“Well…” she pauses, and everyone stares at her in anticipation. “One of my best friends is missing, I haven't heard from him in so long… I can't help but think about what he’s doing and where he is. I was so caught up in stupid boyfriend drama when I should've made sure everyone got home safely. Home doesn't feel right without him bossing everybody around,” she grunts at herself.
“That's rough, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure he’s alright, I just hope he gets home safely,” Dean says in an attempt to empathize with his coworker.
Naira takes a deep breath. “Thanks, me too. And speaking of my boyfriend, he’s off the grid and I haven’t been able to get a straight answer from him about literally anything. And worst of all, that goddamn-” she cuts herself off. “Is it… can I say g… you know… what I just said?” She says waving her hand. Asha lets out a laugh and nods. Naira takes a heavy breath in. “Okay. That goddamn detective has a part to play in all of this… him and that freaky ass bird,” she says slowly slurring her words. She holds her forehead and sighs. “It’s all just a lot, but he said I could leave it in his hands, so I will.”
“This detective, what did he say his name was?” Asha asks, taking a sip from her glass.
“Oh, I didn’t tell you his name… I actually can’t remember. All I know for sure is that he’s cute, elven, and he had like these super blue-”
“That’s Bellstrum,” Wayra interrupts.
“Yeah, that's it! You know him? He’s really sus, be careful around that guy,” Naira leans in while looking around the table, clearly affected by all the wine she’d drank.
Asha nods. “We've had some interactions. He’s taken a particularly strong interest in my work.”
“Yeah he seemed like he’d be into all that artsy stuff… his office is insane. Felt like I was in an art gallery,” Naira replies, still whispering.
“Speaking of art, I think it's time I showed you something,” Asha says as she stands from the table. “I don't think you’ll make it to the bronze room without wasting your dinner, so I’ll bring it here,” she adds as she rubs Naira’s back and continues walking.
“Asha, were you not listening to anything I said?” Kiran says as she stands up and follows Asha out of the room.
“Yes, I did. You and Wayra both.” Asha turns around and looks at Kiran, who takes another look into Asha’s threatening stare and reluctantly turns back around and sits down.
“Kiran,” Dean says looking at Kiran and then back to the doors Asha exited out of.
“I know,” Kiran snaps while spinning her spoon around in her bowl.
Understanding what Kiran felt, Naira chose to speak. “Guys, I know I don’t seem super trustworthy yet, but I promise I won't say anything about it. I can even just pretend like it's my first time seeing it during the event thingy. I just… I really like you guys… I’m surprised I haven't fucked this all up yet. But this here is our little secret, so don’t you go running your mouth off to all your buddies K-Kiran,” she says with a sneaky smile, the wine kicking in harder.
“I- Is she fuckin serious?” Kiran asks in disbelief, turning to Wayra who covers his face while quietly laughing.
“Naira, it's not-” Chae is interrupted by the doors being swung open. Asha pulls a dolly that has a large black cover that seems to be draped over something humanoid.
“This is what I am sure will be my magnum opus. Naira, with this, I will set ablaze not only the art world but humanity itself. On the night of showing, we must give into our innermost carnal and gluttonous desires. I can no longer wait,” her eyes widened. “With this, you will see all I am and all I have ever wanted to be! Tonight, under this roof, I will take your very essence just as I've done with those before you! Are you ready child? Tell me you are ready to give yourself to me!” Asha shouts with a seemingly devious grin.
“Asha!” Kiran and Wayra shout as they stand up. Naira was taken aback.
“Silence! Naira. Answer me. Are you ready to give yourself?” Asha asks as she reaches out to Naira.
“Y-yeah I guess I'm ready,” Naira agrees as she places her hand in Asha’s. Pulling Naira to her feet, she guides her over to the large figure.
“This is it! With this, I will take your breath away!” Asha shouts as she takes ahold of the heavy black cover and pulls it off in a grand gesture. Naira is unmoving, the room is still. No longer looking at Asha, they all take in the scene. The artist walks toward the cart and pours herself a glass of blood before going back to her chair.
“Breathtaking, isn't it?” she asks.
“You're sick,” Kiran says while looking at Asha in disgust. A sculpture made of ivory is modeled after an androgynous being, whose eyes stay fixed on the floor with an expression of apathy. The sculpture digs its blackened fingers into an ebony figure's arm. The ivory figure's head is being pushed by an ebony sculpture's arm.
Naira slowly looks from the ivory sculpture and toward the ebony figure, who is seemingly female. This ebony creature has a face of woe as it pushes the ivory figure's head as it looks toward the sky. Its other platinum-soaked hand seems to be pushing back a platinum figure, as this last one wraps its hands around the ebony sculpture's neck. Its expression is one of dudgeon as it looks outward at Asha, who sits directly in front of it. Its mouth spills with gold, its eye being gouged by the gold figure that has its finger dug into the platinum figure's eye socket, and another pulling upward on its mouth. The golden figure looks away from the three and stares gleefully at the nearest wall. Naira has to step away from the other three to even make out its expression. “It's beautiful, modern mythology, and really trippy. What does it mean?” Naira asks while looking back at Asha.
“Give it a meaning,” Asha responds.
Naira looks back toward the figures and pauses. “I don't think I can.”
Naira hears birds chirping and faint music as a ray of sunlight shines across her face. She squeezes her pillow. “Hmm, squishy… weird. Feels like skin?” she asks herself out loud. She closes her eyes again, and suddenly, they shoot back open. She looks up and sees the back of Kiran's phone case. “Kiran? What’re you doing?” Naira wonders sleepily. Kiran lowers her phone and looks down at Naira, whose head still rests on her lap.
“You don’t remember? You guys were drinking like sailors after Asha put her piece away and left. Then you begged us to watch some movie with you, and you wouldn’t shut up about a sleepover, so I carried all your asses up here,” she explains while looking behind Naira.
“Wait, who else…” Naira lifts her head and turns around to see Chae and Dean sprawled out on her bed in just their boxers. She hears a purr loud enough to shake the floor. Upon carefully navigating their bodies and crawling to the end of the bed to identify the source of the noise, she’s met with gigantic golden-green feline eyes. “Holy shit! Kiran, get it!” she screams and shoots to the back of the bed, kicking the twins off in the process.
“Ow, what the hell?” Dean sleepily complains as he stands up and rubs his head.
“That's just Wayra!” Kiran laughs. “I can't decide which is funnier, Wayra shifting because he wanted to ‘escape his flesh prison’, or Naira pissing herself because she didn't want to miss the movie,” she cackles as she throws a pillow at Dean’s face.
“Hey, that's a valid reason to pee yourself, I wouldn't wanna miss the movie either,” Dean says as he grumpily throws the pillow back at Kiran, who catches it without looking away from her phone.
“Yeah, for sure, except there was nothing on the screen because we were still trying to get your idiot brother and Wayra to decide on a movie,” Kiran counters as she looks at Wayra, who lazily snarls and walks to the door, shifting before opening it. Dean puts a still-sleeping Chae on his back and carries him out of the door.
“Whose stuff am I wearing? Did I take a bath?” Naira asks as she sniffs her underarms.
“No, we took a shower, because you wouldn't stay under the water. Did you think I was gonna sit here smelling piss all night?” Kiran complains as she continues to scroll through her phone. Naira laughs and checks her phone.
“Wild night. Thanks, I guess,” she rubs her forehead. “Shit, I'm late for work!” She drops her phone and runs to put on an outfit.
“Uh-uh, no time. We have a meeting. Just bring your clothes and get dressed there. Let’s go,” Kiran orders as she dashes to the door.
“O-Okay,” Naira says as she clumsily grabs what she can and begins walking with Kiran to the elevator.
A hurried Kiran and a breathless Naira arrive at Asha's office. “I spoke to Jacky, and she says everything should be going as planned, she should have the tables and chairs delivered and set up tonight. The photographer checked into his hotel this morning, and the DJ is still on his train, but he’ll be here in time for the event,” Wayra announces, making no attempt to cover himself.
“We've finished most of the prep for the food. We should have it all done by midnight,” Chae says, letting out a yawn. Asha’s eyes glaze over the three and land on Kiran and Naira. Her eyes center back on Wayra.
“That was an eventful night you all had, I’m supposing,” she scanned the room. “I'm surprised you got anything done at all,” she adds while leaning back, looking away from the group and toward her computer. The five smile in relief and look at one another. “There is one problem, however…” The group's smiles fade and refocus on Asha, who points at Wayra and gestures for him to come to her. Wayra looks down at her computer and stands back up.
“My friends, it would seem our host has canceled. This is a better time than any to prove myself by stepping to the proverbial and literal podium,” he says, leaving everyone wearing a confused expression.
“Wayra, as much as I love you, I have to say you're about as charismatic as a boiled egg.” She loosens up. “We need someone fun, entertaining, and young,” Asha says as she rubs his hand and pats it before pointing to his previous position in the line, to which Wayra responds by returning to the line.
“What about Chae? He’s funny and charismatic,” Naira proposes while looking over at Chae.
“Oh, I’m flattered. But as much as I’d love to, I have to stay in the kitchen with Dean and the servers,” he says before lightly patting Naira on her back.
Kiran continues to text on her phone before looking up, to see the four of them looking at her expectantly. She looks around. “Yeah, no. I don't like people. Plus, I’m already security, you want your host?” Kiran asks before walking behind Naira and placing her hand on her head, “here’s your host. She's not boring, busy, or antisocial,” she argues with an austere expression, while continuing to pat Naira’s head. Asha looks at a nervous Naira up and down, analyzing the clothes pile at her feet and bed hair.
“I can see it. Wayra, get her a script so we can get this show on the road,” Asha commands before clapping her hands together. The group exits the room, and a shaken Naira speaks.
“Hey wait up. I don’t know what I’m gonna be doing,” she slips out of Kiran’s large button-up shirt and trips while attempting to slip into her pants.
Wayra turns his attention to her. “Finish getting dressed. I will go take a shower, and get dressed. Get your rounds done. I’ll be here when you're finished,” Wayra calms her down as he steps out.
“Alright, I guess,” Naira says, rubbing her head as she slips her shirt overhead and puts on her bra before buttoning up her shirt.
As usual, she performs her daily duties, really getting a grasp of just how wild they behaved last night. Trash was spilled over the theater and Naira spent fifteen minutes attempting to clean the chair she soiled.
After two hours of cleaning, she sluggishly walks back to her desk with a glass of water in hand. Upon entering, she sees Wayra sitting on the couch across from her. She slumps into her chair and wipes the sweat from her forehead with a napkin. She nods and gestures for a waiting Wayra to speak.
“I’m supposing they didn’t emphasize this upon your initial interview, but you were expected to greet our guests at the door and give the servers a hand when needed at the event. Now that our host has canceled, your duties will be shifted over to the host’s primary duties,” he explains, looking at Naira with wide eyes, making sure she understands every word. “As a result, your pay will be bumped up on the night in question. Before any of that can happen, I will be working on your script, but I will need some of that signature charm of yours, so we can ensure it doesn't sound like I'm just speaking through you. Any questions?” he says while typing on his laptop.
“How much will I be getting on the night? And when is it happening?” Naira asks while sipping her water with a raised eyebrow.
“My apologies, I neglected to mention that the event will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m. As for your pay, I’ve decided that due to your inexperience, I can only offer you half of what our original host was to receive. I can offer you a stipend of $2,000 along with a pay increase of $12 atop your base pay. If this isn't satisfact-” Wayra is interrupted when Naira begins to choke on her water.
After coughing, she’s finally able to speak. “Yea… yeah! No, that's awesome, I’ll do it, just gimmie the speech,” she says, wiping her mouth and trying to seem cool and collected.
“That's good to hear,” he says, lifting his eyebrows. “Now, as I've told you before, we’ll have to make the script. I will be showing you each piece, so we will know how to introduce them, aside from the one you were shown last night, as she doesn't want to ‘stress it out’ anymore,” Wayra says, holding up air quotations and giving a perfect Asha impression.
“Understandable. Welp, I'm ready whenever you are,” Naira replies smiling.
“Alright, here is the first piece.” He turns his computer around and places it on her desk.
The two talk about the pieces for three hours, while formulating a script. Chae, Dean, Kiran, and even Asha pass through, but their meeting goes undisturbed while the two laugh, and occasionally eat from the small tray of snacks Chae left for them.
“Okay, Naira. I want you to follow me.” Wayra stands up and walks quickly yet swiftly, and a hurried, mouth-filled Naira, who’s carrying the snack tray follows. They take the elevator up to the library and enter. “You can take a seat right there. I think I've put together a good script. I want you to practice it over and over until you can comfortably recite it without needing the print. I’m open to any observations and suggestions in case there is something you hope to change,” he says as he places the computer on the table in front of her.
“Cool! It looks good,” she tells him while scrolling through the script and silently reading it to herself.
“Great, I’ll be right here if you need me,” he reassures as he sits down and opens a book. The two sit there for hours, Naira chuckling occasionally as she reads the lighter fractions of the script.
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