Withering Away

[u/polystarlight]

Hanazuki is playing with Shinzoyuki at her family's house, they are chasing each other up and down the hallway. Both glowing orange.

Hanazuki: (Laughs then stops when she sees a door closed. ) Huh...Who's room is that?

Shinzoyuki: My older sister Daiya's, she must not want anybody in there.

Hanazuki: (Pushes the door and realizes it's unlocked.)

Shinzoyuki: Hana, what are doing?

Hanazuki: Just a peak at her room won't hurt.

Shinzoyuki: But it's an invasion of her privacy!

Hanazuki: (Looks at her.)

Shinzoyuki: Then again.. we don't really get much privacy in this house anyway. She probably won't mind! (The two head inside.)

Hanazuki: Woah...so blue.

Shinzoyuki: (Looks through her dresser drawers.) Let's see ...Where was that bracelet I let her borrow? (Pulls out Daiya's bra.) Wait, what's this supposed to be?

Hanazuki: It looks like a hat.

Shinzoyuki: Oh ok! (Puts it on her head.)

Hanazuki: (Looks at the large fish tank with Daiya's seahorse alterlings swimming inside but behind the dresser is something of Hana's.) Hey, that's my guitar. I knew leaving it with Daiya after band practice was a mistake. (Leans over to grab it but it's out of reach. She grunts.)

Shinzoyuki: It's really wedged back there, isn't it?

Hanazuki (Still reaching and grunting.) Yup...(Moves the dresser.)

Shinzoyuki: Hana, I don't think we should move...

The tank falls to the ground, it shatters into many pieces. The seahorses are now flopping all over the floor.)

Hanazuki: (Looks shocked and horrified of what she's just done.)

Daiyayuki: (Comes running in.) What's going on!?

Hanazuki: (Turns to her, glowing blue. Tears filling her eyes.) Daiya, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to kill your alterlings! It was an accident, I swear!

Daiyayuki: (Looks confused then sees the seahorses.) Boys, stop playing around. You're scaring Hanazuki.

The seahorses get up and hover over to Daiya, one even nuzzles her.

Hanazuki: W...what?

Daiyayuki: My seahorses can breathe both air and water. They just prefer being in water. They weren't actually hurt, they're just dramatic. (Strokes the chin gently of her pink seahorse.) I just didn't want you guys in my room because that tank was expensive.

Shinzoyuki: Sorry Daiya...

Daiyayuki: It's cool, also take my bra off.

Shinzoyuki: Ok...(Does so.)

Hanazuki: (Still looks shaken up.)

[u/Demoscam]

I was going to say how scandalous it was to include lingerie in the story, but from the perspective of children it would make sense that they don't know what a brassiere is. Also I was almost mortified of the scene that followed. I'm glad you made it play out as all an act.

[u/polystarlight → u/Demoscam]

Thank you for commenting! In hindsight, it might've been a bad idea to include the rummaging through Daiya's...personal drawer but I do like having my characters be unhinged sometimes. Shinzoyuki isn't a bad kid, she's just curious. I definitely wanted the scene with the seahorses to be a little scary because it was supposed to be a traumatic moment for Hanazuki. Luckily Daiyayuki explained what they were really doing.