Safety is better than happiness, right? Dr. Jules considers xemself to be lucky. Even if there are venomous thoughts and stagnant governmental practices inside Dome, there are also warm beds, stable food supplies, and an interesting job studying radiation at the Science Center. Sure, xe might not be the happiest person there, but it's a good life. Better than the wasteland of poisoned trees and mutated creatures xe could have been born into. Then comes xyr newest assignment: go to the nearby Bells River, gather fresh samples, and bring them …
Safety is better than happiness, right? Dr. Jules considers xemself to be lucky. Even if there are venomous thoughts and stagnant governmental practices inside Dome, there are also warm beds, stable food supplies, and an interesting job studying radiation at the Science Center. Sure, xe might not be the happiest person there, but it's a good life. Better than the wasteland of poisoned trees and mutated creatures xe could have been born into. Then comes xyr newest assignment: go to the nearby Bells River, gather fresh samples, and bring them back to Dome for radiation testing. Looking on the bright side, at least this will excuse xem from yet another blind date xyr mother set xem up on. And when they come back, xe'll receive a raise!
Wasteland adventure? Bring in the experts! Kirk and Li are the wasteland guides hired to keep Dr. Jules safe as xe gets water and mud from Bells River. Unfortunately, when it comes to Domies and the outside world, it's easier said than done. Those inside people know nothing about spitting spiders, let alone how quickly the environment can turn against a person. And spotting thieves before supplies are stolen? Ha! For Li and Kirk, the payment is worth the aggravation. Educational and instructive books that'll help make life easier for their family and future generations.
There and back again, quick as can be. But the wasteland loves its little surprises and it's going to take every ounce of determination, sacrifice, and friendship to stay alive... let alone find happiness. A post-apocalyptic adventure leading to acceptance, hope, and romance, it's Station Eleven meets Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts!
Tags: neopronouns xe/xem/xyrs, nonbinary & asexual Jules, bisexual Li, gay Kirk, poly is the solution not the problem, found family, hurt/comfort, knife wounds, spiders, cursing Kirk, self-accepting Jules, Li gets to manage these two (good luck Li), all the gooey feelings, happy ending
Story has a lot of exploration/action/danger mixed in with some romance. The romantic pairing is M/NB, with the NB character the only PoV character. I enjoyed the main protagonist's arc from "timid and stifled" to "brave and resourceful". Fun romp!
