“Vacation, mostly for inspiration,” Leon said before taking another sip, “A few friends of mine recommended writing a memoir or something about politics. I decided not to, rather deciding to write a book on. Something about a modern day treasure hunter or the sort.”
“Looks like you’ll need to postpone that dive of yours,” Yensey spoke silently to Ikrisia, “I think they’re coming over.”
“No worries,” Ikrisia replied. “I don’t believe I know them. Plus, we don’t want to be noticeably antisocial as well. They look down at that. Like we have something to hide.”
Yensey and Ikrisia both stood, as was customary in their culture. He brushed some sand off his trunks, while Ikrisia set her glass down in the sand next to her, bending with her knees and not at the waist. She removed her hat as well and set it behind the lounge chair, next to some gear while Yensey attempted to establish contact first.
“Greetings!” he said as he switched his drink into his left hand and offered his right for a shake. While it was more customary in Vekaiyu to bow and hold both hands in front (like one was holding an invisible ball was how most of the tourist guides put it), he was aware that not every vulpine was from Vekaiyu, at least. “How are you this afternoon? Enjoying the weather, I hope. I am Yensey, and this is my partner.”
“How do you do?” Ikrisia asked as she pushed her shades up a bit more. She cracked a smile.
“It’s our first time to this resort, and we’ve enjoyed every minute of it - the drunken minutes more than the sober minutes.” He smiled as he caught a coy glare from Ikrisia. “Anyway, what brings you to this resort?”
“Ooh, treasure hunting. Now that sounds like an interesting story. I know, how about something to do with those gold mines here in Shango. Maybe something got dug up by your treasure hunter, hmm?” Susan leaned back in her chair with a grin. For some reason she felt a bit proud of herself, even if it was a simple idea. “Maybe I should write a book. If I ever find the time…” She stopped grinning after remembering all the work waiting for her once her vacation was over. No matter what she did, all of it seemed to tie back to her position in the regime. “When I get back, I’m going to make sure I have more vacation time…”
Susan shook her head from thinking of work and turned her attention back to Leon. “Well if you ever do write a book, you should send a copy to me. We’re a little strict on what comes into the nation, but I’m sure I can make an exception.”
“Hey!” Called Alex. Saite followed her new friend, who introduced herself to the two lounging on beach chairs. “I’m Alex, this is Sai.”
“'Sup.” Saite held up a peace sign.
“How do you do?”
Surk responded, “Sure, although it might be a while. After this trip it’s to Vekaiyu. The book will be explosive for sure.”
Having not found someone to play tennis with, Konstantin ambled back to the bar area, ordered another Zyr, then went to relax on the beach.
As dusk approached, Alex bid Saite farewell and headed off to her hotel. Suddenly, Saite realized Alex was going home and leaving Shango tonight, and sat out on the sand listening to sad music.
Just like a music video, she rationalized. At least she had a couple of other new friends here.
After speaking to the two vulpine females, presumably not from Vekaiyu, Yensey and Ikrisia went for a couples’ snorkeling off the coast. It was pleasant, to put it frankly. Ikrisia had always been fond of the water, even when she was younger as a experiment deep within The Levinasi. It was difficult to explain, but if she had to pin it down correctly, perhaps the expanse of the water and how it seemed to surround her was her greatest comfort. Water was, well, water. Predictable. Dense. Understood. Things moved slower and more methodical in the water. And, if only for a little while, she could be in her own element, away from issuers giving her commands and away from the visions of war. Here she was free to explore the vast world around her, view a world the Almighty had meticulously created well before she was even born, and relax, truly relax in an environment she believed was meant for her.
After all, being an experiment, snorkeling in the ocean was a perfect analogy to her current stasis - a fish out of water, or, rather, a sentient in water - an alien in her own world, still trying to grasp at it conceptually.
At least this time it was nice to share the experience with a friend.
Later the two retired to a hot tub next to a grove a palm trees to warm up slightly and relax. The cooler eastern breeze moved in from the horizon and gently blew into the resort as lighted canopies and points of interest practically begged interaction among those present.
“I can’t get the taste of salt out of my mouth,” Yensey confessed.
“Ah,” Ikrisia said with a smile, “it’s tough at first. But you get used to it over time.”
Saite played absentmindedly with the sand in front of her as the sun dipped into the ocean with a flare of orange and pink. The clouds were few and far between, and the sea was calm and low.