summoned

[mute_pen]

Etty is awoken not by her transformation, but by her summons, a few minutes after dark. In her sleep, she drifted to shore; she's lying in human form - arm intact - half in and half out of the water when she feels it.

It's very insistent.

She cannot bring herself to move. She tries - she does; intellectually she knows it's the smart thing to do - but - she can't. Cannot get up and go to him.

Comments

[pythbox]

"Come to bed, my swan."

[mute_pen]

She swallows.

She hasn't run out of things to try yet.

Tonight she will try the truth.

"I can't move. I am too afraid."

[pythbox]

"It is not so bad, my swan," he says, putting that arm around her shoulders.

[mute_pen]

She shivers and turns her head away.

[pythbox]

The Baron tries gently leading her to his tower.

[mute_pen]

She's not actively resisting him, but her legs aren't cooperating except with the general theme of shuddering.

[pythbox]

"It does you no good to be disobedient, my swan."

[mute_pen]

"I can't move. I am too afraid. I can't." She swallows, and says, "If you pick me up I can't do anything about that."

[pythbox]

"That's true," says the Baron.

He picks her up.

[mute_pen]

Etty shrinks into herself and pretends not to exist and shivers.

[pythbox]

She can do that all she wants; the end result is the same.

[mute_pen]

She leaves as soon as he's done with her.

She doesn't run, this time. She's not keen to break anything.

She goes to the orchard.

[growcrooked]

After a little while, Nona shows up.

[mute_pen]

"Hi," Etty murmurs.

[growcrooked]

"Hi," says Nona.

[mute_pen]

"- I heard you screaming, today. And I also flew by your window at an inopportune time."

[growcrooked]

"I scream a lot when he's around. What was inopportune about it?"

[mute_pen]

"I believe I mentioned people don't usually talk about one of your pastimes. They also don't tend to want witnesses."

[growcrooked]

"Oh, that," says Nona. "I don't mind if you watch that."

[mute_pen]

"...Oh."

[growcrooked]

She shrugs.

[mute_pen]

"...Why not?"

[growcrooked]

"I don't know, why would I?"

[mute_pen]

"It's - private. Usually."

[growcrooked]

"Well, I guess I don't care about that."