Work Text:
Adrienn stood behind the graduation podium before over a hundred smiling faces. The faces of her peers and their families. She swallowed a knot in her throat, took a deep breath, and even before she knew it, the words were pulled from her heart.
“Many of you know me. Those who don't, your kids need to tell you more about me.”
A chuckle rippled through the crowd.
“My name is Adrienn Avila-Raval, and I've been given the honour of being Valedictorian for the Southern Star University of Science. Something I couldn't do without everyone before me.”
Her eyes wandered to her partner, Lucari. Their obsidian black hair was dotted with pinpricks of white and yellow, constellations of starlight that sparkled whenever they moved. Beneath her caramel brown and their obsidian, they both shared a painting of pink, azure, and gold. A nebula they studied in their first year. The astronomy class they met.
“Without the support of our parents, driving us forward and daring us to dream of alien skies and wonderful new worlds.”
Her eyes rested on a pair of familiar blue eyes. Eyes they shared. Blue for the ocean they were both raised on. Her mother, Sunati, was constantly changing her looks. Skin and hair changed as often as the tides. But they both kept their blue eyes, and she always kept that streak of golden light.
“But perhaps more importantly, a reason to thrive and grow. To be greater than ourselves and push to new heights.”
Finally, her eyes landed on her Mami, Austen. Even as she aged, unable to benefit from the anti-aging mods that many of the population utilise, her tanned skin still glowed with life and passion. Adrienn insisted that she would never mod her skin, even as her peers pushed trend upon trend. Only Lucari understood what it meant. Tears welled in Austen's eyes, her heart displayed proudly for all to see.
“And as such, I've accepted a position in a new Start-up called Egans and Us.”
Both her mothers perked up, Sunatis hand pressing down on Austens.
“Lucari and I, we both have a debt to repay. And this opportunity allows us to give back all we owe tenfold.”
Sunati and Austen wept with joy. Sunati tried to remain composed. Austen did not.
“I hope the rest of you, my classmates and friends, have the best of luck with your futures.”
“I was once told that we can never be brave like you, like our parents, or like anyone. So, I will always aspire to be brave like me. And while our world changes around us, remember that we are Always Human, and we'll be just fine.”
Adrienn threw her academic cap into the air, followed by dozens of identical caps. A cheer and applause erupted from a hundred throats. None more fervently than her mothers’.