Tidal-Bore

7. The Medium

Wooyoung's fingers were cramped around the stabbing pick the Atlanteans used for eating. They stabbed food onto it and ate it off there, which meant most things on the table were shaped accordingly cube-like. Next to him and just an arm's reach away sat San, the stunning medium. He conversed easily with Hongjoong, his calm voice oh so pleasant to Wooyoung's ears. He barely minded the foreigners at the same table as him, but he also didn't seem perturbed by their presence. The only one who would correct their table manners was Seonghwa.

Now that he tried to listen in to the conversation by his side, Wooyoung regretted not studying their language more. He had been ignorant of the matter, but now Yeosang's words came true and he had no idea how to seduce the man by his side. He also had yet to find out how casual hook ups worked under the sea. As soon as he caught Seonghwa alone, it was time to demand answers.

From what he heard, it would be delicious to hear San grunting Wooyoung's name in that voice.

Wooyoung stabbed at a cube of something that looked like sushi. When his metal pick scraped over the bronze dish with a jarring shriek, he ducked between his shoulders, mortified.

No one minded him and lunch went on as before. Seonghwa leaned forward to eye the bunch of them.

"How do you like it? If there is anything you don't want to eat, just skip it."

Perhaps Wooyoung's moral issues with seafood would come up if he knew what type of cube he was poking at. Since it remained a mystery, however, he happily munched on.

"It's wonderful, but I've been wondering what this is?" Kiko pointed her pick at the large dish that dominated the space between the five.

Seonghwa exchanged an amused glance with Yeosang, who had been avoiding it.

Wooyoung found it quite delicious. He guessed it was some small shark.

"That is a yellow moray. I talked about it before, but all morays apart from the yellow fiends are sacred to us. In return, we honour yellow morays as a source of food to give them a purpose where they lack." He gestured at them to eat more.

Petra chewed slower, put off by the idea, but ultimately, they were in a different country. The food culture was bound to be different.

Wooyoung grabbed another piece. San's eyes followed the movement with intrigue before he also caught hold of one of the thick meat slaps to put it on his plate. The twist of his wrist so it wouldn't slip off his pick was much smoother than Wooyoung's. Ripping his gaze away, Wooyoung shot Seonghwa a winning grin.

"It's magnificent. Thank you a lot."

Shxcay gave a rumbling hum of approval. Seonghwa listened to his words with a smile playing around his lips before he nodded.

"The chieftain mentioned that yellow moray is the favourite food of his daughter, as well."

"There is a princess?" Kiko asked in awe, eyes immediately searching the banquet hall for a person who matched such a description.

"Yes! She is currently pregnant and thus couldn't join the festivities, but she sends her regards. Once she is available again, she will greet you in person," Seonghwa winced an excuse.

Yeosang waved it off.

"Her pregnancy has priority. Is she Hongjoong's sister?"

Listening with one ear about the family tree of the ruling family, Wooyoung tugged his meat apart. He liked the pink cubes; they tasted almost like watermelon. Surprisingly, the fruit went well will the taste of meat.

By his side, Yongguk struggled with everything that wasn't cube-shaped and thus required to be folded to fit his mouth at once.

The princess sounded like a very popular and sought-after person in their country. Since she had such a high ranking, she probably had countless suitors. Who was the person lucky enough to marry her? A mighty warrior like Yunho? A sweet, studied person like Seonghwa? Or even the most influential man in their country himself?