Pryvani Tarsuss took a drink of the thick amber colored liquid that sat in the long odd shaped glass. She set it down slowly and looked across the table to her guest. “I don’t think I have to stress how difficult it has been for me to secure a meeting with you Mr. Avery.” There was a small Napkin placed carefully on her bright speckled dress. She took it carefully and wiped her mouth, pushing her plate aside.

“Yer a persistent green haired bugger eh?” Darren Avery spoke with a gruff southern drawl. His voice was like sandpaper, had he been any larger than 0.083 units such a voice may have carried with it a certain presence.

“One way or another Mr. Avery I always get what I want.” Pryvani eyed the projection before her. There was a list of strange desserts written in a language Darren had still not quite mastered. “Would you care for something to chase that down with?” Pryvani peaked across the table to Darren, who had not so much as made a dent in the meal he had been given.

“If yer plan is t’e fatten me up Mrs. Tarmacsus then yer doing a fine job.” Darren said back. His eyes scanned the restaurant around him. He had been on Archavia long enough to know where he was, and was not permitted to be. But there were no strange looks, there were no awkward glances. It gave him a chilling look into the clout his host carried.

“Tarsuss dear, Tarsuss.” Pryvani’s face twisted into an inquisitive look as she ran her finger over the menu, bringing up a new list of foreign delights her ‘guest’ had never heard of. “There is bound to be something here your taste buds would enjoy. Where was it you said you were from again Darren?”

“Austin Texas Ma’am.” Darren sat cross legged and watched his host with fascination. She was quite a bit different than any Titan he had yet to meet. There were quite a few faces that ran through his mind when he looked up to her. She was young, but she carried herself with authority. She was dignified, but she seemed relaxed and confident.

“So…something sweet, cooked in oil…preferably full of Gok’ma…” Her lips pursed into a delicate grin.

“Whachama?” Darren narrowed his eyes.

“Gok’ma…it is a paste derived from a bean grown in our southern hemisphere. Similar to what you call chocolate on Earth.” Pryvani swiped the menu away and set her hands down on the table gently.

“Ha! Deep fried and covered in chocolate! I like the cut-o-yer jib woman!” Darren took another bite of his meal and wiped his mouth with his napkin. He took a drink from the small glass he has been given, it had a long slender stem and a wide open mouth. It almost looked like a martini glass. The food he had been given was served on a place setting fit to his size, and he had been given utensils one might find on earth. This was the first time since he had arrived on this world he had eaten with a fork and knife on an actual plate. The sour face he made after taking a drink did not go unnoticed by his giantess host.

“Not a fan?” She held in a laugh, her face smoothed out into an amused smile.

“It’s strong…but it don’t hold a candle t’real Texas Moonshine!” His voice was hoarse and his face had gone flush. Titan food was strange and not always appetizing, but their booze was strong enough to strip the rust off a nail!

Have you decided on something for dessert Miss Tarsus?” A woman wearing a formal black uniform approached carefully from the side. She spoke with a shaky voice, struggling to maintain her confidence. Her black hair was tied back into a neat bun, and her skin held a dark tan complexion.

“The White Gok’ma keik…with glazed cream…please.” Pryvani spoke pleasantly.

“And would you care to order anything for your …pet?” The last word was spoken with the slightest hint of disdain.

“You might think to address my ‘guest’ directly perhaps?” She spoke with a clever bemused tone.

“Of course…my apologies Miss Tarsus.” The server spoke quickly, her voice trembling. Her bright grey eyes shifted down to the human sitting cross legged adjacent to Pryvani, swallowing a lump in her throat she spoke with forced kindness. “And for you…s…sir?” The last part forced itself out slowly.

“Heh, actually I’ll just have what she’s having.” Darren rubbed the back of his neck. He had never felt so out of place.

“One to share then?” The server addressed Pryvani once more.

“That will do. Thank you.” She smiled as the server nodded cordially, cleared the plates from the table and left. Once they were clear to speak once more, Pryvani sat back in her chair, crossing her hands over her lap. “So, Darren Avery. -THE- Darren…Avery.”

_______________________

“Hey thanks for sticking me with the green haired freak and her human, Kunnu!” The dark haired server rounded the corner to the preparation area. She set down a tray full of dirty dishes on a conveyor. Seconds later the whole surface began to move. The dishes were swept away into a large iron looking contraption, the door closed with a silent ‘woosh’.

Kunnu, a tall copper skinned man with orange hair and multiple piercings, and what looked like artificial optical implants responded with a hissing hush. “Keep your voice down!” The tall Titan’s voice reeked of panic. His eyes searched for any signs of listening ears before he quickly pulled the smaller female around the next corner.

“Kunnu what gives?!” The smaller Titaness pulled her arm free and rubbed where Kunnu had grasped her. “What are you doing?!”

“Saving your ass Ntyalone!” He sent her a furious look.

“What are you talking about!” Ntyalone scrunched her brow, confused.

“That ‘green haired freak’ is Pryvani Tarsuss!” The emphasis placed on the name he spoke could not have been given with more respect if he had tried.

“Who?” Ntylone sent off an offended look as she looked around the corner, only to be pulled back once more.

“Listen! You wanna keep your job? You make that woman happy! In fact you want to work ANYWHERE this side of Areis Station…you do everything you can to make THAT GREEN HAIRED FREAK happy!” His voice was more fearful than angry.

“Who is she?” The younger woman’s emotions now screamed confusion and caution.

The heiress to the Tarsus mining corporation, owner of half a dozen places twice as fancy as this…and one of the top 10 most influential people in The Empire!” He looked around. “If she wants to bring that dirty little thing in here, you smile, shut up and serve the damn human!”

“Damn…well who the hell is the human then? Must be someone important…to be eating dinner with Pryvani Tarsuss?” Ntylone gave her head a shake as she looked out towards the dining room.

______________________

“So you’ve ‘eard of me eh?” Darren stifled a laugh.

“You’re a household name Mr. Avery.” Pryvani spoke with an heir of flattery.

“Heh.” Darren scoffed off her attempt; he crossed his arms and looked away. “Hardly.”

Pryvani lifted her glass by its long zig-zagged stem and finished off the thick drink. She set her glass down carefully and leaned forward to close the gap between her and Darren. “Like it or not Darren, you are quite well known. For better or for worse well…that has yet to be decided.” Pryvani sat straight and extended her hand next to Darren palm up. “Would you be so kind?” She asked, in such a formal tone that suggested ‘no’ was not an option.

Darren sighed and forced himself to stand. “Yew Titan ladies are sure a touchie lot ya know that! Goodness if ya all wern’t s’damn big a body might feel fortunate fer all the attention!” Darren crawled into the open palm and sat cross legged in the center. He braced himself for the vertigo. He hated the vertigo. A body was not meant to be lifted up in such a manner! Or at least that was what he always insisted.

The heiress lifted him up carefully and brought him close to her face for examination. She studied him carefully for a few moments before scrunching her lips to the side. With the utmost care she reached down and poked him in the belly with her smallest finger. This was enough to draw out a reaction. He grumbled and swatted her finger away with bravado.

“Hands to yerself!” He spoke with confidence.

Pryvani pushed onward, she poked him in the stomach once more this time with her forefinger. Darren fell onto his rear. Before he could react he found himself leveled onto his back by the same assaulting finger.

“Wut gives! Yew said ya wanted a look! Hands off!” Darren struggled, but the Heiress pinned his arms with ease. A soft giggle escaped her as she gently rolled him around her palm, examining him from every such angle before letting him up with a satisfied sigh.

“Yup…definitely from Earth.” She ended her sentence with a slight chuckle.

“A’course I am! Didcha think ah wuz lie’n?” He grumbled in a huff. “Jus outta curiosity…how ca ya tell?” He looked to her, his tone softened.

“I can -always- tell Mr. Avery.” Pryvani’s spoke with confidence.

“Well ah guess it’s because were’s’damn handsome’n tuff!” Darren puffed out his chest.

Pryvani suppressed a laugh, covering her mouth with her free hand. “Well for starters you’re a fair bit shorter than most of the domestic stock.” She snickered.

“Heh…we’re plenty tall I’ll have you know!” Darren grumbled.

“Second, your muscle tone isn’t as well defined as the domestic bred humans we have around here.” She broke the new with a hint of pleasure. She enjoyed the abrupt reaction her jesting was sure to arise!

“Yew say’n I’m a sissy?!” Despite his compromising position in the palm of his host’s hand, Darren Avery spared no expense on the tone of his voice. His anger swelled and he confronted her with passion! “Lady I’d go round fer round wit any’a these pansy domestic chumps any day!” He defended his honor with vigor!

Pryvani’s body shook with laughter! “I’m sure you would…and I pity the soul who gets in your way!” She smiled easy; her eyes suggested she was mildly impressed. Truthfully she respected Darren’s spirit. He was scrappy. His gall is part of what had helped him make such a name for himself. “You don’t back down easily do you Darren?” Her voice was calm once more. Carefully she set her palm back down on the table, laying it flat so he could step off.

“Momma didn’t raise no sissy.” He leapt off Pryvani’s hand with gusto.

Pryvani quickly tilted her hand to the side as he went to leap off, catching his foot between one of her rings and her finger. It caused him to fall slightly off balance and land on his hands and knees. She quickly regained her composure, as if to suggest she had no idea what had happened.

“Cheeky green haired lil….” Darren grumbled as he helped himself stand. ”So, is this why ya tracked me down’n forced me out on this lil date? T’look me over’n muss around wit me?” He crossed his arms over his chest and stood looking up at Pryvani, staring her down with confidence.

“Right to the point eh? I can respect that.” Pryvani briskly plucked Darren up and sat him to the side. Before he could protest the abrupt invasion of his personal space, a plate many times larger than him was placed directly where he had been standing.

“Woops…my apologies.” The server’s sticky sweet voice was clearly condescending. “I didn’t see you there lil’guy.”

“Looks like dessert is here!” Pryvani chose to ignore the blatant disrespect for her guest’s wellbeing, rather focusing on the dessert in front of them.

It was a chocolate cake looking dessert on a fancy plate with what looked like whip cream. The delicious looking dish smelt strong of a berry scent, and had a purple sticky sauce drizzled over it. The place was dusted with what looked like cocoa and there was a large berry like fruit atop it all.

“Help yourself.” Pryvani motioned to the dessert with a smile.

Darren’s eyes went wide at the sight before him. There were indeed some advantages to living in a world of giants! “Sweet Jesus….” Darren looked up cautiously, he had been around the block a few times since his arrival, enough to know his place in the pecking order. However her welcome smile eased his concerns and he quickly dug into the sweet delight.

“Darren, before we go into why I asked you here…I wonder if you would entertain my curiosity?” Pryvani enjoyed seeing the little human so happy. His enthusiasm for the sweet dessert had even forced him to forget he had been given a set of utensils built for someone his own size. She gently reminded him by sliding them towards him carefully.

“Oh..heh…right…sorry.” Darren’s face went flush as he cleaned his hands on his napkin and picked up the fork. “Been’s’long since I’ve ‘ad one…it’s easy ‘t ‘ferget.”

“Quite alright.” Pryvani took her own utensil and took a small bite of her own. She set the fork-like item down and crossed her hands over her lap once more. “So, as I was saying. I wonder if you will be so kind as to entertain my curiosity? Hmm?”

“Sure…whacha wanna know?” Darren spoke, with a mouse full of chocolaty keik.

“Everything you can tell me Mr Avery!” She spoke with passion, there was a hungry curiosity to her tone. “Tell me how a delicious little morsel such as yourself ended up here before me tonight! Tell me everything!” In a move that broke character, Pryvani pushed her chair back and crossed her arms setting them on the table. She then rested her head in her arms, her eyes locking on Darren with fascination.

“Really?” He swallowed “The whole story?” He shrugged somewhat. “It’s kinda a long story….”

“You have my complete and undivided attention!” Pryvani’s voice purred with anticipation.

Darren took another bite, set his fork down and wiped his mouth. “Alright…fair enough. It all started about a two years ago….well…two earth years anyhow…on a lil spot out in the Nevada desert the locals know as Area 51…”