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rainbowfic2026-04-27 03:10 pm
paradoxcase) wrote in rainbowfic2026-04-27 03:10 pm
Entry tags:
Warm Heart #22 [The Fulcrum]
Name: A Failed Matchmaker
Story: The Fulcrum
Colors: Warm Heart #22: Sorry
Styles and Supplies: None
Word Count: 530
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Setsiana, Liselye
In-Universe Date: 1912.5.4.6
Summary: Setsiana runs into Liselye.
Note: Sorry, I might need to leave off here for a bit. I wanted to get this posted, because this is the last post I need for the February-May challenge, but I'm in the middle of moving now, so I probably won't have much time for writing in the next couple weeks.
Setsiana came back to waking, still with the feeling of tears drying in her eyes and on her face. She rubbed a hand over her bleary eyes, trying to motivate herself to get up. Sapfita had given her something to go on, and had seemed to think it would help, but in the light of the morning she could only feel a deep and hopeless emptiness.
She must have dozed, though she remembered no dreams, because when she next opened her eyes the sunlight was coming in at a much different angle. With a great effort of will, she dragged herself out of bed and dressed.
She dreaded that she might meet Qhoroali in the living room, but she was not there. Dishes clinked from the kitchen, and for a moment she tensed, but then Liselye emerged, with a tray bearing two untouched bowls of congee. She stopped when she saw Setsiana, looking at her curiously. “Do you want breakfast after all?” she asked. “Usually both of you are up before this.”
Setsiana shook her head; she had no desire to try to fill the emptiness with food. “You haven’t seen Qhoroali?” she asked.
“Not today, no,” said Liselye.
“Good. I don’t want to talk to her today.”
Liselye’s eyes narrowed. “Did something happen with you guys?” Her lips pressed into a hard line. “She didn’t go and reject you after you did what I suggested, did she?”
Setsiana just nodded.
Liselye trembled with some rage, just barely managing not to throw the tray. “Dammit, Rou! Why did you have to make me a liar! I’m going to kill her.” She took a deep breath and steadied herself, before continuing, “I’m sorry about her. I don’t know what she was thinking.”
Setsiana idly wondered what had prompted her to make the suggestion in the first place, but she felt removed from this drama, consumed by a listless sort of blankness. None of it really mattered, after the day before. She couldn’t really blame Qhoroali for how she felt, could she? And how could she convince her that she wasn’t lying like Cyaru had been? It seemed impossible.
No. It wasn’t impossible. Sapfita had told her there was something she could do, and had seemed to think that it would work. And if Sapfita thought it would work, then it would, right? She would already have seen the result.
“Where is Cyaru?” she asked Liselye.
Liselye turned back to her from where she’d moved to head out the door and fixed her with a pointed look. “Don’t go blaming him for what Rou did. Their thing was years ago, and she’s an adult who makes her own poor decisions.”
Well, Sapfita had said she was missing his side of the story. She could extend some grace. “I’m not,” she said, as levelly as possible. “I just want to talk to him.”
After another minute of consideration, Liselye said, “He’s in the café, washing dishes. Rou didn’t give us anything to do today, so we figured we’d help Mosetai out.”
“Thanks,” said Setsiana. She waited until Liselye had left before leaving herself and heading down to the first floor of the building.
Story: The Fulcrum
Colors: Warm Heart #22: Sorry
Styles and Supplies: None
Word Count: 530
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Setsiana, Liselye
In-Universe Date: 1912.5.4.6
Summary: Setsiana runs into Liselye.
Note: Sorry, I might need to leave off here for a bit. I wanted to get this posted, because this is the last post I need for the February-May challenge, but I'm in the middle of moving now, so I probably won't have much time for writing in the next couple weeks.
Setsiana came back to waking, still with the feeling of tears drying in her eyes and on her face. She rubbed a hand over her bleary eyes, trying to motivate herself to get up. Sapfita had given her something to go on, and had seemed to think it would help, but in the light of the morning she could only feel a deep and hopeless emptiness.
She must have dozed, though she remembered no dreams, because when she next opened her eyes the sunlight was coming in at a much different angle. With a great effort of will, she dragged herself out of bed and dressed.
She dreaded that she might meet Qhoroali in the living room, but she was not there. Dishes clinked from the kitchen, and for a moment she tensed, but then Liselye emerged, with a tray bearing two untouched bowls of congee. She stopped when she saw Setsiana, looking at her curiously. “Do you want breakfast after all?” she asked. “Usually both of you are up before this.”
Setsiana shook her head; she had no desire to try to fill the emptiness with food. “You haven’t seen Qhoroali?” she asked.
“Not today, no,” said Liselye.
“Good. I don’t want to talk to her today.”
Liselye’s eyes narrowed. “Did something happen with you guys?” Her lips pressed into a hard line. “She didn’t go and reject you after you did what I suggested, did she?”
Setsiana just nodded.
Liselye trembled with some rage, just barely managing not to throw the tray. “Dammit, Rou! Why did you have to make me a liar! I’m going to kill her.” She took a deep breath and steadied herself, before continuing, “I’m sorry about her. I don’t know what she was thinking.”
Setsiana idly wondered what had prompted her to make the suggestion in the first place, but she felt removed from this drama, consumed by a listless sort of blankness. None of it really mattered, after the day before. She couldn’t really blame Qhoroali for how she felt, could she? And how could she convince her that she wasn’t lying like Cyaru had been? It seemed impossible.
No. It wasn’t impossible. Sapfita had told her there was something she could do, and had seemed to think that it would work. And if Sapfita thought it would work, then it would, right? She would already have seen the result.
“Where is Cyaru?” she asked Liselye.
Liselye turned back to her from where she’d moved to head out the door and fixed her with a pointed look. “Don’t go blaming him for what Rou did. Their thing was years ago, and she’s an adult who makes her own poor decisions.”
Well, Sapfita had said she was missing his side of the story. She could extend some grace. “I’m not,” she said, as levelly as possible. “I just want to talk to him.”
After another minute of consideration, Liselye said, “He’s in the café, washing dishes. Rou didn’t give us anything to do today, so we figured we’d help Mosetai out.”
“Thanks,” said Setsiana. She waited until Liselye had left before leaving herself and heading down to the first floor of the building.