Rising Shards

Kalei was in the middle of a shower, so I took it upon myself to try and get to know my new roommate a little more.

“Marmalade, important question.” I asked. “Do you like Raina Starlight?”

“The…actor?” Marmalade asked, setting her homework aside easily as though she were waiting for an excuse to do so.

“Actor, writer, multimedia genius, yes.” I said. Raina Starlight was my favorite, so Marmalade’s answer was very important to me. 

“I…have seen her in some stuff? I guess?” Marmalade said. ”I feel like I saw her in something recently...” She thought for a moment. ”Oh, right, your username on Dynne.”

“Have you seen Tower of Hate and Love?” I asked.

“That’s a bit too mainstream for me.”

“Don’t let Kalei hear you say that,” I said.

“Kalei’s into Tower of Hate and Love?” Marmalade asked. I didn’t care for the sour notes in her tone.

“Uh huh, we all are,” I said. 

“I didn’t think she’d like a basic show…”

“I’ll ignore that for now.”

I grabbed one of my Raina books from my shelves and paged through, trying to find a good section that would show off Raina Starlight’s writing mastery. It was tough to pick just one, but I settled on an easy favorite about Raina talking about self-discovery, a topic I knew Marmalade would appreciate.

“Here, just read this.” I said.

I didn’t much care for the sour expression she had as she grabbed the book. She looked like I handed her homework. I eagerly nodded as she read, knowing Raina Starlight’s prose would win the day.

“That’s a bit…wordy.” Marmalade said.

I squinted.

“Marms, if you value your well-being, I would stop there.” Kalei said. I wasn’t sure when she stepped out of the bathroom, I was probably too entranced by those Raina passages. Should I have picked a different one?

“Has Zeta made you read these books?” Marmalade asked.

“No.” Kalei said.

“Not for a lack of trying,” I said.

“I just think her books are kind of lame,” Kalei said, stabbing a metaphorical dagger into my heart.

“I…don’t feel so good.” I said. I didn’t much care for the sour taste I could imagine in my mouth from the cruel words my roommates were throwing at Raina Starlight.

“Now look what you did.” Kalei said.

“What I did?” Marmalade asked. “I didn’t call her favorite books lame.”

“Kind of lame. Big difference.” Kalei said. “Besides, I’m fairly certain Zates knows my feelings on Raina books. I’ve told her that I won’t read them.”

“We’re working on that,” I said.

“Arlit’s sick, though.” Kalei said.

“That’s the truest thing you’ve said this whole conversation.” I said.

“Zeta…you kind of get really hyped up about things, huh?” Marmalade asked.

“Kind of?” Kalei said.

“Raina Starlight books were so big in me finding myself.” I said, sighing wistfully.

“The Blocktritus books and comics were my ‘find myself’ literature.” Marmalade said.

“Blocktritus?” I asked.

“I’m surprised you haven’t heard of them,” Marmalade said. “It’s so trans coded. Like every trans girl I know likes Blocktritus.”

“Hm,” I said. 

“How about I watch one Raina heavy episode of Tower of Hate and Love, if you watch Blocktritus: The Blight’s Task. Seventy minutes of trans coded robot action.”

“That sounded cooler in your head, didn’t it?” Kalei asked.

“Deal.” I said.

“That sounds fair to me.” Kalei said. “I will be the mediator and ensure both are watched, mainly because I don’t have anything better to do.”