RED 2: A Trick of Mirrors [#Wattys2017]

29. Vampires

The Aquamarine had converted into a colossal Felliniesque circus. Monsters and fairies fraternized in bars, mermaids sauntered along the deck, and a drunk Frankenstein got into a heated argument with a sailor statue at the entrance of a pub. Marco, Marisa, Robert and Eliana stopped at the onboard studio for a quick photo session and then merged into the audience clumping on the mezzanines to watch the blues concert in the packed atrium. Once the show ended, it was time for the ball in the central pool area. Passengers in costumes already filled Deck 11, which had been embellished with multicolored neons that caressed the indigo velvet of the night.

The four friends spotted Zoe perched at the bar in a rainbow attire—floating tunic, her short, brown hair dyed in seven colors—and climbed the stairs to the platform on Deck 12 to join her, Jean-Philippe in a yellow-green football uniform and his companions dressed as Mafia tugs. Soon a burlesque show began onstage, animated by a DJ and a trepidant house selection, a contortionist in a white spandex amid anti-Euclidean manoeuvers, a fire-eater (leather pants, the lustrous chest waxed for the delight of women and less orthodox men), and oneiric cancan queens with their plumage, skirts and petticoats capturing the iridescent stage lights.

Descending to Deck 11, the group improvised a square dance and swapped pairs. Zoe moved from Jean-Philippe to the eccentric singer Crispin in a dark suit and Hawaiian shirt, Marisa made a duo with the drummer and so on. Marco, freed from his coat, wound up with Eliana. Marisa danced with Jean-Philippe and stretched her gaze to the two of them—they chatted and failed a step. One more swap and Marisa was with Robert. By now, Marco and Eliana had retreated to a corner without pausing their talk. Indignation thundered inside Marisa along with the music. She couldn't tell anymore if the problem was Eliana, Marco or both, and she didn't care. In a blind flash, Marisa stopped dancing, prompted to make a scene.

Robert prevented the worst, holding her by the waist. His smile calmed her down, his touch a caress. When Marisa realized, she was focused on his moves. It didn't take long for Marco and Eliana to return, and one track blended with another and another until the dance ended in a puff of heat and fatigue. The four friends left Zoe and her troupe at the snack bar, heading next to the stern. Away from the lights, they sprawled on chaise loungers and watched the sky dotted with stars. Marisa stole a glance at a withdrawn Marco and, to remind him she was there, squeezed his hand in anguish. Marco squeezed hers back—almost by courtesy—and released it.

"I can't believe tomorrow is already the last day of the cruise," commented Eliana without addressing anyone in particular.

"And the day after tomorrow is back to routine as usual," said Robert.

"Not necessarily," she countered, and here her customary politeness snapped with an anomalous note. She immediately softened her tone. "Marco will prepare a new literature curriculum including the study of archetypes."

Without hiding her surprise, Marisa stared at Marco.

"Really? You never told me that."

"I didn't want to bore you with my education theories." He shrugged. "Actually, I was inspired by the custom ball. Literature is the perfect subject for exploring the archetypes that determine our behavior and mold our worldview. The students will be able to detect archetypes in their own personalities, thus benefiting from their positive aspects and avoiding the negative ones."

"How does that work?" Robert inquired.

Marco's eyes now unraveled an enthusiasm only waiting for encouragement to manifest.

"I start with Jung's concept that archetypes are universal personality traits and behavior patterns transmitted from generation to generation since immemorial times. They are matrixes guiding human conduct. Author Caroline Myss provides an in-depth analysis that I intend to apply in the study of literary characters."