Right Back After This

Episode 19

Riz is aware that the sand under his feet was artificially introduced to this planet. He's also aware of the cameras not too far away, zooming in on his face and getting each micro reaction. He pretends to find the beaches as beautiful as if they were authentic. That isn't too hard, because they are beautiful. The ocean sparkles like sapphires, free of mud and dirt and rubbish and blood, but also surprisingly free of cleaning chemicals. Riz can tell that much because he can see a pier where people are fishing, as well as jumping off and diving gracefully into the water. There are rainbow shells in the sand, heatwaves across the sky; Riz starts to feel like the shirt he's been given is too heavy in the heat. Sure, he didn't exactly enjoy the swampy weather on Majadha or the crisp cold of Deliquet, but there's also something nice about not having every space he's in completely climate controlled.

The lady who's showing them around is clearly some type of celebrity the viewer is supposed to recognise. Riz's lack of pop culture knowledge can be blamed on his fictitious hyperreligious upbringing, so his own ignorance can be excused. She's evidently familiar with this place- she runs her hand over the doorframe like she owns the building, and then leans on it, being careful for the cameras to catch her best angle. She's showed them a bar, a function room, a lounge, all places hewn from gorgeous wood in a style that passes for minimalism here. They've followed her through those rooms, and then across the sand to a cabin, where she's pushed aside a curtain and a glass door before turning back to them with a white smile.

"Now." Riz doesn't like her voice. It's too fake. He says this as a man who has been made into nothing but fakery. "Where was our winner from this group?"

Shia gently nudges Riz forward. He steps up, lets his hesitation appear to be clumsiness or awkwardness, and waves.

"Riz, right?" she says, and she was definitely given a script here. Her face is blank and empty of recognition. "This is our deluxe suite, for you- and the winner from Atlantis, of course." She winks. Riz gets the feeling it's his line.

"Oh." He has so much to balance in this moment- would it be better for him to just be grateful for this experience, or should it always be about Kiel? "Are they- is Atlantis already here?"

She nods. "Kiel's already inside. I'm told you two don't really get along- is that right?"

Riz has to paint himself as good. It's true that he doesn't think this beef is his fault- he just doesn't really think it's Kiel's, either. Any doubt he had has been erased. There's a chance he won't like the man underneath Kiel's mask, but he can't think about that right now. He has to think about how he doesn't like the man Kiel pretends to be.

Riz takes her hand, ignores her surprise, and holds it in between his own like he's begging her. "I do not know what I did," he says with a low determination, "but he has never been nice to me in my life. However, this planet of yours- this resort of yours- is gorgeous, and I am determined to enjoy myself here. I won't let him get me down, don't you worry. I refuse."

That was probably, at least partially, the right answer. The lady smiles, although she probably would regardless. "Well. We'll see how you two handle each other. I'll let you get comfortable in there now, while I show the others their rooms, and we'll all meet up back for dinner soon. Sound good?"

Riz straightens up and nods sharply. He lets himself be seen taking a deep breath, like he's steeling himself. It's not that he isn't- it's that he steels himself far more often than he pretends to.

"Perfect." Riz looks over at Saccharine and waves a goodbye. Amello blows him a kiss, and without missing a beat Riz catches it. That delights him, and that's sincere.

When he enters the room, he first studies the polished wooden floor, and the woven rug that lays across it, thinking of the people who chopped that wood, wove that carpet, clean these floors. There's an enormous round bed against one wall, with light sheets already rumpled and clearly sat on. There's a TV taking up most of the opposing side, and beside that, there's a step down to a large lounge area. There's a mosaic glass door, open to a private deck and a private garden, and it's from there that Riz can hear rock music.