summoned | Glowfic Constellation

mute_pen

Etty swallows.

If you love me, you don't get another chance with another swan, ever again -

But for all Etty knows the curse agrees with Nona about what it means for someone to love her.

"I promise," Etty says.

Nona

growcrooked

"I love you," says Nona, hugging her some more.

mute_pen

"I am so afraid," Etty whispers, hugging tight, "that it won't be enough."

Nona

growcrooked

"Me too," says Nona. "And even if I did promise - we'd still have to do something about the Baron, after. Or he'd just do it all over again."

mute_pen

"Do you think you could kill him? I don't think I could."

Nona

growcrooked

"I think I could," she says. "If I surprised him. I know where to stab somebody so it really hurts."

mute_pen

Etty nods.

"I have never wanted anyone dead before him," she murmurs.

Nona

growcrooked

"Me neither," Nona says wryly. "But I've wanted him dead for a long time."

mute_pen

Etty nods.

Nona

growcrooked

Nona sighs, and hugs her.

mute_pen

Hugs.

"If Carl is dead I don't even know what I'd do, where I'd go, but it would have to be better than here."

Nona

growcrooked

"Anywhere would be better than here," says Nona. "Dead would be better than here, for me."

mute_pen

Etty thinks.

"Dead would be better than swanbrained," she says slowly. "I'm not sure how fast swanbraining happens so I don't know when it would get that way. I'm not suicidal yet."

Nona

growcrooked

"I don't remember not being suicidal," says Nona.

mute_pen

"If he died would you still be?"

Nona

growcrooked

"I guess not."

mute_pen

"That's good."

Nona

growcrooked

"I guess."

mute_pen

"I don't want you to die."

Nona

growcrooked

Nona hugs her.

mute_pen

"If he dies do you suppose the curse on the library will go away? There must be - better things to do with sorcery than curse girls to turn into swans."

Nona

growcrooked

"Maybe. I don't know."

mute_pen

Snuggle. "And I suppose at that point it would not be in any sense safe to try."

Nona

growcrooked