Prompt 7 ─ Happiness [END PAGE 6]

[Knickknacks]

Psyche // 447 words

"I wouldn't say I'd given up my happiness, really- it's not as though my job makes me unhappy," Psyche said thoughtfully, twiddling her thumbs. "But... it would be a lie to say that sometimes I felt sad or lonely while doing it. A lot of the time, actually."

"I'm a soul weaver, you see. Do you- do you know what that is? It's kind of like- you know how some cultures have legends about invisible threads binding soulmates together? Well, suppose that was real. Except suppose it was with hundreds upon hundreds of threads, not just denoting soulmates but representing other relationships as well. That's my job- to untangle those, and help mortals work out their own relationships."

"Some of the time, I love my job- I love it when I reunite long-estranged family, or help two friends overcome a grudge, or lead a pair of soulmates to each other. Those small happy moments warm my heart, getting to see those and knowing I helped to bring it about. It's... special." Here, Psyche paused in her explanation, a curious little smile spreading across her face. You can't tell if it's happy or sad- or maybe it's bittersweet.

"Sometimes, though.. it does get lonely. The mortals can't see me most of the time, you know. And seeing friends and family embrace while knowing that I could only appear on their plane for short periods- much to short a time to make real friends- it kind of hurt me, sometimes. And I've never met another soul weaver- if there are many more, I'd suppose they're quite busy, wouldn't you? Mortal lives are surprisingly complex and entangled- oh, I wish you could see the web of threads like I see it. It's really quite spectacular."

"But all that is to say- yes, sometimes it felt like I was giving up my own happiness to help others pursue theirs. And the knowledge that they couldn't even know, couldn't even tell or thank me for helping them, made it sting all the more. But-" here Psyche's paws strayed to her midriff. "-something extraordinary happened to me. Immortals aren't supposed to get soulmate threads, but..." she trails off again, her smile definitely a happy one this time. You don't need her to finish her sentence to know what she's thinking about. You wonder what a soulmate thread looks like to her eyes.

"Ah- I'm sorry, I'm rambling," Psyche says, brushing her hair from her eyes, a slight blush upon her face. "But don't worry- things are... better for me now. I guess having someone out there who's felt loneliness like yours, someone who sees you and knows you- that makes all of it easier."

[recherché.]

Anastasia



"I couldn't save you."

[cervidae]

there are things we do that we'd rather not admit

suama

(super last minute x_x)

[CSMintCat]

"I gave up my happiness for hers, but neither of us were happy in the end."

Indigo, ft. mystery Kalon.

[waffle02]

~ Kavik ~

(277 words)

I gave up a lot of things in my life. But the main one was my home.
I had lived with the tribe for my entire life up to that point, but then I made a terrible mistake and I had to be the one to pay for it. I had used the forbidden tools. I was the one who killed the deer, it was all me. My younger brother was with me, but he didn't understand what I had done. He was happy, thinking I had caught this beast on my own to bring to the tribe. But that wasn't the truth. I had cheated the system and now I was going to have to pay for it. I was scared, but I knew that if I stayed there that I wouldn't be the only one to pay for my deed, my brother would have to pay to.
So I ran and I didn't look back. I knew if I looked back that I would see my brother with a confused look on his face and I couldn't stand that. There was no way I'd be able do this if I saw him again.
So I didn't look. I hope that he is happy now. I hope that he can play in the sun again. I may not be able to ever return home, but at least he can still live with our tribe and live the life I was supposed to. I may regret my mistake in the first place, but I don't regret running away. I may not be happy in this new life, but I can at least hope that my brother is.

[sobble]

For so long, I sacrificed myself for my brother.

With Anzu - technical difficulties, i can’t post links and this is late i’m sorry ):

[Lillybear]

This prompt is now closed! All entries that have been posted before this will be accepted. : )

Please do not post until I announce the winners, which will likely be some time tomorrow. Thank you!

[Lillybear]

Silence falls as you have no more words left to say. Looking at Bao-Bao, you suddenly realize that at some point during your exchange she had removed her veil from over her eyes and draped it behind her head.

You could've sworn you saw something distant in her eyes, her eyes which are as lovely and as pink as the cherry blossoms─it was a dim sort of light, something shimmering far away but alive. Was it hope? Some sort of realization? Sympathy? You can't tell─but as soon as you noticed it, she blinked and it was gone.

She quickly presses the cherry blossom you returned to her back inside your paw.

"You can keep this," she said. "Thank you for your time. It was a pleasure meeting you."

After that, she turned her head away, and lifted her veil back down over her face.

It was clear she intended to say no more.

─

Thank you all so much for entering my prompt! I loved reading everyone's stories and viewing everyone's art, it was really hard to pick the winners with all of y'all's amazing creativity. (Special thanks to Aey for helping!)

Writing winner: trans
Art winner: shinjitaro

Everyone's points have been added to the bank!

[shinjitaro]

OH!!! oh crap, i did not expect that o': what a nice surprise!!
thank you! and congrats to trans as well ^^