The sea cucumber mumbled something Fian didn’t catch, but he had no doubt they happily agreed.
To confirm that, Mikano smiled.“Perfect, thank you.Tickle, we can go right through, come on.”
“Yes, right.”Fian jogged to keep up.It wasn’t fair that Mikano’s legs were that long.“Uhm, thank you,” he said to the sea cucumber, who mumbled something back.Fian didn’t catch that response either.
A demonic attendant in a uniform and in human shape so perfect Fian wasn’t even sure what demon he was held the door to a car for them and gave Mikano a nod, then Fian when he finally got on as well, huffing when Mikano relaxed back into the comfortably upholstered seat and crossed his legs.
Fian slumped down, and one of the pieces of mushroom dropped from his skewer.
Mikano tsked.“Ah, Tickle.”He produced a tissue and handed it to Fian.“You should really be more careful.”
“Uh-huh.”Fian scooped up the piece of food, more annoyed he couldn’t have it.Food would calm him while he was forced to listen to what Mikano wanted.
The Ferris wheel started moving.
“Such a beautiful day, isn’t it?”Mikano resumed his popcorn crunching.“What have you been up to lately?Still carving phalli?”
Fian’s skin turned red, then shifted into a purple.“That was for the reconstruction of Pompeii Demonic Design is doing.I have no reason to carve phalli for myself.Why would I carve phalli for myself, Mikano?”
Fian realized his voice had gone a little high, and he also realized that might give himself and his own private dreams away, but he simply couldn’t stop himself.
Mikano’s low chuckle did that.“You and your shifting color, brother.Anyway, I didn’t mean to criticize your phalli.I’m sure they’re beautiful.Dreams know if I had a talent for carving phalli, I would do so and display them all over my living room.”
“I didn’t…I don’t—” Fian shut his mouth, for once managing to keep his colors stable.He ate one of the broccoli pieces from his skewer, hating how al dente it was.
“I didn’t come here to talk about driftwood carvings of male genitalia, Fian.”Mikano beamed.“As a matter of fact, I came here to bring you the happiest of tidings!”
Fian looked up from his skewer.“Are you being reassigned to a distant shore for work?”
Mikano snorted.“Funny, Tickle, but no.I am getting married!To a human.”He leaned forward, spun the old steering wheel in the center of the car so their view turned.“I met him on the job of course, but he is magnificent.A surfer.”Mikano’s eyes narrowed with laughter.“He thinks sharks are cute.”
Fuck me,Fian thought as he worked to process this.Who would marry this sharp-finned manifestation of arrogance and superiority?Maybe it’s just exasperated defeat?Everything I do for Mikano is born out of exasperated defeat, and I can’t see why else a surfer would fall for a shark.
“We’re having a beachside wedding,” Mikano droned on.“And on my side, I have decided that you will be my best demon, Tickle.Tom hasn’t decided yet, but we are going to keep the event somewhat small.Only a few of my work colleagues, you, some surfers.Oh, and you should bring a plus one, please.I think if you don’t, Tom will feel obligated to set you up with one of his best friends, and that would be very awkward for the both of us.So bring someone, yeah?A nice demon.If you don’t know anyone who’d come, I think I can pair you up with one of our agents—just for the day of course.”
Fian nodded.It was a mechanical reaction to his brother’s tone of voice.He was too stunned to fully process the idea of being set up with some agent so the new human family member wouldn’t set Fian up with someone who might actually be open to the idea.
“You…you’re getting married.”
Mikano gave him a toothy grin.“We are.What do you say?”
“Right.That’s fantastic.So great.I’m happy for you both.Big huge congrats, Mikano.”
Mikano grinned, maybe even blushed a little.“Thanks, Tickle.You can go ahead now and ask me.”
“Huh?”
“Ask me to see a photo of my beloved human who loves me more than he will ever love another shark.”
Fian cleared his throat.“Do you have a photo on you?So I know my, uh, prospective human-in-law.”
Mikano laughed, the sound echoing in the small car, a wave caught in a metal can.“Tickle!Tom will be your brother-in-law!And I just know you two will get along perfectly.”
He’s telling me to better get along with his paramour.That poor human.The man probably doesn’t know what he’s getting into—or that Mikano will eat in bed and never once apologize about the crumbs.
Mikano pulled out a cell phone.Fian didn’t have one, although he had seen them on dreamers and quite liked the idea.Only a few models could deal with salt water though.
“Here.Tom.”
