Jessie and Phoebe showed up at my place with dinner, but mostly to check on me. Jessie could be a little overprotective, and I realized I'd never really told either of them about my past. I didn't think most people would believe me, and wanted to avoid the outpouring of sympathy if they did. I knew I had to now, though, so out it came, including the last week and everything I'd learned about the Voice of Lyra and its crew. They were, of course, horrified, fascinated and, except for one point, sympathetic.
"Auglathla?" Jessie exclaimed. "I was thinking it was 'Agnes,' which is bad enough, but Auglathla?"
"I thought it was Agatha all along," Phoebe quipped, earning a grin from Jessie.
"No one ever called me unless I was in trouble, except my mother's mother." I considered this. "I was always in trouble with her, anyway."
I left out Rowan's personal problems, but admonished them, well, Jessie, anyway, to be kinder to him. "He's lost! He's confused! He's lonely! The last thing he wants to do is hurt me! I'm most likely the last link to home he has!"
"What if he feels like he has to establish a new elf civilization here, and forces you to participate? Do you want to end up barefoot and pregnant for decades?" Jessie snarled, but it was clearly the last argument in her arsenal.
"OMG, elf babies?" Phoebe sighed. "I bet they're so cute! Can I babysit?"
"Phoebe! She is not a machine for making babies! She is a person, capable of anything she sets her mind to, just like you!"
"We couldn't, anyway," I said. "We're all sterile, except under very specific circumstances which we can't, uh, reproduce here. We don't even marry for life like you do. If you want to live with the same person for centuries, you have to be really, really sure you like them and can get along."
"So it's like a 100 year contract with an option to renew?" Phoebe asked as she pulled out her tablet.
"Yes, sure, why not? Elves don't think that way in any case. We don't have to establish future generations because we'll still be around."
"Huh, wow," Jessie mumbled. "Is it a matriarchal society, then? Elven women have equal rights? My gender studies professor would get a real kick out of talking to you."
"I think it's pretty even, although maybe that's changed? I mean, we have a goddess, not a god, and we had a queen recently. Usually the most magically powerful become the head of the colony. Gender doesn't play into it."
"You have magic powers?" Phoebe gasped.
"I don't, not anymore. Rowan does, maybe he can show you something sometime, if you ask nicely."
"Don't encourage her!" Jessie hissed. "She thinks he's cute."
"I never said that!" Phoebe protested, blushing.
"Well? He is? I mean, he's a bit on the short side, but unless tastes have also changed, he's definitely turning everyone's heads back home."
"That's short? He's over six feet tall!" Phoebe was typing notes. She was probably planning another novel.
"So am I," I pointed out. "Milo's about seven feet, and still not the tallest."
"Wait, no, go back!" Jessie insisted. "when you say everyone, do you really mean everyone? What's the elven stance on same sex relationships?"
Phoebe froze, wide eyed, her finger hovering expectantly over her screen.
"Well, uh, we certainly don't have the hangups humans do about sex? After a few hundred years you eventually try everything."
A message popped up on my viewer, saving me from explaining elven sex habits to a misanthrope and a girl slowly easing out of a severely repressed life. Although as it turned out, the new conversation wasn't much better.
ImaMess: Hey, we’re taking elf-boy to The Space Bar. Come along, and bring all your hot friends.
Aggi: Really? He wants to do something fun?
ImaMess: Mike said some nonsense about a team building exercise. Rowan said he would go, but we should invite you.
“Have either of you heard of The Space Bar?” I asked, knowing only Jessie would answer.
“Oh yeah. Techno music, blacklights, fog machines, and all that crap. Why?”
“I’ve been invited, and asked to bring friends. I think the shuttle crew is trying to socialize Rowan. Want to go?”
Jessie and Phoebe looked at each other. Phoebe shook her head.
"It's a small group, maybe six people?" I offered. "They're all pretty nerdy."
“Any single guys?" Jessie asked. Phoebe shook her head harder.
"Probably."
"No, we're doing this. Yes, you too, Phoebe. It'll be an experience.”
Phoebe looked panicked. "Oh, nooo -"
I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go, and I was certain Rowan didn’t. I messaged ImaMess back while they argued.
Aggi: And you chose The Space Bar? Do you think we’re Vulcans or something?
ImaMess: Elf-Bro shows up in a spaceship, I’m gonna make assumptions
Aggi: Bad, bad idea. Counter offer: Beach party at Astoria’s Bar
ImaMess: You gonna wear a bikini?
Aggi: Only if you do
ImaMess: Sweet, I think I’ve got a speedo somewhere
Aggi: Great. I could use a laugh.
A new message popped up from someone else.
Mike: Hi, is there any reason in particular you’re suggesting we change the plans it took two hours to get everyone to agree to?
Aggi: If you’re inviting me, it means you’re really trying to draw Rowan out of his shell, and a dark, loud, smelly venue is only going to make him dig himself in deeper. Astoria’s is on the beach, outdoors, and casual. It’s a lot more like home.
Mike: I see. Thanks for the tip. I’ll discuss it with the others and let you know.
I grinned. "Change of plan. Astoria's Bar. Do you two have bathing suits?"
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