What was it? No, it was better to ask how he had the driver not seen it himself. Even if he had not seen the very thin layer of film on his seat, forming the most asymmetrical shape there was, he should have felt it. Sticky as it was, clinging to the skin that said upon it. Skin that Horus had been careful to keep from making contact with the - whatever it was. The color was a murky, mostly translucent, white. The substance could have easily been a spilled drink, candy melted underneath the warm sun, or something else altogether. Bodily fluids?
Horus pressed his body further into the locked door of the cab. He should have killed a luxury Uber with five stars, had his assistant rent him a car, rented a city bike, walked, anything but in the cab, he called. The car looked clean enough from the first and second look, but it was only once he had sat inside, locked the doors, and watched as the wheels began rolling that he noticed the spot, so easy to miss. Horus was going to be sick.
"You're not from Cervia, are you?" The driver asked, looking at him through the mirror above him.
Horus had to rip his eyes away from the mess, his mind struggling, to focus and hear the voice of the man. But he managed, smiling some even in the process.
"Yes and no." He answered, trying to appear more relaxed despite the rambling of his mind telling him he was rolling in filth. Did he take his medication? He really did need to relax.
"Oh?" The 'please elaborate' oh.
"My father is an ambassador for the African Kingdom, his family is from there so I was born and raised there," Horus said, the distraction of the conversation was working somewhat. It helped recall the crashing waves of the sea from his family's home. He missed those hot summer days, especially now that he had to pad up in a coat, gloves in his pocket, and a scarf to enjoy Rockcaster.
"The son of an ambassador! When I saw you I knew you couldn't be from here, you're not layered up enough to be from Rockcaster. But then I couldn't quite place your accent."
"I do travel a lot, but the cold is still not something I'm quite used to yet." He pulled the lapels of his coat close to his body. The cold was a good distraction from the mess. The mess. Why did he remind himself again?
"Wait… if you're the son of an ambassador, you're a noble?"
There was a little shy smile that began to form on his mouth.
"Yes."
And then there was silence. He was probably wondering why a noble such as himself was taking a cab instead of a prepared car with a personal chauffeur. To explain that would mean going into the family drama of the El Mahdy's. There were very few times Horus ever divulged anyone in the story, so he certainly wouldn't be telling a stranger.
So, instead, he took the still moment to reach into his coat pocket and text the one he was there to visit. Davi. His greatest confidante, his closest and most intimate friend, his fellow romantic, magnificent poet, and soul mate. Soul mate. There was no need to further describe soul mate, the term in itself was as self-explanatory as it was powerful, taking on multiple meanings. With Davi, he seemed to embody the term, showing Horus new meanings of it altogether.
Breaks were rarely planned for Horus except when it involved spending time with his friends. He only had a handful of them, though he would dare to say Davi was the most important out of them all. And he was more than excited to spend the holidays with him in his charming hometown, excited to see the magic that was Rockcaster.
Almost there!
Sent.
The tension in Horus's shoulders loosened and his body rolled over to the side as the car turned, he caught himself on the seat before falling even further over. He felt it before he saw it, the sticky substance on the seat sticking to the palm of his hand. Slowly, he pulled his hand away and the most teeth-grating noise was made as he did. His stomach tightened. He was going to be sick. "You can let me out here!" Horus hurriedly said, grabbing his messenger bagh and throwing the strap over his shoulder.
"Are you sure? We're only a few blocks away. I can-"
"No, no, it's fine! I would like to walk." Horus assured the man. His hand was already on the door handle.
The second the cab parked at the curb, he was out of the door. He rushed to the trunk and didn't wait for the cab driver to get out to help him remove his luggage. It was only one suitcase, granted a somewhat large one. Usually unnecessary for a short stay. But this was Horus.
"Thank you for everything." He said to the man as he dragged the heavy suitcase up the sidewalk.
"Have a safe drive."
"Enjoy your time in Rockcaster, sir." The cab driver told him before pulling off and turning a corner.
Horus wasted no time reaching into his messenger bag and pulling out his sanitizing wipes. He scrubbed at the palm of his hand until he felt the scratch of his nails and not the softness of the wipe. He used another to wipe both his hands and when he was sure he was clean, he dumped both into a nearby garbage can.
Buzz.
Horus opened his phone to read the new test.
Ya Amar:
I'm so excited to see you.
A grin split Horus's face, one that he had to hold back by pinching his lips and pocketing his phone. The cab driver said they were only a few blocks away from the shop so he would walk there. He only wished he brought earmuffs for the cold that bit against his ears. Instead, he wrapped his scarf in a way that would cover his ears and mouth as he walked along the sidewalk, dragging his suitcase with him.
He wasn't far from the shop when his eye caught sight of a very different one. The window displayed numerous different mask, sold for the Hallow's Eve costumes no doubt. And though Horus had his own already prepared and stowed away in his bag, there was a new and fun idea that was blossoming in his mind. One that required the mask. So he opened the door and browsed the shop's collection.
There were many different designs. Animals, flowery skulls, creatures long forgotten, and all from the lowest to highest quality and creativity. The time he spent browsing through them was much longer than he intended before settling on an owl mask shaped similarly to a barn owl with soft white feathers and a golden beak. He grabbed it along with the mask of a peacock, just as beautiful, if not more feathered.
Once paid for and bagged, along with some fancy hot chocolate bombs, he shook whatever snow in his hair that hadn't melted out and pulled his scarf over his head like a hood. He tied on the owl mask that covered half his face and made his way to Crystal Clear. It was like a beacon of light in the cold and darkening snowy sky.
He pushed the door open and it was heat with a wave of warmth that could only be produced by the heater. It was very dissimilar to the shop he visited beforehand where the temperature was the same as outside. His face began to tingle as he set his suitcase aside in a corner, tucked away safely.
"Hello," he greeted Davi at the counter, head tilted back. There wasn't a detail of this man that he'd ever forgotten. He was as prepossessing as he was the Horus met him, and every other day he had seen him before. Violet eyes locked on the undecided colorful eyes, blue-green, but all compelling as Horus smiled softly. He deepened his voice, hoping it was natural and unrecognizable.
"I'm looking to get something for a friend. What would you suggest?"
