A twilight encounter

One-shot 1

The streets of New Eridu, calm and quiet. In this last surviving space on Earth, the citizens of New Eridu quietly sleep. The night sky hangs low above as the cool winds blow by. It's another peaceful night on 6th street. Another late-night snacking session. As I awake from my slumber, which was really just lying in bed, eyes closed mentally awake. I shift my head against the velvety sheets. My eyes slowly wander to the empty chip bags and crumbs on the table. A few hours prior Cissia had come over and gobbled up all the food. A face stricken with hunger and greed the entire time. Thus leaving with a satisfied smile and a full stomach. With a sigh knowing I had nothing better to do I shifted in bed turning my body and kicking my legs. Gently sliding my feet onto the floor I tidied my wrinkle-ridden black shirt and smoothed out my pajama pants. Now leaving my bed's warmth on a quest to find tomorrow's sustenance. Grabbing a few essentials—my phone and wallet, I sluggishly and sleepily headed down the stairs. Downstairs was a video store, one run by my siblings and managed by bangboo. agents come every now and then to promote store, pick up extra dennies. The store sold the latest movies but also older films that you can't catch at a movie theater anymore. My siblings are actually quite popular on Interknot for some reason but I hardly check the internet enough to know why. I simply watch as they come and go bringing back souvenirs from the places they visit. Yunkui Summit, the outer ring, Port Elpis... Sometimes I even get neat photo cards from their agents. "I wonder why they take such Risqué pictures?" I thought, an unfamiliar pressure welling when I shifted through the photos. Putting my shoes on I yawn, as I lock the store doors behind me stepping out into the cold night. I walked down the street, the grey sidewalk clacking under my sneakers and the quiet rustling of the 6th street cats heard all around me. Some stores were closing up for the night, that ramen spot and tin masters coffee, but 141 was always open 24 hour service. Run by cute Bangboo with astonishing customer support skills. I smile as the store finally fades into view, that blue sign, white lighting, and aisles and aisles worth of snacks, ice cream, and soda. 3 Bangboo stood in front of the store at a stand "ask", "buy", and "give change" pretty on-the-nose names for Bangboo working a convenience store. Pushing the doors to the store open I entered inside. Gently rubbing my eyes at the fluorescent lighting. Still unused to the luminosity of the store amidst this dark night. As my eyes adjusted, I entered an aisle, I was looking not only to replace the snacks lost to Cissia's bottomless pit but also for something to help me sleep. A soft smile crept on my face as I located my favorite snacks, chips, soda, and cookies. The chips were a rare-to-find spicy treat that only this store sold. It was in this way that this local convenience store was special to me. As I stepped toward the counter to pay for my things a light headache began to set in. Letting out a hiss of pain as the familiar migraine set In. The last incident my sibling fainted from the pain. Feeling the first few sensations rush through my mind I quickly paid for all my things, turning on a forward March out of the store. "Eh, ehna!.. En.." the shouts from a bangboo most likely "give change", were muffled static as I push with all my might.  With each step my vision grew fuzzier and my steps heavier and shorter. My arms clutched the bag of snacks as I was still in the process of putting my wallet away. The headache which only grew worse by the minute was now accompanied by a harsh thumping in my chest. Every out of order beat stirring my stomach with every breath. As my sight began to fade to black I felt a gentle touch as delicate fingers curled around my arms. Soft palms catching me in place and gently resting my head against their shoulder. using the last of my energy, I took in this persons looks as best as I could. Pink hair, something black... oh no I fainted... With what little sense of motion I could feel through my partial consciousness.  the soft hands ran across my back and arms wrapped around me carrying me someplace. A gentle hold, with arms adjusting their grip, and my face laying against something soft. It was only when I came too that I found a single black feather lay beside me. It was a deep obsidian color that seemed to sparkle in the light when you turned it. I'd wondered if I had been saved by a bird or an enthusiastic writer from the 1800s. Alas, I was saved for when I turned over further rustling my sheets my eyes landed on the snacks I had just bought the night before. My memory in that moment began to flicker as I remembered those gentle hands that cradled me so tightly and that soft pink hair. From then on I was determined to find this mystery savior myself, maybe thank them or just see what they looked like. My heart's pace quickened just a little as I stared down at the black feather and gently tucked it into a drawer. Winged thirens, where do you even find a winged thiren? They're not commonly seen on 6th street, so who would know to find this mystery savior? I sighed as I scratched my cheek resting a hand on the dresser and shifting my weight against it. Guess I should refrigerate that soda. Picking up the bags and marching downstairs to the staff room I was in awe surprise to find my siblings already there. I thought they'd be at that competition with Cissia and the others. My eyes widened further as I listened to what they were talking about. "Pink **hair, operating alone, a young woman, and "kind of a baddie... actually, definitely a baddie"** spoke my sibling Belle who was currently describing someone to our AI assistant fairy. Walking over to the HDD and leaning against a nearby wall I further listened in on their conversation the soda bottles forgotten in my arms. I definitely recognized who they were talking about but was still on the fence over if this was really who saved me. My cheeks flushing a bit with warmth I thought over if this woman was really who saved me. With an abrupt huff, earning myself confused looks from my siblings I decided to start my search for this person early. Just need to put the soda away first... changing into some more presentable clothing, which was really just some jeans and yet another black shirt I slipped on my shoes and sat out for Lumina Square. What better place to check than there? Plus I was planning on trying those new tea milk flavors from Richard Teamilk. Strutting down the street with an extra vigor in my pace, I made my way to the train station and rode to Lumina Square. A city full of vibrancy with shoppers and their stores. Passing by my favorite convenience stores Lumina branch I waved to the familiar bangboo and crossed the street to Richard Teamilk. This week a new line of drinks came out and it was me and a few other people who were in line to try it and me and me and me. I also scoped out the area while I queued up for signs of a "pink-haired baddies with wings, preferably black". Standing in line, my thoughts wandered as my eyes settled on the menu above me. It was only at the sound of the distressed worker, Coco, that my eyes finally left their spot on the menu and drifted toward the commotion in front of me. Dark obsidian stood in front of me, feathers that sparkled in the light and soft pink hair that matched the one I'd glimpsed the night before. A warmth came over me as my ears stung in immediate recognition of the one who saved me the night before. She was actually... insanely beautiful. Soon my hands grew clammy as I watched the scene unfold before me. "Pearl...? Why would you put pearls in teamilk? Wouldn't that taste fishy and be too hard to chew?" spoke the pink-haired woman as a face profound with confusion was worn on her face. "No, no, they aren't real pearls!" replied Coco, waving her hands in front of her. It was this back-and-forth scene of the jet-black winged women constantly getting confused by the misnomers and metaphors to name each teamilk and its contents. I can't help but snicker a little at the scene, her behavior akin to somebody who hadn't seen the sun in 100 years... the humorous display though was cut short as the black winged woman suddenly ordered all of the top drinks from this week. My eyes followed each cup as the worker handed them one by one to her. Tucking each one under her arms she began to take turns taking a sip of each drink, stopping abruptly before choking on a pearl and then continuing. Before I knew it she'd paid and walked off and I had just let my savior escape me again! Even if I had managed to steal a moment to talk to her, what would I say? "Hi, I'm that girl you carried home after she fainted in the street getting snacks.. hehe.." No, because how do I even know it's her? With a sigh, I decided the next thing on my to-do list was to see a movie recommended to me by a friend. It was an older movie, one that takes place around the old capital, before the fall. It was an interesting concept to me, having only been a small child when it all went down. Entering Gravity Cinema as I have hundreds of times I picked out tickets for the movie "This is how I am". The ticket lady "Hailey" greeted me with a smile and a "thank you for your patronage!". Happy with my seating arrangement I entered the dark room and began to scan the seats to figure out which row I was in. The dim room which obscured my vision was filled with the warm smell of popcorn and the crackling of soda and drinks. A familiar scent that brought back the fondest memories of going to see movies with my siblings. Finally finding my row I squeezed past what I believed to be a regular wolf thiren. Soft dark fur brushed against my arms as I went to sit down. However, this peaceful bliss of enjoying a movie was cut short by the presence of three tea milk cups all lined up in a row on the food tray. Nitro fuel and two other flavors, all characteristic of the new flavors that came out recently, and the very noticeable pink hair that flowed from my movie partner every time the screen flashed a bright white amidst the ads. Watching that silky pink hair shift and go back in perfect place every time she took a sip made a colorful mess explode inside my heart. That soft "fur" I had passed by earlier was her wings, it was that same wing thiren. A slight blush crept on my cheeks at the proximity, the seats so close together in this dark space where we'd sit for hours at a time. Breathing the same air, thinking about the movie. Yet still I was far too afraid to simply strike up conversation, we hardly knew each other and I doubt she even remembered me. A silly faux proxy that fainted in the streets. That thought was all too disheartening shattering the last of my will to even pursue this savior even though I so badly wanted to give them my thanks and get to know them on a greater scale. My mind wandered in absence and I beat myself for being so shy and non-sociable, my eyes staring at the side of this stranger's head, my eyes tracing over her rosy hair and the black bows that adorned it. The movie faded into the background as my mind wandered further from home. I imagine things like what my life would be like if I were confident like her. If I could order my own food without stuttering, talk to people on the phone without falling quiet and hanging up, these thoughts circled around. Then a noise "Huh-" I jumped a little as I finally came back from my thoughts the pink-haired woman now staring right back at me with a calm knowing smirk and even leaning forward a little in her seat. "My presence is rather alluring is it not?" she spoke gently with a slight tease in her tone. "Partner?" She finished with a wink. That wink alone sent micro shocks to my heart that pumped my chest full of heat. "I'm sorry" I whined more than I spoke stumbling over my words the anxiety rising in unison to something else in me from getting caught. "What for?" She giggled audibly for me to hear. "A little bit of curiosity is not a crime" sighing the woman as she brushed her fingers over my arms and tilted her head. I fell quiet unsure of what to say as I watched her hand move into mine, a pressure in me as the heat boiled down to my stomach and radiated across my entire body. Her gentle touch and friendly manner struck something deep within me. Against my own will my fingers gently curled against her own as I avoided her eyes. "You were quite sleepy last night, stumbling through the streets." She cooed as her wings peacefully fluttered and her thumb brushed across the back of my hand. Each swipe sending tingles shooting down my arm. "So it was you." I spoke a little more confidently yet carefully as my heart's own pace pumped blood to my head that disturbed my thoughts. "When did I say that? How do you know I was not but another passerby on the street..?" She quipped tapping her nails on the armrest and leaning on the palm of her hand her cheek propped up by her elbow. "Right.." I exhaled as I took the bait hook line and sinker and lowered my gaze. "I'm only kidding." She laughed more so to herself than at me. "It's dangerous for you to be out alone stumbling like that..." She paused before continuing. "You could hurt yourself" she grinned as she pulled my hand a bit closer. "Thank you for doing that for me." I began "I mean carrying me home and all." I continued correcting myself. Every single word that exited my mouth felt wrong. "You're not going to ask how I knew where you lived?" She smirked before waving her hand as her wings fluttered once more. "I wouldn't have told you anyway." She finished leaving a hanging sense of mystery in the air. "Is there anything I could do? To you know pay you back?" I spoke up as my eyes met hers pleading and nervous. I really wanted to get to know her now, to figure out what kind of person she was and why she chose to help me instead of leave me on the street. "Hm, watch this movie with me, and tell me what you think about it after" she spoke with that same soft voice as she dragged her nails lightly along my arm "Or you could just buy me more of this nitro fuel" she grinned lifting one out of the three teamilk cups present and gently shaking it. "S-" I halted, momentarily deciding which word fit best "Sure, I'll watch it with you" I sighed in relief, "And buy you more nitro fuel too" I smiled letting out a small amused huff at my clever response. This sudden closeness between us was different but not unwanted. It was a gentle throbbing in my chest much like yesterday but in a good way. Despite these confusing feelings I settled against my seat as I let the movie play out. Footage of the old capital, children playing, and the voices of cameramen radiating through the theater. I tried my best to pay attention, so I could give the perfect rundown of the movie, perfect to a T. However in this dark space where the only thing separating us was these black seats and the fabric of our sleeves, my mind was clouded and full of thoughts of only the women sat right next to me.