the ones with matching scars

So here's to everything coming down to nothing
Here's to silence that cuts me to the core

Whatever Soh had been expecting - which was probably a quiet "no" and that would have been that - it wasn't for Colt to force the men at the table to allow her to break the rules. She raised her brows at her new friend, but said nothing as she stripped the bracelets off her wrist and set them aside. Then, as if nothing was out of the ordinary, she continued on with the game.

Soh quickly lost the rest of her jewelry and her top, until she sat in her bra, underwear, and pants. She was just drunk enough not to care about exposing her scars to the world, and more than once, she ignored gazes flickering over the jagged claw marks across her abdomen and the burn that wound its way up her right shoulder. In any other situation, she might have been self-conscious - but this was what she'd wanted, wasn't it? To have fun without any strings attached?

The others in their circle were in various states of undress when Soh drew a lucky hand. She gasped. "I think I win!"

Where is this going?
Thought I knew for a minute, but I don't anymore

Sohalia

COLT

The world is unquestionably and irrevocably, beautiful. It's threaded into every sprawling landscape that arranges itself as if designed to steal your breath. It's in the turning of the seasons and the close of each sunset, marking every day as singular and memorable. It's the complexity of even existing, impossible and messy, but lovely because the chance is there at all. Even amongst men, it lingers in the unexpected moments of goodwill and kindness, often exchanged when needed most or expected the least. All of it, worth it.

The world is equally, relentlessly ugly. Storms tear things apart with a hunger that has no reason or end. Living is a violent task, continually devouring itself to proceed, survival an offer not a given. And men—men cause deliberate harm, needing no reason beyond affection to commit the most heinous acts imaginable. Hatred seems the obvious blight in the world, but true villainy only emerges from love. There can be nothing uglier than that.

Colt can't keep the world from being ugly, or herself along with it, but as someone who's faced the monster of love once, she'd never watch a woman get in over her head without attempting to pull her up. She knows too well what it feels like to slip under and realize that she might never resurface. This isn't a sea trying to take Sohalia over, but you can drown in a puddle just the same.

Hard to say if it's luck or layers that wins in the end. Colt's down to just the last article of clothing she has, the navy cableknit like the last bastion against her tits as the rest of sits bare and bold. Her, and the man across from her who's the only other one besides Soh with a piece of fabric still on. Not his willy, that was pulled out early on, like he thought he might inspire one of the girls with the sight of it. Doesn't matter now though, because Soh pulled through. With a whoop of celebration Colt launches to her feet, and a bit inebriated by now after pulling a few shots and more sunrises over during the rounds, she leans in to press a kiss to Soh's lips. It's a quick, fluid motion, not meant to linger, but sealing soft warmth and the taste of liquor to Soh's mouth just the same, a giddy grin erupting thereafter as Colt flits away to stake claim to her tequila trophy, bare ass on display. "YES! You did it!"

I ain't sayin' that I always sleep alone
Done a little bit of midnight movin' on
I never let my heart go all the way
I never fall in love, baby, just in case

So here's to everything coming down to nothing
Here's to silence that cuts me to the core

Somehow, against all the odds, Soh won. Oh, she'd lost some things along the way - some clothes, for starters, and her dignity along with them - but she wasn't nearly as bad off as some of the others. Even Colt had lost all but her sweater, and Soh had done her best to avoid looking at the man across from them as he leered with his dick out. Honestly, whoever had designed male genitalia should be shot. It wasn't exactly fun to look at.

In any case, Soh forgot all of this as soon as she realized that her hand had won out, and she whooped with glee as Colt launched to her feet. But laughter that had bubbled up at her new friend's joy died in her throat as the other woman planted a brief, fluid kiss to her lips. A blush crept into her cheeks, aided by the liquor she'd imbibed throughout the evening, and she stared after Colt as the woman sashayed over to nab the tequila, her ass bare naked. It occurred to Soh that she might just be very drunk, but since when was Colt so pretty?

Shaking her head to clear it and averting her gaze, Soh climbed to her feet, gathering up the various articles of clothing and jewelry they'd discarded throughout the game. "Thanks, boys," she shot over her shoulder as she linked arms with Colt. "We're really going to enjoy this bottle." And with that, she tugged Colt along with her away from the game, leaving the men steaming mad without a single glance back.

fin

Where is this going?
Thought I knew for a minute, but I don't anymore

Sohalia