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Erid was amazing.
I had known it was different from Earth, but to be able to see it with my own eyes for the first time was beyond exciting.
I’d always been fascinated by Erid as a kid, and wanted to go off planet - so when my university had informed me about an exchange program with an Eridian one, I’d jumped at the chance.
And now I was here, surrounded by gorgeous stone and lovely sounds, on another planet.
I’d found some friends. One of them, an Eridian who went by Mark in English, was currently dragging me down the street. Xey were going to get their first tattoo, and xey insisted that I be there as well to “experience Eridian culture.” Privately, I thought that Mark was just scared and wanted me there, but I didn’t voice that thought.
Inside the shop - which was lit up like more and more of Erid was since human-Eridian cultural exchange had intensified- Eridian artists worked on their customers. I took out my portable keyboard.
“Hey, Rocky!” Mark sang. A small brown Eridian hummed a response from the shop.
“You know someone here?” I played.
“Yes, Mark is my friend from class.” Rocky said. “I'm assuming you go to school together?”
“We’re in Standard 101 together.” Like Earth, Erid had different languages. Eridians who needed to learn a foreign language and human exchange were often put in the same language classes to foster cultural exchange. Mark was from a different cluster and also studying abroad here - albeit on-planet - so xey’d been sitting next to me. Mark was the only other STEM student in class - an engineering major, so we’d hit it off.
“Are you an engineering major as well?”
“Yes!” Rocky beamed, waving their claws in excitement.
“That’s cool.”
As we talked, I found myself hitting it off with Rocky. Xey were intensely passionate about science like me, and the way xey were constantly in motion made it impossible not to stare at xem. Xey also had intensely steady hands and drew beautifully, and Mark was very happy with their results.
“All finished for today!” Rocky waved their claws around. “Come back next week for the next session,” Xey sang to Mark.
As we exited the shop, Rocky hollered at me. “Hope to see you again, too, Ryland!”
I’d heard my name in Eridian plenty of time by then, and it never got old, but something about the way Rocky said it made my heart flutter.
The moment we were on the street, Mark chittered at me.
“I’m hearing wedding bells!”
I punched xem in the arm.
-
One downside of Erid was the weather. I was currently sprinting down the street at full speed, dodging and weaving around Eridians and fellow human students alike as rain poured down around me. Finally, I spotted an open store, and dashed into it to take cover.
It was a flower shop.
Eridian plants were obviously vastly different from human ones, but they had plants all the time - neon green algae, vines that shook and made curious rattling noises, large flowers with colorful petals.
“Uh,” I did not need to buy flowers. Should I buy something now that I’m here? It seemed impolite otherwise.
The large blue Eridian behind the counter eyed me with amusement, or at least xeywould have if Eridians had eyes. As it was, xey rattled xeir carapace.
“Bad weather, huh.”
I fumbled to get my keyboard from my bag. “Yeah.”
“So I'm assuming you don't actually want to buy anything.”
“Yeah, haha… sorry about that.” I glanced outside. The rain was still pouring. Should I just make a run for my dorm?
As if sensing my hesitation, the Eridian chuckled. “You’re welcome to stay until the rain stops.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks,” I squinted at their name tag. “Adrian.”
“No worries.”
Xey settled into a comfortable silence as I let my eyes wander around the shop.
“Woah, is that a singing orchid?” I play. “Xey’re super cool. I was obsessed with those things as a kid.”
Adrian beams. “Yes! You know a lot about flowers. Do you garden?”
“Oh, no, I’m studying biology right now, so…”
“I’m a student too. Ecologist.”
“That’s cool. I know next to nothing about ecology…” Xey chattered on and on about nothing until I realized that the sun had been out for quite some time now.
Somehow, I didn't want to leave.
“I think I'll get going now.” I played.
“See you.” Adrian waved a claw in goodbye, and was it just me, or did xeylook a little sad to see me leave too?
-
I did end up tagging along with Mark for xeir next session. When I’d asked if I could come along, xey’d looked at me with a shit-eating grin, and said nothing.
I hated xem sometimes.
When we entered, Rocky greeted me with a flurry of jazz hands. We settled into comfortable conversation as xey worked on Mark.
“So, where on Earth are you from?”
“California,” I play. “I don’t know if you’ve heard of it.”
“I have!”
“Really?”
“It’s next to the sea, right? I’m from the coast too!” Xey inform me with enthusiasm. “What’s your favorite thing about California?
I tell xem about the fog, the ocean, the sunshine. My San Francisco childhood. Rocky, in turn, tells me about growing up on the warm coasts of Erid’s boiling oceans, playing in the steam and volcanic vents and collecting pretty obsidian shards with xeir siblings. Xeir engineering dreams - how xey like sculpting and making little gadgets. Xey’re certifiable genius, really, and I have no doubt that xey’ll graduate to be an amazing engineer. Rocky listens intently in return as I tell him about my favourite plants on Earth as well as on Erid, and what I’m studying about cells and molecular structures and the flora and fauna of Erid right now.
xeir voice is beautiful - not too deep, not too high, a rich array of notes they sing at me whilst yt tell me about funny childhood stories. I’ll never get sick of hearing Eridian, but Rocky speaking, specifically, I want injected into my brain forever. xey sing some notes an octave higher or lower than xey are in Standard thanks to xeir coastal accent, and it scratches my brain in a way I can't get enough of.
When we have to leave again, I’m almost disappointed. I want to keep hearing xeir voice.
“So, when’s the wedding?” Mark sings. I don't even punch xem. I’m too busy thinking about the way Rocky had sung my name when xey’d said goodbye to me, each note enunciated with care in xeir beautiful inflecting pitch.
-
I can't stop thinking about Rocky, for some reason. Not just xeir voice - but the way they moved, xeir witty remarks and humour, the graceful movements of xeir arms as they’d worked on Mark’s skin.
I wonder what it would feel like on mine. I briefly mourn the fact that we can't actually touch through the atmospheric bubble I have to wear outside of the human dorm.
Adrian won't get out of my head either. Rocky’s singing fluctuates, dipping between octaves as quickly as xey switch between words. Adrian speaks with a low voice, something like comforting whalesong and waves, steady and beautiful.
Somehow, after a long day in class, I found myself at the tattoo shop. I wanted to talk to Rocky.
When I walk in, xey stare at me.
“You know I can't do humans, right?”
“Yeah- uh- no.” I did not think this through. “I just- I don't have anything to do right now, so- are you free? When does your shift end?”
Rocky looks at me, unblinking.
“Ten minutes. Have you been to the city square? I’ll show you around.”
We walk around the plaza, the lights installed for humans twinkling as we do. With every step we take, the ground shifts slightly and plays a note. The whole square sounds like music.
“This is nice,” I say. “Erid is beautiful.”
“I'm glad you think so.”
“I've always been fascinated by Erid. Getting to come here is like- a dream come true.”
Rocky looks to the side. “I'd like to know about Earth, too.”
We walk, and I tell xem about all the different places and people that are on Earth. We end up on top of a small hill, and I gaze down at the small parts of the cluster that are lit up. Rocky focuses, and tries to hear it as well. I’m sure xey have a much better view than I do.
There's a group of musicians singing and playing traditional instruments beside us. The song isn't one I've heard before, but it's beautiful, and sounds a little like jazz.
Something strange overtakes me, and I take Rocky’s arm and start to dance. Xey startle for a second, but quickly join in. We twirl around and around and jump in sync, laughing as we do. It feels like flying. The plaza lights glow a dim gold as we do.
I’d always looked up at the stars in awe of xeir beauty as a kid. Now, staring at Rocky, I find that the reflection of golden light on xeir carapace is more beautiful than any constellation I've ever seen.
-
Rocky gives me xeir contact number after that, and we start talking. I visit the flower shop again to get Adrian's information too, and walks around the city with Rocky and visits to the botanical gardens with Adrian become part of my routine.
“So, yeah, xey’re awesome.” I told Eva over a video call. We had hit it off in high school when she was on exchange from the Netherlands - her no-nonsense attitude complimented my ‘fuck it, we ball’ approach to life beautifully. Everyone had thought we were dating, which was annoying because I’d never been interested in either girls or boys, and Eva had now been with her girlfriend Ilyukhina for six years. “Rocky’s studying to be an engineer - xey’re super smart, and Adrian’s gonna be an ecologist, xey know so much about plants. I can't wait to see Adrian tomorrow.”
Eva laughed over the call.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, nothing.” She waved. “I just can't believe I never thought of it.”
“...Thought of what?”
“That you like Eridians.”
“What?!” I exclaim. “It’s not like that! They're just good friends!”
“Right,” She said. “Good friends that you constantly talk about wanting to impress and spend more time with, and won't shut up about how good their voices sound.”
“...”
I was a science major, first and foremost. I analyzed the facts. When Rocky spoke to me, butterflies rolled in my stomach. I agonized over what to wear to our outings that would look nice to an Eridian. My heart felt like it was floating every time I said goodbye to Adrian after another walk through the gardens.
Oh, shit.
When was Eva ever wrong?
I knew a few of my fellow exchange students here that had had flings and were in relationships with Eridians, but I’d never expected to find love myself on an exchange semester. A new knowledge of Eridian, sure. Some fridge magnets to put up and cool photos to show my friends, yeah.
But two beautiful Eridians, stunning and the best things in my life?
I hadn't been prepared for that.
After saying goodbye to Eva, I lay in my bed like a lovesick teenage girl and stared at the ceiling, letting the butterflies in my stomach run wild.
-
I was going to do it, I decided.
I would tell Rocky and Adrian that I liked them both. I wasn't a coward. I had crossed the galaxy for an exchange semester, for god’s sake. I could be adventurous.
Starting with Rocky. I knew xey had a shift today, so I headed to the tattoo shop as it was about to end.
As I psyched myself up for my grand confession, a familiar figure standing outside the shop with Rocky by xeir side made me freeze.
“Adrian?” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
Rocky looked at me in shock. “You know Adrian?”
“Yes! How do you know xem?”
“Ryland,” Rocky sang carefully. “Adrian is my mate.”
Oh.
Oh.
Okay.
-
I shut myself in my dorm for the next few days, and cried in bed listening to Laufey. Call me an old man, I like 2020s jazz. I don't show up to class, and I ignore Mark, Rocky, and Adrian's messages when they show up on my communicator.
I got sick with a fever. Maybe it’s because I haven't been eating, or drinking water, or doing much of anything. Just staring at the wall like a loser, hung up on my friends that I’d only known for a few months and thought I'd had a chance with.
As I'm coughing and heaving over the side of my bed, there is a knock at the door.
I stagger to my feet and open it, and am greeted by-
“Rocky and Adrian?”
They chirped with concern.
“What are you guys doing here?”
“You weren't answering your messages!” Rocky huffed.
“We got worried,” Adrian added.
They pile into my - very messy, oh god - room, wearing the xenonite suits available on loan for Eridian visitors.
“How did you guys even get in here?” I’m barely lucid enough to play a coherent sentence on my piano.
“I asked Mark.” Rocky chirped.
“Ryland, you’re sick.” Adrian added. God, I couldn't bear to hear that comforting voice of xeirs right now.
I push myself on my feet. “Can you guys leave? I’m sorry I- I think I need to rest.” I manage to play.
“LEAVE?!” Rocky shouts. Adrian steps forward to placate xem.
“Calm down, beloved.” Xey turn to face me. “Ryland, you have been avoiding your friends and the both of us lately. We would like to know why. We're concerned about you.”
Concerned.
But they would never care the way I wanted them to care.
“It's nothing. Please just leave.” I mutter, opening the door.
Rocky tackles me to the ground gently.
“What aren't you telling us, Ryland? What have we done wrong?”
I can't say it, god.
I inhale.
“I like you guys, okay?! Like- like-like. I want to go out on dates with you guys, and hangout with you, and- and be part of you two. And I know you two don't feel the same way. And that's okay, and I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. Now please just leave.”
Rocky and Adrian stare at each other. This is it. My best friends are going to tell me they hate me and that I’m a weirdo and denounce me. My head spins.
And then, Rocky speaks.
“Ryland,” Xe enunciates slowly. “We thought you didn't return our affections.”
What?
Am I hearing that right just now?
“Ryland,” Adrian adds, “We have been taking you on dates for months. But you didn't make a move. We thought you had no interest in Eridians.”
Oh.
Oh.
Hope, bright and beautiful, fills my heart.
“So- so you guys like me back? And it's okay that I like you.”
“Yes, idiot!” Rocky chirps, and Adrian smacks the top of xeir carapace.
“What beloved means is that we do love you. We think you are beautiful, smart, and kind. We would like to court you, Ryland Grace.”
I can't believe what I’m hearing. I must have died from my fever and gone to heaven. I feel like I’m choking.
“I- I love you guys too. And I want to court you. You guys are gorgeous and intelligent and amazing, and the best people I've ever met.”
“Love Ryland! Ryland is the best!” Rocky sings, and oh, I have died and gone to heaven.
“Good. Ryland will be with Rocky and Adrian. Three of us now.” Adrian pushes me to the bed. “Now, Ryland needs rest.”
Yeah, my head is spinning.
“Okay,” I mumble in English, already falling asleep. I feel like I'm dreaming already, to be honest - Rocky is tucking me in, and two balls of warmth surround me as I drift off to dreamland.
“Ryland sleep. Rocky and Adrian watch.”
I smile as I close my eyes. I hadn't expected to find love on an exchange semester. But hey, I wasn't complaining.
Erid really was amazing.