moved

     “Sounds like sabotage, I know.” Florence mutters under her breath, but doesn’t interject more than that. She’s aware that these things happen, and she’s even more aware that the damage may actually be coming from someone who has infiltrated their side of the war effort. She can quietly suggest things to people, but she knows that most of them won’t take kindly to demands of any sort. So she’s stuck doing paperwork and being frustrated by not being able to meet the needs of the wounded.

     Max’s amusement distracts her from it — she’s grateful, she does not want to think about work right now — and she can’t help but roll her eyes. “Are you kidding me? You’ve seen what he’s like. What, do I not have standards? Goddess knows I could use a roll in the hay once in a while, but not with him.” Suddenly she looks around furtively, double checking that he’s not listening. “Besides,” she says, leaning in and whispering, “I heard he’s got nothing to show for all that talk anyway. I’m definitely not going to find out for anyone though.”

IT’S  TOO  MUCH  TO  HOPE   that anyone would look too seriously into the issue of the missing supplies,  and even more unlikely that either of them would have any pull in that regard.  max being given any position here had been like pulling teeth in the first place,  and as valuable as florence is to the efforts,  everyone is so preoccupied with what’s happening on the front lines,  that max doubts it’s high priority  ( even if she believes it should be ).

hands come up in mock surrender,  but she can’t help the laughter that bubbles up with them.   

𝐇𝐄  𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒  𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐃  𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍    ,  every  ounce  of  his  being  ,  the  very  aura  that  had  been  forged  to  keep  people  away  from  him  now  seemingly  cracked  down  the  center  .  what  spills  out  is  nothing  more  than  a  heavy  sigh  ,  a  step  back  and  while  it  is  not  out  of  self  defense  there  is  a  sharp  gaze  carrying  through  his  eyes  in  warning  .

❛        i  wouldn’t  expect  you  to  understand        ❜    the  words  are  pointed  ,  a  knife  met  through  the  air  but  his  expression  softens  along  with  a  breath  taken  in  slowly  ,  a  hand  brushing  across  his  face  .  the  truth  is  ,  there  is  far  more  to  living  beyond  being  some  sort  of  hero  ,  to  save  the  world  and  all  that  takes  hold  of  it  and  taemin  is  not  one  of  those  things  ,  in  fact  -  he’s  meant  to  destroy  it  .  ❛    just  because  i  have  the  power  to  change  things  doesn’t  mean  i  have  the  ability  ,  these  things  you  have  ,  these  wishes  —  all  you  will  end  up  doing  is  attempting  to  drag  us  all  down  the  unknown  path  and  while  you  may  think  it  is  best  for  everyone  ,  i  can  promise  you  one  thing  … ❜      a  pause  now  ,  his  tongue  drags  across  the  front  of  his  teeth  as  if  in  protest  of  his  own  words  ,  ❛      if  i  have  any  involvement  ,  any  at  all  ?  the  pretty  world  you  wish  to  start  where  there  is  no  war  or  freedom  will  be  dropped  into  chaos    .  i’m  not  saying  i  enjoy  the  way  things  are  –  but  at  least  people  are  alive   ❜

IT’S  NOT  THE  FIRST  TIME  SHE’S  HEARD  THAT      ------and  max  doubts  it’ll  be  the  last.      she’s  had  her  share  of  being  underestimated,    taken  for  granted,    assumed  to  be  less  than.    so  of  course  it  comes  down  to  a  lack  of  understanding  on  her  part  rather  than  persistent  stubbornness  on  his.    she  rolls  her  eyes.

the change in emotion is sensed, quillen respects it and allows max to feel whatever it is she must feel   …   there will be absolutely no judgement of any type of display, they get judged enough already for other things. whatever the world can throw at them.

❛❛   we inherit the strangest things from our parents and ancestors. i could use a good stew right now. or anything, really. i’m starving.   ❜❜          she rolls flat on her back, hazel eyes staring straight up above them. the woman is up, no sleep on her horizon. even if she were to close her eyes, her mind would race beyond the sky and fracture into a hundred different thoughts.

❛❛   max. your family? what happened to them? do you know?   ❜❜

THAT  IS  THE  QUESTION,    ISN’T  IT?      what  happened  to  her  parents?    what  happened  to  the  people  who  raised  her?    why  is  max  out  here  all  alone?    the  truth  is,    she  has  more  questions  than  answers,    and  it  leaves  a  sour  taste  in  her  mouth.  

it   was   like   whiplash.         going   from   living   her   normal,      albeit   shitty,      human   life   to   being   a   creature   of   the   night.         slowly   learning         [      the   pace   wouldn’t   have   made   a   difference   in   the   resulting   shock.      ]         that   not   only   are   you   something   that   is   used   at   slumber   parties   for   scary   stories   at   the   campfire,      but   there   are   more   things   out   there.         things   that   shouldn’t   exist.

even   now,      years   of   treading   the   world   with   unwanted   knowledge   of   the   supernatural   existence,      there   are   things   that   she   doesn’t   have   the   answers   to.         in   a   world   where   fictional   myths   are   embodied   as   reality      ──      can   you   ever   truly   know   anything?            ❝      max,      i   want   to   help   you.      ❞            an   honest   statement   made   with   sincere   sympathy.         a   gentle   hand   reaches   to   rest   on   her   shoulder,      a   concerned   smile   tugging   at   the   corners   of   her   lips.            ❝      we’re   going   to   figure   this   out.      ❞

I  WANT  TO  HELP  YOU.      it  sounds  like  a  lifeline,    and  there  have  been  far  too  few  of  those  thrown  around  these  days.    her  thoughts  keep  finding  their  way  back  to  harold  and  alice,    wondering  if  they’d  known    ---    if  they’d  had  any  idea  what  she  was  back  then,    if  someone  could  have  given  her  some  warning  about  what  was  to  come.

too  late  now.    she’s  already  feeling  this  change  inside  of  her,    and  max  has  had  no  preparation  whatsoever.