First Valentine's Day
Species: Silussian
Homeworld: Duranius
Planet Class: Arctic World
Star: Turiaso
Star Type: Class B (Blue Star, Turiaso A), Class K (Orange Star, Turiaso B), Class T (Brown Dwarf, Turiaso C)
Origin: Primal Calling
Empire: Citizen State of Duranius
Authority: Democracy
Ethics: Xenophile, Militarist, Egalitarian
Civics: Citizen Service, Beastmasters
Government: Citizen Republic
Traits: Arthropoid, Adaptive, Unruly, Deviants, Strong, Intelligent, Metallic Exoskeleton, Fire Spewing, Fossorial, Silken Birth, Born-Warriors, Irradiated, Radioactive Evolution, Hunter-Gatherers, Impassioned, Venerable, Nomadic
Ruler: Consul Marius Osotorius
Name List: Humans (SPQR)
Ship Type: Avian
Advisor Voice: VIR (Original)
Appearance: Slender #5 (Arthropoid)
Ascension Path: Psionic
Diet: Omnivore
Marius Osotorius, the Consul of the Citizen State of Duranius for three terms, the Silussian who led his species to the stars, and hero of the Duraniusite-Xindeshi Expulsion War, is in an antsy mood right now. He has multiple tabs opened on his portable computer terminal and has his VIR unit make sure that he has everything on his list. For a while now he has known about a human holiday known as Valentine's Day and has seen humans celebrate it amongst themselves, sometimes with a non-human partner each year when he visits the Little Terra District in Vervinius, the capital city of Duranius. He never thought that he would celebrate a human holiday let alone Valentine's Day, that is until his human girlfriend Christine Winters came into his life.
Christine was originally from the Commonwealth of Man, the Glaciovolcanic world that the Commonwealth dubbed as Hephaestus. Hephaestus seemed to be a fitting name for that particular colony as it is a forge world where a lot of the metals for the Commonwealth of Man's ships are created as it is named after the Greek god of blacksmithing and volcanoes. Christine is among many of the Commonwealth of Man's population that disagreed with the empire's xenophobic stance.
She wanted to leave Hephaestus and see what is out there beyond the Commonwealth of Man's borders. Her family disagreed with her wanting to leave and they got into an argument that got rather heated. She snuck out in the dead of night, stowed away on a cargo ship and never looked back. She had been sneaking on board cargo ships for weeks until she was found by Marius in the docking bay at the Turiaso Starbase. Marius was visiting his brother Opiter, who is a dock worker.
When they found Christine, she was malnourished and in a sickly state. They took her to a hospital planetside. When Christine found out that the alien who rescued her was in fact the Consul of the Citizen State of Duranius she was surprised. Realizing that Christine had nowhere to go, he offered her to stay at his home until she was up on her feet. This was the first time Christine had ever been on an alien world and even met an alien in person. As they got to know each other the two of them developed a friendship that grew into something stronger and before they knew it they were in a relationship. At first, they tried to keep it private, but if you are dating the leader of the Citizen State of Duranius your relationship is going to be publicized.
"Sir?" the voice of VIR snapped him out of his thoughts.
Marius turned around to see VIR holding up a box. "Oh, thank you VIR." he took the box from VIR and opened it. Inside the box are four bow ties. One is black with red and white hearts, one is a simple red, another is a simple black, and the last one is white with red hearts on it.
"Which one do you think I should put on?" Marius asked.
"The last one perhaps." VIR answered.
Marius picked out the white bow tie with red hearts on it and headed towards the bathroom. With the way the Silussians are anatomically built as an arthropoid species they can't wear most clothes, so the bow tie is what he was going to have to work with. VIR floated around the living room noticing the tabs about Valentine's day opened on the portable computer terminal as well as the notes written in scattered all over the room. A similar event happened when he celebrated Christmas with Christine. Computer terminal tabs opened with information about Christmas and notes about the holiday scattered about all over the living room. Marius wanted to give Christine a happier Christmas than the ones she had with her estranged family. He wanted it to be perfect, however many mishaps have happened.
Some of the presents were delivered late, when chopped down the Christmas tree, it crashed into the barn, when Marius tried to make Christmas fruitcake it got burnt to the point where it was inedible. He felt bad about the mishaps, but Christine assured him that all that mattered was that the two of them got to spend time with each other. Now he seemed to have forgotten that lesson.
"Consul, I have never seen you this stressed out since both Christmas and the time the Ring of Xindesh have caused a crime wave across Duraniusite territory," said VIR.
"VIR this is mine and Christine's first Valentine's Day and I want it to be perfect. I need to get this all done before she gets home." Marius facepalmed "What if I mess this up? What if she doesn't like it?"
"Marius, you need to take a breather. I'm sure she will li–" before the AI advisor could finish his sentence, the smoke alarm started to go off in the kitchen. This could mean only one thing, the roast is burning.
"Oh shit!" Marius ripped the fire extinguisher off the wall and ran into the kitchen.
He used his secondary set of arms to open the oven door revealing the roast that had burst into flames. He blasted the roast with the fire extinguisher putting it out. All that is left of the roast is a hard, black, burnt inedible block.
"Well that's just great!" Marius deadpanned. "I just ruined the main course for dinner!"
"Well, at least you didn't ruin the desert this time." VIR gestured at the heart shaped red velvet cake on the counter.
Now he needs to find something else for dinner before Christine gets home. The backup plan in case the roast does not work is seafood. Christine's favorite food is shrimp. She actually introduced him to shrimp via the Hastings-Style Shrimp when they had their first date at a seafood restaurant in the Little Terra District and it became one of his favorite meals.
Marius went back to the living room and started looking through the papers scattered on the coffee table right next to the portable computer terminal. He finally managed to find the recipe for the Hastings-Style Shrimp, now all he and VIR needed to do is make sure they have all of the ingredients.
Marius checked the freezer outside for the shrimp, after a few minutes of rummaging through it, he found an unopened bag and brought it inside the house.
"Okay, I got the shrimp." He placed the shrimp on the counter along with the unsalted butter, jar of parsley and bottle of dry white wine.
"I managed to get most of the other ingredients, but there is a problem. We don't have any shallots and watercress." VIR explained.
Marius ran to the fridge and started rummaging through it like a madman. VIR was not kidding, they did not have any shallots or watercress.
"VIR, what time did Christine say she was supposed to come home from work?" asked Marius.
"At 6:30 p.m. sharp." VIR answered.
Marius looked at the clock on the wall which read 5:20 p.m. If he needs to head to the store then he has to be quick.
"That's one hour and ten minutes from now!"
"You head to the store, I'll clean up the mess and get everything else ready!" VIR exclaimed.
Marius rushed out of the house and headed to the stable. Although the Silussians are an advanced civilization and use vehicles, they still use mounts which on Duranius can be just as fast. He went to get Snowjumper, his Nixcornu, ready. Nixcornus are domesticated by the Silussians, used as one of several modes of transport and are also used as battle beasts. They appear to resemble a mix of a dragon, wolf, and deer.
"Snowjumper, I need you to get me to the Little Terra District fast, this is a Valentine's Day emergency!" Marius explained as he got the saddle on Snowjumper.
As soon as he put the saddle on, he jumped on Snowjumper's back and they flew off to Vervinius.
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Marius managed to make it home in twenty minutes with the shallots and the watercress that is needed despite having to go through some hurdles involving various other species doing some last-minute shopping for their human partners.
"I got everything we need. Is everything else taken care of?"
As Marius walked in, the living room was cleaned up and the portable computer terminal was shut off. When he got to the dining room, he saw VIR lighting up the candles on a table which was covered in a fancy red tablecloth. The cake was finally covered in icing and a bottle of red wine was chilling in a bucket of ice.
"What do you think?" VIR asked.
"Thanks VIR, you really are a lifesaver."
"You're welcome. Now why don't we get started with cooking?"
Forty-five minutes later, a woman in winter gear riding a female Nixcornu landed inside the stable. The woman dismounted her Nixcornu and took off her riding gear. Snowjumper made some vocalizations at her. The female Nixcornu walked over and greeted Snowjumper with a lick on the cheek. The two of them purred and nuzzled each other. The woman opened the gate to the stall to let in her Nixcornu to be with Snowjumper.
"You Snowjumper both have a good Valentine's Day with each other Crystal," the woman said as she closed the stall.
Marius rushed into the living room as soon as he heard the sound of keys unlocking the door, Christine just got home.
As soon as Christine walked inside, she took off her hat, goggles and hood revealing her platinum blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
Marius took a moment to admire his girlfriend's beauty and strode over to the entryway to greet her.
"Happy Valentine's Day my love." Marius wrapped both sets of his arms around her and Christine wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.
"I really like the bow tie Marius," said Christine "Now I feel kind of underdressed."
"Oh, that reminds me, I have a gift for you. I want you to close your eyes, no peeking," said Marius.
Christine closed her eyes and covered them with her hand. Marius walked into the closet and pulled out a red dress. He has seen Christine stare at it one time when they passed a boutique shop in the Little Terra District. He instructs Christine to hold out both of her hands and hands her the dress.
"You can open your eyes now."
Christine opened her eyes and saw the red dress in her hands. "Marius, it looks beautiful. Now we both can be fancy."
Christine went to the bathroom to change into the dress. Marius went to the kitchen to check on VIR who is cooking the Hastings-Style Shrimp.
"How's the progress?" asked Marius.
"About five minutes." VIR answered.
Enough time to slow dance with Christine. As soon as he walked back into the living room Christine was waiting for him.
"How do I look?" she asked.
"You look wonderful my love." Marius once again took a moment to admire his beautiful girlfriend.
He walked towards her and kissed her on the lips.
"Thanks for getting me the dress. It's beautiful," said Christine.
"Hey, you're beautiful too." Marius replied.
"Oh stop it." Christine smiled and blushed. "I'm happy you think I'm beautiful too."
Christine smelled shrimp cooking in the kitchen, and it took her a moment to realize that VIR is cooking seafood.
"That smell, is that?"
"Hastings-Style Shrimp, I figured we might as well have something that reminds us of our first date and it's your favorite," said Marius.
"Wow, you are really going above and beyond for our first Valentine's Day aren't you." Christine replied.
"Oh, that reminds me I have one more thing. Two more actually." Marius went to the entertainment stand, opened one of the cabinets, and started looking for something inside. He pulled out a record player and a Nina Simone record. He set it up in a way so that the first song played is "Feeling Good". He turns on the record player.
"Is that Nina Simone?" Christine asked as soon as she heard the first lyrics to "Feeling Good" play.
"That it is. Would you like to dance?" The Silussian held out one of his three fingered hands.
Christine accepted his hand. She has one of her hands in his and moved her free hand onto his shoulder, feeling Marius's metallic exoskeleton under her palm. Marius's other three hands moved onto her waist and the two of them began to sway to Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" playing.
"This is one Valentine's Day I won't forget. I kind of feel swept off my feet," said Christine.
"That's the point." They kissed again for the third time that night. "I'm glad that I've made you happy tonight."
Christine leaned in and rested her head on Marius's chest. She could hear the sound of his heartbeat through his exoskeleton.
"I know you got dinner planned, but I want to stay like this for a little bit longer. I kind of just want to stay like this forever. Or at least until the song is done, because I am getting kind of hungry," said Christine.
Marius's stomach growled. "Looks like you're not the only one," Marius chuckled, and Christine ended up chuckling too.
"I love you," said Marius.
"I love you too." Christine replied.
As the song draws to a close, Marius and Christine kissed each other on the lips. VIR floated into the living room.
"Consul, Christine dinner is ready," said VIR.
"Well, what are we waiting for? I'm starving." The couple make their way to the dining table to get their dinner.
VIR gave them each a plate full of Hastings-Style Shrimp. Marius poured both him and Christine a glass of wine.
"A toast to our first Valentine's Day and many more to come," said Christine. She and Marius clinked their glasses together.
Author's Note:I want to try doing posting something in a multichapter oneshot format. I kind of figured that posting Valentines Day oneshots until February is over might be a good idea.