Flipping, the novel that originated the setting for this story, is available for purchase at multiple stores as both a traditional book and an ebook. Here is a copy of text version of Fiery Chat:
Janelle had been watching her sister’s feed for months. They’d never aligned politically, but could often meet in the middle. They shared some of the same values. Janelle wasn’t surprised Lu (short for Lucritia) had voted for Allen, but seeing her continued support of him even after he’d entered office made Janelle wonder how far they’d drifted since their father’s memorial. What would he think of this situation?
Janelle was actively avoiding interactions with Lu, worried at how such an interaction would go. Lu quickly became Janelle’s litmus test for how much conservatives continued to support Allen. The posts that Janelle found from Lu during her lurking were usually about money. Lu seemed to feel that Allen could improve the economy. Lu worked for a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in her home district of Coventry. Coventry was the only part of the station that made the type of pharmaceuticals that were unnecessary for people who wore meshes. Janelle knew she had a higher income than her sister, and so it followed that the economy would be important. If Lu was laid off Janelle suspected Lu’s talents could be employed at another company, though probably not within Coventry.
Janelle’s son, no, her … child was in danger with Allen as district manager. She chided herself at yet again misgendering Arx. Allen had set Coventry to disallow entry to anyone flipped to non-binary unless the person could prove they had been intersex at birth. Arx had not been deemed intersex at birth. Arx identified as non-binary and the medical systems had never suggested otherwise, at least to Janelle and her co-parent. Fortunately, not one post of Lu’s seemed to be about gender or even about meshes. Perhaps Janelle could work things out with her sister before she inevitably became disillusioned with Allen.
Arx lived in Coventry. If ze even stepped out of the district Arx would be stuck outside it until this madness came to an end, assuming it would come to an end. The station would use an air barrier to prevent zir from entering on foot and sedans would not be allowed to route to or even through the district. While Janelle could certainly house Arx, she was sure ze wouldn’t be happy living with zir mother.
Since early in Lu and Janelle’s childhood they made annual trips to Chantico, the planet their station circled, for VolCon. It was a scientific conference focused on volcanic and tectonic topics that drew visitors from throughout the galaxy. As teens they had entered research contests and one year Janelle won first prize in the youth division. As Janelle traveled in the shuttle to the planet she kept playing through her mind the conversations she might have if she bumped into Lu. Did Lu even know Arx was non-binary? Janelle struggled to remember when they would have seen each other last. If only the gorgeous view of the eruptions on the planet’s surface could distract her like it had in prior trips.
Just like their father had brought them, so too did they bring their kids to VolCon. Arx’s interest in VolCon waned a few years earlier as ze started attending Lava Love, which was a festival also held on Chantico and followed principles passed down from an ancient Earth festival called Burning Man. Lu’s kids were both at VolCon the prior year. Janelle hadn’t even invited Arx this year since it would mean leaving Coventry. She wasn’t even sure about attending this year, worried that Arx would leave Coventry and need help once stuck outside of zir district. Arx, of course, was authorized to enter Janelle’s apartment, but would surely need help getting stuff from zir home.
***
At lunch on the first day of the conference Janelle saw her sister. The skin, a shade lighter than her own, and the straightened hair Janelle had recently seen in a post. Even the practical black dress Lu wore was typical of her wardrobe. Lu was shorter than the people around her, perhaps short enough that the crowd would block their view. Janelle was sitting with some of her ‘con friends’ discussing the panels they had attended that morning. Janelle tried to act as if she didn’t see Lu, which she was failing miserably at since she kept turning her head to track her sister.
Jacob, in his ridiculous green suit, who must have followed her gaze, shouted, “Lu, over here.”
Now the whole table was looking at her sister, who was approaching with a tray of food. Jacob, who had been sitting beside Janelle slid over offering his seat.
Lu placed her tray down and hugged her sister. Janelle flailed in confusion awkwardly hugging back, adjusting her con lanyard as Lu withdrew. As Lu sat down she patted Jacob’s green clad back and said, “thank you.”
Once the greetings were finished Lu asked the group, “found any good food this year?” Lu’s tray had a sausage sandwich and onion rings. Once all of their friends had given reviews of their meals Lu asked Janelle, “and your ramen?”
After a considerate pause Janelle replied, “not spicy enough, cooks just assume a customer who doesn’t want animal products doesn’t want flavor either.”
Lu nodded knowingly and said, “My kids and husband decided to skip this year. Want to grab dinner tonight at that restaurant Dad loved?”
***
Janelle arrived at The Village Kitchen first and grabbed a table for them both. She ordered a green tea hoping it might calm her nerves. Janelle wasn’t fond of The Village Kitchen. The entrance had what appeared to be a taxidermied raccoon with finger guns, a bandana, and a cowboy hat. While Janelle knew it was unlikely it was made from an actual raccoon, she still found it distasteful. The original raccoon population was wiped out as Earth became uninhabitable to most mammals. Some raccoons had been brought offworld, but they were pretty rare. Most of the entrees were made of meat, cheese, or both. The most disgusting thing from the menu, which their father had regularly devoured in front of her, was meatloaf. Fortunately, Lu was more likely to order a burger and a beer.
When Lu arrived she looked at the menu briefly saying, “I love how this place never changes. I even recognize some of the staff.”
The waiter came over in a red plaid shirt, black apron, and black pants. The profile showed his pronouns and that his name was Owen. Owen had short dirty blonde hair parted to the left. He said, “What can I get you ladies?”
“I’ll have a Porter, a Village Burger with onion rings, and please put the pickles on the side.”
Janelle said, “a veggie wrap and potato salad for me please.”
“Got it,” he said, then quickly walked away.
“Suppose you’ve been avoiding me?”
Janelle let out a nervous laugh. “Was I so obvious?”
“Like a tourist on Chantico.”
“Right … well, I guess I’m worried how much of Allen’s views … you support.”
“Ah,” Lu said thoughtfully. “You’re worried about your son.”
“Child,” Janelle corrected.
“Yes, sorry, I’m getting used to that. I know you must be worried for Arx. I think, to some extent, it has been madness how quickly people are changing genders.”
Janelle stiffened.
“But look, you know Thomas wears a mesh too. I love Thomas and Arx anyhow. As much as Allen talks about gender and meshes, there are protections. For example, if Arx had to he, sorry, ze could flip to male. I doubt this will last long. Arx could live outside Coventry for a spell.”
Janelle knew Arx wouldn’t compromise like that. Rather than inflame the situation she said, “What is it you see in Allen?”
“The lab where I’m a tech makes less and less every year ‘cause all our products are for people who don’t wear meshes. I barely make enough to get by and my role could be gone any minute. The only politician who seems to give a damn is Allen. You and I do just fine without meshes. Ze can be non-binary without a mesh, hell, my company can sell Arx HRT.”
Janelle was surprisingly relieved. While she expected they’d never agree on meshes, it was a relief that at least Lu was genuinely worried about Arx. This she could work with. And so they talked on through the night, getting to know each other’s positions better. While it didn’t fix things for Arx’s situation, it made it so when they hugged each other their goodbyes it was genuine for both sisters.
