corporal-darner

[corporal-darner]

[She shakes her head.]

It's not allergies. Yes, I feel terrible. No, I haven't been sleeping. This happens every year. It's not something that can be fixed, unfortunately. I'm...

[Darner sighs, conflicted.]

How do I put this... in the spring, most birds lay eggs and have hatchings to care for. Some species go "broody", when they have an instinctual desire to nest and raise offspring. This is one contributing factor to my current state.

The second factor is that I'm a hybrid yokai between a Nachtkrapp and a yokai from Witchtown. Most hybrids in nature are sterile and unable to produce offspring, such as the mule. I am one such hybrid.

So, in short, I'm feeling extra maternal and it's making me depressed. It's normal for me in the spring. Not really worth taking you from your work.

[Don slowly opens Darner's door, peeking inside.] Knock knock. Are you- Rephrase. What's wrong?

@genius-built-donatello

[Darner is bundled up in a nest of blankets on her bed. She glances at Don as he opens the door, dark shadows under her eyes. Her wings are wrapped around herself, the tense line of her shoulders painful to look at.]

It's spring.

[corporal-darner]

[Don slowly opens Darner's door, peeking inside.] Knock knock. Are you- Rephrase. What's wrong?

@genius-built-donatello

[Darner is bundled up in a nest of blankets on her bed. She glances at Don as he opens the door, dark shadows under her eyes. Her wings are wrapped around herself, the tense line of her shoulders painful to look at.]

It's spring.

[corporal-darner]

I'd rather not tell you over the phone.

[A quiet sigh.]

... I'm in my room. The door should open for you.

Gooood day everyone. Is everyone fine is everyone okay. What’s the status report.

[corporal-darner]

I...

[There’s a long silence in the recording.]

It's not really worth worrying about. I'm uninjured.

Gooood day everyone. Is everyone fine is everyone okay. What’s the status report.

[corporal-darner]

'M fine

Gooood day everyone. Is everyone fine is everyone okay. What’s the status report.

[corporal-darner]

[Darner rattles, smiling.]

Everything is safe and readable. I've... Donnie-proofed my things to avoid disasters. It should be safe for Shelldon, too.

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

[Darner nods, relief clear on her face.]

Thank you...

[She moves towards where she thinks the bed is, aiming to sit down, but stops when she nearly trips over something.]

Hm. A scroll for curing infection, by the feel of it.

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

[She stays quiet, listening and processing and wishing she could see his face.]

I understand. It won't happen again.

[She sighs, rubbing her arms.]

It's okay that it's not okay yet. I understand why we're not okay, and I'm willing to take the steps towards regaining that trust. Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it to the best of my ability. Even if it means sitting in medbay until my feathers turn grey.

[There’s a note of humor in that last sentence. It quickly fades.]

And... I'm working on a better mindset. I'm trying. I don't- I'm not sure how to go about it, to be honest.

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

[Darner waves her hand dismissively.]

I was researching a cure for-

[She freezes, eyes shut.]

For Nova. I suppose it was unnecessary, in the end.

[Sighing, she rubs her eyes tiredly.]

I... I'm sorry that I looked through the recordings. I thought it would help me understand what happened, and I was wrong. It made things worse. And- And I shouldn't have left like that. I'm sorry. It seems I hindered more than I helped...

[There’s a cruelly humorless, wry twist to her mouth as she speaks, directed at herself.]

I shouldn't have gotten in the way.

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

It could be, I suppose.

[She shrugs, turning her face away.]

Like I said, we don't have to do this now if you'd prefer not to. But... this is something I need to get off my chest.

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

Don, I'm fine. They changed the bandages before I left.

[She gratefully takes his hand, tentatively reaching out with her magic but not letting it touch his ninpō. Not yet.]

We... need to talk. It doesn't have to be now, and I won't make you talk, but I think it needs to happen. I have some things I need to apologize for... if you would be willing to listen.

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

[Yeah, that's... that's fair. Hm.]

My room, please. [Her voice is soft. Warm.] Once I get there, I'll lay down. I promise.

[It's not like she can do much in her state anyway. Weariness settles in her bones, and the space behind her eyes aches.]

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

[Darner shuffles her talons sheepishly, ducking her head.]

There's not much to do in medbay... I'm restless.

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

[She stills for a moment, puzzled.]

Don?

[Darner huffs, shaking her head in exasperation.]

I'm nowhere near my room, am I?

[Stupid internal compass, stupid incorrect sense of direction, stupid useless eyes. She must be near the lab. Which means that-]

[Oh. That makes more sense.]

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

[Hm. She doesn't remember that wall being there.]

[She squints, trailing her hand along the wall, following it to the left. Darner hums quietly, trying to compare to the mental map in her head. This next left should be the hallway to her room... right? Her internal compass points stubbornly to her right. Hm.]

@genius-built-donatello

[corporal-darner]

Oh and by the way.

Happy birthday. :]

- @genius-built-donatello

Is it that day again-

Thank you!

[corporal-darner]

Mhmm...

[She twitches her wing on reflex before finally letting herself lay down and sleep.]

[She's lightly dozing in the medbay, twitching her injured wing every once in a while to keep herself from falling into a deeper sleep. She has to stay awake.]

[She has to be prepared to fight punish herself for running stay aware protect the others.]

[She firmly but subtly shakes her wing. Compartmentalize. Avoid the box in the back of her mind. Don't poke it.]

[Don't run away don't come back coward coward coward-]

[Stop poking the box. Breathe. Twitch the wing. Stay awake.]

@genius-built-donatello