Archive of Our Own ^beta

■■■■ ran excitedly down the hall on the way to their bedroom, their mother trailing behind them.

"What story would you like today?" The mother asked gently as her child settles under their covers.

They huff at her as she tucks them in, clearly impatient. "The one about the- about how we were made!"

The mother chuckles. "Again? That's the 3rd time this week you've wanted to read that story..."

"It's really good!" Little ■■■■ exclaimed, drawing out the "really" as they spoke.

"Alright, alright." The mother sighed with a smile on her face.

"A long, long time ago, before the world had a name, before it even had anyone to name it, there were stars. So many stars, twinkling and sparkling in the vast expanse that is the Universe." 

They hung from the sky, watching, overseeing, making sure conditions would be perfect for them when they fell. They waited and waited, until finally the time was right. The stars fell from the sky, one by one, until there were none left." 

When they hit the ground, something miraculous happened. They gained arms and legs, hair and skin, all the fleshy parts that us humans have today!"

"Over time, they spread across the planet, adapting and reproducing, until they developed different languages and beliefs! The children of the stars kept evolving and evolving until eventually they became you and me, and all the people on this planet."

"Is that why we throw dead people at the sky? And why we don't assign genders as babies?" The child wrinkled their nose.

"I think it's weird that other countries do that." The mother booped the child's nose, eliciting a giggle from the younger.

"It's only weird to you because you're not used to it. But yes, that is why we have those traditions. We throw the ashes of those who have passed to the stars, so they can return from where we came and stars don't have genders, so why would we assign them?"

■■■■ nods vigorously. "So is that why our hair is white, and why people like shiny things, and why everyone looks different, and why-"

The tall woman ruffled the child's hair. "...As much as I would love to answer your questions little star, I fear it is far past your bedtime. Look, the sky is completely dark."

■■■■ gasps "But mamaaaaaaa, I have so many questionsssss!"

The mother hums gently. "And I promise I'll answer them tomorrow morning, once you're rested. You've got a big day tomorrow little ■■■■!"

■■■■ grumbles as they're tucked beneath the covers. "Good night my dear."

"Night mama!" The child called back to her as she shut the door behind her, bringing ■■■■'s busy day to a close.