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villain who has read the stars to ascertain your doom
Written to the prompt by Making Up A Villain — villain who has read the stars to ascertain your doom
Originally posted on cohost on July 24th, 2024.
When Yihsuan’s unassuming neighbour tells her that her name is Lily, Yihsuan only doesn’t scowl because she’s already learned not to. She’s learned her unassuming neighbour Lily is formidable. Uncertain just how formidable, Yihsuan’s self-preservation keeps her less polite tendencies in check.
A part of Yihsuan—that would rather die than admit it—thinks it’s cute they share a name.
Lily had invited Yihsuan along for her “solution”. Her blank stares, vacant blinks, and little puppy dog tilts of her head did nothing to indicate her steely confidence and imposing calm that was earned from indomitable power and tremendous experience. She was nice about it all. She held out a hand and smiled when Yihsuan reluctantly took it. She felt Yihsuan’s jitters in her warm, gentle hold. She thought it was cute.
Yihsuan—having faced things powerful enough to have her shaking on her knees lucky to survive—keeps her composure well for someone who’s pretty sure she’s holding hands with potentially a repeat of that experience that she was very determined not to repeat. It was nerve-wracking. She felt the hand on hers as the jaws of something that would swallow her whole. She kept herself from imploding from the tension by glowering the whole while.
The trip around town was short. A wander through shops of herbs open to the street, a basement business of curiosities, a break for iced tea on a park bench. When Lily tells Yihsuan to meet her on their apartment building’s roof at twilight Lily calls it a date.
Yihsuan’s apartment is painted dark, rich tones. It’s furnished with dark, rich wood furniture lacquered and ornate. Sitting at the vanity, Yihsuan combs her long black hair until it shines pristine. She feels both foolish and fearful making decisions about lip gloss and if she should change into something that wasn’t black on black. The satin that her hair melts into is comforting. It helps to feel imperceivable.
For a moment she lets herself imagine her life proceeding as it had been if she hadn’t approached her unassuming neighbour; eventful but not nearly so terrifying. She wears shoes she can run in.
The roof of their unassuming apartment building is off limits but locked doors mean little to Yihsuan and nothing to Lily.
Yihsuan had of course investigated the roof while apartment hunting. She’s made at least one emergency landing here, cursing herself for running out of options and hoping her home wouldn’t be compromised. It’s nothing but mechanical units and piping, and the remains of some local food organization’s rooftop farming program.
Lily is waiting for her.
When she smiles, Yihsuan wonders if she’s died or is dying.
When she holds out a hand to take, swings her shoulders side to side, Yihsuan has never felt so trapped in such an open space.
In the evening chill, Lily wears a cardigan not unlike the elderly women running shops of herbs that reminds Yihsuan of her grandma. It’s big on Lily but probably too short for Yihsuan, who stands a head taller than Lily despite Lily’s platform sneakers. Cozy.
Lily leads her to a short wall with a blanket already spread out, sits and leans back, the hand that had held Yihsuan’s pats the fabric next to her.
Yihsuan taps her cooling fingers together, agitated in all number of ways, before situating herself next to Lily. This is not a very defensible position. She sucks her teeth and mutters darkly, “Awful romantic, isn’t it?” Her hand taken up by Lily’s again makes her jump, her wide eyes stare in the city night’s never dark at a smiling, unassuming face looking skyward.
“It’s starting.”
Above them the stars are dim in the city night’s never dark. Yihsuan watches them brighten despite the light pollution, watches more become visible. Then she watches them explode and fall from the sky.
I wrote part one at 1am and needed something going on to keep me awake enough to write, thought to myself “wait, I know a song about stars” and put it on a loop.
Originally posted on cohost on July 24th, 2024.
<< First < Previous ~ 2 ~ Next > Last >>
When Yihsuan’s unassuming neighbour tells her that her name is Lily, Yihsuan only doesn’t scowl because she’s already learned not to. She’s learned her unassuming neighbour Lily is formidable. Uncertain just how formidable, Yihsuan’s self-preservation keeps her less polite tendencies in check.
A part of Yihsuan—that would rather die than admit it—thinks it’s cute they share a name.
Lily had invited Yihsuan along for her “solution”. Her blank stares, vacant blinks, and little puppy dog tilts of her head did nothing to indicate her steely confidence and imposing calm that was earned from indomitable power and tremendous experience. She was nice about it all. She held out a hand and smiled when Yihsuan reluctantly took it. She felt Yihsuan’s jitters in her warm, gentle hold. She thought it was cute.
Yihsuan—having faced things powerful enough to have her shaking on her knees lucky to survive—keeps her composure well for someone who’s pretty sure she’s holding hands with potentially a repeat of that experience that she was very determined not to repeat. It was nerve-wracking. She felt the hand on hers as the jaws of something that would swallow her whole. She kept herself from imploding from the tension by glowering the whole while.
The trip around town was short. A wander through shops of herbs open to the street, a basement business of curiosities, a break for iced tea on a park bench. When Lily tells Yihsuan to meet her on their apartment building’s roof at twilight Lily calls it a date.
Yihsuan’s apartment is painted dark, rich tones. It’s furnished with dark, rich wood furniture lacquered and ornate. Sitting at the vanity, Yihsuan combs her long black hair until it shines pristine. She feels both foolish and fearful making decisions about lip gloss and if she should change into something that wasn’t black on black. The satin that her hair melts into is comforting. It helps to feel imperceivable.
For a moment she lets herself imagine her life proceeding as it had been if she hadn’t approached her unassuming neighbour; eventful but not nearly so terrifying. She wears shoes she can run in.
The roof of their unassuming apartment building is off limits but locked doors mean little to Yihsuan and nothing to Lily.
Yihsuan had of course investigated the roof while apartment hunting. She’s made at least one emergency landing here, cursing herself for running out of options and hoping her home wouldn’t be compromised. It’s nothing but mechanical units and piping, and the remains of some local food organization’s rooftop farming program.
Lily is waiting for her.
When she smiles, Yihsuan wonders if she’s died or is dying.
When she holds out a hand to take, swings her shoulders side to side, Yihsuan has never felt so trapped in such an open space.
In the evening chill, Lily wears a cardigan not unlike the elderly women running shops of herbs that reminds Yihsuan of her grandma. It’s big on Lily but probably too short for Yihsuan, who stands a head taller than Lily despite Lily’s platform sneakers. Cozy.
Lily leads her to a short wall with a blanket already spread out, sits and leans back, the hand that had held Yihsuan’s pats the fabric next to her.
Yihsuan taps her cooling fingers together, agitated in all number of ways, before situating herself next to Lily. This is not a very defensible position. She sucks her teeth and mutters darkly, “Awful romantic, isn’t it?” Her hand taken up by Lily’s again makes her jump, her wide eyes stare in the city night’s never dark at a smiling, unassuming face looking skyward.
“It’s starting.”
Above them the stars are dim in the city night’s never dark. Yihsuan watches them brighten despite the light pollution, watches more become visible. Then she watches them explode and fall from the sky.
<< First < Previous ~ 2 ~ Next > Last >>
I wrote part one at 1am and needed something going on to keep me awake enough to write, thought to myself “wait, I know a song about stars” and put it on a loop.