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

[growcrooked]

"Yeah," says Nona. "But I don't know how they work."

[mute_pen]

"Maybe they only come with unwelcome side effects."

[growcrooked]

"Maybe," shrugs Nona.

[mute_pen]

Etty snuggles closer.

"Does it get cold here?" she asks.

[growcrooked]

"Not that cold, I guess. The swans never seem to complain."

[mute_pen]

"Feathers are insulating. And I don't think they have a way to complain. I'm more worried about nighttime. I - would sooner not be chased indoors by the weather."

[growcrooked]

Nona shrugs.

"I don't know. I don't think - nobody's ever come into the castle without him before, not that I noticed, anyway. And I don't think he takes them in a lot more in winter."

[mute_pen]

"That's good, then."

[growcrooked]

"Yeah."

[mute_pen]

"I hate him. I hate the castle," murmurs Etty.

[growcrooked]

"I know," she says. "Me too."

[mute_pen]

"You live there. I suppose he obliges you to."

[growcrooked]

"I could sleep in the orchard, but it wouldn't be far enough away to make a difference, and my bed's more comfortable."

[mute_pen]

Etty nods, shifts position, snuggles closer.

[growcrooked]

Snuggle snuggle.

[mute_pen]

"You're very cuddly."

[growcrooked]

"I like cuddling you. Cuddling you is nice," she says, cuddling her.

[mute_pen]

"That's good. It's -" Etty tries to think of words. "Feels safe." Because Nona's not going to hurt her, Nona's not going to treat her like he does, Nona only wants to hold her and is so concerned about not doing things Etty doesn't like that she extracted a promise on the subject.

[growcrooked]

...Nona beams.

[mute_pen]

"Now the curse is happy again," laughs Etty softly.

[growcrooked]

"Good. I'm glad. I'm glad it feels safe," she says, snuggling Etty some more.

[mute_pen]

Snuggles.

Safety.

False and temporary safety, but felt, nonetheless.

[growcrooked]

Snuggly snuggly snuggles. So many snuggles.

"...Do I have to make the promise to you," she wonders, "or do I just have to make it?"

[mute_pen]

"...He didn't say."

[growcrooked]

"It'd be easier to kill him right away if I could do it when you're not around. Or maybe when he's sleeping," she says.