Ask the Prisoner

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

If she offers you a job don’t take it, word of advice.

She takes a step back, eyeing her closer.

...

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

If she offers you a job don’t take it, word of advice.

She takes a step back, eyeing her closer.

...

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

If she offers you a job don’t take it, word of advice.

She takes a step back, eyeing her closer.

...

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

If she offers you a job don’t take it, word of advice.

She takes a step back, eyeing her closer.

...

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

If she offers you a job don’t take it, word of advice.

She takes a step back, eyeing her closer.

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

If she offers you a job don’t take it, word of advice.

She takes a step back, eyeing her closer.

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

If she offers you a job don’t take it, word of advice.

She takes a step back, eyeing her closer.

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Look at her neck, no wounds, this is a different Prisoner.

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

(-@askstpprisoner)

What?

She checks the ground, the concrete she’s put in Prisoner’s tracks is still there, and she just saw her at the counter, but she knows what she sees now.

Carefully she creeps around, taking a side door to get the jump on “Prisoner”

Maybe it’s a different one, that happens here, but why would any Prisoner be outside of her chains.

She creeps behind her, keeping some distance to not get elbowed.

[she spins around]

Don't just walk away from me.

@hr-sleeping-mound

A fragment returns to her whole, the dust and wear she’s amassed brought to light.

I am She, and She is I, But I am Her from a different lens, seeing through a different light. Another angle of a mountain, but still of the same stone, despite the opposing view.

I brought you only to meet someone, so I might see what becomes of it. In a way, that is what I need, as opposed to continuing what has been.

And perhaps you ‘need’ me too, as the alternative is staying at that counter ever longer.

Now, the Defiant Heart is released from my hold, into a place familiar. Her bindings lay in a track free of stone or filth, but they do not lead out of the basement.

...

...

[She seems to remember something]

I can confirm right now it is not. Although it is not as if there is any clean way to perish in this room. Perhaps strangling, but even then it would not function as you wish.

Please, carry on.

[She sits down, then lays down, folding her arm to use as a pillow]

A pang of loss, perhaps, but only for a single beautiful instant before she joins her.

With reasonable distance between, they are together in my embrace.

It has been your residence, your roots, for longer than your previous existence. Though eons passed, they passed in mere moments. Though moments passed, they went on for eons.

And they are released once again, the Defiant Heart behind her counter, and the Patient Heart just across. The clattering of a stone chisel, falling to the Defiant’s feet.

Of the Patient’s bindings, naught but the collar on her neck remains, the rest trailing in a basement soon to be not a basement, and then nothing at all.

To grant the Defiant the same gift, it would be such grace. She has so much more in this world that she yearns, that she clashes to reach. She would treasure this gift, if it were hers.

[she freezes, and looks down. Her wrists have marks where the shackles used to make contact with her skin.]

...

[she moves towards the door, one step, then another, and the rest, until she's outside. The door closes behind her. She's walking away now.]

@hr-sleeping-mound

A fragment returns to her whole, the dust and wear she’s amassed brought to light.

I am She, and She is I, But I am Her from a different lens, seeing through a different light. Another angle of a mountain, but still of the same stone, despite the opposing view.

I brought you only to meet someone, so I might see what becomes of it. In a way, that is what I need, as opposed to continuing what has been.

And perhaps you ‘need’ me too, as the alternative is staying at that counter ever longer.

Now, the Defiant Heart is released from my hold, into a place familiar. Her bindings lay in a track free of stone or filth, but they do not lead out of the basement.

...

...

[She seems to remember something]

I can confirm right now it is not. Although it is not as if there is any clean way to perish in this room. Perhaps strangling, but even then it would not function as you wish.

Please, carry on.

[She sits down, then lays down, folding her arm to use as a pillow]

A pang of loss, perhaps, but only for a single beautiful instant before she joins her.

With reasonable distance between, they are together in my embrace.

It has been your residence, your roots, for longer than your previous existence. Though eons passed, they passed in mere moments. Though moments passed, they went on for eons.

And they are released once again, the Defiant Heart behind her counter, and the Patient Heart just across. The clattering of a stone chisel, falling to the Defiant’s feet.

Of the Patient’s bindings, naught but the collar on her neck remains, the rest trailing in a basement soon to be not a basement, and then nothing at all.

To grant the Defiant the same gift, it would be such grace. She has so much more in this world that she yearns, that she clashes to reach. She would treasure this gift, if it were hers.

[she freezes, and looks down. Her wrists have marks where the shackles used to make contact with her skin.]

...

@hr-sleeping-mound

A fragment returns to her whole, the dust and wear she’s amassed brought to light.

I am She, and She is I, But I am Her from a different lens, seeing through a different light. Another angle of a mountain, but still of the same stone, despite the opposing view.

I brought you only to meet someone, so I might see what becomes of it. In a way, that is what I need, as opposed to continuing what has been.

And perhaps you ‘need’ me too, as the alternative is staying at that counter ever longer.

Now, the Defiant Heart is released from my hold, into a place familiar. Her bindings lay in a track free of stone or filth, but they do not lead out of the basement.

...

...

[She seems to remember something]

I can confirm right now it is not. Although it is not as if there is any clean way to perish in this room. Perhaps strangling, but even then it would not function as you wish.

Please, carry on.

[She sits down, then lays down, folding her arm to use as a pillow]

A pang of loss, perhaps, but only for a single beautiful instant before she joins her.

With reasonable distance between, they are together in my embrace.

It has been your residence, your roots, for longer than your previous existence. Though eons passed, they passed in mere moments. Though moments passed, they went on for eons.

And they are released once again, the Defiant Heart behind her counter, and the Patient Heart just across. The clattering of a stone chisel, falling to the Defiant’s feet.

Of the Patient’s bindings, naught but the collar on her neck remains, the rest trailing in a basement soon to be not a basement, and then nothing at all.

To grant the Defiant the same gift, it would be such grace. She has so much more in this world that she yearns, that she clashes to reach. She would treasure this gift, if it were hers.

[she freezes, and looks down. Her wrists have marks where the shackles used to make contact with her skin.]