Most of the Teekays were asleep right now, but some of them were still moving. Arcblade, now named Beh’en Teekay, had left, he had slept off his drunkeness and his hangover and returned to his duties on the Justar border, but all the other Teekays were still present. The only two currently awake were Silverbolt Teekay and Rethan Teekay. Silverbolt was well aware that something was going on, that the other, smaller Teekays, wanted something from him, but Rethan Teekay seemed to just be vibing. He was relaxed, drunk and happy. But also confused. Silverbolt knew that Rethan Teekay had questions.
“You alright, mate?” Silverbolt eventually spoke, breaking the silence.
“Me?” Rethan Teekay asked.
“You’re the only other Teekay awake right now.”
Rethan Teekay shrugged. There had been conversations as to what his actual name was, but despite Skyan Teekay having married a Rethan and that Rethan joining in the conversation at some point, they had no real idea. There were too many names, and the general consensus was that TK was in fact Rethan Teekay’s initials and their surname might have been Kieridos, which was a variant of a very common surname that had loads of other variants too.
“I guess? But I have been enjoying this very much. There are only a handful of Threanic beings among the Ekthris, but for this wedding, I am surrounded by them. I think you feel similarly, yes?”
Silverbolt leaned back and smiled. “I totally do. But in all honesty? I’ve felt happiest here, with you.”
Rethan Teekay eyed Silverbolt. “Hmph. I understand now why Skyan Teekay wanted us to spend time together. And why Skyan Teekay made that punch. You are both lonely and longing. And you see me as a potential… more than a friend.”
“Well, you are cute.”
“I… I am surprised that you find me cute. I understand General Elkay seeing me as somewhat cute, we are both Rethans, and, to General Elkay, the familiarity is nice. General Retvik does not see me as cute, nor does Ser Litvir.”
“Is Litvir not a General?” Silverbolt asked.
“I am uncertain. I think he was at one point, but he said he was in charge of the 11th Legion, and that Legion was shrouded in secrecy. But either way, our universe is dead, so none of them are Generals now. And I feel a bit more relaxed because I was just the rank of Captain. Etiquette would have me not even speaking to them.”
Silverbolt grunted. “Alright but I totally understand that. The Teliavok have strict hierarchies based on how… perfect you are.”
“How… how does that work?” Rethan Teekay asked. “I mean, I lived in a military society, we were all soldiers, we all had our hierarchies, but those hierarchies were based on merit. You had to be big and strong and smart and dedicated to become a General.”
“Yeah but I’m going to guess that you didn’t also have to LOOK perfect. I mean, I’ve seen Flamebearer and he is utterly covered in scars.”
Rethan Teekay glanced around but he couldn’t see Retvik. “Are you implying that THE General, one of the Rethavok’s greatest modern heroes, would be considered too imperfect for you? Because us Rethans believe that the more scars, the better, especially if they come with a cool story.”
“Basically. I mean, I think scars are… interesting, but I am the very small minority. Most Teliavok think that scars are ugly, to the point that people will have routine surgery to have any imperfections, everything from scars to stretch marks, removed.”
“Ah…” Rethan Tekay hesitated. He ran his hand across his head plate. His head plate had a large piece missing, and that missing plate had always been covered up and filled with a plastic prosthetic. “May I ask… do you think I am ugly? After all, I am hideously scarred. I do not even have a full head plate any more.”
“Well…” Silverbolt also hesitated. Not because he was going to insult Rethan Teekay, but because what he was about to say would have been considered scandalous. And also a little rude. “It… it depends.”
“On what?”
“On how you got your wounds.”
Rethan Teekay growled. “Hmph. Have you ever been inside a ship as it is torn apart and twisted into ribbons by unknown forces? As shards of metal fly by, slicing you apart? Have you ever held your superior as he bled to death in your arms, while you were unable to save him from the vast pieces of glass jutting out of his stomach? Have you ever been the only person on half a ship filled with corpses?”
“What… what happened to you?”
“I lived inside a universe. I worked on a ship inside that universe. That ship was forced outside the universe, and it was ripped to shreds. I spent months alone and drifting, broken and traumatized, losing my mind and my memories, while surrounded by the dead. I was lucky. The Ekthris found me. I serve them diligently because of that. But I assume I am too messed up for you.”
Silverbolt frowned. “I’m sorry that you feel like that. But in all honesty? Now I know? I can look past that. But also? I… I know a guy who does really good prosthetics. You could get a prosthetic for your head plate that actually fits. And it doesn’t have to match, you could get a pure gold prosthetic or something if you wanted.”
“Is this someone who works for the Alsyr? Because they refused. Mimicblade did my current prosthetic for me.”
“What? No! Also, why the fuck would someone refuse to give you a prosthetic? The dude I know is a Triple E, he works for the Pentathax. He…” Silverbolt trailed off, then fell completely silent. He was clearly contemplating something. With a sigh, he looked up at Rethan Teekay, then lifted his hand up. “I have a prosthetic finger. That’s how I know. I was born with only two fingers instead of three and I was pretty much an outcast since I was a kid. The Pentathax accepted me, but I’ve always been lonely.”
Rethan Teekay sighed, then shifted closer. “I understand. I understand far more than you think. Also, I am concerned that Eksi, Psiksi and Skyan Teekay know far too much and are very good at matchmaking.”
Silverbolt glanced around, up to the private quarters. He was pretty sure he’d seen the his-universe Skyans talking to a few people. “Probably. But… well… you are attractive… I’d be willing to try a date with you, if you want.”
“Hm… Well… I do not see why not. It might be fun.”
Silverbolt smiled, then leaned forward. “Cool. So, Arcbearer, would you like a drink?”
Rethan Teekay leaned forward as well, also smiling. “I would, yes.”
“Shall we go and head over to get one?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Wonderful.”