[open] I built these wings after jumping; any

[cringe]

how to be a monster:
1. learn the taste of dirt and pain.
2. teach it to others till your knuckles bleed.
3. see if that makes it easier to breathe.

Cringe did not expect to emerge from the darkness even stronger, but he did. The eclipse passed them by – old news, now – and though Cringe did not feel any sort of physical change, he noticed, upon interacting with others, that he could actually sense their fears. This had never been the case before, rather, he could do little more than cause some unease with the shadowy aura about him. This is different. More interesting.
He's learned, too, that he can glamour things to reflect that fear. Make others see monsters or terrors that aren’t there. It’s an intoxicating feeling, to make these fears real – or, real enough. He is still unskilled in this art, fumbling with these newfound powers, but he thinks, with practice, it will be quite a delightful thing.

Cringe finds himself back in the thick of Beqanna. He has been at its outskirts for too long, but he feels ready – eager, even – to return, to make new friends, or enemies. Not that he has any of those – friends, or enemies.
He moves in the forest, shadowy wings folded against his gold skin. He is smiling, but it is not a kind smile. Still, it might fool some of them. Or maybe he doesn’t even need to fool them. Not everyone here expects kindness, after all.
He breathes in the cool autumn air and walks on, still searching.

cringe