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“The hover is ready, Tilla Sandy” he said.
“Hover?” Rane looked at her.
She smiled at him. “You have practice today. We have to get to the stadium early so we can fix… all this.” Her brow furrowed when she looked over his injuries again.
He wanted to reassure her that it was alright. That he’d endured worse, for a lot longer, before. But he didn’t say anything because he rather liked the concern in her eyes as she stroked his arm down to clasp his hand.
“Come on,” she said, pulling on him. “The sooner we can get those fixed, the better. Drevor, get some food delivered to the stadium. He needs to eat.”
“Yes, tilla,” he said demurely. As though she were the mistress of the house.
And he could only smile, his crest rising. Because that was exactly right.
Chapter 15
Sandy
Rane did amazing in practice. And she knew that wasn’t usual. From where she sat on the ground, beside the exit that led to the locker rooms, she could hear the rest of his team congratulating him like they’d won an actual game as they came down. They were bruised, covered in sweat, their golden and bronze skin all extra shiny, smiling as they surrounded him.
Sandy said nothing. She just stood back as she watched him go into the clinic with the others. Trikball was a violent game, and the medical care was a requirement after each game and practice. When she considered how much effort was put into maintaining safety in Earth bound sports, their flippancy about injuries was kind of funny.
But she wasn’t feeling very amused right now.
The last few days had been… tense. To say the least.
Not knowing where Rane had been taken was bad enough. But to see the state of him when he finally came back had been alarming. How had no one tried to help him before? How was he still in this situation? It was sick and wrong.
Part of her could understand, and even appreciate, on some level, the concept of making sure people could take care of themselves before they were made an adult. It was not only a way to keep people from ruining their own lives through irresponsibility, but it was also a way to make sure that they were ready for the world beyond childhood. From what she had seen in looking it up, the tribunal was practically a formality. Very few were denied, and those that were had extenuating circumstances. Most people even looked forward to it, seeing it as this big milestone in life – like how a human would see getting a driver’s license.
At the same time, seeing how it could be exploited, seeing how someone could have their freedom ripped away by the whim of a terrible parent, made her furious. Rane would never have needed to go through all this if it weren’t for that damn tribunal.
And now, she learned through Drevor, he couldn’t even appeal anymore. The only person who could appeal for him was Elffa. Because she’d ruined all his other chances. The world saw Elffa as a devoted, long-suffering mother, and Rane as her errant, hapless son.
Sandy needed a plan. Having Lisra on her side bought time. She had no doubt that Elffa would be searching for some way to close that hole and get them both back under her control. This reprieve would be temporary if she didn’t think of something.
First step: She wasn’t going to leave Rane’s side again.
Seeing the state he’d been brought back in, it had taken everything in her to not take her heel off and drive it into Blue or Green’s eye. The casual way he accepted it told her this wasn’t even the first time. She couldn’t leave him alone for fear of what would happen, so she would be following him everywhere.
Second step: Put on their best goodie two shoes.
Absolutely no more rule breaking. No more deviance at all. Rane had to be seen as having turned things completely around. She needed him to have a chance at passing the tribunal if they ever managed to get his case heard again, so they had to clean up his act – publicly and loudly.
Third step: Become his foil.
She could go back to wearing brown. To being muted and quiet – to try to emulate what was considered a proper telfay lady. But that was a losing battle. Her species alone made that impossible. And if she looked like she was trying so hard, she would contrast with him. He’d look worse by association. So, she was going to embrace her new look.
As much as her humanity was a weakness, it was also a strength. Instead of trying and failing to hide the inherent sensuality and sexuality they saw in her, if she accentuated it in a human way, she’d be confident, she’d look appropriate for her species, and she wouldn’t make Rane look worse. If anything, it would make his sudden change more believable because there was still part of him – her – that was considered wild.
She hadn’t worn her belly button piercing in years. She’d stopped sometime after college. She considered herself lucky it hadn’t healed shut. To her delight, it took the little piece of bling easily. The new clothes she ordered felt so not her, but also so right. Like she had been waiting her whole life to change up her wardrobe like this. It was wild and crazy, the kind of things others wouldn’t wear, and especially wouldn’t wear together. But she still didn’t know how to coordinate her colors or match fabrics or patterns or whatever else people did in fashion. So, she was treating it more like quilting. She might have a theme, but each piece was different and individual.
The effect was one that had already earned her looks and questions. But she enjoyed the fun things she wore, even if others thought her tacky and mismatched.
She was still Sandy. Of course. She was herself whether she was wearing stripper heels or orthopedic sandals. She just broadcasted a different side of herself now. One she hadn’t really indulged since she’d been a child. One that she hadn’t really repressed but hadn’t indulged either.
At least, before now.
And maybe this was what grandmother had been talking about.
