Tartosan Sun: Journeys

Chapter One:

The sounds of the city filled the air. The hum and roar of the traffic. The murmurs of a hundred conversations mingled with the music of the buskers and the pitches of the sidewalk hustlers. Del Sol Valley’s entertainment district was a long way from the quiet life of Sulani, but there was no place else Londyn wanted to be more than right here, right now.  She was there to meet Venessa and sit down with their prospective roommate.

They had placed an ad on the Del Sol Pride website. There had been a few replies but so far no one that they had felt comfortable sharing their house with. They had chosen to meet at a coffee shop on Starlight Boulevard. It was Londyn’s favorite place to grab a latte when she is in this part of town. It was more than the luscious combination of espresso and milk that drew her here. It was the proximity to her dreams. Next door to the coffee shop was the hall that hosted the Starlight Accolades. She’d watched the Accolades with her mom back in Sulani, even after she came out and things sometimes got awkward between them. She never stopped dreaming of standing in that spotlight one day and receiving her own Accolades trophy. The next block over from the coffee shop also held the ‘Walk of Fame’. Someday her star would be there too.

She stood there lost in her thoughts and dreams while the world swirled around her. A familiar voice broke through the spell. “I’ve always wanted to hear them call my name from that stage. ‘And the winner of the Starlight Accolade for best acting, Venessa Jeong!’” 

“Hey ’Nessa” she said as she turned and hugged her friend. “Someday that will be us in there.” 

“Yeah someday. We'll arrive in limos like that one." Venessa nodded towards the nearby black stretch. "There'll be crowds screaming our names. Photographers snapping our pictures."

"And we'll be dressed in the best designer gowns." Londyn struck a pose. "Designers will be lining to have us wear their latest creations on the red carpet."

"Oh my god, look at the time." Venessa gasped. "C’mon we need to go meet our roomie. And I need my mocchiato.”

Londyn arched a brow and gave her a look. “Sounds like you’ve made up your mind already.”

“I’ve texted them twice and, yeah, I have a good feeling about this one. Think about it. It would be sooo awesome to have a queen living with us. The extra clothes, if they’re the right size. Someone new to swap hair and makeup tips with.”

“Chill girl. Let’s see what they’re like first okay” Londyn laughed. It was so like Venessa to get overly excited. Londyn and Venessa had only known each other for a few months but they formed a fast, effortless friendship. Venessa’s personality was magnetic. The fact that she was gorgeous didn’t hurt either. She pushed those thoughts away. She’d worry about them later. Time to focus on their reason for being here. They needed to find a roommate, and fast.

As they started towards the door, every step brought the aromas of caramel, vanilla, and roasted arabica beans seeped into their consciousness. As they rounded the corner Venessa and their guest spotted each other in the same instant. She handled the introductions before Londyn ducked in to get their orders. Venessa found a nice spot where they could sit and talk and get to know each other. She really had a good feeling they had found their roommate. They enjoyed the beautiful mid-morning sunshine and the light breeze that flowed between the buildings like an unseen river. It was going to be a beautifully cool, comfortable day. The searing heat of summer, where Del Sol Valley gave everyone a taste of what it was like to be dinner, was still a few weeks away. They passed the time with small talk like they’d known each other forever.

Londyn arrived a few minutes later with their drinks. A skinny mocha for Mimi, double half-caf macchiato with cold milk for Venessa, and for herself the usual caramel latte. For a few minutes the small talk continued as they compared notes on favorite flavors. Mimi told them who they thought had the best of what in different parts of the city.

“So you’re from Del Sol Valley?” Londyn asked.

“No, Oasis Springs.” Mimi paused for a sip of skinny mocha. “It’s a suburb. It’s close enough that my family is always coming into the city so I know my way around. Since we’re sharing where are you from.”

“I was born and raised in Sulani” Londyn said. "This is my first time living outside of the islands."

“And I’m from Chestnut Ridge.” Venessa could see the question forming. "Where's that?" is a common reply. “It’s in the middle of nowhere. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful. I loved growing up there, but I’m a city girl.” 

The conversation turned to talk of what drew the two of them to Del Sol Valley. For Londyn and Venessa it was the dream of movie stardom. For now they were working side hustles to pay the bills, looking for small roles in commercials or local theater. 

“Both of us have applied to Judith Ward’s acting school” Londyn said. “For me it was either that or UBrite for a drama degree. Maybe someday I’ll go get that degree if I decide to try directing.”

Venessa took a big sip of her macchiato while Londyn spoke. “For me it’s always been about Judith’s school. I’m a huge fan of hers and I always knew I wanted to be an actor. Why not learn from the best?” 

“I’m like Venessa, acting is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. Between my wanting to be an actor and being an out and proud lesbian it created some drama with my parents. Especially my mom.”

Mimi could relate to that last part. “For me it’s all about breaking away and finding my true self. I know what you mean about family drama. But that’s a story for another day.” Mimi smiled and gathered themself before the emotions could bubble up. “The other part of it, Del Sol Valley is a Mecca for drag artists, besides being a place where I can feel safe to explore who I am. My look changes a lot. It’s no secret that I’m gender fluid.” Mimi put their best feminine flourish on motioning to their outfit. Everyone had a giggle. Londyn and Venessa shared a look that said Mimi was exactly the roommate they were looking for. Mimi read the look. “I have to warn you” they said with a playful head flip as if tossing invisible tresses, “I’m going to need a lot of closet space.” The laughter that followed had heads turning to see what happened.

“Just curious, how many clothes do you have? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to” Venessa said apologetically.

“Be careful” Londyn said, “Her real name is Venessa Croft, Closet Raider.” 

“Haha.” She balled up her napkin and tossed it at Londyn. “I always put things back.”

“Yeah…eventually. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea Mimi. You never have to ask her more than two or three times where your clothes are.”

“I always wash them before I put them back.” 

Mimi laughed at the banter. It was wonderful to be part of a moment like this. Seen, accepted, and made to feel like one of the girls. “I have my everyday clothes. I have my outfits for my act. Wigs and makeup for both my act and everyday. And shoes. Lots of shoes. I don’t have a club where I perform at as a regular yet. So I have to keep my wigs and makeup at home.” 

The three of them sat there sipping their drinks and enjoying the perfect weather. They talked about their dreams and a little bit about their struggles. They didn’t go very far down that road. There would be plenty of time for that later. Venessa and Londyn knew they’d found their roommate. They’d found more than that too. They found a kindred spirit. Mimi’s road was different than their’s, but they had the same love of performing and knew the joy and heartbreak of being out and proud.

Londyn was buzzing on caffeine and good vibes. “All that’s left is to ask when can you move in?”, she said. “We’re so happy to have you move in with us.”

“I agree. It’s going to be awesome!” Venessa squealed. “So I’m guessing you’re what…a size 6?”