Offshore
Episode 25: Curtain Call
This is the last full chapter ;-; put a bit more time into it (plus it's the longest chapter, too)!
Content warning: This chapter contains depictions of alcohol consumption.
The rule of thumb went as such: the post-race press conference was always the tamest. Everyone was still a little high on the adrenaline of the chase, and no one felt any inclination to make digs on this day.
This time, four teams were in attendance, and a hundred reporters strained at the barricades, crammed so tightly into the room that their tympana and cameras clattered against each other. Outside of Xye’s backhanded yeah, they did alright, it was all post-storm pleasantries—compliments traded in the velvet-curtained backroom, and questions that made heroes of everyone, instead of trying to foment scandal.
“How does it feel, taking the trophy after trying for so long?” The question, coming as a surprise towards the end of the Cloudlander's segment, was the only one they had never answered before.
Before they did, they glanced at each other, Anqien nodding firmly at Jinai before she said: “It's a relief. It’s perfect timing for the end of my career, too. I’m just glad we got to stand up there once—we’ve never won an international race till now.”
“And I think we all believe it was a long time coming, and completely deserved,” the reporter replied, head bobbing in agreement.
She smiled warmly, then turned to Anqien. “It’s the end of the road for me, but not for my teammate. You can expect many great things from them to come, I'm sure.”
They rubbed her shoulder and replied, “I’m just glad you’ll still be here to help me along.”
“‘Teammate?’ Is that still the most accurate designation?”
Jinai looked the asking reporter in the eye for all of two seconds, then said, “No, it isn't. Next question.”
As the story always went and always would, the Sailing Federation afterparty came next.
Just like they had at the post-qualifier party, Anqien and Jinai flew together on the steps of the Nakano Bistro, calling each other’s names with eyes full of stars. Yet this time, the air felt different, electric, as their eyes met.
They had discussed the coordination of their outfits—as close to the team colours as they could find—and clearly their plotting had delivered. Before a dozen dazzled pairs of eyes Jinai spun, setting the crystals and golden thread on her wine-red dress aglitter. Anqien swept out the hems of their new coat—black-trimmed violet decorated with clouds, stars and waves, which fell as far as their knees.
“And guess what, it came with this,” they added, reaching into a sleeve pocket to pull out a fan, which they flicked open. It was a matching violet, the diaphanous frills fluttering as they waved it about.
Jinai sighed. “Gods, you’re gorgeous.”
They hastily shaded their face with the fan and glanced away. “Apparently, I still don’t know how to take a compliment from a pretty woman.”
“Even when that woman is your girlfriend?”
“Even when that woman is someone I’ve been sailing with for three years.”
Before they had stepped into the function space, they could already hear the pounding of the music in the stones, the stomping and chatter that came with every Sail Fed party. The bouncers on either side of the double door whispered between themselves and then turned to the new arrivals, saying, “Ms Vailu, Mx Liu! It’s wonderful to have you here, and congratulations!”
“Why, thank you,” Jinai replied. “It’s our pleasure to have been invited.”
“We’re under instructions from the chair to give you a special entrance this evening,” they answered with a grin. “Champions’ treatment, you must understand.”
The pair exchanged a glance. “Oh yeah, how special’s special?”
“Spotlights, confetti, special announcement…”
Anqien shook their head vigorously. Jinai muttered, “that’s way too overblown. Just let whoever it is know we’re coming in, that should be more than enough.”
The bouncer tapped a finger to their sleek, drop-shaped headset. “Announce Ms Vailu and Mx Liu’s arrival,” they said.
“That’s not what I—”
Their eyes darted to her. “They don’t want it too overblown,” they added hastily.
The doors were swung open for them, then, and as they strode in, Jinai offered her hand, which Anqien took, after stowing the fan in their belt. There was an eruption of cheers, and the amplifier-boosted voice of the master of ceremonies declared, “Look who it is! Not one minute too late! Jinai Vailu and Liu Anqien, everyone. Your NHR champions!”
Well, that was that then. They waved and grinned sportingly, and were answered by a deluge of cheers. Just like that, the scene worked its magic, and their every apprehension evaporated. Into the glittering sea of camera, wineglasses and jewellery they descended, lifting their joined hands high. At her side, Jinai heard Anqien laugh giddily.
She beamed. “You having fun?”
“Took me all of ten seconds to change my mind,” they replied.
They floated into the gathering of diners taking buffet pickings, picked up glasses of wine, laughed at each other. Then they whipped around as a commotion rose from a gaggle of nearby partiers—out of which burst Telaki, wearing a black suit and a bright-eyed grin.
“My stars!” she exclaimed, flinging herself into a three-way hug. She had had her hair redone for the occasion, every strand braided with golden beads hanging like raindrops from their ends, some gathered in a large swirling knot atop her head. Over her shoulders, they noticed Iki and Lujang tailing her, both wearing the team logo on their vests.
“It’s so good to see you all here!” Anqien replied.
“This one’s a big deal, us being the champions’ crew and all,” Iki said while Telaki released the pair.
“They got you in as walking Cloud Connector ads?” Jinai said, pointing out the emblazoned logos.
Lujang smirked. “If it’s the price of free food and wine, I’m all for it.”
By now, their coach had pulled away from the hug. “Well, it’s thanks to the company that we’re here at all,” she said. “And we have a good number of things to thank them for besides. Like the paint job you needed five days before the race? You won’t have gotten that without their insurance.”
“The insurance we pay them monthly for?” Jinai said.
Telaki snorted. “Very mouthy for someone who’s about to quit racing for good.”
“Ow, that’s a low blow,” Anqien said, while Jinai looped an arm casually about their waist. “Where’s Janda, by the way?”
“No idea, pretty classic of her!” Lujang replied.
“But hey,” Iki cut in, “congrats you two! We finally watched the replays when we were back in Wulien. What a race, that was ridiculous that you made the Sunken City route.”
“Third time’s the charm, even if we almost didn’t,” Jinai said, adding a laugh as an afterthought. “And honestly—it’s thanks to all of you. We couldn’t have done any of that without you.”
“I wish you’d gotten medals too,” Anqien added. “You’re brilliant at everything you do, you deserve some sort of recognition.”
“Oh, no, no need!” Iki flicked his hand at them. “Like I said, it’s our job that we get paid to do, and we’re just proud to be the crew behind an incredible team.”
“I dunno, I wouldn’t say no to a medal,” Lujang replied.
The pride in both pairs of eyes woke in Jinai a softness like she hadn’t felt about the sport in years. They played praise ping pong for several minutes, until Telaki was looped into it as well, and then all efforts were turned to the increasingly flustered woman.
“Best coach ever!” Iki called out with hands cupped around his mouth.
“Yeah, we love Telaki!” Anqien exclaimed.
“Alright, alright, you lot know full well that all I do is wrangle you,” Telaki gasped.
“Give it up for Telaki, our favourite mentor!” Jinai shouted, and they yelled and whooped loud enough that strangers in the vicinity began to join it.
“Fine, fine, enough about me!” she said, turning to the two sailors. “What’s your news from yesterday?”
Jinai snorted a laugh. “I mean, we did win the trophy,” she replied.
She chuckled. “Yeah, and what happened after you headed off?” she said. “You two left together, no?”
Jinai jolted upright, face heating up by the second. “What makes you think there’s anything else?”
“Don’t know, you two haven’t let go of each other since we started talking.”
She became aware right then of her arm still draped around Anqien’s waist. “Oh, yes, hah,” she said, glancing at them—they were now tapping their fan on their lips. “Fine, fine, yeah, we hung out after the awards ceremony and, don’t hold your breath, the two of us are together now. Like, together together.”
She shrugged as if it would make it less of a big deal, but Iki and Lujang were already pumping their fists and yelling at each other, and Telaki was giggling like a high school student. “Oh, gods, you two,” she sputtered between laughs. “That’s cute as shit, my heart can only take so much.”
“This is amazing!” Iki shouted. Anqien wordlessly cried out, burying their face in her shoulder.
“I can’t believe it, you two dense fools finally figured yourselves out,” Lujang put in. “Yesterday, I swear, with that chitchat before the race. I couldn’t deal, I wanted to scream at you two.”
“Waiting till you left the team was a smart move, Jinai,” Telaki said. Then to Anqien, “I know your partner is gorgeous and perfect and all that, but don’t get distracted, you hear me?”
“What? No, I wouldn’t!” they whined.
“Gods, Telaki,” Jinai gasped.
“Oh, Telaki, save it for the training days,” Lujang muttered. “We’re at a party, we’re supposed to be going wild.”
Going wild wasn’t really their speed tonight. But that wasn’t to say Jinai and Anqien did not enjoy themselves, to the depth of three glasses of wine and a beer each, and several chaste kisses besides.
Within the hour, their vision had begun to sparkle and sway, till they found themselves with arms draped about each other more often than they were apart. It was around then that they halted at an unusual sight. It was Zera—the first they’d seen of her tonight—holding the tongs by the catering table. Like a swallow in winter, the sight was rare and she was easy to spot—dolled up in black fishnets and leather, tapping her heel along with the booming bass.
When they appeared on either side of her, she perked up and said, “You two, good seeing you. And congratulations!”
Jinai grinned back. “Thanks, you and Xye did a fantastic job, too.” She took the tongs from Zera and picked out some spring rolls. “What a race, huh?”
“It sure was. One of a kind.” Zera shook her head with a smile. “Wasn’t our best, but we’ll hit the books once the festivities are over. Or, I will, at least.”
A shout of “over here!” pulled their gazes to the edge of the room, where a man with a camera was waving for them with a hand on the lever. Five seconds was all they had to find a pose, before their faces were captured on film for posterity.
Zera whirled to face them as soon as the lens was no longer pointed their way. “Another year, another one of these, huh,” she said, voice raised over the thudding kick drum.
“At least the drinks are free,” Anqien replied.
Zera shrugged. “Eh, the beer is decent, but the wine feels cheap.”
Jinai dropped her head against Anqien’s shoulder as she crunched on a spring roll, gazing up at the spotlights shifting from magenta to blue. “Can’t go wrong with deep fried snacks, though,” they replied. She felt them plant a kiss in her hair, and closed her eyes with a smile.
“That’s true,” the Mirage sailor replied in her same matter-of-fact way, though she was now grinning behind her half-eaten rice paper wrap. “Cute.”
“I know, they’re very cute,” Jinai replied with a smirking glance at Anqien—they shaded their face with one of their sleeves and squeaked out a give me some warning!
She chuckled and rubbed their shoulder, gaze returning to Zera. “How’ve you been, race aside?” she asked.
“Oh, same old. I went right home after the awards. Crashed for the evening just so I’d be ready to be here,” she replied. “Don’t know about Xye, she’s probably off being a dumbass as usual. I’m just here to look like I give a shit about Sail Fed events. We’ve got another ad shoot this Friday, ugh.”
“Juice?”
“They’re launching chunky coconut juice, yeah,” she said. “They already have regular coconut juice? What’s the point? Easily the worst part of the whole sailing gig. But it’s worth it for the actual sailing. Y’know?”
Anqien nodded. “I’m glad Cloud Connectors doesn’t make us do ads for their…Thread networks?”
Jinai laughed. “Guess if they did start, it wouldn’t affect me, since I’m retiring.”
“Oh yeah, I heard,” Zera answered, swooping a piece of mixed berry cake off the tabletop. “I’m kinda shocked, honestly, can’t believe you’re leaving, even though I kinda get it. You inspired me to start sailing professionally. Y’know? It’s been wild getting to be in the same races, even.”
“Right? How cool is she,” Anqien said. “So worth quitting uni for.”
Jinai's mouth fell open. “Stop,” she laughed, holding up a hand to deflect.
“Guess I’m seeing you in the circuit again next year,” Zera said to Anqien. “You got a new understudy lined up yet?”
They shrugged. “Cloud Connectors would know. I think they’re looking at—”
“Hello babes!” Xye’s singsong call clove the sentence in two, sweeping the group up with varying degrees of agitation. “How are you this fine evening?”
“Good, thank you,” said Zera, “I was enjoying a bit of civil conversation with the Cloudlanders.”
“Wonderful,” Xye answered, swooping around the gathering and coming to rest next to Zera. Only now did they see that his pink beach shirt—covered in a print of palm leaves and hibiscuses—was held together by a knot above his navel, and one stray breeze away from revealing everything under it. A pair of pink heart-shaped sunglasses was perched on his nose, completing the exorbitant medley. “We’re out of the race circuit for the year, I can cool it for one evening. Anqien! Jinai! How goes it?”
“Quite decently,” Anqien said, about as earnestly as someone who had never been personally aggravated by Xye would. Zera rubbed her temple. “How are you?”
“I’ve had two kisses tonight, so, beautifully, thank you.” He flicked his bangs.
“Oh, impressive. Love the shirt, by the way—it really suits you.”
“Aw, thanks for looking, sweetie.” He winked. “Wanna be number three?”
“I—” they sputtered.
“Hey, hey,” Zera cut in, while Jinai drew in an ocean-sized breath and let it out through her lips. “No fighting doesn’t mean make out. Besides, they’re like…” She glanced between Jinai and Anqien and gestured in a circular motion.
“We’re not looking for a third,” Jinai answered.
Xye seemed, for moments, astounded, then he picked up his jaw and smiled. “Oooooh, what? The rumours were true? What happened to ‘done with the whole romance thing’, huh?”
“About that…thanks for setting my head straight,” Jinai chuckled. “Wouldn’t have happened without your input.”
“Well! I’ll gladly take the credit.” Xye steepled his fingers together. “Everyone and their mum were wondering if you two were gonna do it or not. You’re both dense as rocks…perfect for each other.”
They caught Zera rolling her eyes, but even her mood seemed eased today. There was a tipsy, rosy-faced back-and-forth, all teasing and barbs. But as if the bite of the chill had melted away, the two teams had no harsh words for each other, only the sort of fleeting camaraderie that flourished at parties.
That was until they were interrupted by a mob of journos with their waving hands and camera lenses. Things snowballed quickly; the more people noticed that the four of them were within ten feet of each other, the more cameras they found pointing at them.
“Give us a really out-there pose!” Arms were flung wide; Zera crouched and Xye tiptoed. It took a mutter of “come on, you two!” from Xye before Jinai dipped Anqien, both giggling like schoolchildren. Click, click, click, in the pulsing blue light. “Now another!” And they posed again, and again, till they were laughing themselves silly and the press vultures went away.
They lost themselves in the beams, dancing around the hall where the crowds eddied and whirled to the throb of the music, like lights on the nighttime sea. They leapt and spiralled together in the flashing of strobes and cameras, sometimes losing each other in the crowd before they found each other again.
Among popping beer bottles and spinning lights, Jinai and Anqien flew towards the altar stairs, laughing secretively between themselves. Partygoers had been coming and going on those broad steps all through the night, following the tides of dance numbers to dive into the blue and purple glow.
Now, seeing a parting open in the crowd, the pair scurried up to fill it. The music was dizzying and they felt it pounding through their limbs. Jinai spun into an embrace, eyes sparkling.
“You seem happy,” Anqien said.
Jinai laughed back. “I mean, how could I not be?” she replied. “I couldn’t ask for anything else right now. Except maybe to get out of here and take you home again.”
They twirled and swayed about each other, hands meeting and parting with their matching step. In the haven of this curtain-call party, they were not sailors or celebrities, failures or fools: there was no one they needed to be but themselves. Just like it had done all evening, a turquoise spotlight swept over them, bathing them in light: in that glow their gazes met and stayed.
Anqien gasped as Jinai snatched their face between her hands and pulled them towards her, kissing them deeply while the strobe lights flashed in every colour. They melted into her touch, fingers grasping her waist to pull her against themself.
They thought they heard someone in their periphery cry out and cheer, excitement beyond their own that bobbed in the sea of chaotic bliss. They had a feeling that, somehow, the tabloids would get a hold of this and that and everything, and there would be a PR reckoning to follow. But neither of them seemed to think it such a bad thing, just to be unabashedly in love before the eyes of others.
It had taken them three years, three thousand nautical miles to get here. After all that time and all those tears, a minor public uproar didn’t seem too bad.
Thank you SO much for coming on this journey with me. The epilogue is about a quarter the length of a regular chapter, and should go up later this week. If time permits, there'll also be a big "meta thoughts ramble" to go with it!