( VIDEO. )

[descry]

[ river is wrapped up in a blanket, and all you can see is her face. but it's obvious she has wings today, same as everyone else - you can see the shape of them, an outline, under the blanket. they look... sharp. very unpleasant. river doesn't look too good herself. she's sickly and fidgeting and her eyes are flitting downwards constantly. ]

It's an invasion. She didn't authorise this change, it just went right down to the bones and it - it took. Won't go away. It's not my place to change it. Just - an alteration. Altercation, on our insides. [ she pauses and frowns. ] It's rude.

None of us are angels. [ falter. ] Oh - there are. There's exceptions, but not to us. We weren't made for these. Icarus should have known sooner.

Don't be scared, it says. It's only a magnification. A change of state, gases and solids; liquid nitrogen as it hits the air and you can see it now, but I was looking all along because I can't stop. Can I - [ her gaze drops again. ] I like to see them. Your outlines. Can I?

Comments

[video]

[croibhristeoir]

Outlines?

[He looked curious, paying more attention to her than to the charred and slightly bloodstained gray wings coming from his shoulderblades.]

[video]

[hasbottombunk]

[Rory just has a pair of simple, white, feathered wings. However there are spots where several feathers are missing.

Aside from that, have his usual look of concern.]

River, are you alright?

[descry]

There. [ she leans forward, holds the blanket tighter around herself with one hand, and with her other hand she traces her index finger around the shape of where his wings are on her screen. ] It has relevance.

[croibhristeoir]

Hm, do they? [Diarmuid turned slightly, enough to get a better look at them over his shoulder.] I can't claim that I gave their appearance much thought past 'it's just another virus'.

[descry]

[ she runs her finger over the image of his wings, and lingers on the places where there are absent feathers. ]

I'm exposed. It came as a surprise.

[hasbottombunk]

You've got wings too, right? Does anyone with you know about it? Your brother?

[descry]

The significance is personal. Contrived. It's all in your head. [ her finger stops. she tilts her head, narrows her eyes curiously. ] What happened?

[descry]

[ she shakes her head. ] I know. But they're not to be seen.

[hasbottombunk]

Are you going to be alright hiding them?

[croibhristeoir]

'What happened' is a vague question in this context. Giving it consideration, I suppose a great many things about me could cause a manifestation like this.

[descry]

I'll be alright. I'm sticking. Stuck. I know how to call if there's a problem. [ a beat. ] I'm very good at hiding.

[hasbottombunk]

Hopefully they won't last too long.

[descry]

Age. Fights. You shed blood. Drew it. [ she taps on the screen. ] ... Fire?

[video]

[greeneyed_demon]

[Hakkai has wings as well, but his are small and withered, and long broken past healing.]

Are you alright?

[croibhristeoir]

...heh, it would seem you're good at reading these sorts of things.

I can't think of very much literal fire I've encountered. But they do seem a little burned, don't they?

[descry]

They will. They were always there. Always are. Always will be.

[hasbottombunk]

I don't seem to remember you having wings last time I saw you.

[descry]

It's only an extension. I'll still feel it. I'll see them when they're gone.

[descry]

It's what my senses are for.

A trial by ordeal?

[hasbottombunk]

How? What do they feel like for you?

[croibhristeoir]

That is likely the best way to phrase it.

[descry]

She's causing such a fuss. [ she walks her fingers up the side of the screen and brushes her thumb over the image of his wings. ] I'm less right. I don't like the implications. The imprints.

[descry]

[ she cringes and draws back, tucks herself further into the blanket. the sharp points of her wings stick up more underneath her cover. ]

Hurts.

[descry]

Did you prove your innocence?

[croibhristeoir]

...I wish that I knew.