I have a point I want to make about the green-skinned alien woman that you meet in Treasure Seekers of Lady Luck. It’s one of the first encounters of the game, it’s included in the demo and as such I think it sets the tone for the game as a whole. This is a scene which is presented regardless of your sexuality or your gender.
I’m going to start by rewriting the first few paragraphs of the encounter with the green woman, Thisi, to try and illustrate my point and I’m hoping that copying such a tiny portion of the game counts as fair-use, especially since I plan on critiquing it.
I’d be interested in how people would have reacted if the scene had been written as it is below instead of how it is in the game? Would it have made anyone uncomfortable? Would it have changed your opinions on the character of Thisi?
I’m going to add my own thoughts in my next post.
***
The doors to the science lab part, revealing a small, dark room barely lit by a glowing computer panel at its center. An attractive young man hunches over the panel, his strong, handsome features accentuated by the contrasting play of light and shadow. You grin.
“Close the door, Borion,” he says good-naturedly, his eyes never leaving the panel. “I’m trying to concentrate here. We may have a problem.” His slightly accented voice feels like silk in your ears, and you’re overwhelmed by how attracted you are to him.
A second later, the man taps a button on the panel. The overhead lights come on, giving you your first good look at him. You can’t deny it; he’s beautiful, and his form-fitting uniform showcases his muscles to their fullest. And his skin is green. He’s a Nyarri, you realize with a start. That explains the sudden attraction.
An all-male, plantlike species, the Nyarri are sought after as companions throughout the galaxy. Chlorophyll flows through their veins, lending their skin its pale green tinge. Their complex pheromones lure both men and women of all species to them, and their capacity for lovemaking is the stuff of legends.
“Greetings, human,” the man says, his words dripping with suggestion. “May I ask with whom I have the pleasure of speaking?”
Blushing furiously, you introduce yourself. You almost want to do whatever he says just to keep him talking.
*
Even though you know it’s due to his pheromones, embarrassment at turning Thisi down washes over you.
Thisi pouts. “Well, you’re just no fun at all, are you?” Under his breath, he adds, “I like it when they play hard to get.”
