Page 62 of Right Next Door
He had only a vague idea of what he should be doing, but he was honestly putting more effort into it than a guy who had a step-by-step guide written out.
The morning after their hiking date, she woke up to find a large painting hanging in the hallway outside of her door. Except, when she went closer, she found that it wasn’t a painting. It was a mosaic made of flower petals in a beautiful design reminiscent of a flowery field. It must have taken a lot of time and effort to make something like that.
And she knew exactly who it came from. Tsok must be under the impression that it didn't matter so much what form the flowers came in, so long as he gave her flowers. And, honestly, she absolutely loved the flower petal mosaic. It was so pretty and cool.
“So, we’re not mad at the char anymore?” Flik asked after she finished catching him up on everything her sugar daddy had been up to lately.
“I mean, maybe a little,” she smiled to herself, still working on his braid bangles. He wanted her to dye them gold to make them really stand out against his silver fur, so she was spreading the noxious hair dye over the delicate white strands.
Hair dye out in space was way more convenient than back home. No developers or color theory or worry about damaging the strands. She just picked a color and slapped it on, gave it a little time, then boom – instant pretty color exactly as it came in the jar. It made her life so much easier when she didn't have to think of lifting tones or color mixing or permanent vs demi-permanent.
But even with all the advancements in hair dye, it still smelled bad. It wasn’t the ammonia and harsh chemical smell she was used to. If anything, it bordered closer to burned rubber mixed with rotten flowers and ashes. But the smell went away once the dye was rinsed out. After years in the salon, she was pretty used to odd smells by now anyway.
And the payoff for how good it looked when it was done was well worth the temporary stink.
“He really is doing the most for you,” Flik grinned. “Kind of glad I let him take my appointment now.”
“Yeah, and I’m still mad at you for that,” she said, pointing at him with her color brush.
“What? But it worked out well! You said it yourself.”
“Doesn’t matter. You went behind my back. Bad friend move, Flik. In fact, the only reason I’mnotkicking your sorry, silver behind out of my salon isbecauseit worked out. So, you might as well go ahead and be grateful for that.”
“You’re so cruel to me,” he pouted as she pushed her chair back, letting it float over to the sink where she placed her brush and bowl.
“You can be my man of honor if we get married, but that’s the only benefit for traitors.”
He cocked his head. “Man of honor? Married?”
“Well, I guess you’d be my male of honor,” she said, riding her stool back to him. “I know it’s a bit early to be talking marriage, but, well… wearemates after all.”
“Is marriage something to do with mates?”
She blinked, surprised. “You don’t have marriage here?”
“Never heard of it before.”
“You know what, I’m not surprised,” she mumbled, coming to a halt in front of him. They had to wait for the dye to change his fur color, but it was only like fifteen minutes. “Marriage is… Well, it’s how humans mate. We get married in a ceremony called a wedding that is very important.”
“Does it solidify your mate bond?”
“No, not that kind of… It’s just like this thing where we vow to be with each other forever and to love and care for each other no matter what.” Misty found her voice getting small. She’d never had to explain what a wedding was to someone before, but in actually saying it out loud…
That was some silly shit!
If it weren’t for all the tradition and circumstances around a wedding, would people realize how lame it sounded? If it weren’t for the formality of ‘I do’ would people be able to hear that you were just promising to be with each other for ever and ever? It was kind of foolish, hearing it all said out like that. It seemed childish, in a weird way.
“Sounds kind of pointless,” Flik said, rather confirming her own thoughts. “I mean, you’re mates, right? You’re already bound together. Why do you need to promise it as well?”
“Humans just don’t mate that easily or often,” Misty mumbled, practically quoting the pamphlet she’d been given. “The ceremony is meaningful. It, like, sets it in stone.”
“Oh, so once you’re married, you can’t be unmarried?”
“No, you can be.”
Flik frowned. “I don’t get it. How is it set in stone then?”
“I mean, it’s supposed to be,” she frowned. “We’re getting off topic. The point is: I’m mad at you. I’m less mad at him, but still a bit, and your color is probably set by now. Let’s go wash it off.”
