text; un: padlocks

[enblightened]

those capable of magic i need you

i need to better bind myself

enchant or curse or whatever you do hold me back just hold it back all of me

i need more bonds more locks more

oh i am not enough


[cw: mention of cannibalism in comments]

Comments

[unsheathedfromreality]

[He needs to sit a moment with how it feels to hear his name in another's voice again, at last.

It's good. It would be stronger if he were alive, but if he'd given it up while alive, in that situation, the memory of it would be forever tainted by what followed--

So this is far better.]

((Yes, if you would. I trust it to you.

I trust, if I hear it in your voice, that it's you who calls me and not something I've imagined. I could not imagine you.))

[enblightened]

Then I shall keep it to only us.

I should like to think you would imagine something better than I, in any case.

[unsheathedfromreality]

((Thank you.))

[He makes a low noise, then. A sound of pain.]

((No. I--no. Please don't compare yourself to what I can imagine. Even that worst vision of yourself is better.))

[enblightened]

Perhaps your imagination could stand to be kinder to you then, my friend.

...Be well. And be better to yourself, please.

[unsheathedfromreality]

((Most of its unkindness is already done, I'm afraid.))

[Though he says it with weak humor.

(What was the trick for giving someone else your shining vision of who he was, and who he could be? Esfir had managed it with him.)]

((That goes for you, too, you know.

Rest, if you can. I'll keep the watch.))