Chapter Forty-Six
Aphrodite slipped up in the bed, blinking rapidly.
The grogginess of a deep slumber was hard fought.
Eventually, she regained full consciousness enough to clamber out of bed.
After quickly relieving her bladder and slipping into the bath for a selfishly quiet moment, she scrubbed the grime of sleep off her body.
Her mouth was caked with gunk, and she nearly had to shave the fuzz off her teeth.
Finally, she slipped through the frosted doors and stared out the massive window-wall.
Soft light filled the bedroom, as the station faced into space where a sun eons away gave them amber light.
The chrome tinted room was cool as air brushed across her slightly damp skin.
Buddy bobbed in the air before the massive window, twirling and chirping happily.
“I know, it gets me too buddy.” She wrung out her hair more into the towel before padding softly across the room.
Xexis wasn’t there. Curiously, however, she imagined the text on the data pad beside her pillow explained he’d run off to do some Kannatch thing.
Aphrodite stood before the closet, trying to figure out what to wear.
Knocking filled the room as someone called into the room, “Mphronatch! Have you risen?”
“Yes, I am not quite dressed,” she squawked, clawing to close the towel around her as the door opened.
In walked a purple-fleshed woman in flowing golden fabric.
Her head was smooth, showing off a galaxy of dark colors.
A beard of soft, curling tentacles lined a strong jawline and big, yellow eyes that glittered like lights studied Aphrodite.
She was tall, impossibly tall, nearly taller than Xnasis and Xexis.
Definitely a goddess amongst mortals. Sloped shoulders decorated in glamorous black and gold fabric that seemed to float around her.
She clapped two hands in front of her while the bottom two of her hands lightly plucked the front of her gown up from in front of her feet.
“Ah, what a pleasant meeting. I am Kinsi, your Mphrovic.”
Aphrodite paled as the queen, Xnasis’ mate, smiled at her kindly.
A swarm of smaller people dove into the room.
Buddy screamed electrically as he shot across the room, away from the wave of people.
Two Vroz zipped to her side and immediately pulled out measuring tapes.
“I’m so glad we caught her prior to dressing, Mphrovic. No need to undress then re-dress.”
One of the seamstresses chuckled to the other in Vrozian while one stayed focused on measuring Aphrodite.
She would know a seamstress and tailor anywhere.
No matter the space, the stars, or the species, a pin cushion attached to the wrist, tape measure, and fabric stuffed in pockets screamed “I sew stuff”.
Aphrodite laughed nervously as she tried to cover herself the best she could.
“I apologize for the intrusion, Mphronatch. But I was informed we are to have a banquet soon, as in your people’s tradition.
However, I was informed last night. As Mphrovic, I am in charge of all formal events, and I will not have something so significant to your life and your culture be botched simply because it is not understood.
I won’t have it. We have time to prepare but only if we get your gown started now.
” Kinsi strode further into the room, slipping between Aphrodite and the doorway to the closet.
A skinny, gray-skinned, orb-headed person in all black with a golden tiara skittered past the Mphronatch as well.
The pair picked and poked at the clothing within as she was wrapped up and spun in the hands of the seamstresses.
“Yes, I agree, Cinn, she needs more formal attire. I know the Kannatch intends for them to hunt together, but not all days we are dressed for a hunt. What about this one? This will be a fine dinner outfit, don’t you think?
” Kinsi plucked a bundle of fabric from the closet as Aphrodite was ripped into a pair of silk shorts and forcibly sat on the edge of the bed.
Buddy crawled up behind her, cowering in the dip of the mattress behind her as the swarm of people went to work around the room.
Aphrodite scooped up her little drone and cupped him in her hand for support as she was dressed, pressed, and brushed. After an eternity, Kinsi stood before her, lightly brushing a tendril of hair from her temples. “Fantastic!”
They’d dressed her in a looser fitting dress, that only had two crystal rings to give it definition.
One around her throat that she worried wouldn’t fit until she found that it was two halves connected together by some sort of magnet that snapped shut around her throat.
The other was around her rib cage just under her breast where the rest of the gown draped around her like a waterfall.
Two bell sleeves draped around her arms, hung by crystal rings much like Xexis’.
Kinsi wheeled her from the bed to a mirror.
The purple queen lightly cupped both her shoulders.
“I’m going to keep most of your attire flowy, if you do not mind.
I understand that the Kannatch is still in his mating frenzy with you and best not to rip any fabric if we can avoid it. ”
Aphrodite sputtered, stumbling forward as the woman chuckled politely behind her palms. With a vigorous nod, careful not to shake the fancy clips in her hair, Aphrodite gasped for air. “I know he’ll appreciate it.”
The swarm of people left the room, scurrying off with their notes or commands from the Mphrovic.
All except Cinn, who walked a step behind the two women.
Buddy bobbed above Aphrodite’s head for only a moment before immediately exploring the space above Cinn’s head.
The person in waiting didn’t seem to mind.
Instead smiling up at the octopus shaped drone and smiling a shark toothed smile at the device.
Electronic chirping and a twirl from Buddy clued Aphrodite in.
Telepathy, oh, right. She’d grown too used to the Vroz, she’d nearly forgotten anyone else existed.
That there were hundreds upon thousands of other people out there with varying powers and talents.
“Shall we? I’m sure you’re starved” Kinsi cocked her head sweetly to the side as she purred with her words.
“Oh, yes, one moment.” Aphrodite blushed to the point of turning to a blistered tomato.
Scurrying to the bed, she snatched up her data pad.
The screen lit up with Xexis’ previous message before it slowly cleared out.
A new notification, sent from a data pad to hers instead of a message from Buddy, popped up.
[Good morning, my mate. I am in office for a lengthy amount of time this day. I’ve been informed the Mphrovic is absorbing all your attention today, so I will see you at dinner with the Korzavic tonight if you are unable to visit me in your travels today.]
It took Aphrodite a long time to realize, that most of those words were a mix of Vrozian and English.
As if her brain had automatically translated it.
She swiped her finger across the screen, watching the words flip all the way to English…
then all the way to Vrozian. A proud smile curled up on her lips as she peeked up at Kinsi. “I…I understood his message!”
“Ah! Your education in Vrozian has begun. Fabulous!” Kinsi clapped her hands together. “I must admit, it took me some time to conquer the language. Funny enough, my Anglo-saxis—er… I mean English—”
Aphrodite barked with a laugh, nearly choking on her tongue, “I say in my head too. It’s Anglo-saxis for me.”
“You just hear it so often it feels silly to call it English now, doesn’t it?” Kinsi giggled, twirling a tentacle on the side of her chin. “But I learned Vrozian first, and I feel very comfortable with it, I think. With having Xnasis as my mate, it’s gotten better.”
There was something so soft and sweet on her face as her eyes fell to the floor. Then, slowly, she glanced up and offered Aphrodite a tender hand. “Come, I promised to feed you, and I wish to spend as much time with you as I can. It will be nice to have another stranger in a new place to talk to.”
Aphrodite jerked forward, taking Kinsi’s hand affectionately.
They swung their hands at their sides as the pair walked out of the room.
Down the cool hall, the stars glittering through the window to their side.
Kinsi let out a soft sigh, “I’ve only been here for about ten seasons, but it still takes my breath away. ”
“I still get stuck in awe about it too,” Aphrodite muttered, sparing one last longing glance at the stars before following the queen out the door.
It felt like an eternity that Kinsi ‘absorbed all her attention’.
They ate, talked about the wedding, walked the station, went over colors and fabric, and life.
Kinsi talked a lot about life at the station.
It was a bit of a shock to Aphrodite, the shift from working engineering on human ships, to the sudden battle for their lives to…
peaceful existence? It was jarring as everything seemed to slow down.
“Mphrovic, you are needed,” one of Xnasis assistants rushed into the massive ballroom the pair were inside. They were discussing decorations, as it would be the ballroom they used for the party. Their assistant turned and bowed to her as well, “Mphronatch.”
The assistant scrambled closer and whispering urgently to Kinsi. She smiled and nodded, shooing them along. “Apologies, Aphrodite, I must go. I’m needed elsewhere. Dinner’s coming up, so I’ll see you again shortly.”