{ originalfic100 } star ; differences

[thelightest_feet]

Title: differences
Table: general
Prompt: star

We sylphs all have eyes like amber, in colour and texture like resin, slowly running down the bark of an old pine tree. Slowly hardening – encasing a gypsy moth, sealing it inside. For all eternity. Like clear amber, our eyes are soft and shine, showing glimpses of butterfly wings and dragonflies caught in motion. Humans say we’re tempting and every so often we do call, call so longingly in our prettiest voices, but only a human is in control of their own human legs. Around us. Yes, oh yes, we beg and plead so earnestly, but unlike the elves we can’t make a human walk a way they have no desire to go.

Elf girls, though, they have stars for eyes and holes for spines. With their hollow backs, they dance – not the dances of sylphs, different dances entirely! Their steps will cling to your skin like thick fog and ground mist. Their hair the colour of liquid silver, grey only on the Elders who dance no more. Too preoccupied watching the young tread the circle, because their dances are always so. The dances of elves. Crossing the pathways of deer and Gurn who sees nothing, then the pathway of James who sees too much and strays without meaning, without truly wanting to. When his fiancée, earthbound Effy is waiting at home. So sweetly. So sweetly, they call. The elf girls, such is their allure. Because instead of amber, they have starry eyes and stars shine so brightly in the night sky that you can’t look at anything else. Can’t look away. Can’t possibly.

No, we sylphs don’t possess that power. Over humans. We’re too gentle. We're too kind. And all too shy. That’s why, in folklore… Elves are always the demise of humans and once, only once a human became the demise of a sylph.

Comments

[perfectworry]

Elf girls, though, they have stars for eyes and holes for spines.

Oh, this whole thing was very beautiful but I think this was my favorite line. I hope you don't mind me poking around through the other stories in this universe; I found this one (and the other one you linked to in originalfic100) quite lovely and it left me thirsty for more.

Would it be okay if I friended you on this journal?

[thelightest_feet]

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, I hadn't expected that at all, since this is mainly a roleplaying journal. But sure, since I post all my fic in the sylph'verse here, you're welcome to friend it. :) I'll friend you back.

I'm glad you liked this fic, too. It's my favourite of what I've written for the challenge so far, so to hear that someone else finds it pretty as well makes me very happy.

[raze]

Lovely imagery here :) Thanks for sharing!

[thelightest_feet]

And thanks for reading! I'm glad you liked.