Humans can be born with "Throwback Traits". Tails are not unheard of. But imagine the shock of the enemy, when the space marine bares their teeth at them, only to show they have deadly-looking fangs. Yes, even the most otherwise ordinary human can end up with fangs when they grow their normal adult teeth. -- Fighting Fit
There was something amiss with Human Eef, though it wasn't immediately noticable. They seemed shy, covering their mouth when they laughed or smiled. Preferring to eat in their habitat. They were softly spoken most of the time, rarely raising their voice.
Companion Drask worried about it sometimes. Dreading the moment that a Deathworlder decided to prove themselves by taking on a Human in some display of superiority.
The dread moment came in a spaceport in the Edge Territories, where such things were far more commonplace. It was an old dance, known as early as pre-Shattering Terran dramas. The opponent attempted to raise Eef's ire with insults and swaggering, both of which Eef defused by agreeing with her.
Then she threatened Drask.
Eef stood up and said, "I suggest you find better sport. Friend." The last word was said with both menace and the first smile Drask had ever seen.
Normally hidden by Eef's concealing hand and shy mannerisms was a set of startlingly sharp-looking canine teeth. Upper and lower. Which Eef flashed meaningfully to the posturing Deathworlder.
This, in combination with their Spacer's Albinism[1] had a chilling effect on the opponent.
"I'll... just... go over there," said the opponent.
To rub in the mythological imagery, Eef ordered cranberry and pomegranate juice in a brandy snifter. Then sipped at it while smirking meaningfully at their wannabe opponent. Who sidled slowly out of view.
"I'm well aware of how I look. When other kids didn't call me 'Drac' they called me 'Eef with the teef'. That got real old. So I hid what I could. I'd much rather solve problems without excess violence, you know? So I speak softly and make polite requests with a smile."
"That is very unnerving," said Drask. "But... thank you for sharing in trust."
Eef smiled with their mouth mostly closed. "Thanks."
[1] The effect of long-term living in artificial environments is the loss of melanin and the production thereof. The effect is eventually genetic. In this case, Eef is pale, has white hair, and red eyes.
[Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash]
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