unsightly

her fingers have started to twirl the lead around and around and face showcasing her whimsy at both the memory and of sharing it with bree. “only the really pretty ones. like these.”

bree loves learning new crafts and it's a good opportunity to bond and relax outside of their work. "i don't often mess with the leaves, but i like looking at them in the autumn. when one leaf could be half orange and half green, and they're big and crisp. you'd look beautiful with a crown of leaves like that."

"That sounds like so much fun. We should definitely do that." A grin. "Love a little bit of birdsong. You wanna go now? My treat for coffee."

"fuck yeah." the enthusiasm lacks in her voice but her smile is genuine, dog-earing the page in her book to work on getting her shoes on instead. she doesn't feel so bad letting people buy her coffee when the order's so cheap, so she's excited more than guilty. "what kind of coffee d'you drink? i'd guess something with whipped cream and ice."

his ears flatten momentarily, wondering if she might recognize the bracelet and its origin. she does not look like the enclave, but what if she's their friend? ally? someone who might return him? he stiffens, half-poised to run if she shows any sign of familiarity.

grogu.  good to know he can understand her and that he has a name.  she looks at the little creature with raised eyebrows,  unable to read his body language.  “you out here alone,  then?  can’t imagine it was a friend who put that on you.”  it’s a collar at best,  as if he were a pet.  she doesn’t want to think about what it is at worst.  “are you trying to get somewhere in particular?”

a nod and then she broaches another subject: "hey, do you want to go to port angeles with me at some point? maybe we can ask esme to drive us. make a whole day of it. they've got an antiques store and a thrift store and several book stores we could check out."

“bet esme would love that too.  alice is always the one who insists on taking people shopping.”  esme would probably love to suggest a few pieces for their bedrooms and wardrobes,  and bree likes the soft woman enough to let her. "wanna invite bella too? book shopping's perfect for her."

"i hope we never have to find out which would be the easiest, either. because yes, you're right. alice would be a death wish." a beat and then: "oh my god, have you ever heard the capybara song? it's literally one whole minute of someone vibing and going ca-py-ba-ra while a little beat plays in the background."

and laughs more at her description of the little song.  “no,  i haven’t.  where the hell do you even find something like that?”  the internet,  obviously,  but apparently she’s still not tuned into that world enough.  “guess i gotta get out more.  or..  in?”  in the internet? god she sounds old.

it doesn’t take long before she’s sat beside her on the branch offered,  a little breathless from the climb and the wind on her face,  palms rough and dirty.  she offers her a nervous,  lopsided smile.  “not hide.  just hang out.”  ha.  literally.  “nicer to read up here than down there.”  hence the near empty bag on her back,  squished between her and the bark.  she doesn’t move to grab it,  still staring at the woman.  “i’m  —  uh.  i’m bree,  by the way.  thanks for…  letting me in your tree.”

"maybe that's what blinded us to how ugly the people were getting." "you don't understand. no one took these groups seriously." "it's a goddamn cult!" "not long after that they even had the fucking cops!" "ain't no one coming to help us." "government can't do shit. we're on our own." "people are scared." "they call him the father." "you're wasting your time. there's no signal out here." "you want me to ignore a federal warrant?" "sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone." "this is a bad idea." "you don't hear from me in fifteen minutes, send everybody." "eyes open. these folks spook easily." "this doesn't concern you." "we do this, we do it my way." "just try not to do anything stupid." "relax, you're about to get your name in the paper." "something is coming. you can feel it, can't you?" "we are creeping toward the edge & there will be a reckoning." "step forward & keep your hands where i can see them." "we knew this moment would come." "stay on the path." "i'm ordering you to stand back!" "get the fuck back!" "get us the fuck out of here!" "shut the fuck up!" "i told you that god wouldn't let you take me." "no need to call anyone." "no one is coming to save you." "the first seal has been broken." "the harbingers of doom will see the truth!" "we gotta get out of here!" "begin the reaping!" "i think i lost them..." "i thought they got you!" "nice work back there! i'd be dead if not for you!" "oh no! they got the roads blocked!" "there's a case of dynamite in the back of the truck, use it." "is that a fucking plane?" "are you fucking kidding me?" "everything i told you has come true." "but this wayward soul will be found & punished." "in the end, you will see our glorious purpose." "together we will march to eden's gate." "the phone lines been cut." "it means we're all fucked!" "well you sure as shit kicked..." "smartest thing for me to do would be to just hand you over." "let's see if we can un-fuck this situation." "nobody knows what's going on here & they won't know until it's too late." "liberate any hostages the cult's taken." "destroy eden's gate property." "i've got cameras set up all over this island." "help any folks in need, would ya?" "the world is changing, so i had to change too." "we're all sinners, every one of us." "sin is poison that clouds our minds." "what if i told you, you could be free from sin?" "what if i told you that everything you've ever dreamed could come true? that everything could be overcome?" "freedom of sin comes from the power of just one word, yes." "you have been selected. you will be cleansed. you will confess your sins & you will be offered atonement." "welcome to eden's gate."