❝ How long is this going to take? ❞
She asked, voice tinged with boredom and impatience. Sabine didn’t stop spinning around in the swivel chair.
❝ I have a party to attend to. Maybe two. ❞

if i look back, i am lost
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he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
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@sabinechoi
❝ How long is this going to take? ❞
She asked, voice tinged with boredom and impatience. Sabine didn’t stop spinning around in the swivel chair.
❝ I have a party to attend to. Maybe two. ❞
“Well, you did a decent job of hiding it. Much better than any of the newer girls.” Hallie had begun conjugating verbs in French when her own conversations got too boring, but that was a trick she wasn’t willing to share. “He was definitely on the better looking side,” she admitted.
❝ You’ve said it. It must be the experience, ❞
She could only agree with Hallie; Sabine had learned the tricks of the job with time, and the newer mermaids would eventually do the same. It was almost like a cycle.
❝ Well, that’s comforting to hear. Maybe next time I’ll try to pay attention. ❞
“Never,” he answered, smiling back and lingering as her shift slowly inched to it’s end. Thatcher sighed and looked away. “You look like you want to take a break. And if my watch is correct our shifts just ended. Drinks?”
❝ It is correct. What are we waiting for? ❞
She rose from her place when drinks where mentioned by Thatcher. Sabine made sure to wave goodbye and wink mischievously at her client -- to make sure he would come back.
“It’s just a bit of blood. Calm down.”
❝ Just a bit? ❞
Sabine flinched at the sight of blood. ❝ Is it yours or someone else’s? ❞
Hallie waited what she determined was an appropriate amount of time before sitting down next to Sabine. “So, how was he? I hadn’t seen him before.”
❝ I was bored to death, ❞
Sabine confessed to Hallie. ❝ At least he was cute, so I could look at his face instead of listening to him. Am I correct? Or, have my standards been lowered by my occupation? ❞
Thatcher stuck his arm out, letting Sabine see his watch. “You know, there are more subtle ways to ask for the the time,” he teased her quietly. “Are you feeling alright?”
❝ Don’t be mean, Thatcher, ❞
Sabine gave him a nudge, and she took the opportunity to do what she had planned. Her shift was about to be over. It was a matter of seconds. ❝ Do I look alright to you? ❞
Hallie avoided making full eye contact with the other girl but held her watch up a little more obviously to help her see the time. Two hours left, and Hallie’s shift, at least, would be done.
Sabine tried not to laugh while performing her manoeuvre.
Hallie’s help was very much appreciated. ❝ I’m sorry. I’m afraid time’s up, ❞ she informed her client as she secretly gave the other mermaid a thumbs-up gesture.
In that moment Sadie felt every bit as cold as her aunt had shown herself to be when dealing with the girls.
“So they’re fighting over the scraps of the place.”
She made an attempt to interpret her reaction. Sabine saw Monique.
❝ That’s what it seems. ❞
❝ What? ❞
She pretended not to be looking away from the client she was supposed to be entertaining. ❝ No, I was totally paying attention,❞ Sabine tried to catch a glimpse of the watch belonging to a person next to her, intending to check the current time.
“I don’t understand, you said that like the competition was happening at the Lagoon. Who’s competing?”
Sabine kept quiet for a moment.
❝ Monique never left anyone in charge of the place, you know... ❞
“Competitive?”
❝ I think, ❞
Sabine tried to amend her words, believing it was better to change its original meaning. Did Sadie care about what was going on back at The Lagoon? ❝ It must be that we, Mermaids, have the upper hand in the business. ❞
“I’ve been okay. Dealing. How have things been around here?”
❝ I see. Keep up the good work, ❞
she simply nodded. Things had changed in the Lagoon and the Grotto without Monique, but she was sure Sadie knew more about it. ❝ Competitive, we could say. ❞
“Sorry, no hauntings going on here.”
❝ Well, ❞
Somehow, Sabine found it difficult to approach Sadie -- the past events were what stopped her from being completely open. ❝ Good to know, huh? How have you been? ❞
Sadie rubbed at the eye makeup that she was sure already resembled a raccoon’s eyes before stopping at the door to the Grotto. Head inside, she told herself, unsure if the words actually came from her mouth or not as she stood frozen in place.
❝ Sadie, ❞ Sabine’s first expression was the other girl’s name, as soon as she recognized her face. She saw the opportunity to exchange a few words when she didn’t see her moving.
❝ Or, are you a ghost? ❞
“If a mermaid eats fish…” Gigi started, toying with her fork absentmindedly as she spoke. “Is it cannibalism or a dietary staple?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking that,” Sabine stopped picking at her food before answering.
“I think I’m going to give you an eight for style and effort, and a two for not sticking the landing. Are you alright?”
“Well, thank you. I’m alright. Don’t mind me.”
“It’s pretty good.”
“It’s going to get better when you lose a client.”