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]

"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.

[mute_pen]

"That makes sense. Maybe even I could kill him in his sleep. But I'd have a harder job timing it than you would, considering."

[growcrooked]

"Yeah."

[mute_pen]

"Do you think you can, now? If it doesn't stick - if you don't mean it right - and he hears you -"

[growcrooked]

"I'll only do it if I'm sure I mean it and I'm sure he can't hear me."

[mute_pen]

"Okay."

[growcrooked]

Snuggle?

Snuggle.

[mute_pen]

Yes.

[growcrooked]

"But if you're not there," she says, "how will I know if it worked?"

[mute_pen]

"I could - if I know when you're going to do it - stand in view of his window?" Etty suggests slowly. "...Or you could come in while I'm. There."

[growcrooked]

"I don't know if I could see you from his window," she says. "And I don't know how to safely check."

[mute_pen]

"I can look out the window while I'm there, see what parts of the outside it frames," says Etty. "...But your eyes wouldn't be adjusted to moonlight, would they."

[growcrooked]

She shakes her head.

[mute_pen]

"So you might not be able to see me even if I stood in just the right place."

[growcrooked]

She nods.

[mute_pen]

"So - next time he takes me - if you think you can - then, you can come in after. He always falls asleep when he's through with me," shivers Etty.

[growcrooked]

Nona hugs her.

"Okay," she says. "If I think I can. I will. And then I won't have to worry about if it'll work with you not there."

[mute_pen]

Etty nods and tucks her head under Nona's chin and sobs once.

[growcrooked]

Nona hugs her.

[mute_pen]

"I'm afraid I'll get used to it. I'm afraid that I won't."

[growcrooked]

"I don't know if you will," says Nona. "I did, a little."