Because he wanted to...

[willbemine]

Well... This should be fun. If your plans for me do not work out, I am sure we can think of other things for me to do. Even if your plans for me do work out...

They are very good plans. I rather like those plans. In time, I'm sure all of us will learn to like them too.

Oh! Maybe you could find me a game? Someplace new to go? Could you? Please. Find me a place with some fresh faces preferably without Karnak and that bulbous head of his and void of Gorgon and his fur. Please? One can be forced to only interact with family for so long.

Besides, I stand a better chance at taking over making friends, somewhere that has not been tainted by the silent brooding and influence of my dear brother's- shall we say, legacy?

I've been locked up in that dungeon for entirely too long. I deserve a chance to stretch my legs and... well, prove myself. I can be good.








When I want to be. And I want to be... if only just for this one thing.

Comments

[goodhairday]

Maximus, seeking new conquests I see. But do you truly think anyone will believe you are good? Good has never been part of your resume.

[willbemine]

Pardon me, dear cousin, but how could you know that for certain? Every caged animal lashes out now and again. Perhaps, once given freedom, I will not be as prone to the outbursts you're accustomed to from me.

[goodhairday]

You had freedom, you used it to try and kill my husband. [No so much an issue now though is it? She was still lashing out over that grief so forgive her if she is less than reasonable or rational with her anger.]

[willbemine]

Wouldn't you too? If you'd been confined as I had?

[He doesn't mind. He'd be a bit amused by it if it weren't for the fact that... even now, she still can't see it.]

I never would have actually killed him. Hurt him, yes. Hurt you too perhaps, but I don't think I would have actually killed him.

Not that it matters, he did that well enough on his own. And they call me the crazy one... Tsk.

[goodhairday]

Sometimes lives can be as much a prison as anything else.

[In her guilt and grief she doesn't see anything clearly, him least of all.]

You could have tried, but I am no weak flower. Nor was he, he ad compassion, don't mistake it for weakness.

[That last drew a snarl of rage from her and tendrils of whipping red locked around his wrists and anther slithered to tighten around his throat.] Be wary of what madness might bring to me, Cousin

[willbemine]

In this we both agree.

[Eeh.. no matter, he's got plenty of time.]

No, you are not. [A pause.] You were always... stronger than he.

[Whoops~ He struck a nerve didn't he? Even as red locks coil around his wrists, he sucks air through his teeth.]

You do not want to do that, my queen. [He does not use his power against her. Not yet.] Do you think you are the only one who is hurting?

[goodhairday]

I am as strong as a queen must be, as a leader must be. As a widow must be.

[Silken coils held him fast, pulling and edging ever higher to secure a better grip.

At least until he speaks again and she falters, if only slightly.]

You suffer? [She canted her head to the side, looking at him warily.] How do you hurt?

[willbemine]

You have always been well suited for your position, dear Medusalith.

[That is becoming increasingly more uncomfortable and well... not.]

I do. [He nods.] He was my brother. My blood. I lashed out, yes. And I am sure you would have rather he had killed me long ago, but we were blood. I have no doubt he would have said the same, if he could speak... [He arches a brow, vaguely amused.] Yes, I suffer, my queen. I feel his loss- I hesitate to say the same as you- but I feel it I do.

[goodhairday]

I did not wish you dead, I wished you to not be so troubled. But, if there was no way for you to find peace than death might have been better.

[She can hear the pain in his voice, or was that just what she wanted to hear? She felt cold and hollow and alone in her suffering, but if he grieved, if he felt loss too then she wasn't alone.

Her grip releases, easing gently away in whispers of softness that coiled back and around her, shielding her from the cold she felt so inside her that it made her shiver.]

I still wake in the night and reach for him, I still feel his weight beside me but he is not there. It's just so cold and empty now.

I am sorry you grieve, I truly am.

[willbemine]

I do not think that there is one of us who did not wish the same, my queen.

[He relaxes gradually as she releases him, and sighs.]

There is no doubt your loss is much greater than mine own, he and I were not as close. If there is anything I can do...

[goodhairday]

You humble me, Maximus.

[She folded her arms about herself tightly and looked down.]

In my anger I could not see how you could feel anything. Yet you offer to aid me, I am sorry for my rash judgement and unwarranted attack. It seems we are united in grief, we have both lost a part of who we are.

[willbemine]

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

It is a common problem. Though for future reference, I am mad, by conventional definitions, I am not a heartless monster. [He waves a hand.] Do not trouble yourself over it, however, I will be fine [He paces a few steps.] Strange the things we find bring us together when we thought there was no common ground. I only wish we had discovered a commonality that did not involve such a painful loss.

[goodhairday]

[Common problems were supposed to be the things she was able to see around, where was her wisdom now? How far into her own grief had she fallen if she could no longer even allow that others, kin, might be injured at this loss. Medusalith hung her head and wept softly.]

It is strange, and yet proof of my own arrogance to think you above such pain. And I have offered no comfort nor am I fit to. We share in the void of that loss which nothing can fill. At time I feel so hollow that I might collapse. It would be easier some days, than to forge ahead and live. But a Queen does not have such a luxury.

[willbemine]

You are grieving, cousin, we all have our own ways. What family would I be if I did not take that into consideration?

[goodhairday]

Thank you Maximus, I wish I could have been as open to seeing your pain as well. But you and I have never been close, have we? Odd now that I think of it after all these years.

[willbemine]

As I said, do not worry yourself about it, these things happen. [A pause.] We have not. It is a bit strange, were the circumstances different, I feel we might have eventually found a reason- Maybe not, but thinking so does make me feel a bit better.

[goodhairday]

Perhaps we would have. [She nodded in thought, sluggish as it was from her emotional state.] And we might yet. [She'd struck upon an idea, some glimmer of something good to come from all this.] Perhaps, what if we could mend it? All the anger and distrust that has fractured our family, if we could mend it between us surely the others would follow.

It would be fitting tribute to him, don't you think?

[willbemine]

It would. [He nods.] I think that he would have liked that.

[goodhairday]

I think he would as well, an end to all the troubles that have plagued our families and our people.

[willbemine]

I can not think of a finer goal to work toward, or a more fitting tribute.

[goodhairday]

Nor I, there will be some good to come of this in the name of our family.

[willbemine]

Our empire rebuilt in his name- And in his honor, we will be stronger than we were before.

[madformistahjay]

Ooooh, sounds like someone's got lofty ambitions.

And this miiiiight be the psychiatrist in me [...deep deeeeeeep down!] but I'm sensing family issues? Is someone sufferin' from a dysfunctional fam'?

No judgment, puddin'! It happens!

[willbemine]

Dysfunctional is such a small word to describe my family. I do not know if there is a word large enough.

[madformistahjay]

Guess it would depend on the level of dysfunction. But I happen to be a rather big fan of dysfunction and chaos myself.

Keeps things interestin'!

[willbemine]

Interesting is definitely more fun than boring, I can agree with that.

[madformistahjay]

Absolutely!! Winner, winner on that on, kiddo.

[willbemine]

With any luck, I'll be getting out for a bit and it won't make any difference. I can make some new friends...

[madformistahjay]

Awfully ominous in your tone there - why do I feel like it won't end well for whatever friends you find?

[willbemine]

I don't know, I'm not such a bad guy... They might like it.