Important note: What clutter do you wish for Diaval to have? Leave me a note and I'll see what I can do! :)
Prompt: This chapter was inspired by Pawliin3 and DudeISoDumb, who never seems to be running out of ideas. Thank you!
"You know," Diaval said, looking down at the shimmering shells lying on his palm. "I think they are rather pretty."
Maleficent gave a nondescript hum from where she was leaning against the trunk of a mighty oak. Diaval turned to look at his mistress. She had her eyes closed and her head tipped back, resting it against the bark. Patches of sunlight that filtered through the canopy fell on her face, drawing a happy pattern of highlights and shadows. For a while, all he did was stare at her. The slender curve of her throat, the elegant lines of her jaw, the prominent cheekbones -
Diaval frowned as a strange sensation began to form in his chest. It was pleasant, and yet made him uncomfortable at the same time. He turned his back to her and returned his attention to the shells between his fingers and how their pearly colour broke the sunlight.
Maleficent cracked open one eye and regarded him curiously. It was unlike Diaval to be this quiet. Reflecting on humans and their unavoidably greedy nature, she stated, "Not a lot of men would take the time to appreciate something this feminine."
Throwing her an unreadable glance over his shoulder, Diaval replied gravely, "Then it is good I am not a man." There was a small pause, then he added, "I am a raven, and ravens like pretty things."
The look he sent her was so out of place on his face Maleficent didn't know what to make of it. They locked eyes, and for a while all they did was stare at each other. She wasn't quite sure what he was looking for, or what even she was looking for. She only knew that whatever it was, she didn't find it. Or at least had no idea what it meant.
After a moment, Diaval threw her a quick smile, then turned back to the shells he was still cupping in his hand. Bemused, Maleficent stared at his back for a moment longer, before with an exasperated sigh she let her head fall back against the tree and closed her eyes.
She had absolutely no idea what to make of this.
Hey there!
I hope you're all doing alright. I jotted down this chapter on the train back home today.
For the first time, we get a bit of a Maleficent pov! What do you think of it? I am reluctant to write from her point of view.
Thank you guys so much for your lovely reviews!
Lots of love,
planless