Starfish

Twenty-Eight

Ardus rubbed his arm, the muscle sore where his physician had administered a hormone stabilizer. Aside from some stiffness in his neck on the side where he had taken the injection, the discomfort had lessened enough that he could focus and get some rest. Between Athe popping in and out with celebration plans and Nia paying him a visit to ask him a battery of questions along with requesting blood and serum samples, he was getting less done than he would have liked. 

I can catch up on Meem's reports after the weekend break, and the samples we took are currently in cold storage. He was finally able to get a good night's sleep and felt better now that he wasn't waking every hour burning up or freezing to his bones. His appetite for food – as well as other things – was still considerable, but not as demanding as they had been and he could focus even while Nina was in the room. It was a struggle, especially when her sweet, floral scent reached his nose from across the room and consumed his attention, but it was doable.

At his apartment, while Athe set up the kitchen with trays of little tidbits and counted out cups, napkins and serving dishes, Ardus dressed in clothes he hadn't worn in years – dark green gathered trousers with iridescent embroidery around the ankles and waistband, and an open-front vest that best showed off his Collar of Aku as it flickered rich purples and blues around his throat. I wonder if Nina will like this. Would his pores make a difference, or would she see them as more of an accessory to something she already liked? He returned to the kitchen as Boda arrived with a container of ice and a selection of fresh fruit, but as Ardus offered to cut the fruit for cocktails Athe shooed him away and pushed a light drink into his hand. 

"I'll worry about that, your guests will be here any minute. Just let people in and look welcoming."

Dreen trickled in, starting with Meem and Nia, Tura and a handful of laboratory technicians who had no doubt shown up on Nia's request. Meem looked beyond resplendent in lime and silver, her barbels sporting more rings than Ardus had ever seen on her. Nia made a fuss about his colors, taking him by the shoulders. "Look at you! I haven't seen you dressed like this in years, you look wonderful!"

"Er, thank you." He had to set his drink down to receive a gift from Meem. "What is this?" He held a vial up to the light, and it glittered yellow and green. "It looks familiar."

"It's for your collection – it's a resin cast of green and yellow brineweed. I had some bits left over from your trip up north, and I recently started casting things as a hobby. See?" Meem turned her head and showed him a teardrop-shaped pendant containing a tiny shell and a preserved flower dangling from her ear.

Doctors O'Connell and Yang made their appearance, shepherded in among the Dreen and keeping to the walls until Athe urged them to join the other guests in the anteroom, placing them on the couch facing the enormous glass wall facing the sea. Ardus was secretly pleased when O'Connell avoided his gaze, keeping his attention on his drink. Still, he made sure to be pleasant to them both. At some point Athe pressed a second glass into his hand, and by then Ardus was feeling much more comfortable with the number of people in his apartment.Timam would be so pleased with this, humans and Dreen socializing like friends. 

He played the gracious – if a little shy – host, joining Athe in mixing drinks and telling stories. He urged Meem to pick a place to display her gift, agreeing that setting it near a window would show off its contents to the best advantage. An hour passed, and Ardus returned to the kitchen for another snack. Athe stood before the sink, rinsing a glass before refilling it with white foam algae liquor, sailorfruit juice, and a wedge of red tide-pool melon. "Thank you for this, Athe. I never would have set up something like this for myself."

Athe waved him off. "Mother would have done the same."

"Yes, she would have. After she railed at me for taking so long."