by Kayla Bashe
Shani learned how to swim the same month she figured out how to crawl; several of her baby pictures include water wings. Her old school was located across the lake from her house, so she got used to sailing herself and her baby brother to school every day. The image makes you smile—no wonder Shani’s so great with kids.
“I want to come to Castle Vestri someday, if you’ll invite me. I would absolutely love to see the sea.” She giggles. “Hey, that rhymes!”
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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The next day, you say goodbye to your hosts before leaving.
“We had such a beautiful time. I loved being near the water, and being able to help teach my friends to swim was really fun,” Shani says earnestly.
“And I’m glad I could learn to swim. I…thank you,” Malou says, only slightly awkwardly. She looks at you, and you give her a thumbs-up.
“I’m so happy I had the opportunity to learn to swim, too,” Char says, shaking her hosts’ hands. Not for the first time, you notice how perfect her manicure is.
You shake your hosts’ hands and thank them very graciously for hosting you.
On the journey back home, you think about everything you’ve learned.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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“Maybe you’re hungry? Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping, it’s because I’ve been having so much fun, I’ve completely forgotten to eat enough.”
“You may be right,” she admits with a rueful smile.
In the kitchen, you boil water and add it to the bowls of oats. oats. Your mother’s taught you to put in the dried fruit before you put in the warm water, so the fruit gets soft, and two spoonfuls of brown sugar complete your snack.
The soft noises of the forest, of the crickets and owls, the wind in the leaves. It’s such a peaceful place. How could anyone be unhappy surrounded by the beauty of wild nature?
“You know, I feel like I’m fighting for something more now,” Malou says. Before, I was just seeking to protect the city. Now, though…I want to fix the whole world. I think everyone should be able to enjoy an evening like this. Peaceful and happy and surrounded by trees, by loveliness. Whatever happens in our futures, I’m glad I was able to enjoy this. I’m glad you were here with me."
In response, you scooch closer and rest your hand on hers.
Eating a proper nighttime snack seems to give Malou a sudden burst of energy. “It’s so beautiful out, I can’t go to bed yet! I want to do something.” She slides off her jacket, runs toward a tree, and begins to climb. “Verdie, spot me.”
You know that while Malou can climb up a sheer brick wall, she’s not yet as confident of her capability to function in a natural enviroment, so “Gladly,” you reply.
Still, you have a hunch that she’s too talented to fall, so you don’t scold yourself when your attention drifts to her body. She’s so strong, and it shows. The shift of her muscles when she reaches for a branch…Wow.
She could probably carry you around if you ever got injured, and there’s something about that image that makes you smile dreamily.
And the view of her butt as she climbs down? Double dreamy.
“Okay, I think I’ve tired myself out now,” she says, jumping down from the tree.
“And I’ve gotten tired just watching you!” you joke.
“Let’s head to bed, then.” She doesn’t ask you why you have such a goofy smile on your face…and that’s good, because you’re not sure you could answer. You’re not sure you’d want to.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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“It’s always so strange to see this much water in one place,” muses Malou. “I mean, we have rainwater, but…that doesn’t count, not really.”
“Look over there,” you say, pointing.
Malou’s eyes widen, and she beams. “It’s a frog!”
You go on a wildlife hunt, cupping little fish and tadpoles in your hands and bringing them closer to the surface of water so you can show them to Malou before freeing them, pointing out sleeping squirrels and a duck sitting on its nest of eggs. Malou has such a glow to her when she’s happy. And the fact that she wears a sports bra and boxer shorts to bed…the fact that she’s only wearing a sports bra and boxer shorts…she’s so strong and tough and amazing to look at.
When you fall asleep, you have a dream that a planet inhabited entirely by tadpoles is defended by a majestic woman with great muscles. It is the most unsubtle thing your subconscious has ever done.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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The next day, it’s time for you to head back to school. You say goodbye to your hosts before leaving, thanking them for everything they’ve done for you.
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do thing two
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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You say farewell to your hosts. Testimony, never one for displays of emotion, pulls you close and gives you a gruff slap on the back before releasing you. “Look after yourselves, eh? You have good heads on your shoulders—you’ll need them.”
Aletris gives you a big, warm hug and places a crown of dandelions on your head, telling you to come back so she can introduce you to her relatives.
Haven hates to speak to strangers and hates to be touched, but her hands flutter like pale butterflies by her sides as she gives you a nod of fond respect.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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“Char, the water is beautiful, but…”
“Yeah?”
“I forgot my sweater.”
“Lean against me, I’ll warm you up.”
A cherry-red glow ripples over her skin as she increases her body temperature by a few degrees. She’s so warm, and she smells so good…
“Hey, have you read any good books lately?”
She smiles. “Have I ever.”
Char talks about the books she’s reading, about how the ideas about education put forth by this one anarchist who had a really positive view of humanity can sort of be applied to the principles of the Academy, about the life of this one really cool genderqueer political activist who risked their life stirring up public opinion against the militantly cruel ideals of the Neo-Randians. About a period in Italian history when nearly everyone’s father had been a general. When she talks about the history of her ancestors, her voice gets very soft and gentle, and her words become even more eloquent.
It’s almost absurd that Char is a model, paid to
be quiet and artistic and flawless. In your opinion, people should pay her to talk. After a while, you’re both really tired, so you head to bed. Without her warmth, your bed seems cold.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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The next day, it’s time for you to head back to school. You say goodbye to your hosts before leaving, thanking them for everything they’ve done for you.
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do thing two
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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You say farewell to your hosts. Testimony, never one for displays of emotion, pulls you close and gives you a gruff slap on the back before releasing you. “Look after yourselves, eh? You have good heads on your shoulders—you’ll need them.”
Aletris gives you a big, warm hug and places a crown of dandelions on your head, telling you to come back so she can introduce you to her relatives.
Haven hates to speak to strangers and hates to be touched, but her hands flutter like pale butterflies by her sides as she gives you a nod of fond respect.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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The next day, it’s time for you to head back to school. You say goodbye to your hosts before leaving, thanking them for everything they’ve done for you.
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do thing two
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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You say farewell to your hosts. Testimony, never one for displays of emotion, pulls you close and gives you a gruff slap on the back before releasing you. “Look after yourselves, eh? You have good heads on your shoulders—you’ll need them.”
Aletris gives you a big, warm hug and places a crown of dandelions on your head, telling you to come back so she can introduce you to her relatives.
Haven hates to speak to strangers and hates to be touched, but her hands flutter like pale butterflies by her sides as she gives you a nod of fond respect.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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back to school yo
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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“We had so much fun staying with you—everything here is so beautiful, and you were so generous,” Shani says earnestly.
“It was very eye-opening to see all the trees. I…I like trees.” Malou isn’t the best at emotional speeches, so she mumbles a bit. Tears glint in her eyes, and you can only hear what she’s saying because you’re standing right next to her.
Char covers for her, as gracious as ever. “My friend says that she had a lovely time, and so did I.”
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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Shani accidentally holds her ketchup packet the wrong way around and splatters herself with it when she squeezes—and when she starts giggling about it, so do you.
Sometimes, at home, you used to get melancholy. You’d sit by the cliffs and watch the sea beat against the rocks and not really want to do anything else. But Shani’s gotten into your brain, infected you with her positivity and her laughter. You don’t know if you’d be able to get to that unhappy place again, even if you wanted to.
Shani dabs two dots of ketchup on her lip and makes a joke about being a vampire, and
It makes you think of Carmilla. The story of the lonely vampire from far away who saw a sweet, cheerful girl and realized “I want to keep her with me forever.” Watching Shani laugh about ketchup, even though it’s gotten on her shirt and looks like she’s been stabbed, you understand how Carmilla felt when she watched Laura walk in the sunlight.
Shani’s soul is as bright as a star, as bright as the sequins on her fanciest headscarf. You’re so lucky to have a friend like her.
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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back to school yo
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Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
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“We had so much fun staying with you—everything here is so beautiful, and you were so generous,” Shani says earnestly.
“It was very eye-opening to see all the trees. I…I like trees.” Malou isn’t the best at emotional speeches, so she mumbles a bit. Tears glint in her eyes, and you can only hear what she’s saying because you’re standing right next to her.