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abrightboy

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From:

abrightboy

“When you took those past actions, were you thinking about the future?” Malcolm asks.

From:

stressingwitchface

"I was THINKING about clawing my way up to a position of power and authority! But oh, wait! That was a LIE, wasn't it!"

She throws her claws up, dramatic!

"Because the person I most aspired to be wanted me DEAD. And all my planning and work went into making myself HIS PERFECT SERVANT! So NO, Warden Bright, I do not plan for the future, because it's burned to ashes somewhere in the Human Realm, but at least it's less confusing and isolating than here, where nobody LOOKS like me or acts like me or wants to KILL ME. I don't want to go to a human realm, EVER."

Kikimora has to take a breath here, panting, her face red from effort.

From:

abrightboy

“Do you think it’s possible there are places that are similar to your home that aren’t your home, but also aren’t the human realm?” Malcolm asks. “Alternatively, you could fix your realm. You do get my deal when you graduate.”

From:

stressingwitchface

"No." She retorts, going to go fix herself some hot cocoa in Malcolm's kitchen. "I'll believe that when I see it. And I...it's too late for this. I don't care. Go back to bed, Warden."

From:

abrightboy

“I don’t usually go back to bed. Would you like to do some yoga with me?” he asks.

From:

stressingwitchface

"If yoga is a human drug, no thank you." She pulls out a step stool to reach the counter, hauling out a milk carton half as big as she is. Nothing is ever sized right in these places.

From:

abrightboy

It’s what he keeps the step stool around for.

“It’s a form of exercise and… mindfulness.”

From:

stressingwitchface

She rolls her eyes, pouring the milk with care.

"If it will get you to shut up about it."

From:

abrightboy

"In that case, I'll get a two mats out and you can come over here when you're done over there," he tells her cheerfully.

He does, indeed, go to the cupboard and retrieve two yoga mats and lays them both out in the open space between the living room and the kitchen.

From:

stressingwitchface

Kikimora finishes making her cocoa first. Damn her warden for getting her to like this stuff, she can't get this back in the demon realm.

She clutches her mug, walking over and experimentally prods the yoga mat with her chicken foot.

"Do I need to change clothing?

From:

abrightboy

He glances over. "Is that clothing comfortable and stretchy?" he asks.

From:

stressingwitchface

She's wearing a t-shit that can fit a ten-year-old, going down to her knees. It has a train on it.

"It's stretchy." The train is a bit much.

From:

abrightboy

The train is the best part.

"Then it's perfect."

He props his phone up on the credeza under the window, which the yoga mats are pointed towards and stands in the middle of one, looking to her to do the same on the other.

From:

stressingwitchface

She sighs, but sets her mug down beside her mat to copy her warden in his stance.

From:

abrightboy

The phone plays a soothing voice instructing them when and how to breathe, and then tells them the name of a pose in a different language. Malcolm moves into downward dog, like the lady on the little screen, still following the breathing.

From:

stressingwitchface

Kikimora copies appropriately. Her limbs aren't long enough for a lot of things, so certain poses give her trouble. When she inevitably collapses, she takes an angry bite out of the yoga mat and sets herself up again.

"This is foolish."

From:

abrightboy

“It feels that way at first, but the more you do it, the more relaxing it becomes,” Malcolm promises with a laugh, rolling up onto his knees.

From:

stressingwitchface

This part is at least easy. She settles down in the same position, palms on her thighs.

"I am not relaxed."

From:

abrightboy

“Okay, well maybe we’ll try something a little different. When in your life have you felt the most relaxed?” Malcolm asks.

From:

stressingwitchface

She thinks back, and then shakes her head.

"All the times I can think of are tainted now. They were all with Belos. I prefer this...as ridiculous as it makes me feel."

From:

abrightboy

“What if we take Belos out of the equation? What was it about those times that made you feel relaxed?” Malcolm asks.

From:

stressingwitchface

"I was doing a good job." Kikimora answers immediately. "Being praised, instead of scolded. I could see the possibilities of my future opening up. Becoming a powerful witch, secure and looked up to."

She pauses, then lowers her arms back down.

"There's nothing now."

From:

abrightboy

“If you can’t see any version of that in your world without Belos, what about starting here and becoming a respected Warden, looked up to for your wisdom and experience graduating inmates?” Malcolm asks.

From:

stressingwitchface

She shakes her head:

“I don’t like people. Here OR in my world. Most of them are irritating or annoying and chances are I will get an inmate I can’t stand.”