[ The apology comes, and she's gently stunned by it. Hearing Peter's name. In part, she wonders if she can blame him. He only did what he was asked, bound by his summoner's will. The hands that directed and shaped and guided him. He did what he was commanded to do, a being within the rules and ancient laws of his existence.
It should not have been done. It is a powerful acknowledgement, and it stuns Luna once more. Long has Luna argued that people cannot be given, that it's not how they function, that Paimon is (in polite terms) a guest within Peter's body. Peter has never belonged to him, never should. But here, now, Paimon tells her it should never have happened. He should never have been sent after a teenage boy, with no real knowing of what was happening to him. And she's... grateful, for that admission, her head nodding softly. He grasps at her so desperately, so sorrowful. Her fingers still tremble, anger and ache swirling within her, but her hands still move to work at his hair, smoothening it down, tucking it out from his face. ]
Humans are greedy and cruel things.
[ And she speaks it knowing she's human, too. She might be a Witch, a little different. But she's still human. Other humans, people who might call themselves witches, did this. It should never have been done, but they did it anyway. They destroyed a family for it. For what he could give them: riches and secrets and ancient knowledge. And how long would they keep him for? For as long as Peter's body lives? Taking everything they could get from him?
It feels like such a great irony that they've crossed paths and she asks for so little from him. Always so careful to be respectful, offer him dignitaries when she asks. And them? They drove him after a teenage boy, pushed a demon who never ought to be violent because they wanted him for what he could offer. It's... unforgivable. They took... everything. ]
Charlie. [ She breathes it out. She can't keep the tears in her eyes any longer, they dribble silently down her cheeks. It was planned, right from the start. Paimon was right there, guided by Peter's grandmother. But Peter had never been close to his grandmother, someone else had. Someone who in turn, was close to Peter.
She never wanted to think it. Something that's been held within her for a long time, some terrible knowledge she didn't want to admit. As much as it was all right there, in front of her. If she'd never met the girl, formed by the fireflies, she would never have really known. But the mannerisms, the similarities — and then the times she's truly seen it for herself, when Peter would never be Peter at all, nor Paimon. Some quiet Other. When the little ghost peeked out in the Waste after Paimon faded, the one they had to bury. And even now, in the early days since they woke: the silent one who never acknowledged her, who asked for Grandma. As much as Peter's entwined with the demon, Charlie Graham is too. Did their mother let this happen? She doesn't know. But Ellen surely orchestrated the fates of her grandchildren.
It is a terrible knowledge. Luna doesn't want it. But she has to hold it all the same, with more tears streaming down her face. ]
It was true. Everything. What we thought. [ Her gaze drops from his, quietly devastated. They are pieces come together, everything in front of her, everything she and Peter ever talked about. ] I just— I never thought someone would be so terrible to plan it right from the start. I didn't want to think it.
[ All of this was years in the making. And there's tears of his own, glints on his cheeks in the gentle light of her body. She looks back up at him to see them, inhaling softly. He's... crying. She stares for a long moment in silence. As much as he wants to give her Peter back, he can't. It hurts in too many ways to say. Because he's sorry, because he understands something so very wrong has been done — but he can't undo what's been done either.
Gently, her hands shift. She carefully cups his face, like she's done so many times before now, like she's always done. To hold him. Everything is wrong, and he's sorry. He understands it now, as does she. Her thumbs brush away the tears on his cheeks, even if her own still fall.
... But maybe if he can't bring Peter back, if he can't give him to her, maybe she can find a way to do it herself. It's not the first time Peter's not been present, maybe it's not the end. Maybe he might still be here. As much as things have been done so wrongly, maybe Mariana and her power have kept them together. People have offered their thoughts to her on how it might have turned out. But she doesn't know for certain; too many ancient magics are in play. ]
Is he still here—? Is he— [ Her eyes lower briefly to his chest, to his heart. Maybe Peter could still be there, locked down within himself. Maybe this doesn't have to mean she's lost him yet. ] somewhere, here...? Can you... feel him? His spirit?
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It should not have been done. It is a powerful acknowledgement, and it stuns Luna once more. Long has Luna argued that people cannot be given, that it's not how they function, that Paimon is (in polite terms) a guest within Peter's body. Peter has never belonged to him, never should. But here, now, Paimon tells her it should never have happened. He should never have been sent after a teenage boy, with no real knowing of what was happening to him. And she's... grateful, for that admission, her head nodding softly. He grasps at her so desperately, so sorrowful. Her fingers still tremble, anger and ache swirling within her, but her hands still move to work at his hair, smoothening it down, tucking it out from his face. ]
Humans are greedy and cruel things.
[ And she speaks it knowing she's human, too. She might be a Witch, a little different. But she's still human. Other humans, people who might call themselves witches, did this. It should never have been done, but they did it anyway. They destroyed a family for it. For what he could give them: riches and secrets and ancient knowledge. And how long would they keep him for? For as long as Peter's body lives? Taking everything they could get from him?
It feels like such a great irony that they've crossed paths and she asks for so little from him. Always so careful to be respectful, offer him dignitaries when she asks. And them? They drove him after a teenage boy, pushed a demon who never ought to be violent because they wanted him for what he could offer. It's... unforgivable. They took... everything. ]
Charlie. [ She breathes it out. She can't keep the tears in her eyes any longer, they dribble silently down her cheeks. It was planned, right from the start. Paimon was right there, guided by Peter's grandmother. But Peter had never been close to his grandmother, someone else had. Someone who in turn, was close to Peter.
She never wanted to think it. Something that's been held within her for a long time, some terrible knowledge she didn't want to admit. As much as it was all right there, in front of her. If she'd never met the girl, formed by the fireflies, she would never have really known. But the mannerisms, the similarities — and then the times she's truly seen it for herself, when Peter would never be Peter at all, nor Paimon. Some quiet Other. When the little ghost peeked out in the Waste after Paimon faded, the one they had to bury. And even now, in the early days since they woke: the silent one who never acknowledged her, who asked for Grandma. As much as Peter's entwined with the demon, Charlie Graham is too. Did their mother let this happen? She doesn't know. But Ellen surely orchestrated the fates of her grandchildren.
It is a terrible knowledge. Luna doesn't want it. But she has to hold it all the same, with more tears streaming down her face. ]
It was true. Everything. What we thought. [ Her gaze drops from his, quietly devastated. They are pieces come together, everything in front of her, everything she and Peter ever talked about. ] I just— I never thought someone would be so terrible to plan it right from the start. I didn't want to think it.
[ All of this was years in the making. And there's tears of his own, glints on his cheeks in the gentle light of her body. She looks back up at him to see them, inhaling softly. He's... crying. She stares for a long moment in silence. As much as he wants to give her Peter back, he can't. It hurts in too many ways to say. Because he's sorry, because he understands something so very wrong has been done — but he can't undo what's been done either.
Gently, her hands shift. She carefully cups his face, like she's done so many times before now, like she's always done. To hold him. Everything is wrong, and he's sorry. He understands it now, as does she. Her thumbs brush away the tears on his cheeks, even if her own still fall.
... But maybe if he can't bring Peter back, if he can't give him to her, maybe she can find a way to do it herself. It's not the first time Peter's not been present, maybe it's not the end. Maybe he might still be here. As much as things have been done so wrongly, maybe Mariana and her power have kept them together. People have offered their thoughts to her on how it might have turned out. But she doesn't know for certain; too many ancient magics are in play. ]
Is he still here—? Is he— [ Her eyes lower briefly to his chest, to his heart. Maybe Peter could still be there, locked down within himself. Maybe this doesn't have to mean she's lost him yet. ] somewhere, here...? Can you... feel him? His spirit?