Beyond Space & Time

Atlas put a finger to her lips to shush the mantas and sat down to watch wolfie. He could probably tell she wasn’t here but she wanted to watch him anyway.

”Wonderfully,” atlas purred, beaming up at him. “I had this really nice dream. A biiiiiiiiig, fluffy, ancient being was watching over me as I slept... Was that you?”

”But why did I dream about it this time?” Atlas asked. “And... Um, I don’t mind staying, but if we do I won’t want to leave. I love these guys a little too much.” She reaches out and patted the nearest manta.

That just created more question for atlas! She would ask them all later but it was time to say goodbye now. “Goodbye darlings,” she said to the mantas, opening her arms for hugs. “You’re all awesome. We’ll come back sometime, okay?”

Atlas was about to take off but stopped. “Hey, can I have my normal clothes back?”

Atlas was only holding his hand this time as she flew under her own steam. “Does that mean I can’t keep the swimsuit?” She asked as it vanished.

”That’d be nice,” mused Atlas, pulling closer to him and resting her head on his shoulder. Her tummy growled loudly and she giggled. “Sorry. Still can’t do that whole ‘not eating’ thing... Hey, I just remembered you called me cute in my swimsuit~.” She grinned teasingly at him, her hunger forgotten in her mission to goad him.

Aww he wasn’t playing along! Atlas harrumphed slightly but dropped it a moment later. “Food is all a matter of perspective,” she said. “Imagine if you were allergic to the food they served there. Ha, that would be lame! Have you not been before, even though you’ve heard it’s he best?”

”What’s made you change your mind now?” Atlas asked more quietly.

Wow... Wolfie was never normally so open with his emotions. He was like an aged tree stump, the leather binding of a book, a granite cliff face. Never moving and always unfeeling. This proclamation was downright the sweetest thing he’d ever said. It made Atlas feel... Unexpected things. Atlas smiled a wobbly smile and went silent after that, not knowing what to say or how to say it.

”Ooh. Have you ever seen the movie Bladerunner?” Atlas asked as they flew through the city. The film was good but depressing, but she enjoyed the aesthetic. It was just like this place. Atlas could smell food everywhere. “Looks like there are lots of street vendors selling food. I love street food! Ooh I’m starving let’s go!” She zoomed quickly down to the street, not noticing that she’d passed by an incredibly upmarket lookin establishment where the people were dressed to impress and the food would be stellar.

Atlas huffed loudly and her stomach gurgled in protest. But wolfie was right, and when atlas turned her head she noticed what he had. “Do you think we can get in there?” She murmured. The sparkling in her eyes showed that she really wanted to try.

”Another shopping trip?” Atlas asked with even more sparkle and excitement in her eyes. “Yippee!” She loved all these clothes!