Disclaimer – Just because I forgot earlier. SC does not belong to me, nor
does the main idea of Uranusian culture. However, most characters besides
Bova and Benn do belong to me. Not that I care if you want to use them.
"Dubazi!" Something jumped onto me, shocking me out of the deep sleep I was in. I started screaming bloody murder until I realized who it was.
"Oberon? Obbie?!" I squealed and jumped into his arms. Well, who else could it have been? We're the only one's that knew the way into his room. "What are you doing here? Did someone die?"
"What, Mother didn't tell you?" I scowled. "No worries, you'll find out soon enough. Come on, 'Sean's already downstairs eating, and Mother's waking up Granpap. If you don't get presentable soon, you'll miss all the food."
"Fine, try to save some for me if you can." I left to go to my rooms. Knowing Obbie, he'd eat my share before he saved it.
After a quick shower consisting mostly of washing my waist-length hair, I hurried to put it up and do my make-up.
Uranusian make-up and hairstyling is rather ritualistic. Well, it is for females. I opted for a much simpler version of one of my ceremonial hairstyles, a ponytail that was plaited and wrapped. The version I wore for most ceremonies consisted of hundreds of delicately braided weaves and colored strands. This one had two braids and was mostly taped to the base, then wrapped with the ribbon.
Make-up was mostly based around the eyes and the antennae, with hints to the lip. I outlined the eyes in a thick black crayon, then outlined the top with a soft pink. After powdering my antennae, I quickly put away the make-up and got dressed. Dress for today was what I could find on my floor that was reasonably clean. That turned out to be a glossy black-blue shirt and black pants.
I met up with Granpap in the hallway on the way to our mealroom. "You looked dressed up today."
"It's what I found. So, what's going on and nobody wants to tell me about?" I asked.
"Your mother will. I hope, she should've when she got the letter."
"What letter?"
"Patience, young one. You'll learn soon enough." I scowled at him, but by then we reached the door to the mealroom.
"Morri', Benn, glad you could make it. Your places are set, better sit down before these two eat me out of house and home." Mother did look a bit harried, but I think she was secretly pleased that her two oldest were actually home for once.
"Sit down, eat your share. Once you do, we can finish ours." Zaesean looked different with his Stardog-styled hair, but not exactly worse.
"How loving. So, what letter?" Granpap rolled his eyes.
"Eat first, nose around later." Mother said, hitting me lightly on the head. "Show your brothers the new park."
"Why?" I started eating. Good thing it was real Denye food and not the Adeni crap.
"I want you out of the house. Maybe I'll have some food for dinner if the three of you left." She was less happy then normal. Since even I picked up on it stayed quiet, so did everyone else at the table. It made for a nearly silent breakfast, one I was happy to get done with.
I was helping Obbie with the dishes when I heard the tell-tale rumbles of Kurvew waking up right above us. "So, how about that park, boys? Heard it's going to be warm today, so there'll be plenty of the market lazing around."
"We're right behind you Morrighan." 'Sean said with his smart-ass smile. I flipped his off casually, kissed Mother, then took off at a run for the front hall.
How nice. Someone brought my cloak to where they were supposed to be. I slipped it on, it being the lightest I owned. 'Sean was already heading out the door, and Obbie was right behind me. "Well, are we going? I think Sir 'I'm lord of this house' is actually in the kitchen."
I ran, knowing the boys would follow. As I mentioned before, none of us like Kurvew.
**********************************************************
A few (read: seven) hours later, we were sitting under a large and droopy black tree, loaded with food and various other goodies. We finally managed to retrieve 'Sean from a gaggle of girls, most of them giving me a dirty look, as if I was trying to steal him. Yeah, right.
"So." I started, turning away from a group of boys playing Pin. "What's up with this letter?"
"I'm surprised you waited so long to ask." Obbie joked, tossing crumbs to the black and green birds that littered the park.
"So am I, trust me. Will you guys tell me, or do I need to harass you for days to come?"
"Won't have to wait that long." 'Sean said, winking at me. "Since we're leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! Where?"
"Should I tell her?" 'Sean asked Obbie, ignoring me. "I mean there had to be a reason Mother didn't."
"Tell her. We are leaving tomorrow." Obbie yawned. "Rather she bitches at Mother then at us."
"Good point. Now Morri'," 'Sean turned to a scowling me, "it seems that some Stardog officials have finally managed to contact some Lumanians. Or, as I have come to understand the situation, Lumanians have finally contacted us. Micha hacked into the computers and found all the information on what's happening."
"You are not explaining anything." 'Sean has a bad habit of trailing far off track when he tries explaining something. Gets slightly irritating.
"My, you are impatient! Well, the Lumanians want to have a mass meeting to discuss something that's top secret. All Stardogs, including cadets and those at the Academy just for special training, are going. So are diplomats from each Power and most high officers of the governments, trade, and economy. You, Obbie, and Mother were invited in place of Father."
"And we're going?"
"Yes."
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yes."
Eyugh. "How am I going to pack in time?"
"I think Mother's already done that for you." Obbie said.
"Oh." Well, then it wasn't such a problem. "How long are we going to be gone?"
"At the least, a month. A week to get there, a week to get back and minimum of two weeks during all the dinners and bonding and meetings and such. It'll probably last two months or more." 'Sean sounded unconcerned.
"Where are we going?"
"That new station, the Toruin. It's neutral for everyone, even Spung and Andromedans."
"What about school?" That figures. I haven't talked to most my friends in two weeks because of vacations and camps, and now I'm being left out longer. My homework will probably join me on the trip too.
"Both of you are excused for the time, Mother said. As long as you keep journals and do your lessons." See? Unfair. And I get extra homework! Now for the final stab into the eyes…
"Is Kurvew coming too?" 'Sean nodded. I fell over. "This sucks. Why? What did I do to piss someone off so badly?"
"Not return home last night, for one." 'Sean said.
"I did to! Ask Granpap; I was in his room. And Mother came in, she knows. She told me to go into your room." I looked up to Obbie when I said that.
"All Kurvew knows is that you didn't return to your room. He's thirsting for some hair." Obbie grinned at me. He was still home when that incident happened.
"I'm never going home again. It's that simple."
"You can't not go home. For one, you're expected to show up. For two, where are you going to get your food? I'm not ready for you to go on the Market, much less work it for money."
"Yeah, what's up with that? Not that I want to be sold like meat, but do you want me to become an old maiden when I'm older?" I asked 'Sean. He was my legal male guardian and responsible for all that.
Oh, for the record, the 'Market' was just the slang word for when a female is officially open for marriage and very serious relationships. The father, or legal male guardian, deals with all that stuff. And guardianship, for Denye, goes down the gender line. So, when Father left, it went to 'Sean rather then Kurvew. If Mother died, I would be ranking female of the household rather then the three older Adeni females, because Mother is still legally pure Denye. The house, on the other hand…
Legalities are not something I like thinking about. So I'll stop.
"Because I want you to chose what you want to be first. Start your own path, then make room for a husband. Or you turn into a poor, spoiled waif."
"That's bad why?"
"You're the one that admires Aunt Sira. You answer that."
No, thank you. I turned away and started watching the birds that still flittered all over the place. The gaggle was back, watching us in a way I assumed they thought they were being inconspicuous. It didn't translate.
"'Sean, you should've stayed. Miss having someone around that could mouth off for me and not get in trouble." I huddled further down. "I wonder why Orwid hasn't yet. He's almost older then you."
"Adeni do it differently. As do the Ayyai, Quevida, and Byado. You know that, Morri'."
"Why couldn't Mother pick a Byadian? They're adaptable, friendly enough people. I get along with them." I pouted, but it was getting dark. Umbriel's 'day' is technically seventeen hours long, but one day for us is twice the amount, thirty-four hours. So, we're awake for a day and asleep for a day. Wouldn't surprise any aliens. Up at three hundred, and now it was drawing near ten hundred. Seven hours away from home. It wasn't dark yet, but the light from Uranus was behind the tree and not hitting us anymore.
"That's Mother's business and not yours." 'Sean said, surprisingly sharp. I blinked at him, then looked at Obbie. He looked just as confused.
"Relax, I didn't mean anything by it. Take a dip." I replied, a bit short. 'Sean hardly says anything chastising to me, and I never responded well when he does.
"We better get back. Mother might need help with dinner." 'Sean stood up and started off, only to be accosted by the gaggle. I rolled my eyes and wandered to the pond. Obbie joined 'Sean in flirting. I rolled my eyes; boys.
Figuring we weren't going to leave in a while, I sat down at the edge and looked into the pond. It was glassy black and I could see my reflection. I had large brown eyes, tied back black hair, a wide nose and mouth, and Corvus-forsaken freckles. Mother had Byado lineage, which gave her some exotic features I inherited, such as the nose and mouth. The freckles were also from her, but skipped her and were passed to me. Damn recessive genes. My eyes were Denye, like my hair. All of us children got the glossy black hair of our father rather then the honeyed version of mother. Kind of a pity, since I almost had her look going perfectly.
I stared at the soft blue of Uranus, then got impatient. It's one of my more pronounced flaws. I stood up and marched to where my brothers were and stood a careful distance away. Aimed at 'Sean's butt first, I shot and scored. Then, within seconds, also got Obbie in the butt. Victory only stood for less then a moment while they recovered. And then I was running home, zig-zagging and giggling.
It got them away, didn't it?
"Dubazi!" Something jumped onto me, shocking me out of the deep sleep I was in. I started screaming bloody murder until I realized who it was.
"Oberon? Obbie?!" I squealed and jumped into his arms. Well, who else could it have been? We're the only one's that knew the way into his room. "What are you doing here? Did someone die?"
"What, Mother didn't tell you?" I scowled. "No worries, you'll find out soon enough. Come on, 'Sean's already downstairs eating, and Mother's waking up Granpap. If you don't get presentable soon, you'll miss all the food."
"Fine, try to save some for me if you can." I left to go to my rooms. Knowing Obbie, he'd eat my share before he saved it.
After a quick shower consisting mostly of washing my waist-length hair, I hurried to put it up and do my make-up.
Uranusian make-up and hairstyling is rather ritualistic. Well, it is for females. I opted for a much simpler version of one of my ceremonial hairstyles, a ponytail that was plaited and wrapped. The version I wore for most ceremonies consisted of hundreds of delicately braided weaves and colored strands. This one had two braids and was mostly taped to the base, then wrapped with the ribbon.
Make-up was mostly based around the eyes and the antennae, with hints to the lip. I outlined the eyes in a thick black crayon, then outlined the top with a soft pink. After powdering my antennae, I quickly put away the make-up and got dressed. Dress for today was what I could find on my floor that was reasonably clean. That turned out to be a glossy black-blue shirt and black pants.
I met up with Granpap in the hallway on the way to our mealroom. "You looked dressed up today."
"It's what I found. So, what's going on and nobody wants to tell me about?" I asked.
"Your mother will. I hope, she should've when she got the letter."
"What letter?"
"Patience, young one. You'll learn soon enough." I scowled at him, but by then we reached the door to the mealroom.
"Morri', Benn, glad you could make it. Your places are set, better sit down before these two eat me out of house and home." Mother did look a bit harried, but I think she was secretly pleased that her two oldest were actually home for once.
"Sit down, eat your share. Once you do, we can finish ours." Zaesean looked different with his Stardog-styled hair, but not exactly worse.
"How loving. So, what letter?" Granpap rolled his eyes.
"Eat first, nose around later." Mother said, hitting me lightly on the head. "Show your brothers the new park."
"Why?" I started eating. Good thing it was real Denye food and not the Adeni crap.
"I want you out of the house. Maybe I'll have some food for dinner if the three of you left." She was less happy then normal. Since even I picked up on it stayed quiet, so did everyone else at the table. It made for a nearly silent breakfast, one I was happy to get done with.
I was helping Obbie with the dishes when I heard the tell-tale rumbles of Kurvew waking up right above us. "So, how about that park, boys? Heard it's going to be warm today, so there'll be plenty of the market lazing around."
"We're right behind you Morrighan." 'Sean said with his smart-ass smile. I flipped his off casually, kissed Mother, then took off at a run for the front hall.
How nice. Someone brought my cloak to where they were supposed to be. I slipped it on, it being the lightest I owned. 'Sean was already heading out the door, and Obbie was right behind me. "Well, are we going? I think Sir 'I'm lord of this house' is actually in the kitchen."
I ran, knowing the boys would follow. As I mentioned before, none of us like Kurvew.
**********************************************************
A few (read: seven) hours later, we were sitting under a large and droopy black tree, loaded with food and various other goodies. We finally managed to retrieve 'Sean from a gaggle of girls, most of them giving me a dirty look, as if I was trying to steal him. Yeah, right.
"So." I started, turning away from a group of boys playing Pin. "What's up with this letter?"
"I'm surprised you waited so long to ask." Obbie joked, tossing crumbs to the black and green birds that littered the park.
"So am I, trust me. Will you guys tell me, or do I need to harass you for days to come?"
"Won't have to wait that long." 'Sean said, winking at me. "Since we're leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! Where?"
"Should I tell her?" 'Sean asked Obbie, ignoring me. "I mean there had to be a reason Mother didn't."
"Tell her. We are leaving tomorrow." Obbie yawned. "Rather she bitches at Mother then at us."
"Good point. Now Morri'," 'Sean turned to a scowling me, "it seems that some Stardog officials have finally managed to contact some Lumanians. Or, as I have come to understand the situation, Lumanians have finally contacted us. Micha hacked into the computers and found all the information on what's happening."
"You are not explaining anything." 'Sean has a bad habit of trailing far off track when he tries explaining something. Gets slightly irritating.
"My, you are impatient! Well, the Lumanians want to have a mass meeting to discuss something that's top secret. All Stardogs, including cadets and those at the Academy just for special training, are going. So are diplomats from each Power and most high officers of the governments, trade, and economy. You, Obbie, and Mother were invited in place of Father."
"And we're going?"
"Yes."
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yes."
Eyugh. "How am I going to pack in time?"
"I think Mother's already done that for you." Obbie said.
"Oh." Well, then it wasn't such a problem. "How long are we going to be gone?"
"At the least, a month. A week to get there, a week to get back and minimum of two weeks during all the dinners and bonding and meetings and such. It'll probably last two months or more." 'Sean sounded unconcerned.
"Where are we going?"
"That new station, the Toruin. It's neutral for everyone, even Spung and Andromedans."
"What about school?" That figures. I haven't talked to most my friends in two weeks because of vacations and camps, and now I'm being left out longer. My homework will probably join me on the trip too.
"Both of you are excused for the time, Mother said. As long as you keep journals and do your lessons." See? Unfair. And I get extra homework! Now for the final stab into the eyes…
"Is Kurvew coming too?" 'Sean nodded. I fell over. "This sucks. Why? What did I do to piss someone off so badly?"
"Not return home last night, for one." 'Sean said.
"I did to! Ask Granpap; I was in his room. And Mother came in, she knows. She told me to go into your room." I looked up to Obbie when I said that.
"All Kurvew knows is that you didn't return to your room. He's thirsting for some hair." Obbie grinned at me. He was still home when that incident happened.
"I'm never going home again. It's that simple."
"You can't not go home. For one, you're expected to show up. For two, where are you going to get your food? I'm not ready for you to go on the Market, much less work it for money."
"Yeah, what's up with that? Not that I want to be sold like meat, but do you want me to become an old maiden when I'm older?" I asked 'Sean. He was my legal male guardian and responsible for all that.
Oh, for the record, the 'Market' was just the slang word for when a female is officially open for marriage and very serious relationships. The father, or legal male guardian, deals with all that stuff. And guardianship, for Denye, goes down the gender line. So, when Father left, it went to 'Sean rather then Kurvew. If Mother died, I would be ranking female of the household rather then the three older Adeni females, because Mother is still legally pure Denye. The house, on the other hand…
Legalities are not something I like thinking about. So I'll stop.
"Because I want you to chose what you want to be first. Start your own path, then make room for a husband. Or you turn into a poor, spoiled waif."
"That's bad why?"
"You're the one that admires Aunt Sira. You answer that."
No, thank you. I turned away and started watching the birds that still flittered all over the place. The gaggle was back, watching us in a way I assumed they thought they were being inconspicuous. It didn't translate.
"'Sean, you should've stayed. Miss having someone around that could mouth off for me and not get in trouble." I huddled further down. "I wonder why Orwid hasn't yet. He's almost older then you."
"Adeni do it differently. As do the Ayyai, Quevida, and Byado. You know that, Morri'."
"Why couldn't Mother pick a Byadian? They're adaptable, friendly enough people. I get along with them." I pouted, but it was getting dark. Umbriel's 'day' is technically seventeen hours long, but one day for us is twice the amount, thirty-four hours. So, we're awake for a day and asleep for a day. Wouldn't surprise any aliens. Up at three hundred, and now it was drawing near ten hundred. Seven hours away from home. It wasn't dark yet, but the light from Uranus was behind the tree and not hitting us anymore.
"That's Mother's business and not yours." 'Sean said, surprisingly sharp. I blinked at him, then looked at Obbie. He looked just as confused.
"Relax, I didn't mean anything by it. Take a dip." I replied, a bit short. 'Sean hardly says anything chastising to me, and I never responded well when he does.
"We better get back. Mother might need help with dinner." 'Sean stood up and started off, only to be accosted by the gaggle. I rolled my eyes and wandered to the pond. Obbie joined 'Sean in flirting. I rolled my eyes; boys.
Figuring we weren't going to leave in a while, I sat down at the edge and looked into the pond. It was glassy black and I could see my reflection. I had large brown eyes, tied back black hair, a wide nose and mouth, and Corvus-forsaken freckles. Mother had Byado lineage, which gave her some exotic features I inherited, such as the nose and mouth. The freckles were also from her, but skipped her and were passed to me. Damn recessive genes. My eyes were Denye, like my hair. All of us children got the glossy black hair of our father rather then the honeyed version of mother. Kind of a pity, since I almost had her look going perfectly.
I stared at the soft blue of Uranus, then got impatient. It's one of my more pronounced flaws. I stood up and marched to where my brothers were and stood a careful distance away. Aimed at 'Sean's butt first, I shot and scored. Then, within seconds, also got Obbie in the butt. Victory only stood for less then a moment while they recovered. And then I was running home, zig-zagging and giggling.
It got them away, didn't it?