[POV] The Birdcage | I

[Cheese 8899]

Spoiler

 

 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

 

Across the stone, Juniper’s heels click-clacked quietly.

Eventually, she reached the edge of the cliff, and sat down.

 

For several moments she remained statue-still, without thoughts and without taking her eyes off the long drop below. All the while, the flora wilted around her.

 

She was killing it with her presence.

 

Ironic, isn’t it?

 

But she could understand, in her own terrible way.

 

---

 

Juniper knew she was difficult.

She was a broken person with a lot of baggage.

It would take work for people to love her, and for her to love her in return.

 

First with Scrisa, then with Kasai.

Juniper was a fighter. An instigator. A fiery temper that burned whoever she looked at.

It destroyed her relationships.

 

“I promise,” She swore. “I’ll never leave you. I’ll stay with you forever.”

Even if she knew she couldn't keep the promise.

Even if she knew it would kill her. It’s always torn her from the seams. Every time.

 

---

 

Over time, she had grown scared. From when she first met Kiyoshi.

He was unpredictable. He had been violent at times, and smothered her with love at others.

 

“But as a woman of restraint, this doesn’t bother you at all, right?” 

He had crooned while holding his arm out in front of her.

 

“You can help me be my sanity check. I’ll do anything for you,”

He mused, wrapping his arms around Juniper in a hug.

 

He moved to grab the woman’s wrists, pushing her against the wall to restrain her.

“Juniper, stop it.”

 

“I just want to make you so happy your cheeks hurt from smiling. 

You’re my entire world, Juniper. I love you.”

 

“Oh just snap out of it, Juniper.” 

He hisses, backhanding her across the face.

 

Of course, he had never laid a finger on her since they began dating.

But still, Juniper couldn’t just forget the things he had done… things that not a single soul knew.

Would he do it again? Would he do something else?

 

Regardless, Juniper’s perception of love had grown twisted.

She would never have to relearn violence if she behaved. If she were obedient.

 

---

 

People were growing concerned.

Hael, Silwyn, Malna… even Dainn and Arthur had expressed mild worry at some point.

 

“Don’t let yourself get backed into a corner. 

If it ever becomes too hard or too dangerous, I will be here.”

Silwyn. Sweet Silwyn. Juniper tried so hard to be strong. To protect her children from herself.

They couldn’t know about her hurts, her traumas, her curses.

But Silwyn saw through it.

“I want to help you. Someone needs to.”

 

“You’re sure on this one? You definitely, without a doubt, want him?”

Dainn had never shown concern for Juniper. Not once in his life.

They didn’t like each other; their acquaintance was one of convenience and loyalty to Yera.

But even he spoke up.

“I’m just trying to make sure we aren’t having a repeat of yet another man breaking your heart and resulting in you begging him to stay, or getting abused so much you try to end it.”

 

“It is such a cruel thing…”

Even a demon showed care.

Even he wanted to protect Juniper.

Protect her from her own lover.

“I will come, I will protect you. I will help you break the locks if you are ready.”

 

Of course she wanted Kiyoshi, didn’t she?

It’s why she would lock away her problems.

It’s why she would force herself to be easier to love.

It’s why she would allow herself to be locked inside yet another metaphorical cage.

 

 

---

 

But what would Lanre have done?

Tell her to leave, probably. That she deserved someone better, 

or maybe that she should stop dating people.

But Lanre was gone.

 

“I miss Lanre and Scrisa.”

It had been a bad day. Juniper had been reminded of her hurt.

People she had loved more than life itself, murdered.

And yet… she found no comfort. People celebrated the deaths of her family.

 

No one was on her side.

 

“Sermi made lots of promises to me… in a roundabout way, I understand.”

 

Something churned in Juniper’s stomach as her lover spoke.

Sermi? The devil? How could he dare try to relate her to Lanre?

Was this supposed to make her feel better?

Lanre may have been terrible, but people just didn’t know him…

Not like Juniper did. No. And so, as any best friend would, she defended him.

“Don’t compare him to Sermi.”

 

But her anger, her grief… they were all swept aside, suppressed with a kiss on the cheek and a sigh.

“What you said wasn’t fair.”

 

But it was. How could Kiyoshi not see that?

 

“I can’t be them.”

 

Of course he couldn’t be them. No one could be them.

No one could fill that void in her heart. No one could fix it.

But Juniper didn’t want Kiyoshi to be them.

 

Why couldn’t he listen? What didn’t he understand?

 

Finally, Juniper felt something crack.

Maybe it was her heart. Maybe it was her psyche.

But she was falling. It was endless.

 

And finally, she gave in and allowed herself to hit the ground.

Juniper grew silent. Mellow. Submissive.

She wouldn’t fight anymore. No, not unless it was life or death.

 

But when would death show itself to her?

 

---

 

It had been hours.

Night had fallen, and the ground was withered and dead.

Finally, Juniper sighed and stood.

She was needed at home. And so, she returned to the chains that beckoned her.

 

Some may have taken pity, seeing an angel whose wings had been clipped.

Others may have felt relief; the devil had been put on a leash.

 

But none could deny that the flower was withering in its vase,

And the bird had lost her birdsong within her cage.

 

Until, that is. . .

She returned home that eve.

 

---

 

Spoiler

POV from some rp today!! Not public knowledge, I will make a part two to this post soon™ :)

 

[xo31 4014]

Arthur had been crafting, hard at work. He stared upon the large mural from the balcony in the place he was building deep underground- one just for himself.

Still, Juniper did cross his mind every once in a while.

He had far greater things to worry about, than her, he thought- though she still did cross his mind once in a while.
 

Rarely showed kindness or compassion to him, he found himself growing some resentment towards the woman. 

 

But, he thought-

But hopefully she was doing okay.

[KillerMaid 636]

Ar-Malna had just seen Juniper. A smile on her face as they explored Urguan. She thought of Naya, her sister. She had just spoken to her a while ago, so happy that she had finally freed herself from darkness... to live a normal life.

 

"I'm coming my Lady!" she called, carrying some cake she had just baked.... maybe everyone in Haense wasn't all that bad?

[S1nnerVsSa1nts 339]

Sat amidst walls on walls of bookshelves perched a crimson-eyed woman in a comfortable nook. Though attempting to scrawl upon the pages of the ashen tone in her lap it seemed as if she was unable to write more than a few words. With an agitated huff she re-capped the pen and slumped backwards in the plush cushions, speaking after a long moment to the two occupants in her room.

 

"Something was odd about him."

 

Hidden from the woman's view a small note of curiosity sounded from the Mage's husband-to-be, just audible over the sound of their babbling babe.

 

"He was.. hypocritical. Mentioning all connections of the Naz, yet voiced clear disgust with any and all Darkspawn. Going far enough to try and collect the names of 'all living Darkspawn' -- even if trying such will be futile, it speaks volumes of his hatred."

 

The redhead managed to yelp out a warning from behind the shelves. "Incoming!"

 

Just as the woman cleared her lap, a miniature bullet all but collided into her with loud squeaky laughter. Thessalia brushed aside her frown as she hauled the little girl into her lap and pressed a kiss against her brow. "Spawn! Spawn!" Crowed the youngling, voice loud as she proudly repeated her new favorite word; the current word that she had been repeating to everyone, everywhere, and without caring of what was happening.

 

"This is what you get for calling her that when she can hear." Lucis said tiredly as he poked his head out around one of the shelves. "She spilled her paints everywhere. I'm going to go get Ember to clean it all up.."

 

Laughing to herself, the witch blew a kiss to her partner and looked down to her child. Methodically retrieving a handkerchief from a Voidal pocket and setting to clean up the splotches of paint littered Aska's skin. "Always causing chaos. You take after both your parents in that regard." The Elder snickered, eliciting another set of 'Spawn' spouting from the little one. "Hmm.. yes, you're right. Juniper did have a few Spawn herself didn't she? Mayhaps they will have more information.."

 

Spoiler

@Ztrog@TotallyNotSaint