[ the setting: the attic of a shoddily constructed cabin, filled with junk and tools that haven't seen use in years. a redheaded girl - jupiter - holds tightly onto the arm of a brunette, neptune. she is restraining her from kicking at something, speakers hooked into an eldritch cacophany of wires and crystals and static. and venus, with her wings and eyes aplenty - he is small, and human, and scratching at his shoulder.
neptune is shouting, a hurt fury in her voice. jupiter winces, unable to look her in the eye. ]
You're being good for people that fucking hate you, and you're good even if you say you're not good, because what else kind of person would hate themselves but someone who was really good?!
I'm not-
[ neptune keeps shouting, but she is a background image; blurry, out of focus. venus is the center of attention. he moves down his arm, scratching and digging his nails deep in, impossibly deep, until they snag on something. neptune continues her tirade- ]
I'm so mad, why not martyr yourself for US this time! For YOU! You deserve-
[ -and he pulls with all his might.
there is no pain, no gruesome tearing of skin. the arm is just sloughed off, peachy skin and all, and in its place pure light is left behind. for a moment, venus cannot speak; neptune and jupiter continue arguing, and venus is left alone to admire a body that is actually hers. she speaks quietly, and somehow the others hear, turning to look with expressions somewhere between fear and envy. ]
Found it.
[ like a flower, venus is in bloom. like a heart, venus is beating. like a soul - she is shining like a soul. ]
I am the devil.
[ her arm lies on the floor. it's a pale, bloodless thing. someone else's body now. not hers.
2/3
neptune is shouting, a hurt fury in her voice. jupiter winces, unable to look her in the eye. ]
You're being good for people that fucking hate you, and you're good even if you say you're not good, because what else kind of person would hate themselves but someone who was really good?!
I'm not-
[ neptune keeps shouting, but she is a background image; blurry, out of focus. venus is the center of attention. he moves down his arm, scratching and digging his nails deep in, impossibly deep, until they snag on something. neptune continues her tirade- ]
I'm so mad, why not martyr yourself for US this time! For YOU! You deserve-
[ -and he pulls with all his might.
there is no pain, no gruesome tearing of skin. the arm is just sloughed off, peachy skin and all, and in its place pure light is left behind. for a moment, venus cannot speak; neptune and jupiter continue arguing, and venus is left alone to admire a body that is actually hers. she speaks quietly, and somehow the others hear, turning to look with expressions somewhere between fear and envy. ]
Found it.
[ like a flower, venus is in bloom. like a heart, venus is beating. like a soul - she is shining like a soul. ]
I am the devil.
[ her arm lies on the floor. it's a pale, bloodless thing. someone else's body now. not hers.
slowly, the echo fades into white. ]