Page 4 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
Newsflash: It was an abduction.
But on the whole, Sasha didn’t really seem to mind and has taken to life aboard the Sleigh Belle like an Agarthian swamp-rat to water.
We all discovered that Sasha has a will of iron, and when he sets his mind on something, he goes all in.
It’s no wonder he and my best friend are so well suited for one another.
I’m sure finding his soulmate made Sasha’s transition that much easier as well. He does, of course, get homesick from time to time, mostly for things he misses on Earth, which is yet another reason we have ventured into the danger zone once more.
But he didn’t leave behind much in terms of friends or family that would lament his absence from this world.
We were all shocked to learn that Sasha’s parents had disowned him because of his sexual orientation—something that would be unthinkable among our kind.
While the Dravethian people have many flaws, we have never had qualms about different sexual preferences so long as both partners are consenting adults. Variety breeds creativity and innovation, and we have never seen diverse sexual preferences as wrong.
Luna, for instance, is attracted to women, or feminine-presenting individuals, while Khephren prefers men or male-presenting individuals.
I have much broader attractions. Over the years, I have enjoyed lovers from many different species and genders. I don’t always know what will attract me to another, but I tend to trust my instincts.
Luna fiddles with the controls at Khephren’s terminal and Christmas music starts playing softly over the ship’s com system.
I study her as she tries to stealth-watch Khephren while he’s talking to Sasha on his telecom pad, a look of longing evident on her lovely face.
Luna may act tough, but she’s just as much of a marshmallow at her core as Khephren is. She’s a lot snarkier than my best friend, but that’s mostly a protective mechanism. Luna’s been hurt before. Her generosity is abundant, and unfortunately, there have been others who’ve taken advantage of that.
Is it so wrong that she just wants someone to love, who will love her too?
I’m not really a passenger on this Christmas-obsessed train that my friends have climbed aboard, but if I could gift Luna a partner worthy of her this season, I would.
Of course, I know that isn’t how these things work, but it would bring me joy to see her find true love.
I clear my throat and wave a tentacle awkwardly. “Maybe… you’ll… meet someone on our holiday travel adventures?” I try to infuse as much enthusiasm and optimism into my voice as I can.
Luna arches a quizzical green eyebrow at me. “You okay? The face you’re making reads as ‘supremely constipated.’”
And there’s the snark on full display.
I force a smile. “You never know. It could happen.”
“Are you high? Did you eat one of those psychedelic mushrooms Kheph brought aboard the ship when we visited that fungi forest on Blarnox V?”
My tentacles coil and uncoil.
Her eyes narrow.
Dammit. She knows all my tells.
“I’m not high. Just trying to be… supportive.”
The look she gives me screams,I call bullshit.
I sigh and relent. “Fine. I can tell you’ve been lonely lately, and I just want you to be happy. You’re my other best friend, after all.”
Her gaze wanders back to Khephren, who’s humming merrily to himself now that he’s ended his call with Sasha.
“It’s hard not to be envious when you’re around two love birds like Sasha and Kheph all the time. Even though it’s been nearly two years, they’re still in their blissful and harmonious newlywed phase.” She sighs wistfully. “Who wouldn’t want that?”
I cringe. I’m not sure that I’d want that, but I don’t say anything.
