[why not make it a game? he would do anything for his flock, he would chase their prey as far as they need... but they're not awake to play with him. he has to make his own fun. let it run like a feather on a string.]
[ you feel a tension you didn't even know you had release, in your shoulders. it can be fun. you can make it fun. the blood on your muzzle, the screams and destruction and smell of smoke in the air as your toys march along in the background, as you leap upon the little light, like a beam of red striking down from the heavens--
the little castle's white wings are beating frantically, as it struggles amid your teeth. You shake it around like a rag doll, stray bricks scattering on the ground. This is fun. In fact-- it's really thrilling! It seems so weak in your teeth, but Alexander could kill you in a second, if you weren't as clever as you are, springing on it from behind. ]
[muzzle? teeth? smoke—? something's different there.
but he can't think about that now. he can't let Alexander go now, or he could become the prey. so he shakes it around and he stomps on its wings and he CRUNCHES with his sharp new teeth]
[ you remember, midway through delighting in your own viciousness, that you are supposed to keep Alexander alive, because while alone, you're powerful--
If you're able to catch the holy lightning in the bottle, you'll be transcendent.
It'll be delicate. It'll be dangerous. You have trouble, in your state, remembering the plan. What CAN you do, to keep the Holy Eidolon chained--? ]
The Iifa tree's great roots are all around you, an unfathomably large labyrinth. The roots are hungry. They seep with the rot of its old meals, restless and yearning decayed, dead souls-- you won't even be allowed to join the likes of them, if you fail. and you will fail. Your lifeblood is tacky on your back, laying down in the tree's farthest depths--
Nope, nah, not stashing it in a tree.
> hide it under someone's bed.
That would be better. But Alexander is dangerous. Better it be someone you wouldn't miss.
You think deeper about it, and find, to your chagrin, there's no one in the pasture you would want to use as an easy sacrifice. "No one deserves to die," you told the Eye. Fuck. Okay. Find another way.
> dig a hole and bury it.
You know what You're a dog right now, so that sounds GOOD ENOUGH TO YOU
Holding Alexander carefully in your teeth as it still jerks and struggles, you start furiously digging with your big ol' paws. ]
[ once the hole is very very deep, pressing in on you from every side, you lay down Alexander in his gravehiding place. You drop him, and pin him with a paw.
The beautiful gleaming sword at his center is marred with dirt. The white feathers are curling with black at the edges. You would give that holy one a gift of all gifts, something whispers to you, it is not too late, to change your mind and kill it here.
You stare down at the tiny castle.
Any moment now You should just Leap out from this pit and hide it, properly. It's a castle, after all. Your palace did just fine, underground since the day it was built. It's damaged, but delivering it from this mortal coil wasn't the plan.
But you feel Sorry For it Looking at it like that. ]
Alexander's wings flick agitatedly, at first, distrusting the very beast that had downed it. There's an ominous glare of light, in its sword. But...
After a while, of being carefully preened by a skilled hand(paw?hand? beak? It's a dream. You have whichever works best for what you want to do in the moment.), it stops struggling. There are still missing bricks. But it no longer looks pathetically wounded. More like it's... weathered.
Like life CAN potentially go on, after what you did. ]
[he doesn’t offer Alexander any explanation or apology— he’s not proud of his viciousness in the hunt, but he won’t make excuses for his flock.
but he’s careful with his claws-fangs-beak, and when the feathers are tidied, he curls up with the castle, sheltering it with his wings-tail.]
[ this is important. this is what will help you help your flock weather the coming storm. a price of viciousness, today, to ascertain their beautiful sunrise, tomorrow.
but you do not have to be ruthless at all moments, at all times.
never, as the dream drifts to a close... has something felt more true. ]
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For millenia and more, everyone's been waiting.
Your flock are all around you, sleeping, inside the trees,
And they will never,
Ever,
Wake up,
Unless you, clever hunter, catch that shining, innocent, unsuspecting thing.
It ducks and weaves as you get closer. It could be a game. You could make it a game. Wouldn't your duty be so much more pleasant if it was a game? ]
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no subject
the little castle's white wings are beating frantically, as it struggles amid your teeth. You shake it around like a rag doll, stray bricks scattering on the ground. This is fun. In fact-- it's really thrilling! It seems so weak in your teeth, but Alexander could kill you in a second, if you weren't as clever as you are, springing on it from behind. ]
no subject
but he can't think about that now. he can't let Alexander go now, or he could become the prey. so he shakes it around and he stomps on its wings and he CRUNCHES with his sharp new teeth]
no subject
If you're able to catch the holy lightning in the bottle, you'll be transcendent.
It'll be delicate. It'll be dangerous. You have trouble, in your state, remembering the plan. What CAN you do, to keep the Holy Eidolon chained--? ]
no subject
no subject
The Iifa tree's great roots are all around you, an unfathomably large labyrinth. The roots are hungry. They seep with the rot of its old meals, restless and yearning decayed, dead souls-- you won't even be allowed to join the likes of them, if you fail. and you will fail. Your lifeblood is tacky on your back, laying down in the tree's farthest depths--
Nope, nah, not stashing it in a tree.
> hide it under someone's bed.
That would be better. But Alexander is dangerous. Better it be someone you wouldn't miss.
You think deeper about it, and find, to your chagrin, there's no one in the pasture you would want to use as an easy sacrifice. "No one deserves to die," you told the Eye. Fuck. Okay. Find another way.
> dig a hole and bury it.
You know what
You're a dog right now, so that sounds
GOOD ENOUGH TO YOU
Holding Alexander carefully in your teeth as it still jerks and struggles, you start furiously digging with your big ol' paws. ]
no subject
no subject
gravehiding place. You drop him, and pin him with a paw.The beautiful gleaming sword at his center is marred with dirt. The white feathers are curling with black at the edges. You would give that holy one a gift of all gifts, something whispers to you, it is not too late, to change your mind and kill it here.
You stare down at the tiny castle.
Any moment now
You should just
Leap out from this pit
and hide it, properly. It's a castle, after all. Your palace did just fine, underground since the day it was built. It's damaged, but delivering it from this mortal coil wasn't the plan.
But you feel
Sorry
For it
Looking at it like that. ]
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but if he has the chance to kill it, he has a chance for another option too.
so if he wants to lift his paw and preen the ruined wings... can't he?]
1/2
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Alexander's wings flick agitatedly, at first, distrusting the very beast that had downed it. There's an ominous glare of light, in its sword. But...
After a while, of being carefully preened by a skilled hand(paw?hand? beak? It's a dream. You have whichever works best for what you want to do in the moment.), it stops struggling. There are still missing bricks. But it no longer looks pathetically wounded. More like it's... weathered.
Like life CAN potentially go on, after what you did. ]
no subject
but he’s careful with his claws-fangs-beak, and when the feathers are tidied, he curls up with the castle, sheltering it with his wings-tail.]
no subject
but you do not have to be ruthless at all moments, at all times.
never, as the dream drifts to a close... has something felt more true. ]