incrediblebanner | (no subject)

It started out as a kind of thought experiment. So far, the most reliable way to change was when her life was in immediate danger. From anything, but injuries especially. But she didn't know where the line was crossed, if it really was only when she crossed into life-threatening territory or if any injury that was serious enough would trip off an episode. She told herself this was something she should know.

(The truth was she knew, she knew, and there was no way she would have tried it anywhere near the city if she thought for one second she would be inducing a transformation and endangering other people. She just needed to hurt.)

She knew the most common ways people broke their wrists, how to treat it once it was broken. She was careful about it, methodical, like conducting an experiment. The break was a clean one, something that would heal easily without complications. She picked her left wrist so her dominant hand would still be free for use and took careful notes about how much pain she was in, whether or not she felt the beginning of a change, if any green bled into her skin tone or eyes. Then she put everything away with care and ignored the ice pack she'd made up and put in the freezer. Instead, she went straight for her bed, where she lay on her side and held her wrist in front of her, watching with morbid interest as it swelled and bruised.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I don't suppose you'll come to your senses if I point out that sometimes there are considerably more downs than ups?"

He just shook his head. For whatever reason, that actually seemed more comfortable, more familiar if anything.

She shook her head against him in return. "Somehow, I didn't think so."

Bryce lifted her head again. "All right. If we go, I'm going to have to lie about how I got hurt."

"I don't see why," he said blithely with a swish of a hand through the air, "I mean, we were just painting the ceiling and you wanted to get another can and you slipped on the ladder and-- there you go."

She kissed his cheek again. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, dear," he said before kissing her cheek this time.