LJ Idol, Prompt 18b: “Ikigai”
Sep. 18th, 2022 12:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roina_arwenAuthor’s Note: Please read entry 18a, “Swim Until You Can’t See Land” first. You can find it here: https://roina-arwen.dreamwidth.org/8266.html
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Darya knelt at the edge of the forest, nervously folding and unfolding her tear-dampened handkerchief while she waited for the first light of dawn. Before her, the Sacred Sea glinted silver in the bright moonlight. The weather predictions had been correct - the sky was cloudless, and perfect for her needs.
On the ground next to Darya lay a sharp pair of shears. She toyed with the end of her long, blonde braid as she thought through her actions and expectations. She loved Pyotr more than life itself, but his heart had been broken too many times.
Her greatest desire was to help piece his fragile heart back together, to make him capable of loving her fully.
That thought was all Darya needed to spur her to pick up the shears and cut a long ribbon from the colorfully dyed handkerchief. She blotted her tears one last time, stood, and tied the ribbon to the branch of a larch tree near the shore of the lake.
Darya glanced up at the slowly lightening sky. Timing was important - according to both the Yakut and Turkic mythology, her wish needed to be made just before dawn.
Although she wasn’t certain of the necessity, Darya stepped forward into the gently lapping waves of the Sacred Sea. She felt her body tingle with magic, closed her icy blue eyes, and hoped the Water Fairy was listening.
“My wish is for Pyotr’s broken heart to be strong again, so he can love me. Cleanse it of the hate and fear he has been holding on to. Mend the breaks like Kintsugi pottery, and I promise to treasure his love and always be worthy of it.”
Darya opened her eyes and waited for an answer.
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They swam together below the surface, an arm’s length apart, undulating briskly. Their long black hair trailed out behind them, providing concealment. Alara veered off towards the shore, where the heartsick young woman waited, while Ilayda continued south to Listvyanka. She had her own job to do.
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As the first rays of the Siberian sun broke over the horizon, Darya was stunned to see a beautiful young woman rise from beneath the water. She was swathed in a phosphorescent fog which formed beautiful, pearly blue butterfly wings behind her. Darya could almost feel the water misting off them as they slowly fluttered.
“Your heartfelt wish has been heard, and will be granted,” the Water Fairy intoned. “At dawn tomorrow, you may go back to Pyotr.”
Darya was almost speechless as she watched the dark haired woman hover, her toes barely grazing the water’s surface. “Thank you, Alara. Thank you!”
=#=#=#=#=
Ilayda surfaced in the waves just after dawn by the sleepy town of Listvyanka. Half a dozen fishing boats were moored nearby. Ilayda could sense Pyotr’s dark, jumbled dreams as he restlessly tossed and turned in bed. Her mind brushed his, calming him.
Wordlessly, she searched out his hate and greed, his desire for past loves from long ago. His heart crackled with a dark, despondent energy and she knew it caused Pyotr grief and pain.
Ilayda sensed when Alara had given her blessing.
It was time.
Ilayda slithered through the cracks of his heart, and softly crooned her siren song. She sang to the darkness, luring it out. She absorbed the energy into her soul and shared it with her twin. As she removed the infection, Pyotr’s broken heart began to heal.
A golden energy replaced the darkness, filling his heart with brightness and hope, and the ability to truly love again.
“Darya… my love,” he murmured.
Ilayda smiled and left him to his happy dreams. She turned tail and sank below the surface, as did Alara, hundreds of miles away.
The Sirens of the Sacred Sea were sated.
=#=#=#=#=
Darya knelt at the edge of the forest, nervously folding and unfolding her tear-dampened handkerchief while she waited for the first light of dawn. Before her, the Sacred Sea glinted silver in the bright moonlight. The weather predictions had been correct - the sky was cloudless, and perfect for her needs.
On the ground next to Darya lay a sharp pair of shears. She toyed with the end of her long, blonde braid as she thought through her actions and expectations. She loved Pyotr more than life itself, but his heart had been broken too many times.
Her greatest desire was to help piece his fragile heart back together, to make him capable of loving her fully.
That thought was all Darya needed to spur her to pick up the shears and cut a long ribbon from the colorfully dyed handkerchief. She blotted her tears one last time, stood, and tied the ribbon to the branch of a larch tree near the shore of the lake.
Darya glanced up at the slowly lightening sky. Timing was important - according to both the Yakut and Turkic mythology, her wish needed to be made just before dawn.
Although she wasn’t certain of the necessity, Darya stepped forward into the gently lapping waves of the Sacred Sea. She felt her body tingle with magic, closed her icy blue eyes, and hoped the Water Fairy was listening.
“My wish is for Pyotr’s broken heart to be strong again, so he can love me. Cleanse it of the hate and fear he has been holding on to. Mend the breaks like Kintsugi pottery, and I promise to treasure his love and always be worthy of it.”
Darya opened her eyes and waited for an answer.
=#=#=#=#=
They swam together below the surface, an arm’s length apart, undulating briskly. Their long black hair trailed out behind them, providing concealment. Alara veered off towards the shore, where the heartsick young woman waited, while Ilayda continued south to Listvyanka. She had her own job to do.
=#=#=#=#=
As the first rays of the Siberian sun broke over the horizon, Darya was stunned to see a beautiful young woman rise from beneath the water. She was swathed in a phosphorescent fog which formed beautiful, pearly blue butterfly wings behind her. Darya could almost feel the water misting off them as they slowly fluttered.
“Your heartfelt wish has been heard, and will be granted,” the Water Fairy intoned. “At dawn tomorrow, you may go back to Pyotr.”
Darya was almost speechless as she watched the dark haired woman hover, her toes barely grazing the water’s surface. “Thank you, Alara. Thank you!”
=#=#=#=#=
Ilayda surfaced in the waves just after dawn by the sleepy town of Listvyanka. Half a dozen fishing boats were moored nearby. Ilayda could sense Pyotr’s dark, jumbled dreams as he restlessly tossed and turned in bed. Her mind brushed his, calming him.
Wordlessly, she searched out his hate and greed, his desire for past loves from long ago. His heart crackled with a dark, despondent energy and she knew it caused Pyotr grief and pain.
Ilayda sensed when Alara had given her blessing.
It was time.
Ilayda slithered through the cracks of his heart, and softly crooned her siren song. She sang to the darkness, luring it out. She absorbed the energy into her soul and shared it with her twin. As she removed the infection, Pyotr’s broken heart began to heal.
A golden energy replaced the darkness, filling his heart with brightness and hope, and the ability to truly love again.
“Darya… my love,” he murmured.
Ilayda smiled and left him to his happy dreams. She turned tail and sank below the surface, as did Alara, hundreds of miles away.
The Sirens of the Sacred Sea were sated.
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