"I think," she says with a laugh, her fingers no longer tapping but merely resting against her skin. "That you have a certain bias that might skew your perceptions about what I am."
"All right then," she agrees. "I can't see a reason to complain about this."
Then she removes her hand, bringing it back to hover over the scars again. "The wings will be much nicer than these," she muses aloud. "Though they do have a certain...charm to them."
"Maybe I do," she says, laughing as well. Aurora's touch is gentle and light, a simple gesture that makes her feel soothed. It's neither friendly nor romantic, familial nor businesslike: it's just comfort, transcending all boundaries. It's nice. She's nice.
"But, well, you haven't given me any reason to think otherwise. And you've done so much for me. I mean-- the wings, but you've been nice to me as well. Letting me stay the night when I was tired, and things...." She almost shrugs, but stops the motion before it can complete. That particular movement doesn't seem like such a good idea right now, even if the wings are faded. And even if it'd feel divine, to give her back muscles a nice good stretch. "I don't see why I should think you're anything less than amazing."
She twists her head over her shoulder again when Aurora's hand goes to her scars, though it's not as if she needs to look to tell it's there. The sensitive nexuses at her back can feel the energy of her hand, even if it isn't touching. "My scars?" she asks. "I... they're something, I guess. They make me feel like I have wings there, even though nothing can show." A bright smile crosses her features. "But no, they're not anywhere near as beautiful as the wings'll be. And I mean, any wings'd be better than none, but yours, I'm sure, are gonna be the best." She nods emphatically.
There's no persuasion laced in her touch but she doesn't need it. She's worked with human bodies for centuries, knows the kind of touches that are welcomed and the ones that aren't. She studied them, learned about what works and what doesn't and she considers herself quite well versed in what she does.
If she wanted to make Iris uncomfortable, she could, it would be so easy but there's nothing to gain from that. Her comfort and relaxation is much more useful.
She laughs when Iris talks, pressing her hand against hte scars now and pouring energy there. It had been a trickle before but now it's a steady stream as she aligns and hardens the bones of her wings.
"I promise," she assures, her other hand reaching out to stroke Iris' head. "They'll be magnificent. You'll be as complete as I can make you."
Which is technically untrue. She could make her an angel, a real angel, if she wanted but that's not what Iris asked for. She wanted wings and that's what she'll get.
And this is about where meta-Iris starts kicking herself. Mightily.
But she's content for now, at least, that touch and those words combining in her mind into something beautiful. As energy flows into her, coursing freely through the new, brittle bones, giving them life and strength, she can easily believe that promise is coming true, right before her eyes.
Or rather, she supposes, within her bones, given she's currently not watching the work. She's closed her eyes instead, settling into the feeling of the magic winding through her, and the rhythmic stroking of her hair. If she were a cat, she'd be purring her loudest right about now, but as it is, there's a simple radiance of warmth pouring out of her that Aurora might be able to detect. Gratitude, and satisfaction, and maybe just a sliver of affection.
Yeeeeah, the narration thought as much. There can always be more deals though. Aurora is never adverse to more deals.
She starts humming again her hands moving to the same rhythm. it's so easy to let herself align with he magic and everything is so much simpler when she does. It flows more smoothly the bones give in just the right way and the maci curls around them, hardening them and making them real just the way she needs it too.
It won't be much longer, maybe only about five more minutes of this but she's content with that. There was more bonework done than she expected and she may get a little more time to go back and fuss over details than she would before. Not that she was rushing herself but the fact that she can go at an even more leisurely pace is always pleasant.
Her hands will come to a stand still and she looks down at the girl. "I want you to take a deep breath and count to ten."
Iris falls back in with her rhythm just as quickly, humming along again to the tune. They fall in step with each other so easily. She supposes that's what happens when you both have the same goal in mind.
She's letting the feeling consume her, letting the bounds of her body melt away and into Aurora's touch, when she hears the instruction, a dim echo flitting over the surface of her mind. The touch on her back having ceased helps with her noticing something's changed, too. She doesn't nod, not wanting to move more than she needs, but simply obeys, breathing in as deeply as her lungs will allow and slowly letting it out again.
"One," she murmurs, still half in trance. "Two... three...."
She forces the wings to bend and fold in on themselves as she counts, She's careful, so careful, to make sure that no damage is sustained as she puts them away but she can't help but always be slightly concerned when she's forcing such delicate work to do much of anything.
By the time Iris gets to nine, she's done and her hands are resting against her back as she watches the girl carefully.
Iris can't help wincing a little through the four and the five, even in her trance. Feeling the wings tuck away inside is an interesting sensation, but it burns. And continues to burn, even after they've settled, the trapped energy pressing against her insides making her skin feel taut and hot. She'd much rather have them out.
But this is necessary, she's sure, so she goes along with it. By nine, there's a light sheen of sweat on her skin, and the number comes out shakily. She sinks more deeply into the couch cushions, her body at once drained and held taut.
She nods weakly at that, a small smile spreading over her lips. That's wonderful, she wants to say, but she can't make her mouth form the words. Her lips feel all numb, and her body's so warm. Moving sounds like such a bad idea.
"...Can stay here?" she eventually manages to murmur. She really doesn't think she's going to make it back again tonight.
Getting to her feet, she retrieves the blanket and pillow that Iris had used before. Draping the blanket over her, she gently lifts her head up and slides the pillow beneath.
"Dream sweet," she says, smiling from the edge of the couch.
There's no answer, although her lips may have moved in a ghost of a thank you. She just pulls the blanket in around herself, her small hands clinging tight to the fabric.
Aurora's last words flit like a dream over the fringes of her consciousness, about a second before she plunges into sleep. She'll dream of wings, once more: the only time she ever does.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-01-03 07:37 pm (UTC)"All right then," she agrees. "I can't see a reason to complain about this."
Then she removes her hand, bringing it back to hover over the scars again. "The wings will be much nicer than these," she muses aloud. "Though they do have a certain...charm to them."
no subject
Date: 2011-01-03 07:49 pm (UTC)"But, well, you haven't given me any reason to think otherwise. And you've done so much for me. I mean-- the wings, but you've been nice to me as well. Letting me stay the night when I was tired, and things...." She almost shrugs, but stops the motion before it can complete. That particular movement doesn't seem like such a good idea right now, even if the wings are faded. And even if it'd feel divine, to give her back muscles a nice good stretch. "I don't see why I should think you're anything less than amazing."
She twists her head over her shoulder again when Aurora's hand goes to her scars, though it's not as if she needs to look to tell it's there. The sensitive nexuses at her back can feel the energy of her hand, even if it isn't touching. "My scars?" she asks. "I... they're something, I guess. They make me feel like I have wings there, even though nothing can show." A bright smile crosses her features. "But no, they're not anywhere near as beautiful as the wings'll be. And I mean, any wings'd be better than none, but yours, I'm sure, are gonna be the best." She nods emphatically.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 06:50 pm (UTC)If she wanted to make Iris uncomfortable, she could, it would be so easy but there's nothing to gain from that. Her comfort and relaxation is much more useful.
She laughs when Iris talks, pressing her hand against hte scars now and pouring energy there. It had been a trickle before but now it's a steady stream as she aligns and hardens the bones of her wings.
"I promise," she assures, her other hand reaching out to stroke Iris' head. "They'll be magnificent. You'll be as complete as I can make you."
Which is technically untrue. She could make her an angel, a real angel, if she wanted but that's not what Iris asked for. She wanted wings and that's what she'll get.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 08:40 pm (UTC)But she's content for now, at least, that touch and those words combining in her mind into something beautiful. As energy flows into her, coursing freely through the new, brittle bones, giving them life and strength, she can easily believe that promise is coming true, right before her eyes.
Or rather, she supposes, within her bones, given she's currently not watching the work. She's closed her eyes instead, settling into the feeling of the magic winding through her, and the rhythmic stroking of her hair. If she were a cat, she'd be purring her loudest right about now, but as it is, there's a simple radiance of warmth pouring out of her that Aurora might be able to detect. Gratitude, and satisfaction, and maybe just a sliver of affection.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 08:56 pm (UTC)She starts humming again her hands moving to the same rhythm. it's so easy to let herself align with he magic and everything is so much simpler when she does. It flows more smoothly the bones give in just the right way and the maci curls around them, hardening them and making them real just the way she needs it too.
It won't be much longer, maybe only about five more minutes of this but she's content with that. There was more bonework done than she expected and she may get a little more time to go back and fuss over details than she would before. Not that she was rushing herself but the fact that she can go at an even more leisurely pace is always pleasant.
Her hands will come to a stand still and she looks down at the girl. "I want you to take a deep breath and count to ten."
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 09:39 pm (UTC)She's letting the feeling consume her, letting the bounds of her body melt away and into Aurora's touch, when she hears the instruction, a dim echo flitting over the surface of her mind. The touch on her back having ceased helps with her noticing something's changed, too. She doesn't nod, not wanting to move more than she needs, but simply obeys, breathing in as deeply as her lungs will allow and slowly letting it out again.
"One," she murmurs, still half in trance. "Two... three...."
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 09:44 pm (UTC)By the time Iris gets to nine, she's done and her hands are resting against her back as she watches the girl carefully.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 10:02 pm (UTC)But this is necessary, she's sure, so she goes along with it. By nine, there's a light sheen of sweat on her skin, and the number comes out shakily. She sinks more deeply into the couch cushions, her body at once drained and held taut.
It might be time for another nap.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 10:08 pm (UTC)"Soon enough," she assure quietly. "You'll only put them away if you want to."
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 10:18 pm (UTC)"...Can stay here?" she eventually manages to murmur. She really doesn't think she's going to make it back again tonight.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 10:37 pm (UTC)Getting to her feet, she retrieves the blanket and pillow that Iris had used before. Draping the blanket over her, she gently lifts her head up and slides the pillow beneath.
"Dream sweet," she says, smiling from the edge of the couch.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 10:52 pm (UTC)Aurora's last words flit like a dream over the fringes of her consciousness, about a second before she plunges into sleep. She'll dream of wings, once more: the only time she ever does.