SCIO, SWEETHEART!

i don’t w-

[something catches, open-hearted and painful, in her chest. unbidden, she thinks of blindfolds and robes soaked in ichor. she thinks of silent statues.]

[everyone knows wilbur soot is an only child.]

i- [she lets out a shuddering breath.]

(footsteps stop dead in the grass.)

... hello?

-@phoenixchick

[there's still tears in her eyes, capturing the glow of that beautiful, beautiful sunrise. then she turns to face the person behind her, but the light remains- it might always remain, now. she feels like light, at long last.]

[she stands in the garden. she can’t move. her hands flit around like hummingbirds, landing on her arms and her skirt and her hair and anywhere but the long-dead albatross in front of her.]

[the fetter breaks. wilbur dashes toward the phoenix, the one who’s been haunting her, in spirit, like she’s the only thing in the world, clasping her fluttering hands, a gesture that reveals the black snake coiled around her wrist.]

oh, niki- niki- 

[her voice chokes in her throat. the rising sun catches her hair, lighting her from behind.]

[nihachu flinches.]

[she drops niki’s hands, the second she sees the flinch. some of the sunlight in her eyes dims.]

[she steps back. she hates herself for it.]

you left first, niki, you were- you haunted me. [her voice wobbles.] your voice, and the warmth of your feathers, always just around the corner, and yet- and yet-

[she wipes at her eyes, taking shuddering, heavy breaths. trying to keep control. when she looks up, there’s a determination in the set of her jaw.]

[her head pounds, and for a moment, her vision is filled with static. there’s a hole in her memory where those thoughts should be.]

you ran off with foolish and eret, and- and-

look, does it matter? we were all supposed to die shitty, ignoble deaths, but- but you’re here, and i’m here.

[she reaches, hesitantly, for niki’s hand.]

[part of her is screaming in anger. (the part that sounds like an angered goddess.) how dare Wilbur come back to her after disappearing? and act like nothing has happened?]

[the other part of her is so, so relieved. Wilbur is home, after so long.]

[ultimately, love wins over anger. it always does. Niki takes Wilbur's outstretched hand and squeezes.]

good gods, i’ve missed you so much, niki, i- [she wipes away a tear, a gesture that tugs the sleeve of her dress up, revealing, once again, the marking around her wrist, shaped like a snake biting its tail.] 

[her forehead collides with wilbur’s collarbone, and she sighs. it’s not an angry sigh, or an overly tired one.]

(footsteps stop dead in the grass.)

... hello?

-@phoenixchick

[there's still tears in her eyes, capturing the glow of that beautiful, beautiful sunrise. then she turns to face the person behind her, but the light remains- it might always remain, now. she feels like light, at long last.]

[she stands in the garden. she can’t move. her hands flit around like hummingbirds, landing on her arms and her skirt and her hair and anywhere but the long-dead albatross in front of her.]

[the fetter breaks. wilbur dashes toward the phoenix, the one who’s been haunting her, in spirit, like she’s the only thing in the world, clasping her fluttering hands, a gesture that reveals the black snake coiled around her wrist.]

oh, niki- niki- 

[her voice chokes in her throat. the rising sun catches her hair, lighting her from behind.]

[nihachu flinches.]

[she drops niki’s hands, the second she sees the flinch. some of the sunlight in her eyes dims.]

[she steps back. she hates herself for it.]

you left first, niki, you were- you haunted me. [her voice wobbles.] your voice, and the warmth of your feathers, always just around the corner, and yet- and yet-

[she wipes at her eyes, taking shuddering, heavy breaths. trying to keep control. when she looks up, there’s a determination in the set of her jaw.]

[her head pounds, and for a moment, her vision is filled with static. there’s a hole in her memory where those thoughts should be.]

you ran off with foolish and eret, and- and-

look, does it matter? we were all supposed to die shitty, ignoble deaths, but- but you’re here, and i’m here.

[she reaches, hesitantly, for niki’s hand.]

[part of her is screaming in anger. (the part that sounds like an angered goddess.) how dare Wilbur come back to her after disappearing? and act like nothing has happened?]

[the other part of her is so, so relieved. Wilbur is home, after so long.]

[ultimately, love wins over anger. it always does. Niki takes Wilbur's outstretched hand and squeezes.]

good gods, i’ve missed you so much, niki, i- [she wipes away a tear, a gesture that tugs the sleeve of her dress up, revealing, once again, the marking around her wrist, shaped like a snake biting its tail.] 

(footsteps stop dead in the grass.)

... hello?

-@phoenixchick

[there's still tears in her eyes, capturing the glow of that beautiful, beautiful sunrise. then she turns to face the person behind her, but the light remains- it might always remain, now. she feels like light, at long last.]

[she stands in the garden. she can’t move. her hands flit around like hummingbirds, landing on her arms and her skirt and her hair and anywhere but the long-dead albatross in front of her.]

[the fetter breaks. wilbur dashes toward the phoenix, the one who’s been haunting her, in spirit, like she’s the only thing in the world, clasping her fluttering hands, a gesture that reveals the black snake coiled around her wrist.]

oh, niki- niki- 

[her voice chokes in her throat. the rising sun catches her hair, lighting her from behind.]

[nihachu flinches.]

[she drops niki’s hands, the second she sees the flinch. some of the sunlight in her eyes dims.]

[she steps back. she hates herself for it.]

you left first, niki, you were- you haunted me. [her voice wobbles.] your voice, and the warmth of your feathers, always just around the corner, and yet- and yet-

[she wipes at her eyes, taking shuddering, heavy breaths. trying to keep control. when she looks up, there’s a determination in the set of her jaw.]

[her head pounds, and for a moment, her vision is filled with static. there’s a hole in her memory where those thoughts should be.]

you ran off with foolish and eret, and- and-

look, does it matter? we were all supposed to die shitty, ignoble deaths, but- but you’re here, and i’m here.

[she reaches, hesitantly, for niki’s hand.]

(footsteps stop dead in the grass.)

... hello?

-@phoenixchick

[there's still tears in her eyes, capturing the glow of that beautiful, beautiful sunrise. then she turns to face the person behind her, but the light remains- it might always remain, now. she feels like light, at long last.]

[she stands in the garden. she can’t move. her hands flit around like hummingbirds, landing on her arms and her skirt and her hair and anywhere but the long-dead albatross in front of her.]

[the fetter breaks. wilbur dashes toward the phoenix, the one who’s been haunting her, in spirit, like she’s the only thing in the world, clasping her fluttering hands, a gesture that reveals the black snake coiled around her wrist.]

oh, niki- niki- 

[her voice chokes in her throat. the rising sun catches her hair, lighting her from behind.]

[nihachu flinches.]

[she drops niki’s hands, the second she sees the flinch. some of the sunlight in her eyes dims.]

[she steps back. she hates herself for it.]

you left first, niki, you were- you haunted me. [her voice wobbles.] your voice, and the warmth of your feathers, always just around the corner, and yet- and yet-

[she wipes at her eyes, taking shuddering, heavy breaths. trying to keep control. when she looks up, there’s a determination in the set of her jaw.]

(footsteps stop dead in the grass.)

... hello?

-@phoenixchick

[there's still tears in her eyes, capturing the glow of that beautiful, beautiful sunrise. then she turns to face the person behind her, but the light remains- it might always remain, now. she feels like light, at long last.]

[she stands in the garden. she can’t move. her hands flit around like hummingbirds, landing on her arms and her skirt and her hair and anywhere but the long-dead albatross in front of her.]

[the fetter breaks. wilbur dashes toward the phoenix, the one who’s been haunting her, in spirit, like she’s the only thing in the world, clasping her fluttering hands, a gesture that reveals the black snake coiled around her wrist.]

oh, niki- niki- 

[her voice chokes in her throat. the rising sun catches her hair, lighting her from behind.]

[nihachu flinches.]

[she drops niki’s hands, the second she sees the flinch. some of the sunlight in her eyes dims.]

(footsteps stop dead in the grass.)

... hello?

-@phoenixchick

[there's still tears in her eyes, capturing the glow of that beautiful, beautiful sunrise. then she turns to face the person behind her, but the light remains- it might always remain, now. she feels like light, at long last.]

[she stands in the garden. she can’t move. her hands flit around like hummingbirds, landing on her arms and her skirt and her hair and anywhere but the long-dead albatross in front of her.]

[the fetter breaks. wilbur dashes toward the phoenix, the one who’s been haunting her, in spirit, like she’s the only thing in the world, clasping her fluttering hands, a gesture that reveals the black snake coiled around her wrist.]

oh, niki- niki- 

[her voice chokes in her throat. the rising sun catches her hair, lighting her from behind.]

(footsteps stop dead in the grass.)

... hello?

-@phoenixchick

[there's still tears in her eyes, capturing the glow of that beautiful, beautiful sunrise. then she turns to face the person behind her, but the light remains- it might always remain, now. she feels like light, at long last.]

mm- l’t me- out-

[and, as if replying to her pleas, it does. her eyes flutter open to an endless, inky void- far from the bed she last remembered being in. she stumbles shakily to her feet, lifting her skirt slightly as she feels something lapping at her feet.]

…well, shit. this is no good.

[the sound of moving, rising water grows steadily louder. wilbur tenses, her feathers fluffing up behind her back.]

hey- wilbur, i’m sorry. i am.

i don’t think you have any idea what i’m capable of, if you truly believe that.

{and suddenly, the goddess deigns to speak in the heretic’s tongue.}

wilbur, babe, i know better than anyone what you’re capable of.

{the darkness erupts open, and from it emerges something ancient, draconic, with flowing manes of night and star and void and water all melted together, opening two bright, impossible eyes at the small, small demigod.}

{wilbur’s hand slaps itself over her mouth. the other begins to flap its thumb under the other fingers, the universal symbol of “blah blah blah”.}

of course i made you. you think william motherfucking gold would trans your gender? give you wings? bard powers? puh-lease. basic ass white boy would never. 

[the hands drop. wilbur trembles, full-bodied, at the creature towering above her.]

a-alright, alright, i believe you. [she slowly straightens up.] so. you made me. 

[a shakey breath.]

right, uh. you can’t save her anymore. {the large, shining eyes flash with emotion- wilbur finds that she can easily identify the grief in those eyes.}

there’s this- this guy, right? made eret and foolish, the same way i made you. he was-

{the flicker is much more intense, this time. in the split second before the draconic form returns, there is a sillhouette in the dark- a small, round humanoid shape, light glinting off of their glasses from a glowing screen in front of them.}

(god, i can’t fucking do this, i can’t do this i can’t- (can’t can’t) ((can’t)))

right. um.

he was my best friend. more than that. my family. i was so, so devoted to him, he was- my whole world. we told your stories together, wove them together, together, because we never wanted not to be together. 

and he left. he, uh-

{another flicker.}

he hurt me. deep. and he took eret and foolish away with him.

i-

[what surprises wilbur perhaps even more is the sheer heartache that the waver in the dragon’s voice awakens in her. against her own will, she’s reminded of fundy, his ears flattening back against his head, the rain soaking both of them to the bone as he admits to her, i’m lonely, i’m lonely.]

i’m sorry too, my darling. 

god, you’re too good to me. {she sounds completely spent, mumbled, a world away from the confident rumble of the dragon that had been in their place before.}

okay- listen. you’re here because you need to choose, okay? the person you were trying to save is gone. so is the man you loved. 

{he swallows, hard.}

there’s a way out for you. drista found a way out- i think she broke something in the process, but she did. you can take it, if you want, but- i can’t promise anyone you know- anyone you love- will know you.

{the dark water ripples around their ankles. they will not make eye contact with wilbur.}

…so, i can die, or i can live like a ghost. 

m- maybe, but- you don’t get it, you’ll never get it, i-

{and they do the unthinkable, twice in a row: first, looking up to meet her gaze, quickly followed by the realization that they’re crying, chest heaving up and down, face streaked with tears, eyes shiny.}

i don’t want you to die, wil’!

{they scrub at their face in vain, but it’s too late. wilbur is in a watery void, with a dead world and a god asking her to abandon it- but they’re not really a god, huh? just a kid. small and crying into their arm. just a kid.}

i don’t want you to die. you- you made me so happy, i- when i had nothing else to live for, i told myself that i had to keep telling your story, that you were waiting for me.

{they laugh, wetly, wiping at their eyes with a mirthless laugh to match wilbur’s own.}

i don’t want you to die. i really don’t. {they smile up at her- wilbur’s never seen such a sad smile.} but i don’t know how not to want to die. so you don’t know, either. 

{they giggle, burying their face in their hands.}

you’re right, i don’t know how to want that. [she sighs, tucking some of the child’s hair behind their ear.] even now, i can’t shake the feeling that i need to just- disappear, right along with everyone i loved.

[she tilts their chin up, gently, so that their eyes meet.]

but there’s a new feeling. a stronger one.

[and wilbur soot grins.]

i can’t promise it’ll be better. i can’t promise it won’t hurt. 

{their eyes are still shining with unshed tears when they glance up at wilbur.}

[she says the next part softly, too softly for anyone but the two of them to hear, even if anyone else had been around.]

mm- l’t me- out-

[and, as if replying to her pleas, it does. her eyes flutter open to an endless, inky void- far from the bed she last remembered being in. she stumbles shakily to her feet, lifting her skirt slightly as she feels something lapping at her feet.]

…well, shit. this is no good.

[the sound of moving, rising water grows steadily louder. wilbur tenses, her feathers fluffing up behind her back.]

hey- wilbur, i’m sorry. i am.

i don’t think you have any idea what i’m capable of, if you truly believe that.

{and suddenly, the goddess deigns to speak in the heretic’s tongue.}

wilbur, babe, i know better than anyone what you’re capable of.

{the darkness erupts open, and from it emerges something ancient, draconic, with flowing manes of night and star and void and water all melted together, opening two bright, impossible eyes at the small, small demigod.}

{wilbur’s hand slaps itself over her mouth. the other begins to flap its thumb under the other fingers, the universal symbol of “blah blah blah”.}

of course i made you. you think william motherfucking gold would trans your gender? give you wings? bard powers? puh-lease. basic ass white boy would never. 

[the hands drop. wilbur trembles, full-bodied, at the creature towering above her.]

a-alright, alright, i believe you. [she slowly straightens up.] so. you made me. 

[a shakey breath.]

right, uh. you can’t save her anymore. {the large, shining eyes flash with emotion- wilbur finds that she can easily identify the grief in those eyes.}

there’s this- this guy, right? made eret and foolish, the same way i made you. he was-

{the flicker is much more intense, this time. in the split second before the draconic form returns, there is a sillhouette in the dark- a small, round humanoid shape, light glinting off of their glasses from a glowing screen in front of them.}

(god, i can’t fucking do this, i can’t do this i can’t- (can’t can’t) ((can’t)))

right. um.

he was my best friend. more than that. my family. i was so, so devoted to him, he was- my whole world. we told your stories together, wove them together, together, because we never wanted not to be together. 

and he left. he, uh-

{another flicker.}

he hurt me. deep. and he took eret and foolish away with him.

i-

[what surprises wilbur perhaps even more is the sheer heartache that the waver in the dragon’s voice awakens in her. against her own will, she’s reminded of fundy, his ears flattening back against his head, the rain soaking both of them to the bone as he admits to her, i’m lonely, i’m lonely.]

i’m sorry too, my darling. 

god, you’re too good to me. {she sounds completely spent, mumbled, a world away from the confident rumble of the dragon that had been in their place before.}

okay- listen. you’re here because you need to choose, okay? the person you were trying to save is gone. so is the man you loved. 

{he swallows, hard.}

there’s a way out for you. drista found a way out- i think she broke something in the process, but she did. you can take it, if you want, but- i can’t promise anyone you know- anyone you love- will know you.

{the dark water ripples around their ankles. they will not make eye contact with wilbur.}

…so, i can die, or i can live like a ghost. 

m- maybe, but- you don’t get it, you’ll never get it, i-

{and they do the unthinkable, twice in a row: first, looking up to meet her gaze, quickly followed by the realization that they’re crying, chest heaving up and down, face streaked with tears, eyes shiny.}

i don’t want you to die, wil’!

{they scrub at their face in vain, but it’s too late. wilbur is in a watery void, with a dead world and a god asking her to abandon it- but they’re not really a god, huh? just a kid. small and crying into their arm. just a kid.}

i don’t want you to die. you- you made me so happy, i- when i had nothing else to live for, i told myself that i had to keep telling your story, that you were waiting for me.

{they laugh, wetly, wiping at their eyes with a mirthless laugh to match wilbur’s own.}

i don’t want you to die. i really don’t. {they smile up at her- wilbur’s never seen such a sad smile.} but i don’t know how not to want to die. so you don’t know, either. 

{they giggle, burying their face in their hands.}

you’re right, i don’t know how to want that. [she sighs, tucking some of the child’s hair behind their ear.] even now, i can’t shake the feeling that i need to just- disappear, right along with everyone i loved.

[she tilts their chin up, gently, so that their eyes meet.]

but there’s a new feeling. a stronger one.

[and wilbur soot grins.]

i can’t promise it’ll be better. i can’t promise it won’t hurt. 

{their eyes are still shining with unshed tears when they glance up at wilbur.}

[she says the next part softly, too softly for anyone but the two of them to hear, even if anyone else had been around.]

mm- l’t me- out-

[and, as if replying to her pleas, it does. her eyes flutter open to an endless, inky void- far from the bed she last remembered being in. she stumbles shakily to her feet, lifting her skirt slightly as she feels something lapping at her feet.]

…well, shit. this is no good.

[the sound of moving, rising water grows steadily louder. wilbur tenses, her feathers fluffing up behind her back.]

hey- wilbur, i’m sorry. i am.

i don’t think you have any idea what i’m capable of, if you truly believe that.

{and suddenly, the goddess deigns to speak in the heretic’s tongue.}

wilbur, babe, i know better than anyone what you’re capable of.

{the darkness erupts open, and from it emerges something ancient, draconic, with flowing manes of night and star and void and water all melted together, opening two bright, impossible eyes at the small, small demigod.}

{wilbur’s hand slaps itself over her mouth. the other begins to flap its thumb under the other fingers, the universal symbol of “blah blah blah”.}

of course i made you. you think william motherfucking gold would trans your gender? give you wings? bard powers? puh-lease. basic ass white boy would never. 

[the hands drop. wilbur trembles, full-bodied, at the creature towering above her.]

a-alright, alright, i believe you. [she slowly straightens up.] so. you made me. 

[a shakey breath.]

right, uh. you can’t save her anymore. {the large, shining eyes flash with emotion- wilbur finds that she can easily identify the grief in those eyes.}

there’s this- this guy, right? made eret and foolish, the same way i made you. he was-

{the flicker is much more intense, this time. in the split second before the draconic form returns, there is a sillhouette in the dark- a small, round humanoid shape, light glinting off of their glasses from a glowing screen in front of them.}

(god, i can’t fucking do this, i can’t do this i can’t- (can’t can’t) ((can’t)))

right. um.

he was my best friend. more than that. my family. i was so, so devoted to him, he was- my whole world. we told your stories together, wove them together, together, because we never wanted not to be together. 

and he left. he, uh-

{another flicker.}

he hurt me. deep. and he took eret and foolish away with him.

i-

[what surprises wilbur perhaps even more is the sheer heartache that the waver in the dragon’s voice awakens in her. against her own will, she’s reminded of fundy, his ears flattening back against his head, the rain soaking both of them to the bone as he admits to her, i’m lonely, i’m lonely.]

i’m sorry too, my darling. 

god, you’re too good to me. {she sounds completely spent, mumbled, a world away from the confident rumble of the dragon that had been in their place before.}

okay- listen. you’re here because you need to choose, okay? the person you were trying to save is gone. so is the man you loved. 

{he swallows, hard.}

there’s a way out for you. drista found a way out- i think she broke something in the process, but she did. you can take it, if you want, but- i can’t promise anyone you know- anyone you love- will know you.

{the dark water ripples around their ankles. they will not make eye contact with wilbur.}

…so, i can die, or i can live like a ghost. 

m- maybe, but- you don’t get it, you’ll never get it, i-

{and they do the unthinkable, twice in a row: first, looking up to meet her gaze, quickly followed by the realization that they’re crying, chest heaving up and down, face streaked with tears, eyes shiny.}

i don’t want you to die, wil’!

{they scrub at their face in vain, but it’s too late. wilbur is in a watery void, with a dead world and a god asking her to abandon it- but they’re not really a god, huh? just a kid. small and crying into their arm. just a kid.}

i don’t want you to die. you- you made me so happy, i- when i had nothing else to live for, i told myself that i had to keep telling your story, that you were waiting for me.

{they laugh, wetly, wiping at their eyes with a mirthless laugh to match wilbur’s own.}

i don’t want you to die. i really don’t. {they smile up at her- wilbur’s never seen such a sad smile.} but i don’t know how not to want to die. so you don’t know, either. 

{they giggle, burying their face in their hands.}

you’re right, i don’t know how to want that. [she sighs, tucking some of the child’s hair behind their ear.] even now, i can’t shake the feeling that i need to just- disappear, right along with everyone i loved.

[she tilts their chin up, gently, so that their eyes meet.]

but there’s a new feeling. a stronger one.

[and wilbur soot grins.]

mm- l’t me- out-

[and, as if replying to her pleas, it does. her eyes flutter open to an endless, inky void- far from the bed she last remembered being in. she stumbles shakily to her feet, lifting her skirt slightly as she feels something lapping at her feet.]

…well, shit. this is no good.

[the sound of moving, rising water grows steadily louder. wilbur tenses, her feathers fluffing up behind her back.]

hey- wilbur, i’m sorry. i am.

i don’t think you have any idea what i’m capable of, if you truly believe that.

{and suddenly, the goddess deigns to speak in the heretic’s tongue.}

wilbur, babe, i know better than anyone what you’re capable of.

{the darkness erupts open, and from it emerges something ancient, draconic, with flowing manes of night and star and void and water all melted together, opening two bright, impossible eyes at the small, small demigod.}

{wilbur’s hand slaps itself over her mouth. the other begins to flap its thumb under the other fingers, the universal symbol of “blah blah blah”.}

of course i made you. you think william motherfucking gold would trans your gender? give you wings? bard powers? puh-lease. basic ass white boy would never. 

[the hands drop. wilbur trembles, full-bodied, at the creature towering above her.]

a-alright, alright, i believe you. [she slowly straightens up.] so. you made me. 

[a shakey breath.]

right, uh. you can’t save her anymore. {the large, shining eyes flash with emotion- wilbur finds that she can easily identify the grief in those eyes.}

there’s this- this guy, right? made eret and foolish, the same way i made you. he was-

{the flicker is much more intense, this time. in the split second before the draconic form returns, there is a sillhouette in the dark- a small, round humanoid shape, light glinting off of their glasses from a glowing screen in front of them.}

(god, i can’t fucking do this, i can’t do this i can’t- (can’t can’t) ((can’t)))

right. um.

he was my best friend. more than that. my family. i was so, so devoted to him, he was- my whole world. we told your stories together, wove them together, together, because we never wanted not to be together. 

and he left. he, uh-

{another flicker.}

he hurt me. deep. and he took eret and foolish away with him.

i-

[what surprises wilbur perhaps even more is the sheer heartache that the waver in the dragon’s voice awakens in her. against her own will, she’s reminded of fundy, his ears flattening back against his head, the rain soaking both of them to the bone as he admits to her, i’m lonely, i’m lonely.]

i’m sorry too, my darling. 

god, you’re too good to me. {she sounds completely spent, mumbled, a world away from the confident rumble of the dragon that had been in their place before.}

okay- listen. you’re here because you need to choose, okay? the person you were trying to save is gone. so is the man you loved. 

{he swallows, hard.}

there’s a way out for you. drista found a way out- i think she broke something in the process, but she did. you can take it, if you want, but- i can’t promise anyone you know- anyone you love- will know you.

{the dark water ripples around their ankles. they will not make eye contact with wilbur.}

...so, i can die, or i can live like a ghost. 

mm- l’t me- out-

[and, as if replying to her pleas, it does. her eyes flutter open to an endless, inky void- far from the bed she last remembered being in. she stumbles shakily to her feet, lifting her skirt slightly as she feels something lapping at her feet.]

…well, shit. this is no good.

[the sound of moving, rising water grows steadily louder. wilbur tenses, her feathers fluffing up behind her back.]

hey- wilbur, i’m sorry. i am.

i don’t think you have any idea what i’m capable of, if you truly believe that.

{and suddenly, the goddess deigns to speak in the heretic’s tongue.}

wilbur, babe, i know better than anyone what you’re capable of.

{the darkness erupts open, and from it emerges something ancient, draconic, with flowing manes of night and star and void and water all melted together, opening two bright, impossible eyes at the small, small demigod.}

{wilbur’s hand slaps itself over her mouth. the other begins to flap its thumb under the other fingers, the universal symbol of “blah blah blah”.}

of course i made you. you think william motherfucking gold would trans your gender? give you wings? bard powers? puh-lease. basic ass white boy would never. 

[the hands drop. wilbur trembles, full-bodied, at the creature towering above her.]

a-alright, alright, i believe you. [she slowly straightens up.] so. you made me. 

[a shakey breath.]

right, uh. you can’t save her anymore. {the large, shining eyes flash with emotion- wilbur finds that she can easily identify the grief in those eyes.}

there’s this- this guy, right? made eret and foolish, the same way i made you. he was-

{the flicker is much more intense, this time. in the split second before the draconic form returns, there is a sillhouette in the dark- a small, round humanoid shape, light glinting off of their glasses from a glowing screen in front of them.}

(god, i can’t fucking do this, i can’t do this i can’t- (can’t can’t) ((can’t)))

right. um.

he was my best friend. more than that. my family. i was so, so devoted to him, he was- my whole world. we told your stories together, wove them together, together, because we never wanted not to be together. 

and he left. he, uh-

{another flicker.}

he hurt me. deep. and he took eret and foolish away with him.

i-

[what surprises wilbur perhaps even more is the sheer heartache that the waver in the dragon’s voice awakens in her. against her own will, she’s reminded of fundy, his ears flattening back against his head, the rain soaking both of them to the bone as he admits to her, i’m lonely, i’m lonely.]

i’m sorry too, my darling.