To Strange Horizons

Chapter Eight.

Eventually, Jake and Mariana decided they couldn't stay in the water forever. The two pulled themselves out, drying off with a shared towel. The towel was mostly torn to bits, but it got the job done.

Jake pulled himself into his newly dried pants, leaving his chest bare as he wrung the water from his hair.

He had what seemed to be an old stab wound on his chest near his shoulder, Mari made a mental note to ask about it.

She pulled the red pants onto her hips, just so that she wasn't bare beneath her gown. She crossed her arms over her chest before turning to Jake.

"I'll need help getting my dress on." She was embarrassed that she had to ask, but wouldn't be caught dead wearing miscellaneous pirate hand-me-downs in town.

She slipped into the dress, turning her back to the Captain, allowing him to pull the strings tight.

"Is it too tight? I don't want to hurt you." He said, pulling on the strings of her corset.

"Tighter. I'm used to not breathing." This made them both laugh.

After all this lacing, Jake was convinced he had mastered it. It was like an art to him now.

Mariana tied her hair back in an elegant half up-half down hairstyle. Her tiara sat perfectly on top.

The two made their way to town, telling the crew member they ran into along the way that the bath was open.

The town was bustling with excitement. They had shown up just in time for the Founding Festival.

"What are the chances?" Mariana cheered. She was in awe of all the colors and smells. The food and the flower stands made her head spin with delight. Her kingdom never did things like this.

While she was distracted, Jake took the opportunity to snag a rose from a floral sale cart. He pulled off a few petals, spinning it upside down to get the perfect bloomed effect.

He handed it to her in a very nonchalant way. A kind of 'no big deal' gesture.

"Oh my! It's so beautiful!" Mariana took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the flower. "Thank you, Jake."

"Don't thank me." Jake wrapped his arm loosely around her shoulders. "You hungry, sugar plum?"

Mariana laughed. "So many nicknames! Yes. Starving actually."

"What? You don't like them?" There was a touch of genuine worry in his words.

Mari looked up at him with soft brown eyes. Her dark skin glistened in the sunlight, highlighting her nose and cheeks.

"I love it."

—

"Jesus Christ I haven't had good food in so long." Jake was sat across from Mariana at a small table. A plethora of sweets and savory food scattered the surface, most half eaten by now.

"Slow down, it's not going anywhere." Mari teased through a giggle.

"Sorry. It's just so good." Jake took another bite, mindful to savor this one.

"So what are you thinking to get? Still a skirt, or will you join the pants crew?" He couldn't help but let his eyes wander to the plump breasts that desperately tried to escape the corset's bind.

"Definitely a skirt. I'm a lady, after all." Mariana jokingly tossed her hair, an attempt to seem overly regal.

"A very lovely lady indeed."