10-26-2017, 02:14 AM
Shades of pale violet and deep blue soaked into the sky as the sun dipped below the island-strewn horizon. The vanguard of the coming stars glinted faintly where the twilight palette joined. Ships creaked as sailors plodded down wooden gangways hauling crates full of some product or another, their captains standing with stiff postures, heads turning as each member trundled onto the piers. Sunbakers along the beaches rose from their towels and flapped the sand from them, rolling them into scrolls and strolled back towards the island city, the inviting yellow lights of its many buildings calling to them.
Koola paced down the pier as the lamp posts ignited, lining the path to the establishment at the pier's terminus. He fastened fingers around his forearms behind his back, his tail slumped and trailing behind him. Humanoid creatures lounged on benches on the pier's edge, some holding hands, others resting in the crook of their partner's arm, others gripping torn brown paper bags and bringing it to their lips. The din of a dozen voices talking at once meshed together to create an incomprehensible stream of noise. His red eyes snapped between each person he passed.
At the end of the pier, a human in a black and white suit stood with a genial smile behind a wooden lectern where a thick book busting with paper was opened. He spoke briefly to a couple of elegantly dressed customers, jotted something down and turned to face Koola. To his credit, the amiable countenance didn't twitch or drop at the sight of the changeling prince's clothe-less violet skin.
"Good evening sir," he greeted, eyes smiling with his lips. "Did you have a reservation?"
Koola's eyes narrowed. "I'm not ... accustomed to requiring a reservation."
"Oh! Fresh off the boat, are we?" the maitre d' said, his fingers flipping pages. "You've picked a wonderful night to visit the Silver Pearl. The night promises to be a spectacular one and someone cancelled! The table is outside, if you'd care to follow me?"
Koola breathed deeply and nodded. The maitre d' preserved his smile and lead the way towards the restaurant, hanging to the right side of the pier. Its walls were entirely made of glass, showcasing the gentle light and burgundy finishing within. Its roof rolled up and down like a wave cresting, falling and rising again.
Picking their way through rounded tables laid out around the outside of the Silver Pearl, most tables being empty, the maitre d' reached the edge of the pier and gestured to an unoccupied table. "Please take a seat, sir. I will be back momentarily with the wine list."
Koola sat in the chair offered and stared out into the darkening horizon. The gentle rumble of the surf meeting the sands broke up the harsh squawking of the seagulls that wheeled overhead.
The changeling prince drummed his fingers on the edge of the table. As an unexpected visitor in this new land, he decided to rein in his regal sensibilities and at least attempt to see his presence through the eyes of the lesser creatures here. Having to reserve a table? Removing his choice to sit where he pleases? Unbecoming of a prince as they might have been, Koola couldn't afford to throw his weight around until he had a proper appreciation of his new home and exactly how strong he was here. If there were more like Omni, or even himself, he might not get his way as often as he would like.
"Here you are, sir." The maitre d' handed Koola a laminated menu, its items scrawled in loops and flourishes. "Would you like to hear the specials?"
Koola grunted. "No."
He ran his eyes over the admittedly wide selection, yet none came close to resembling anything the changeling prince had ever sampled. Koola planted a finger on the most expensive wine on the list.
The maitre d' collected the menu. "Excellent choice sir. The fruity undertones of this particular vintage are a delight to experience. How will you be paying?"
Koola furrowed his brow. "Paying?"
"Yes, sir. We accept omnilium, all major credit cards-"
"I don't have anything on me. Do you see any pockets?"
The maitre d' paused a moment. "I'm sorry sir, but I cannot provide you with food and wine if you do not have a way to pay."
A heat swelled in Koola's chest. He leapt to his feet and spun about. "Now you listen to me-"
The maitre d' scowled but his brow twitched, revealing his discomfort despite the strong facade. Koola saw himself in the reflection of the scared human's eyes.
The changeling prince looked down and cleared his throat. "I will enjoy the view for a few minutes more and then leave. I trust you have no objections."
"N-no sir. I hope we will see you again in ... better circumstances." The maitre d' hurried off.
Better circumstances. Koola's eyes rested on the dividing line between sky and sea. A prince of a belligerent empire stuck in an unknown universe without a credit to his name. Was there a question that circumstances could get worse?
The sky turned from purple to navy to black. Koola stood and faced the walk down the pier as the maitre d' arrived with a generous glass of cloudy red wine, smiling despite their earlier altercation.
"Your wine sir." He handed it to Koola, who took it gingerly.
"I don't understand," he said, swishing the deep burgundy liquid and sniffing it. "I didn't pay."
"It seems a payment was made on your behalf."
"By who?"
"I am unsure sir, but your meal has also been taken care of."
"I didn't order a meal."
"A black pepper crab will be on its way shortly. It seems someone is fond of you." The maitre d' flashed his white teeth again and walked off.
Koola dropped back into his seat and sipped the wine. An explosion of flavour saturated his tongue as he gazed at the gleaming stars. He cast a gaze around the now full tables on the pier, expecting to see someone watching him and ready to make themselves known but no one looked knowingly back at him. He took another mouthful as the maitre d' delivered the black pepper crab. The delectable scent awoke a grumble in his stomach and he tore apart his meal, savouring every bite that funnelled through his oesophagus.
He sighed contently at the broken shell of the crab and left his table, his eyes darting about for the one responsible for his free meal. Perhaps a member of his forces had recognised him and provided the necessary payment; Koola had no mind for his lackeys' faces. Still no one stepped forward.
Koola strolled down the pier with a placated appetite but a new niggle joined the others in his mind, almost certain that he was being watched.
Koola paced down the pier as the lamp posts ignited, lining the path to the establishment at the pier's terminus. He fastened fingers around his forearms behind his back, his tail slumped and trailing behind him. Humanoid creatures lounged on benches on the pier's edge, some holding hands, others resting in the crook of their partner's arm, others gripping torn brown paper bags and bringing it to their lips. The din of a dozen voices talking at once meshed together to create an incomprehensible stream of noise. His red eyes snapped between each person he passed.
At the end of the pier, a human in a black and white suit stood with a genial smile behind a wooden lectern where a thick book busting with paper was opened. He spoke briefly to a couple of elegantly dressed customers, jotted something down and turned to face Koola. To his credit, the amiable countenance didn't twitch or drop at the sight of the changeling prince's clothe-less violet skin.
"Good evening sir," he greeted, eyes smiling with his lips. "Did you have a reservation?"
Koola's eyes narrowed. "I'm not ... accustomed to requiring a reservation."
"Oh! Fresh off the boat, are we?" the maitre d' said, his fingers flipping pages. "You've picked a wonderful night to visit the Silver Pearl. The night promises to be a spectacular one and someone cancelled! The table is outside, if you'd care to follow me?"
Koola breathed deeply and nodded. The maitre d' preserved his smile and lead the way towards the restaurant, hanging to the right side of the pier. Its walls were entirely made of glass, showcasing the gentle light and burgundy finishing within. Its roof rolled up and down like a wave cresting, falling and rising again.
Picking their way through rounded tables laid out around the outside of the Silver Pearl, most tables being empty, the maitre d' reached the edge of the pier and gestured to an unoccupied table. "Please take a seat, sir. I will be back momentarily with the wine list."
Koola sat in the chair offered and stared out into the darkening horizon. The gentle rumble of the surf meeting the sands broke up the harsh squawking of the seagulls that wheeled overhead.
The changeling prince drummed his fingers on the edge of the table. As an unexpected visitor in this new land, he decided to rein in his regal sensibilities and at least attempt to see his presence through the eyes of the lesser creatures here. Having to reserve a table? Removing his choice to sit where he pleases? Unbecoming of a prince as they might have been, Koola couldn't afford to throw his weight around until he had a proper appreciation of his new home and exactly how strong he was here. If there were more like Omni, or even himself, he might not get his way as often as he would like.
"Here you are, sir." The maitre d' handed Koola a laminated menu, its items scrawled in loops and flourishes. "Would you like to hear the specials?"
Koola grunted. "No."
He ran his eyes over the admittedly wide selection, yet none came close to resembling anything the changeling prince had ever sampled. Koola planted a finger on the most expensive wine on the list.
The maitre d' collected the menu. "Excellent choice sir. The fruity undertones of this particular vintage are a delight to experience. How will you be paying?"
Koola furrowed his brow. "Paying?"
"Yes, sir. We accept omnilium, all major credit cards-"
"I don't have anything on me. Do you see any pockets?"
The maitre d' paused a moment. "I'm sorry sir, but I cannot provide you with food and wine if you do not have a way to pay."
A heat swelled in Koola's chest. He leapt to his feet and spun about. "Now you listen to me-"
The maitre d' scowled but his brow twitched, revealing his discomfort despite the strong facade. Koola saw himself in the reflection of the scared human's eyes.
The changeling prince looked down and cleared his throat. "I will enjoy the view for a few minutes more and then leave. I trust you have no objections."
"N-no sir. I hope we will see you again in ... better circumstances." The maitre d' hurried off.
Better circumstances. Koola's eyes rested on the dividing line between sky and sea. A prince of a belligerent empire stuck in an unknown universe without a credit to his name. Was there a question that circumstances could get worse?
The sky turned from purple to navy to black. Koola stood and faced the walk down the pier as the maitre d' arrived with a generous glass of cloudy red wine, smiling despite their earlier altercation.
"Your wine sir." He handed it to Koola, who took it gingerly.
"I don't understand," he said, swishing the deep burgundy liquid and sniffing it. "I didn't pay."
"It seems a payment was made on your behalf."
"By who?"
"I am unsure sir, but your meal has also been taken care of."
"I didn't order a meal."
"A black pepper crab will be on its way shortly. It seems someone is fond of you." The maitre d' flashed his white teeth again and walked off.
Koola dropped back into his seat and sipped the wine. An explosion of flavour saturated his tongue as he gazed at the gleaming stars. He cast a gaze around the now full tables on the pier, expecting to see someone watching him and ready to make themselves known but no one looked knowingly back at him. He took another mouthful as the maitre d' delivered the black pepper crab. The delectable scent awoke a grumble in his stomach and he tore apart his meal, savouring every bite that funnelled through his oesophagus.
He sighed contently at the broken shell of the crab and left his table, his eyes darting about for the one responsible for his free meal. Perhaps a member of his forces had recognised him and provided the necessary payment; Koola had no mind for his lackeys' faces. Still no one stepped forward.
Koola strolled down the pier with a placated appetite but a new niggle joined the others in his mind, almost certain that he was being watched.