Earthlings had names like Greg and Nancy and Owen.
Every day, an Earthling gave birth, looked down at their newborn baby, and actually thought something to the effect of, “You look like a Greg. I think that should be your name.”
A baby. Sweet and round cheeked. Entirely innocent, and they named the poor thing Greg.
Vyn thought this was a travesty.
And yet, if he was to stay on Earth, if he wanted to blend in with the locals without arousing suspicion, if he hoped to convince them the glamour he wore was legitimate, he would have to pick one of their names for himself.
Vyn was a perfectly respectable name, in his opinion. It suited him. Certainly he didn’t look like a Greg, couldn’t stomach the thought of introducing himself that way. If he had to pretend, if he had to adopt some of their practices for himself, he at least wanted something that evoked a sense of joy.
Greg didn’t do that. Vincent didn’t do that either, even if it would allow him to go by his own name without prompting any questions. Vinal, Vincas, Vinico. Vinko, Vinny, Vinzent. None of them appealed to him. None of them felt like they belonged to him. Vyn couldn’t make himself hold out his hand, grasp someone else’s, and say, “Hello, my name is Vincas.”
Earthlings truly had the worst judgement.
It took several hours of pouting and much consultation with Aliez before Vyn would consider the issue of an Earth name with more than revulsion.
He didn’t want an ugly, common Earth name. He wanted something beautiful, something that brought to mind all the wonderful things Earth had to offer. (The Earthlings themselves certainly didn’t apply. They polluted their own world, kept animals as pets, treated one another with such animosity and disrespect. The ones that knew about worlds beyond their own were little better. They were combative, judgemental, ungrateful. They’d killed Vyn’s own people.)
What was beautiful about the Earth?
Their sunrises. Their weather. Their wildlife. Their flowers. Vyn could sit out in the grass for hours, stringing flowers together for his friends. He could listen to the rain forever, let the pleasant tap-tap-tap of it against the roof lull him to sleep. He could lay out in a field all night staring up at the stars, wait for the sun to crest the horizon and throw its brilliant light across the world.
As he continued to research, Vyn learned that some Earthlings used uncommon names.
Some of them looked at their newborn children and thought, “You are the most beautiful thing I have ever done with my life, and you deserve an equally beautiful name.”
They chose names like Lily, Autumn, and River — all the beautiful things one could find in nature.
So Vyn sat down and picked a flower. He chose the tulip for its vibrant colors and cheerful looks, and because, according to the Earthlings, it symbolized a deep and perfect love. (Vyn’s love for his home and his people might not be perfect, but it did run deep.)
The second name was easier. Fields carried the same vibrancy, the same joy, but sorrow now, too.
The Vanguard arrived on a field atop a hill, fought for their people at that same place, and lost friends in the process.
Tulip Fields was a fine name, in Vyn’s opinion.
But to assuage his longing for home, he would go by Vin.
Quote:
¯_(ツ)_/¯
I'm tired and doing my best.
I'm tired and doing my best.
