Phoebe

"Karaoke?" Phoebe felt the waver in her own voice. Thessaly hadn't told her where they were going, just that it was discreet. The heavily-postered-over glass door they now stood in front of, wedged between two small, unglamourous restaurants, was certainly discreet – it could even be called seedy – but the sign over it was unambiguous.

"Yeah, come on, I booked us a private room," Thessaly grinned. "This is the best place to avoid the paparazzi, trust me."

Inside the door was a steep, narrow staircase. Phoebe forced herself up it behind Thessaly's black stockings and glittery purple shoes, every step a trial. Doctor's orders were to move as much and as normally as possible, but she was still aching all over from the fall in Baleara. By the time she reached the top, she had to lean on the wall while Thessaly gave a fake name to the slight young man behind the desk.

They followed his direction down a dim hallway to door that laboured under far too many coats of paint. Thessaly had to lean into it to push it open, and when Phoebe turned to close it behind them, she found the inside covered in knobbly packing foam. It took her a moment to realise it was soundproofing.

The karaoke room was the size of a small bedroom, couches lining the walls and giving only narrow knee-room around the low, dark and heavily scratched table. Two microphones sat on the table, along with a leaflet and a menu.

Phoebe said, "Uh, I don't know how I feel about singing, Thessaly, I'm not much of a singer."

The mermaid turned, caught her hand, and pulled her down to sit beside her. "Don't worry, we're here for the privacy, we can get some food, some drinks, hang out and listen to the backing tracks, y'know. Heck, we can do pretty much anything, provided we don't start actually taking clothes off."

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"I-" Phoebe's throat closed up, the hair on her arms prickling.

Thessaly giggled. With an affected drawl, she said, "If I was going to do that I'd have taken you to a- a hotel."

The stumble spoiled the effect or Phoebe's ears might have exploded instead of just getting hot.

Patting her on the arm with her free hand – she still hadn't let go of Phoebe's fingers – Thessaly said, more seriously, "I wouldn't spring that on you as a surprise, I promise. I'm prepared to take this as slow as you need. I know you're…" She frowned, looking down at the hands on the seat between them. "I know you're focussed on your racing. You love Soot most of all, right?"

Phoebe opened and closed her mouth a few times, waiting for her brain to start. "I just… I've spent all my life trying to get here. To the Imperial League, I mean, to having a dragon and competing in the races. I never thought I'd meet… someone like you."

The mermaid giggled again, and her drawl returned. "What, you didn't think as a sports star you'd be covered in bitches?"

"I- wha- uh-" Phoebe spluttered, and the spluttering gave way to laughter. "I didn't even think about being a star, I just-"

"-wanted to race, I know," Thessaly finished for her. She finally released Phoebe's hand, which felt like electric ice, and grabbed the menu. "Come on, let's order some food. What do you want me to sing for you? What sort of music are you into?"

"Uh, um," Phoebe said, her ears burning again.

"Come on, I bet we can find something on the machine that you'll want to sing along to at least, what do you like? It's gotta be, like, metal, right? Or punk stuff?"

"Not really…" Phoebe tried to avoid the mermaid's eyes.

"Wait, is it something embarrassing?" Thessaly's tone turned eager, almost hungry. "Something weird? Or like, kiddie pop?"

"No, um, it's Deezney songs," Phoebe whispered.

"Oh my god, you're so cute," Thessaly chirped gleefully. "What's your favourite, I guarantee they'll have it, I guarantee it."