penelope.

                       “ i don’t know what you think of me, but i haven’t eaten CARROTS in over a decade and i’m not about to start. ”

‘ ----- i’ve known you for over a decade, ken ------ and you’ve been a picky idiot just as long. chow down, you never know when you’ll have your next meal this good.  ’

   “ — why so violent ?? i don’t think i said anything that would influence a sane person to want to inflict pain on me, then again… you do seem on the unreasonable side of things. ”

‘ because threats make people listen, and you need to listen && eat. if you want so starve to death, be my guest, but don’t do it in anyone else’s presence. ’

‘ ----- you don’t. congratulations, thalia. it’s evident you’ve gone through puberty. would you like a medal ?? ’

“ we’ve just lost another one, ” gretta said, as she washed her hands for what was probably the fifth time since. “ right now isn’t the best of times, but what do you want ?? ”

‘ ------- well, it’s better than you or i. ’ said penelope, eyes glancing down to the sink, a quick look of indifference passing over her face before glancing back up to gretta. ‘ i need an ice pack. smacked my head on something when repairing the wall. ’

‘ ------ I DON’T. ’

             “ — you’re too kind. but i insist ! i know it’s the apocalypse and everything, but i’m trying to watch my figure. ”

‘ --------- malnutrition doesn’t look good on anyone. EAT. ’

‘ ----- sanity’s basis is always found in how someone thinks you look. aren’t you supposed to be flattered that everyone thinks you’re younger ?? you don’t want to look forty. ’

‘ ------- go for the weakest links. or anyone with  s h i f t y  eyes, you never know when they might turn on you. ’

‘ ---- at least you don’t look fifty. trust me ---------- you look thirty. ’

“  ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶   Three times? You called my name three times, I dropped something and I still didn’t notice? Maybe I should start paying better attention. ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶  I guess I was just concerned about making it back to the kids so that none of them decided to do something stupid. I’ll watch out next time, I promise and thank you.”

‘ ----- maybe. either way, here you are. be sure to open up your ears to listen if any of the kids need anything --- i saw an eleven year old eating glue last week on my way to work. eleven. something tells me you guys are more babysitters than supervisors until we get everything in check. ’

‘ ---- does it really matter what other people think of your age, thalia ?? we’ve had flesh eating zombies outside our door for a decade. ’

‘ ---- i wasn’t exactly sneaking up on you. i called your name three times, maddie. here, you dropped this ------ you might want to pay better attention, i could have been the new && improved undead version of myself instead of wanting to give you back a lost item.  ’