This character spotlight will feature one of my favourite supporting characters: The Mabitu.
It is an urban legend throughout the universe that there exists a creature so beautiful, every sentient being is irresistibly attracted to it. This creature is said to have started wars that led to the destruction of entire planets when their inhabitants fought to the death over the chance simply to glimpse it. This creature is one-of-a-kind, the only member of its species, and is said to be older than time itself. They call it the Mabitu, short for the Most Attractive Being In The Universe. Of course, it’s only an urban legend . . . or is it?
Our protagonist, Linda Pumpernickel, and her trusty companion, Larv, come face to face with the alleged Mabitu during their layover on the seedy planet, Nilleby. Spoiler alert: it is real. And it is even more beautiful than the legends say—not only its phosphorescent physique, but also its three voices, which ring out in perfect harmony. However, its physical and auditory beauty aren’t even the main reason for the Mabitu’s irresistible allure. Rather, it emits a particularly potent type of pheromone via bubbles that are continuously released from within its glowing form. When the bubbles burst, an explosion of glittery chemicals rains down and entrances any being that comes into contact. Luckily, Linda, being a postmenopausal woman, is immune to this effect, as is the pre-pubescent Larv.
The Mabitu is relieved to finally meet sentient beings that it can safely be around. It has lived a very reclusive life due to the dangers of getting mobbed whenever it goes out in public. It made the risky decision to travel to Nilleby in a desperate attempt to commission a chemist to concoct an antidote to counteract its pheromones. Unfortunately, when the Mabitu went to meet the chemist, she was unable to control herself and started the very mob that had chased the Mabitu into the cafe where it found Linda and Larv. The Mabitu makes a deal with its new acquaintances: if they go to the lab and find the antidote, then it will take them wherever they want to go in its spaceship.
Thus sparks the beginning of an unlikely new friendship. The Mabitu, or “Mab,” as Linda fondly comes to call it, is as sassy and sarcastic as it is intelligent. Living an incalculably long time in solitude, Mab had spent its days studying all of the cultures and languages across the universe. It was constantly on the move, traveling from planet to planet, galaxy to galaxy, in search of species that could tolerate its pheromones. Along the way, it picked up all sorts of odd slang and interesting idioms from various places. The well-traveled Mabitu’s vast knowledge of the universe might just come in handy when Linda and Larv face unforeseen obstacles and their mission turns out to be more dangerous than they originally expected.
Let me know your questions or thoughts about the Mabitu in the comments. Just for fun: who do you think would play the Mabitu in a movie adaptation of Out of Tune?
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