She must have kept her phone close; her reply came in less than a minute.
Claire:Glad to hear it, Tai Aksel.
Oh no. Tai groaned at his cathedral ceiling and dropped into his favorite chair. He kept hold of the phone as a stupid grin forced its way onto his face.
Claire:Tell me something I don’t know.
The heaviness finally washed all the way off him, like a tide returning to the ocean. He couldn’t stop smiling as he typed.
Until 1948, artists and musicians were included in the Olympics.
Also, all my favorite films are based on comic books, and a few of them are animated.
He got up, shoved his phone into his pocket, and crossed to the kitchen, which overlooked his living room from a peninsula. He never let himself slake in the evenings before six. It seemed a good practice, self-restraint and all, because he was often thirsty by five. Last night had messed with him, though. Today his throat began to parch by a quarter to five.
He waited until his phone read 6:01. Then he got a blood bag from the fridge, poured it into a wine glass from the cabinet, and let himself drink. The tang hit his tongue, and his whole body seemed to sigh with relief. His throat opened, his fangs descended, and a weight eased off his chest. He drained the glass, rinsed it, set it in the sink.
His phone lit up.
Claire:That’s so interesting. Do you know why they’re not included anymore? And who are your favorite comic characters?
Tai found himself smiling again as he returned to his chair and began to type. He had a few things to do tonight, most notably writing his toast for tomorrow, but he had time. He wasn’t supposed to meet the bride and groom at the banquet hall until ten the next morning for final logistics. The wedding would be at four in the afternoon, the reception at five-thirty. Given the matron of honor and her husband were the only humans present, the reception would last until the hall closed and then would likely move to Laurence and Senna’s home so the party could continue. Vampires didn’t party often, but when they did, they kept it up until the next sunrise.
Re: Olympics, most artists and musicians who competed for medals turned out to be professionals, which went against the spirit of the Olympics at the time. So the committee decided to include them as exhibits rather than competitions.
Claire:Wow, you really know your Olympic history.
You had a horse phase. I had an Olympic phase. I learned things all the way back to the first modern games in 1896, well before there were categories for vampires to compete.
Claire:And comics? Who do you like and why?
I don’t have a single favorite character. For me it’s the ensemble, everybody’s personalities bouncing off each other, sometimes getting along, sometimes fighting, but ultimately sticking together to save the world.
She didn’t reply for a few minutes. Maybe she’d put her phone away. Just as Tai was about to do the same, to get on with his evening, his phone lit up.
Claire:I’ve never thought of comics that way before, probably because Ember is a casualfan with some very not casual loyalty to her favorite heroes.
He laughed. He wished Claire were here, taking up space in his space, making his home a little brighter with her wit, her flashing eyes, her effortless shimmer. Maybe one day soon, she would be. She knew the truth, and she hadn’t kicked him out of her life.
He’d keep repeating it to himself until he believed it.
His phone buzzed again.
Claire:I really like that concept. Ensemble for the win.
When they signed off for the evening, Tai went to his study for a pen and a steno pad. He could wing a toast if he had to, no problem, but this was Ryker’s wedding. He would do his best to write a tribute worthy of his friend.
Tai arrived at the hall at ten, within minutes of Hannah Farthering, the matron of honor. Ryker, Leslie, and both sets of parents were already there.
“So you’re allowed to see each other,” Tai said as Leslie wrapped him in a quick hug.
“I have to finish the centerpieces,” Leslie said. “Also, down with outdated superstitions.”
He laughed. “Okay then.”
She grinned. “He hasn’t seen the dress, though.”
Tai had applied all his organization and efficiency skills to his job as best man, and Hannah had been a great partner on wedding logistics all the way from Harmony Ridge, Tennessee. They’d texted back and forth about venue, catering, music, andeverything else for the last couple months, taking over the execution of booking things once the bride and groom knew what they wanted. After a few minutes it became clear that, other than the centerpieces, everyone was here more or less to check in before going their separate ways to get dressed.
