DISTANT SILVER LININGS

( both obasi and noctis are butch lesbians, she/her ! )

The rented room was empty and dignity was fragile. Late hours of the night were fleeting, morning closed in on them like a phantom. Here the two stood beside a bed that was not their own. Sometimes being away from their homes made it all ache less. They didn't do much, only drank and talked until the sun began to rise. Thus, morning brought the reminder of what could not be. There was nothing to talk about once the sun breached the horizon.

Obasi had lost track of how many times they had ended up like this. Obasi never knew where it began or when to end it, only that they were doomed by the time they held one another. Too close for comfort, yet it felt agonizing to be apart. She decided she would try to put an end to it.

"I should go." Obasi murmured, her husky voice dampened to no more than a shallow whisper. Her heart skipped a beat. Bile made its home in her throat.

She felt Noctis’s grasp on her mane loosen, her hand shifted. “But you won't." Noctis trilled. Her voice was null of judgment, yet her piercing gaze gave Obasi a sense of belittling. Not that she minded; Noctis was right. Rather than pulling away from Noctis like she should have, her own hand drifted hazily upwards to hold Noctis.

Obasi remained in silence. She used all the strength that she could to avert her gaze from the shorter animan. Although she had known the Iron Bruiser for decades, inhibition chewed on her conscience. It gnawed on them both, picking apart their minds until there was nothing left besides the sound of hesitant breaths and beating hearts.

"No," Obasi's eyes flickered face Noctis. She held her breath. She didn't want to say goodbye to Noctis, her heart refused it. Her hand squeezed the other's wrist slightly, her voice cracked. "No, I won't."

RIGHT HERE ALL ALONG

JOY OF ALL FLESH

( character is agender, any pronouns! )

Whatever this dreamscape was, Thistle felt no fear. No urge to run and hide, to scream to the infinitely blue sky for answers. No judgement. No death. Instead, Thistle felt freedom. They felt joy.

Even when the eyes of the great pearlescent existence stared over them, watching with deep discernment, for once it felt as if they hadn’t been there at all. Thistle did not mind the pain that followed as their wings unfurled. The carrion landscape around them growled to Thistle in what they believed to be an applause.

Whatever this was, Thistle wasn’t going to let it become a nightmare like every other venture. Within the Ekanox’s realm, Thistle would, for once, find joy— if not always, then just this one time.

RIGHT HERE ALL ALONG

DISTANT SILVER LININGS

( both obasi and noctis are butch lesbians, she/her ! )

The rented room was empty and dignity was fragile. Late hours of the night were fleeting, morning closed in on them like a phantom. Here the two stood beside a bed that was not their own. Sometimes being away from their homes made it all ache less. They didn't do much, only drank and talked until the sun began to rise. Thus, morning brought the reminder of what could not be. There was nothing to talk about once the sun breached the horizon.

Obasi had lost track of how many times they had ended up like this. Obasi never knew where it began or when to end it, only that they were doomed by the time they held one another. Too close for comfort, yet it felt agonizing to be apart. She decided she would try to put an end to it.

"I should go." Obasi murmured, her husky voice dampened to no more than a shallow whisper. Her heart skipped a beat. Bile made its home in her throat.

She felt Noctis’s grasp on her mane loosen, her hand shifted. “But you won't." Noctis trilled. Her voice was null of judgment, yet her piercing gaze gave Obasi a sense of belittling. Not that she minded; Noctis was right. Rather than pulling away from Noctis like she should have, her own hand drifted hazily upwards to hold Noctis.

Obasi remained in silence. She used all the strength that she could to avert her gaze from the shorter animan. Although she had known the Iron Bruiser for decades, inhibition chewed on her conscience. It gnawed on them both, picking apart their minds until there was nothing left besides the sound of hesitant breaths and beating hearts.

"No," Obasi's eyes flickered face Noctis. She held her breath. She didn't want to say goodbye to Noctis, her heart refused it. Her hand squeezed the other's wrist slightly, her voice cracked. "No, I won't."