“Delivery from Morgan,” Atlas said from the door, holding a paper bag. He handed it over and I found clean underwear inside. Atlas left us to it with a grin directed at Tol’sh. Her face got darker with a clear blush and she averted her eyes, shy. What was going on there?
“With your undergarments, we can begin. May I style your hair?” Tol'sh asked and I crunched the bag tight to my chest.
“Whatever you like. I don't mind. Do I change behind that screen over there?” The thick fabric of lighter brown stretched across the wide frame and would cover me from view completely.
Tol’sh offered a hand for me to step down and over to the screen. "I'll have a bag for you to put your clothes in and send them back to your bungalow," She replied, taking out a strange three tooth pin and grabbing up a long swathe of cloth. "How are you enjoying the island?"
A topic I could get behind. “I love it! It's beyond my wildest dreams and the lagoon itself? It’s everything and more,” I sighed dreamily.
“Many fall into the depths and don’t want to surface. My people have been worshipping it for so long, I am not sure there was a time they didn't sing its praises of mystic power," She remarked and brushed back a few dreads that hung down her shoulders. "Of course, having seen the miracles that spring forth from the waters, I do not think the praises are undeserved."
Behind the screen, I started to strip off my swimsuit and dropped it onto the towel, soaking up whatever water still clung to the fabric. Through the screen, I heard the constant snap of the looms in use and Tol’sh puttering around. “The lagoon isn’t just miracles. There is something more there," I said because even if I didn’t want to share my new friend, he deserved every bit of acknowledgement and praise I could give. I hopped into my new underwear and then the plain blue bra Morgan had so thoughtfully supplied. The skirt’s lovely fabric slid against my skin with no catching or itches. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was wearing the fabric equivalent of water. It settled snug at my waist, hugging the skin there and slowing looser down my legs.
Everything covered,I walked out from behind the screen with hands brushing over the skirt’s fabric. Its watery quality was more obvious when I walked, slipping around my skin.
Tol’sh beamed and fluttered around me with a bundle of fabric already in her arms. Smaller but no less delicate and pretty. “Now for the bandgu,” She announced, looking pleased. She brought over the strip of cloth and pressed it under my arm, beginning three circuits around me. Under my arms and tighter around my chest, I had never worn something so smooth and thick at the same time. She tucked bandgu into a deep and a smaller ornamental wooden pin slid in at the back.
It managed somehow to keep the fabric as secure and snug as the skirt. She finished it off with a braided rope as thick as my pinkie around the bottom of it. A bow and it dangled over my belly like a hanging ornament.
“Do I have to wear shoes with this?” I asked, interested in the local dress code. That and I didn’t like most shoes.
“No. We've mostly gone bare foot unless we went along the northside of the isles,” She answered. “We would wear thick leather hide boots in the more unruly spots of the island forests. Hunting as well."
Perfect. “Wonderful, I definitely don't mind," I perked up and itched my neck. A little flutter and I swore I felt a flap of skin before it smoothed out with my inhale.
“Stand still and I'll finish this for you,” She smiled, pressing the three pronged pin against my hip and not sliding it through anything. A wide strip of cloth hung there, one corner tucked into my skirt. She wrapped it once around my hips until she came back to the pin. One loop over a spike and then another. She pleated the fabric on her second circuit to the pin and made lovely ruffles before the third (half) rotation up to my opposite hip and then over my front and shoulder.
The pin at my hip twisted once and a sharp click secured it. The long strip left thrown over my shoulder wound back to slip in at my opposite hip. "And there we have it. It looks amazing on you," Tol'sh almost squealed and stepped back to admire her work.
My fingers curled into the hanging fabric, the same watery quality as the underskirt. “You're an amazing dresser or whatever they call it. Stylist! That's the word I was looking for,” I rambled and clicked my thumb and ring finger for effect.
“Let me finish up with your hair,” She giggled, leaning close when I nodded. “Just a little curl here, and maybe... there. Your hair does most of the work.”
“I did go for an extended soak,” I tapped my chin. It had always worked wonders for my skin and hair. “Or maybe your hands are magic. Is there any way I can pay for this? And your styling expertise.”
“This is the best payment! You looks stunning," She beamed and took out a camera with a huge lens. “May I take a few photographs for my portfolio? I reference many of my combinations and models for future produce.”
“I’ve never been a model but,” I hesitated. “Sure. I’m very grateful for this.”
Her feet almost left the ground with her happy squeak and she ushered me over to the pedestal again. She didn’t ask me to do many poses and none too embarrassing for my cautious self. Ten, then fifteen and she set the camera down on one of her cluttered work benches.
“These are beautiful. I think you’ve become one of my new muses. I have many palette combinations that would go so well with your complexion and body. Expect a few more gifts from an appreciative artist.”
I’d see about leaving a massive tip before I left the Isles. “Then I am saying it now; I can’t thank you enough. Morgan and Miles will go nuts!" I gushed, shaking her hand in mine quickly. I let go when she winced and apologised before she cut me off with a laugh. The skirt swished and nothing loosened.
A few more twirls and I nearly flew like one of the flying wing fairy dolls. “Tol’sh, you’re the closest anyone will ever get to a Fairy Godmother. Now I just need to find a watery prince by the lagoon.”
She blinked, glancing at the door. Atlas must have gone.
“I am sure Atlas is waiting for you. Go enjoy a nice meal,” She offered and I saw that echo of pain in her eyes when she brought him up.
“I was thinking about ordering room service or raiding the buffet to go eat by the water. But since you made me look nothing like my normal ratty self, I will honour your wishes. Do you have a break coming up? You could come with us to eat,” I offered, already liking the idea of being a third wheel to a clearly crushing woman and Atlas.
Somehow, my offer didn’t get the bite I wanted. “You are strange,” She murmured, cocking her head. “But I can’t. Too much work.”
Ugh, why not take my bait and let me leave early while she entertained the man? “As you wish. I'm gonna order a tonne of crab," I grinned and wiped at my mouth. “Maybe some sides of seaweed sides and juicy cuts of barely cooked fish.”
“Have fun,” She called when I turned and power walked out the room. I waved back to the lovely loom weavers before the door shut.
I forgot about Atlas until he caught up to me and kept my brisk (hungry) pace. "You look lovely," He breathed.
I glanced down to my silks and up to him. “Thank you,” I said and took a left, close enough to the lobby that I could hear the hubbub. “Tol'sh is an absolute genius. The colour mix and the way this silk feels is otherworldly.”
“It suits you. Lunch?” He offered his arm. Fresh from the lagoon and new fancy clothes, I didn't want to douse myself in his scent. The skirt was the only reason I put my fingers on his arm, no more or less.
“I'll have plenty of delicious lobster and maybe some molluscs. They have barely cooked salmon, don't they? I'll take four or five platters full,” I claimed and rubbed my belly, the scent of food getting closer and closer.
With his other hand in his pocket and his shoulders straight, he led me into a lounge area before the dining tables and the maitre de. "A table for two," Atlas stated, voice clear and seeped in dominance. It reminded me of Uncle Adam when he had his business phone calls.
The man gave a deferential dip of the head behind the podium and slid out two menus. He led us over to a table near the tall window-doors that opened onto a beautifully kept pond and garden. The few children guests wandered there with adult supervision, others took photos of the scenery alone or in clumps of obnoxious chatter.
One woman all but bared her chest for a picture (far too) close to a carved marble statue of a mermaid. It and five others overlooked the pond and bridge that went across the sizeable water feature.
"That doesn't look sanitary," I observed her almost tonguing the thing while her flamboyantly dressed male friend snapped pic after pic. One employee saved my appetite by coming over to herd them away. "May I have the biggest plate of crab you have, two whole salmon and a lobster please?" I asked the server who came over after the first had left. Atlas had been about to say something, I realised and I smiled over to him in something like an apology.
He waved it off and ordered his own. Who had chicken and some boring eggs this early?
I scanned the restaurant while we waited, not really here for anything more than food.
My eyes widened on a pair of silver eyes in a painting and I craned my head to get a better look. No, that was a human, not the very fishy creature I'd fallen asleep on. The portrait was lovingly rendered, framed with a thick wooden frame lacking much embellishment. Tucked in a shadowed corner, most would overlook it. The artist had captured the image of a vulnerable man with naked shoulders and his dark head of hair.
“You are enjoying the resort?” Atlas asked at last and I nodded, trying to strain my neck to catch the name below the portrait hung in the farthest corner of the dining area. Someone's fat head blocked the plaque so I grabbed a little roll from the basket in the middle of the table to snack on. Fibre was good for the body, Miles’ voice echoed in my head.
I turned the bread in my hands, listening to the slight crunch of the crust. I dropped it on the tiny plate to my left. “Yes, the waters are Heaven,” I answered, crunching down on the roll and glimpsing back. The fat head was still in the way.
“The Black Lagoon is not very popular to most after the first night,” Atlas told me, eyes steely and I waited for him to elaborate. His hands curled into loose fists on the table, his shoulders tense as he reached up to itch at his right temple. This felt more like the real him and it caught my attention better than his flashy smiles. This Atlas didn't make me squirmy and willing to call bullshit over very flowery word. “They often complain it is rather creepy. The darkness below is not something many are comfortable with.”
“That's because they're idiots. If I got my way, I'd live in it," I chewed on another bite of the bread and I hummed around a long chewing session as I shovelled two more buns into my maw.
Atlas didn't smile so much, his gaze heavy as he watched me. “You should eat more than that,” He said and rested his check on his palm, elbow perched on the table top. “ While these are baked fresh every morning and a local recipe, not many visitors like the salty bite to it.”
“Are you kidding?” I held back my initial urge to complain about tasteless foods that didn't appreciate quality food and culture. “Ahem, Tol’sh is a very sweet woman. Talented too!”
“That she is,” He agreed with no hesitation. “Her mother was the best dancer in the village. Tolsh and I would help her mother with the ceremonial dress and she would always say that Tol’sh worked magic for her performances. Your beautiful dress is one of the many masterpieces you'll see. She is very sought after for her expertise.”
“That makes a lot of sense,” I mused and recalled the pretty silks being woven. “Though, I have always loved my loom. I don't have a great eye for fashion, just ask Morgan.”
He gave another (fake) laugh. “Everyone has their own style and yours suited you.”
“Eh, I don't have Tol'sh's magic touch,” I waved off and tracked a procession of servers and their four trolleys. Heavy plates and covers for the bigger dishes were distributed to the customers closer to the kitchen but one trolley decorated with golden trim veered around the other diners and headed to us. I licked my lips, keeping my butt in my seat by sheer will. My gut definitely didn’t like my restraint and I hushed my gut when it gurgled. ‘Uncouth, have some manners, you animal of a girl!’
Dearest Ma, go fuck yourself and that male assistant you love to take on business trips with you.
I zoned out the moment the food got to the table and beamed up to the server, eyes crinkling in thanks. “It looks delicious, thank you,” I gushed when he set it in front of me. I waited thirteen long seconds before Atlas was served and dug in. The server stuttered out a few words before leaving us to it.
I was two lobster claws in (blessedly raw) when he cleared his throat. “Why do you feel the need to thank everyone?” He asked, not touching his food yet. I wouldn’t either, it looked plain and tasteless compared to my seafood.
I chewed my mouthful of lobster meat quickly and swallowed it in one gulp. “Because they're doing something for me. Regardless of it being their job, I like to think they deserve more than silent dismissals and no acknowledgement,” I answered. “Though, I do hate that my parents tried to constantly humble me. They're a big bag of dicks, to be crude,” I growled, plucking up another lobster arm and then the meaty guts of it. Delicious, every last molecule. Fish came next while Atlas picked at his chicken, just as near-raw.
The fish meat melted on my tongue and I almost forgot about the bones when I swallowed. One rogue bone snuck past my teeth and I felt my throat crush the offending bone like it was nothing more than dust. That was new.
I'd ask Miles about it later.
I polished off three large plates before Atlas and rubbed my full stomach with a happy sigh, other hand holding up the craw claw to chomp on. The shell broke like sugar glass under my teeth and I swallowed the jagged pieces. “That was delicious. Here, for the food,” I put down two twenty dollar bills (the currency here was able to be exchanged at a small shop near the beach).
He started to rise, ignoring his meal. “Oh, no,” He shook his head and slid it back over. “I did invite you after all.”
“Too late,” I sang and swung up onto my feet. He stood straighter with me but I waved his confusion off with a flourish of my hand and grinned. “I'm off to go find my crazy friends. But thanks for the meal. I loved it.”
“You do not want a second course?” He asked, face pinched.
Tempting, so very tempting. “Nah. I'm full up already. But you enjoy your meal, yeah?” I cocked my head and bounced out with a half-bow half-nod to a stunned Tol'sh. She glided into the restaurant with the grace of the smooth waves trickling over sand.
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