“kissing your lover's forehead, then bending down to meet their lips” for calien? 🫶
this took me so long lol, thank you for sending this dani 💕
Before Dawn | ~950 words | mid ENW spoilers under the cut (and vague mentions of ranged role quest stuff, but nothing major if you haven't done it)
Calantha wakes to find the space beside her cold and empty.
"Hien?" she whispers. She blinks sleep from her eyes. How long has he been gone? It's some odd time of the night, far past midnight but not yet dawn. The room is dark and quiet but for the wind gusting against the roof. She rises to her feet, feeling around in the dark for her haori and boots. He must be outside.
They've both slept fitfully in the nights since her return. With the blasphemy's last appearance, terror and unrest simmer under the surface of all in the enclave and beyond, threatening to mutate into something far more deadly.
Calantha had kept watch for the blasphemy the first night, too on edge to sleep, her mind replaying the memory of the sky falling over Thavnair. A disaster she'd set in motion, despite her best intentions. But the intentions made no difference now. She’d locked up her guilt and fear in favor of action. She hoped her actions would be enough.
Perhaps it was selfish, coming back to Doma now, when the whole world needed her. But she couldn't ignore his request for aid.
Now she dresses quickly and steps from the room. Despite the new number of those taking refuge within, the Kienkan is silent. She finds no sign of him in other rooms, or anywhere out in the streets of the enclave.
Her ground search fruitless, Calantha takes Giles into the air. She guides him above the river, going over any places Hien likes to visit in her mind. None of them seem likely. The moon is high, almost full, bathing everything in a soft, cool light. A fitting cold sky for the chilly wind.
After half a bell of telling herself not to worry, the sight of his yol resting on the abandoned moon gate platform floods her with relief. Giles lands with a sharp "kweh." She slides from the bird's back and lands softly on her feet.
Hien doesn't seem to have noticed her approach, or at least, he doesn't acknowledge her. He stands a few feet from the stark drop of the wall. His gaze falls on the flooded ruins of the castle. He still wears only the loose smock and trousers he slept in. She doesn't see his sword anywhere.
"It's chilly without you," she says. Calantha steps up next to him, boots crunching on the old stone. She clutches her haori around her, fighting off a shiver.
He says nothing. He's been quieter, more reserved in the past few days. She doesn't need to ask why.
"You've barely slept since you arrived," Hien says, finally. He doesn't look at her. "I thought you might prefer to not be woken again. I do seem to steal the blankets when I toss." A hint of a smile lifts his lips, but doesn't reach his eyes.
Calantha rests her hand on his shoulder. "That's kind of you," she says. "But I would prefer having you next to me. I sleep alone enough as it is." She doesn't say her next thought. How else will I keep you safe?
He turns his head to offer her another weak smile. "I shall keep that in mind."
She studies his face, relief at finding him and worry for his well-being conflicting inside her. The cold moonlight does him no favors. He looks washed out, haunted. Far too tired. "Hien... Are you all right? I came to offer company, but if you'd rather be alone, I can go back."
Hien sighs, a long slow breath. He looks back out over the river. "I thought myself in need of time to clear my mind, but it has solved nothing. I would not begrudge you for returning to bed, but if you wish to stay–"
"Of course I do." Calantha slips her arm around his shoulders.
She brushes a hand against his cheek, tucking a free strand of dark hair behind his ear. He meets her eyes.
"Do you want to talk? Would it help?"
"I am...unsure." His brow furrows. He looks down at his feet. "Forgive me," he murmurs. "I do not mean to make you worry." He wraps an arm around her waist. "You have enough cares as it is."
The weariness of the past days is plain in his voice, dragging his words down like an iron weight. Try as he might, he can't hide it from her.
She cups his cheek, pulling his gaze back to hers. "My worries for you aren't your doing."
She presses her lips to his forehead, willing the kiss to take his cares away. He sighs and closes his eyes as she lowers her face to leave a small, soft kiss on his lips.
For a moment the wind calms to a gentler breeze. Hien rests his head on her shoulder. His arm is warm around her. She wraps her other arm over his shoulder, holding him close. They stand in silence. The river is a distant roar mingling with the near, soft sounds of their breath.
"Come back to bed," Calantha says. "Daylight will be here before we know it. Let's rest while we can."
The wind picks up again, sending a shiver through her. Hien leans closer, hiding his face against her neck.
"It will be warm inside, at least," she adds.
"You are right," he says, with a tired huff. He steps back, but he still holds onto her hand. "I’m glad you came to me."
"You can thank me by sharing the blankets," Calantha says. She squeezes his hand. "Let's go."
By the time they fall back onto the futon, huddling close for warmth, birds are singing just before the dawn. Calantha closes her eyes, trying not to think about the days ahead. Everything is uncertain. Everything could go to ruin in a moment, with her helpless to stop it. But for now Hien is safe, asleep, and warm against her. She can take some comfort in that.
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Me: *on the phone with my mother* Yeah God has me in a holding pattern right now so I'm just chilling.
*two days later* Stuff Starts Happening
Which. Don't get me wrong. It's good stuff and stuff I've been praying for for awhile now but also... it is going to be Tiring and Inconvenient to deal with and the holding pattern the boys and I have been in has been remarkably comfortable, actually, and I am reluctant to face the exertion and weariness that the process of this Stuff is going to require and...
Anyway, don't mind me, just complaining about blessings again. XP
(I'm just. I already know good and well that I am going to be Tired for the next few months. Really really Tired. Even with trusting and praying it's still going to take mental and physical energy and also concern for my children and it's just. Gack.)
(Actually maybe I need to be praying that I will soon meet a dependable, trustworthy babysitter so that my children can get to know and trust them before the impending periods of hours of separation. And yeah yeah "Bri just hours?" but keep in mind my children have never been separated from me except once, my eldest stayed with my in-laws while I was in the hospital giving birth to my second son and that Did Not Go Well. Indeed my youngest never even experienced the usual separation anxiety phase that happens around a year old because he has never been without me.
Add to that that we don't actually know ANYONE in the area. Like at all. Except my mother, who is currently without transportation and who I don't... fully... trust to watch my kids for like... four hours. Or longer.
Anyway this has been weighing on me and I don't know why it hasn't occurred to me to pray about it before.)
On another note, when the CPS dude visited today he asked if we were going to be okay (re: my husband no longer providing any financial support at all) and I said yes, because we have no other choice but to be, and we just sort of looked at each other. But I didn't come off as worried because even though I know already that next month is going to be challenging, I also have full trust that God has not brought us this far just to drop us now. Just because I don't know yet what He has planned doesn't mean He doesn't have a plan and also I think I've maybe gotten a glimpse at it? Little bitty glimpse? Just takes a certain amount of effort on my part.
...yes I'm a bit lazy. XP
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Ya got any rants stored up? Long-burning hatred?
i FINALLY found one i’ve been holding onto this ask waiting for the opportunity.
i HATE how people treat people with anxiety disorders. it’s endless pity mixed with complete incompassion
like ok. obligatory i have generalized anxiety disorder here. a lot of things make me stressed and when i’m having bad anxiety attacks (which can last days and sometimes put me into month-long spells of misery) i get physically sick, to the point of throwing up and fever. i also tend to go nonverbal/low-verbal during these periods of time (usually bc i’m nauseous.) i’m also very prone to migraines and have a tic and wear a night guard due to jaw clenching etc etc you get the point it affects me.
when i share these symptoms with people (assuming they don’t have similar symptoms) i get a lot of frowny faces. “owh i’m sorry :( that must be awful how horrible“ and the like. and it’s never said in a way that’s actually kind. it’s said in the way people talk about those aspca commercials. and it’s never actually come from a place of genuine concern- it’s superficial pity apparently meant to placate me. i hate it
and that’s assuming i even get that reaction at all! usually when i try to explain to someone that i’m experiencing symptoms of some sort like “hey i’m sorry i can’t really be productive right now, i’ve got a lot of brain fog” i am ALWAYS dismissed. EVERY time. maybe it’s because i’m quite skilled at coping and masking. maybe it’s because my panic attacks don’t (always) look like wailing and thrashing and choking on air. but for some reason people don’t seem to understand that yes my anxiety disorder is actually disabling for me sometimes. i will ask for an accommodation i need, be compared to someone else with different needs from me, and then be told i need to just suck it up and deal with it. and i am SO! TIRED! OF! IT!!!! the amount of times i’ve told people “hey please don’t say that to me i’m prone to paranoia about xyz” and then been yelled at because “it’s not that serious take a joke” is ABSURD. hey maybe stop telling me my cough is covid bc now i have to spend the next 3 hours reminding myself that i don’t have any other symptoms asshole!!! jesus
and THEN when i actually DO find a way to cope or utilize the way my brain works or god forbid crack a fucking joke about it people get mad at me. “see i knew it wasn’t a big deal” or “so you’re actually fine” or “that’s not funny” i am. so tired of it
and then i go online and see people saying that disorders like anxiety and depression have been destigmatized and we’re treated basically the same in neurotypical society. motherfucker i did not go undiagnosed for 17 years with several doctors telling me it “wasn’t anything to worry about” despite my family history and clear signs from a young age just to be told my disorder is respected. if i say my anxiety is a disability i get called dramatic and am told to stop taking attention away from people who need it- or not to call it a disability because “it’s not that bad” and i’m fine because clearly having a disability makes every second of your life miserable of course of course. hell anxiety is demonized too! not as badly as many other illnesses but it’s still demonized!!! if i tell people “hey i have anxiety so please be careful with xyz” they act like i just asked them to let me do anything i want without consequence. there’s literally a whole fucking stereotype of people using “anxiety” as an excuse to be lazy or an asshole or entitled. as someone whose anxiety manifests in depressive spirals (freeze response) and rejection sensitivity (doom spiraling) this is Not Great!!!!! like i am hypervigilant about enough things i do not need to add “will these people get mad if i explain how my brain works” to the list
and about the rejection sensitivity. i HATEEEEE when people judge me for crying because they’re upset at something i’ve done wrong. “mars if you’re in the wrong then you’re not the victim” who the fuck said i think i’m the victim???? i cry because my brain takes “can you pls stop doing this it genuinely bugs me” and turns it into “you’re a horrible person how could you do this to someone they hate you.” but just because that happens doesn’t mean i’m not capable of rational thought!!! i KNOW realistically that my friends are good communicators and share that stuff because they like my company. i just need to cry about it as well. that doesn’t negate my logic or say i won’t actually try to improve myself. i’m just upset that i made the mistake. obviously i’m gonna fix it. that one REALLY pisses me off esp when i warn someone in advance that i do that. like calm the fuck down i’m not even pointing out that i’m crying rn this isn’t about me stop making it about me.
ANYWAYS. it’s really frustrating to deal with this shit from nts and then go to an online nd space for community and hear people talk about anxiety disorders like we don’t face ableism. just because it’s quieter doesn’t mean it isn’t there. that AND the “it’s barely an issue” girlie i was told i wasn’t disabled enough by doctors my whole damn life i am NOT about to start hearing it from you too. you can drown in the ocean or a swimming pool or a puddle. doesn’t fucking matter. the hypocrisy irritates me so bad
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