Chimera Fields your hands can heal, your hands can bruise

she knew that father had returned, thanks to @Blueberry, but the darkling had no intention of seeking him out. he had abandoned her directly after mother did, and though they both had fluttered in and out of contact since then, vesper's trust and loyalty had finally been cracked. they both assured her that they loved her, that she would always be their daughter, that they hadn't wanted the family to be torn apart— but every choice that they had made for her had led to this.

when she had chosen a direction of her own accord, she never imagined that she might see either of them again.

mou, vesper said, quiet and bitter. her fiery eyes took him in, illuminated by the dull winter light, laying prone and morose as maegi had once done— the day the darkling had defended her against peregrine's vitriol. how wrong she had been, then, and her brother so... correct. splitting from her brother and discounting his point of view was her first life regret.

she lingered, wondering if the father she had once adored, had anything to say for himself. maegi had, and so vesper thought she owed him the same opportunity, at least. but her patience was thin, and her appetite for a new life was great.

she would not linger in silence for long.