An Attack Helicopter Brought us Together

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Beverly POV

We're all lazing around a shiny metal table in the Egyptian palace, a cool breeze and muted sunshine filtering in through cotton window coverings. Long ancient-style chaises with cat head designs support us in gold and ruby, and servants bustle around with palm leaves and bowls of dates. I'm not the biggest fan of dates, but Ember seems to like them. A lush fountain burbles between small sandstone statuettes, and ferns whisper from planters attached to the walls. Oh, and cats are running around everywhere.

Servants buzz around Ember especially, handing her papyrus scrolls and rushing off with her replies. It actually seems like we've gone back in time to Ancient Egypt, which is sorta cool. I'm still not up for the old makeup style, but neither is Ember or anyone, so that's fine. The clothes are cool - light, floaty Egyptian cotton and silk robes with rich jewelry in ivory and gold and lapis and ruby and citrine.

Emily yawns, hand flopping onto me as she rolls over. She and Serena are also doing leadership things (sort of - mostly what they do is receive a stack of thick envelopes, read two or three and scorch the rest in the incense burners).

"Sorry," she yawns, rubbing her eyes and motioning a servant over who's carrying crystalized pineapple slices, "Just... these letters are boring." Tiara, her little golden persian, lifts her head and blinks sleepily at the disturbance.

"Agreed," Serena snorts. She hasn't even opened one of them, "They're a bunch of pig shit metamorphosed into paper and ink."

Penelope laugh, "Hahaha good one-"

"You know, someone went to the trouble of writing that," I exclaim, slightly outraged at Serena.

"Just because they went to the trouble," Serena snarls back, "doesn't mean it's gonna come out any good. All these dudes back in office are terrible writers. A blind, constipated goanna with schizophrenia humping a rock could do better."

I look at her quizzically as I try to picture the goanna.

"I think..." Ember breaks the silence with a sigh, reclining triedly, "We all just need a bit of a break. Ruling a country isn't exactly easy... I mean, clearly, it's luxurious, but that doesn't mean easy."

"What's the difference!?" I cry, "It's just ruling a country! It can't be that hard..."

"Sure," Emily laughs with humor, "You go try it. Where d'you wanna rule?"

I give that some serious thought... Well, I CAN now - Serena, Emily and Ember can all do it! And I don't think any of THEM has an IQ of 20, either. "I'm not sure, actually. How about we go on a world tour to find somewhere-"

"Y'know what," Serena sniffs, cutting me off, "I reckon Ember's right. We need a holiday. After that, yeah, maybe we could look at some throne to put your shit arse on."

"Plus then Junk and I need to have our wedding, too!" Emily beams, clutching Junk's hand.

"That too," Serena huffs.

"So, it's agreed?" Ember asks, petting Blossom and Maple (Maple is her new cat - the one with green eyes and calico-and-white fluff), "We're all up for a holiday?"

"WOOOOO VACATION!!!" Penelope hops up and down and bounces around and nearly kills two cats (they're fine - they got outta the way quick enough), "Where are we gonna go? Can we go to Japan, please, please, please!?"

I notice Ember and Emily exchange a look, "Fine," Ember says, at length. I wonder why they're not altogether happy with going to Japan? It's a fun place and they've got cat stuff so Ember should like it. And Yuzu's probably there now too, now that I think of it.