Re: The Dark Crystal (Anyone)
Beautiful...
Why, why did I have to hear that again? That insignificant word sharply brought back the tiny moment I had with Khaz, that time when I had thought for just a fleeting moment that everything might be alright. That maybe I was something more than--
Ah, but what did it matter now? Heaven only knew what Khaz would think if he saw me as I was now. Entirely unstable, unsure of my own body, cooperating with a demon who contorted even the fowl drow... I did not even know what to make of myself. Such doubt I could only escape with the dogged determination to become stronger, to tune everything else out as I focused on controlling these new, strange energies pulsing through me. It was all I could do now, the only hope I had for saving three people I knew so little about. They were tainted with darkness, capable of great destruction, but I felt a most irrational desire to help them. There was something about them, about the way that Khaz had cried so piteously in the darkness, the look in Rontu's eyes at the mention of Leita, Ren's anger in being contained... it was all just so... human.
Yes, even in their darkness, they were good people, like those of Bren. Even in suffering, they found strength, even in darkness, they found light. In error, they found correction, a way to adapt to a world that was endlessly kind and cruel. Like the people of Bren, they were at fault in so many ways, sometimes repulsive and impossible to understand. I could not liken myself to them, nor could I belong in their company, for we were too different, for I... I was...
But that would not stop me. It did not matter that they did not trust me, that they thought me weak. There was goodness in them, a will to live, a desire to find that which was lost, and it was that which I desired to preserve. People like them ought to have a chance, an opportunity to be with those that they loved, to be happy, as man was meant to be. If a creature like me could give them that, then it was worth the pain I felt, the fear and doubt I now held as I worked with Omentus to understand my abilities.
He wanted me to focus. Despite the strange magic Omentus was performing not more than a few feet away, I managed to do as he asked, focusing my energy on the flat surface before me. Instead of trying to draw completely on my flame as I had before, I began pulling at the new energy within me, the soft tingling that flowed just beneath my skin.I had no idea what to expect, but what happened next was most certainly not any flame power I was familiar with.
As I channeled my energy into my hands, which ought to have summoned my flame, I felt a strange tingling in my arms and fingers. There was not even light of any sort, but I suddenly became vividly aware of the foilage covering the windows. I felt, rather than saw their reaction as my energy was released, causing a strange slithering sound to resonate throughout the room as they sprang to life. There were even tiny pops and cracks as vines and leaves slowly reached from the windows with spider-like tendrils. As my attention was still focused soley on the table, the plants began to craw towards it, their leaves and stems reaching out like an ever growing arm. The smell coming off of the blossoming plants filled the air with fresh and warm scents, some even sprounting fruits.
This strange happening did not scare me quite as much as it ought to have. Feeling the plants grow was a rewarding sensation, if somewhat draining. As they stretched, I, too, felt like I was streching, reaching for something I could not quite touch with my hands. When I moved my hands, pointing directly to the table, I found that the vines wound more purposefully towards it, as if the physical commad itself could channel the energy. While I did not feel particularly keen on making them move faster, I had the distinct impression that I could very well do so if I focused on the task, as I had my flame. In a very literal way, it seemed that my power over flame had been swapped for power over plants.
The plants stopped when I did. As soon as I felt Omentus' gaze on me again, I withdrew the energy, forcing it back inside of myself. The surrounding vines shuddered gently, as if disturbed by the sudden withdrawl, but they remained where they were, cluttering the floor with vines and leaves of various shapes and sizes. It seemed that the only thing they did share in common was the direction they had grown: straight towards the table.
I... did not know what to make of all of this. The ability itself had taken little thought to accomplish, but like my wings, I was too shocked by the strangeness of it all that I hardly felt anything. I simply stared at the table, which now had flowers popping up over the side, numbly waiting for Omentus to tell me what it was that I ought to do next.
OoC: Sorry if this is a little awkward. It is the first time I've ever written Leonna using this X.X