#fenixtj

"So, you know these are intrusive and alien, dark things twisted and inflamed..."

And she retorts back, "Siv, it's not you talking. It's the nasty glamour. And you - you at least KNOW that it's not your own deeds you're feeling. You feel the things that monster did. And we HAVE a way to help you. We can cleanse you, and bring you back to yourself. But YOU, maybe it's easier to just woe-is-me and focus on yourself, thinking that you're being protective? But you're not - you're being selfish! Because you don't just belong to yourself. You're a part of everyone's lives here, whether you like it or not, and we want the Siv we know and love back. And nasty words that are coming from a place of pain aren't enough to scare me off! I KNOW what it is to feel that wretchedness inside, and for me, I EARNED IT. You dragged in the remnants of someone else's crimes, you didn't commit them, so don't you try to scold ME about feelin' the monster! I -live- there!"

A nod at Piper, approving. She looks back at Siv. "Did you forget you are a lioness?"

"I care not if Coradel has granted it or not. Have you forgotten who you are, Siv Waveborne?"

Something said... Zara's logic... Piper's Passion, or maybe it's the Sight of Jonas and the shame she feels to be seen like this before her...

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Siv says "I... i"m trying. I'm too weak. I might hurt you all. Cruel and cutting , twistedd and wrong... i would never forgive myself.. I'm not strong."

"This is our choice."

"Feh!"

"Not strong, she says! Feh!"

"Meshugga!"

"Our choice." Jessica affirms. "Let's do this. Now."

"She, who is scarred from braving the darkest places for weeks, who saved threescore - more, truth - saved a hundred souls. Not strong?"

She looks "Jonas, send them away..."

Straightening up, ready to follow. "This was Jonas's idea. He's not abandoning you now. None of us are."

Jonas, the troll who uses big words and has been dragged along on Siv's adventure like a beach ball on a sea lion's nose looks at Siv "No. "

"I am the white witch, you shall not be rid of me. I am Manynames, and I will make certain yours may sing in your soul."

"Zara, what do we do?"

JOnas nods to PIper then turns to Jessica "Countess... can we clear the halls? Just us?"

By US he means those here. No strangers

"Yes." And she gives the order(s).

"And I don't care if what you said is true. We had a night, and it was great, but it's not ABOUT that. I want Siv-the-friend who first welcomed me, Siv who makes me laugh, Siv who lives freely with the sea winds in her hair, and feels of the ocean even in the woods." She says, more softly to Siv.

"Let's..do this while I'm in my right mind." Siv hangs her head as jonas strokes her.

Zane looks at Zara "You're better than I am at this... you want to take lead?" as he VISIBLY swallows his pride or ego. He'll be the apprentice again instead of the hero wizazrd

"This was your plan - you lead, I shall watch the glamour and make sure it does not run astray."

Piper steps forward and sets the box carefully in place, turning it so that the Scapegoat carving is shown forefront...

"Take the box" Zane says "Transform it into metal, change it's shape, it's nature... but something inaminate, where you are weakest... REmember, we want you empty"

He is talking to Siv of course.

"Wiat, not metal.. but complex" He says

Jessica comes up to her sister's side.

"I..." Siv nod and casts "For the pyre for the pyre, what's left of that old goat. Better than he deserves, let his glamour burn as he floats..." She bends down and tries not to think of the evil in her, how she's looking over the legs of those women around her Healthy sluts to be sure.. no stop it, take it, gather it, put it in the spell

And Piper steps back, bringing out her guitar, and she starts playing. Unamplified, quietly, and sings. Even so muted that it doesn't hurt Zara's ears, she still puts her energy into the song, a little slower, a little softer than the original punk cover, but just as strongly emotive...

Very much in the background...

Break through the undertow
Your hands I can't seem to find
Pollution burns my tongue
Cough words I can't speak so I stall myself again, then I fall to the surface
Fill my lungs with air
Then let it out
I give it all
This is the reason that I sing
So give it all
Cause it's these reasons that belong to me
Rock bottom's where we live
And still we dig these trenches
Bury ourselves in them
Backs breaking on the tension
For far too long these voices
Muffled by distances
It's time to come to our senses
And from the dark

Jessica hovers close, careful, supporting.

Zara watches, alert, sensing...

Siv's banality begins to lower from the gift... even as she pours more glamour on.. which is good, in fact it's a must.. she must not succumb to banality before she uses her glamour, ALL her glamour, and the box is changing, larger, with small sails bursting out of it... it takes the form of a longship

Piper's eyes widen at the transformation... she rarely sees magical workings like this... but she does not falter, not missing a note.

Not the size, but the complexity is amazing, every board, every moving part... Jessica feels her sister pressagainst her subconciuously as if needing a wall to brace against... , Jonas hand is on Siv's shoulder

Jessica stands by, waiting, watching, ready.

As the sails fill, as the box - no, the boat - fills with glamour, her gaze moves to Siv, kenning, watching, waiting for the moment when the flame starts to gutter, and needs to be re-stoked or risk going out...

Zara kenns, mindful of how precise and careful they must be...

"Again" Zane says, firm, hard "You still have some left"

Siv is looking more and more like a mortal girl "Zane I don't... think I can make myself..."

SHe's.. a bit scared. it's un NATURAL for a fae to empty themselves, to bleed out

Music continuing gently, a bridge, repeating the previous notes, encouraging - a pause, waiting, for the next step... just needs a little push.

"Lioness."

Jessica puts a hand on Siv's shoulder. "You can." Firmly.

Rise again, says the music 'Lioness' reminds a whisper...and a sister's faith and...

she almost drops the ship she's shaped.. it's not enough, shes not en... and then she sees on the otherside of the ship... the design of the Narwhal! in her mother's style!

Siv gives out a sound that might cause Zara to wince if she were not ready for it... it's an anguished howl and the words "GET OUT OF ME! " And the last of the twisted glamour, the last of HER glamour, fflows into the longship as it turns black wood and a small figurine builg into it that looks like Tantalus laid in state.