4. Joy
JOY
“Even the ongoing party on the streets outside seemed to quieten when she entered the tavern.”
-A DIARY ENTRY FROM ROMY MAS, MEMBER OF JOY AND JAMESON’S CREW.
The streets were packed, from the overflowing color-explosion that were the fruit stands to the hobbling, happy customers from Lucki’s Tavern. We clumped together within the crowd, sweaty bodies rubbing up against us.
“Alright, be home by sun-up,” Jameson stated loudly to the crew. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he said with a wink and our family disbursed.
Romy and the twins disappeared into the glimmer of bright orange and blue fabrics, while Lila and Tuppen scuttled to the nearby pleasure house. Jameson and I exchanged a look before bursting out into a fit of laughter. We be-lined for our favorite place ashore, Laylani’s pub, grabbing sticks of smoked meats and sweet mangos drizzled with lime on the way.
“Joy! Jameson! It’s been too long!” Laylani barked from across the pub as we pushed the half-broken doors open. She bounded over to greet us, narrowly missing various stumbling customers on her way. She was tall and curvy, just like me, with broad hips and sparkling blue eyes. Her deep red hair reminded me sweetly of Lolita. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Laylani, you are looking as radiant as ever,” Jameson drawled.
“You would’ve thought this one might have given up by now,” she spoke in my direction, gesturing to Jameson with a tilt of her head.
“Oh, he is a very persistent person,” I said with a smile.
“And very handsome?” Jameson looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Plus,” I leaded forward slightly and whispered loudly, “he’s extremely handsome, don’t you think?” I said with a smile, Laylani choked on a laugh and Jameson smacked my arm lightly. “What? Oh, did you want more subtlety?” I gave a faux-gasp and gestured to the brown bottle gathering dust on Laylani’s bar. We strolled further inside and slumped onto crooked stools.
“Hey,” I said to Jameson while Laylani poured the drinks. “Do you remember the last time we were here?” I rested my arm over his shoulder, stretching slightly to reach.
“Yeah, I remember.” He gave a small smile and kissed my cheek.
It had been the night of Lolita’s final goodbye. We lit candles on the ship and laid flowers in the ocean. A cool, salty breeze slowly wrapped around us as we laid Lolita’s body to rest in the place she loved most in the world. The memory washed over me.
“I thought we’d have more time, my love,” I whispered into her hair, my tears landing on her ever-cooling cheeks. “I miss you; I miss your laugh, I miss the way you make me smile, I miss the way you loved me, and I miss the way you saw the world.” I heaved in a deep, shuddering breath. “But I know we will see each other again one day, so I’ll miss you and I will keep missing you until we meet again.” I let the tears fall against my cheeks, Jameson rested a hand on my shoulder. “I wish you could’ve stayed.” My voice was quiet and calm. “It’s time for you to go home now.” I pushed her gently into the lapping waves and whispered quietly into the night.
We had come to Laylani’s pub after the ceremony. None of us wishing to climb aboard our home without Lolita. We slept on the armchairs and sofas dotted around the tavern, all of us cuddled and squashed together trying to keep warm in the winter months. Part of me knew Lolita was there with us, lulling us into a dreamless night sleep.
“In a strange way it was kind of nice, don’t you think? Having all our family together to celebrate someone we loved.” Jameson tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I nodded, fighting the stinging in my eyes.
“Yes, it was nice.” I smiled as Laylani slammed the shots in front of us and raised her own glass.
“To Lolita, the life and soul of the party,” she cheered, throwing me a smile.
Stumbling outside to gaze at the fireworks, Jameson and I marveled at the celebration that raged on the streets. Paintings of Kai’d and turquoise banners hung from every building. Children drank sweet, blue drinks beside their parents, and teenagers swayed to the vibrant music surrounding us. A priest stood still on the steps of a monastery reciting the prayers of Kai’d to passersby. His hands stretched to the sky and then the sea, praying for blessed tides and ample bounty.
Jameson and I were never religious people, however, praying to the Goddess of the Ocean was something we had done ever since we were children.
I grabbed his hand in mine and whispered the prayer along with the priest. A small smile tucked itself into Jameson’s mouth as he began chanting with me. The fireworks littered the sky above us and the prayer wrapped itself around our hearts. I felt full and content for the first time since losing Lolita. I squeezed Jameson’s hand when the fireworks ended and cheering erupted from every corner of our island.
“Thank you,” I whispered for only his ears.
“Always, Joy. It’s me and you, remember? Always,” he whispered back and slung his arm over my shoulder, leading us back inside.
The pub seemed to have double the number of customers than before we left. We squeezed between a tall, lean man and a muscular woman, muttering apologies before reaching our seats.
“What the hell’s going on, Laylani?” I shouted over the hundreds of voices competing to be heard.
“What do you mean?” she shouted back. I gave her a dumbfounded look, motioning to the masses of people in the small pub.
“It’s packed!” I said, and it was like the room itself started to stretch.
“Don’t you remember?” She shook her head. “After the fireworks?” She attempted to prompt me. “For Kai’d sake, Joy, the Gias competition!” she shrieked with a laugh as the familiar scene unraveled around me.
Tables were folded away and chairs pushed to the walls. Two tables stood side by side in the center of the room. Six small ceramic squares sat on each table and the pub quietened in anticipation. Laylani hoisted herself up onto the bar.
“Alright, everyone, you know the rules,” she began, “Six rounds and the winner stays on,” she shouted.
“And what’s the prize for winning?” Jameson asked, knowing full well what it was.
“A year of free drinking!” Laylani cheered, and the bar echoed her call. “Who’s up first?” she called, and the game began.
Despite the number of times, especially on Kai’d, that I had spent in Laylani’s pub, I had never quite understood the game of Gias. It involved moving the squares and lining them with the black painted patterns facing upwards. If it weren’t for the drinking and inevitable fighting, it would bore me to death.
A tall woman, introducing herself as Sam, won the first round and then continued to win the next three. Three middle aged men attempted to beat her but failed. She had a scar from her brow to her lip and dark-black hair cropped at her jaw.
“She’s a bit…” Jameson muttered, not taking his eyes away from her.
“Terrifying?” I finished for him, watching the way she threw the dice carelessly… and then threw a table in frustration.
“Round five!” Laylani boomed, and the towering women sauntered around the tables with pride.
“Who’s next?” she growled, and the crowd seemed to sink beneath her gaze.
“I’ll give it a go,” a voice chirped from beside me.
The crowd quietened as a cloaked women wandered into the circle as though she had all the time in the world. This stranger exuded confidence and self-assurance. The room became impossibly quiet, the only sound was her boots against the wooden floorboards. She lifted her hood with the grace of a dancer, her long auburn curls falling around her shoulder blades. She was undeniably and completely beautiful. Her skin was warm and dark, many shades darker than mine. She was of similar build to me, much like many of the women hailing from the southern continent, with swishing hips and high cheek bones.
“Who is that?” Jameson whispered to me as the two competitors stood face to face.
All of a sudden my words became lodged in my throat. I coughed loudly and the stranger turned to me. Goosebumps covered my skin as our eyes met and heat rushed to my cheeks. She smiled and turned away.
“I have no idea,” I whispered back, and the game began.
I watched as the ceramic squares were moved with precision by both competitors, and realization dawned on the towering women; this would not be an easy game. The game slammed onwards, and the crowd began cheering.
Who was this strange woman? And what would happen if she won?