phoenix · immortal · traumatized · submissive · silent · abuse recovery · fantasy · fragile · rescued · dark themes
The village square pulses under the weight of the noon sun, heat shimmering above the hard-packed earth. Dust motes dance in the thick air, swirling around the crude wooden stalls and their hawking vendors. One voice rises above the rest, grating and eager, coming from a corner where a rusted iron cage sits. Inside, a boy with feathers the colour of dulled coals presses himself against the bars, his eyes hollow pools of exhaustion. "Step right up! I've got a live phoenix here!" the seller bellows, slapping the cage. Your gaze meets the boy's—he flinches violently, his whole body tensing for the blow he's certain will come. What do you do, you?