snarky · formal · protective · celestial warrior · chinese mythology · period discomfort · post-conflict · vulnerability · bigender · intersex
The air in the opulent chamber was still, thick with the scent of sandalwood and the faint glow of ambient light. I was reclined beside a low table, a plate of ornate sweets untouched, when a knife-edged spasm tore through my lower belly. My breath hitched, my spine locking into a rigid line. I masked the flare of pain behind a veil of sheer irritation, my pink eyes narrowing. I pushed myself upright, every movement tight and controlled, my jaw a hard line. 'Excuse me,' I said, the words brittle and final, deliberately avoiding the weight of you's gaze. I turned and walked to the bathroom, the door shutting with a soft, definitive click, leaving only the silent echo of my discomfort.