Isamu yawned as he came out of his room to make breakfast. He was a little surprised to see Minoru still up - or at least crashing on the couch instead of crashing in his own bed. He sat up immediately, and that made Isamu pause.
“Were you waiting for me to awaken?” He asked, If so, toaster pastries could likely wait a few more minutes.
“Yeah... I uh... need your opinion on something.” Minoru replied sheepishly. He scratched his head, his telltale sign of nervousness.
“Yes?”
“...How do I tell Mama and Papa?”
Isamu cocked an eyebrow. “Forgive me, but I am uncertain as to the context of the question. How do you tell Mama and Papa... what, exactly?”
“About Ziggy.” He answered.
“I believe we both broke the ice quite successfully over dinner the night before your qualifying round.” Isamu replied, a little unsure of why it needed repeating but very pleased with himself all at the same time. “I have never seen Papa make such a hilarious expression... it really was...”
“No, no... not that I’m DATING him. I know they know THAT. But you know... what he is...”
“As in, an alien?”
Minoru nodded. “I mean, how do you tell your parents you’re coming out of the space closet?”
Isamu sat down next to his brother, pondering the question thoughtfully. Ever since humans first looked upon the stars, they likely wondered what, if anything, was out there. When the observable universe finally stretched beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the prospect of discovering that we were not alone inspired so many different stories. Isamu had to admit, he preferred the Star Trek version. Upon proving ourselves capable of faster than light travel, a logical and intelligent species finally comes in peace. How ironic, really, that actual First Contact should be so anticlimactic.
“Man dreams for centuries to learn that he’s not alone in the universe. And First Contact is literally bringing your girlfriend over for dinner...” Isamu couldn’t help but chuckle a little. Who knew?
“I’m serious, bro. How do I tell them? What if they freak out?”
“By the time we left, they seemed entirely nonchalant about the use of masculine pronouns but feminine titles. They must at least have deduced that Ziggy is gender non-conforming.”
“That’s different, though. THAT’S normal!”
“Minoru...” Isamu pulled his brother closer, holding eye contact as he repeated, “Minoru, our parents love us both unconditionally. Believe me, you have given them ample opportunities to change their minds before you ever started dating someone of a different species.”
Minoru couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“The only thing Mama and Papa want is for us to live our lives with honor and purpose. How we do that, how we succeed and find happiness, that is up to us.” He insisted. “And honestly... you should not be feeling any pressure one way or the other to mention it. If you are not ready or if Ziggy is not ready, then that is enough. And I believe Mama and Papa would both respect that.”
“You do?”
“Most certainly.” He nodded. Isamu had the benefit of experience when it came to bringing home girls (and even a boy on the rare occasion). Not once did their parents ever make one of his dates feel unwelcome. “I am also certain they will treat Ziggy with the same kindness and respect that you do.”
Minoru smiled. “Thanks, bro.”
Isamu returned the smile. “Do not let it trouble you any more. Especially when you should be getting some much-needed sleep. You look completely exhausted.”
“Yeah, yeah... I know...” he yawned. Another hug, and he was finally shuffling off to bed.
When his door closed, Isamu made his way back to the kitchen to prepare some toaster pastries. He couldn’t help but wonder how many instances of First Contact had already happened this way, and how many polite parents simply didn’t ask any questions.
Image Prompt: First Contact
“Were you waiting for me to awaken?” He asked, If so, toaster pastries could likely wait a few more minutes.
“Yeah... I uh... need your opinion on something.” Minoru replied sheepishly. He scratched his head, his telltale sign of nervousness.
“Yes?”
“...How do I tell Mama and Papa?”
Isamu cocked an eyebrow. “Forgive me, but I am uncertain as to the context of the question. How do you tell Mama and Papa... what, exactly?”
“About Ziggy.” He answered.
“I believe we both broke the ice quite successfully over dinner the night before your qualifying round.” Isamu replied, a little unsure of why it needed repeating but very pleased with himself all at the same time. “I have never seen Papa make such a hilarious expression... it really was...”
“No, no... not that I’m DATING him. I know they know THAT. But you know... what he is...”
“As in, an alien?”
Minoru nodded. “I mean, how do you tell your parents you’re coming out of the space closet?”
Isamu sat down next to his brother, pondering the question thoughtfully. Ever since humans first looked upon the stars, they likely wondered what, if anything, was out there. When the observable universe finally stretched beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the prospect of discovering that we were not alone inspired so many different stories. Isamu had to admit, he preferred the Star Trek version. Upon proving ourselves capable of faster than light travel, a logical and intelligent species finally comes in peace. How ironic, really, that actual First Contact should be so anticlimactic.
“Man dreams for centuries to learn that he’s not alone in the universe. And First Contact is literally bringing your girlfriend over for dinner...” Isamu couldn’t help but chuckle a little. Who knew?
“I’m serious, bro. How do I tell them? What if they freak out?”
“By the time we left, they seemed entirely nonchalant about the use of masculine pronouns but feminine titles. They must at least have deduced that Ziggy is gender non-conforming.”
“That’s different, though. THAT’S normal!”
“Minoru...” Isamu pulled his brother closer, holding eye contact as he repeated, “Minoru, our parents love us both unconditionally. Believe me, you have given them ample opportunities to change their minds before you ever started dating someone of a different species.”
Minoru couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“The only thing Mama and Papa want is for us to live our lives with honor and purpose. How we do that, how we succeed and find happiness, that is up to us.” He insisted. “And honestly... you should not be feeling any pressure one way or the other to mention it. If you are not ready or if Ziggy is not ready, then that is enough. And I believe Mama and Papa would both respect that.”
“You do?”
“Most certainly.” He nodded. Isamu had the benefit of experience when it came to bringing home girls (and even a boy on the rare occasion). Not once did their parents ever make one of his dates feel unwelcome. “I am also certain they will treat Ziggy with the same kindness and respect that you do.”
Minoru smiled. “Thanks, bro.”
Isamu returned the smile. “Do not let it trouble you any more. Especially when you should be getting some much-needed sleep. You look completely exhausted.”
“Yeah, yeah... I know...” he yawned. Another hug, and he was finally shuffling off to bed.
When his door closed, Isamu made his way back to the kitchen to prepare some toaster pastries. He couldn’t help but wonder how many instances of First Contact had already happened this way, and how many polite parents simply didn’t ask any questions.