Work Text:
Pomni sat on the floor of the hallway, holding her knees up to her chest. She was hyperventilating loudly, hot tears streaming from her eyes.
In one afternoon, her entire perception of her digital reality had been completely shattered. What was even real anymore? She couldn’t even make it back to her bedroom without the crushing weight of this revelation toppling her body to the floor.
Now she simply sat there helpless, nearly blinded by the tears in her eyes, wondering if it was even worth it to continue living.
All of a sudden, she felt something soft and silky coiling around her body. It restrained her arms and legs, but in a gentle and comforting way. She looked upward to see Gangle’s smiling-yet-teary-eyed face staring back at her.
“G-Gangle?” the jester woman choked out in a weak voice.
Gangle had completely uncoiled her own torso and legs, wrapping them around Pomni’s trembling body, like a hug from a friendly snake. The ribboned woman gently wiped the tears from Pomni’s eyes.
“Shhhh…” Gangle whispered, sliding Pomni’s eyelids shut with her ribboned arm before wrapping it back around Pomni. “Close your eyes… Just breathe… I’m right here…”
Feeling deeply soothed by the gentle constriction of her body, alongside Gangle’s soft voice, Pomni noticed her mind becoming silent.
The two of them just sat there for a while, breathing slowly in sync and shutting out the outside world. None of those burning questions about their reality mattered. There was only silence, stillness, and peace.