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Artfight attack on @tzarina-alexandra illustrating a scene from her story, The Hacker: Death of the Internet!!!

(You should read it)

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Artfight attack on @tzarina-alexandra!

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Artfight attack on @tzarina-alexandra of her OC Penelope!

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Custom thumbnails for The Keeper of the Underwater Graveyard

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ArtFight updated thumbnails

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Behold!

My third novel

Summary of notes and key scenes; story written aged 16-18, shelved

The Choice to Love (2017)

A story about an arranged marriage in Victorian England.

Dramatis Personae:

Main characters

Ernest - main character; wealthy bachelor, the only unmarried son of his family; very neurotic and perfectionistic as a person.

Jeannine - his wife; from an impoverished French noble family; a hopeless romantic.

Ernest's household + friends

Nannette - the maid who raised him as child; like a mother to him

Mildred - cook

Tabitha - helps Mildred in the kitchen; she is an orphan teen

Edmund - butler

Jasper - Ernest's best friend; owner of the antique shop

Gabrielle - Jasper's wife

Ernest's family

George - father; terminally ill

Olivia - mother; Ernest has a strained relationship with her

William - oldest brother

Frederick - older brother

Amelia - older sister

Jeannine's family

Gerard - father

Julia - mother

Georgette - twin sister

Chapters actually written in full: 2

Chapter 1 - An unexpected wedding

"Thursday, the 26th of March, 1840, in a small town north of London"

Ernest's parents badger him about getting married, but he is busy with his clockwork and other experiments. His mother goes on about reputation and whatnot, but he rebuts that the women who'd want to marry him only do so motivated by money. In the meantime, Jeannine, from a former French noble family fallen into poverty, also talks about marriage to her parents. She is actually in love with Ernest. The two families, however, end up arranging a marriage between the two, but it is framed as better because it is nit because of a compatibility of wealth, but of character. The wedding day finally comes, and Ernest feels guilty that he doesn't love Jeannine back.

Chapter 2

The members of both families are introduced at length. Ernest has 3 older siblings, William, 40, Frederick, 38, and Amelia, 36, all of whom have been married for a long time and each have at least 3 children. They have a bit of a culture clash as they realise Ernest's family is pretty much aristocratic, whereas Jeannine's family is poorer and more 'common' despite the old title. For example, Georgette, her sister, has a flower shop. Jeannine settles into her new home and noticed that Ernest's living space is very neat, symmetrical and controlled to every single detail. She also gets introduced to the house servants.

The main notes - version 1 (30 june 2017)

1845

chapter 1

after his 30th birthday, Ernest is forced by his parents to get married. He and Jeannine have an arranged marriage

chapter 2

Jeannine confesses her love (if naive and misguided) and Ernest tells her he doesn't believe in love at first sight; she runs off crying and he has to talk to her parents etc; she returns and they try to starts over with the introductions

chapter 3

Jeannine gets introduced to his house servants; the two first talk about their interests etc

chapter 4

various visits; we are introduced to Jasper, Ernest's friend is introduced

ch 5

they learn more about each other from their respective familes; they attend a party but leave early and bond over being shy and not good with crowds

ch 6

creepy dude pretends to be a busines partner of Ernest's but he actually wants to have an affair with Jeannine, which she refuses, running away from him; the guy is kicked out

ch 7

the two talk about their past, share their respective testimonies, and grow to trust each other

ch 8

Jeannine teaches Tabitha French

ch 9

they celebrate Christmas; in 1846 they celebrate a year of marriage

The main notes - version 2 (9 june 2018)

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All 5 portraits together

Hans

Mr G

Fabienne ("Phoebe")

Penelope

Émeline

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Finally drew Mr G too

Now I have all the characters from my hacker story, just in time for Art Fight 2k25

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Drew Hans for ArtFight!

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And with Émeline, these are the female characters from my hacker story

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It only took like half a year but here is the new design for Penelope. Again, trying to keep the same overall elements and shapes (and colour pallette!!!) but make it make sense as a real life outfit.

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Gen alpha counter-attack

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I tried to draw Phoebe with clothes that make more sense as real outfits a person would wear. This is one of two outfits I had in mind. This story is supposed to take place in the next decade but honestly this is very y2k core here

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To be continued, of course. I'm stuck at the scene where Nerea meets the villains but I feel like the rest of the story will flow smoothly from there on

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as the sea follows the moon

part 3

in which everybody gets tragically separated

SCENE V

Yuxiang wakes up late in the morning. He notices a basket filled with various nuts and bolts, by his bedside. He goes outside and sees Nerea fishing. 

YUXIANG: Thank you for the basket.

NEREA: You're lucky that I always find pieces like these when fishing. (laughs) Well, sometimes only after we gut the fish. Come here! 

He sits next to her. She hands him the fishing rod and shows him how to use it. 

NEREA: This is your first time, isn't it?

YUXIANG (amused): We don't exactly have bodies of water on the Moon. We do have fish, in these giant water tanks, but they let only the staff handle them. 

NEREA: So then where do you get your water from? I'm surprised to hear the Moon has no seas or lakes there; it sure looks like it would, from here. 

YUXIANG: Ah, well, it's a very complicated process. We got taught some of it in school, but I'm not confident I could explain it even to my peers, much less somebody unfamiliar with our technology. Not to mention that I doubt the translating device will be of much use for such technical jargon. Also, yes, the Moon looks like a sort of desert. 

The disappointment on Nerea's face is palpable. 

YUXIANG (awkwardly): Is now the wrong time to tell you there's no breathable air? Or no air at all, really. 

NEREA: What? What do you mean? How do you even survive?! 

YUXIANG: We wear these special costumes. They work similarly to those of deep water divers. 

He notices her confusion.

YUXIANG: Please don't tell me you don't have those anymore... Well, I can just show you mine. 

Nerea takes the basket of fish inside the house and follows Yuxiang back to the ship. The inside looks completely unfamiliar, with technology she can't wrap her head around. 

NEREA: Why do they even call these machines 'ships'?

YUXIANG (shrugs): I suppose the first ones were modeled after the ships here on Earth. And what accounts we do have from before the Great War show that humans have always likened the heavens to the seas. 

He shows her the spacesuit, and briefly demonstrates how it works. 

NEREA: So it's true: during the Great War, many took refuge on the Moon. But, if it's such a hostile place, why go there?

YUXIANG: Well, it's been made at least somewhat habitable. I think some people here would choose to go up there if they knew about it, if only for the novelty of the experience. But, many more people from the Moon would return to Earth in a heartbeat if they knew it's so full of life. And that would greatly undermine the power of the Republic, don't you think? 

NEREA (pensive): I see... (pause) Well, if you want to stay, you're more than welcome here. 

YUXIANG (touched): That's very kind of you, but I have to leave. I have a duty to my family, my allies. And even if they were in no danger, I can't just run away when the Republic still spreads its lies. Not when I've seen all of this with my own eyes. 

NEREA: Then, let me come with you! 

YUXIANG (terror in his eyes): No, you'd be putting yourself in mortal danger! 

NEREA: Wouldn't I be of help to your cause, as living proof that humanity still thrives on Earth? 

YUXIANG (very grave): That's exactly why it'd be too dangerous for you. There have been humans from Earth who came to the Moon, and they were killed, so that the truth wouldn't come out. Does the name Alice Mabel Davies sound familiar?

NEREA: I may have heard Northerners talk about her.

YUXIANG: Well, she did reach the Moon. It was the first time that people in the Republic have seen somebody from Earth. To say that this revelation caused an uproar would be an understatement. Realising they had been lied to for centuries, people tried to oppose the Republic and return to the Earth. Almost all in the first generation of revolutionaries were killed, and Dr. Davies, as well as the most notable among the dissidents were made an example. Whoever already started flying towards Earth had their ship crashed - I'm certain this was the case with Captain Yang, whose photograph you have. I don't know whether anybody who landed on Earth survived. A few of the revolutionaries have managed to escape execution - among them are my parents. A new generation of dissidents has risen up, still in the shadows. I'm prepared to die defending the Truth, but I can't demand such a sacrifice of you. 

Nerea is silent for a moment, pondering his words.

NEREA: I'm no stranger to evil regimes, nor to sacrifices made by those fighting against them. The civil war in your country ended the one in mine. Maybe we met for a reason. Maybe that's what my parents would've wanted!

YUXIANG (pleading): I assure you, your parents wanted you to have freedom, and peace! And think of your sister!

NEREA (frowning): Maybe you're right. 

They resume their routine for the day. In the evening, they set the table, but suddenly, Yuxiang looks at one of his devices in alarm, and runs towards his ship. Both sisters follow him. He takes a small device that was attached to the outer wall of the ship, and looks at it in horror. 

YUXIANG: They know where I am! I must leave right now! 

He takes all of his belongings from the house and throws them in the ship in a rush. 

NEREA: This device tells them your location? Can't you just destroy it?

YUXIANG: No, then they'll come here. I'll leave and lead them away from you. I'm so sorry for putting you in danger, after you've done nothing but help me.

NEREA: It's not your fault.

YUXIANG (smiling weakly): I should've known better, but... I cannot thank the both of you enough for your hospitality. 

ERCILIA: We wish you a safe journey home. 

YUXIANG: Thank you. I'll keep you in my prayers, too. 

NEREA: Even if history never acknowledges your sacrifice, I'll keep your memory alive. 

YUXIANG (deeply moved): Please remember me just as a man who fought for the truth.

She nods.

YUXIANG: I'll always think of you whenever I look at the Earth. (to both) May you always live in freedom, and peace. Goodbye!

He closes the door. The ship departs with a loud sound, but it soon disappears into the clouds. Nerea stays in place for a while, looking at the sky melancholically. 

SCENE VI

Ercilia places a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder. 

ERCILIA: It's for the best. We wouldn't want war at our doorstep. 

NEREA: I know...

She returns home. The next day goes as usual. However, the day after that, another spaceship lands, this time much more silently. 

Nerea runs towards the landing place, but cautiously steps back when she notices somebody other than Yuxiang exiting the ship. There are two people, a man and a woman, and they talk in the Republic's language. Nerea stays hidden and tries to observe them from a distance. The two are listening to a device. Nerea's eyes widen as she recognises the audio as her conversation with Yuxiang.

NEREA (thinking): Are these the people who were after him?

Nerea steps back as quietly as possible, goes to her room, searches for a piece of paper, folds it neatly, and places it under her sister's bed. She gets a basket and puts a spare set of clothes in it, and some fruit. Then, she goes to her shrine in the forest and puts the photograph and the adjacent pieces of metal into a basket. She goes near the ship again; the people are still inspecting the area. She manages to sneak inside unnoticed. The two eventually reenter, and their device shows a sort of map, with a flickering light indicating a certain location near the Moon. The two press some buttons and the ship takes off. Nerea hides under a table, in a corner, and tries not to tremble or make any noise. 

[cut]

Ercilia returns from the sea and notices the ship taking off, and becoming invisible again. She looks on in fear, and runs to the house. To her dismay, she finds her sister's letter:

 "My dear Ercilia,

After learning all there is to learn about the Moon, I have come to the conclusion that I should go up, too. It's not a decision that I take lightly: I am aware of the dangers. But I believe some things are worth fighting for; I can't be indifferent to their cause now. I'm certain that my destiny is somehow intertwined with that of the Moon. When I was just a baby, that ship crashing is what protected our quiet shore from being found by the militia. Now I meet a descendant of the dissident of the past generation - he lands here, of all places. This must all be for a reason. I'm certain our parents would've wanted me to follow in their footsteps, not to cower before evil. I hope you will find it in you to forgive me for leaving you here alone. If I survive this ordeal, I will return to you. You will always be in my thoughts. Please keep my memory in your heart. 

Your little sister, Nerea."

The paper was crumpled. Ercilia noticed that it was dated a few days prior. 

ERCILIA (screams in agony): Nerea!!! 

She sobs, leaning against the table as her whole body shakes. 

ERCILIA: How could you?! How dare you?! 

She sits down and continues crying. 

ERCILIA (frowning): Unless that man kidnapped you... I should've known he'd be trouble! Oh, why did this happen to us? We've been through enough war already! I've lost enough family already. 

She starts sobbing inconsolably, head in hands. 

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As the sea follows the Moon

part 2

in which the 'prince' gets shipwrecked and by shipwrecked I mean he emergency lands his spaceship

SCENE III

The sisters go about their routine as usual. Suddenly, violent gusts of wind blow seemingly out of nowhere. The two women hide in their house, as do all the other villagers. A booming sound is heard briefly, then complete silence. After the dust settles, Nerea and Ercilia come outside. Walking for a while, they notice the felled trees in the forest.

ERCILIA: Perhaps that was a shooting star.

NEREA: What about the wind?

Nerea inspects further. She steps towards the crater, when she hits a solid object. It seems as if there’s nothing at all near her, but if she pushes her hands forward, she can touch it. She notices that the object changes color so that it matches her hands, not unlike a chameleon. Her eyes grow wide with excitement. Ercilia watches from afar, frightened. Suddenly, a door opens, with a loud woosh. A man limps out, holding onto his side, in pain. He sees Nerea, as well as the trees, the beach, the ocean and the distant horizon, and looks in awe. However, he soon kneels in pain; it appears that he is bleeding. He says something to Nerea, but she cannot understand the language. He falls to the ground. No longer staring in shock, Nerea and Ercilia try to pick him up and carry him to their house. To the best of their ability, they clean and stitch the wounds. As he rests on the couch, the sisters clean up and discuss.

NEREA: Have you ever seen bullets like these before?

ERCILIA: No. But I’m more worried about the war that apparently broke out near our borders!

NEREA: This man fell from the sky – in an invisible machine, no less! I don’t think this is the doing of any country here on Earth.

ERCILIA: So your Moon people are attacking us, then?!

NEREA: I don’t think so… I hope not… (looking back at the man) Perhaps they’re at war with each other.

ERCILIA (nervous): I don’t want to deal with refugees from the Moon, of all places!

Nerea looks at her sister with a knowing look. Ercilia averts her gaze, guiltily.

ERCILIA (sighs): I know, I know.

Ercilia leaves the room and tends to her other duties, and so does Nerea. Later that day, the man wakes up and tries to sit up. Nerea approaches him. He tells her something, and judging by his expression, she interprets that he thanked her.

NEREA: Oh, it’s no bother at all! I’m glad you’re feeling a little better.

He says something else, pauses, and starts over. He points to himself and says it again, emphasizing the last words. He then points at her, inquiring.

NEREA: Oh, is that your name? Hai Yuxiang?

He nods, smiling, and gestures towards her again.

NEREA: My name is Nerea.

He ponders for a moment and tries talking to her again, this time it is another language, but not one that Nerea understands, either. He tries a third one with similar results. Yuxiang’s frustration is visible. After a pause, he tries one more time, in a language that she finds somewhat familiar.

YUXIANG: Do you understand me now?

NEREA (very taken aback): Strangely enough, I do… But what is this? It seems like – no it can’t be. (laughs) This is an ancient language. I remember learning it in school very briefly.

YUXIANG (laughs): Me too, but I’m not fluent at all, as you can see. But I do have a… something in my… sky… boat?

NEREA: What?

YUXIANG (to himself, in his native language): Even if I knew the words, I doubt the ancients had terms for this type of technology!

He points to the place where the spaceship landed.

YUXIANG: I just want to go get my things.

NEREA: You’re still hurt.

YUXIANG: I’m fine, really. I can walk.

He stands up and goes outside. He still limps a bit, and sometimes touches his side. He eventually returns with a handful of objects. He picks one out and shows it to her; it looks like a slightly thicker mirror, but it also has keys similar to a typewriter’s.

YUXIANG: This will help translate what we say.

He looks very intently at the object, as if searching for something.

YUXIANG (frustrated): This doesn’t have Earth languages. (sighs) The closest would be this one.

He presses some buttons and a small light in the corner of the mirror turns blue.

YUXIANG: I will speak in my own language and you will hear the translation here. (to himself) Hopefully these dialects are mutually intelligible… (in his native language, towards the machine) This is the cheapest machine of its kind that I could find, so it’s not the best. I hope you can understand me better now.

NEREA (after listening to the machine produce an audible translation): I think so. This still doesn’t sound like my language, but it seems to be related to it. (pause) I see that even without the machine, you know many languages.

YUXIANG: Oh, it’s nothing, haha. Everybody in the Republic of Peace speaks multiple languages.

NEREA: Is that what you call the nation established on the Moon?

YUXIANG: No, there are many countries up there. The Republic of Peace is the first, and the biggest of them, however. Every other space nation arose from it.

NEREA (impressed): I can’t believe all of this is real! People here believe that all of this is nothing more than a legend.

YUXIANG: It’s the same for us. We have been told all our lives that we are humanity’s only survivors, and that the Earth is dead and barren. (deeply moved) Yet, when I landed here, the forest was green and the sea was blue like nothing I had seen before in my life.

They sit in silence and look each other in the eyes, in awe.

SCENE IV

Ercilia comes into the room.

ERCILIA: Oh, you woke up!

She hears the machine produce a translation, and it startles her.

ERCILIA: What was that?

NEREA: It’s a translation machine! Isn’t that wonderful?

ERCILIA: I suppose it’s useful… (to Yuxiang) Are you feeling better now, Sir?

YUXIANG: Yes. Thank you for taking care of me.

ERCILIA: It’s the least we could do.

The three sit at the kitchen table and eat dinner together, then politely take their leave after they finish.

NEREA: I really want to show you something.

YUXIANG (curious): Yes?

She takes him to the forest shrine.

NEREA: I found the photo and all of these other things washed ashore after a flying machine fell from the sky when we were children. Nobody believed me that it was from the Moon. Can you read the text here?

Yuxiang looked at the picture very intently, and he seemed surprised.

YUXIANG: It says “Yang Zhihao. Republic of Peace flying license”. The rest is burnt up.

They keep a moment of silence.

NEREA: As they say, the captain goes down with the ship…

YUXIANG: No, it was not an accident.

NEREA: How can you know?

YUXIANG: I’ve heard this name before, and I’ve even seen a photograph of this person before. The Republic probably wanted him dead.

NEREA (shocked): What could he have done to deserve such a thing?!

YUXIANG (in a somber tone, with great resolve): The same thing I’m doing. He tried to speak against their lies.

Nerea looks grave, as the harsh reality of the situation dawned on her.

NEREA: So they shot you? There’s no war after all, is there?

YUXIANG: Not yet.

He keeps a moment of silence, then carefully stands up, briefly holding onto his side.

YUXIANG: I’m glad he got to see the Earth with his own eyes, even if for a brief moment before death. It was what he fought for.

NEREA: Where did you learn about him?

YUXIANG: We honor those who came before us, and sacrificed their lives fighting for the truth. He was from last generation’s resistance movement.

NEREA: I see… (sad) My parents were considered dissidents, too. Eventually, civil war broke out, and… We took refuge here, with our grandmother.

YUXIANG: I’m sorry.

NEREA (after a pause) As a child, I believed that the space ship crashing here scared the militia into avoiding this place. I don’t know how true that is. But, I’ve always believed those on the Moon protected us, somehow. I thought you were an angel, at first.

YUXIANG: Not at all! I’m as human as you are.

NEREA: I figured you’re mortal when I saw you bleeding.

Both laugh a little.

YUXIANG: Forgive my being too demanding, but I was thinking that the rocket pieces you collected might prove very useful. They’re a little outdated, but they’ll work just fine. I need to do minor repairs on my ship.

NEREA: But the altar!

YUXIANG: He’s with God now; he won’t need any of that in Heaven.

NEREA (suspicious): I thought you venerated your ancestors, too.

YUXIANG: Not in the same way.

NEREA (uncomfortable): I see.

YUXIANG: I didn’t mean to offend you. I can make do without the pieces, it’s alright.  

They return to the house in silence and go to their respective rooms.

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Inklings Challenge: February 2025 edition (4 loves challenge)

As the Sea follows the Moon

Story by Alexandra D.

DISCLAIMER: the story is not finished (in fact, I only managed to write about 1/4 of it this February) but I will be posting it anyway because I intend to finish it and it's easier to keep track this way

This story is a rework of an old (ie from-my-2013-WIPs old) attempt at a Little Mermaid story, now set in what I have been referring to as the 'extended TLOEW universe' (The Land of Eternal Winter being my first WIP since joining tumblr). Aka a little mermaid coded story IN SPACE.

It may not be the most accurate retelling of the fairytale itself, but I believe it's the best way to integrate this type of story in this particular universe.

I hope you enjoy it

part 1

SCENE I

Candlelight reflecting in the water like stars. The whole village is illuminated by hundreds of clusters of small candles. Even the forest is bright as the day. On the terrace of one of the houses on the shore, an old woman helps her granddaughter, a girl aged about fifteen, light the candles, and place them among the flowers and other ornaments. She keeps a moment of silence, and the girl bows her head solemnly, following her example. There are two photographs depicting a man and a woman in what seems to be a military uniform.

GRANDMOTHER: Ercilia, where is your sister?

ERCILIA: I’ll look for her

Ercilia goes into the forest and follows the trail of light, until she reaches a familiar spot. Indeed, her sister, a girl about ten years old, was there, kneeling before her own little altar. Resting against the tree is a half-burned photograph of a young man. His name, and perhaps some other information, too, is written on it, but it was in an unknown language. The decorations included white and yellow flowers, as well as various scraps of metal, placed meticulously in front of the portrait.

ERCILIA: Nerea!

The little girl jolts upright.

NEREA: I’m coming right now!

Nerea joins her grandmother and her older sister.

GRANDMOTHER (didactically): Now, why do we light these candles?

ERCILIA (promptly): To keep the memories of our loved ones alive.

GRANDMOTHER: That’s right! We never truly die until we are forgotten. Some people achieve greatness – history remembers them for centuries. Most people, however, are remembered by their families

She leaves a solemn pause, and the girls bow their heads, wiping away any stray tear.

GRANDMOTHER: Even if the rulers of this country have decided to erase your parents from history, for being on the wrong side of this war, ‘dissidents’, or whatever else they may call us, they will never be able to erase them from your hearts. They will live on through you, your children, your grandchildren… There is no higher form of resistance than this.

Ercilia is listening, riveted. Nerea seemed to be paying attention until she interjected:

NEREA: See, this is why I brought a candle for the Moon man, too!

ERCILIA (annoyed): I told you there’s no such thing!

NEREA: The photo was in the wreckage of a flying machine!

GRANDMOTHER (reassuringly): Moon man or not, Nerea did a kind thing for a nameless fallen soldier.

The three eventually stand up and entered the house. The old woman tucks her granddaughters into bed, gently kissing their foreheads.

NEREA (with a pleading voice, almost on the verge of tears): Grandma?

GRANDMOTHER: Yes, dear?

NEREA: What will happen when the world ends? Who will remember any of us, then, if everybody is gone?

GRANDMOTHER: What a question! You know, they said the same thing – that the world is about to end – around the time of your birth. Yet, here you are.

Nerea is comforted enough by the answer to be able to go to sleep.

SCENE II

[Twelve years later]

The two sisters are tending to their daily routines, fishing, cooking, hanging the laundry, changing the flowers and candles around their parents’ and grandmother’s portraits. The sun sets. Nerea puts her fishing rod away, and carries her basket to the forest. She takes out all sorts of screws, bolts, scrap metal and other seemingly random objects and places them carefully in the small enclosure where the half-burnt photo stands. She lights the candle again and smiles. She walks back to the beach and sits down, looking at the starry sky and full moon.

ERCILIA: Nerea! This is the third time I call for you.

NEREA (only now paying attention): Ah! Coming.

ERCILIA (sighs then smiles): Alright. I just said dinner’s ready.

The two eat, in good spirits.

NEREA: The catch was very good today.

ERCILIA (laughing): I saw a lot of junk in your basket!

NEREA: Those are pieces from the flying machine which fell from the Moon.  

ERCILIA: You only believe these things because you heard them from the Northerners.

NEREA: You don’t have to be a Northerner to be fascinated by the night sky. Why wouldn’t you want it to be true?

ERCILIA: Northerners made up this lie to start the War and utterly destroy each other. We are lucky to not have had our country wiped off the face of the Earth! And now they’re building flying machines to fool people into thinking they fell from the Moon?! And if there actually were people up there, it would only be a matter of time until they wage war against us.

NEREA: I think that if they wanted to, they would’ve done it already.

ERCILIA: Even if all of that is true, they’ve kept hidden for centuries. I don’t think they want to be discovered.

NEREA: Maybe so. But I believe they deserve having at least this proof of their existence preserved.

ERCILIA: I doubt Moon people look back at us with the same fascination. Nerea shrugs, smiling, and helps her sister clear the table.