Looking for Hope - Rain Qatari & Vannie Reynolds
Title: Looking for Hope
Genre: Sci-fi
Author: NefertitiFenison
Character Name: Rain Qatari & Vannie Reynolds
Nominated by: mikrokosmostae
About the story:
After major coastal cities sank to the bottom of the ocean at the end of the 21st century, the richest Earth inhabitants escaped the planet to establish new colonies in a solar system 36 light years away from the Milky Way galaxy. Centuries later, one of the colonies founded a prestigious university for the study of alien biology. Moira, a girl with pervasive developmental disorder, was encouraged by her loving cousin to apply for a scholarship set up by a professor who studied an almost extinct species. Motivated to prove her worth, Moira accepted the challenge. However, saving an endangered species proved to not be as easy as just enrolling in a few college-level classes.
Moira met new friends who share the same goals with her, and they studied abroad with their professors to the habitat of the endangered species, but an adventure beyond their wildest dreams awaited as they came face to face with a giant mining company that threatened to destroy the species' home even further.
Hello. We have two guest with us today. What should I call you? Do you prefer a nickname?
R (speaking through computerized voice): Rain is fine. That's the name I am known by. I had another name a long time ago but it no longer suits me. This one does.
V: I go by Vannie. By the way, Rain here communicates through a variety of methods, so don't be surprised if they keep on changing how they respond to your questions. It is normal for them.
Thank you for informing me. Welcome and thanks for agreeing to talk to us today.
R (continues talking through the computer): Of course. It is good to be here.
V: Sure. Always happy to meet someone new.
Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee? Wine? Whiskey?
R (finger spelling) : T-E-A
Vannie (interpreting): My partner said they'd love tea. I would prefer water, thanks. None of us consume alcohol. It's not just our being underage, it is also for health-related reasons.
Healthy is good. Tell me a little about yourself?
R (switching fully to sign language): I am both a girl and a boy. No, it is different from intersex. It just means I identify as having two genders simultaneously regardless of what is between my legs.
V: Rain said they are bi-gender and it is a state of mind rather than something physical.
R (continues signing): I am a poet and a dancer. I have performed in a few events on campus.
V: They dance and write poems as well as appearing in many activities hosted by our university. Rain, is that all or is there more?
R (through the computer): That's all about me
V: Okay, my turn. I am the daughter of two librarians so I grew up in a library, naturally. I like reading and writing. Some really immature students from my high school used to mock me for my love of books but jokes on them, if I weren't a good reader and writer I won't be here in the best university in the entire solar system.
Where do you live?
R (finger spelling): D-O-R-M
V: Rain lives in the dormitory with the rest of us. They share a gender-neutral room with Nardho and Tony. Meanwhile, I occupy the room adjacent to it with my roommates Nardhia and Moira.
As for where we lived before university, I used to live on another planet called White Banyan. Winter there can be very long and harsh but it is beautiful too. Winter is the perfect time to cuddle up by the fireplace and drink hot chocolate.
R (turns on the computer again): I would hate to be forced to endure extremely long winter. I have always lived on this planet, Red Sycamore, and it is lovely here. There is winter, yes, but it is mild and the snow does not accumulate. This means no building snowman but hey, that is an acceptable trade off.
Do you have any jobs or hobbies?
R (signing): I like moving my body and I like expressing my thoughts.
V: Ah, they said they enjoy dancing and writing poems.
R (smiles at Vannie): D-A-N-C-E?
V: (takes Rain's hands and twirl around)
V: As for me, I have mentioned I like reading and writing but above all I enjoy helping others. Moira comes to me for tutoring from time to time, Nardho too. It is good to be a tutor. I get to edit my friends' essays.
What are some of your likes and dislikes?
R (pauses for a few seconds and then scribbles on their white board): I like people who respect my pronoun and I dislike being called a lady, a gentleman, or something else that only recognizes a single gender. I am simply a human who happens to be on both ends of the binary system.
V: That's right, please do not automatically assume someone's gender just based on their appearance. That's my pet peeve too.
R (erases the message on the board and scribbles again): Beyond stuff related to my identity, I like summer and the ocean. I dislike snowfall and cold weather.
V: I like autumn breeze and crunchy leaves. I dislike summer, sorry Rain, but I do adore the ocean.
R (through computer): Darling, why are you apologizing for hating summer? You are weird but I love you for being weird.
You two are so cute. Changing subjects What is your greatest fear?
R (biting their lips): M-I-S... U-N (looks at Vannie in the eyes)
V: Being misunderstood?
R: -nods slowly-
V: They fear being misunderstood. That makes sense. I can only imagine what it feels to be judged for the way you are, Rain, but you know I'll never judge you, right? -kisses their forehead affectionately-
R: -thumbs up-
V: As for me, I fear not being able to make the world a more accepting place for everyone. That's why I admire people like our friend Moira who bravely speaks up whenever she sees injustice.
Me too. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
R (pulls out their phone, shows picture of their family)
V: You wish you came out to your family sooner than later?
R: -nods enthusiastically-
V: Well, better late than never. As for me, I know people might think I wish I don't have to be on a wheelchair, but that's not true. My wheelchair liberates me and allows me to go places. Sure, some places are not wheelchair friendly, but without my wheelchair I would have even more limited mobility. So, I wouldn't change that about me. Instead, I wish my parents could have paid more attention to me when I was a child. Growing up, I was quiet and well-behaved but truth be told I was lonely.
Are you happy we know your story?
R (signing): I would be honored if my story makes people question their assumption about genders.
V: They said they're happy if after hearing their story some people out there re-assess inaccurate stereotypes about gender roles.
As for me, I am happy if my story and Rain's serve as a reminder that people with disabilities deserve to be heard too. Just because I am on a wheelchair does not mean I am helpless and pathetic and just because my partner is mute does not mean they don't have anything amazing to tell the world.
It's a story worth telling indeed. Do you have siblings?
R: -shows picture of a boy with colorless eyes and prosthetic legs-
V: That's their cousin Hamza Alhurriya. He is like a brother to them. Hamza will transfer to Blue Orchid once he completed his Associate's degree in his community college.
As for me, I have a step-brother. His name is Alex but we're not close.
Do you have a pet?
V: I wish the dormitory would let us have a bunny or a hamster.
R: G-U-I-N-E-A
V: Yeah, a guinea pig would be cool too!
Do you have a secret?
V: I really want to have a tattoo like Nardho but I am a chicken.
R: -shows a picture of a girl with nose piercing-
V: You want nose piercing?! Okay, Rain, we can shop around. Wow. You never told me. Good thing dlcroisette asked.
Happy to help! Do you have an archnemesis?
R: M-I-L-T-O-N
V: Mr. Milton? Yeah, everyone hates that mining company owner. For Rain, though, it is personal. That man is homophobic and we all stand against homophobia. We also stand against anyone who tries to hurt innocent animals.
Absolutely! If you could cure one disease, which would it be?
R: C-O-P-D
V: COPD, eh? Yeah, of course. One of our friends suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It affects his lungs. I would like to cure him as well.
That is a horrible disease. Changing course, is there anything you want to say to your fans?
R (through computer): Your unconditional acceptance of the relationship I have with Vannie, and of my chosen name, means everything to me. Thank you for never calling me by my birth name.
V: I just want to say I am grateful that someone out there cares enough to follow our adventures.
You have my unconditional acceptance for sure. Can we look forward to reading more of your story?
R: -fist bumping the interviewer and gestures to a book-
V: Aww, they said they promise to reveal more about themself if they find a good writer. I share their sentiment. I wouldn't mind more of my story being written but the writer has to be GREAT. I am a stickler for proper grammar, so this writer better hire the best editor while he or she is at it.
I'm sure it's on her to do list. That's all our time. Thank you for sharing with us today.
R: B-L-U-E
Vannie: Ah, they said don't hesitate to visit us at the Blue Orchid University of Xenobiology if you ever travel to the Indigo Inferno solar system.
Yeah, Rain, it would be cool to have dlcroisette meet everyone else! You'd be welcomed with open arms, dlcroisette. The university is a safe place for people from different cultures, racial backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations.
I'll put it on my travel list!
To read Rain and Vannie's story, click on the link in the comment here. ---->
Now it's your turn to ask Rain & Vannie.
Add your questions as an inline comment here. Don't forget to tage NefertitiFension so they can get the questions to them. ----->
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro