Submission (#892) Approved
Prompt
Submitted
29 April 2025, 03:11:21 UTC (3 weeks ago)
Processed
30 April 2025, 18:55:43 UTC (3 weeks ago) by RadientLapis
Comments
The fog that shrouded the graveyard parted enough for the sunlight to peek through. Tombstones and statues were bathed in the warm rays. Buds of flowers yet to bloom reached for its touch, leaves open and welcoming.
The Acolyte found his angel basking in the sunlight. Seated on a crumbling bench, Elysia’s hands were clasped over his lap. He was motionless. Birds came to perch beside him, some on the bench, some on his shoulder. A sparrow was nestled beneath the flap of his hat, beak hard at work to preen its plumage. Acolyte watched the scene in silence, displaced in this peaceful scene. He didn’t plan to approach until he sensed his angel beckoning to him.
“You’re back again.”
“Of course.”
“Today is warm.” The way Elysia’s words smiled with each syllable made Acolyte feel warm inside. His hands shifted. The paper of a bouquet crinkled between his fingers, reminding him why he was here.
“I brought flowers. Can I leave them here with you?” Acolyte asked. Sensing the approval from Elysia, the Acolyte took a few careful steps forward. The birds stared at him warily, yet didn’t fly away. He held the bouquet out and rested it in Elysia’s lap.
The white lilies were wrapped in kraft paper and tied with a thin ribbon. It was simple, yet it suited Elysia perfectly. A little bit of life in a place surrounded by death… Elysia was like one of those lilies.
A streak of yellow splattered onto Elysia’s head. The birds scattered.
Shock signals filled the air. What the hell was that? It was so abrupt, it took Acolyte a moment to realize it was a broken egg. The yolk was caught in the fur of the ushanka, the whites streaking down.
Two more dropped from above with resounding cracks. Elysia didn’t even stir. Acolyte looked up for the culprit.
Kyuu was hanging in the tree above. Her legs and spiked tail coiled the branch, securing her in place above Elysia. Nestled in her sleeves were more pearlescent eggs. Without a word, a fourth egg was tossed down, cracking on Elysia. Acolyte felt his cytoplasm boil.
“You! Stop that!!” Hands balled at his side, the Acolyte’s rage permeated the air. The peaceful scene was thoroughly shattered. Elysia’s head raised to look at him.
“It’s alright. There is no harm done.” The gentle tone only fueled Acolyte’s anger. He didn’t know how Elysia could be calm like this…
“Elysia…” He released his fists and reached out. His hands clasped over Elysia’s, still folded on his lap. “Here, let’s go wash you by the pond. This must be uncomfortable for you.”
“Sure.”
“Man, you guys are boring!”
Acolyte snapped towards Kyuu in the tree.
“Boring? How dare you do something like this to our angel! Don’t you have any shame?!”
“It’s Fool’s Day! How could I not mess around with him?” Kyuu rested her head against the branch. The drips of her cytoplasm dotted the bark with dark blue. “I feel bad though, he didn’t even do anything…”
“Unbelievable-”
“No more fighting.” Elysia stood from the bench. He placed the bouquet on the bench where he sat, resting them in the sunlight. “The birds can sense your anger.”
Acolyte’s shoulders sank.
“Sorry. I will… try to relax.” As he began to lead Elysia through the graveyard, he heard the tree rustling and jerking. A quiet thud and footsteps behind them meant their prankster was tagging along, but Acolyte remained silent. All he wanted was an apology from her.
The pond was a short stroll away. The warm touch of the sun reached here as well; the light curtained down across the water, making it shimmer with every ripple made by the swimming fish. The Acolyte led Elysia to the edge.
Elysia took off his ushanka and the loose tank top he always wore. Both were soiled, and handed to Acolyte to clean. Acolyte held both articles under the water. Even though this pond had no stream leading to or away, the water was always clearer than crystal. It was strange. His fingers ran through the fabric, washing the egg away as best he could.
“Hey, angel guy. No hard feelings, right?” Acolyte raised his head to notice Kyuu standing beside Elysia. She stood a few inches over him, as if her bright yellow jacket and dyed hair didn’t make her stand out enough. Elysia regarded her wordlessly. There were no words needed to tell that he forgave her already, by the way his head tilted and his signals were nothing but kind. Kyuu tilted her head in return, fidgeting in place.
“So weird…”
“Be nice to him!”
776 words
The Acolyte found his angel basking in the sunlight. Seated on a crumbling bench, Elysia’s hands were clasped over his lap. He was motionless. Birds came to perch beside him, some on the bench, some on his shoulder. A sparrow was nestled beneath the flap of his hat, beak hard at work to preen its plumage. Acolyte watched the scene in silence, displaced in this peaceful scene. He didn’t plan to approach until he sensed his angel beckoning to him.
“You’re back again.”
“Of course.”
“Today is warm.” The way Elysia’s words smiled with each syllable made Acolyte feel warm inside. His hands shifted. The paper of a bouquet crinkled between his fingers, reminding him why he was here.
“I brought flowers. Can I leave them here with you?” Acolyte asked. Sensing the approval from Elysia, the Acolyte took a few careful steps forward. The birds stared at him warily, yet didn’t fly away. He held the bouquet out and rested it in Elysia’s lap.
The white lilies were wrapped in kraft paper and tied with a thin ribbon. It was simple, yet it suited Elysia perfectly. A little bit of life in a place surrounded by death… Elysia was like one of those lilies.
A streak of yellow splattered onto Elysia’s head. The birds scattered.
Shock signals filled the air. What the hell was that? It was so abrupt, it took Acolyte a moment to realize it was a broken egg. The yolk was caught in the fur of the ushanka, the whites streaking down.
Two more dropped from above with resounding cracks. Elysia didn’t even stir. Acolyte looked up for the culprit.
Kyuu was hanging in the tree above. Her legs and spiked tail coiled the branch, securing her in place above Elysia. Nestled in her sleeves were more pearlescent eggs. Without a word, a fourth egg was tossed down, cracking on Elysia. Acolyte felt his cytoplasm boil.
“You! Stop that!!” Hands balled at his side, the Acolyte’s rage permeated the air. The peaceful scene was thoroughly shattered. Elysia’s head raised to look at him.
“It’s alright. There is no harm done.” The gentle tone only fueled Acolyte’s anger. He didn’t know how Elysia could be calm like this…
“Elysia…” He released his fists and reached out. His hands clasped over Elysia’s, still folded on his lap. “Here, let’s go wash you by the pond. This must be uncomfortable for you.”
“Sure.”
“Man, you guys are boring!”
Acolyte snapped towards Kyuu in the tree.
“Boring? How dare you do something like this to our angel! Don’t you have any shame?!”
“It’s Fool’s Day! How could I not mess around with him?” Kyuu rested her head against the branch. The drips of her cytoplasm dotted the bark with dark blue. “I feel bad though, he didn’t even do anything…”
“Unbelievable-”
“No more fighting.” Elysia stood from the bench. He placed the bouquet on the bench where he sat, resting them in the sunlight. “The birds can sense your anger.”
Acolyte’s shoulders sank.
“Sorry. I will… try to relax.” As he began to lead Elysia through the graveyard, he heard the tree rustling and jerking. A quiet thud and footsteps behind them meant their prankster was tagging along, but Acolyte remained silent. All he wanted was an apology from her.
The pond was a short stroll away. The warm touch of the sun reached here as well; the light curtained down across the water, making it shimmer with every ripple made by the swimming fish. The Acolyte led Elysia to the edge.
Elysia took off his ushanka and the loose tank top he always wore. Both were soiled, and handed to Acolyte to clean. Acolyte held both articles under the water. Even though this pond had no stream leading to or away, the water was always clearer than crystal. It was strange. His fingers ran through the fabric, washing the egg away as best he could.
“Hey, angel guy. No hard feelings, right?” Acolyte raised his head to notice Kyuu standing beside Elysia. She stood a few inches over him, as if her bright yellow jacket and dyed hair didn’t make her stand out enough. Elysia regarded her wordlessly. There were no words needed to tell that he forgave her already, by the way his head tilted and his signals were nothing but kind. Kyuu tilted her head in return, fidgeting in place.
“So weird…”
“Be nice to him!”
776 words
Rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Abandoned Mask | 1 |
| Plasma Tokens | 700 |
| Serum | 15 |
Characters
