From the swirling mists emerged the head, arms, and torso of a powerfully built blue skinned man. The djinn arched its back, stretching, luxuriating in its new-found freedom. From an altitude of half and again her height, it smirked at her in a way designed to make Julie feel small and pink and sweaty and covered in sand. Why was it just silently floating there with its arms crossed? Should she say something? To stall for time, she brushed herself off as best she could and removed the earphones to her mp3 player.
Apparently, that was the cue it needed to be assured of her undivided attention. It spoke and the rich bass of the djinn's voice coursed over her body. "As you command, so shall I obey. Now swiftly mortal, ask of me your wish, so that the mighty Mahamati may return to Qhat, realm of never waning summer."
This was all so sudden! How to respond? "You mean return to your liquor bottle?" Julie clapped her hands over her mouth, horrified that she'd say something so impudent. When she got really really nervous she had the bad habit of blurting out the first unfiltered thing that came to mind. She braced herself for a reprisal.
Thankfully, her question provoked a disarming reaction instead of a wrathful one. Mahamati even shrunk slightly, his chiseled physique and features softened. Even his voice lost some of its awe-inducing qualities. "The bottle is only the door from this realm to Qhat. Throughout the eons, one vessel is abandoned for another more appropriate to the current age." The djinn shrugged. "Now, your wish."
Perhaps because there was no backlash from her first question, Julie continued her rash interrogation. "Wish? I just get one? What happened to three?"
Mahamati continued to diminish. His torso and arms shrank the most, while his head remained almost comically large, rounded now, bracketed by big bat ears. "Ugh. New management. There's been a lot of cost cutting lately. They're even thinking of axing the DIWF; which is a mistake if you ask me." The djinn considered Julie's curious expression and added: "actually, don't ask me. Long story. Could we, you know, speed this up? My boss has been riding my ass about turnaround time lately."
Julie didn't like being hurried with such a momentous decision, but there was a tone of plaintive desperation in the djinn's voice that made her want to cooperate. She turned her back on the poor creature so she could concentrate on her wish. Luckily, she knew just what to ask.
Just keep in mind that I came up with this dangerously close to April Fools. I thought It'd just be a two parter, but when I started writing it, it quickly became apparent that it needed more installments. I guess that's my disclaimer :]
I am torn between wanting to see the results of her wish and finding out more about DWIF. Is Mahamati being honest, or is he just trying to pull a fast one on Julie?
Apparently, that was the cue it needed to be assured of her undivided attention. It spoke and the rich bass of the djinn's voice coursed over her body. "As you command, so shall I obey. Now swiftly mortal, ask of me your wish, so that the mighty Mahamati may return to Qhat, realm of never waning summer."
This was all so sudden! How to respond? "You mean return to your liquor bottle?" Julie clapped her hands over her mouth, horrified that she'd say something so impudent. When she got really really nervous she had the bad habit of blurting out the first unfiltered thing that came to mind. She braced herself for a reprisal.
Thankfully, her question provoked a disarming reaction instead of a wrathful one. Mahamati even shrunk slightly, his chiseled physique and features softened. Even his voice lost some of its awe-inducing qualities. "The bottle is only the door from this realm to Qhat. Throughout the eons, one vessel is abandoned for another more appropriate to the current age." The djinn shrugged. "Now, your wish."
Perhaps because there was no backlash from her first question, Julie continued her rash interrogation. "Wish? I just get one? What happened to three?"
Mahamati continued to diminish. His torso and arms shrank the most, while his head remained almost comically large, rounded now, bracketed by big bat ears. "Ugh. New management. There's been a lot of cost cutting lately. They're even thinking of axing the DIWF; which is a mistake if you ask me." The djinn considered Julie's curious expression and added: "actually, don't ask me. Long story. Could we, you know, speed this up? My boss has been riding my ass about turnaround time lately."
Julie didn't like being hurried with such a momentous decision, but there was a tone of plaintive desperation in the djinn's voice that made her want to cooperate. She turned her back on the poor creature so she could concentrate on her wish. Luckily, she knew just what to ask.