Love in the Time of Assholes, a tragic romance starring Belfrat 4
Editor’s Note: Writing about individuals of Druont can be difficult because the population is hermaphroditic and are capable of asexual reproduction, meaning they cannot be classified as strictly male or female. Because most other beings of the known universe can be classified as either male or female, it is easy for the writers of this Volume to utilize the typical pronouns assigned those sexes. However, Druintes do not distinguish between male and female despite superficial physical characteristics that beings from other planets would characterize as male or female. Because the plural pronouns generally used to distinguish a person as distinct from male or female sounded clunky, the following story will use the following pronouns for the beings of Druont: e and eris, and variations thereof, for all involved, except Eakran who masquerades as male on the planet Earth.
When Belfrat was born, e was given the name Belfrat 4, though e never gave eris iteration number when introducing eriself. Belfrat soundly rejected the idea that an iteration is an exact copy of their predecessor as even the most intelligent Druintes believe because of their general disinterest in cognitive sciences that could prove the theory false. Belfrat knows that e is not the same Druinte that eris parent, grandparent, and great grandparent were even though they believed themselves to be the same Druinte as Belfrat 1. And Belfrat decided that any children e gave birth to would know individuality in their lives and make decisions for their own happiness. Belfrat mostly followed in the footsteps of eris previous iterations; e became a world renowned scientist and pioneered many breakthroughs in subatomic research that would eventually lead to advancements in matter manipulation technology. Despite eris brilliance and pedigree, though, Belfrat faced considerable scrutiny and difficulties in eris life because of eris decision to marry and start a family. The vast majority of Drunites believe that marriage and intimate connection is a backward custom that their less intelligent ancestors begrudgingly enacted. Belfrat married Falstraq when the two were in their early 100s and they had 20 children together. Belfrat carried about half of the couple’s children while Falstraq did is best to further eris career at the Druinte Hall of Orphans where e was implementing protocols on behalf of Eakran who had developed what most closely resembles psychological therapies when he was still on the planet Druont. Falstraq carried the other 10 children when Belfrat founded the Hall for Druinte Cognitive Disorders with the help of Eakran. The organization was understaffed, but it was there that Belfrat would make eris greatest invention, the dark matter manipulator. Before eris untimely death, that essentially wiped out all of eris work on the planet Druont, Belfrat and Falstraq had discussed retreating to the coast away from mainstream Druinte culture that ridiculed their love and their family. Their children were still very young and Belfrat hoped to raise them away from unwarranted bigotry that would see them in professional positions that were not taken seriously simply because they had parents that loved them and raised them.
“It is a nice fantasy,” Falstraq said angrily as the two enjoyed the midday eclipse on the balcony of their home. The midday eclipse slightly darkened the main land mass of the planet daily as though some god had dimmed the lights. It was a beautiful time of day and many Druintes enjoyed a considerable break from work to sit outside and enjoy the beauty of the skyline that was usually too harsh to look at directly.
“We can talk about it,” Falstraq said, “but are we going to do it? We are scientists Belfrat, we are Druinte. We have responsibilities to our people that we will not ignore, we cannot. We are our jobs and we perform them well.”
Belfrat hugged Falstraq close and the two kissed, an extremely obscene gesture on Druont.
“We can do what we will.” Belfrat smiled, but it was shaky. “We can do everything together. There are Druintes like us on the coast, we can have responsibilities to them.”
“I won’t leave the orphans. I can help them avoid the errors of the greater population. I can teach them to love. What greater responsibility is there? What better way to provide a future for our children that will be free of the ridicule we endure daily?” Falstraq was noticeably angry and pulled away from Belfrat. E stood looking at the sky, back to Belfrat. “I want peace with you, but it is not an option right now. We have to stay our course here. You are making excellent advancements in your research and it will do wonders for the planet. And when it does, no one will be able to deny you anything.”
Belfrat loved Falstraq so much that e relented. It was a loving, yet fatal gesture.
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