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Description
Vega looked back to the bridge lit up with lights winding around its beams. She could still feel the imprint of Piper’s hand in hers. But that was all gone now. Her Piper had piped his pipe dreams into her heart, and in succeeding his conquest he had proceeded onward alone. Had she always been just a means to an end? Did she mean anything anymore? Vega had no idea, but she did know she wanted music. She let the roar of traffic wash over her, sifted through it until a faint melody made itself clear. And she walked.

Alister eased himself into the chair in the corner. He was tired, and this dinghy cafe was the only place that appealed to his ringing mind. Cement laying wasn’t all that attractive, especially when it got this cold, but he appreciated the candor of his co-workers, and the pay was good. But right now he was feeling restless, so ready to up and leave the city and it’s noisy streets and milling people. So ready to take a long trip to nowhere and just disappear. He stared into the glass. The amber of the brandy seemed to grow so large that it engulfed him, unappealing although he didn’t know why. Alister hadn’t talked to his mother for months. His father was probably visiting with his half-siblings anyways. Odd days like this made him want to just peel off his skin and shed everything. He downed his drink, felt it burn all the way down in that familiar way.
The door blew open. By the steps, Alister could tell it was a woman. She sat on the stools at the front, but didn’t order anything. Now that he was listening, he could hear the clink of piano keys and soft voices. The newcomer got up and walked closer to the band. The bartender didn’t bother asking her to buy anything. It was evening, and it was a cold one. Turning someone away for not buying anything would be an asshole move. Now that she was standing closer, Alister noticed that there was a certain kind of glow to her skin. It was odd, but perhaps he was a little drunk but she seemed somehow luminous. She turned towards him and their eyes met. Hers were completely black. Alister swallowed down the still lingering taste of brandy and focused on the band. Somehow he couldn’t quite block her from his peripheral, and when he caught a glimpse of her he felt drawn to look at her fully, but restrained himself.
“Can you tell me where are we?” She asked when they finished their song.
“A bar.” It seemed a strange question to ask, but then again all the strange questions got asked in the strangest places. She had a nice smile, he noticed.
“I’m Vega.”
“Alister.” He stuck out a hand, and when she looked at him questioningly he laughed. “You’re supposed to shake it.”
“Oh.” She said, unsuccessfully sounding like she understood.
He dismissed it with a little shake of his fingers, still smiling. “Want a drink?”
He saw the hesitation in her eyes, but she accepted graciously. He signalled the bartender over and ordered two more brandies, motioning for her to sit down. She took the seat opposite of him, leaning back in the seat as if it was new to her.
“Your name is very unique. What does it mean?”
“Well,” She brushed a lock of hair out of her face, a white-blond from the root but dead black at the ends. She looked like some sort of misplaced model off the runway. The gesture seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn’t place it. “Tell me your secret first.”
“So it’s a secret, huh? That’s like hiding an elephant behind a lamp post. I’m going to find out the meaning of your name.”
She laughed. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours first.”
Alister smiled lightly, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m not too sure the specifics, but it goes along the lines of protector or something.” The bartender arrived and served their drinks.
She laughed at that. “That’s awesome. Now all you need is a fancy black suit.”
“And a fedora.”
“What? No!”
“What do you have against fedoras?”
“Hats and protection don’t combine well.”
“Is that so? And on what theory is that based?”
“My theory.”
“And what’s that?”
She paused. Alister realized that he’d leaned forward in their conversation that he could see the veins under Vega’s skin. They were unusually dark. Why was he still here? Hadn’t he wanted to leave just a few minutes ago? Vega’s dark eyes had replaced the brandy. He didn’t think, he just leaned forward and kissed her. Like every first kiss, it was electric. The only thing that had any existence, that mattered was the kiss. And then she leant back in her chair, hair falling into her face. She was trembling. What should he do?
“I’m sorry.” She said at last clearing her throat softly.
“Sorry for what?” Once again the weight of the day settled upon his shoulders again, and he itched to leave. Had he done something wrong?
“No...nothing.” She paused and finally looked at him. “I can’t be here. I’m going to the bridge.”
What on Earth was she talking about? The bridge? “The bridge? Why the…I’m coming with you.”
She studied his face. Then she got up and ran out. He slammed a few bills on the table before following her. He drew his neck into his shoulders against the cold wind blowing through the doors, pulling his sturdy work jacket tight around his shoulders. He didn’t care if he didn’t know her from a bar of soap, he was going to follow her no matter what.
Call me a stalker, crazy, I don’t care she’s not going over the bridge.

Outside Alister watched Vega’s small thin frame cut through the wind. There was no one outside at the hour, in this weather except them. She didn’t have a coat, and the wind whipped her hair around wildly.
“Where’s your coat?” He called, but she was too far ahead and the wind was roaring in his ears. “Hey! Vega!” She didn’t turn around or slow down. He put on a burst of speed. “Vega, hey! It’s cold out here.” She didn’t turn to look at him either. Alister caught hold of her shoulder to turn her around and she stopped dead, turning to face him. Her eyes were leaking dark tears. Or were they tears? The veins were showing darker than ever through her skin, and still it shone, though feverishly. In fact the darkness seemed to eat at her light hair.
“It’s not safe to follow me.”
“What, I can’t go where you’re going?”
She smiled. “That’s exactly it. You can’t.” She turned her liquid eyes to the water below them. They had already reached the bridge, leaning against the side rail. He couldn’t help it, his mouth worked but no eloquent words found him.
“That’s not fair.”
Her eyes never left the swirling and pitching water, but he knew she heard him. A muscle in her jaw worked, and suddenly she was coughing. Coughing up...black stuff. It pooled around her feet, and crawled up her ankles. He backed away. Finally, she looked at him.
“I was named by the stars. I am Fallen Star. I never thought my name would be true to fate, but then again there are so many things we never expect. Like you, Alister. I know you won’t understand, and I don't have the time to tell you anything really except that I lived my whole life a captive on an island, ignorant of everything. And I met someone who showed me music. Piper. For the first time I felt free, alive. It was as if the whole world had been remade, and I could see music everywhere. But it wasn’t enough, I wanted to hear music from other places. We escaped, and came here but - we split up after we escaped.” She coughed again, but nothing came out. Instead darkness bloomed in her fingertips, slowly crawling up her forearms. Alister felt ice chill his face, and squeezed away tears from his eyes.
“W-what are you talking about? What island was this? Who kept you there?” He stepped forward, and she stumbled back.
“I’m glad I met you today. I had a wonderful time, listening to that band. And the drink was delicious. But I cannot exist here. It isn’t right -” She would’ve fallen if he hadn’t wrapped his arms around her, cradling her face under the stars. The corners of her eyes crinkled, lace-like veins of darkness crawling away from them. The blond in her hair was almost gone now, replaced by a black that seemed to swallow all light.
"The stars are cruel. They watch from their perches high above, observing life coldly. Until one finds something they love. And we fall."
She grasped his arm and he gasped, she was almost gone, fading into darkness and stardust. Alister stared into her perfect eyes, his fingers tracing her soft jawline, finding his teardrops spilling down and onto her lashes. She blinked, trying to hold back the dark stars and abruptly went still. She sighed once, a smile visible on her fading face.
And she was gone. Alister held nothing but the remnants of a star gone supernova. His tears had remained and mingled with hers to form a tiny pendant.
He couldn't rise from that spot on the bridge for some time, and it almost seemed he stayed there for an eternity. But as the sky began to turn light once more, he realized that the feeling of restlessness had disappeared with the strange woman. Vega, Fallen Star. Some protector he’d been. He looked down at the pendant before curling his fingers over it. Answers to all the questions he had he knew existed somewhere, but Alister had lost his taste for the unnatural. He rose from the bridge, heard his jacket crackle from the cold. His breath clouded the air. Alister decided to call his mother.

Description
Vega looked back to the bridge lit up with lights winding around its beams. She could still feel the imprint of Piper’s hand in hers. But that was all gone now. Her Piper had piped his pipe dreams into her heart, and in succeeding his conquest he had proceeded onward alone. Had she always been just a means to an end? Did she mean anything anymore? Vega had no idea, but she did know she wanted music. She let the roar of traffic wash over her, sifted through it until a faint melody made itself clear. And she walked.

Alister eased himself into the chair in the corner. He was tired, and this dinghy cafe was the only place that appealed to his ringing mind. Cement laying wasn’t all that attractive, especially when it got this cold, but he appreciated the candor of his co-workers, and the pay was good. But right now he was feeling restless, so ready to up and leave the city and it’s noisy streets and milling people. So ready to take a long trip to nowhere and just disappear. He stared into the glass. The amber of the brandy seemed to grow so large that it engulfed him, unappealing although he didn’t know why. Alister hadn’t talked to his mother for months. His father was probably visiting with his half-siblings anyways. Odd days like this made him want to just peel off his skin and shed everything. He downed his drink, felt it burn all the way down in that familiar way.
The door blew open. By the steps, Alister could tell it was a woman. She sat on the stools at the front, but didn’t order anything. Now that he was listening, he could hear the clink of piano keys and soft voices. The newcomer got up and walked closer to the band. The bartender didn’t bother asking her to buy anything. It was evening, and it was a cold one. Turning someone away for not buying anything would be an asshole move. Now that she was standing closer, Alister noticed that there was a certain kind of glow to her skin. It was odd, but perhaps he was a little drunk but she seemed somehow luminous. She turned towards him and their eyes met. Hers were completely black. Alister swallowed down the still lingering taste of brandy and focused on the band. Somehow he couldn’t quite block her from his peripheral, and when he caught a glimpse of her he felt drawn to look at her fully, but restrained himself.
“Can you tell me where are we?” She asked when they finished their song.
“A bar.” It seemed a strange question to ask, but then again all the strange questions got asked in the strangest places. She had a nice smile, he noticed.
“I’m Vega.”
“Alister.” He stuck out a hand, and when she looked at him questioningly he laughed. “You’re supposed to shake it.”
“Oh.” She said, unsuccessfully sounding like she understood.
He dismissed it with a little shake of his fingers, still smiling. “Want a drink?”
He saw the hesitation in her eyes, but she accepted graciously. He signalled the bartender over and ordered two more brandies, motioning for her to sit down. She took the seat opposite of him, leaning back in the seat as if it was new to her.
“Your name is very unique. What does it mean?”
“Well,” She brushed a lock of hair out of her face, a white-blond from the root but dead black at the ends. She looked like some sort of misplaced model off the runway. The gesture seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn’t place it. “Tell me your secret first.”
“So it’s a secret, huh? That’s like hiding an elephant behind a lamp post. I’m going to find out the meaning of your name.”
She laughed. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours first.”
Alister smiled lightly, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m not too sure the specifics, but it goes along the lines of protector or something.” The bartender arrived and served their drinks.
She laughed at that. “That’s awesome. Now all you need is a fancy black suit.”
“And a fedora.”
“What? No!”
“What do you have against fedoras?”
“Hats and protection don’t combine well.”
“Is that so? And on what theory is that based?”
“My theory.”
“And what’s that?”
She paused. Alister realized that he’d leaned forward in their conversation that he could see the veins under Vega’s skin. They were unusually dark. Why was he still here? Hadn’t he wanted to leave just a few minutes ago? Vega’s dark eyes had replaced the brandy. He didn’t think, he just leaned forward and kissed her. Like every first kiss, it was electric. The only thing that had any existence, that mattered was the kiss. And then she leant back in her chair, hair falling into her face. She was trembling. What should he do?
“I’m sorry.” She said at last clearing her throat softly.
“Sorry for what?” Once again the weight of the day settled upon his shoulders again, and he itched to leave. Had he done something wrong?
“No...nothing.” She paused and finally looked at him. “I can’t be here. I’m going to the bridge.”
What on Earth was she talking about? The bridge? “The bridge? Why the…I’m coming with you.”
She studied his face. Then she got up and ran out. He slammed a few bills on the table before following her. He drew his neck into his shoulders against the cold wind blowing through the doors, pulling his sturdy work jacket tight around his shoulders. He didn’t care if he didn’t know her from a bar of soap, he was going to follow her no matter what.
Call me a stalker, crazy, I don’t care she’s not going over the bridge.

Outside Alister watched Vega’s small thin frame cut through the wind. There was no one outside at the hour, in this weather except them. She didn’t have a coat, and the wind whipped her hair around wildly.
“Where’s your coat?” He called, but she was too far ahead and the wind was roaring in his ears. “Hey! Vega!” She didn’t turn around or slow down. He put on a burst of speed. “Vega, hey! It’s cold out here.” She didn’t turn to look at him either. Alister caught hold of her shoulder to turn her around and she stopped dead, turning to face him. Her eyes were leaking dark tears. Or were they tears? The veins were showing darker than ever through her skin, and still it shone, though feverishly. In fact the darkness seemed to eat at her light hair.
“It’s not safe to follow me.”
“What, I can’t go where you’re going?”
She smiled. “That’s exactly it. You can’t.” She turned her liquid eyes to the water below them. They had already reached the bridge, leaning against the side rail. He couldn’t help it, his mouth worked but no eloquent words found him.
“That’s not fair.”
Her eyes never left the swirling and pitching water, but he knew she heard him. A muscle in her jaw worked, and suddenly she was coughing. Coughing up...black stuff. It pooled around her feet, and crawled up her ankles. He backed away. Finally, she looked at him.
“I was named by the stars. I am Fallen Star. I never thought my name would be true to fate, but then again there are so many things we never expect. Like you, Alister. I know you won’t understand, and I don't have the time to tell you anything really except that I lived my whole life a captive on an island, ignorant of everything. And I met someone who showed me music. Piper. For the first time I felt free, alive. It was as if the whole world had been remade, and I could see music everywhere. But it wasn’t enough, I wanted to hear music from other places. We escaped, and came here but - we split up after we escaped.” She coughed again, but nothing came out. Instead darkness bloomed in her fingertips, slowly crawling up her forearms. Alister felt ice chill his face, and squeezed away tears from his eyes.
“W-what are you talking about? What island was this? Who kept you there?” He stepped forward, and she stumbled back.
“I’m glad I met you today. I had a wonderful time, listening to that band. And the drink was delicious. But I cannot exist here. It isn’t right -” She would’ve fallen if he hadn’t wrapped his arms around her, cradling her face under the stars. The corners of her eyes crinkled, lace-like veins of darkness crawling away from them. The blond in her hair was almost gone now, replaced by a black that seemed to swallow all light.
"The stars are cruel. They watch from their perches high above, observing life coldly. Until one finds something they love. And we fall."
She grasped his arm and he gasped, she was almost gone, fading into darkness and stardust. Alister stared into her perfect eyes, his fingers tracing her soft jawline, finding his teardrops spilling down and onto her lashes. She blinked, trying to hold back the dark stars and abruptly went still. She sighed once, a smile visible on her fading face.
And she was gone. Alister held nothing but the remnants of a star gone supernova. His tears had remained and mingled with hers to form a tiny pendant.
He couldn't rise from that spot on the bridge for some time, and it almost seemed he stayed there for an eternity. But as the sky began to turn light once more, he realized that the feeling of restlessness had disappeared with the strange woman. Vega, Fallen Star. Some protector he’d been. He looked down at the pendant before curling his fingers over it. Answers to all the questions he had he knew existed somewhere, but Alister had lost his taste for the unnatural. He rose from the bridge, heard his jacket crackle from the cold. His breath clouded the air. Alister decided to call his mother.