Chapter Text
Poke waited on Brittle Hollow's north pole, her warmth only provided by herself and her suit. The mask and tank of oxygen felt heavy on her head and back, and she only wished that she could take them off... but the pressure was far too low out here, and there was no oxygen. So for now, she watched the horizon and waited.
It wasn't long til her sister, Clary, came up through that hidden exit of the city below. They met here often, to talk and simply exist away from the pressure of others. They came here to just be sisters again, instead of having to work constantly...
"Poke! How glad I am to see you. Reading your messages is never the same as hearing your voice." Poke could hear the beaming smile in her sisters grin, and turned more to face her as she approached. Clary's suit was identical to her own in most ways, but like every Nomai spacesuit, it had its own, personal details.
"Ah, hello Clary. It is wonderful to see you as well. Let's catch up shall we? I know you've heard about the comet by now." It hadn't been that long since it arrived, just barely entering the solar system.
"Oh, yes! The Interloper, I think we're calling it... I was told that you, I, and Pye would all be going to take a look!" Clary sat down in the snow that had frozen to ice, and her sister soon followed.
"Yes, I am quite excited for that! I wonder when we'll be leaving... which cannon will we launch from?" Poke fiddled absently with the hem of her robes, her fingers searching for something to do. Clary tapped a finger on the bottom of her mask as she thought.
"Most likely the one on the Ember twin, as Solanum launched on her Pilgrimage from the one here." Poke nods in understanding, allowing the topic to shift.
"So... how's everything been with your dearly beloved?" She teases, poking Clary's arm affectionately. She laughs and shoves her arm away, one hand instinctually going to the side of her mask. Clary had this habit of tugging at her ears whenever flustered, and though she couldn't now it didn't stop her hand from wanting to.
"Oh you know... he's kind and sweet, and we go out whenever we can... he's always so busy still. I wish he'd take a break once in a while." She sighs wistfully, thinking of the tall, burnished bronze furred Nomai she loved.
Poke snickered a little, still in a teasing mood. "Oooh, you want Big Boss all to yourself now? Your his most important job? I'll bet you wish you could both just live on the White Hole station together forev-" she was cut off by her sister shoving her mask back, knocking her onto the ground. Poke couldn't help but laugh loudly at her actions.
"You are just the worst! Can't believe I'm relayed to such a beast as you..." Clary huffs in annoyance and turns away, crossing her arms.
Poke finished with her laughing after some time, then sits up, wiping an imaginary tear from her third eye.
"Oh, come now sister. You know me. He's a nice guy, I'm glad you two are together. Truely." She opens her arms to offer a hug to Clary, a smile beneath her mask.
Clary sits there a moment, not moving, before sighing and giving in with a laugh. She turns around and hugs her sister, touching the top of her mask to Poke's. They sit like that a moment, simply laughing and enjoying each other's presence.
Soon, Clary looks to the sky, to the stars far above. "I wonder what constellations we can see from here." Poke pulls back to look up as well. And withing a little both are scanning the sky.
Poke points straight up. "Look! The Antler!" Clary Follows her gaze and sees the connected stars of the acclaimed constellation. Put together, it looked like a top left antler of a Nomai.
"If that one is there, than... ahah! There is the Staff!" Clary pointed out another constellation, shaped in a way that reminded of the writing staff most Nomai have.
This went on for a bit, the sisters pointing out and naming different constellations, happily enjoying each other's time.
But, no good thing can last forever, and soon they caught the red glow of the Lantern over the horizon. They took this as their warning to rush back into the hidden entrance of the city below.
They walked a bit, talking as sisters do, teasing and chatting and gossiping. But they both knew that their ways needed to part til they were to depart for the approaching comet.
So they tapped the tops of their masks together, said their goodbyes, and simply parted ways.
If only they'd had more time.