Aegis Online

(I DO NOT OWN THE SONG USED IN THIS CHAPTER. FULL CREDIT TO THE OWNER!!)

 

I look around as we move into the Reliquary, the hush surrounding me like a blanket. There’s a pair of people about my age near where we entered, one girl and one guy. The girl, her shoulder-length white-blue-green hair pulled back into a ponytail, waves. Her friend eyes Jeffrey, before grinning and jogging over to fist-bump. Jeffrey chuckles softly, “hey, Mal.  We missed you at the gym last week, you okay buddy?”

Mal nods, his cropped dark hair glinting in the dim light. As the two boys engage in a quiet conversation, the girl approaches me.

“Hey, you’re new here, right? I didn’t see you last year!” she says, excitedly. Despite being shorter than me, she’s… well, even more stacked than Dana!

“Oh, right! I should introduce myself! You can call me Mint! Like, everyone does. And you are?”

I swallow. “W-well, yeah, this is my first time here… and, I… I use Kylie right now.” Her eyes widen, and she looks between me and my parents. “Ohhh, I see. Well, nice to meetcha, Kylie! What do you do for fun?”

I start explaining about my new hobby as a streamer, and Mint’s eyebrows rise. “Oh, that’s pretty cool! I’ve never been that much of a gamer, but I might check it out!” she gives me a powerful hug, almost lifting me a foot of the floor.  When she releases me, she bounds over to talk to my parents. Dana chuckles, “Ah, Mint Connolly. She’s a raging lesbian, but she’s just a treat to hang out with. She’s been attending these for about four years, and she’s always come along with Mal. He’s been coming along for about the same.”

FREE POV, MINT’S CONVERSATION WITH MR &MRS PORTER

After Mint greeted Ky, she bounded over to the adults in tow.

“Hi, I’m Mint Connolly,

 It’s a pleasure to meetcha! You’re here with your daughter, right?”

Thomas Porter smiled. “Yes, we are. She’s made some major discoveries about who she is, and as her parents, it’s our job to support her. I’m Thomas, and this is my wife Sylvia.”

Mint leaned in, a conspiratorial air about her. “I don’t mean to be rude, but… Kylie’s AMAB, right? Assigned male at birth?”

Sylvia frowned. “What does that matter? If Kylie says she’s a girl, than she is. She’s the only one who gets to make that call.”

Mint’s hands clapped in glee. “Awesome, you’re both supportive! I’ve seen plenty of kids here whose parents aren’t… great with handling the fact that their son isn’t their son, or their daughter isn’t their daughter.”

Thomas drew in a deep breath. “Look, Mint. Kylie may have been born a boy, but she’s not a boy. She’s our baby girl, and that’s all that needs be said.”

The green-haired girl held her hands up. “Hey, it’s cool, I like her! She’s freaking adorable! Plus, she’s friends with Dana, and that lady’s a damn good judge of character. Besides, it’s not like I don’t have experience with shitty parents. My dad kicked me out when he found out I was a lesbian, and we haven’t exchanged more than two words since!”

Sylvia winced in sympathy. “Oh, you poor dear, that sounds rough… I’m sorry your dad’s a complete horse’s arse!”

Mint’s eyes widen as she stifled a snrrk.  Before she could say anything, the elderly Pater Kais entered the Reliquary and wended his way to the pulpit.

 

KYLIE’S POV

I watch the Pater mount the pulpit, looking out at the assembled crowd. “It warms my heart to see so many of you here today, on this most solemn evening. Once again, we are gathered today to pray for those who are no longer with us, and for all those in circumstances that prevent them from finding or accepting themselves. This day of Remembrance, let us give thanks for all we have, and pray for those who have not. Now, I would like to invite anyone who has a few words to say, to come up and speak.”

Pater Kais steps aside, shuffling back and giving anyone space should they wish to take him up on his offer.  Towards the front, I recognize Dana’s brilliant red hair bobbing its way forwards.

Dana steps up to the pulpit and looks out at us, all the assembled faces, waiting in hushed silence for her to speak. She clears her throat.

“Caroline Braithwaite. Isaac Collins. Wynne Glass. Neah Watkins. Frederick Driscoll. Erin Fairbanks. Rhys and Ivory Hartley. Colin Indigo. Elizabeth, Philip, and Tina Coates.  Velvet Clarke. Sapphire Blaze. Meriwether Park. Holly and Elm O’Neill. Tai and Esther Black. Julia Crowley.”

 

As she speaks each name, a holographic picture of them flashes up. Each and every one of them looks happy, smiling and laughing with friends or family.

“Some of you here tonight may know a few of these names. Others are joining us here for the first time. On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we mourn the loss of these bright, shining stars, and all those worldwide who have lost their lives to hate, bigotry, and violence. “

Dana leans forward, a solemn look on her face as she draws in another breath.

“The names I listed… are just those victims from this city, over the last year, that we know of.  There are many other all over the globe, that we don’t know, that weren’t made public, or were hushed up. This happens worldwide, every year. It’s our duty to educate others, to help them understand the hurt they inflict on people through their actions.”

She pauses for a few seconds, swallowing.

“As we observe a minute’s silence, join me in lighting a candle, and let us pray for all those who have been lost.”

She steps out from behind the pulpit, striding over to a votive candle rack. Picking up a taper, she ignites a small white candle, placing it reverently on the stand, stepping away, and bowing her head, hands clasped before her. One after another, everyone, including my parents, Jeffrey, and finally, me, steps up, lighting a candle. Slowly, I light my pale blue votive, carefully placing it in a free spot. Stepping over to join my family, I close my eyes and slow my breathing, hoping that whatever deity is out there will accept my first prayer… Please… God, or Jesus, or whatever being is out there… watch over me and my parents, my friends, and the people I care about… keep them safe, and help those people who died to find peace with you…

A full minute comes and goes, before everyone moves back, Dana approaching the pulpit once more.

“I’ve been a part of the LGBTQ+ community for over a decade now, and I’ve seen the worst kind of shite that people direct at those they consider ‘different’. But I’ve also seen the best, too. From small, meaningful acts of kindness and support, all the way up to getting gay marriage legalized... we aren’t there yet. But I have hope that, someday, we will be.”

She steps away from the podium and rejoins us.

A few more people, mostly friends or family members of the victims, take the pulpit and give simple, heartfelt eulogies for their loved ones, encouraging others not to give up, to keep living true to ourselves, and to love and accept others for who they are.

Finally, a man takes his moment.

“My name is Thomas, and I came here with my wife for the first time tonight. I’m a straight cisgender man, and my wife is a straight cisgender woman. But we had a son. That’s what we thought. It turned out that we were wrong. So, we are not here with our son…. We are here with our daughter. We haven’t changed our purpose as her parents. We will always love, support, and encourage her to be her best self.”

Dad steps down and rejoins my mum, and I shyly take his hand, giving it a squeeze as the last few people finish their eulogies, the last candles are lit, and the Pater wishes us all a safe year and a warm farewell.

The Enforcer at the door salutes as we trickle out, in small groups, spaced out over the course of about an hour. Dana guides us back, and then gives another address. “This is a really nice place. I still owe ye that birthday drink, Kylie, and I think everyone here deserves a pint or two, on me!”

Jeffrey grins, and my parents share a look. “Well, if you’re sure, then I don’t see why not,” Mum says after a minute, and dad puts the car in gear. We start heading back the way we came, and dad briefly checks the autopilot works.

No issues, and he grins happily. If there’d been a problem, he’d have been the designated driver. About halfway back home, he turns off and heads down a different road, following the signs to a building with a large sign.

“Is this it? Tír na nÓg?”

Dana grins. “Aye! The Land of the Faeries, the realm of Youth… me brother named ‘is pub after it!”

We all swivel, and she looks back impishly. “Oh, did I no’ mention I have an older brother? Must’ve slipped me mind!”

I open my door and step out, as mum gently supports my elbow. “I’m fine; I need to practice in these silly heels!”

Dana and Jeffrey exit as dad parks up and locks the car down.  The red-haired Tailtéann girl jogs over to the door of the pub and pushes it open. The sound of rousing music and a hubbub of chit-chat and laughter spill out into the night. I follow, with Jeffrey behind as mum and dad keep up.

Inside, the lights are warm and bright, and the clientele is rowdy and cheerful, with music booming out of speaker stationed around the large room.

The song changes, and a roar goes up, and every single voice in the pub is raised in unison.

“I've been a wild rover for many's the year

And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer

But now I'm returning with gold in great store

And I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's no, nay, never

No, nay never no more

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more

I went to an alehouse I used to frequent

I told the landlady my money was spent

I ask her for credit, she answered me nay

Such a custom as yours I can have any day

And it's no, nay, never

No, nay never no more

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more

I brought from me pocket ten sovereigns bright

And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight

She said: ‘I have whiskeys and wines of the best

And the words that you told me were only in jest'

And it's no, nay, never

No, nay never no more

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more

I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done

And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son

And when they've caressed me, as oft times before

I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's no, nay, never

No, nay never no more

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more

And it's no, nay, never

No, nay never no more

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more!”

 

 At the bar, a tall, buff-looking bearded dude in a flat-cap and a dark-green-and-black flannel shirt spots Dana, and roars out, “SEAMUS! TAKE TH’ HELM FOR A MOMENT!”

He literally vaults over the bar, earning a cheer from some of the patrons, as he comes at us in a rush of beard and flannel.  As Dana holds her arms out, he snatches her up in a bonecrushing hug. “Baby sis! How’s she cuttin’?!”

Dana thumps him on the back ecstatically. “Padraig! She’s cuttin’ grand ya big oaf! Now put me down ‘fore ye snap me in twa’!”

As he deposits her gracefully on the carpeted floor, Dana turns and chuckles, “this is me big brother, Padraig McGregor, th’ owner and barman of Tír na nÓg, the finest slice o’ Irish heaven you’ll find outside o’ the Tailtéann Republic!”