Devoted

“The imaging we got back from this planet is different. I want to do something… different. They call themselves humans, they look just like us but pick their partner differently. Have you been given a partner yet?” Ive span her chair towards me over eagerly. Nearly throwing herself off of it.

“You are the only being I have seen for basically my entire life and we are forever away from home so no, no they have not shipped me my partner. What is your plan anyway?” Ive had picked up tendencies such as sarcasm from the many planets we had visited. I had too such as rolling my eyes.

“Well humans choose their partner opposed to it being chosen for them. A painstaking process but it seems more meaningful than the liquid our planet seems to be chugging to get along.” Maybe visiting so many planets had messed with my brain or maybe it was the conquering said planets. Either way younger me would have never let this thought fester and grow into a belief. I have definitely been in space too long.

“You mean this? You know it has a lot of nicknames , lust, adoration, devotion is the most common.” Ive shook a flask of bright pink liquid. An illegal substance unless you had been given a partner on our planet, how had she gotten it? Why had she gotten it?

“Why do you have that?” She shrugged. I still wanted to now why she had it but for right now I will just roll my eyes. I am glad she had it though, it will probably help us. 

“I am glad you have that regardless. Look at these four beings. These two are trying to be each others partner but both are very confused. The man thinks the woman just wants to be friends while the woman thinks the man would like to partner with her friend.” I described everything the best I could but it still slightly confused me. Her signature over excited grin spread across her face.

“Amias are you playing matchmaker?! I am so excited! Okay so the boy is afraid to ruin the perceived friendship he has with this girl and the girl does not want to get in the way of her friend if it were to work out with this boy but, if they were just to admit their feelings it would be perfect! Oh dear the drama!” Ever since she sent drones to steal entertainment from every other planet in the universe she’s learned roughly eighteen languages and twenty different personalities. It has been a real rollercoaster.

“I should block your stolen screen privileges.” I did not know how to, she knew that. “Yeah whatever what is the plan, I am ready.”

“I was thinking we would just go tell them.” What does she mean plan, I thought we would just clear up the confusion. Ive began laughing so hard it turned into a cough.

“I see you have not been given a partner either and know nothing of this matter. Amias you cannot just tell them. It looks like we will be using some Devotion after all. This will be fun, let us go!” Ive enjoyed using the small space craft to visit planets and I hated it. I always ended up losing the contents of my stomach. Especially when Ive flew. “Want me to hold your hair back?” Another trait she picked up from other planets was mocking. My hair was cut in a buzz, and I was puking in the bushes after the exciting flight.

“I am driving home and for forever!” She flies like we are being shot at.

“Yeah whatever. Ready to matchmake.” She began searching for the the two beings with the drone.

“Matchmake? You have said that twice now.” Ive had so many phrases that I did not understand.

“Uuugh! Amias I beg you watch the stolen screen sometime! We got lucky. Just around the corner, They are together.” Turning the corner was overwhelming. A park across the way was crowded with beings holding hands, running and animals. Ahead of Me and Ive were three different smelling shoppes. One would have normally made my mouth water but after Ive’s driving it made me want to puke. A warm peppery smell that tickled the back of my throat. The second a distinct paint smell I remember from Ives creative phase. The whole space ship is still wall to wall covered in her paintings. The third was sweet and light, kind of fruity. Reminded me of Ive.

“Amias pizza, paints and ice cream! Here is the plan we will sneak them a drop of Devotion and come back.” Her plan did not seem a whole lot different then mine and I do not even think that is how Devotion works. They sat eating in front of the pizza shop.

“Now go distract so I can matchmake. Go! Go!” She shoved me towards them chuckling to herself this was entertaining to her. She snuck behind them silently.

“Hi fellow beings!” Oh no they are making faces that was weird. Ive hurry up!

“Hi, dude? What’s up?” The boy answered tentatively.

“Are you having a good night is your pizza good?” You should ask their names or said anything else. How do you distracts humans?

“Umm yeah… Do you work here? Yeah it’s great. What’s going on?” The boy responded again. They were already questioning me?! Ive was watching silently laughing at me. Hurry up! 

“Yes I do work here...” Why did I lie? I awkwardly stood there as Ive quickly dropped in the Devotion into their drinks.

“Are you okay?” The girl broke my awkward silence.

“I am glad you liked the pizza. Goodnight.” Bowing I ran around the corner to Ive. “Did you just bow?” Ive again laughed so hard she coughed.

“Shut up. Just… Shut up. Let us get ice cream. We can them from afar.” We watched the two beings while eating cookies and creme ice cream in the park and as many cherries as Ive could fit on both of our cones. Both beings took drinks of Devotion. Looking at each other, a few words from far away could not be made out. Their face softened and their hands met. I guess Devotion works. I wonder what they said.

“Boom Matchmade! Yeah that is much better than conquering.” She cheerfully tossed five to six cherries in her mouth.

“How exactly does Devotion work, anyway? Have you ever drank it? I wonder what they said?” I knew of it but not much of how it worked. What do you say when your feelings are exposed.

“Whatever it was, they have been wanting to say it for a long time. Devotion simply gives someone the courage to devote your entire life to someone. I did once but then I chose to devote my entire life to someone and never have again.” Grabbing a cherry from my cone and tossing it into her mouth. A grin only Ive could muster spread across her gorgeous face. I guess she had become my entire life.

“You mean me?” Her hand glided to mine. I guess we had become devoted.