by Robin Roseau
"You two may kidnap me any time you want," I said.
Posey laughed, and Violet said, "Count on it."
A while later, Violet stood and took my hands. I let her draw me to our stateroom. She began undressing me, slowly, and I knew what she had in mind.
"Where is Posey sleeping?"
"In here, later," she said. "Are you going to struggle?"
I smiled. "Do you want me to?"
"Yes." And she pounced.
* * * *
That first day set the pattern for our week. For the most part, we stayed at or near the island the E.T.s owned, but we did pop over to Figi's main island to play tourist and do a little local shopping. I bought gifts for Audra, Mom, Jasmine, Bluebell, and Azalea. Then I added one more, a gift for Amaryllis. I'm sure she received no end of gifts, but I wanted to get her a little something. Almost as an afterthought, I bought something for Lili, my roommate. I wasn't sure if I was going to give it to her, but ultimately I did.
I avoided burning. Violet complained about the taste of the sunblock, but she was diligent in applying it to me and exceedingly thorough besides. And I managed my exposure during the middle hours of the day. And so I tanned instead of burned. I'd spent much of my life under the hot sun of Africa, so it felt more natural to take on a little golden brown rather than the pasty white due to the Boston winter.
But, like all vacations do, this one came to an end. We spent one final night aboard Southbar. Gerry treated us to a particularly wonderful meal. We moved to the top deck and, as we had every night, lounged. Posey and Violet eventually pinned me down and spent time tickling me, laughing as much as I did. When they finally let me go, I asked them, "Isn't that ever going to get old for you?"
"No," said Posey.
Then Violet took me downstairs. I moved into her arms and said, "If you promise not to tell Posey about this one, I'll show you one more highly ticklish place. But you can only use it when we're in private."
She absolutely loved tickling me there. I enjoyed it, too.
Amaryllis
It was a Friday evening three weeks later that Amaryllis was to come for dinner. A week early, I called a florist and told them what I wanted. Amaryllis had set a naming convention that was followed by many, although not all of the ETs. The flowers chosen by the more famous ETs had become popular, and so of course the greenhouses and florists had responded to the demand. But I wanted to order ahead, and so I did.
I also warned Bluebell what I was doing. She told me there would be a cart waiting for me.
Friday after my last class, I let the car do the driving. I had no choice, of course, but I had already become quite spoiled, and I wouldn't have overridden the car, anyway. I studied. We stopped by the florist, and a nice girl helped me to load the car with everything I bought.
I was in Boston an hour later. The car came to a stop. Sure enough, there was a cart that was practically screaming my name. It was too small, so I loaded it for the first trip and told the car to stay where it was. I unloaded the cart and made my separate trip. When I was done, I returned the cart where I'd found it and told the car it could go park. It chirped at me and rolled away.
Nice car.
I'd bought a lot of flowers. There were two potted amaryllis. I put those in the entrance. I wondered if Amaryllis would notice them. Whether or not she did, they added a bit of cheer.
For the rest, I had bluebells, azaleas, and, of course, violets, along with a mix of greens and a few other flowers. These were all cut flowers, and I bought them unarranged. I spent an hour and a half arranging them, all of them in a small, simple fashion. I spread them throughout the apartment, and I decided it all looked much cheerier.
I was just fiddling with some artwork when I heard the front door open and close. There was a pause, and then Violet called out, "Skye?"
"Game room!" I yelled to her.
It took her a minute to find me, and when she did, she was moving slowly, looking all around. I stopped to watch her. Finally she looked at me. "You've been busy."
"Please tell me they look okay."
"They're beautiful," she said.
"So I don't have to throw them all away before anyone else sees?"
She snorted. "No. But what are you wearing?"
"I was working," I said. "And I'm going to need a shower, but if you play your cards right, I'll let you wash my back."
"I always play my cards right." She crossed the room and pulled me into her arms, but she muttered when she found my back wasn't bare.
"I'm probably stinky anyway," I said.
"Probably," she agreed.
"Brat." Still, I accepted a tentacle, and we teased each other for a minute or two before I pushed her away. "Did you notice the art?"
"Art?"
I gestured. "Is it straight?"
She cocked her head one way. Then she cocked her head the other. "What is it?"
"You can't see it?"
"See what?"
It was an abstract piece, swirls of color. I bought it because of the color choices.
"It's a Catseye family."
"Painted by a blind painter?"
"It's this Catseye family, and I think it's beautiful."
"Okay," she said slowly.
I tried not to be hurt. I moved closer to the painting. "This is you." I pointed to some of the violet. "Bluebells are very close to this color. And Azaleas are red, like this. A posey is a group of flowers, so the entire painting represents her."
I turned back to look at Violet. She looked upset, and then she asked in a small voice, "And where are you represented?"
"The white," I said, pointing. "To match my hair. And I found this painting and bought it, so I'm represented by the love involved in selecting it."
At that she brightened up and pulled me back into her arms, holding me tightly. I hadn't even thought of that, so I was happy I could think on my feet. I wasn't going to admit it to her, of course.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
We held each other another minute, then I gave her a little tour, pointing out the things I had done and naming the flowers. "Maybe it's silly, but I wanted to offer a little cheer."
"It's all lovely, Skye. I want you. Now."
I thought she would drag me to the bedroom, but instead it was the bathroom. I let her undress us both, and then we were both under the water, hugging, touching, kissing, teasing.
We washed each other. She spent some time on my hair, her tentacles teasing me the entire time she washed my hair. When two slipped between my legs, I gasped, but I didn't stop her.
"I like doing this to you," she whispered. Then she began to crowd me, pressing me against the wall of the shower. She pinned me there, wrapped around me. One of her tentacles wrapped around my face and slid into my mouth.
She touched. She teased. She held me pinned in place as I began to quiver and thrash from the sensations she was giving me.
When I came, it was long and hard, and she withdrew her tentacle so I could scream her name. But she held me tightly as I panted, still leaning against the wall. Eventually I turned and threw my arms around her neck, slumping into her. She supported me easily, and I could see she was pleased with herself.
"If I knew you'd do that to me, I'd have brought flowers far sooner."
She chuckled. "I was hungry for you."
"I think you get a power trip from doing that to me."
"I do," she admitted. "It's very good for my ego."
* * * *
Violet had her own surprise for me. She'd bought a new dress for me. "I thought about asking you to wear it tomorrow, but I think tonight is better." I let her dress me and then watched while she dressed herself.
By the time we emerged, Bluebell was home. I got a deep hug and whispers about how pretty the flowers were.
"Wait until you see the art."
"I saw the piece in the game room. The purple exactly matches your eyes, Violet. Was that intentional, Skye?"
"Of course,
" I said. "Did you see the bluebells?"
"Yes. I presume there's azaleas and posies, too."
I explained about both, and then Violet insisted on pointing out the parts that were me. Bluebell tightened her hold for a moment, and then she released me.
"I'm going to ask something, and I don't want you to be offended. Was all this expensive?"
"Not really," I said. "I wanted to do the flowers. This is an original, but it was painted by a classmate. It was painted to require no frame, which made it inexpensive."
"I think we should put family photographs on the walls in the hallway," I added. "Things to remind you of happy times, conversation pieces, that sort of thing."
"Work with Posey on that," she directed. "Now, we have about a half hour to finish preparing."
* * * *
Receiving notice that Azalea, Posey, and Amaryllis had landed, Bluebell collected us in the foyer. I tried not to be nervous, but of course, I was. In contrast, Bluebell and Violet appeared utterly calm. I found it infuriating.
A minute later, the door opened. Azalea stepped through then held the door for Amaryllis. The BP had to duck to step through the door, but inside, the ceilings were of ample height. Posey stepped in behind her, closing the door.
The Catseye found introductions important. Azalea spoke the BP language, clearly introducing Bluebell first. From other things that had been said in the past, I found it likely the two knew each other. But Azalea performed the introduction anyway. Bluebell stepped forward.
I didn't know what to expect. I guess I assumed a hug, but instead the two clasped hands, first right to right, then they added left hands, and then Bluebell added her tentacles, resulting in a big mass in the space between them, her tentacles wrapping partway up the BPs wrists, but not as far as her elbows. They spoke, and then they disengaged, and Bluebell stepped back.
There was a similar introduction between Amaryllis and Violet.
Finally, Azalea switched to English. "And of course, you remember Skye Andrews." I stepped forward, and we engaged in a similar four-handed clasp -- minus the tentacles -- that Amaryllis had used with the Catseyes. I looked up -- way up -- into the eyes of Amaryllis. She offered a human style smile.
"I am pleased to greet you, Ms. Andrews."
I smiled. "It is good to see you." Okay, it was lame, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.
At that, Azalea got us moving into the living room. Amaryllis took the largest recliner, the one that made me feel I was a little girl. She didn't look completely uncomfortable. Violet and I took seats on the sofa. Normally Posey would take my other side, but she, Bluebell, and Azalea took other chairs. But Violet wrapped me in tentacles, so that was nice.
For an hour we made polite, well, I suppose it wasn't exactly small talk. They spoke English and talked about events in the world. I had little to add to the conversation, feeling all of them were more conversant on these issues than I was, even if I was the resident human. Finally, Amaryllis said, "Little human, you are quiet."
"Perhaps it is a mistake, but I find my schedule full, and I am unable to keep up with worldwide current events. You will find this is a common failing amongst Americans."
"And so, perhaps you are more familiar with the latest celebrity news."
"Only the mating candidate celebrities, and I've been out of touch with that since September."
"Ah, yes, a little security breach."
"I wonder, Ambassador."
"Perhaps we can skip titles tonight."
"All right. I wonder, Amaryllis. You sounded dismissive of humanity's fixation on celebrities, but don't you make your own celebrities?"
"No. Other federation member species do, although I admit it does offer something other than spurious entertainment. Can you guess what?"
"Morale. But I don't understand something. Would going home for mates be so prohibitive?"
"Yes. Our ship was not designed for a round trip, and we do not have the industrial base here to do something about that."
"Humans couldn't build a ship for you?"
"We would be forced to give you the technology to reach the stars. That is problematic on so many levels, and we will not do it. You must earn your place yourselves, not have it handed to you. Even building the industrial base would give you far too much technology."
"I understand," I said. "So, what is your long term plan?"
"That seems like a complicated question."
"Well, all of you are staying here. You have a fairly short term plan to help us clean up the mess we made of this planet. What else?"
"Oh, I see. While we do not wish to offer you technology, we do wish to help you become more mature as a species, so as you develop the technology, you use it wisely."
"You have your work cut out for you."
No one replied to that, and the conversation moved away from me.
Dinner arrived. Violet, Posey, and I served. The sorts of conversation from earlier continued over the meal, and from time to time, Amaryllis drew me back into the conversation. "I don't know much about it," didn't satisfy her. She still wished my opinion. Twice I glanced at Bluebell, and she subtly nodded to me, so I did the best I could.
I wasn't sure if I was making a fool of myself or not.
Then Amaryllis said, "That seems like a simplistic answer, Skye."
"It probably is." I looked down at my plate. I'd already told her I didn't know anything about it, but she pushed for an answer, anyway.
"You don't care to elaborate?"
I glanced at Bluebell. Again, she nodded to me. I sighed and turned back to the BP. "I already told you it was a topic about which I know little. If some of humanity's smartest people can't solve it, do you think a 19-year-old girl is going to have anything profound to say?"
"That seems like a defeatist attitude."
"There is a human saying. It comes in different forms, but it is quite simple. It is better to remain silent and to be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and prove it."
"I do not expect you to have the answers, but I would like to see how you would go about solving this problem."
"I wouldn't."
"You do not believe it should be solved?"
"Oh, I definitely believe it should be solved. I do not believe I am the one to solve it."
"Try anyway."
I sighed. "This problem has existed for a long time. We've identified it. Very, very smart people have proposed countless solutions, none of which have been even attempted. I assume there are reasons for that. Maybe there are people with a vested interest opposing those solutions. More likely, no one wants to pay the price because it doesn't affect them. If all those people haven't come to a conclusion, then the only thought I have is to ask for your wisdom, not the other way around."
I didn't wait for a response. I climbed to my feet and began clearing plates. It may have been rude, but I didn't care. I made a few trips back and forth, then stood in the kitchen, staring at the sink.
I was there a minute or two before Bluebell came in. I didn't even turn to her. I stared at the sink, and she moved to stand beside me.
"I think I should work for you at the center this summer," I said quietly. "Or maybe I should go home and work at the restaurant."
Bluebell ignored that, but she put an arm and two tentacles around my back. "It is time for a game."
"Boardwalk, I presume."
"Of course."
"Great. Another chance to demonstrate how stupid I am. I'm not feeling very good. I think I should beg off and drive home."
"That's twice you suggested this isn't your home." It was said quietly, and her words were like a knife to my heart. I tried to pull away from her, but she tightened her hold.
"Please let me go," I whispered.
"You are at a crossroads tonight, Skye."
"I didn't ask for any of this," I said. I turned to her. "I don't know what any of you expect from me, but she expects far more than I can give her. She's been deliberately trying
to make me look stupid. And maybe I am, but I never claimed to know anything about any of those topics."
"So, go in there and tell her what you think."
"I don't think!" I said. "I don't know a thing about any of that."
"No. Go tell her what you think of the way she's treating you. Maybe ask her what she's really after. Of course she knows you're just starting your life as an adult. I wonder what she really wants."
"I'm not sure I care," I said. "You know, humanity was divided into two flavors the day she strode into the United Nations. On one side you have the people who decided she was lying, that you didn't at all come in peace. And on the other side are all the people who idolized her. I was in that group. But there's a new group forming."
"Oh?"
"The group that thinks she's a bitch."
"Oh, that group has existed for a long time," Bluebell said.
"Please, may I go back to school?"
"I wish you wouldn't."
"Will you stop me?"
"I don't know," she said. "I am hoping it doesn't come to that." She tugged, and I would have had to physically fight her to pull away. She led the way to the game room, but at the doorway I balked.
"Please don't make me go in there."
"You can handle her."
I didn't put up as big a fuss as I could have, and I let Bluebell pull me into the room. With three limbs around me, it may not have looked like that's what was happening, but it really was. Everyone already in the room turned to look at me, and I'm sure they could tell I hadn't come willingly.
"Ah, there she is," said Amaryllis. "You and I must negotiate, Skye."
"I am sure I am outclassed," I said. "What are we negotiating?"
"The color of our tokens. I understand you always play the blue."
"It is the color of my eyes," I said.
"I wish to use the blue tokens."
"That's fine," I said. "It's not important to me." I let Bluebell finish pulling me into the room, then, sullenly, took an open space between her and Azalea and across the playing area from Amaryllis. Violet moved the box of yellow tokens in front of me, and I looked down at them, eventually setting the yellow statue into the playing area.
I was fourth to play. I began playing towards Posey. The game went around twice more, and I played poorly, setting myself up for early destruction. What surprised me was neither Posey nor Violet made an effort to capitalize on the way I was playing.