Now's Our Chance

“Now’s our chance,” Meriones whispered to Eukles, “Come on, everyone is watching those two, or dancing.”

The two leaders quickly skirted the dance floor, which was now full of dancing married couples along with Tomirosh and his chosen, and, after they had passed the food tables and come to the crowd of lasses, who were still all staring after Tomirosh and whispering to each other in small groups,  Eukles left Merriones to go over to one lass, who was staring at Tom and Illoia. 

This lass looked very different from the one Tomirosh had chosen. She was taller, and fuller busted, although with narrower hips. Her dress was a light purple, with only four petticoats, but the material of the skirt, which Eukles didn’t recognize, shimmered somehow, looking as if it wanted to be transparent but showing nothing  underneath. The blouse, or whatever one called the top of a dress, was simpler and showed  her form clearly.

He took a quick breath and tapped her on the shoulder, holding out his hand in the air.

The lass whirled, gasped, blushed, and put her hand up against his, her palms dry, his sweaty. Together the two moved toward the dance floor, their steps in time with the music but not yet officially ‘dance’ steps. As soon as they got to a sort of open space, Eukles pushed against her hand, slightly, and she backed up the two steps the dance required and then they switched hands and Eukles danced backwards. After the lass did a twirl and they switched hands again, he plucked up the courage to ask, “So, are you enjoying the party?”

“I am now,” she answered, boldly, raising her hand higher and bringing her body closer to his. Eukles gulped. She was very close. If this hadn’t been an Article 17 party, where Article 2 was routinely enforced only lightly, he would have worried about a violation. As it was, he just worried about being able to think straight.

“I’m glad,” he said, taking the next step back a little faster than the music required and trying to recover his equilibrium. This close, she looked even prettier than he had thought she looked from afar. And he had been studying her from afar.

“Are you?!” she asked, looking him in the eyes and making him blush.

“I, umm, yes, yes I am…”

“Good,” she said, again letting the dance steps bring her far, far closer than propriety allowed… at any other time.

“Are you alone on the trip?” he asked.

“Oh, no, I am rooming with Medinia, poor dear. She lives near us and when I said I was going she decided to come with me.”

 “What is your name?” she asked, after a few more steps.

“I’m, um, I’m Euckes Ellin, Leader Eukles Ellin. Of, um, Earth.”

“Earth? The home planet?” she asked, almost pausing in her steps, her eyes wide.

“Well, yes. There are still a lot of people living there, you know.”

“Oh, yes, I knew that. I just don’t think I’ve ever met anyone from Earth before. Earth. It almost seems like a myth… not that I’m saying it is just… Earth!” 

She had to break off into series of twirls and, when she was done, he asked her,  “What is…  your name is Eudoria…?” 

“Yes… you knew?” She was staring at him again, altho not coming as close as before in her dance steps.

“I, yes. I asked a friend of mine.” Eukles gulped.  

“Did you come alone?” she asked.

Startled he stared at her. “I, that is, the military doesn’t quite work like that. I have my own cabin but I did get to know Meriones, leader Meriones, and we have been spending a lot of time together.”

Another series of twirls gave him some time to think, and when they were done he blurted out,”“I… I mean… I was thinking… would you mind… I… the trip is over tomorrow…?”

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Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

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If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

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Links

Article 17

Intro // Podcast Version

She was pretty, popular, snobby, and a planetary governor’s daughter. He was the son of shopkeepers, a social misfit, and a decorated hero. She thought she was there to dance. He had other ideas.

A Dance // Podcast Version

As a governor’s daughter, Illoia usually avoided such events, but when the captain made the announcement that there was to be an Article 17 dance, she, too, was forced to attend. If only the scum hadn’t been there too.

The Unbridgeable Chasm // Podcast Version

Eukles and Meriones, brave military leaders, quail at cross the gulf between themselves and asking a lass to dance.

There He Is // Podcast Version

The young hero comes in, and Aleshia and Illoyia gossip about him.

Look at the Young Hero // Podcast Version

The young hero comes in, and greets Eukles and Meriones… and announces his intentions.

Target // Podcast Version

Tom, Leader Cladin Tomirosh, sets his sights on the governors daughter. She isn’t impressed.

Fuming

Tom and Illoia dance, while she desperately tries to get him to go away!

Contract Marriage

Contract marriage is an adult dystopia examining the issues of marriage. Like 1984 and Brave New World, Contract Marriage treats the relations between the sexes as a fundamental aspect of how a society is formed and, thus, how a society can go wrong.

Unlike those dystopias, Contract Marriage isn’t all horrible all of the time. The characters for the most part have a good time and get along in their society. But the issues of sexuality, of marriage or not, monogamy or not, faithfulness or not, and gender roles… keep coming up and causing tension and conflict and joy and pain.

My desire is that my readers would be thinking along with my characters about these issues and perhaps even arrive at the same place (minus the flying cars).

Introduction

In which I lay out the themes that I intend to explore in this light Dystopia, and ask others to participate.

Trade Master: First Chapter // Podcast Version

In which Fenestra, our heroine’s mother, puts in her application for the job of 'Trade Master’ on the planet Libertas, and finds out that it isn’t that easy.

En-Drek Contract // Podcast Version

In which Fenestra finds out that, on Libertas, everyone must be in an ‘En-drek’ contract… a long-term, live-in, heavy date between a man and a woman for the purpose of producing one child after the other with one date after the other.

Disappointment and Meditation

In which Jellia, the daughter and our heroine, finds out about her mother’s job opportunity, including its difficulties, and commits herself to meditating on the situation. (And internally commits herself to encouraging her mother to take the job.)

Decision Reached

Jellia tells her mother that she thinks she should take the job, and so her mother puts in her application… and gets the job!

First School

Jellia goes to school and gets to tell everyone about her new adventure.

First Work

Fenestra goes to work, and tells her coworker about her new opportunity.

Writing Class

Jellia writes a poem (a limerick) and tells her classmates more about her new adventure.

Trader Galloway

In which a man comes over for a ‘date’ (Ie to sleep over with her mother) and to tell them all about his time as Trade Master for their company on Libertas. And as how he was almost executed for asking a woman out on a date.

Shopping

In which Jellia and her mother go shopping for the last time, and we explore some of the nature of the planet she is leaving.

Language

In which Jellia starts using some new words at school, and everyone gathers round to find out what they mean.

Kesh-i Cooking Class

In which Jellia finds out that children (Kesh-i) on Libertas are expected to cook.

Trade Master Training

In which Fenestra begins her training for her new role, with an old enemy.

Two Week Date

In which Fenestra and Alex decide to date for the next two weeks.

The Facts of Life

In which Fenestra brings Alex home, and Jellia isn’t impressed. Although she is interested in how dating works for boys.

Snips

In which Jellia spends time snipping with a boy, and brings him home.

Kissing

In which Jellia and her mother both have a sexual ‘last fling’ before they leave, and Jellia practices the new kisses she will need for her new planet.

Off Ephemera // Podcast Version

In which Jellia and her mother arrive at the shuttle port, go through some annoying formalities, and take off!

And Fly!

In which Jellia and her mother board their spaceship, and Jellia starts doing her homework.

Abstinate // Podcast Version

In which Jellia gets bored, rejects an older gentleman, and rejects her mother’s idea of dating.

Older Kesh-u

In which Jellia learns more about what Kesh-u (children) are allowed to do on Libertas.

Fertility

In which Jellia and her mother are taken off birth control by an odd doctor.

Decon

Jellia and her mother arrive on their new planet, go through an awful decontamination, get sent to a briefing, and receive their first kiss/greeting!

Briefing

Jellia and her mother are warned that the laws on Libertas can be very serious.