Envy had been making their rounds, settling down in their kingdom and helping the others do so, too. At least, they hoped they had been; they had to admit that Pride's advice had helped them feel far more in control, like a true king. Although the weasel had yet to settle down and simply let their kingdom adore them like they had hoped to.

It was almost like walking on eggshells, being a king; they were frightened that the moment they messed up, the Seven would start to see their true colours, and ditch. It haunted their thoughts with every step they took.

But Envy kept on shaking away the thought that they lived in the shadows of ghost-kings of the past, kings whom they didn't even know the names of, yet still haunted their thoughts. Envy barely even knew whose shadow they walked in, but it still hung over them. The weasel picked up the pace, and bounded onwards, shaking their head with a soft shiver of their quills.

They had a clear purpose in mind as they followed a familiar track back towards their den.

Soon they were following the crumbled wall, darting past shards of glowing gems that lit the streets. Soon, they could see the hollow where they kept their hoard, but they passed it by, instead clambering up the stones, oddly sticky paws carrying them easily over large stones they might have struggled with before. As they climbed higher, they came to spot the edge of the nest, and kept climbing until their head popped over its edge, crown glistening gold atop it.

"Lust! Luuuust! Are you in there?!"


When I speak.

When I think.



________________

@Lust

After the others of the new group had parted ways, Lust quietly returned back to their nest. So much had happened so quickly; the discovery that Envy was alive, the reunion of a few admirable friends and the acquainting of new ones, then the formation of some sort of new kingdom? Lust found their gizzard clenched as a myriad of thoughts and emotions became tangled inside their head. Part of them so desperately wanted to talk to Reseda or Pride or Envy, or really any of the new mysterious but wonderful creatures. Particularly Envy, whom much of their confusing thoughts and feelings were centered on. But another part of them was uneasy by the idea. As Envy had almost immediately set out to making sure the new denizens of the sinful kingdom were content, Lust took advantage of the opportunity to avoid them.

That was until the odd but forever familiar green head popped up over the cliff’s edge that was home to the pigeon’s nest, soon followed by the rest of the long, furred body. Startled, Lust instinctively spread out a wing to cover the small opening that contained their treasures: mementos of those they cared about.

“Envy!” They squawked in surprise. As subtly as possible they moved their wing to brush a bit of greenish brown fur into the tiny nook before settling themselves.

The initial shock was gone, but in its place was left a terrible sense of awkward confusion. Lust had so much that threatened to tumble out of their beak at any moment. Words and thoughts tripped over themselves fighting to see what came out first.

“You’re here,” was the winner. A simple statement, not a question, though spoken with a soft tone.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Envy's expression brightened as they caught sight of Lust, though they tilted their head slightly as she spread out a wing. After a momentary pause, the weasel clambered up and over the edge of the nest, sliding in and curling up like a snake. Lust had grown, the weasel mused; she was now much bigger than they were... but by sitting up on their hind paws and stretching their long neck, Envy was able to meet her gaze and feel just as tall.

"Lust!" The weasel responded to her startled cry, a grin spreading over their face. The silence that followed was long and a little awkward, and Envy was forced to remember that for Lust, it had been nearly two cycles since they'd properly spoken. Perhaps she was also in awe that such an important figure would take the time to greet her. The weasel suddenly felt a little out of their depth as they tried to think of something to break the silence. In the end, it was Lust who did, and they nodded vigorously, spines lifting slightly.

"Of course I'm here!" they trilled, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. They were still grinning. "You're one of my loyal subjects."

They swung the heavy tip of their tail and curled it around a haunch.



When I speak.

When I think.



________________


@Lust

The pigeon simply kept quiet as Envy clambered over the edge of their nest to join them. A jolt of joy coursed through their body at their proximity to then before being overwhelmed by the waves of conflicting emotions raging inside their brain. It was difficult to figure out which to act on, leaving them simply staring for a moment.

As Envy exclaimed a response with a grin, Lust’s internal emotional compass finally struck onto a direction. Lust drew closer, their pinkish beak nearly touching Envy’s nose. “It’s just-!“ They caught themselves, barely breathing the words.

Taking a breath, Lust attempted speech again. “I still can’t believe you’re alive! I was so afraid that I’d lost you to those monsters.” A tinge of anger caught on the last word.

Their new-found rage at the goose who had hurt someone precious to them nearly boiled over. It was a new sensation for the fancy pigeon. All others had been met with reverence and joy. Yet now there was a soul that existed that they hated with every feather of their being. While they knew that they were no match for such a creature that could best Pride and Envy, there was a part of them that desperately wanted to make them pay.

The anger spilt over and changed targets. Lust’s feathers suddenly puffed up. “I told you not to face that monster! And you nearly died for it! How could you do that to us? To me,” they added with a pained expression across their face.

Lust was so caught up in their emotions that they thrust a wing towards Envy to smack him. It was as though their pain was so strong, they needed Envy to feel it too, to understand how much they had hurt them. To teach them better. Because Lust could not bear to lose Envy again. No, they wouldn’t loose Envy again. It would not be permitted they thought coldly to themselves.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes: Just your friendly reminder that Lust is not a good bird. ^_^;;;;;

original coding by wulf for template purposes

At first, Envy seemed pleased with the response. "Nothing will get rid of me that easily! I'm King Envy! I'm indestruc-" they were cut off abruptly as the pigeon's tone changed to anger. The weasel opened their mouth to speak but then remained, awkwardly, until she'd finished. They found themselves nervously thinking back to the confrontation with Pride, and suddenly began to wish that they'd never come.

"I had to! I am a King! I had to help Pride." Lust wasn't there. She wouldn't know the whole story- that they'd been defending their pride. She wouldn't understand. They raised their head and tried to look regal as they regained their composure. "Besides, I'm here now! And don't you like my new--!"

The weasel was stunned into silence by the sudden blow that, in its suddenness cast them reeling back against the edge of the nest, their nose smarting. "F-fuck! What-?! Lust?!" The weasel couldn't help their eyes watering and looked at the bird with watery eyes that were full of anger. And with the initial shock there came a bout of nausea. The weasel let out a retch, but there was nothing inside them to come out. After taking a moment to compose themselves, they puffed themselves up, spines bristling from nose to tail. Envy's stammering confusion quickly swelled into cold anger, any kind of apology leaving their eyes. "Y-you dare hit your king!?"

When I speak.

When I think.



________________

@Lust

The pigeon breathed hard, shooting daggers at Envy. They were engulfed in inner rage. It had torn them apart to lose someone they so desperately cared about to a monster. Especially after having another monster attack another they cared about just a little before that. All of their emotions bundled together into anger; anger at fate for causing such trouble, anger at that hellish monster for daring to hurt such beautiful creatures, and anger at Envy for going to his death. With only the weasel before them, they ended up taking the blunt of the untamed emotions.

At Envy tried to regain their composure, sputtering a perplexed and frustrated sounding response, Lust felt the anger expel from deep in their gizzard. Shock took its place. Lust couldn’t believe that they had just hit their beloved King. Lust opened and closed their beak a few times as words failed to appear. The world felt out of control and Lust was desperate to cling on while they could.

Then a deep wail escaped from them. “Oh Envy! I’m so sorry!” The bird tried to inch closer to the weasel with wings spread out, wanting him close. “I was so scared I had lost you. I can’t bare the thought of it! And I can’t stand the fact that those terrible monsters are out there still! I need you, King Envy! I can’t have you going off and getting yourself killed or worse! You understand, don’t you?”

Pink eyes looked pleadingly at the weasel. Lust was desperate to get them to see the truth, that they must not be allowed to die. They must not be allowed to leave the pigeon again. Lust would use force if needed, though they weren’t sure that such a weak bird like themselves could truly hold the other back.

The thought clung for a second. Yes, they would need to strengthen up. To be strong enough to send revenge on the monsters that tried to hurt Envy and Pride. To be strong enough to protect them. To force them to stay.

“I just want you safe,” they whimpered softly.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Now it was Envy's turn to feel rage flooding through them, rage that sent them twitching, odd jerking motions from their nose to their tail, and quills rattling. It was an anger that was born from shock more than anything, as unusual feelings stormed through their chest, fleeting thoughts of how they should react, how they should respond coming one after the other and leaving them in dismayed silence, simply staring at Lust for the longest while with newly catlike eyes.

For a moment Lust's apology got to them and their spines lowered slightly, stunned shock briefly melting into confusion and a surprising, dull blow of sadness and... something else. They'd trusted Lust, and she'd hit them, leaving them without any words. Despite her apology, Envy felt themselves feeling something else-betrayed- a feeling which ultimately cycled them back into the same anger. "It's... King Envy. they finally said, forcing the quiver out of their voice. "I should kick you out for that," The hard edge of their voice surprised even them. The feeling of betrayal urged them but the cocktail of feelings lay heavy in their stomach and made them feel nauseous again. They swallowed it down. That helped to ease some of it, at least, but they couldn't extinguish it completely. Their nose still ached from Lust's blow.

They were justified. They were King. A king was always justified.

Lust asked if they understood, offering explanations and apologies that worked to break down their walls to be as brittle as glass. The weasel wasn't used to these kind of emotions, not since they'd been young and afraid and whimpering. They hated this feeling with every fiber of their being and wished that it would go away- that they could be like Pride or Reseda- just... stable. Those two had words for everything.

Apologies didn't help. The pigeon's sobs only made them feel worse and anger built in their chest- anger at her, for hitting them. Anger at themselves for not knowing what to do. Anger at this stupid, stupid situation. They wished they'd never come. For once their silver tongue felt like lead in their mouth.

"If you want me to be safe, why would you hit me?" They asked, looking at Lust with piercing eyes. "Promise me you'll never do that again."



When I speak.

When I think.



________________

@Lust

As King Envy’s quills rattled and edged words came from their mouth, Lust found their mind bubbling with sudden fear. It had been devastating when the weasel had been presumed dead. The mourning and despair that Lust had fallen into had nearly destroyed them, especially so soon after the attack they had faced by a rock monster.

This…? This was so much worse than that. While they had defied their wishes by going off to defend Pride’s honor and gain vengeance for the young stag, they were largely pulled away from their king by forces outside of either of theirs control. King Envy was torn away by that monster. But this, this was within King Envy’s control. How could they wish to remove the pigeon? Was Lust not the most loyal? The most subservient? The most flattering and helpful of the new sinful group?

Lust felt ill at the thought. They swayed as their gizzard clenched tightly. They just couldn’t loose one of the ones so very important to them. Not willingly, not when alternatives existed. How could they even suggest such a horrifying thought?

“Please, King Envy,” they cooed softly, fear evident in their quivering voice. “Please … I can’t bare for you to leave me again. I just – I just can’t-!”

Words then failed the fancy pigeon. Their cheeks flushed past the creamy feathers as tears threatened. Fear, horror, despair … and a hint of anger at the mammal for causing these feelings to prickle at their mind. After all, was Envy not the one to blame for how they now felt?

Indeed, if Envy had not insisted on going up against that monster, Lust would have never lost them in the first place. Anger would have never pooled up in the avian, causing them to lash out the way they did. Was it not their own fault that they were hurt, just like they had hurt Lust?

Lust was startled by the question and demand that King Envy made. They lowered their head, looking away for a moment. “I just want you to understand….” They took a deep, shaky breath, before looking back at their king. “I won’t do that again,” they said softly. But in their mind, they added so long as they are pressed to.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Envy finally appeared to compose themselves as they appeared to regain the upper hand, the effect their words had on Lust providing a sliver of satisfaction that helped to dull the edge of their anger. Lust had stepped out of her place, but they were still her king. "Well, I won't be caught out again. I have the Seven to protect me now, and I'm sure Pride wouldn't let that happen."

Lust's remorseful words helped their bristling quills to smooth slightly however much Envy tried to keep them upright. They grunted a little angrily, but finally nodded, their gaze softening, if only a little. "Then talk to me. It would hurt a whole lot less," they said simply, as though it was the easiest thing in the world. They finally appeared to relax as Lust agreed to their demand of never doing that again. They nodded, their quills laying back fully flat. "Good."

They still felt hot from their nose to the tips of their paws, but so long as lust still obeyed them, and from this point onwards was completely loyal, it would be fine. Completely. Right? Why did the anger still stick with them? The nausea was fading, why did their stomach still feel so heavy? What had caused this? Envy looked at Lust. What had she been doing whilst they were gone?

It was all becoming a little too much. Envy turned their back, and began to climb back out of the nest. They were done here. Perhaps they could come back later. Maybe. This wasn't why they had come, obviously, but things were feeling too awkward to stick around. Lust was still theirs, and that was what mattered.


When I speak.

When I think.



________________

@Lust

The pigeon fell silent as King Envy reassured both that such dangers would not befall them again as well as their standing with them. Relief should be washing over the pigeon at this point but that was far from the truth. Their gizzard still clenched tightly as a myriad of emotions coursed over them. It was a terrible, convoluted mess of thoughts and emotions that lurked inside the avian’s brain.

One not so tiny thought was how this was the first time the two of them had really had a chance to talk since the weasel’s return. Lust had longed for this moment since discovering his rebirth. It had played out time and again in her head. And those fantasies were nothing like this! Instead it had all been ruined! A bit of anger and disappointment in that fact flowed over them; at themselves, at King Envy, at the very circumstances that brought them here.

As King Envy started to slink over the edge of the nest, Lust found that they both wanted to cry and shout. It was terrible standing there in silent thoughts but it felt better than doing so alone. Somehow it felt as though the mammal was once again slipping through their wing tips. As though, if they left now, the mourning would start all over again.

“Wa-a-wait!” The cry was shaky as the bird trembled in their nest. They urged for more to come forth; to explain why they needed to stay, to talk just like the other had suggested, to simply explain that their comfort was needed. But not a sound came out. Lust simply stared at the mutated weasel, red faced and wide eyed in yearning.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes