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The s’skree were an old species. They were among the original six that formed the Coalition back in the beginning. They were also the best, most trustworthy traders in the galaxy. They had an incredible logistical network that enabled them to deliver things quickly and accurately from all corners of the Coalition. They were the best people to order clothing for Sandy that would fit and flatter her and get here in time, but also would allow him to afford it. Since he was limited to using only a thousand credz a day, he couldn’t buy her everything at once. But they could start a list.
That, however, required her input. He already found a few things she might like based on her style to get her started, but he didn’t want to get her anything she might not appreciate. So, the moment he and the rest of the team returned from the away game they had been playing, he went right to her wing of the manor to ask what she liked – a decision Kirs and Orza had allowed without a fight.
And found her like this.
He wanted to laugh. But he also imagined how his mother would react if she saw this. She’d be angry, of course. She’d demand it be repaired immediately as well. The chairs would be replaced, the walls re-painted. All Sandy’s work undone.
It might be general chaos and mild mayhem, but he didn’t dislike it. And Sandy was smiling so brightly as she splattered ink water on the floor as she worked.
Rane stood back and watched as she created little stalks of grass and thumbprint flowers, then double curved lines representing birds flying off into the distance. When she finally stepped back and looked it over with him, fully half the front of her skirt was soaked, the floor and rug were stained, and the leaf-less tree looked dead. But she was beaming, proud.
“Not bad considering how long it’s been since I did this,” she declared, hands on her hips, nodding once with approval.
“My mother won’t like it.”
“It’s a good thing I didn’t ask her opinion then. Where have you been? It’s been a week since I last saw you.”
“A week?”
“Seven days. Actually, I think it’s been eight days. I’m losing all track of time in here.”
“Sorry. I’ve been at an away game.”
“Ah. I guess I wouldn’t be invited to those. Did you win?”
“Er, yeah. Barely. We’re lagging behind in points in the general competition, but we still have time to make them up.”
She bobbed her head along, still smiling. “Well, I’m glad you came to see me. Want to paint?”
“Actually, I wanted to know if you wanted to do some shopping?”
“For paint?”
“For clothes. Lisra said you needed some.” He looked down at her ink-stained outfit. When his eyes moved up again, she was beaming.
“Oh, my gosh, yes!” She laughed, delighted. “Does that mean we can get out of here?”
He winced. “No. Sorry. It has to be done off the subnet.”
Instead of being disappointed, she shrugged her shoulders. “Eh. Better than nothing. I’m probably not getting this ink out of my skin for a few days anyway. Come on.”
“Don’t you want to wash up first?”
She cackled. “No. I want to leave messes and marks on everything.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“I’m being mischievous. Shall we?”
Rane couldn’t help but chuckle as he followed her to the reading room. As promised, she was running her hands over everything. Spreading ink stains and smudges with every step. Blatantly disrespecting the house his mother had spent so much time and credz designing and decorating.
They got to the reading room, and she walked to a sofa. Instead of sitting, however, she stood over it and gathered her ink-soaked skirt. She paused then.
“Wait, this is your money,” she said before looking at him. “Sorry. I should have asked you. I know she’s going to spend your credz replacing all this. Do you want me to stop?”
“No.”
The word immediately flew past his lips. Before he could even think about it. He was enjoying watching her like this. Untouchable, messy, chaotic, happy. He could only smile as she wrung out her skirt over the couch before turning and sitting neatly onto the mess she had just made, no doubt smudging and sinking it deeper into the fabric.
