Tale – Hot Rethans

“Fuck me, it is so hot…” Retvik moaned as he leaned back in his chair, flapping a piece of paper in his face in an attempt to fan himself. “Is it always this hot or am I just delirious?”

“This is like the seventh time you’ve asked, dear,” Gath grunted. He was busy filling in paperwork. But every so often, he’d glance up at the clock. He was waiting patiently for it to reach five in the afternoon, so they could pack up and go home.

“But you never answer meeeee!” Retvik gave up fanning himself and was spinning around in his chair. The two Rethans hadn’t been particularly busy lately, which was weird for the current leaders of the city of Palaestra. Normally, they’d be working overtime and having to get up extra early to get everything done. But that week, they’d been able to have lie-ins and get up at 8am rather than 6am. Then again, the heat meant that an early start was a good thing.

“It is always this hot. Kinda.”

“What does that even mean?”

Gath threw down his pen in anger and leaped up from his seat. He stomped across the room then planted himself in front of the only fan around.

“I do not know. I do not remember last year. I do my best to not think about last year. Stop asking me.”

Retvik tutted as he got up and joined Gath next to the fan. “You could have said so. Rather than snapping.”

“Sorry. But you were being stupid and constantly asking.”

“Sorry…”

Retvik fell silent. He removed his tummy wrap, then quietly enjoyed the fan blowing on his bare back. Gath had already taken his wrap off earlier, as it was too soaked in slime to continue wearing.

“Seriously though. This is incredibly hot…” Retvik finally grumbled. “We have got temperatures in the 40’s in the damn shade. Over 50 in direct sunlight.”

Gath turned around to face the fan. “You would think we were used to it. Rethans evolved in warm climates.”

“That was several million years ago though. Most Rethans now live on Threa and it is temperate there. Or perhaps it is just a heat wave or something…”

“I guess…” Gath sighed, returning to his desk. The fan wasn’t really helping. He was considering going and splashing some water on his face, but the water from the cold tap was hotter than that from the hot tap. Nothing made much sense.

Retvik eventually followed, dragging his tummy wrap behind him. But he didn’t remain seated for long, and he was soon standing by the fan once more.

“Maybe we should call it quits for today.”

Gath glanced up at the clock. “It is not five yet.”

“Does not matter. We told the staff to leave at noon. Why can we not do the same?”

“We left early yesterday as well.”

Retvik tutted. “But Phovos always used to close up at noon in the summer!”

“Yes but-”

“But what?”

Gath struggled to come up with an answer. Instead, he just smiled. “How about we go get some ice cream?”

“And then go to a pool and go swimming?”

“Yes.”

Retvik grinned as Gath started packing away his things. Retvik hastily threw everything into his work bag, then bounced over to Gath and grabbed him by the hand.

“We need this.”

“We do. Let me lock up, first.”

“Sure, but leave the fan on. Otherwise this place will be a sauna tomorrow…”