[ The question surprises her, touching on a place Maleficent doesn't often visit within herself. She is no stranger to the concept of punishment, but not on the receiving end of it.
....She seriously considers it, whether he meant for her to or it was something meant for himself, a means to talk through the frustration of it all. That he considers it the worst punishment is.... telling. He won't be leashed. Perhaps he has been before, to know to have such distaste for it. And she realises then, what punishment, for her, would be worse than obedience. Once, she might have said that to lose her flight, her freedom β as she had those years ago. Now, there is a different ache that presses up against her sternum. ]
To remain apart from my daughter. [ And it's something personal, something Maleficent would ordinarily not share with a stranger, but perhaps she too needs to talk through some of this aloud. For she's torn β whether to fight, whether to obey; she can't risk whichever choice may ensure that she never be returned to Aurora.
And like always, the subject is a balm to her own temper and anger. Gone is the flash of warning not to touch what rests upon that stage; Maleficent now stares at it β still wary, but humbled, in some sense, by what his question has opened in her. There are things about this place she will not relent to, but here and now, trapped in this cage, she thinks she must do what it takes to get out. Even if that means appeasing their unseen hosts. ]
I will see what they wish for us to see. [ And she reaches her hand out, slender fingers hesitating before they brush the mask. She means to put it on β that seems the purpose of it, after all β but a mere touch alone is enough to make whatever spell is upon the item activate. It only takes a few seconds, and then she's looking at the man, but seeing someone else. ]
....Stefan?
[ It's only due to knowing he's dead that she doesn't immediately react with rage β at first, it's merely disbelief, eyes widening. But she can't hide the flicker there in them, something wounded at first, then sharp. ]
no subject
....She seriously considers it, whether he meant for her to or it was something meant for himself, a means to talk through the frustration of it all. That he considers it the worst punishment is.... telling. He won't be leashed. Perhaps he has been before, to know to have such distaste for it. And she realises then, what punishment, for her, would be worse than obedience. Once, she might have said that to lose her flight, her freedom β as she had those years ago. Now, there is a different ache that presses up against her sternum. ]
To remain apart from my daughter. [ And it's something personal, something Maleficent would ordinarily not share with a stranger, but perhaps she too needs to talk through some of this aloud. For she's torn β whether to fight, whether to obey; she can't risk whichever choice may ensure that she never be returned to Aurora.
And like always, the subject is a balm to her own temper and anger. Gone is the flash of warning not to touch what rests upon that stage; Maleficent now stares at it β still wary, but humbled, in some sense, by what his question has opened in her. There are things about this place she will not relent to, but here and now, trapped in this cage, she thinks she must do what it takes to get out. Even if that means appeasing their unseen hosts. ]
I will see what they wish for us to see. [ And she reaches her hand out, slender fingers hesitating before they brush the mask. She means to put it on β that seems the purpose of it, after all β but a mere touch alone is enough to make whatever spell is upon the item activate. It only takes a few seconds, and then she's looking at the man, but seeing someone else. ]
....Stefan?
[ It's only due to knowing he's dead that she doesn't immediately react with rage β at first, it's merely disbelief, eyes widening. But she can't hide the flicker there in them, something wounded at first, then sharp. ]