capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

WHO: Maleficent (

easyopentabs).
WHERE: The Forbidden Warehouse at 25th and Madison.
WHEN: Sunday evening, after the delivery of Mytho's letters.
WARNINGS: Terrible parenting.
SUMMARY: Maleficent is intrigued by Rue's very sensible attitude towards proper princess-ness. Rue is broken-hearted and in need of a friend. This is not going to end well.
FORMAT: Para.

As the sun stained the western sky above the City red, Maleficent found her thoughts returning once more to the curious child who had appeared in the magic screen. How strange and unexpectedly excellent it was, to meet someone so young who had such mature ideas about true royalty. Not even her own world could present her with someone as forward-thinking.

Diablo, on her shoulder, made a soft inquisitive noise. She had to smile to herself: he was an uncommonly intelligent creature, and she was ever grateful to have at least one creature who could interpret her thoughts so well.

"My pet," she murmured, holding out a long-fingered hand for him to perch on. "Fly low and true over the spires of this City. Find me the raven child with skin like bone china and eyes like rubies. Employ all your charms, but bring her to me; I would speak with her before the moon sets."

He fidgeted, ruffling his feathers and dipping his head as if bowing--and then he sprang into the air, wheeling and cawing, flashing into the night on sleek and inky wings.

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Kraehe sat on the roof of the abandoned church, surrounded by ravens. It was much too cold to be out, especially dressed like this, but she didn't care, about this or anything else. The only thing on her mind right now was Mytho, and the words she's found written on that stupid note. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't quite figure out what it meant.

He didn't want to be a prince anymore? Why not? Did he think he could change what he was that easily? She</> couldn't, she never could, no matter how much she tried to bury her memories. And now he just suddenly decided not to be a prince anymore, not to even fulfill his role. How dare he?

Her nails scraped against the concrete roofing as she stared out at the city, miserable and cold and furious.

It was some time before a single raven, larger than the rest and somehow noticeably different, came wheeling out of the overcast sky towards her. The rest of her flock bristled slightly at its presence, staring at it as it landed on a nearby shingle.

It cawed once, as if making some proud announcement, and then spread its wings and tipped its body forward, bowing to her with a raven's odd angular grace.

Kraehe bristled as well, immediately sensing something odd about his presence. She leaned forward, looking at him closely.

"Who are you?" she said, not speaking to it so much as herself. "That witch's pet?"

The raven bobbed his head in a distinctly human nod, spreading his wings and tailfeathers proudly. He looked about as close to smiling as a bird could get.

Some of the nearby ravens shifted, blinking beady eyes at him, watching in case he dared to get too close to their Princess.

"Does she want something with me?" she asked, ignoring her own foolish birds.

He cawed enthusiastically, making a short hop closer to her.

Rather abruptly, Kraehe stood up.

"Then take me to her at once, raven."

Yet another excited noise--this one almost more like a rooster's crow than a hoarse raven call--and with a strong beat of his smooth wings he had launched himself into the air.

Kraehe followed, dissapearing into a whirlwind of black feathers, leaving her flock behind.

The raven whirled through space, over the City skyline, until with a harsh coughing cry it pulled up short in front of a dark and dingy warehouse. Its walls were weather-stained and seemed to be full of unnaturally deep shadows, and strange patterns twined under the dirt.

From a single small window shone a sickly green light.

The whirl of feathers blew into the window, and Kraehe reappeared, looking around for the woman who'd invited her.

Blazing from the head of a tall staff was a swirl of green light--and holding that staff was the same tall, elegant woman who had shown such interest in her over the communicator. Her eyes, dark and glittering, were fixed intently on Kraehe; her mouth was deep red and half-smiling.

"Just as I asked," she purred, holding out a long-fingered hand for the raven to perch on. "Skin like bone china, eyes like fine rubies, hair like a soft black wing. Well done, my pet."

Kraehe immediately felt how powerful a presence this woman had, like her Father, only she had no need for great size to be intimidating. Eyes fixed on the swirling light of the staff, she spoke, in the respectful sort of tone she only reserved for one person.

"What do you want?" she asked. "Why did your raven bring me here?"

"Diablo went looking for you on my behalf," she replied. "I wished to see you in person--it's very rare that I meet someone like-minded. Come a little closer, my child."

A little hesitantly, Kraehe approached her. Her demeanor was very respectful, more like that of Rue than Kraehe.

"He's very well-trained," she commented. "I only wish I could get my ravens to do the same."

"It's a matter of commanding respect, and of keeping an eye on them from their first fledging. Diablo has been at my side since he was but a chick a day out of the nest."

She glanced at Diablo, and as if obeying some silent command he hopped forward on her fingers, eyeing Kraehe curiously.

"He will sit on your shoulder, if you like. And that's not a privilege I grant to many."

"Many of the crows at home are ones I've known for a very long time, but here," she said, giving a little frustrated sigh. "They are all unused to being told what to do."

She gave Diablo a gentle smile, holding out her arm for him to perch on.

"If you don't mind..."

"Be my guest."

She leaned forward ever so slightly, and the bird hopped onto Kraehe's wrist with ease. He was well-trained indeed: his claws were curled carefully so as not to scratch her, and his tail swept the underside of her arm like a soft caress. With a little shake and a sound like a polite cough, he settled, his wings relaxing.

She reached up to gently pet his head, hesitation and apprehension evident in her posture. Even though she'd been around them all her life, there was still a part of her that feared ravens a little bit, associating them with Father's hoardes, and the way they frightened her as a child. But this one seemed very well-behaved, almost as if he liked her.

He made a contented noise, hopping along her arm up to her neck so that he could nuzzle her cheek--almost like a cat. Maleficent laughed softly, a delighted little sound.

"Well. He isn't usually like this with strangers."

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insert an "as the crow flies" joke

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