“He really proposed to you? Poor guy, I bet he was so devastated when you flat out rejected him! I hope you weren’t too mean about it.”
Aazuria did not respond, and Visola froze in the middle of wrapping a thick forest-green fabric around her chest. “You did refuse him, right? Zuri?”
“I have not given him an answer yet.”
“You’re joking right? You’re actually considering marrying this guy?” Visola’s vivid green eyes widened. She held up her hand in order to count on her fingers. “Here are a million reasons why you shouldn’t: one, you barely know him; two, he barely knows you; three, you belong in Adlivun; four, I don’t like him; five, you’re way too pretty; six, you have no idea if he’s well-endowed, seven, you don’t know if he’s any good in…”
Sionna interrupted by throwing an arm around her sister and smiling. “Viso, I think it might take a little while for you to give her a million reasons. We are still mortal creatures and our time on earth is precious. Why don’t we talk about this later?”
“Okie-dokie,” said Visola, continuing to wrap the green fabric around her midsection. “Strip, Zuri. You get suited up next.”
“What is that stuff exactly?” Aazuria asked as she slipped her dress off. The three women stood in a private area of the docks. “It had better not slow me down.”
Visola grinned as she began to wrap the fabric around Aazuria’s chest. “Relax! It’s something innovative and fun.”
Sionna assisted, wrapping the material around Aazuria’s legs and hips. “Is it truly necessary?” Aazuria asked again.
“Yes, if you’re really concerned about your boy-toy’s safety. This is fifteen layers of Kevlar: a super lightweight, bulletproof body armor, covered in water resistant fabric.”
“It is green.”
“Such a lovely deep forest green,” Visola mused.
“I call it ‘slimy seaweed’ green,” Sionna said in embarrassment. “Viso was drunk and complaining that the drab color didn’t match her complexion and hair. She dyed all the armor.”
“That’s not the only reason,” Visola said with a blush. “Malachite green has always been our nation’s color! And if we ever need… uh, camouflage…”
“We’re not supposed to be drinking,” Aazuria reminded her friend, feeling guilty for her recent indulgence. “It affects us poorly.”
“Lighten up,” Visola said, grinning, “and take one of these beautiful babies.”
“What is that contraption? How am I supposed to carry it while swimming?”
“Here, I have it all figured out.” Visola hooked the instrument over Aazuria’s arm, fastening it onto her back.
“You two never answer me when I ask questions! I want to know what this is and why it is important before I allow it to slow me down.”
“It’s just an underwater assault rifle, sweetie.” Sionna strapped one onto her own back and nodded at Aazuria reassuringly. “We probably won’t need it, but it’s just for extra safety. Shall we do this?”
Aazuria wanted to ask how the twins had managed to procure such weapons, but she thought better of it. “You two really outdid yourselves this time,” Aazuria commented. She checked that the rifle was secure on her back and smiled at the other two women. “Let us go.”
In one fluid, fishlike motion, Aazuria extended her arms and dived off the docks into the water. Visola and Sionna followed in perfect synchronization behind her.