It is, as I write this short story, the first evening of 2023. The new year has begun, the future will be what it shall. For one particular, silver-tailed temptress, it simply means she has been …
Plotting Anew
By TeraS
There are a number of constants which appear in the Realm of which all are well aware. Some of these are the noting of the dates appearing on the calendar, the observation of a sweeping second hand on the clock tower at the centre of the Realm’s mall. These are, of course, the notable things that precede the celebration of a new year’s arrival.
And there’s the climax of the Temptress’s plan, of course.
The first inkling of the plan occurred to the seductive blonde member of the succubi in the ebbing moments of the past year’s celebrations. One would think that both her Adored One and her Monarch, née dearest friend, Tera, might have suspected that something was brewing when Cassie offered, in the most innocently off-hand way, that she might want to be involved in the celebrations.
Firstly, there was absolutely nothing innocent about the Temptress and, secondly, when was she not plotting or scheming some surprise to befall the focus of her desires? One could continue adding up just how odd the request was on all of one’s fingers, toes and tail and there still would be reasons left over to bring questions. The single truth about the silver-tailed temptress was one that should never be forgotten: no one ever accused Cassie of being subtle.
This point, however, played right into Cassie’s plan, as vague as it was at the time. Both Keith and Tera expected she was plotting something. For Tera, the bemusement of watching her dearest friend twist her tail into knots in the creation of her latest plot really couldn’t be resisted. As for Keith, it was far simpler to give in to his Temptress and see where the plan went and how she would spring it on him and how delighted she would be.
When it came to plotting, there were very few in the Realm who could match the statuesque blonde. Stories were told about her seductive pleasures being tested, the surprises sprung on the unsuspecting who were caught by her tail. At least that was the expectation given; one could not miss the vision of the member of the succubi with a tail the colour of quicksilver traveling about here and there in the Realm, setting her plans into form and function.
Simone had, so she claimed, accidentally bumped into Cassie. Or Cassie had, innocently–though that was extremely unlikely–bumped into Simone. Either way, when the encounter was passed, Simone found herself shaking her finger at her adopted niece and scolding her about how complex her plans were. Cassie tried to explain that she found the fun in doing so a delight. Simone’s reply noted that Cassie was no Rube Goldberg. Cassie reminded her aunt that she was anything but subtle, of course, as she continued to set the next part of her grandiose plan into place.
The Queen and King of the Realm should have figured out something was going on by the time the summer had arrived. By this point, the committees that held sway over the year end celebrations would have, and should have, approached them both. There should have been discussions made over plans and concepts, as had happened every year before. But this was the first year where Cassiopeia was involved and, somehow, the meetings were deleted from their calendars, possibly by a conspiring Auntie who gave order to the appointment schedule of the rulers of the Realm. She, of course, would never do such a thing, not even for pastries made by her silver-tailed niece. Well, hardly ever, but there was such a thing as a good plot to enjoy the creation of. Not to mention that the apple tarts were surprisingly well done and such effort should be rewarded.
Still, they stumbled on a clue just before the Halloween celebrations started. Keith had been leading his Eternal to the grand celebration in the Grand Hall of the Palace when the Temptress exited a room and quickly locked it behind her. Not before, however, a glimpse of piled up scrolls, books, and other paraphernalia could be seen. They both regarded the silver-tailed schemer, having their tails twisted in question marks. As for Cassie, a far too casual wave and rushing off suggested that particular room held a secret–a rather large one. Cassie found herself teased, cajoled, and otherwise gently persuaded by her Adored One over several dances during the Halloween Ball to reveal her plot. As for what happened following the Ball, the Temptress was captured by the rulers of the Realm and made to … well, suffer isn’t at all the right word. Nonetheless, Cassie was rather pleased with herself in not spilling everything to the two of them. The wild mess of her blonde mane that she couldn’t tame for the next month was the talk of the Realm and she did nothing to calm the rumours. They weren’t even close to what happened.
The arrival of Christmas marked the countdown begun to the New Year celebrations. A hint was finally given when Tera and Keith opened the cards Cassie had sent and found they each contained another card that was sealed and the Temptress had written upon these instructions that they should be opened on New Year’s Eve. Thus, the plot of the Temptress seemed to be fully set and the trap, if one could call it that, was ready to be sprung.
At one minute past midnight on New Year’s Eve morning, the envelopes were opened, the instructions were read, and the Eternals shared a smile over Cassie’s plotting. It was a good thing they had not waited; the Temptress had worked very hard on this plot, after all, and they wouldn’t want to disappoint her. The plot finally came to pass at half to midnight.
The clock tower of the Realm was surrounded by tails of all colours, gathered to see the old year close and the new year begin. Cassie held court from the balcony just below the clock, marking off the time before the celebrations would commence, dressed in silver from horns to toes, the dress her Adored One loved most of all enhancing her seductiveness. She reveled in the party below, in the entanglements seen there, and in knowing there were many more to be found throughout the Realm. It was a quarter to the appointed hour when the King and Queen appeared nearby and watched Cassie delight in the moment she’d created for the Realm. The celebrations were that little bit more wild, somewhat less inhibited, both marks of the influence the Temptress held for this celebration.
The countdown began as Cassie beckoned to her loves to join her, to celebrate together the promise of the new year almost arrived. Tails twined, they held one another close, and the seconds ticked away. A year past of love, joy, and pleasure, Cassie knowing she was loved in return. The plot was a celebration of their love for all to see, the plan was for the Realm to share in their passions throughout the year. The bells of the tower rang as the new year arrived, fireworks burst into the skies above and the celebration took over the scene.
It is the second day of Christmas, also known as Boxing Day, today. Today the second part of this holiday story which offers a hope that some can have …
A Christmas Wish
Part II
By TeraS
The weather was, he had to admit, damnably frightful.
Still, there were miles to go and promises to keep, this one mattered to him in a way that only his Eternal could understand fully. As the familiarity of their home had faded into the background, the path before him led towards a familiarly that rested in his earliest memories. It wasn’t long before he came to the fence between worlds and turned to walk along the length. The snow crunched as he walked, distant lights coming out of the wind blown snows, slowly resolving into his destination.
An ordinary home on an ordinary street, but carrying memories he’d always cherish. The Christmas lights were there, if not as elaborate as they’d been in the past. The lock in the door opened easily with the key he still possessed, it opening with that little squeak that they’d never been able to deal with. Closing the door he noted the decorations were up, if perhaps again not as elaborate as he’d been part of in the past. He’d just taken off his touque when his name was called out and he smiled.
Logically, he didn’t have to come tonight; rationally, the reason for his visit could have happened on any other day. But this wasn’t a question of reason. He’d had a wish and had asked that if it was found to call him. It had been found buried in the crawlspace with all of the decorations. She’d been very particular about her home. A look for spring, another for Easter, still more for the summer and fall. But it was Christmas that she took the most pleasure in.
He’d spent many a winter’s day hanging up the lights and decorating with her. It was their tradition that, when all else was done, she’d give him the finishing touch and he’d put it in place for her. It was a tradition that had fallen to the wayside since she’d been called home to Goddess.
It surprised him how small the plastic-wrapped item was, how light it was. Memories sometimes played tricks of course, but the emotions they brought were unmistakable. The visit was far too short, but, with the weather getting worse, and the promise of a wish to be fulfilled, he had to be away once more. They didn’t say goodbye, they never did, only “See you soon.”
The weather seemed to show some mercy on him as he retraced his steps. The wind was a bit less, the flurries a little thinner. It still was just on the edge of being frightful, however.
As the fence returned to view, he considered the gift carried with him. Having no value other than what it meant to him, it was an echo of her that was priceless. His thoughts drifted like the snows he travelled over, reflecting this moment and that from past Christmases. As the fence gave way to the red brick house that was their home, he smiled. He’d be home for Christmas, as he promised.
Tera had been waiting for him at the door with Rianna and Branwyn as he returned home as promised. His daughters helped to put his snow-covered jacket away, stealing looks at the package he had brought home with him. He’d placed it in his Eternal’s hands as he sorted himself out and caught the wistful expression, her wet eyes, and how she traced a finger over the surface in contemplation.
Christmas Eve was coming to a close as their family gathered around a tree, presents below waiting to be unwrapped. White lights and red bows covered the small tree, making it shine with a warm glow. He paused there, marking this memory, before turning his attention to the plastic wrap and beginning to peel it away.
The box was old, so very old, the item within perhaps even older, he really wasn’t sure. As his Eternal and daughters watched, he reached to the top of their squat little tree and placed upon it his mother’s simple Christmas angel. Hand sown cloth adorning a porcelain figurine, metal wings outstretched. Stepping back, he looked at their tree. The angel looked right, the tree looked right. His family gathered around their tree, he felt something he hadn’t for some time.
Today is Christmas, of course. Unexpectedly, I have something of a two-part story this year, being that tomorrow is normally the day a story appears on the Tale. There have been a few events over the past week which have placed this idea into my thoughts, and so a story to tell. Christmas is a magical time of the year for those that make …
A Christmas Wish
Part I
By TeraS
The weather outside was, very much, frightful.
It had been quite some time since the last really awful blizzard and cold had arrived to blanket the Realm in snows so deep that travel was impossible. Peering out the bay window of their home, Tera watched as whirlwinds of snow danced across their front yard and piled another layer of snow onto the piles of snow that, if you squinted, sort of resembled snow succubi and incubi. The smile from those memories wasn’t quite hidden by the mug of delicious beverage she was enjoying, of course.
It was Christmas Eve, a time for gathering family, that moment in the midst of winter where warmth of family came before the chill of the winter and reminded the red-tailed Queen of the Realm that it wasn’t the gifts that mattered as much as the family gathered.
But this particular moment in time came with the realization that this wouldn’t quite be the usual gathering. The snows had made travel more than difficult, various members of the family being huddled in their own homes as the storm had its way with the Realm proper. While it would have been wonderful for all to gather in the usual way, there was a point at which trying to do so would be foolish by far. So the calls were made, plans cancelled for the moment and then made for some future point to be sorted when the time came to do so.
Their Eve, and the Day to come, would revolve around their two blue-tailed daughters, and the mirth that came from the rest of the family taking part would come in time. Turning away from the window, an ebon-maned mother watched her daughters work away at the pile of gifts and presents remaining to be wrapped. The family Christmas might be delayed, but there were still things to wrap, cards to sign, and ribbons to tie.
Then the phone rang. She heard her Eternal answer, wishing the caller the best of the season and then he fell quiet listening. A few short questions followed, then a decision made before hanging up. There was something going on and, when Tera entered his study, the contemplative expression made it clear that something was serious. Sometimes words aren’t needed between Eternals. There’s a look that speaks volumes, a wave of a hand or a pursing of lips that tells more than any words really ever could. This was one of them.
The words didn’t explain everything: “I’ll be back before you know it.” Knowing full well what it was like outside, Tera was beside herself. As their daughters discussed red or blue bows, her Eternal explained: the reason he had to go was obvious. There was no possible way he wasn’t going. When Tera said she’d be ready to go in a moment, her Eternal held her close, brushed her wild mane into place before kissing her lovely red lips: “I’ill be fine, Tera. Look after the girls, I’ll be back home soon.”
Keith had left after hugging her tight, making his way out into the chill. Time passed, the piles of unwrapped gifts getting smaller as it did. The view out the bay window didn’t change much, the storm passing as she waited for her Eternal to return. She wished it would stop snowing. Cupping her hands around another warm mug, Tera wished for a lot of things.
Rianna looked up from the present she was wrapping: “What are you thinking about, Mom?” Tera wasn’t sure she wanted to share: “Oh, past Christmases, mostly.” Rianna finished putting a piece of tape haphazardly on the present she was wrapping: “It’s Grandma, isn’t it?” Branwyn stuck a bow on top: “Tell us, Mom.” The daughters of the Queen of the Realm were so very perceptive. Still curled on the sofa, their mother sighed and tried to put her thoughts into the open.
The weather outside was frightful that last Christmas they had with her. What followed next was unexpected and painful, and always would be when their memories cast back and they remembered. But before that darker time was the last Christmas a son had with his mother, the last Christmas they’d had as a family to know her joy when their family gathered and how much she loved this time of the year. The lights outside of her home welcomed all to the decorations within, the warmth of her love, and the wonder she gave in being herself. Her Christmas tree was always a wonder, Tera recalled: how it was decorated just so and how it was the single constant that was always there to greet their family when they gathered by the tree to open their presents.
She looked out the window again and wished he’d be home soon for Christmas.
Hovertext: A patreon subscriber points out that I've repeatedly done Daniel Dennett-related comics on Boxing Day, and that is the most wonderful coincidence I can image.
Today's News:
I continue to feel that everyone out to be freaking out more about developments in AI during the last 5 years.
Holidays and Events of Note for December 21, 2022.
Winter Solstice at 4:48 p.m. EST for the Northern Hemisphere.
Yule
Dongzhi Festival (China) Chinese solstice festival
National French Fried Shrimp Day
National Flashlight Day (U.S.) How to celebrate it? Make sure you have a working flashlight. That’s it.
Día Nacional del Coquito “National Coquito Day” (Puerto Rico) A rum drink popular in Puerto Rico during the holiday season.
Below is a recipe for a virgin Coquito to make it non-virgin add Puerto Rican rum
¼ cup sweetened condensed milk 1 (15 oz.) can think of cream coconut 1 (13.5 oz.) can of coconut milk 1 cup evaporated milk 1 tsp vanilla ½ tsp grated nutmeg 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend and serve chilled.
I recently completed my re-read of the entire Calvin & Hobbes run, and my admiration for Bill Watterson has only grown. It's amazing how strong his art and writing are on the strip from the very beginning. Often features will take some time to find their footing characterization and design wise, but C&H is just about perfect right from the first week - and never wavered in quality until its completion.
If you haven’t got yourself a countdown calendar yet, why not download one to print and make yourself? My best-selling Ancient Greek Mythical Creatures calendar is available as a download in two versions – regular with creatures, or a Teacher’s version that also has the option to print blank for students to draw their own surprises!
Downloads might be the best option for last-minute gifting this year, what with the new slew of planned Postal strikes disrupting deliveries, although for anyone risking it I do have some gorgeous Iris necklaces (and soon-to-come Iris keychains!) left in my shop, as well as Saturnalia cards and gods sticker sets! Order this week for the best chance for Christmas delivery!
On December 1st the SuccuWiki will be having its 15th anniversary. Yesterday on the SuccuWiki I published the 8,000th article. On each thousandth mark I tell something about one of the Realm’s characters and for this milestone it’s Miriam.
Here’s her story…
Name: Miriam
Title(s): Yellow Tailed Librarian of the Realm
AngelKitty: Dewey
Age: Physically mid-20s, though she is almost a century in age
Gender: Female
Hair Colour: Strawberry Blonde
Eye Colour: Violet
Tail Colour: Yellow – The brightest yellow tail seen in a century
Personality: Kind with an air of innocence while oblivious to her sexual attractiveness
Strength(s): Highly intelligent with an inquisitive nature
Weakness(es): Odd things happen around her for… reasons
Favorite Place: The Library of the Realm
Home in the Realm: Etherial Hills
Alias: The Brightest of the Yellow Tails
Created By: JHB
Quote: 42 is all wrong… the answer is 44.
Miriam, better known as The Brightest Yellow Tail Seen In A Century, and the Realm’s Assistant Librarian to Tera, is a Collective Succubi, being known for the brightness of her tail colour and the odd events that occur around her, which are legendary. She is a yellow-tailed succubi; her AngelKitty is named Dewey and her boyfriend is Irving.
Best described as sweet and almost completely unaware of her initiate sexuality, Miriam’s main focus is being the best she can be as a librarian to repay Tera’s faith in her from the beginning of their relationship. The focus of unexpected events when she is nearby, as part of her nature as a yellow tail, is known throughout the Succubi Realm and beyond.
Physical Description
Miriam appears to be in her early twenties physically, having horns and tail of a gleaming yellow colour brighter than any yellow tail in the past hundred years and possibly the brightest yellow colour in Realm history, though historians still debate that point. Her normal scent is lemon, though in some circumstances she has taken on a slight cherry aroma when she is sexually aroused. She has medium-length strawberry-blonde hair which she ties up with red ribbons into curled ponytails over her shoulders. She normally wears red-framed oval glasses through which her lovely violet eyes can be seen. Both the red ribbons in her hair and the red rimmed glasses are nods to her mentor, Tera.
Miriam tends to appear somewhat shy in her personality and looks. While she is one of the succubi, her sexuality doesn’t drive her personality as it does others of the Realm. While outgoing and more than willing to be helpful. This reflects on her librarian role, although she is, nonetheless, still attractive to others. She usually appears in muted tones and colours which lend themselves to her librarian role. Preferring low heels, pencil skirts, and short-length bolero jackets over top of a yellow or white fitted top, she projects an air of cute sensuality of which she is largely unaware. She has a collection of costumes in her office in the library, which she chooses from on a weekly basis when she reads stories to the young tails of the Realm. Many of them are made of latex, likely being slightly influenced by Tera’s own preferences in that fashion choice.
Personality
Miriam has an openly cute and outgoing personality, which makes her an eager and attentive student willing to learn new things. While not overtly sexual or seductive, this does mean that, for the most part, others saw her as cute-but-weird, or maybe as a close friend but not necessarily sexy for some time before joining the Realm Library and coming under Tera’s mentorship. Occasionally unsure about herself when seeing the others of the Realm, she has learned about herself, what she likes, and—in the case of Irving, her boyfriend and co-worker at the Realm Library–whom she loves. Her adoration of Tera, along with Tera’s encouragement, helped to bring her from a young intern at the library into the confident assistant librarian she grew to be. But with all of her growth and abilities, she still sees herself as not being like the other succubi in their sexuality, even though her sexuality and seductiveness has blossomed over time.
Powers and Abilities
Miriam has all of the innate powers and abilities of the Succubi in the Realm. She can change her form if she wishes, though—much like her adored mentor, Tera–she does not do so. At most, she will use her powers to shift the clothing she wears into different looks and styles if needed, but her personality and nature tends to make such changes cute with an undercurrent of sexuality that she does not note. Being a yellow-tail, the greatest power she has could be described as being able to influence events in odd and unexpected ways. For example, she is probably best known for being the focus of an event whereby the entire Realm found themselves in physical contact with their TailSelves, something that was thought to be impossible, and then bring entwined with them and their loves, the event spiralling out of control until Miriam and her TallSelf Marilyn were able to find a solution and bring the Realm back from the whirlwind they had entered.
History
The only daughter of her mother, a teacher, and her father, a philosopher, Miriam spent her formative years being taught the whys and ways of the Realm by her attentive parents. Never without a question, and having at a very young age read all of the books in their home, Miriam was introduced to the Realm Library by her mother. This opened the door to her future. Though very shy and something of a bookworm in her younger years, she adored the Library, spending every moment possible exploring the treasures within, sometimes to the dismay of the staff, who worried about a yellow tail being let loose within the walls. Regardless, Miriam’s world revolved around the library and, when the time came for her to consider her future, she had only one goal. However, gaining an internship to the Library took three tries, the first two bring rejected due to her being a yellow tail and the staff’s concerns about the Library’s collections. On the third attempt, Tera intervened in the deliberations to gain Miriam’s acceptance.
What followed was Miriam growing from being shy and uncertain about herself and her worth, to blossoming into her true self, both as one of the Succubi and as the librarian she desired to be. While becoming the assistant librarian to Tera’s role as the head librarian, along the way Tera’s encouragement, along with that of her TailSelf, Marilyn, brought her to encounter Irving, a shy and unassuming member of the Incubi; they soon became a couple, looking after the library together. As time passed, Miriam had many adventures within and outside the Library, many of them being a direct result of the effects of her being the brightest of the yellow tails of the Realm. But, with all of her growth and experiences, Miriam still doesn’t quite see herself as being overtly sexual or seductive. While not a real problem for her, there’s an undercurrent of cute mixed with a hint of sensuality which is attractive to many and which Tera adores.
TailSelf
Marilyn is Miriam’s TailSelf, a silver-tailed Succubi with chestnut brown hair and very violet eyes of a deeper colour than Miriam’s own. Far more direct and open in her sexuality, Marilyn has a glamorous, predatory nature about her, in complete contrast to Miriam’s own shy and almost completely unaware realization of herself. It is Marilyn’s focus to get her librarian other-self to loosen up a bit and discover just how sensual she could be. Marilyn was responsible for Miriam painting her tail with rouge once before Halloween and turning Miriam into a red-tailed member of the Succubi, still having yellow horns, with long purple hair and an insatiable sexually dominant nature. In the aftermath, Marilyn decided that perhaps being a little gentler in her approach would be better, considering both how Miriam was the brightest yellow tail that had been seen in a century and all that occurred around her.
AngelKitty
Miriam has an AngelKitty called Dewey. She appears to be a dark brown Tabby cat with similarly coloured wings who is very outgoing, regularly seeking attention from visitors. Given that the association of cats with libraries is well known, Dewey’s association with Miriam and the Realm Library makes a great deal of sense. Her human form is that of a young woman in her early 20s, appearing to be younger than Miriam. Her physical form is somewhat gangly with brown eyes and light brunette hair in a pixie cut. Dewey’s relationship to Miriam is mainly as an assistant in the library, to help with the many of visitors who ask for help, befriend them, boost librarian morale, and inspire reading. Outside of the library, she tries to encourage Miriam to be a bit more adventurous and explore her sexual nature as it matures.
Trivia
Miriam modified the Pitchfork Decimal cataloguing system to work with almost every language—earthbound and not—represented in the Realm Library.
Miriam first came to the library with her mother—a teacher—as a little girl and fell in love with the place.
Her application to intern at the Realm Library was rejected twice before Tera “encouraged” her acceptance, due to her being a yellow tail and the legends around them.
She is an exceedingly bright and a quick learner, having come to her role in the library with only a few minor odd incidents during her internship.
Regularly reads fairy tales to the youngest of the Realm while dressed up as a character in the story she reads to them.
Wears red-rimmed glasses and red ribbons to tie up her bangs as a nod to her mentor Tera and all she has learned.
Irving. Miriam’s boyfriend, has a Tailself named Ike, both of whom are smitten with Miriam as much as she is with them.
Miscellaneous
Miriam has appeared in many stories on Tera’s Blog; she is a major character in the Realm mythos. A list of stories in which she appears can be found here and here.
Miriam is one of the few Realm characters who has appeared in other story universes written by other authors.
Miriam has appeared in a comic book series as a minor character. She appeared in the fourth issue of Vampire Bloodlines to assist another character’s search for information.
Something different here on the Tale, someone my heart brought to life in his words and brings me no end of joy always…
Whether you’re buying for Christmas and Boxing Day, or its great, great predecessor Saturnalia and the Sigillaria gifting, my lovely friend Dr Cora Beth Fraser has put together a wonderful Classics-themed present guide. She does this every year but this year it’s a bumper one in PDF form!
I’ve also got my own Saturnalia shop in order! Buying from me directly through my Gumroad, Etsy or Redbubble shops helps me to keep the site running and ad-free!
I’m taking a one week break from Tina’s story here on the Tale. I will return to her story next week. The story this week won’t explain why that is; it’s not meant to. But it is meant to be a …
Reminders
By TeraS
For Alei …
Time is neither a person nor a creature. It is the result of such things that mortal beings, whomever or whatever they are, use to mark the point at which they are existing. The singular thing about the marking of time’s passage is the events that come and go, the moments we remember long after, and the effects that come.
Insignificant events can lodge in our thoughts at the most odd moments, transporting us back to when things were as they once were. The mists of time bring such a moment into the here and now and the one who remembers cannot help her smile. They were both so young then, futures unwritten, their stories still to be told. It was stories, after all, that provided the moment in which their lives crossed.
It’s a bit melancholy, she has to admit to herself, to lookback at what they’d started with and where things went from there. But there’s one story, begun so long ago, that the ebon-maned woman had never shared with the blonde she loves from afar. Still unfinished, much like the stories their lives tell with the passage of time, but perhaps there comes a point when the story need not be finished to be told.
She adored the blonde angel from afar for some time before the Goddess conspired for them to cross paths and have their first hello. The story started from that tentative first step, moving towards something of a mutual attraction between them. Every time the angel was flustered, the red-tail just adored her that little bit more. The quirks were especially delightful and one of those would lead to a truth shared between them.
She knew full well that the angel was a bit scattered, a little lost in her path towards the future. The most telling thing was that every time she started reading the book for angels, it was upside down, and every time the red-tail could, she turned the book about for the angel to read. A simple gesture perhaps, one made with the knowledge that the angel would learn that little bit more, grow that smidgen more, take another small tentative step towards becoming what she truly was, even if the angel couldn’t see it herself. We are, after all, our own worst critics, as the so-green-eyed member of the succubi was very much aware. In one of those moments, where the angel was lost and unsure, the truth was revealed to both.
The first words were telling for the angel as her blue eyes looked into the green of her friend: “I believe in you, Alei.” She wasn’t sure how to reply to that, finding her words stilled by a fingertip being drawn over the bridge of her nose. “We all stumble. We aren’t any of us perfect.”
Alei didn’t express her thoughts that her friend with the red horns and tail was perfect in her own way. But her friend placed a hand in hers and continued: “You, dearest Alei, inspire me.” The blush on the angel’s cheeks was, to her friend, adorably cute. “I believe in how amazing you are, I believe in your passion, your strength, and, yes, your wisdom. I believe in you.”
They’d never spoken of things beyond their newfound friendship to this moment, it all being still too raw and new for them both. It was still a new experience for the angel to be close to her friend, being flustered more than usual when she was being teased. Her halo turning orange and, on occasion, burning was a newfound experience. The first time her friend had put a cardboard halo on a stick in her own mane of wild hair and it exploded into flames, was one of the delights they’d shared in laughter.
She didn’t expect her friend to come closer, to bring her lovely red lips to her own coral-coloured pair. She didn’t expect the whisper meant for her alone: “I love you, Alei.” She didn’t expect how her breath caught at the admission revealed, their kiss tentative, exploring, hesitant before they parted.
Her eyes were wet as Alei found her voice: “I love you, Tera.” She’d said the truth held within from the moment the angel had seen her from afar. She’d hoped that her friend felt as she did, the hints and teasing between them being the means to open each other to the truth they shared. That truth carried forwards through the years that followed and will follow.
With time comes moments where one or the other would stumble. Their doubts would seep in. With each would come the knowledge that the other was there, waiting, arms open to comfort, to bring a smile, to remind that they were not alone–nor would ever be–to say the words: “Believe in yourself:” three not so small words when one’s world is in turmoil, words that matter when we need them the most.
Why is the story unfinished? There are always moments when we wonder if we matter to someone. Perhaps the reminder to each that they do is what matters as their story continues to be told.
