[Kachi]: 373.'Drabble' Fiction.Science Fiction.Core - Yirien

Core - Yirien

It was the apple core that bounced almost majestically onto Yirien's head, and then against the darkened glass of the window, that broke the tension.

Prerra started it first. A nervous laugh hidden behind slender fingers, her eyes betraying her fear. Then Aralelle, who had never been particularly skilled when it came to supressing her emotions, broke into a loud guffaw, throwing her head back and laughing until tears streamed down her face. Even delicate, feminine Feiwa couldn't help herself.

Soon, Yirien was the only one wearing a scowl in the cramped compartment of the dropship. "You've forgotten why we're here, haven't you?"

Janura managed to compose himself, wiping his still apple-damp palm down the grey leg of his jumpsuit, and treated Yirien to a sarcastic smile. "Something on your mind?"

"Strangely enough, yes. The fact we're about to land down there." The engineer snarled, brown eyes narrowing at the taller man.

Janura shrugged and looked around at the now sober faces of his crewmates. He shoved a strand of long, purple-dyed hair back from his face and gave Yirien the first serious look the man had seen in weeks. "We die, we die. We may as well go with smiles on our faces, right?"

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205 words, written in five minutes based on the prompt word 'core'. A little bit of the novel I never got around to finishing.