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[What does he say to that? You're insane doesn't cover it. He opens his mouth then hisses a little, hands jolting upward, reflexively thing to pull away.]

You're my little brother.

[Almost to confirm it, remind himself. This is his little brother, he needs to protect him, even from whatever... whatever is deeply deeply wrong with him.]

We're both commoners now.

We're playing at it.

[He's not letting go. In fact he's pressing harder, twisting with every intention of pushing them almost to breaking.]

We're something more than they are, Tristan. You might be next to useless now, but even your blood is still pure. Have a little self-respect.

That hurts.

[He says it softly, not moving, voice tight. The pain's frozen him, the fear of more pain. He's been in worse pain than this, much worse, but not since that night, and the memories surface not so much as images but just cold fear closing around his lungs and making it hard to breathe or think.]

[If he asks, if he tells his brother to stop will he? No. He doesn't want to know. He screamed for them to stop when they took his magic and he can't do that again. Endure that callous disregard. It's better to leave a little room for delusion.]

Ariel... That hurts.

[Maybe repeating it. Voice strained. The silent request will probably be ignored but it won't be his little brother ignoring him begging.]

What did you do--with her?

Don't worry, she won't be found. Not for a long time, at least.

[He maintains that level of pressure while he talks, unphased by Tristan's complaining. What's his is his. He'll do what he likes with it. Clearly it's about time his brother realised that.]

Hey, Tristan?

[He is worried about that. He hates that he's worried about that. But he's been looking over their shoulders for a long time and the paranoia is habit. But it's not why he wanted to know. He wants to see her, he wants to...]

[He breathes shallowly, dealing with the pain.]

What?

Do keep the neighbors in mind.

[It's just a considerate suggestion, since he's going to break one of those wrists now.]

Edited (i'm still half asleeep) 2014-07-31 03:50 (UTC)

[He yells. How could he not yell? But he bites down on it, shallow breathes kicking up into quick, rapid panting, face draining of all color at the pain. At the situation.]

[He tries to pull away, just step back.]

[He doesn't let him, just yet. Instead he pulls him in close again, squeezing the broken wrist as hard as he can as his other hand comes up to fist in his brother's hair.]

As you're no longer fit for the position, I am the rightful ruler of this world. That means you, like everything else, are mine. It's best for you not to question me. Do you understand?

[Since when was Airel this crazy? No, he's been... He's had this attitude for a long time but he's only fourteen. He's only fourteen and Tristan is finding himself scared of his own little brother. He can't resist the pull on his broken wrist, it hurts too much to struggle against, moving forward with a small whine of pain, easy to pull around at this point.]

[The words are just so surreal. He doesn't respond exactly, just stares at Ariel in blank non-comprehension.]

Ariel...

I asked you a question, Tristan.

[His fingers tighten sharply in Tristan's hair, pulling him down til they're only inches apart, breath mingling as Ariel smiles like nothing is amiss at all.

There's a definite thrill in this. Something different than the feeling of picking on a stranger or an acquaintance. It's like getting a gift he's been longing for forever -- the special big brother of singular importance, the boy who was always one step above him, is now, finally, descending to his proper place under Ariel's heel. He can't help it if it gives him a rush.]

Do you understand your place now, or shall I show you more thoroughly?

[This is disturbing on so many levels Tristan can't count them. He swallows hard and strains back against the hand in his hair. He doesn't need to be this close to Ariel, he doesn't want to see that look in his brother's eyes, the enjoyment and the twisted pleasure he's getting out of this. He wants to cry, the situation is too fucked up. And his little brother is insane and he doesn't know if he can help him but it's breaking his heart.]

[He straightens, trying to stand up properly despite the hand firm in his hair.]

Something like that isn't where either of us belong, Ariel. We're not--the world's changed. We're brothers. I'm always going to look after you.

Of course you are.

[He lets go, now that Tristan is really trying. He's still quite a bit stronger, physically. Of course that's not the end of it, but it won't hurt to give him a moment of false reprieve. For now he'll just relax, crossing his legs and reaching for the cookies again.]

But are you really satisfied with that?

[Tristan believes it's real, the space he's being given is real, and it's a relief. He steps back, cradling his broken wrist but not going away. Just half collapsing into the nearest chair. Dazed by everything. It's too much to process all at once. June dead, his brother responsible, his brother being like this. It's all out of whack. He can focus on that question--he wants things back to normal. He wants to exist peacefully like they have been. Satisfied? No. It's what he wants more than anything in the world, satisfied doesn't start to cover it.]

Of course I am.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You are simple-minded that way.

[He lets it be casual for the moment, as least as long as he's eating this cookie. After that he'll exert a little effort. It's enough time for Tristan to breathe, and that means it's enough time that he'll be newly shocked and apalled when Ariel comes after him again, which is, of course, the point.]

[Tristan is still holding the hair clasp, clenched so hard in his hand it's leaving marks. His uncurls his fingers, not his broken wrist at least, looks down at it. Trying to slow his breathing. This is closer to normal, as close to normal as things could be in this situation maybe.]

You didn't... Have to hurt anyone Ariel.

[The reality is hitting him, his voice thick with emotion and choked grief.]

Wanting things simple isn't bad. I--there's no way I'd have abandoned you. You're my brother.

You're being awfully thick tonight.

[Cookie finished, he finally sits upright, gesturing casually at Tristan as he does. Even with his own magic suppressed, it'll still be obvious enough he's being targeted, just as an invisible force abruptly blocks his breathing.]

I'll tell you again. Before your brother, I'm your Master, and I'm not sharing my things with people below us. Your opinion doesn't matter.

[Tristan has time to stiffen and try to--what? He can't defend himself, even if he can recognize what's being used on him he doesn't have any power to call to counter it. It's frustrating, at Ariel's age he could have defended himself from this. Now he's absolutely powerless and the feeling is terrifying. Horrifying. He thought they were done, he thought--was he naive?]

[Is he naive to want things how they were before this?]

[His response is a choked noise, as he tries to breathe and can't.]

Are you afraid? Do you feel powerless?

[He gets up from his chair, an easy movement, not hurried. He's not at all tense -- for him, this kind of behavior is completely natural, and he smiles as he crosses the space between them, breathing just a little more thickly at the sound of Tristan's choking.]

Let this remind you that there's nothing you can do if I don't want you to, and nothing I can't make you do if I decide to. You can think whatever stupid things you want to, but the reality is that you're mine to control, and the rest of the world will follow.

[He'll make that reality abundantly, painfully clear by further dismantling that pointless "brotherly" relationship. Tristan is much more interesting when he's upset, in pain, and Ariel's already learned what the newest level of "thrill" he's felt lately is and how to respond to it. He really shouldn't have been given so much time alone to inflict himself on the town. But he was, and he's experimented, and he has no hesitation in grabbing Tristan's broken wrist in one hand and his jaw in the other, leaning over him to force a kiss.]

[He's afraid. He feels powerless. It's in his expression. He doesn't know what to expect, but the feel of his brother's lips on his own was clearly not it, not with the way his eyes widen, close to tears of pain at the pressure on in his wrist. His mouth opens, meaning to yell at his brother, but instead making a pathetic, muffled noise against his lips. It's not a happy noise, like a trapped animal.]

[His heart is beating so fast and he feels like he might pass out, trying to breathe in and failing.]

[He does't just feel powerless, he is powerless. He's physically stronger than Ariel still, but what good is that? He can't stop his brother from doing this. His brother who is kissing him not like a brother should.]

[When he breathes into Tristan's mouth, he loosens the spell, letting that borrowed breath go through. He doesn't think he has to explain that one. If he wants to breathe, Ariel will give him breath. He'll allow him life, because he's decided to, but he'll have to submit to get it. It's a lovely little game of subjugation.]

[Like a drowning man is a phrase for a reason. Tristan sucks in the breath with a sob. His free good hand, still with the hair clasp in it, reaching up to curl desperately against the front of his brother's shirt. This is wrong, this is horrible, this is enough that he's crying, tears falling down his cheeks. But he doesn't have the air to sob and he couldn't stop himself from seeking to breathe if he tried. He gets it, he gets the game here, he doesn't want to but he can't pretend he doesn't when he can't breathe and the only way to fill his lungs is to do what Ariel wants.]

[He tugs on his brother's shirt, presses up, mouth open and inviting, lips sealing against Ariel's as firmly as he can, desperate, the noise he makes absolutely wrecked and distressed and miserable.]

[He hums into Tristan's mouth, self-satisfied like a cat in the cream. He wins this one, of course. And because his brother's being so good he'll let him breathe, taking in air through his nose and letting it out into Tristan's mouth. Of course it's only just enough to keep conscious -- he takes plenty of pause to just kiss him, exploring his mouth with his tongue and making no effort to hide how much enjoys every bit of that misery.

After awhile, when he too is a little dizzy, he pulls back, releasing the spell and the hold on Tristan's jaw to run his hand gently through his hair.]

Good boy.

[Tristan whines into the kiss, sucking in every moment of air he's allowed. Hating himself but pressing his tongue against his brother's willingly after a while, half hoping the indulgence will make Ariel happy enough to give him more air, half just delirious from lack of oxygen. As kisses go it's filled with urgent need, at the very least. Clumsy from dizziness but far from his first kiss.]

[When the kiss is over and he can breathe in truth, he collapses back, vision edged in black as he takes in huge, heaving gasps, a low keening sound of shock, misery, anguish in his throat.]

[He lets him breath for a bit, keeping his grip on his wrist the whole time. His free hand reaches to wipe away the tears on Tristan's face, and he smiles the same pleasant smile he's always shown him, even as he moves to rest his weight on a knee between his legs.]

That's right. Let it sink in. You're mine, only mine, however I want you. I'll never let you forget it.

[The new position makes Tristan look up, horrified at the direction this is going. Has been going. He's too messed up to try telling himself maybe it'll stop with this, that maybe Ariel's made his point. He's just trying to brace himself, catching his breath in a painful hiccup between tears and gasping.]

Ariel you're my brother.

[For all his self inflicted denial Tristan isn't stupid, he's scared. He's too scared to tell Ariel to stop.]

This isn't something brothers do.