Bed proved a welcome comfort, a refuge from living in a world where soon enough, altogether too many would see her as a living pariah.
What a turnabout! On Arrhazon, an increasing number there stood on her side, working for equality. Llhaesa recognised the coming reception here would largely be the result of the usual reason for such mass fear of someone different: insecurity coupled with ignorance.
For now, llhaesa wished to let this go, and lose her thoughts in long untouched but treasured memories, so much of her yearning for the feel, for the touch, even for the sensuous smell of being nuzzled close with Jahrae. She consciously sought out memories of the initial voyage of Overture, willing herself to relive those heady days of sailing Chekresu Bay.
Llhaesa, her mind closing down the present, reformed into the imagined space around her, now seeing the still bright late afternoon or early evening sky and placid Bay waters, felt the warm air stirred by the energy of Arrhka, while her body stretched out upon the deck of Overture.
Llhaesa’s electronic writing tablet, one that stored her music in the writing stage, lie open and activated, sat upon the deck and in front of her. Of that time, in that moment, she fashioned together a song of Empo, a sea creature befriended as she and Jahrae took what turned out to be their only extended vacation during their 2 beautiful years together.
Llhaesa loved to write where inspiration came, and Empo triggered a creative spark inside. This would unfold as if a playful children’s song, catchy and simple, but a nice story of mutual respect amongst those who are different from each other.
“Whatcha writing on?” Jahrae asked, bending over to hand llhaesa her newly concocted refreshment. Llhaesa graciously accepted, raising it to her mouth for a quick sampling.
“Mmmmmm!” llhaesa called out her approval, an accompanying expression of satisfaction following the first taste of the indigo-coloured liquid.
“Go easy on the sipping, that is potent stuff!” Jahrae innocently cautioned. Their new sailboat was at anchor off yet another Bay island, where with early evening upon them, the couple chose to stop and spend this night of their vacation journey in the waters of Chekresu Bay. It was refreshment time.
Llhaesa looked up at Jahrae, her expression reshaping into impish mode, her eyes carrying the trademark llhaesa twinkle. The glass rose anew, retouching her lips as llhaesa angled her head slightly backward, allowing the pleasing and wonderful tasting liquid to sluice downward, the glass draining in three well-paced gulps.
“Ahhhh” came llhaesa’s finishing statement, her eyes still affixed on Jahrae, her arm stretching upward toward her, hand poised to return the glass to its original and immediate porter. “Might I trouble your servitude for another?”
“I am of uncertain mind, essa. You dismissed my potency caveat and emptied your first fill as a sizeable culvert diverts rainwater to the sea, and then ask servitude of me in replenishing what you might have well nurtured further into time.” Jahrae pulled a stern face and tried desperately to hang tight to it, but llhaesa’s amusing stare-back and rolling eyes sent her into the laughter she vainly attempted to mask.
“One of these days…!” Jahrae conceded defeat in this instance, but there was always next time.
“One of these days what? You will best me in a moment of will over who is the better at our tease-sport – highly unlikely. I can make you laugh in the most serious of your moments!” llhaesa was challenging the equally competitive Jahrae to rejoin their ongoing dual, though in a weak moment llhaesa would admit to Jahrae being very much her match.
“That is for another time, my love. I have to take my leave and be about my newly assigned task. I shall return with more nectar from goddess for the demanding and petulant ingrate who cries out for more!”
This time, Jahrae’s giggling was evident throughout. Jahrae took a few steps away before turning to add, “Might I mention the goddess who created this potion you found most palatable has black as night hair, a plotting mind, and a tongue most useful? She also burns to add mention of a fondness for having tall blonde pianists lie lazily upon the deck of her sailing ship, this to provide visual fodder and stimulation for her infinitely lecherous mind!”
This one last comment left llhaesa as the one struggling to avoid laughter, but she recognised the futility of this endeavour. Jumping up, llhaesa quickly approached Jahrae, signalled a need for a kiss, and then shared one long in passion and sustainability, finally ending this impromptu expression of love by grabbing the glasses in Jahrae’s hands, and setting out for the galley. “For the sharpness and wit of that comment, I temporarily render my devoted service to you, m’queen! Do find your comfort upon her majesty’s finest sailing vessel whilst I see to satiating your potable fondnesses!”
Llhaesa set off for the ship’s inner places, loudly remarking just before she disappeared below, “Your most humble bearer of distilled mellifluousness carries a boundless covetousness for black haired sailing goddesses with infinitely lecherous minds.”
It promised to be one hell of a night on Overture. By the time Arrhka checked out for the night, the couple re-tasked from mutual teasing to working as one to assemble dinner. Jahrae handled complicated preparations, given her unchallenged reputation as the best chef in this family, while llhaesa assisted Jahrae by seeing to peripheral details.
Jahrae loved the state of the art galley built into Overture. While not the equivalent of the kitchen in their flat, for meal preparation while sailing, this galley was far more than adequately equipped. As vegetarians, the cooler and shelves were well stocked with a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, spices, distilled oils, nuts, processed whole grains, etc. Jahrae’s secret to culinary success was her wide assortment of special sauces, well over two hundred that she could throw together without so much as a glance at a recipe.
In the moment, both llhaesa and she preferred hot and spicy, and so she went about fashioning a sauce to suit the whole grain Arrhazonan pasta and vegetable dish baking in the oven.
Dinner preparation consumed over an hour of time, but with that done and the dish in the oven, the couple returned topside to set out under the stars. This moment proved more sedate than the afternoon exchanges. Llhaesa sat with her head resting upon Jahrae’s shoulder, her eyes looking up at the bountiful display of stars.
Imagine being on another world, Jahrae.” Llhaesa felt her mind move into a reflective outlook, contemplating life on Arrhazon with what existed elsewhere. “We read of this new planetary discovery in the Arrkarhara system, how it is a slightly smaller version of this world, with a branch of humanity living upon it. Imagine being on that planet, looking back up at their nighttime sky. What do you think the people of that world wonder about our world? Or rather, would wonder if they knew of our presence?
“Let’s go ask them!” Jahrae teased. “Seriously, llhaesa do you think we will ever have direct contact and interaction with that world? We have started contact with four to date…”
“One day, I am certain. In our lifetimes, I am unsure.”
The irony of that comment roused Llhaesa from her venture back into memory, her body shifting restlessly in her temporary bedding. She did come to know the world of her and Jahrae’s long ago speculation; what remained unknown to her and for another time was knowledge she already knew the first ambassador from the Arrkarhara system to her world. Llhaesa unwittingly parented two children with the ambassador prior to her appointment, an appointment that would carry llhaesa’s recommendation to her own government.
