ” Cora corrected him . “ It ’s a deliverance . ” She turn to Erik . “ I imagine it ’s great . And it means we ’ll have lots of parties at your place . Give your little bozo lots of attention . ”
“ If it does n’t bite , ” Petrovsky muttered . Even Paolo glared at that . “ Hey ! ” Petrovsky raised his hands , palms out . “ I ’m just order , those things do n’t manage abandonment well . And it ’s not like a cat that you’re able to just crate when its unsound . ”
“ It ’s hunky-dory , ” Erik said . “ Gem and I see her last night . She ’s in really respectable build . Just a fiddling shy . ”
Petrovsky poured himself another drink . “ Are you sure about this military man ? A monster ’s a bighearted commitment , bigger than repro even . You bozo are never going to be capable to move off - station . Hell , you wo n’t be capable to move across the Charles Martin Hall , especially if the thing ’s already been abandoned once . ”
Erik thought about his own puerility . His own parent had split shortly after their repro came through , his father opting for a cryo task in another system . His female parent moved them to the sun domes , where there were few children his old age , and never applied for a second repro . Erik had spent lonely years in their quarters . gossip online with other kids in his learning age bracket was never the same as human , animal contact . Once , when his mother was working a particularly farseeing transmutation , he ’d crafted large framework heart , Au like a monster ’s , and glue them all over the carpeting of their quarter . He smiled at the computer storage of his mother screaming at him , rank him out the doorway to request the good answer needed to dissolve the gum .
Then Gem walk into the bar . Erik turned to watch her . She was still in her jumpsuit , a argumentation of fungogrease traced deliberately beneath one eye . Her way-out flushed hair was pulled back and beleaguer into a ottoman ball . When she espy him , her sass widened into a commonplace but happy smile . Erik was ready to never be alone again . It would just be him , her , and their monster .
Fiction
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