exsilium | video ♛ heart with a gaping hole

[ it has been a while since morgana has appeared on the network and when she does, she does so suddenly. the feed clicks on to reveal her as she steps back from the tablet, there is more of a coldness to her face, edges gained only by time. pale skin is stained with blossoms of red, scraps and cut still unattended (she had a bloody cave dropped on her head not too long ago, thanks merlin), fain traces of dust collected in her hair. ]

And I thought my loathing for this place could grow no more.

[ as striking as morgana herself the large white form behind her begs more attention. the creature croons softly, head lowering and wings folding in tight. ]

Her name is Aithusa. [ even morgana's tone is colder now. there is a pain to it, joy and pain. aithusa her dear ally and friend, brought here to this dreadful rock with no sky to stretch her wings and fly. yet part of her is happy to have the dragon here, at her side. ] And she is under my protection. [ aithusa's head raises and the dragon pads forward a single step. morgana exhales, her hands balled into fists that none can see. they shake. ] She is not to be harmed. This is the first and only warning any of you will receive.

Heed my words or you shall regret it, unimaginable suffering will follow if you do not. [ it is a threat, plain and simple. lacking in subtlety, but she could care less, she will have herself understood now and understood plainly.

and just as quickly as morgana and aithusa appeared, the feed cuts. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I d-don't-- don't heal w-with m-- m-magic.

( Quietly, head bowed. Breathing feels more difficult than it did a few minutes ago, but he shouldn't show it, he really-- he has to be better. That's what he's been begging himself for the past three weeks, and then nothing changes. He is still himself, still weak, he moves forward and presents possibilities and finds himself only in the same state of being undone as he was weeks ago, months ago. As if he had never become here, or maybe even before he met Max.

Nothing ever really changes. )

I w-wouldn't-- hurt either of you. ( He has only ever tried to protect her. )

Do you know how to tend a dragon that was forced to live two years of her life in a dark pit under threat of death?! [ words practically hissed through gritted teeth she lurches forward, eyes wide and ablaze with anger. aithusa whines again, unpleasant memories for the both of them. ] She grew in that pit! Until it became too small and began to cripple her!

[ it is easier to focus on the dragon than herself, her own wounds are shallow at best. fresh water will be all that is needed and she will be fine. ]

There is nothing you can do.

( What happened? The words stop before they can fall. He remembers her talk of magic needing to be hidden, of being at risk, and he finds he doesn't need to ask why a dragon would be imprisoned. Morgana has been distant before, frosty, but she's never been cruel. Not to him. )

I'm-- s-sorry they h-hurt-- hurt her.

( Licking his lips, trying to remember how to sculpt words, ) I-- are either of um, of you-- h-hungry?

( Let me see you. )

Do not apologize, they will do nothing for her now. [ for me. they are nothing but words as fickle as wind, easily said but all around useless. she has heard so many words, so many apologies that she loathes them now. ]

We are not. [ aithusa will need to feed soon perhaps, a problem that has not left her mind. she will deal with it, with her own two hands and mind. besides she knows what he is trying to do ─ any excuse to see her is better than none, correct? expect she does not want to be seen. she wants to be cloaked in shadows to rearrange the board before the game as a chance to change. she wants to sleep with the only being she can trust to never betray her. ] We do not need aid.

( Donny winces, but just barely holds himself from flinching. )

I'm-- I'm on y-your side.

( Very quietly, a reminder. He was always on her side. He didn't abandon her, or let her down, even when she thought he would. He'd--

but none of that meant anything. Obviously. )

[ it gives her pause, for a brief moment gone too quickly. the scowl returns as if it never left, chin lifted in haughty arrogance. on her side, an easy thing to claim but not so easy to put into practice. ]

So you say.

[ eyes gleam gold and the tablet flies backwards, feed cutting out sharply and suddenly. the conversation is over, and she will have no more of it. of that pitiful look on his face. ]

( Donny sits for a while, staring at his device and trying to unravel it. Part of him wants to find her, to seek her out and talk to her, but it goes against the grain of acting so completely against her wishes. He stays seated, and keeps looking at his device, as. )

video ♛ heart with a gaping hole

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