Imagine Angelica telling all her girlfriends about Johnny and them wanting to see him.
"So?" Tamara of the Hill inquires, her head tilted with curiosity but her mouth wide with knowing. "And how did you last meeting with Johnny of the Storm go?"
Angelica had never been so aware of her body until Johnny. The bodies of her people were simply thatâbodies made for redundancy. Made for purpose. Tools. It does not feel practical the way that her face heats, but she enjoys it all the same. Because she is thinking of her Johnny, of the moon he gifted her, and of everything else that he gifted her, too, in the quiet of the evening that they spent together. (Though, with a thought, perhaps it was not that quiet.)
Jacqueline of the Wood gasps and then shrieks. Her clicks reach the peak of the highest mountains and she shakes with her excitement. "Angelica!" She laughs. "What did your Johnny do this time?"
Belonging is the way of her people. Although, perhaps one day they might be strangers, they have no intention of treating strangers in the way that the humans say strangers are sometimes treated. There is no fear of other nor scorn of different. There is sameness alongside the newness of their exploration. Of their knowledge. But they will always belong to Kkkkk and amongst her people.
That means that possession is not common amongst them. They belong, but not much belongs to them. It is their way to share freely, to share gladly. Angelica finds that, although she is no different, there are certain things that she would not share, now that there is Johnny.
Johnny of the Storm has a smile that must belong to everyone. That must be given freely. His laugh is a gift given without weight. Without effort. But the moon of his palm, that is Angelica's. The pressure of his...what was the word...fingertips? Those, too, are Angelica's.
"He gave me a moon," Angelica practices the click of her tongue. It is an odd, foreign word, but it had meant so much to Johnny when he spoke of it. It had meant so much to be gifted it.
"What's a moon?" Tamara inquires again, though this time the smile has softened and the curiosity has heightened.
Angelica hums for a moment in thought before her clicks resume. "It is romantic." This is a word that has a place in her tongue, but it has never had a place in her heart before.
"Can we see it?" Jacqueline attempts to peer behind Angelica, as if she is hiding it from sight.
"No," Angelica grins. "It comes from his hand."
Tamara's grin turns salacious. "I bet it's not the only thing that comes from his hand."
"Tamara!" Jacqueline shrieks again, though this time laughter has found its way into the excitement. "You're so terrible! Besides, Johnny of the Storm is a human. They have no kkkKkkk."
With a smile she must compress, Angelica shakes her head. "No, it is no kkkKkkk."
At once, Tamara and Jacqueline swivel their heads to meet Angelica's gaze. Their friendly bickering silenced. And although it was Angelica to initiate such talks about her intimacy with her Johnny, she feels all at once shy now. She clears her throat, but no clicks come out before Tamara and Jacqueline descend upon her.
"You mean you kkKKkkK before we've even met him?" Tamara gasps, though there is no offense in her tone. Only joy. It makes Angelica click in response, and Tamara laughs. "Angelica!"
"He is very sweet, and funny," Angelica says as she often has. "I am sorry that you haven't met him yet."
Jacqueline clicks in a tone that expresses humor. "You've been enjoying your time alone with him. We can't fault you that. But, can't we meet him now? It's been kkkkkk!"
"Months," Angelica clicks carefully. It's always been easy to learn new words from the humans. She treasures each one, sharing them with glee. This word is unique, in that its encounter is the only thing amongst the evening that Angelica is so willing to share. But, perhaps that is inaccurate, too, because Angelica wants everyone to know how her Johnny makes her feel. Even if she wants to be the only person to see him as he was. To kkKKkkK with.
"Months," Tamara repeats. "You talk just like them now! Shouldn't we see him, so we can kkkKK? Isn't that our right as your clutch without blood?"
Angelica hesitates for a moment. "I could ask him, if he would like to join us for dinner."
"If he is as you say he is, he wouldn't dare say no," Jacqueline pitches again, limbs jittering.
"No, I doubt that he would," Angelica jitters alongside her, and excitement is a new flavor on her tongue.
Tamara's smile dims as the dying lights do, and she tilts her head once again. "Have you spoken with him, about what will happen when he goes?"
There is a kindness to Tamara's words, even if they subdue the joy of the moment. Angelica understands her intent. "Not yet," Angelica answers with a click, "but that doesn't matter to me. I...think I love him."
Once more Jacqueline and Tamara giggle, clicking excitedly as Angelica's skin blooms with heat. And there is the future to think of, choices that must be madeâbut those are for the future. As for now, in the present, Angelica will experience joy. Laughter. Love. And, even if they are stars apart, those stars are Angelica's gift to Johnny. Just as his moon is to her.
