Timeline: December 2015 (1 week following Pride and Wintertide)
“Well someone said I made a mistake
Kept looking forward on paths sideways
It's everything that is connected and beautiful
And now I know just where I stand
Seasons always shift too late
Spent too much time now I'm bent sideways
Everything that is connected and beautiful
And now I know just where I stand
Thank god it's over”
– Silversun Pickups, “Kissing Families”
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“You use my chair as a scratching post, I will neuter you myself.”
With a conscious effort, Mel retracted her claws, leaving faint scratches in the salon chair’s red leather arms. “Spay.”
“Huh?”
“Spay, not neuter. You only neuter male cats.”
“Look at you prepping for trivia night. Maybe you can give that one to Mike.”
“It’s not pre-imperial so he’d probably not be interested,” Mel snarked back, earning her a laugh from Amanda. The heavily pregnant Tiefling rested on her heels, studying the black-and-yellow rat’s nest of Mel’s hair. In her hand she held a cup, the stink of bleach and dye rolling off it in waves.
“How do you feel about a touch of cobalt on some of those blonder strands? I think it’d look pretty metal.”
“Instead of black? Yeah, never thought about blue dye before. Uh…will that uh…cost extra?” Mel winced as she asked the question, and Amanda’s eyebrows puckered together as she met the human shifter’s slitted eyes.
“It’d be a double process, not a single. Would that…be a problem?”
The tightly wadded roll of bills in Mel’s pocket felt like an iron weight, but she forced a casual smile on her face. “Nah, I think I should be able to swing that.” Looks like oatmeal and peanut butter for breakfast again until payday.
“Mel, you sure? We don’t have to do it today…”
“Nah, I can cover it. I want to. That’d look dope as hell. I love when you get a new idea.” This time, the smile she flashed at her friend was genuine. It was worth it to see Amanda’s tired eyes brighten.
“Cool, I’ll mix it up! Been meaning to ask you for a bit if you’d like to try something new. Black’s fine, but it’s been done, you know?”
“What’s wrong with all black?” A familiar voice called, and Mel’s smile froze. If Amanda noticed, she didn’t let on, instead calling over her shoulder,
“It’s boring Mom, that’s what!”
Zaya came stamping through the door, shaking snow off her boots. Snow dusted her green-and-black Chelsea cut. She wasn’t alone either, Mel noticed with inner dismay. It was her.
Nat. Her short, shaggy mohawk - more of Amanda’s handiwork - was an ivory-and-plum masterpiece of shifting color. Gods, Amanda did such a good job, Mel thought ruefully. Why was she still working on Market Street, when she could get any job in a high-end salon in Druid Hills or the Towers District? Why was she wasting her talent here, on Aasimar ex-churchies and…and what? Her inner voice challenged her. Broke ex-rich girls?
“Hey,” Amanda hissed. “Watch the leather!”
Mel reflexively retracted her claws. “Sorry, sorry.”
Amanda’s lovely dark red eyes met her catlike golden-brown ones in the mirror. “You ok?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just–” A laugh from Nat and Zaya cut off Mel, and before she realized she’d done it, a soft growl had escaped her throat. Amanda frowned.
“Be nice. I like her.”
I like her. The words shut her up, sending a stab of complex emotion through her chest. Nat was an Aasimar. The church had done those awful things to her Grammy. To the Silks. How could someone like Amanda - like Zaya, for that matter - seemingly welcome Nat with open arms, when Mel could barely look at her? Of course, it didn’t help that the one and only time they’d “met”, Mel had gone into a full-blown panic, shifted, and ran from the Weasel at top speed. She hadn’t really seen Nat since, choosing to avoid her whenever possible. And now she was here, cutting into Mel’s time with Amanda, and there was no escape.
Amanda was talking, and Mel struggled to snap back to the present. “--acts like her old self when Nat’s around, like she was before Momma Dee left.”
“Are they…you know…”
“No, I think Mom sort of adopted her, in a weird way? Or they adopted each other. Either way, I think they’re good for each other. They went shopping the other day.”
“Shopping…” The word tasted sour on Mel’s tongue. “Must be nice.”
“Plus I know I can call on her whenever I have questions about this one.” Amanda gestured to her belly. “Like having a personal midwife.”
“That’s great. Sounds like she’s everyone’s favorite new friend.”
The purple Tiefling blinked, brush pausing mid-air. “What’s gotten into you?”
Before she could answer, a polite cough sounded. Mel suppressed a groan. It was her. Standing shyly in a patchy denim kutte and black boots, staring her down with unsettling red-and-black eyes. The dedication to those contacts was something else, she had to give the Aasimar that. “Hi. I think we’ve seen each other but never like, officially met. I’m Nat.” She stuck her hand out, and Mel reluctantly shook it.
“Hey.”
“I was curious what color you’re getting. ‘Manda always does such cool things. She did this, you know!” She ran a fingerless glove through the damp mohawk.
“Thanks!” Amanda’s smile was genuine as she paused in her work to face Nat. “Thinking of adding some cobalt on these blond strands once we touch up the black. What do you think?”
Now she was asking for Nat’s opinion? This was almost too much. Mel fumed silently as Nat praised Amanda’s work. “Ohhh that would look so amazing! Super badass. You know what would be super cool too is like a black-to-blue ombre fade - oh, sorry, I shouldn’t tell you what to do.”
“No worries at all,” Amanda replied breezily. “I like that idea. What do you think, Mel? You wanna try a fade?”
Mel was trapped, both women looking at her expectantly. The few bills she’d brought felt like they were burning a hole in her pocket. “Maybe some other time, I only brought so much cash with me. Not made of money.” Gods, why had it come out like that?
There was a pause, one in which she didn’t dare look Amanda’s way. “Oh, of course,” Nat murmured apologetically. “I know how that is. Zee and I went shopping at NDX the other day and some of the stuff in there is pri-cey. Ninety bucks for a pair of pants?”
“Worth it,” a voice called from behind Mel’s shoulder, over by the front desk. The elf puffed out her chest proudly. “It’s hard being the fashion icon of the punk scene, but you know, someone’s gotta carry that burden.”
“How noble of you,” Amanda shot back, and Nat laughed. Mel looked back and forth between the three women. The banter between them was effortless, easy. When had she become such a seamless part of their little family? And how had it happened without Mel even noticing?
She swallowed, carefully. Took a deep breath. Don’t be catty. Start a conversation. Ask her about herself. When her inner self hissed at the thought, she reprimanded it sharply. Amanda likes her.
“So, Nat,” she started, hoping it sounded casual and not strained. “Are red and black your favorite colors?”
“Huh?” Nat arched an eyebrow in confusion, and over Mel’s head, Amanda gave a minute, urgent shake of her head. The rapid tap of her tail on the floor warned her against proceeding.
“Your eyes,” she pressed on, not understanding her friend’s sudden agitation. There was a faint tug on her hair, but the Tiefling didn’t stop her. “I saw you wearing those contacts last time. You like red-and-black a lot, huh?”
Amanda’s mouth had pressed into a thin line. Nat, who had worn a casual smile only moments before, deflated like a balloon. Behind Mel, Zaya’s chair scraped loudly on the floor. “Who’s hungry?” the elf called, loudly. “I’m feeling like that corner deli. The orcish one. The best roasted pork around. Anyone else want something? Nat?”
“No thanks. I don’t eat pork,” Nat murmured. She angled herself towards Zaya, back towards the mirror. “It would be rude to Waffles.”
“Waffles?” Amanda cocked her head to the side. “I guess waffles go better with chicken than pork?”
“Haha, no, Waffles is V- er, our pet pig.” A smile quirked her lips, although it wasn’t as free as before. “He’s so cute…I’ll have to show you a picture of him sometime.”
“Well they also have beef and chicken,” Zaya assured her. The lanky elf wrapped an arm around Nat’s shoulder in a half-hug. “And the best chili in the district.”
“I-It’s fine.” Nat’s hand drifted towards her pocket before she seemingly realized what she was doing and crossed her arms instead. “Money’s tight and I..um…I had a big breakfast.”
Amanda jutted her chin towards the door. “Nat, I’m covering your lunch today. Payment for the house call the other day. Get what you want. But bring me back pickles…and a brownie. Like three of each. The big pickles.”
“Really? Thanks ‘Manda!” Nat glanced at Mel. “Uh, Mel, would you like us to…pick up anything?”
From the quick stabby motions of the brush in her hair, Mel figured Amanda wasn’t about to offer her lunch. And with the extra dye job…she suppressed a sigh. “Nah, thanks though. Maybe some other time.”
Zaya looped an arm through Nat’s and shot a backwards wave at the pair before whisking the younger woman out of the salon. As the door thudded to a close, silence descended. Awkwardly, Mel fidgeted with her nails as Amanda worked silently. Once she was done separating the hair and quickly putting in hair clips, Amanda started mixing the cobalt. Loudly.
“So Amanda, have you and Leo started talking about names for…”
“
You wanna keep coming to my shop?”
Melody’s mouth dropped open. “What the fuck?”
“Then. You. Need. To. Cut. Nat. Some. Slack.” Mel could count the times she’d seen Amanda angry on one hand, but there was no mistaking the sharp glint in her eyes for anything but. “I don’t know what your beef is with her, but I like her. Which I told you. She’s my friend.”
Mel’s stomach growled - she really should’ve brought more cash with her, or at least a snack - and set her jaw. “She’s Aasimar. Her people treat the Silks like it’s their personal playground, and now you’re taking one of them out to lunch? What about all that shit Zaya always talks about? What about my Grammy?”
“You, of all people, should know what it’s like to be judged by what your shitty ancestors did,” Amanda snarled back. Mel, shocked, opened her mouth to reply, but Amanda cut her off. “Uh-uh. I’m not done. What happened to your grammy was awful. Sick. But that was decades ago. Nat wasn’t even born yet. You can’t just lay it all at her feet.”
“Watch me.” The words were flint and steel, waiting to catch a spark. Mel’s claws were out again, and she made no effort to retract them. Pinpricks of fur covered her arms and chest. Fangs began to lengthen and grow. She was so close to shifting, and all because of some burn out wannabe punk was taking her friend?
For a long moment, Amanda studied her, as if debating whether to kick her out. Mel waited, coiled like a spring. Amanda wanted her to leave? That was fine. She ignored the stab of hurt at the thought, ignored the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.
Amanda sighed, all the fight going out of her at once. To Mel’s astonishment, she came around to face her, leaning heavily against the counter. Thin fingers interlaced one another, coming to rest on the swell of her belly. The look she regarded Mel with was suddenly, surprisingly, compassionate.
“They’re not contacts, you know,” she said simply. “Her eyes.”
Mel blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Her church kicked her out. They made her choose, them or us. She chose us. And she’d be horrified if she knew I was telling you this. So don’t mention it ‘less she asks, yeah?” Without waiting for an answer, she kept on. “Leo and I found her the day they shut the clinic down. All her hair burnt off and looking weak as hell. They took her power, took her eyes, and literally set her on fire. Then dumped her back in the Silks like trash.”
The words doused Mel’s ire in an instant, leaving an icy weight in the pit of her stomach. Her claws and the soft downy fur retracted. “Holy fuck. I…I didn’t know. I just thought she was…” she winced. “Slumming it, or something.” The questions, how could they get away with that, or why did nobody do anything, died on her lips before she could say them. They were the church. They did what they wanted, and gods help you if you got in their way.
Amanda shook her head. “Turns out, you’re not the only ex-rich kid who got kicked to the curb for throwing in with us.” Mel’s cheeks flushed at the way Amanda’s words effortlessly cut right to the heart of her deepest insecurities. The Tiefling’s purple lips pressed in a sympathetic frown and she added quietly, “You chose your team, and so did she. And that kinda choice carries weight. Not just here. But with me.”
Mel lowered her head, ashamed. “‘Manda…I’m sorry. I didn’t…”
“S’ok, Mel.” Amanda rose to her feet, resuming her position behind the swivel chair. “I’m not saying you need to be besties with her. But realize that she is one of us now. She’s Silk. Thousand thread count. Spider strength.” She started painting again. “We’ve got her back. Her and her ‘not-girlfriend’.” She laughed.
Mel’s vision was misting again, but she would have been hard pressed to say why. Instead, she just gave a watery smile to Amanda’s reflection. “You’re a good friend to her.”
“You’re my friend too. One of my best friends.” she said simply, and somehow that was more piercing than anything said thus far. Hastily Mel scrubbed a hand over her face, and Amanda rubbed her shoulder. “What’s up?”
“This city’s so fucked,” she rasped out. “And I just feel like I made it worse. Added to the fuckery somehow.”
“Nah,” Amanda said soothingly. “We take care of each other, cause we’re all each other has. Sometimes that means calling out shit, that’s all. Plus, your life’s hella stressful right now.
She sniffled. “Thanks. I feel bad complaining about it though, after hearing about…”
“What’s going on?” Amanda insisted, and like that, the dam broke.
“Oh…Mike and I have been fighting, and money’s tight, and all that stuff you said about me choosing you all over my old life, and Daddy…it’s true, and I don’t regret it, but…it’s just been really hard trying to get on my feet cause that safety net is gone, and…oh gods, I sound just like a whiny rich girl.”
“Stop that.” Amanda waved the self-deprecating comment away, like she was swatting a fly. “What about Leilani? Is she giving you enough hours at work?”
“Oh yeah. That’s its own problem actually. I could work eighty hours if I wanted to. Part of the reason Mike and I are fighting...”
“Cause you’re still in school full-time and trying to pay your own way, plus all your regular bills, so you’re never home, and he’s worried you’re burning yourself out?” Amanda guessed.
“I–uh, yes. Wow, damn you nailed it. Sure you’re not at least a little bit psychic?”
“I’m a mom, same diff,” she smirked. “Also, when you booked the appointment you literally wrote ‘burnout therapy’ in the description. I pieced together the rest.” A hand squeezed Mel’s shoulder. “I wish I could make it all better, or even tell you it’s all gonna be okay. But I can tell you that if you need anything, we’re here for you. Okay?”
“Okay.” She put a hand on top of Amanda’s and squeezed back. “Thank you.”
As Amanda moved back behind her and resumed her work, she glanced at Mel sideways. “Can I ask you something though? A personal question?”
“Of course.”
“Do you like school?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Do you?” Amanda challenged, and Mel paused.
“No.” It felt like such a relief to say. “No,” she repeated. “I hate it. I hate my major, I hate all my classes, and my teachers.”
“What are you going for again? Exercise science?”
“And a double major in business. They wanted me to open my own gym. But,” and she laughed bleakly, “I hate going to the gym.”
“What do you like to do?”
“That’s just it, ‘Manda,” she laughed weakly. “I don’t know. I’ve never known. Everyone else in my life always seemed like they knew where they were going. My choices were pre-med, law, or business, so I chose business because it sounded the least boring. And then I chose exercise science because I thought I’d feel good about helping people get in shape. But Daddy’s business plan was just opening a gym for bored rich housewives. Something that would make me look..I dunno….more ‘eligible’ to potential partners.”
“Sounds like a lot of someone else’s dream,” she replied simply, and Mel nodded in agreement.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love massage and yoga. I’m really glad you connected with Leilani, frustrating as she is. But I just feel like I had to finish school though. Show my parents I wasn’t a quitter and all that. But if I had my way, I would just drop out, and…ah, it’s stupid.”
“And what?”
“Honestly?” Mel sighed. “Rest.”
“How so?”
“Work. Go to shows. Play video games. Be with Mike. Sleep in. Cook breakfast. Figure out this whole…gift I have". She held up her hand and flexed her claws in the air. “ I feel like I’ve been wearing a mask my whole life, and now I can be anyone I want, and I don’t even know who I am.”
“Would that be so bad, to at least…take some time off? Figure out who you are, what you want to do. You can always go back. Or, you can do something else.”
The thought hung like a suncatcher in a window, distractingly beautiful. The vision bloomed in her head. No more sixteen-hour days. No more endless papers and tests for teachers she hated. No more rich, overprivileged students all clawing for success at any cost.
“It sounds…” her voice broke, and she stopped.
“Just think about it,” Amanda said gently. “Talk to Mike. Do the math. Don’t make a decision now.” Sighing, she scrutinized the foil now folded in Mel’s hair. “Okay, I think we’re ready to let this sit for a while. Can I park you over in the corner while I clean up here? You got a book or something?”
“Try a stack of ‘em,” Mel replied, grateful for the change of topic. The feelings inside her swirled, deep and too complex to name.
The rich smell of rare steak and grilled peppers filled her nose as the bell jangled. Her stomach growled loudly as Nat and Zaya strode through the door, laden with bags. “Hey,” Nat called out. “They were out of brownies, but we got you the pickles at least.”
“You’re a lifesaver!” Amanda snapped her gloves off and eagerly took the package from Nat, who was doling out packages for the three of them. Trying to ignore the angry protests from her gut, Mel rummaged out a book from her pack and opened it to where she’d dog-eared the page.
A foil-wrapped tube floated into her vision. “Zee didn’t know what to get you, but I texted Vee, and she said Mike talks about how he makes steaks for you. Thought you might like this.” Nat stood there awkwardly, holding out the sandwich like a peace offering.
Mel’s stomach responded before her brain did. With both hands, she took the sandwich and tore open the foil. Rye bun, split down the middle, crammed with peppers, onions and glistening strips of rare steak. Her fangs were out before she could stop them from sinking into the greasy meat. She was halfway into her first bite before she looked up at the Aasimar. Carefully, she chewed and swallowed. “Thank you. Really. This was…you didn’t have to do that.”
“Eh, it was nothing,” Nat replied, a smile of relief ghosting over her face. She fished out a large soda cup full of steaming french fries, setting it down on a small rolling tray. There’s ketchup if you want it, too. No pickles though. Amanda called dibs on them all.”
For the first time, Mel looked, really looked, at Nat. There was kindness in the red-and-black eyes. A slightly nervous bite to her lip made her look young, even younger than Mel. Her nails were chipped and broken where they weren’t covered with black polish. Her lavender hands were smudged and calloused, the cuff of her sleeve singed in more than a few places. No doubt working hard for Inanni. Getting her hands dirty for the folks that lived here. And sharing her money with someone she barely knew so they wouldn’t have to go hungry.
“Thank you,” she said again, hoping the intent carried in her words. “And I’m sorry for…being a bit grumpy earlier. Been a long week.”
“No worries at all,” Nat answered with a shrug and a smile. Glancing down at the book in Mel’s lap, she tilted her head sideways to read the cover. “Homework?”
“Heh. Kinda. It’s for my boss.” She shifted the cover to make it easier to read.
“‘Weeds for Wellness’,” Nat read aloud, and frowned. “Are you trying to get into herbalism?”
“Kinda. My boss runs a holistic healing clinic a few blocks up and she’s trying to expand into that market. Plus do things like essential oils, energy massage, stuff like that. And of course I know nothing about it, so…” Mel held up the book. “Homework.”
“Huh. And she works with Inanni?”
“Inanni? I don’t think so. I think Leilani’s just trying to do her own thing. But neither one of us knows much about it, so this is mostly just research.”
“Huh,” Nat said again. Mel raised an eyebrow. She suppressed an urge to raise her hackles.
“Why?”
“Well, that’s a lot of what I do for Inanni. Actually…that’s all I do for Inanni. All day long.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “So if you ever had any like, questions or anything, I’d be happy to help. Although I’m sure your boss and mine are talking already as well. Or I kinda hope they are. Innani gets touchy about herbs and witchy stuff when it’s not her shop selling them.”
“I don’t think so,” Mel admitted. “But I’m thinking they should, just to be safe. To be honest, this is not my forte and Leilani’s in way over her head. I just convinced her yesterday to open a part-time position, but it’s going to take a while to fill…what?”
“What-a-crazy-random-coincidence,” Amanda said overly loudly from her perch in the corner, around a mouth full of food. “Heyyyyy Nat, weren’t you just saying to me the other day that you were looking for more hours now that Kenku flu season is over?”
Mel and Nat blinked at each other, and then Mel leaned around Nat to reply, “Did you orchestrate this?” Amanda’s smug smile was the only answer. To her left, Zaya winked over her sandwich.
“I-II mean,” Nat stammered, “I wouldn’t call myself an expert or anything...”
“Sounds like you’re more of an expert than I am,” Mel replied. Clearing her book bag out of the empty chair, she gestured for Nat to sit. “You really looking for more work?”
Nat took the offered seat, her eagerness poorly hidden. “Yeah, I mean, I could definitely use the hours. Are you sure…you wouldn’t mind…you know, working with…”
An Aasimar? Mel silently finished. Might be a learning curve. But I want to try. “I’d be happy to. Most important question, though…how are you with difficult bosses?”
Nat snickered at the question, settling back in her seat. “I have some practice.”