Title: Tension
Story: In the Heart
Colors: Harvest gold 10 (giving thanks), russet 3 (silken), liver 1 (head)
Supplies and Materials: Bichromatic, frame, brush (fecund), glitter (damage).
Word Count: 184
Rating: G
Summary: Viktorie's not sure this PhD is worth it.
Warnings: none.
Notes: Meme fill for shipwreck_light. See, I'm still doing these!


The radio's on, crackling staticky laughter in the background, and Leah is sprawled out on the carpet, red hair pooling around her head, one arm thrown over her eyes.

Viktorie picks her way over her girlfriend's legs and sits down by her head. "You all right?"

"Headache," Leah says, without moving her arm. "Light hurts."

Viktorie clucks. "Lift your head, I'll give you a scalp massage."

Leah lifts her head and squirms around into Viktorie's lap without moving her arm. It's a talent.

If Viktorie's honest, she isn't sure this PhD is worth all the tension headaches. Either Leah hunches over her laptop or she grinds her teeth or she just plain worries so much that all her muscles tense, and the next thing Viktorie knows Leah's flat on her back with her head aching. But she hasn't said anything. Leah's almost done, and she's hardly going to trash eight years of effort just because Viktorie doesn't like what it's done to her.

Viktorie lets Leah's hair slip silky through her fingers, and presses softly at her temples.

She'll be glad when it's over.