On the way back to Sika, five minutes went by before we stopped by a store called Hopopò. Square, this vermillion building "misused" four windows on all levels, while the outlet letters, bereft of light, weighed down an imperfect sight.
Passing through the creaking door, shelves of clothes hunkered over a dusty hardwood floor. On my left, a crimson sphere, scuffed by its locals and its era, was the cashier.
Hushed wailings from the drafty windows tingled my ears, the redolence of naphtha oozing from the rafter's veneer.
Being the only customers at the store, my soles collected sandy dirt as I browsed new raiments for a dozen minutes before settling on a black feathered wrapper dotted with red eyes that reached my tibias.
Aaah, with that, I'll have the patina of a sexy ruler!
Motioning Dibìé to follow me, we went to the changing room.
There, I saw a mirror for the first time.
Contemplating my reflection left me without disappointment.
A heart-shaped face for a tawny sight, a small nose to appreciate the redolence of every scent, full lips to taste the greatest feasts, and my all-over-the-place-mane to seduce the best men. Gosh, I'm sexy!
Pulling Dibìé's face next to mine, I said, "Look, aren't we a beautiful couple?"
"Well, you're pretty, My Overlady, but—"
"Thank you, love. I'm no fool. You ain't gonna fall in love with someone you met yesterday, but time is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Bet we're gonna have wonderful children one day, with our genes, you'll see, hee-hee-hee!" I said to my dubitative servant." You know what to do."
He removed my ill-fitting pants, then attached the brand new wrapper. Orrh… I feel great! My di*ks weren't restrained anymore, hanging loosely under the delicate bògòlan fabric.
Turning around, the garment dressed my lower body with ease. "All right, baby. We're done here. Throw these dirty pants away, pay up and let's go."
Dibìé raised an eyebrow. "My Overlady, what about your chest and footwear?"
I grinned.
I expected that question. "I'll remain topless and make my footwear later on. You see, a ruler must be attractive if she wants to possess many underlings; plus, men need to lust more after women, and vice versa. I must reverse our race's low birth rate if we wanna thrive in the future, and to do that you guys must be objectified.'
'That's why my followers will be naked. It will give us women far more mùtènda than before, and lead to more s*x … Yes! We are pieces of art, meant to be ogled and admired! Instead, technology's what we idolize! It has to change … now move."
Reaching the cashier, Dibìé put his finger on a biometric scanner, allowing him to pay.
We left the place, direction Mùkédi, but as we neared our destination, Dibìé's spindly figure wavered, his face wilting into uneasiness.
"What are you afraid of?"
"My Overlady, I don't think you understand who you're messing with … I heard rumors about their leader, who tortures anyone who wronged him with an electric lighter. Mùkédi "protects" Sika with his thugs, which is why I haven't set foot here in years…"
I chuckled. "The rumors are true, which is why Élèji will depart this universe very soon … but anyway, where did you used to live?" I asked.
"In Kapiè, a small neighborhood in midtown southeast. It's more upscale, but not like Dòsò…"
"Good choice. Jòngèlè won't extort people, so someone like you would've been fine there, so why were you all the way here?"
"Because I got caught by these women who saw me carrying goods around the city. I was an independent butler before you … caught me as well…" he answered, his fingers raking the back of his head.
"But then, if you were an independent butler, why the gauzy clothes? To seduce pervy fogeys? Or did you twilight as a back rubber with benefits?"
"No, I did not. However, yes, this line of work demands some … enticement for the clients to spend and demand more, since the longer you remain at their place, the more you'll collect beyond the standard hour and a half…"
My eyes widened a bit. "Oh really? Then did you stay a night at a customer's place before?"
He shook his head. "Never, though I've been requested that many times, for very explicit reasons, by women and men before, but thankfully, while Èdjango's contract mandates the "revealing" clothes, it does not stipulate nor protect against prostitution, though I've heard many butlers offer these options to or by many clients…"
"Well, well, this time the client proposed you something you couldn't refuse, huh? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" I laughed with a goose on his curvy ass, which had him yelp away.
Sauntering through Sika's blighted tenements, we arrived at Mùkédi, a crimson produce of lament.
A burning stench came out of this dilapidated place, their blackened dumpster "openly" debasing the surrounding space. From its punctured holes and fissured windows blared makossa sounds grating its disheveled toles.
Only the western river brought some familiarity to this squalid territory.
This city will become stark clean once again under my rule…