( Audio )

[confined_to_briah]

( A day filled with the memories of betrayals, hm? Alexiel is glad that certain residents are no longer in the city. Otherwise she would have more than one knife in her back.

However, after feeling the impulse to right her betrayals (i.e. by using someone else like a pin-cushion), she decides to spend the day high above most of the other citizens. While a knife in her back wouldn't kill her or keep her down for long, it would hurt and she doesn't want to deal with the inevitable backlash of "I wasn't myself!" etc. etc..

Oh city, you never disappoint. )

Should anyone feel I've betrayed them, I suggest that you buy a doll and take out your frustrations on it.

( Her voice is laced with bitter amusement. )

I think it would do you more good in the long run.

Comments

[beyourarmy]

[He should have. He should have flown off and gained distance between them, but instead, he watches, eyes blinking, focused right on her wings. He has them, but he's never considered how they felt before. Never tried touching his own.]

[Setsuna stays right there, flapping his wings lightly to maintain his altitude.]

[confined_to_briah]

...Setsuna? ( She watches him curiously, tilting her head. ) What is it?

[beyourarmy]

[Instead of answering, he flies back over to Alexiel and reaches out, curiously, to touch them.]

I've never actually felt them before.

[confined_to_briah]

( Her gaze follows his hand and she smiles, understanding. )

Why not? ( She knows her touch won't be the softest, but she lays a hand against his feathers. )

They can be sensitive.

[beyourarmy]

[His own touch is gentle, barely there, but he keeps feeling.]

I never thought about it before. [He gives Alexiel wide eyes when she touches his in return, but there are no complaints. She wasn't kidding about them being sensitive, but consider how frail the bone frame is, and where it all attaches, that makes sense.]

They're soft.

[confined_to_briah]

Which is why one of the cruelest punishment is to have your wings slowly destroyed. ( To feel the loss of each feather and to feel the bone structure slowly breaking is agony. ) It would be far easier to die than feel that pain.

( Her fingers brush over his feathers, gently smoothing any ruffled ones. )

You should take care of your wings like you take care of your body.

[beyourarmy]

[He shudders, his wings tremble.] That's what Sevothtarte did to Zaphkiel.... [Because of him. Because of his big mouth. He looks terribly uncomfortable right then, thinking he would deserve the same, but horrified of the idea at the same time.]

Take care? But isn't it kinda hard doing it on yourself? And - [again, he looks uncomfortable, shifting his gaze away as he manifests all six of them] - wouldn't this get tiring?