Suddenly she had a thought.
‘Eiko,’ she sat up, ‘could you connect me with the people who actually design my clothes? And I don’t mean the boss, I mean the actual designers.’
‘Of course.’
This should be interesting, Amari thought as she waited for the connection. She’d never thought about the people who created her wardrobe. She just gave the company a spec and if they had any questions they asked her through Eiko. She proofed the holograms, and if she didn’t like something that arrived, she’d send it back with her comments. In time, they learned her preferences so well, she didn’t have to give them any more instructions.
‘Olympus Designs, can I help you, Miss Quinn?’
‘Yes, I wondered if you could give me some advice. I’m going to a place I’ve never been to before and I’m struggling with the decision on what to wear.’
‘Certainly,’ the girl said, ‘Let me run a simulation…’
‘Actually,’ Amaranthine interrupted, ‘I don’t want any simulations. I want… your opinion.’
‘Oh?’ the girl was clearly shocked.
‘But,’ Amari said, ‘that depends on if you can be honest with me.’
‘Of… course,’ the girl uttered without conviction.
‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, but… are you a Mortal?’
There was a longish silence on the other end of the line.
‘Miss Quinn, I…’ the girl stuttered, her voice ringing with panic.
‘No, listen,’ Amari said quickly, ‘it’s good if you are. I need a Mortal person’s opinion. It’s really important to me.’
‘Really?’ a mixture of uncertainty and surprise.
‘Yes, definitely. Now, listen, the venue I’m going to is…’
CHAPTER TWELVE
She got to Steel Magnolias only a couple of minutes late. She relaxed a little as soon as she saw people’s outfits – her skinny jeans and the top, advised by the Mortal designer, seemed to fit the casual Mortal fashion choices. She was so glad that she didn’t go for an evening gown, she would have felt really out of place.
Daniel and most of his team were already there, sipping drinks.
‘Hello, everyone,’ she said with a short smile, joining their circle.
All eyes turned on her and the conversation died in mid-sentence.
‘Hi.’
‘Hi.’
‘Hi.’
Great. This is just going to be awkward now. Please let the clients get here ASAP so I can excuse myself.
‘Hey, Amari,’ Daniel was the only one who smiled. ‘Let me get you a drink. What would you like?’
She glanced at their glasses and decided to play it easy. She didn’t expect a mortal venue to make her favorite cocktail anyway.
‘I’ll just have what you’re having.’
‘So,’ she said when Daniel left, determined to lighten up the atmosphere and show them that she didn’t bite. ‘You guys have seen the band play live before, haven’t you.’
‘Yes.’
‘Yup.’
‘Yeah, they were great.’
Silence again. Eyes travelled down to avoid her glance.
‘And how many people are expected to be here tonight?’
‘Dunno.’
‘Er, a few thousand maybe.’
‘And how’s your organization going? Hotels, visas, and so on?’
‘Good.’
‘Fine.’
‘Aye, getting there, you know.’
Fortunately Daniel came back from the bar at that moment, and rescued her by handing her a cocktail. It was a mojito, not her favorite, but she didn’t care. And it didn’t even look like a classic mojito. It was served in the usual highball glass, but in addition to ice, slices of lime and mint, there were a few thin leaves in it that she couldn’t identify. They tinged the cocktail pink.
She didn’t care though, relieved to have something else to do than try to make a conversation. She took a tiny sip of the cocktail, letting Daniel take over the chat. But even before the sweet and refreshing mixture reached her taste buds, she was surprised by the scent that hit her nostrils. The mint mixed with some other scent, subtle and flowery but intangible. It must have been the pink leaves in it. The secret ingredient seemed to also bring out the citrus, and the mint marked its presence stronger than usual. She would have to ask him later what it was. She took a second, bigger sip, amazed at how tasty it was.
‘Right, Amari, why don’t we pop into the changing rooms so you can meet Gary and the boys before our clients get here.’
‘Sure, great.’
At least I have a chance to make a good first impression on the band members, she thought on the way to the dressing rooms.
Indeed, that encounter went much better. The band’s manager, Gary, was clearly pleased to meet her, and made quite a fuss about the work she’d done on Carpe Diem’s behalf. The musicians greeted her briefly, interrupting their preparations, but they were natural and friendly. She observed them curiously. Despite the outfits, the hairstyles, the tattoos and other rock star attributes, they didn’t strike her as crazy, full-on rock men. They seemed very level-headed.
Her and Daniel left the dressing rooms to let the band finish getting ready, and headed back to the bar.
‘What would you like?’ Daniel asked, catching the barman’s eye. The man held up his index finger for a split second. ‘Same again?’
‘Yes, I really liked that,’ she smiled.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Definitely,’ she said, observing the barman perform an acrobatic routine with spirit bottles, shakers, muddlers and glasses. ‘Mojito is actually not my favorite cocktail, but I must admit the one they serve here is slightly different from what I’ve had before.’
‘Would you prefer it made with a classic recipe?’ he asked.
‘No, I really like this version. It’s delicious. What’s in it that makes it pink?’
He winked to her, pretending to be smug. ‘It’s a mysterious, very rare ingredient, which cannot be revealed. Steel Magnolias’ trade secret.’
‘Is that so?’ she smiled back. ‘And isn’t it against the law not to reveal all ingredients of the products served to the general public?’ she teased.
‘Of course it is,’ he said with a playful wink. ‘But this is a mortal bar, remember, we break all sorts of laws.’
The barman finished his little show and glanced at them. Daniel signaled the order from the distance. The barman nodded slightly to confirm he was on it.
‘How does he know what you want?’ Amari asked. She didn’t expect Mortals to be able to afford humanoid robots, but she looked closely at the staff behind the bar, just to make sure. They all seemed to be humans.
‘It’s his job to know,’ Daniel said. ‘I’ve ordered it before, so I shouldn’t have to repeat myself.’
‘Are you saying they remember everybody’s order all night?’
‘They’ve been trained to pay attention,’ he smiled.
She couldn’t help but remember her conversation with Ambrose’s astronomer friends the night Mr. Paramonos was arrested. Olam praised Hebes’ ability to remember people’s drink preferences in detail and claimed that humans weren’t capable of the same thing. But that was because his image of Mortals was as distorted as hers once was.
When the barman came back with the two glasses, she took her idatron out to pay this time, but Daniel insisted on paying again. She wanted to insist back, but quickly gave up. Daniel didn’t take his idatron out of his pocket. Instead, he produced a bundle of banknotes.
‘Keep the change,’ he said to the server, handing him the cash.
She felt embarrassed for not having predicted that. She didn’t bring any cash with her – why would she? Immortals stopped carrying it around with them decades ago.
‘Daniel,’ she started, ‘is there a way of getting cash around here? I didn’t bring any, I didn’t realize…’
‘Yes, there is,’ he said, ‘just
over by the entrance.’
‘Thanks,’ she replied. ‘Excuse me for a moment.’
She walked over to the cash machine, activating her idatron.
Request a cash withdrawal of two hundred dollars from this ATM, she ordered mentally.
I’m sorry, but your account configuration does not allow cash withdrawals, the device responded.
Then change the damn configuration! she was getting really annoyed.
Of course. Connecting with the bank.
She glanced at the clock.
I haven’t got time for this! Can you not just change it for tonight, all I need is a few hundred bucks!
I’m sorry, Miss Quinn, but this operation requires direct communication with the bank staff.
At that moment she saw Mr. McLaren and his businessman friend enter the club.
‘Oh, just forget it!’ she barked at the idatron, this time verbally, and switched it off. A couple of passers-by gave her curious looks. How embarrassing. She wouldn’t be able to buy her clients a drink because of some bloody antediluvian technology this place used. She had to go and greet them.
‘Welcome, Mr. McLaren,’ she said, trying to look relaxed. ‘Thank you so much for joining us.’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world!’ Athos McLaren said. ‘Thanks for the invite. This is my friend, Hedone Jones.’
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,’ she said, shaking his hand. ‘Let me introduce you to Mr. Collins.’
Daniel saw them from the distance and approached them quickly. As soon as introductions were over, he offered them drinks.
‘Daniel,’ she whispered to him discreetly whilst the clients were having a look at the menu. Mr. McLaren, this being his second time at Steel Magnolias, played host to his friend, both very amused by the fact that they had to look at the menu, as opposed to have their preferences mind-read by robot waiters. Clearly they haven’t had much experience with mortal bars either. ‘This is so embarrassing, but I’ve got a problem withdrawing cash here.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ he said naturally. ‘I’ve got it covered.’
‘Thanks’ she said. ‘I’ll pay you back on Monday.’
‘You don’t need to, Amari,’ he said. ‘It’s my fault, I should have warned you. I’m sorry. So let me make up for it by tonight being my treat.’
She accepted his offer with a smile, relieved that she wouldn’t have to improvise at the bar, trying to order and pay in this old-fashioned way.
Soon a round of applause came from the audience gathered in front of the stage, hinting them that the concert was about to start. Daniel, Amaranthine and the clients made their way to the table waiting for them on a narrow gallery stretching at the back of the room, whilst Daniel’s team joined the sea of excited fans, packed tightly on the main floor.
As soon as they settled, all the lights went out. The crowd waved and gasped in anticipation.
It happened all at once, without any warning, a hint even. The music of electric guitars and the drums, the voices of the two vocalists, and the lights went off at once in perfect synchrony, making an overwhelming impression on the crowd. Hundreds of hands exploded in enthusiastic applause, cheers and squeals burst out of hundreds of throats and floated towards the stage.
Amaranthine sat back and smiled to herself – it was nice to be entertained for a change. She spent so many years decorating venues and putting all sorts of shows together, imagining them, planning them, and executing them, she never actually had a chance to enjoy herself. There were always too many details to see to, too many last-minute hitches to resolve, so that the show was perfect in every aspect. She realized that at almost every event, dinner, opening, launch or exhibit that she attended for the last few years, she was at work. Too busy making sure everyone else was having a good time to actually have some fun herself. Here, at Steel Magnolias, with Daniel taking turns with her at looking after the clients, and the show having been prepared by someone else, she could actually afford to relax.
It was also very interesting to her professionally. The events that she organized were always meticulously planned, and tension was built gradually, to keep the audience on their toes, expectant and excited. This concert however, with its sudden and immediate kick off, came across less planned, but yet more enthusiastic, passionate, and natural, with the band responding to, and communicating with the crowd as if everyone there formed one single organism. She observed the audience’s reaction. They were completely engrossed by the music and singing, they clapped and jumped, danced and cheered, and when Carpe Diem occasionally went silent at the chorus, hundreds of voices sang the lyrics perfectly word by word. They all seemed to be participants of the show rather than passive spectators. Instead of waiting to be entertained, they made the show together with the band. She could feel the whole place vibrate, caught in the rhythm and melody.
The feeling of vibration wasn’t just coming from below; the whole gallery also shook slightly, put in motion by a few dozen feet beating together with the strikes of the drums. She glanced at her clients and froze in shock for a second – the two of them were the most enthusiastic people on the gallery, clapping vigorously and stomping their feet. Mr. McLaren was singing out loud, a testimony of the many hours he had spent recently listening to Carpe Diem’s albums in his hovercar. Amaranthine shook her head with disbelief.
When the band took a break, Daniel got up to get them another round of drinks, but Mr. McLaren insisted that it was his turn.
‘I want to do it the old-fashioned way at least once,’ he laughed. Amaranthine panicked for a moment – what if he hasn’t brought any cash just like her? But she needn’t have worried. ‘I specially brought cash this time,’ he said, taking a bunch of banknotes out of his pocket. ‘What are you having?’ he addressed Daniel and Amaranthine.
‘Mojito,’ she answered for both of them. ‘Though it’s not a standard one, I’m not sure how to –’ she looked questioningly at Daniel. She didn’t want a standard one; the pink ingredient, whatever it was, made it taste far too delicious.
‘Just tell the barman it’s for us,’ Daniel explained casually. ‘He’ll know exactly what it is.’
‘Ok, then,’ Mr. McLaren got up, ready for his mission. ‘Let’s go see how it works.’
Amaranthine observed them as they walked down the narrow gallery stairs and started squeezing their way through the crowd. She wasn’t sure they would be able to make the order with so many thirsty customers surrounding the bar, but the same barman that served Daniel and Amari before walked over to them as soon as he saw them, ignoring quite a few people at the front of the queue.
She looked at Daniel suspiciously.
‘Do you have special privileges in every venue in this city?’ she asked.
‘Only in the ones that are worth it,’ he grinned, his eyes playful again.
‘How do you know everyone here so well?’ she didn’t give up. She was curious.
‘I used to work here,’ he revealed with a smile.
‘Really? When was that?’
‘My first and second year in college,’ he said.
‘How did you manage to do both at the same time?’
‘It was just a couple of nights a week,’ he said. ‘Tips were really good and I have to be honest, it was great fun. Didn’t feel like work, really.’
‘Daniel Collins?’ they suddenly heard a voice behind them. They both turned around to see a man of Daniel’s age and a very similar accent. His mouth was stretched in a wide smile, surprise and happiness filling his eyes.
‘How is it going, man?’ Daniel exclaimed, giving the guy a big hug. ‘Fancy meeting you here!’
‘And you!’ the man replied, still astonished at the accidental meeting. ‘What are you up to these days? Not playing anymore, are you?’
‘No,’ Daniel replied, ‘I have a PR company now, we organize events, advertising campaigns, this sort of thing. You still playing?’
‘Only for pleasure,’ the man said, a no
te of nostalgia in his voice. ‘I coach kids, mainly,’ he said, throwing a curious look at Amari. ‘Who’s your lovely companion?’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ Daniel said, ‘this is Amari. Our companies are working together to represent this band on their first world tour. Amari, this is Chris, my good old friend. We haven’t seen each other for years.’
‘It’s nice to meet you,’ Amari shook Chris’ hand. ‘What did you used to play together?’
‘Rugby,’ Chris replied with a smile. ‘A wonderful sport.’
‘Rugby?’ Amari couldn’t hide the shock in her voice. ‘Isn’t it terribly dangerous?’ As far as she knew, rough sports like rugby or American football were off limits for anyone who wanted to have a decent insurance plan, and – more importantly – for anyone who wanted to enjoy their unlimited life in good health. There wasn’t much point in being immortal if you were going to fracture your scull and end up brain dead.
‘You can say that about anything fun these days!’ he said, ‘doesn’t mean it’s not worth the risk, does it? I mean, would you not go skiing because you may just break your wrist or not go surfing because there’s half a per cent chance you’ll get bitten by a great white? Don’t you want to have some stories for your grandkids and some adventures to look back on when you’re on your deathbed?’
Amaranthine didn’t know how to respond. Chris was clearly assuming she was a Mortal and she didn’t know how Daniel wanted to play it. One thing she was sure of – this was not the moment for getting into a dispute over the Mortal versus Immortal idea of life.
‘I guess you have a point there,’ she replied quickly, not letting any of her feelings show on her face.
Fortunately, the band were ready to get back on stage and Mr. McLaren and his friend were climbing the stairs to the gallery, each carrying two cocktails.
‘I think they’re ready to play again,’ Daniel said, ‘it was great bumping into you. Give me a call soon, ok, we should get together for dinner.’
‘Absolutely,’ Chris smiled widely, and immediately winked, ‘but only if you bring Amari along. She’s much better to look at than your ugly mug. You take care, buddy.’
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