Evening all,
On quite the roll it seems. This is something I've been toying with, and it took me a bit to get the idea down. This is an illustration of sisterhood between Porsha and Nooshy, nothing more – I found they had a lot in common despite being polar opposites, and I wanted to explore it a bit. Please let me know what you think.
Happy writing,
Sehmti
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What a show. What a show!
It had already been an hour or so since the final curtains were drawn and the crew had moved off stage to celebrate the win behind the silken wall of fabric, and still young Porsha Crystal's mind echoed the sentiment that it had started screaming an hour ago. The Majestic was nothing like she had ever seen in person before, and she would be lying if she said that it wasn't at least a bit nerve wracking to perform in front of such a massive crowd – but the applause she and her crew felt afterward that thrummed in their chests had solidified their choice to perform there, and she remembered all of their smiling faces gleaming back at her.
There were changes that were made since leaving Redshore, namely some of the cast and the rhythm in which the planets performed their numbers. Nooshy, her newest girl-friend and the most talented dancer she had ever seen, had taken the place of Johnny's dance partner. Watching those two was almost like she was living a dream. Johnny had taken well to his role now and Nooshy made sure that every step she took illustrated him as the winning fighter… but it was the way she did it that was so amazing. The koala (Mr. Moon, she corrected herself) had pulled the lynx aside before the number to talk to her about something, and even though Porsha couldn't catch what he said she could only guess that he was encouraging her by the lynx's nervous body language and his own calm disposition – because when they had finished talking, he had held out a small set of earplugs that her counterpart used. They blended so well with her fur that only Porsha, Mr. Moon, and herself knew they were there, and their purpose was clear to Porsha when the scene first started.
It had been a wall of noise, to her own ears it was almost enough to cause her to freeze…she could only imagine with giant ears like Nooshy's that the sound would be almost painful! ….was it rude to point out that she had really big ears? She didn't know. This manners thing was kinda hard.
Anyway, watching the lynx and the gorilla do their set, Nooshy with only half of her normal hearing, was an incredible sight to see. It ended up being one of the highlights of the show that night, and when the curtains fell, and everyone retreated backstage for their celebratory dinner Porsha had wanted nothing more than to find her friend and ask her if she could teach her to dance like that. She had to know how Nooshy did that, how she could concentrate like that, how she could move like that – because she wanted to do that too! But when they all had changed out of their costumes and moved to the back hall to start their celebrations, she had only gotten a glimpse of the lynx. In between Johnny and Meena, having a grand discussion she looked to be totally into what they were saying…
And then no sooner had Porsha exchanged high fives and celebratory hugs with Rosita and Buster she noticed that the feline was gone. She only caught a glimpse of the back of her green hood as she slipped from existence, making her way down a hall on the opposite side of the room that the wolf was currently on. It was as if that quickly something had changed, that quickly her friend had gone from wanting to bounce around the room to suddenly disappearing….and she wanted to know where on earth her friend had disappeared to. How could she move so fast?! She eventually sniffed her out heading up the stairs and past the crew of the Majestic to the roof, and her curiosity demanded she follow.
Porsha was cautious when she poked her head out of the door leading to the roof, her ears scanning the entire surface of the building for anything she might perceive as danger. Instead, in the distance on one of the higher ledges, she spotted the green hood of her friend standing out against the white marble. Porsha's face lit up to a grin of victory – and then immediately fell when she took in the rest of what she saw through the dark. Nooshy had her back to her friend, but Porsha could still see her slightly shaking shoulders, her hunched body, and she could hear the feather-light sniffles that cut the air.
Oh no…
That was the wolf's first thought as her own ears drooped – her biggest fear was that the lynx had somehow hurt herself. There was no way that was true, she kicked herself, because this was Nooshy. But there was no denying the fact that her friend was hurting…and part of Porsha almost wanted to go downstairs and get Johnny. She knew Nooshy felt safe with him, would probably talk to him…but she wanted to help. She sucked in a cautious breath and softly stepped onto the roof.
The moment her tennis shoe touched the concrete she watched the covered head in front of her pop up. In a flash Nooshy had lowered her hood so her ears pricked in the cool air as they normally did, she frantically maneuvered something in front of her that Porsha couldn't see, and then the familiar motion of paws scrubbing at what was probably a tear-stained and raw face took over her silhouette. Porsha knew exactly what she was doing.
"Nooshy?" she asked quietly, creeping almost as if she were afraid the other girl would up and vanish if she moved too quickly.
"Porsha, 'ello love," the lynx's confident voice came through somewhat gravelly, but she cleared her throat and turned her head to finally look at her companion where she was slowly walking just below her perch, "Whatcha doin up 'ere?"
"I could kinda ask the same thing," the wolf responded, her fur rustling in the wind, "I saw you leave the party and I got worried. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Never better, mate," Nooshy spared her a smile, and for a moment Porsha pretended that she couldn't see the redness of her eyes, "I like to come up 'ere to roofs and watch the lights. Quite the sight, it is."
Okay, that was only a partial lie. She did always go up to rooftops to watch the lights, and the stars, and the people…it just wasn't the headlining reason she was here right now. Porsha looked fascinated at the concept, and to Nooshy's surprise the wolf suddenly grew excited.
"Really?!" she almost squealed, practically jumping and clapping her hands together in a reaction that earned her a smile from the quieter female, "Can I join you?!"
"….really? You want to?"
"Yes!"
"…alright then," Nooshy surrendered, maneuvering herself to brace on the ledge and offer the wolf a hand up, "Up ya get, love."
Accepting her hand Porsha couldn't help but smile – that endearing accent and loving terms of her friend's is what made her so incredibly special, and at her size even the wolf marveled at the strength that was on the other side of that grip. She pulled herself up on the ledge where the lynx sat, eyeing her friend's blue bookbag before Nooshy settled herself back down to the wolf's right. It didn't take long for Porsha's eyes to settle on the light show in front of them, and she had to let the audible gasp pass her lips.
"Oh…" she breathed, her eyes lighting up just like the sea of lights beneath her. Headlights, streetlights, path lights, camera lights – they all blended to form a gorgeous, moving painting that her mind was struggling to wrap around. Her paws rose to her lips and she breathed into them before addressing her friend, "Oh Nooshy, you're right. It's gorgeous…"
"Innit?" the lynx next to her smiled, her body language relaxing more than it had since Porsha had joined her on the roof, "One of the most beautiful things in the world."
They were quiet for a while then, and Porsha had to admit that she hadn't felt so comfortable in the presence of someone else in a very long time. Nooshy had a presence about her… an 'old soul' she was pretty sure it was called. Her friend took everything in and, at least to her eyes, she took it all in stride. But a side glance showed that her companion was still hurting somehow, and Porsha wasn't entirely sure how to help fix it. She hesitated for a long moment, then decided to try her luck.
"Nooshy?"
"Hmm?" a grey ear tilted in her direction.
"Why are you really out here?"
A small sigh. The feline's eyes stared straight forward for a few seconds and then dropped for a quick moment before they closed…and Porsha suddenly knew that she was prying in something that her friend might not want to share. Oh no, she didn't want to mess this up!
"I – You don't have to – I just figured ya know since we're both somewhere new and it's been a lot and I think we're friends–"
"Porsha," Nooshy's voice stopped her dead in her tracks, and she turned to the lynx to catch her smile, "Ya gotta let me answer, mate. Is fine…I'm just not used to people payin' kind attention ta me, that's all."
Oh that one hurt. Porsha knew exactly what that felt like…but for her it was only one person – everyone else had shown her adoration. Nooshy, she was gathering, wasn't so lucky. The lynx drew in a breath, then released it in a puff of steam from her nose in an effort to find the right words to say.
"Been a loopy set of days, it has," her words came, and with a huff and half smile she gave a pointed look to the wolf, "You would know. I just…"
She suddenly looked away to bite her lip and pause before picking her next statement.
"I wanted to share the view with me parents."
"Your parents?!" Porsha almost squealed, looking around to try and find the other two sentients that she was certain must be hiding in the shadows, "Where are they? Can I meet them?!"
"It's…complicated," the lynx sighed, her misty eyes turning to stare into the night sky at a pair of bright stars in the distance.
"Complicated? Of course it's complicated, family normally is –"
Porsha, a voice suddenly whispered to her, and she stopped, shut up.
"Wha – Oh…."
Her voice almost failed her when she finally noticed her friend's painful stare, and the fixated eyes into the distance reminded her so much of her own. Oh she knew this feeling. She knew this feeling well.
"Noosh…"
Nooshy shifted her right paw into her hoody pocket and pulled out what looked like two photos. Holding the first delicately she sighed, and then carefully passed it to Porsha who accepted it with shaking hands. The wolf's eyes fixated on the gorgeous lynx that stood in that photo, and if Nooshy were a few years older she would have sworn it was her. She had almost white fur that poofed free from her uniform, hazel eyes shining brightly with life. The male lynx in the photo behind her stared at the woman so endearingly that Porsha couldn't help but let out a smile, looking to her companion. Nooshy was the spitting image of (who Porsha was guessing) was her father…but that white furred lynx had captured her heart.
"Is she…?"
The lynx offered her a smile and gestured with a hand to her own chest.
"She is my mother."
"Oh Nooshy," the wolf breathed, "She's so pretty."
"Ain't she? That's me mum and dad….Symara and Winston. I was born in Guyana where they were workin' as aid workers – they always wanted ta do the best for people, ya know?"
"That's why you're so wonderful," Porsha floated, pleased to see the almost shy dropping of the pointed ears. She gave one more endearing look to the photograph before she whipped out her phone, quickly navigating to her favorite pictures in her gallery and finding the picture she was looking for. She handed her phone to her friend who took it in her free hand, a smile growing on her face as she glanced from the phone screen to Porsha, and then back again.
"Come off it Porsh, I didn' know ya had a twin!"
"That's my mom, you silly," the wolf giggled, nudging the smaller woman with her shoulder, "Her name was Susan, daddy called her Suey. Kinda like American chop suey which I think is gross but I like the name."
She accepted the phone back from Nooshy and handed her back her photo, smiling at her companion.
"She died when I was younger, I kinda remember things about her… but not really a lot," she looked to Nooshy then, trying to decide when it was too much. She wanted to push a bit more, "Do you remember yours?"
Right then the lynx looked like she was in physical pain and she had to suck in a breath, her eyes going back to the picture in her hand that she hadn't yet shared.
"…not really. Just tha last night."
A pointed look to the wolf.
"An' we're not diggin' into that tonight."
Porsha held her hands up appeasement. That was more than fair. She gestured to the other photo that Nooshy almost cradled, sensing that absolute protection that the feline had over it.
"…is it okay to ask about that one?"
That earned her another smile…one of shadowed grief before it was gingerly handed it over, and Porsha cradled it like it was made of porcelain and glass. This one was more recent, she realized – and Nooshy was in this one. She had to be around fifteen or so, dressed in what looked like a dancing outfit with an older male lynx crouching beside her. He looked to be helping her adjust an arm guard that she was holding out, and there was a sudden burst of love that poured from that image that Porsha had to fight tears. She looked to her companion for clarification, and without looking at her – because her gaze was for the man in that photo only – Nooshy complied.
"That's me grandad," she spoke lowly, her ears drooping a bit and her eyes misting up, "After mum and dad died, he got me from the camps and brought me back ta London with him."
Camps? Porsha doubted she meant summer camp, but she lost that thought as quickly as it came when she noticed the writing on the edge of the photo. Thankfully her eyes were good in the dark and with the quick aid of her cellphone flashlight she was able to make out what it said.
"W-Win…Win one f-for me."
She read it shakily, and then looked to the lynx to read her reaction.
"Right?"
"Right," Nooshy nodded, reaching out to accept the photo back from her friend.
She fit both pictures back into (was it a journal?) book thing and slid it back into her blue bookbag before slumping over with a sigh, ears flat back and her breath steaming the air. The wolf beside her shut off her cellphone flashlight and was quiet, knowing well this was a waiting game. It didn't take long. The thickening of the accent and her misty eyes was all Porsha needed to know that Nooshy was struggling to stay collected.
"That was the last thing he said to me 'fore he went off to work one mornin'. He ended up um…"
She reached a shaky paw to her face to rub her cheeks. There were no tears, and she was desperate to not let them fall in front of someone else.
"He ended up havin' a massive 'eart attack, drove 'imself right off the side of the Tower Bridge. Took 'em like three days ta find his car in the river, obviously he had passed then. Life went right loony at that point, now I'm 'ere with you lot."
She sat back up straight like a board, trying to portray calm…she was failing hard. Porsha finally understood why she was out here. It was a beautiful night. The crowd was thriving beneath them as everyone headed home, the stars were bright, and for the first time in who knows how long her friend wasn't curled up in a cardboard box or under a bridge. But it was also probably the first time she had been able to think about her family for a long moment….and she knew exactly what that felt like.
"It's okay to miss them," she offered, not really knowing the words to say as she gazed for a long second at those two stars in the distance her friend had focused on earlier, "I'm sure they're real proud of you. I know mom is of me…"
The lynx offered a shaky nod, drawing in a breath as she wrung her hands – and then that breath hitched, she lost what grasp she had on her pain, and she buried her face in her paws.
"Ai I just wish they were 'ere."
There was such palpable agony in that sentence that whatever hesitation the young wolf had was throw away, and she reached out to her companion. Nooshy didn't fight her, too focused on hiding her face in her paws and trying to stifle what Porsha could only describe as a cry from a wounded animal that escaped her throat, muffled only by the bubbling sobs that were trying so hard to be set free.
"I wish they were 'ere, to see what I've accomplished in ma life," the muffled sentence whispered out.
Porsha had wrapped her up snuggly – the feline tucked in her arms and against her chest and stomach. Nooshy was so much smaller in stature than her, and in this it worked out well since the wolf was able to wrap her fully in her arms, leaning her head and neck down to cocoon her friend the rest of the way against the cool air. Her tail wrapped as far as it could around them both, and for a moment an instinct whispered in the back of her mind… two words only:
Protect. Pack.
She was going to do just that and found herself cocooning this person that had become so important to her in such a short time. What Nooshy needed right then didn't require dramatic fits of sobbing or a tantrum or an explosion – what she needed was safety to finally let that pain be known, to grieve finally and slowly someone to keep an eye for danger. The moon shown down gently on them both, and without moving her head Porsha watched it dance between the clouds.
She missed her mom too…and Nooshy's pain brought out her pain, but the presence of her friend also brought out a warmth in her soul that let her silently cry her own tears while slowly starting to scratch the shaking back of her friend who was safely held in her arms. However long it took the both of them was fine by her, and when her own pain had run its course, she keyed back in to the lynx she cradled, hearing only soft sniffles to indicate the worst was over for now. She nudged Nooshy's head with her snout, not wanting to pull her too early from her safe cocoon but wanting to grab her attention.
"Doing okay, Noosh?"
A slight nod, then a muffled word she thought she would never hear from the other woman.
"'m sorry."
She was confused.
"Why?"
A shrug, then the feline's head burrowed further into the fur of Porsha's shoulder. A question for later, Porsha decided. They sat in silence for a few minutes, simply soaking in the warmth and calm they provided each other before Nooshy finally signaled for Porsha to release her hold. The wolf did so cautiously, rearranging them so her friend was still held securely against her but only wrapped in Porsha's arm around her shoulder. The lynx scrubbed at her face with her sleeves for a moment, rearranging her fur and not looking at her companion as she gave a final sniffle.
"Thanks for that, mate."
"That's what friends are for. I think we're kindered people or something."
That earned her a chuckle from her friend who was still trying to fix her appearance and was still not willing to look at her.
"I think tha phrase ya mean is 'kindred spirits', Porsh."
"Yeah, that's what I said. Kindered people."
"Oi," Nooshy gave a flabbergasted giggle, then finally settled, watching the lights below them again.
Porsha was happy to do the same, the dancing painting below her bringing a smile to her face.
"Hey Noosh?"
No response, but an ear tilted to her.
"Can this be our thing? Like after shows?"
The lynx looked at her through bloodshot eyes, raising an eyebrow.
"Dunno that I'm up ta feelin' like this often, mate."
Porsha gave her a good-mannered nudge.
"Not that, you silly. I mean watching the lights. ….I like this. And I like not feeling so alone. Does that make sense?"
The brown irises peered into her own, and then after a long minute she got a smile.
"Yeah….Yeah I think I'd like that, Porsh."
"Yay!" her friend gave a happy wiggle-dance and pulled her in for a hug – despite her best instincts to pull away Nooshy instead laughed, returning the embrace. Oh what sister she had now.
From the cracked doorway several steps behind them neither noticed Buster and Rosita peering out at them, keeping a watchful eye. After a shared glance they looked back to the pair for a moment and then retreated back into the Majestic, a silent promise of parenthood shared between them at the two sisters huddled together on the roof.
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