The Last Red Year

EIGHTEEN: Butterflies

 "I look like a fucking aubergine," Sorine remarks as they stare at themself in the mirror, and the thing that makes both Kas and Mauragan burst into side-splitting laughter isn't even the comparison--rather, the fact that Sorine even knows the word aubergine to begin with. Kas grasps at the sleeves of Mauragan's blouse, cackling so hard their stomach hurts as Sorine stares at them dumbly, clearly not seeing the utter hilarity at hand. "What? Are you two having a giggle?"

The phrasing of that does not help matters. Before Kas knows it, they're on their knees, laughing so hard their eyes well up with tears. Sorine doesn't even look that much like an aubergine.

"That's such a rich people word, Sorine," they wheeze out through their laughter, clawing at Mauragan's clothes trying to pull themself back to their feet. They haven't laughed like this in a long time. The terrible things they've been through since they first left the Magescourt haven't fully left their mind, but they're a little quieter now. There's no room for any of that today. They have a wedding to attend. They manage to calm themself down a little bit, brushing tears from their eyes and trying not to snort.

Sorine looks back at them, an expression of feigned consternation gracing their made-up face. "What? Giggle?"

Kas's composure breaks yet again.

"Stop it, you guys!" Mauragan chirps out, their shoulders shaking with laughter as well. "We're never going to be ready in time at this rate!" They're fussing with the collar of a gaudy frock coat--all three of them are in purple, this time, only fitting for a royal wedding. Kas is enjoying the break from the monotonous green of their training robes. "And you don't look like an aubergine, Sorine. You look really, um...really pretty."

Sorine turns their head away so quickly Kas worries they're going to break their neck, but they aren't quite fast enough. Kas can see the beginning of a patch of blush creeping across their cheeks, and their eyes narrow with an unbidden smile. They've never had a crush before--they're a little younger than Sorine and Mauragan, who are both almost fourteen by now, and they've never really had time to think about that kind of thing. But they can still recognize one when they see one. Maybe that's why Sorine changed their mind about monsters so readily. People will do just about anything for love.

"Thank you," Sorine says quickly, staring at the wall so they don't have to look at Mauragan. "You look nice too, I guess. Or whatever." They smack their hands against their puffy skirt like they're trying to brush off dirt, shaking their head just a little and dislodging their carefully pinned back hair. "Aw, fuck. Where's that person with the cool hair stuff?"

Kas messes with their own hair--they've finally gotten it cut, and it's much neater than before, slicked back as much as their curls can take. Their beloved strip of flowery cloth is wrapped around their wrist now, a pearl-beaded headband taking its place. They stare at themself in the mirror, inspecting every aspect of their appearance. They've certainly changed a lot--the haircut and the golden stars drawn on their face have definitely helped, but they still look worn, frayed around the edges. There are deep bags beneath their eyes--even in the comfortable quarters the princess let them sleep in last night, they couldn't get much rest. They still can't close their eyes for long without watching Hadling die in front of them, over and over and over.

But it's still them in the mirror. That's enough.

They're wearing a lilac dress with a skirt much tamer than Sorine's, flowy sleeves draping just past their elbows and the waist cinched with a gold and pearl belt. Their face is made up subtly, traced with golds and purples, and aside from Hadling's pendant, a pink pearl necklace rests coldly against their collarbone. They look much older than they are, despite their stylist having insisted the styles they and their friends are wearing are common among children of status in Cappbryde. Perhaps it's their eyes. They know how tired they must look. They are tired. But they're here with their friends, and they have a wedding to attend, and they feel a little less afraid than they did yesterday. They'll hold onto that.