Jo followed Io’s gaze and Suzé’s turn of the head to see Glorifhun and Fortuné approaching with a glittering tray.

“My, someone’s thirsty,” said Io.

“You haven’t even got to halfway Jay,” Suzé frowned “let alone we’ve barley started ours.”

“I didn’t order that bunch,” said Jay, shrinking backwards. “I’m slowing down.”

Jo’s mouth opened, but words from Suzé’s raised hand appeared before he had even made an utterance. “We are honoured by both of you; Glorifhun and Fortuné,” she said, moving out of the way.

“The honour is ours, Miss Nonsuch,” Glorifhun replied, face almost abuzz. “It’s rare that I get to see all eight at once.”

“More like never,” Fortuné whispered to Jo as she prepared her sleek-sided device. “You wouldn’t mind arranging your drinks into ‘The Sequence’? I’ve never seen him so happy.”

Jo raised both eyebrows, then saw what was being placed on the table. A deep, energetic-crimson first; a sparkle sharp yellow second, followed by a refreshing sparkle-lime third and a spectrum blue laced-with-clouds fourth. All in a line, with a space between the first and the second glasses.

“What in all the Patchwork,” he said. “Have you been down the Norn Road again, Jay?”

“What do you take me for?” said Jay, leaning over as his saffron drink went into the vacant space between the red and yellow pair. “I’m not drawn to these colours. Well, maybe the green one. But blue? That’s more your neck of the woods.”

“You’re over the Moon about something,” said Suzé, transporting Jo’s indigo smoothie to a spot beside the blue and then her own violet shade next to it. “If you’re being generous, admit it.”

“But I-” said Jay, just avoiding contact with Io’s arm as she passed her magenta — or was that purple — drink to Suzé. “didn’t buy this Round.”

“Well, if it wasn’t you, who was it?” said Jo, moving to the side as Fortuné took a picture.

“They’re still at the table if you’re quick,” Glorifhun answered, kneeling down to the side of the table and taking in the rhythm of eight.

Jo stood up. The occupants of the tables were still taking in the new sequence of long keynotes with rhymatic beats. Save for a pair stood at the bar; around which everything seemed to fade; as if a spot-light or two had been at work. One wreathed in a suit the colour of midnight was already heading towards the entrance. The other — collar to ankle-reaching trousers in cream snow — was looking at Jo; a faint but knowing smile across otherwise glacial features. A smile. A nod. Then he was following his companion as the light and clarity returned to everything else.

“Told you it wasn’t me,” said Jay.

“It would be great if you could convey our thanks the next time they’re in, Glorifhun,” said Io.

“I hope they come back too, My Lady,” said Glorifhun. “First-time customers and they completed the Set.”

“Are you alright, Jo?” Suzé asked. “It’s like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m… okay,” Jo replied, returning to his seat. Why was his heart, drumming?

“Not only the Set but a great tip,” Fortuné winked at Suzé and Jo before following Glorifhun back to the bar. “Enjoy.”

“Have a sip,” said Io said, passing Jo his indigo.

“Thank you,” Jo replied, taking a couple of gulps. “I don’t understand,” he said, putting the glass down. “Everything seemed to fade — apart from them.”

“Couldn’t even tell you when they came in,” Jay yawned. “Although the one in the deep blue was in-sync to the tracks.”

“Odd completing the set; then making a swift departure,” said Suzé.

“They left a tip, so we were not the only recipients of the no-strings-attached fortune,” mused Io. “Two visitors with generous hearts.”

“Might as well accept the lime,” said Jay, taking the glass with emeraldbrosia. “My senses can’t take the others.”

“Oh, what a surprise,” Suzé hummed. “Self, first, and foremost. You go next Io.”

“It’s quite alright,” Io said, stretching like a cat, “Jo can choose.”

“Both of you can pick,” said Jo, putting a hand to the side of his head. “I don’t mind any of them.”

“How considerate,” said Io, transporting the sky blue draught into her vicinity. “This shall not be forgotten, Jo.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Nor my selfishness,” said Jay. “Might as well be punished now.”

“You said it,” Suzé grated, escorting the glass of dancing citrine with sparkles of amethyst.

“Time does not allow it,” Io said as Jo transported the glass the shade of glistening cranberries. “But I will not forget, if that helps, Jay. Besides,” she added, leaning forward and placing two objects on the table. “This requires your attentions.”

Jo had to look twice. Each piece appeared to be a tablet. But neither of them had so much as a screen. “It’s a book…” said Jay, lifting one up. “Or a booklet.”

“Brochure, magazine; throw in a journal,” said Suzé.

“They won’t bite,” said Io as Jo looked at the spine, then at the cover. “Open them.”

Perhaps not bite, Jo thought whilst looking at the second — or was it third — page? But what was looking back at him might as well have been a punch. He hadn’t seen as much yellow since the lemon book his father kept had been thrown onto the fire by his mother. And a deep indigo couch and a plum vase hadn’t added a contrast.

“I don’t understand,” he said, turning a page with two interiors of radical-chaired citrus and a background of soothing olive. “It’s of rooms.”

“A colour chart lover’s paradise,” said Jay, flicking through his booklet. “I’d be lying if I said that I gravitate toward earth tones.”

“But you lean toward some colours?” said Io.

“This combination,” Jay replied, turning the booklet to reveal a space of pinks, dusky violets with highlights of deep-spinel pink. “There’s a balance with the three colours, and the white table adds a fourth element.”

“And there’s me thinking you would have gone for fresh greens with bursts of grey and black,” Suzé hummed.

“That was Montarion’s idea. And he hasn’t got the rest of the plants.”

“Don’t want to change your mind?” asked Io.

“I could eat a dessert of those colours,” Jay answered. “Shame the puddings have finished for the evening.”

“I would have thought that you had one already,” said Jo, continuing to leaf through his booklet. Although, he wasn’t sure what the ice blue part of the bedroom before him would taste like compared to the dashes of lemon on a pillow and bedside cup, and honeycomb yellow in the carpet.

“Is that one that you would consider?” Io asked.

“Its more, deep ocean, with sparkle snow and flashes of pink,” said Jay, ignoring a glare from Suzé. “Even now, I don’t know how Jo drinks that indigo stuff. It’s like in-ouch!”

“Asked for it,” Suzé hummed as Jay bent down to rub one of his legs. “You’ve picked, so it’s Jo’s turn now.”

“Might have a tie,” said Jo, moving between one page and another. “It’s not usually like this.”

“Some things are,” said Io. “The navy, warm cream and plum would go well with your current outfit.”

“But then, this makes a good contrast,” Jo continued, moving back to the bedroom of lemon and honeycomb yellow, with dusty grey and a sky of ice blue. “Especially if you add the ruby and the cream from on the next section.”

“Plus the white for accents or highlights,” said Io, looking for herself. “But the cream adds a contrast to the plum and the navy,” she added. “Plus, you could add iridescent jet, stellar white and not only spectrum; but the energetic blue on the bedding.”

“Never thought of that…” said Jo, looking at the bedroom as if he had seen its colours for the first time. “It would be…”

“Magical?”

He nodded, noting the smile and light in Io’s violet eyes as if they had flown along the same wavelength.

“Settled?”

“Yes,” he said, passing Io the gleaming book. “But I don’t understand, what it’s for?”

“All in due time, Jo,” said Io, also taking the booklet from a not-so-talkative Jay. “All in due time. Call it a step in the right direction. To which another will be added when we hear that the pair of you have been back to the Expanse.”

“What?” Jo coughed while Jay almost jumped.

“Ball’s in your court, Song and Sonnet,” Io continued, draining the rest of her Magenta glass. “Will you let it knock you out? Or will you step up and make a return?”

“This will be fun,” Suzé chuckled.

“You would say that,” said Jay as fluorescent parakeets in the night flashed across Jo’s mind. That, and the singing, as if a gang of cats had taken up nocturnal music lessons.

“A fortnight,” Io said before draining the contents of the blue tankard. “Is that enough time? Make your Houses proud. Or better yet, see what lies beyond the Bubble.”

Nevermind bubble, Jo tried not to look. He’d have been ill if he had downed the spectrum blue that fast.

“That’s two steps,” Io continued, getting up. “The third shall be for my old friend, Suzé-Ether.”

“If it’s about the hair, that was a long time ago,” Suzé said between glasses. “I don’t even know if they make it anymore.”

“Oh, not that,” Io as if she had seen a psychedelic door. “Tesia wants to see you.”