She didn’t know why, but nothing else she did served as a replacement for the high she got from these three activities. She had gone home several times, clearly three sheets to the wind, and her father didn’t know what to do with her. He would put her to bed, but would otherwise not scold her nor would he reprimand her in any way. Once, he had grumbled that she should be studying and not partying, but Maru’Chi ignored him--finding his grumbling to be painfully annoying and grating. In fact, it seemed to make her want to party even more. 

And here she was, downing beer like a madwoman and making an ass of herself trying to dance under strobing lights. Unfortunately or fortunately, it was very hard for an Erulanite to dance without tripping over their tentacles, and she did so several times. Because beer took such a long time to alter the cognitive functions of Erulanites in comparison to humans, she had to drink fifteen beers before she finally began to feel the effects of it. And then, she became brave enough to do what she had planned to go there to do. 

There was an Erulanite boy she was interested in who was at the bar--he was the mayor’s boy--and becoming his girlfriend, or perhaps even marrying him--would result in greater power for her whole family. 

She spotted him dancing with some other Erulanite woman, and the human word skank immediately came to mind, despite the fact that she had no idea who this other woman was. In Erulanite culture, the boys with the brightest and most flamboyant skin color were the most attractive, and the boy she had her eye on was no exception. He was bright green in color and sparkled like an emerald under the flashing lights. 

She approached the pair, whose hands and tentacles were both interlinked, and then cleared her throat to get their attention. 

Her mind worked quickly when there was something she really, really wanted, and right now, she wanted Nain-Trock--the mayor’s boy. The girl he was dancing with was a girl who attended many of the same classes she did. Jealousy burned in her heart; she was always second place to this girl. Her family had slightly more money than hers, she was always top of her class where Maru’Chi was second in her class, and her jewelry was simply more expensive and attractive than her own. 

But she knew things about Prin’Ga--this girl who usually outdid her--that she could use to her advantage. Maru’Chi cleared her throat. “Prin’Ga, the professor said that you got a ninety-eight in class today instead of your usual ninety-nine. Shouldn’t you be studying?”

Prin’Ga flushed, her pink skin turning pinker. She looked from Nain’Trock to Maru’Chi and then back. She hung her head. “She has a point. I’ve been falling down a bit on my studies. I’ve already been here for a few hours, and my mom and dad will skin me alive if I don’t bring my scores back up.”

Nain’Trock scoffed. “We were having a good time. You really want to derail it just to go do some studying for a class that you’re already acing?”

Prin’Ga turned her palms up apologetically. “Sorry. My studies are very important to me. But if you really care for me…” Prin’Ga pulled him close by the arm with a sly smile, “then you’ll wait for me.” she gave him a kiss so he would keep in mind what waiting for her could entail, and then she blinked out of existence, telporting home. 

Maru’Chi watched her go with an angry glare for moving in on who she considered to be her territory. After that, she brazenly took Nain’Trock’s hand and began dancing with him. She said with a smile, “What a buzzkill, huh? She leaves you at the drop of a hat just to go study.”

Nain’Trock glared at her. “If you hadn’t reminded her, she wouldn’t have left.”

Maru’Chi nodded as electricity shot up her spine upon hearing one of her favorite human songs playing. “True. But do you really want to be with someone who is more interested in studying in a lonely room than dancing and living a real life? I’ll tell you something… she may get better scores than I do, but I don’t even have to study to get good scores. I could stay here with you all night and wake up with you tomorrow morning and still get a near perfect score.”

Nain’Trock smiled at the low seduction in her voice. He cleared his throat. “You have a good point.”