royalmedusalith-blog

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

Nodding, Daisy thought of the way she’d felt before discovering her heritage, the way Lincoln felt. “Most of the inhumans I’ve talked to who grew up here on Earth, they felt… I don’t know. Disconnected, I guess, like they couldn’t belong with regular people. I did, too, for a while. A lot of them tried to find other ways to fill in the gaps, but the only thing that ever seemed to work was being around people like us. Is that something common?” It always pained her, seeing other inhumans who felt so lost. She knew it was at least partially due to how much she related to them, because god, she knew where they were coming from. She’d felt it, too, felt every bit as alone as they had, and it hurt. It still hurt sometimes. 

“Yeah, we definitely didn’t have that process. I mean, they had some sort of system in the Afterlife – I met one guy who they wouldn’t let transform, and I gotta say, I kinda got why – but the rest of the world, the people who came into contact with the mists or the crystals by accident? They didn’t get that at all.” There were people like Yo-Yo or Joey who’d never even realized inhumans existed until they’d transformed themselves. At least Daisy had had some idea that there was something weird going on with her prior to her transformation; she couldn’t imagine grappling with it if she hadn’t. “I’m not sure about that. I don’t feel strong, most days.” She said it quietly, like it was a secret; in a lot of ways, it was. It was never easy to admit that a lot of your strength was an act, but for Daisy, it was.

There was such certainty in Medusa’s tone that it was nearly enough to knock the breath out of her. Daisy was still getting used to people thinking of her as important. For most of her life, the only person who’d cared about her at all was Matt. Now that she had a list of people who loved her… it could bejarring, to say the least. “I’m glad I found you guys,” she admitted. “I think it’ll be good for – for all of us.”

Medusalith took a moment to consider Daisy’s words carefully. “That is difficult to say,” she murmured. “Most of us have only ever lived among our own people. But there was a time...” She trailed off, wondering how much of the story to tell. But as a ruler, she knew she could not hide from her mistakes. “I crashed down on this planet, with no memory of who or what I was. I was manipulated into fighting a battle that was not my own. Much of my time was consumed with that goal, but there were some quiet moments. Where I felt what you’ve described. An other-ness, the feeling of being an outsider. I could not explain it before now,” she admitted softly. Because who would she have commiserated with? Crystalia adored this planet, moved between Attilan and Earth freely, as if bound to both and neither simultaneously. The rest of her people had only known the moon-based city as home. 

She frowned slightly, at the thought of the Mist being so carelessly scattered amongst humans and Inhumans alike. “We learned very early on that the power of the Terrigen Mist was not to be trifled with,” she said softly. “It is as likely to cripple and mutate as it is to empower an individual. The DNA of each Inhuman is carefully vetted to see if contact with the Mist is feasible and safe. It should never be so random.” They were after all, not a species that had gone through natural selection. Evolution, in its normal form, did not work for the Inhumans. They were created, designed with care and precision, and their every decision from that point onward had to be made with the same. “That is the true test of strength,” she assured Daisy quietly. “To continue on, even when you do not feel as if you can. And you have continued on through much hardship.” She knew what it was like, to put on a brave face, to pretend to be stronger than you truly felt. She did it nearly everyday for her people.

A solemn nod, but accompanied by a soft smile. “I am glad as well,” she said freely. “When you first approached me, I was hesitant to believe it. But now...” She took a breath, glancing out towards her ruined city. “Now your presence gives me hope. All is not lost.” 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

In spite of how she’d come about her abilities, Daisy was proud of who she was. Her mother’s betrayal may have made her hesitant to accept her heritage, but people like Lincoln had brought her back around with ease. There were always going to be a few people who took advantage of others, and whether said people were human or inhuman was irrelevant. Medusa and Crystal served as further proof that inhumans were far from all bad. “We do,” she agreed, echoing the queen’s sentiment with a smile. She was a part of that, now, and god, she was proud.

Glancing up as Medusa took her hand, Daisy’s smile widened a fraction. Medusa’s kindness seemed so much more natural than Jiaying’s, so much less forced. It was a little depressing, honestly, that she could trust this near stranger so much more than she’d been able to trust her own mother. It probably said something of Daisy’s life as a whole; the people she was supposed to be able to trust screwed her over monumentally while the people she should have been uncertain of ended up having her back.

“The people there were… broken, I guess.” Daisy sighed, unsure why she was bothering to defend any of them. They definitely hadn’t all been bad, of course – she’d met Lincoln there, after all – but most of them were complicit in what was going on. “They’d all been through a lot, I think. Most of them didn’t know what they were until they went through the mists, and that can be pretty traumatizing.” She remembered the panic rising up inside her, the realization that she might die bubbling up in her throat as the mists surrounded her. It was terrifying, and she understood how it could twist someone beyond recognition. She was lucky; she’d had people to keep her grounded. Not everyone did.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, nodding her head. “That, uh… It really means a lot to me.” She wasn’t sure it was true. Daisy had never been great at ‘finding her way,’ always seemed to wind up getting lost somewhere along the path. Still, it was nice to have someone believe in her.

Medusalith was renowned throughout her kingdom -- or had been -- as a somewhat distant ruler. Very passionate for her people, but regal. Stoic. Hard to read. But she cared so deeply for each and every Inhuman, would gladly lay down her life if it meant her people survived. Daisy, of course, was included in that. Despite just now realizing that this girl was one of her own, Medusalith already felt the protective urge she felt for all the Inhumans. There was no one else to look after them, no one else to lead them, at least not yet. Someday perhaps, she would get to rest, but for now, she had to keep fighting. Her people did not give up, and she did not give up on them. She squeezed Daisy’s hand at the agreement, the shared moment between them, and breathed in deeply. 

It was a new day. A new night, really, but for the first time since coming to this city, Medusalith felt something like hope. If there were others, like Daisy, then perhaps their species was not so close to extinction. Perhaps they had more than a slim chance, a real fighting chance. It was almost too impossible to believe, but she had always trusted her instincts. And right now, her instincts were that this young woman was very, very incredible. 

She nodded solemnly, eyes gazing out at the ruined city that had once stood so proudly on the moon. “It is a tragedy,” she said. “No matter who or what they were, it still pains me. To hear of our own people feeling so lost,” she whispered breathlessly. “That is never the way the Mists were intended to be used. They can have terrible side effects. When our city stood tall, we were highly selective about who was exposed and for how long,” she explained. “It is not an easy process to survive,” she said, glancing at Daisy. “It must’ve been difficult for you, but it speaks to your strength.”

Once more, Medusalith nodded to her. “We are all of us, lost on this planet,” she said. “But I think perhaps your being here... it is a sign that we will not be lost forever. For that, Daisy, you have my thanks.” She smiled gently at the girl. “No small thing coming from a queen, I assure you. It’s you who means much to me already, you understand?” 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

last-czarnian:

“Never been one for listenin’,” Lobo remarked. He listened only when it was of worth for him to do so. Otherwise he tended to tune a lot of shit out. Especially when the person in question was talking like her. “Glad I don’t have to prove myself, then. I’d hate to have given you the wrong first impression.” He smirked. Reaction or not, he still loved to act unpleasant to royalty. Pent up irritation from all those years serving under them, perhaps.

The galaxy certain was better off without the humans spreading their stupidity to other worlds. Just the thought of that was enough to make Lobo cringe. “Oh honey, I don’t even wanna think about them gettin’ off this rock! Bad enough to see ‘em here, but if they start infestin’ the rest of the universe, I might have to retire.” Hunting down humans was no challenge at all, and he could only imagine that he would suddenly start getting hired to do it a lot if they proliferated about the galaxy. Even so, he could not keep from rolling his eyes as she asserted that the Inhumans did not think of themselves as superior to other races. “Oh, so you’re all tryin’ to 'find yourselves’? Wow, how boring. I never did get that existential crap. I know who I am, and that’s good enough for me.”

It was quite apparent that she did not know of Lobo–as if a high and mighty queen would have knowledge of a bounty hunter, no matter how well-known he was. And he was not really surprised that she did not know of Czarnia either, considering how much the Inhumans kept to themselves. But at least she had gotten the message he was sending very clearly, if not quite to the full extent. When he noticed her hair withdrawing and her softer tone of voice, Lobo raised an eyebrow. He had not expected that reaction. “Yeah, you got that much right, sweetheart. Thanks for the commiseration,” he added, not really sounding grateful at all. Like he wanted to hear her platitudes or advice. She had no idea, no fucking idea of the pain he carried with him. “Sure, you can ask. But trust me, you won’t wanna know the answer. 'Specially when the whole damn thing started with regicide. That might be a bit too sensitive of a topic…in present company.” Lobo gave her a very pointed look which perfectly conveyed the part he had not said: that the perpetrator of said regicide was him, and he was currently speaking with a ruler. “'Cause you know, Your Highness, you can never really trust anybody.”

“I am shocked,” Medusalith deadpanned, giving him a knowing smirk. He was quite rude, but in an amusing sort of way, like a dancing monkey would’ve been. “You certainly have no worries there,” she assured him brightly, smiling bemusedly at him. It seemed the more irritated he grew, the calmer she became -- she had always been stoic in the face of threats. It was not until battle was truly upon her that she unleashed her rage. She’d been taught to control her emotions, after all.

She laughed lightly. “It would be a wise choice,” she said with a nod. She glanced around the street they were on, the dilapidated warehouses and the stench of trash thick in the air. If humans could treat their own planet with such disdain, what would they do if the universe were unlocked to them? She shook her head. “We were created by the Kree,” she explained. “And used as genetic experiments for far too long. For us, finding ourselves was less a question of existentialism and more an act of rebellion. A well-fought, hard-won cause.” 

He had a point though. Knowing oneself, that was the most important of all. The Inhumans, back when Attilan had been at its height, had first sought to know each individual in detail. To determine their place in the caste system, to decide who would go to the Mists. It was a necessary precaution, to avoid genetic defects, to avoid becoming nothing more than a footnote in Kree history, marked down as ‘failed experiments.’ 

She approached him slowly now, though she did not reach for him. She had a feeling he would not appreciate the gesture, so she simply stared stoically at him. “You’re welcome,” she said sincerely, though his words were anything but. She straightened up, and shrugged. “I have some familiarity with regicide. If you wish to be technical, I did murder a fellow ruler in order to attain my rightful place.” She paused a moment, eyeing him carefully. “My sister believes that talking about pain will ease it. I am not sure I agree. But I am willing to listen, no matter what effect your story may have upon myself.” She shrugged once more. “You’ve no reason to trust me. Other than my word, but I promise it is given to you.”

[royalmedusalith-blog]

People of New York City…and the world. My name is Medusa. I am the queen of a race of people known as the Inhumans.

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

“No inhuman I’ve ever met has been,” Daisy replied, smiling softly. She wondered if it was a universal trait of their species, if there was something ingrained in their DNA that made them fight back hard and determined. Part of her wondered if, somehow, the history of what their species had been through existed within all of them, if their blood remembered what the Kree had done to their ancestors. She’d never been religious, despite the nuns’ best efforts, but she figured there was something to be said for souls. She thought, maybe, inhuman souls were intertwined with the people of the past who’d fought so valiantly to get them to where they were today. It was a nice thought, even if it was far fetched. “I guess it does sound pretty familiar.” She’d fought, too, fought tooth and nail to become who she was.

The feeling of being around another inhuman was one of the most enticing things Daisy had ever felt. It was what had drawn her so completely to Lincoln, what made her friendship with Yo Yo run so deep, but it was also what had made her blind to everything going on in the Afterlife until it was almost too late. Belonging was incredible, but it could be dangerous, too. Daisy couldn’t forget that, no matter how trustworthy Crystal and Medusa seemed to be. “I appreciate that,” Daisy said, smiling as she nodded. In spite of her hesitation, it was nice to have someone willing to look out for her, someone who saw her inhuman heritage as a reason to trust her instead of an excuse to push her away.

Nodding as Medusa spoke, Daisy sighed. “I don’t know if it was evil,” she admitted with a shrug. That bothered her more than anything. She didn’t know if her mother was a bad person, didn’t know if you could call someone irredeemable because they wanted to survive. “It wasn’t good, but I don’t know if it was evil, either. I guess it doesn’t matter now, though. Whatever it was, whatever it stood for, it’s gone.” It wasn’t coming back, not when nearly everyone who’d been a part of it was gone. That was probably better.

Honoring Lincoln’s sacrifice, as Medusa called it, had always been an area where Daisy struggled. She’d torn herself to pieces, spread herself thin as she searched for redemption she wasn’t sure existed through vigilantism. This isn’t what he would have wanted for you, May’d told her, and Daisy had broken down right there because, god, she knew it was true. Lincoln would have wanted her to be happy, to be whole, and she hadn’t known how to be either of those things without him. “I’m still figuring that part out,” she admitted. “Honoring him, I mean. It’s not as easy as he might have expected it to be.”

Her people had been born of hardship. Cruel experiments by the Kree, then utter abandonment. They had survived by their own volition, through only the strength they themselves could provide. If they had been a less-hardy species, if they were prone to defeatism, they never would’ve achieved all the glory they’d once had. Even now, in the face of utter ruin, they stood tall and proud. “We survive,” she said firmly. “We rebuild. We carry on.”

Inhumans for so long had only each other. They had laws preventing them from marrying outside their species. It cemented a bond between them, a feeling that the entire civilization was family. They worked together for the common good, everyone with their place and purpose in society. At least, that was how it had once been. Things were different now, the rules might’ve changed. Medusalith could not say for certain how much, but there was no denying that their fall to Earth had affected them deeply. In response to Daisy’s affirmation, Medusalith merely reached for her hand, and squeezed it gently, the way she might Crystalia’s. Though she pulled away much quicker than she would’ve with her sister.

“It did not sound like a pleasant place to me,” she said gently, glancing over at the girl. There was years of hardship and history in her eyes, her memories taking her to far-off places right now. Medusalith could be patient, she could be gentle. It was not a side many saw, not in public anyway. But one on one, she knew how to wait. “But there is much I do not understand of this world,” she admitted. “Perhaps, in that place, they were doing what they thought was right.” 

She smiled gently at the girl, despite the solemnity of their conversation. “As I said,” she murmured gently, squeezing her hand once more. “We are not a people who gives up easily. You will find your way, Daisy. I believe that, just as I believe our people will one day be strong and proud again.” 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

Glancing back as Medusa pulled her hair in, Daisy felt her brow furrow. She hadn’t considered that the queen could feel the strands of hair as she sent them forward,and she felt a burst of guilt at the thought. Still, Medusa told her to keep at it, and Daisy wasn’t one to disappoint. Gritting her teeth and allowing an utterly determined expression to smooth her features, she nodded. “You’ve got it,” she said quietly, turning back to the creature.

She let another shockwave rip, throwing everything she had into it. She felt her heels dig into the ground to keep her in place, felt her gauntlets working overtime to keep her wrists from shaking and shattering under the pressure of it all. The creature was pushed backwards even as it attempted to move towards them, loud screeches of pain coming from it until, all at once, it was silent. Daisy let out a breath, kept the shockwave going another moment before lowering her hand. “I think I got it,” she announced, taking a curious step towards it. “Geez, that thing could take a hit.” Suddenly, there was a screech from the sky. Glancing up, Daisy felt her stomach drop. “Uh, we got incoming. Three more, headed our way.” Yeah, just her luck.

Good. Daisy took orders well, and her prowess in combat was very impressive. Medusalith’s hair hovered just outside the radius of the next shockwave, some of the strands retracting back to brace herself against the ground. She kept her feet, her eyes narrowing at the creature. The beast itself screamed hideously, and then finally, fell silent. Medusalith’s hair enveloped the creature and she threw the body as far as she could into the water. 

But just as she did, a screech tore through the air. She glared up at the creatures. “It did not come alone,” she agreed. “This is an all-out attack. But my guards are with our people,” she said, glancing over at Daisy. “It is up to us to mount the defense.” With that, the strands of her hair shot upwards, and she wrapped around the legs of one creature, throwing him into the river as well. The creature popped back up moments later, dripping wet and screaming. Most her hair moved to form a shield around them, protecting them from behind. 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

ofelements:

The answer about whether to remain on Earth or attempt to return to the moon was never clear to Crystal. She personally believed that remaining on Earth was the more logical option, they had no one capable of shuttling their city and its citizens back to the heavens, and Crystal saw potential on Earth. They could form an alliance, have far more than they ever did hidden away on the moon, and their opportunities were endless. She could imagine her people establishing lives for themselves, celebrating inhuman traditions, and spreading awareness of the vast galaxy beyond them. It would be wonderful, far more rewarding than being stuck on one planet, controlled by the Kree. Medusa seemed a little more apprehensive about the idea, and Crystal had yet to broach the idea to Karnak, whose judgment was most valuable. Still, the most Crystal contemplated the idea of merging with Earth, the more she believed it was the best option available.

Rather than contemplate the fate of her kingdom, Crystal merely wanted to spend time with her sister, proving to Medusa that Earth was something to be embraced, not hidden from. “I am very good at ignoring orders,” she agreed, grinning as Medusa’s hair brushed against her cheek. Gently, she sent a breeze through her sister’s hair, subtle and clearly affectionate in return. “But I did choose this place for a reason. Eventually we’ll need to expand our wardrobes, and what better place?” She would have one of their subjects alter the clothes to be immune to Crystal’s array of elements, and they had nearly perfected it to an art. “It’s a lot to adjust to,” she admitted with a smile. “When I first came here, I thought Johnny was pranking me.” At Medusa’s question, she shrugged, and lead her to a fashionable section. “Millions, I think.” As Crystal spoke, she held up a leather jacket for appraisal. “I’ve always liked these! What do you think?”

The Inhuman life could be quite rigid in many ways. Their caste system was absolute, and while individuality was encouraged, one’s place in society was never to be changed. There were many rules and traditions to adhere to, but Crystalia, with her untameable spirit, had shirked nearly all of them. Except for her dedication to protecting their people, something Medusalith would never doubt. Crystalia might have escaped to this planet, formed relationships outside the Inhumans, but she knew at the end of the day, her sister would always return to her place. Fighting by her side, guarding their city, their people, their way of life. 

Even this, this vacation of sorts, was Crystalia’s way of looking out for her. Her sister’s concern was always very obvious, but endearing. She felt the wind stir her hair, and smiled at her sister. Another game they used to play as children. Medusalith would be in a far off room, and suddenly feel a gentle breeze, and when she turned, there would be Crystalia. “You are quite skilled at it. Please do not teach anyone else your wicked, wicked ways,” she teased gently. She was shell-shocked a little when they stepped into the store, her eyes and mouth open wide as she gazed around. “This would be a very impressive prank,” she agreed, running her fingers over one of the many, many rows of shirts. She glanced up at the question, and smirked. “It suits you,” she said with a nod. “It looks very... tough.” 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

darkfcrces:

lightfcrce:

Manners had always been of utmost importance to Tandy, and that had never changed. Her mother taught her to be polite, to greet people warmly regardless of what they wanted, and she obliged. Sure, it was difficult to be polite sometimes, but it was a habit that Tandy had never quite broken. If you insulted people enough, things seemed to stick, she mused bitterly. That was her mothers favourite way of teaching her anything and everything. Clearly, it had done wonders for her confidence.  

“So tell us then,” Tandy replied as if it were obvious. Without knowing what the inhumans truly were, they could never realistically agree with her, although she had to admit that she didn’t feel she fit in with the mutants. It wasn’t any fault of the X-Men’s, they were just… outsiders, and honestly, she and Ty always had been. “Sorry about that,” she said sincerely. What the Syndicate had done was despicable, but the inhumans were strong, and clearly, they were determined to prevail. If that wasn’t amazing, Tandy didn’t know what was, but that didn’t ease her doubts and her confusion. “In time? You can’t just tell us we may be aliens and then be aloof,” she said stubbornly. As Medusalith went to answer Ty’s question, she cocked her head to the side curiously. “What other kinds of gifts are there?”

At Medusalith’s question, Tandy looked over at Ty wordlessly. She didn’t want to admit their confusion, it was a vulnerability, one that affected her far more than it did Ty. As long as he could protect people, Ty was content, but Tandy longed to belong. “No,” she admitted quietly. As Medusalith explained, she had to admit that it made more sense than them being mutants. As far as she understood, mutations emerged when people hit puberty, and she and Ty had been long past that. Although Beast entertained the idea of them being unique, after their test came back undetermined, Tandy found that unlikely. “Okay,” she said slowly. “So when would we have been exposed to this Terrigen Mist stuff? I don’t remember that ever happening unless…” she trailed off, glancing at Ty. The experiments could have exposed them to it.

As Medusalith paused, allowing them to think, Tandy grabbed Ty’s hand. Now that it was a clear the queen wasn’t a threat, she didn’t mind being publicly affectionate. “How can we be certain then?” She asked, sounding a little desperate. “Okay, inhumans, not aliens.“

There was little Ty liked less than strangers who knew more about him than he knew about them, and with Medusalith, that seemed to be the case. He was on edge, intimately aware that she knew exactly who he and Tandy were while they knew little of her. He kept a wary eye on her, glancing hesitantly to Tandy every few moments to gauge her reactions on things. When Medusalith went on, speaking about how the inhumans had been slain by the Syndicate, his gaze softened minutely. “I’m sorry,” he said, echoing Tandy’s sentiment with just as much sincerity. “No one deserves something like that.” It was what he and Tandy fought against happening to the homeless population, after all.

He nodded at Tandy’s question. “We deserve more than that,” he added, because they did. Medusalith’s people had clearly suffered, but Ty and Tandy had suffered, too, and they deserved any clue she might have about what that suffering brought with it. “Do any of them have powers like ours?” The question was a little straightforward, maybe, but Ty didn’t like beating around the bush. He wanted answers, and he wanted them as soon as possible.

He didn’t like admitting that he and Tandy had no idea what they were, but there was little point in denying it now. Medusalith asked the question with the authority of someone who already knew the answer, and Ty saw no reason to lie. He’d wanted to believe they were mutants, if only because the idea seemed to settle Tandy’s mind, but the tests remained inconclusive. Truthfully, Ty had never felt he belonged with that group. The powers he and Tandy had were broad, unlike the way most mutants seemed to have only one or two gifts to speak of. “I’ve never been exposed to any mists,” Ty agreed, brow furrowing. He seemed to realize the possibility of Marshall’s drugs containing some of the mist at the same moment Tandy did, making eye contact with her and sharing a startled expression. Could that be a possibility? It might explain why he and Tandy had been the only ones to survive the experiments. 

Tandy’s hand in his was comforting, grounding Ty to the moment and keeping his mind away from the unpleasant memories of Marshall’s lab that threatened to overtake him every time the subject was brought up. He squeezed it tightly, sparing a quick glance to Medusalith as if daring her to comment. “Is there some kind of test?”

“Thank you both,” she said, nodding at their words of sympathy. “I agree. It should not have happened, but the fact remains it did. My people have suffered greatly, in many ways through my own fault. I can only promise that it will never happen again.” She was determined to show that she could protect them, but she also refused to lie to them. She had a feeling they had been lied to many times before, their defensiveness, their suspicion was proof of that. Medusalith would not be another person to let them down, to manipulate them. She only sought to lift them up.

She held up her hands in mock surrender. “I agree,” she said firmly. “And I promise, I will not keep secrets from you. But our history and our culture is complicated, and it will take time to understand it all.” She shook her head. “For Inhumans, our abilities are linked to our specific DNA and genetic properties. Thus, no two Inhumans possess the exact same skills,” she explained. “Very few are chosen for exposure to the Mist. It’s a great honor. Black Bolt, a man I greatly admire, has the ability to level people with his voice alone. Another Inhuman among us is able to withstand the pressure of the deep sea, and requires water to survive. My sister, Crystalia, has mastery over the elements.” She paused for a moment, swallowing hard. “There was once one among us with a very limited mind control. But he has been dealt with, due to treason.” Thinking of Maximus was never pleasant, another example of the mistakes she had made as a ruler.

The boy didn’t answer her, but Tandy was far more open. “It may not have seemed like it at the time,” she said gently. “But you did say ‘unless,’” she said, eyeing Tandy carefully. “I know this is all quite difficult to believe, but I have no reason to lie to you. We Inhumans have been a very isolated race, preferring to look after our own. We would not fabricate a story to allow outsiders to join us, I promise you that.” She did not know their full history, but there seemed to be a hesitance here, something that might make them believe what she thought was the only truth. 

Medusalith let out a small sigh, and shook her head once more. “I’m afraid not,” she said. “The only true test would be to expose you to the Mist, but since you already have abilities, it’s uncertain what would happen. I would not wish to expose either of you to such risks.” She paused for a moment, her hair flowing freely around her. “The decisions rests with you two, and you two alone. You must decide whether to trust me or not, and I promise, I will not take offense no matter what your decision.” She met each of their eyes in turn. “But what I’ve come to offer you is a place to call home. A people who will love and support you. We are few in number, but strong in spirit. I urge you to at least consider the possibilities.” 

@lightfcrce​

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

It had to be nice, getting rid of the Syndicate, though their defeat had come far too late to stop most of the damage. Daisy could relate to that. Most of the villains they’d gotten rid of since she’d joined SHIELD had only been beaten at great cost, after all. She was starting to think that was the only way to win, that there was really no such thing as a clean victory. You couldn’t win without losing. “I’m glad they’re gone,” she offered. She’d helped see to it herself, of course. That was what Daisy did nowadays, from orphan to superhero like some kind of Hallmark movie. “Yeah, you definitely have.” She offered Medusalith a small smile at that because, honestly, what her people had endured was incredible. (Were they Daisy’s people, too? Could she claim their history without knowing their culture?)

Glancing over to the queen’s hand on her shoulder, Daisy smiled faintly. Medusalith kept breaking through the preconceived ideas Daisy had of her, kept being incredible where she had every right to be cold. She’d been distrustful of the new faction of inhumans thus far, and for good reason considering her past experiences, but Crystal and Medusa made the attitude a hard one to maintain. They were both so caring, both so empathetic. Humanity had never been as kind to Daisy as they had, and she’d spent most of her life among them.

“I don’t need much protection,” she said lightly, though it was clear from her tone that she was touched. That, too, was something not many people had offered her over the years. No one had really been interested in protecting her for most of her life save for Matt and Coulson’s team. It was a nice feeling. “Yeah, I got the sense that they were,” she nodded, thinking of how highly some of the inhumans in the Afterlife had spoken of themselves. “No. No, it’s not there anymore. Most of the people who were there are gone, too.” In spite of everything, in spite of all the shit they’d put her through, Daisy wasn’t happy about that. She liked to think they could have found a way for most of them to come back from it all.

The question was a difficult one for a lot of reasons. Talking about Lincoln wasn’t easy, and Daisy still had no small amount of guilt in the thoughts surrounding his death. She still believed it should have been her, still thought she should have died. It was her destiny, she’d thought. Yeah, I stole it from you, Lincoln had said, and it still broke her heart to remember the way his voice had sounded at the words. “He saved me,” she said quietly. “He died saving me. Probably messed up that I’m still pissed at him for that, huh?”

Victory, glory, honor, these were things that Medusalith strove for. Not for herself, for her people, for Inhumans everywhere. But she had come to learn that there was no victory without battle, no glory without sacrifice, no honor without challenge. There was a heavy price to pay for each of these. For so long, they had felt success without any kind of suffering, and the imbalance had finally corrected itself. It was up to her now, to see her people through these trials, that they might one day know victory, glory, and honor again. For now, survival was enough. “As am I,” she said softly. “It has not been easy, but we are not a people who gives up easily.” She smiled gently at Daisy. “I’m sure you know something of that.”

The more they spoke, the more time she spent near this woman, the more she could feel it. The sheer belonging, the way Daisy’s heart simply seemed in sync with the psionic field of her hair. The strands now grew, reaching for their newfound sister, brushing gently against Daisy’s skin. “I don’t doubt that,” Medusalith said softly. “But still. You are one of my people, and I will do all I can to take care of you,” she said firmly. What exactly that meant would be up to Daisy herself. If she wished to, she could live among them, even though they were scattered in abandoned places throughout the city. Her people would be overjoyed to meet another surviving Inhuman, they would gladly share their meager supplies. 

The Afterlife was gone, just as Attilan was, in a way. “Perhaps that is for the best,” she said, shaking her head. “Everything has a time. Everything ends, and everything dies. Even the greatest kings and the mightiest cities,” she sighed. “But the good part is, the same is true for the wicked and the terrible. Nothing can last forever.” Evil.... or good. 

They stood together in silence for a moment, and Medusalith would not break it, would not rush her. This day was quite difficult for them both, and she knew what it was like, to try and sort the pleasant memories from the unpleasant. How even the happiest moments could bring such pain to mind. At the explanation, a strange, wry smile crossed her face. “No,” she said, just as soft. “I understand that. I too, do not like to be saved. But I suppose in the end, if we are lucky enough to have people who would die for us....” She sighed softly, still gazing out at the city she had failed. “Then all we can truly do is honor that sacrifice.”

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

Maybe there was something to that. Daisy had never really been a huge history buff – in school, she hadn’t been a huge anything buff, really – but she knew enough about monarchies to know that the ones who went mad with power usually didn’t keep that power for very long. Rulers whose people loved them as well as respected them had far healthier reigns, and Medusa definitely seemed like one of those. Crystal did, too, though Daisy really had no clue how the chain of command worked with the inhuman royal family.

The sound the creature made as it fell obviously wasn’t human which, okay, made a lot of sense. Daisy would’ve been more concerned if it was human. The thought reminded her painfully of Lash – Andrew – and the way the Terrigen crystals had changed him. Luckily, that didn’t seem to be the case with these things at all. They were definitely not human and definitely dangerous. Daisy moved into a defensive position as Medusa threw the creature against the ground, letting another shockwave rip through her and hit it at full force.

Demon. The creature was certainly not human, and far too strange a beast to be anything more natural. But Medusalith knew of several tales of dimensions where terrible, hideous creatures like this ran wild -- Illyana, one of Betsy’s companions, she had been to one such place. But what was this thing doing here? Why was it after her home, her people?

Medusalith pulled the strands of her hair back quickly, to avoid the shockwaves from Daisy’s abilities. She felt just a flicker of them, and it was enough to make her sway for a moment. “Do not let up,” she commanded, as the creature writhed. “Hit it with everything you have.” If they could fell the beast, that would be an enormous victory. 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

ofelements:

Attilan’s fall was still highly traumatic, Crystal would never deny that, but without moving on with their lives, that tragedy would only haunt them. She would never suggest forgetting their roots, nor would she ever suggest creating new traditions, but the inhumans did need to integrate with Earthen society. If they refrained, life would only grow to be more difficult, and she couldn’t imagine the horrible affects it would have on their people to be trapped within one building permanently. Before Medusa would agree, Crystal knew she would have to witness for herself some of the fun, wonderful things Earth had to offer. Not only that, but she missed her sister. Medusalith had practically raised her after all.

As Medusa pulled her close, Crystal couldn’t help but smile, and she wrapped an arm around her waist. “I want to spend my money on you,” she replied simply, her tone leaving little room for argument. Of course if Medusa chose to, she could argue the point endlessly, but Crystal knew she would win this one. On Attilan, clothes had been of utmost importance to them both, a means of expressing their creativity and status. “Only because I’ve been here longer,” Crystal replied, leading Medusa into Macy’s. “Ready for a new adventure? This place is huge, Medusa!”

Truthfully, in many ways, Medusalith was at a loss for what to do. She knew she needed to rebuild her city, the home of her people. But she did not know if she could feasibly return Attilan to the heavens from which it had fallen. And now that they were here, that their existence was once more known to humanity, how could they hope to remain separate forever? Their isolation had allowed them the peace and opportunity to grow, but in a way, it had also been their downfall. There had been no allies to come to their aid when the city fell. No one to protect them as they were picked off by Syndicate and Skrull. Crystalia believed they could find allies and assistance on this planet. Her sister had always been so hopeful. Medusalith, she was more cautious. She had to be, she moved with the weight of her entire civilization on her shoulders at all times.

But today, perhaps, she could pretend for a few hours that she only needed to worry about her sister. Her people were well-guarded in the meantime, and this was very important to Crystalia. “Well,” she said, a strand of her hair brushing against Crystal’s cheek -- inconspicuous and yet affectionate. “I suppose I cannot stop you. Even if I gave the order, you would simply ignore it,” she teased, smiling gently. They had made a game out of dressing when they were younger, enjoyed mixing colors and fabrics and styles into brand new trends -- perhaps they could capture something like that here, on Earth. She followed Crystalia into the massive store, and her eyes widened. “Huge is an understatement,” she said, glancing around. It was so big, she could not see the walls, and the ceiling was like a cavern over them. “How many clothes are in this place?” 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

mad daisy

Send ‘mad’ to receive a mad/angry text from my muse.

(✉ → Daisy): One of those foul creatures disrupted the gate Crystalia made for the city(✉ → Daisy): I am furious. It’s incredibly difficult to replicate, and I don’t want my sister to see her work undone

[royalmedusalith-blog]

sad crystal

Send ‘sad’ to receive a sad/down text from my muse.

(✉ → Crystalia): Do you ever dream of home, sister? What it used to be. The greatness we had achieved.

[royalmedusalith-blog]

bored betsy

Send ‘bored’ to receive a disinterested text from my muse.

(✉ → Betsy ♥): It’s my duty to stand guard over my people...(✉ → Betsy ♥): But honestly, it gets quite boring sometimes. Don’t suppose you’d want to come keep me company? 

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

Though Medusalith didn’t seem stoked about Daisy’s tone, she didn’t go off on her for it, either. That was good, Daisy figured. If Medusa was the sort of person who needed absolute respect all the time, it was far better for Daisy to find out about it now rather than later. These things, she’d learned in the orphanage, were better learned as soon as possible. “Oh, yeah, people aren’t the biggest fans of inhumans around here.” Though she’d only been aware of her heritage a short time, Daisy had seen the sort of suffering that could arise from it up close and personal. The Watchdogs remained a ruthless threat, spread far and wide across the globe and intent on taking inhumans out. She wondered if Medusa and Crystal knew about them, and made a mental note to bring it up later.

Royalty or no, Medusalith was a hell of a listener. She didn’t interrupt, didn’t react outwardly to Daisy’s story until it was finished. There was something comforting about simply being allowed to talk, at being able to tell her story to someone who knew nothing of it or her. It was freeing in a way Daisy wasn’t used to, and she was grateful to Medusalith for allowing her to say it.

“Yeah, it wasn’t really a great system,” she agreed, remembering the fear and confusion as the Terrigen cocoon formed around her, the panic bursting from her chest as the world faded away. “But, hey, I’m almost sort of glad it happened. If it hadn’t, I never would’ve known who I was.” She couldn’t be entirely grateful for the way it had been done, not when it had resulted in Tripp’s death, but she was unquestionably better off knowing that she was an inhuman. “They called the place the Afterlife. It was… isolated, I guess. I don’t think I could tell you how to get there even now. I don’t know everyone’s name who was there, but I know a few. Jiaying, she was in charge. She had regenerative abilities. It’s how she survived the experimentation from the people who captured her. There was a guy named Gordon, you’d definitely know him if you saw him. Tall, gray hair, blank skin where his eyes should’ve been? He teleported. He’s the one who brought people to the Afterlife. There were a lot of others, too. They weren’t all bad.” Pausing a moment, she looked down and added, “Lincoln Cambell, a guy around my age, he had electricity powers. He was one of the greatest people I ever knew.” Lincoln had been a hero, through and through. If he hadn’t been, he’d still be around.

Some rulers, she knew, could not stand criticism of any kind from those beneath them. Medusalith had learned to take it in stride -- after all, her sister rarely held her tongue. Moreover, her people were free-thinkers, ingenutive, and to ignore what they said based on status would limit the progress they could achieve. “At least the Syndicate have been eradicated,” she said, breathing a small sigh of relief. They had been a thorn in her people’s side, the reason her city now lay in ruins. “We do not need fans to prevail. We have survived far worse than the hate this place can throw at us,” she said, allowing a small determined smile to cross her face. 

It was clear that it was a difficult story, one that Daisy was not used to telling. Medusalith knew what that was like, had several of her own hardships that were difficult to put into words. But pain and suffering defined a person as much as joy and prosperity, just as it defined a civilization. She had learned to accept it all, to fight back when necessary, to embrace the good when it came towards them.

“A blessing among the pain,” Medusalith agreed, hesitantly placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Hard though your path may have been, it has led you here. You are one of us, and now you fall under my protection,” she promised gravely. She had not been successful, lately, at protecting her people. But a queen had to learn from her mistakes and push past them. Perhaps meeting Daisy like this was an opportunity, the very reason all these terrible things had occurred. “Regeneration. Teleportation. These are rare abilities indeed,” she mused, frowning at the mention of experimentation. It was sickening to think of her own people being subjected to such torments, even if there was no way for her to have prevented it. “Does this place still exist?” she asked. 

Daisy’s entire demeanor changed when she spoke about Lincoln Campbell. Whoever he had been, he was once important to her. Likely still was, death could not change such a bond. “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said gently. “Would you like to tell me what happened to him?”

[royalmedusalith-blog]

quakesjohnscn:

If all royalty was a little more like this, Daisy figured, people’d probably have a lot less trouble following them. She’d always thought there was something wrong about the idea of a good monarchy, figured a benevolent queen was an oxymoron, but Medusalith had her changing her mind on that front. She was willing to risk herself to protect Daisy, even though she hardly knew her, simply because Daisy was inhuman. There was something incredibly admirable about that. “That’s smart,” she replied, marveling at the way the queen’s hair moved around them. “Seriously, not many people in your position would say something like that.”

There was no comfort in the creature’s failure to attack. Daisy found herself wishing the thing had swooped down, come at them with all it had. At least then, they would have known definitively what it was after. A direct attack was always preferable, May had told her once. Otherwise, there was no telling what your enemy might be planning. Glancing over to Medusa, Daisy smiled and nodded her head. “Here goes,” she said, holding her hand towards the creature in the sky. She let out a quake, feeling the familiarity of the air moving around her and watching as the pressurized air hit the creature and knocked it from the sky. There was something undeniably satisfying about it.

Medusalith knew that not all rulers believed as she did. Some saw their positions as god-given, and expected nothing but obedience from their subjects. Her parents had not ruled that way, though they were firm. Her cousin had attempted, only to be overthrown quickly. If that was not the universe chiming in on the proper way to rule, she did not know what was. “Those who would not do not often hold onto their position for long,” she said, flashing the girl a rare smile.

Making the first move in a fight could be dangerous. It left your enemy open to counter-attack more effectively. Medusalith had come to know that the third move in any fight was the most important. Daisy now dealt the first move -- the sky trembled invisibly around the demon, crashing it to the ground. Enraged, the creature let out a roar and picked itself up, speeding towards them. The second move. Medusalith took the third upon herself. Her hair grew rapidly, and shot out, enveloping the demon, pressing it’s wings against its body. She threw it to the ground, and nodded once more towards Daisy.

[royalmedusalith-blog]

ofelements:

Medusa had never had time to truly enough Earth, a true tragedy, although it paled in comparison to the hardships that the inhumans had faced since Attilan fell into the Hudson. However, Crystal didn’t like to compare. They were vastly different things, and though her sister relied heavily on her title, and valued her responsibility, Crystal believed that Medusa deserved to do something enjoyable. That was precisely why she planned a day in the city for them, encompassing all of her favourite things to do, minus training and fighting, in New York. The majority of what was on her list were things Johnny had shown her during the duration of their relationship, though she intended to exclude that fact. Medusa knew very little about her relationship with the Human Torch, and Crystal intended to keep it that way.

Linking her arm through her sisters, Crystal leaned her head against her shoulder for a moment, a rare display of affection that felt warranted. Since their open conversation following Medusa’s imprisonment, she felt closer to her sister than she ever had on Attilan. “We’re going to Barney’s first,” she told her with a smile. “I don’t have a ton of money, but I saved enough that we should both be able to get a few pieces that we really like. After that, we’re going to visit that Statue of Liberty! It’ll be dark by then, but I can get up there easily. The view is beautiful, Medusa, you’ll love it.”

The last time Medusalith had spent this long on Earth, she had no memories. She’d been manipulated into hunting down the heroes of this plane. This time, the situation was no less tragic, despite Crystalia’s determination to make the best of it. Medusalith had resisted this outing for some time, but even with the will of a queen, there was only so long she could resist that look in her baby sister’s eyes.

Of course, Crystalia was no longer a child. She was a warrior, highly capable, and more than able to handle herself. And she was very persuasive. Despite the guilt she felt for not continuing their work on Attilan, Medusalith couldn’t deny that there was some wisdom to the idea of taking a break. She smiled gently in return, and pulled her sister close, if only to ensure that she’d be able to protect her if necessary. “You do not need to spend your currency on me, sister,” she said, shaking her head. Though it had been some time since she’d worn anything new -- it was a thrilling prospect. “I will love it if you are with me,” she agreed. “This world is much more pleasant through your eyes, Crystalia.”