voices in my head

“Oh really? That would be nice, but don’t go to too much trouble over it, I can make do with that I have..” Rae gave a firm shake, proud to be practicing customs, “This is nice, its a nice little place,” her smile was sincere, “Oh no, not at all, I’m a mer-person, mermaid, same difference I suppose, what about you? If you also don’t mind..”

"it’s not trouble, really. it’s not like i have much to do anyway.” lia chuckled softly, shaking her head with a smile “you’ll have to only until the paints arrive.” her smile widened “i’m glad you like it, i wasn’t the one who created it, but i do love it like it was mine.” a mermaid, she had never seen one - which was impressive really “how do you get your tail? is it a water thing?” lia paused before sighing softly “well, i’m a banshee.”

“Hi! Yes, please.” After talking to Max about the Harry Potter collection, Aria had realised she had left the books at home so would be unable to go through them with Max when she remembered there was a tiny bookshop on the compound to help the New Species adjust and find hobbies. “I’m looking for the complete Harry potter collection - books one through seven and the three companion books if possible?” she smiled sweetly at the girl in front of her .

"the harry potter collection?” lia perked up at the familiar name, it had been one of the first books she had read, and one of the few she had had during her time at the lab. everything good could be connected to those books and she did love them “is this your first time reading them?” moving from behind the counter, lia reached for the books the other had asked for. “wait...” her eyes set on the girl “probably not, you’re human, right? i’ve been told this series is well loved in the... regular world.”

“ That’s okay. Gotta talk about it at some point, right? “ Max almost felt guilty for disappointing her like that, but he reasoned with himself that it was better to avoid an incident. He mumbled out a quiet “ sorry “ , tucking the book between his side and his arm so that he could successfully slip both of his hands into his pockets. “ I don’t know, I’ve never actually seen myself as a wolf, so… I could be the ugliest wolf there is and neither of us would have any clue. “

"yeah, but i found some don’t really like to talk even if it’s the best way to heal.” at least that’s what she had been told, but some things were hard to explain. how could someone understand the dread she felt when a scream started on her throat? “it’s fine.” lia shook her head “i doubt you could ever be ugly as a wolf.” she looked down “i’ve seen one before.” her muscles tensed slight “at the lab. she had a really beautiful coat.”

These were all the right answers, and they came with a small spark of surprise. “Of course I remember you.” Even though she wasn’t an animal, after all, she was part of the group to have been rescued, and to Emery that was just as important. Shuffling through her papers on her desk, she smiled in triumph when her eyes landed upon the small volunteer papers shed made in case anyone wanted to help out–it was something she greatly appreciated. “That’s perfect, you’re perfect. If you wouldn’t mind filling out this small form with your information, and then check the boxes to confirm you aren’t allergic to anything and you’re comfortable being around animals.” She instructed kindly, excitement evident on her features as she watched the other girl. While she had verbal confirmation, it was essential that written consent was present as well, even for a volunteer.

"yeah?” that made her happy, though she did feel like the living dead during that time. she hadn’t been sleeping well the days before the rescue, nightmares plaguing her mind and making her too scared to fall asleep. lia nodded, taking the papers from emery’s hands. “i don’t mind.” picking up a discarded pen, she started to fill the form, being sure to not miss any of the spaces. she was happy that emery wouldn’t mind  having her as a volunteer. plus, animals were cute and they didn’t judge anyone. or made her scream bubble on her throat. when she was done, the brunette offered the papers to the vet “here. everything is filled up.” a hum “i don’t know if i’ll be any good, i’ve never had a pet. but i will try my best.”

“There isn’t much else for me to do, here. Most of the other creatures seem to have gotten jobs. I mean, you work here, right? I have to make myself useful and the only thing I want to do is cook so…” Devon trailed off, ending his excuse with a shrug. He had no idea what she was, just that she smelled like a human, but not as human as the other humans he knew. “I’ve been learning from an army cookbook I found lying around but it doesn’t have very many recipes and the portions are all for, well, an army. But if I can find a book that doesn’t just have recipes in it but teaches me the basics and what all the utensils are called… that would be amazing!”

"but you don’t even have to get a job, right?” they were still learning, and sometimes she didn’t even know how it actually worked. it had been explained to her, but getting the hang of being human after being in the lab for twenty years... it was hard. “cooking can make people very happy.” food did bring people together, did it not? and there was always that sense of happiness when people ate something really good “army food isn’t that tasty.” lia pursed her lips, looking around to see which books looked better “maybe one of these?” she passed the books to him “they show some cuts? I think?”

At her question, Max simply nodded. He’d never been one with a large pain tolerance, and intentionally ripping yourself apart to transform into a predator wasn’t exactly pleasant. Her next question was a dilemma he’d been through with himself over and over. “ I, um… I don’t know. Sometimes it’s worse if you try to speculate, you know? Imagination can be pretty brutal sometimes. “ As much as he acted completely carefree most of the time, some of the things he imagined himself doing when he wasn’t himself… well, they were savage. He prayed to anyone who might be listening that he was wrong. “ I really don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s just… not really me in there and… I don’t wanna wind up hurting you. “

"oh.” she frowned, just the idea made her upset, but at least it didn’t bring any visions to the forefront, if he said it had hurt, she certainly didn’t want to see what it would be like when he turned. lia winced, she knew very well how hard one’s imagination could be. it was somewhat twisted what came to her mind when she had her visions, the different scenarios she could take from a glimpse. “i’m sorry i made you talk about it.” she apologized, giving him an apologetic smile before her shoulders slumped. lia shouldn’t have hoped that she could touch him after he had said he didn’t retain his mind while on his wolf form. “i understand.” a soft smile, though there was disappointment showing “if i was on your place i wouldn’t want anyone close at that time either.” a pause “i do think you would look cute though.”

“Uh, kind of, I mean I think I could figure it out, I mean the way I started painting was messing around with berry juice after picking them…” Rae laughed, her cheeks flushing for a moment before she grabbed the book. “I’m glad too, I was pretty worried, I didn’t want to have to wait too long.. Oh, thank you! That would mean a lot, thanks.” Rae nodded, “Yeah, I guess, art is relaxing, books are nice too, I like them, but I’m not a very strong reader, yet.” She extended her hand when the other introduced herself, a custom she had picked up, “I’m Rae, it’s really nice to meet you.”

“i can see if i can order some paints too. though we don’t get that many shipments.” they were trying to hide them after all, until they knew they were able to mingle with humans as if they were such. having into account some of their track records... well, it wasn’t going to happen soon. lia smiled as she shook the female’s hand “as you can see, i love books.” it had felt good, to be in her corner alone, no sounds around her, no visions, no scientists trying to set them off “do you mind if i ask what you are?”

Rae gingerly made her way into the shop, her eyes absorbing all of the sights. “Yeah, like stuff to color or paint? Or at least just the books of paper, I can try making the paints I think..” she mumbled off as she followed behind the other girl. Her eyes light up when she saw the book, and she nodded, “Yeah, I think so, I mean, I guess.. it has blank pages so it’s good enough, thank you! I’ve kind of started to paint and draw, it’s relaxing, I only had a little bit of good paper saved, I was worried I wouldn’t get any more.”

lia smiled at her “oh! you know how to make paints?” she barely had learned how to cook, let alone how to actually mix something she could use to make art “that’s really cool.” getting back on her feet, the brunette offered the scrapbook to the red haired female “i’m glad we actually have it. i’ll make a note to order more so you can always have a supply right here!” plus, maybe she could show her her drawings “so art is for you what books are for me.” maybe all of them had something like that “i’m lia, by the way.”

Devon sighed with relief. He thought the bookstore had been there the whole time only invisible or off limits to him. He was happy to know it was just as new. As he followed the her to the culinary section, he stopped dead in his tracks when she asked him about a specific cuisine. He gave her an incredibly defeated look. “I have no idea. I just know I need to learn the basics. Like… how to not kill people with food.”

"you just learned to cook too?” it was more difficult than she had initially though, when she had been on the labs, the food had just appeared. “we can see what is here?” the brunette looked around the section, taking out some general cooking books, at least she thought they were general? “how long have you been cooking for?”

He shrugged. “ It’s okay, it’s just how things are, I guess. “ It was endearing, the way she actually cared whether or not he felt any pain. Did he keep his mind? Max wasn’t entirely sure how to answer this question. “ Depends, I guess. If I were to force a transformation, probably, but I don’t really do that. “ The one time he had forced it, he’d felt in control, but it was almost as if he were a more animalistic version of himself, his actions and desires more wolf-like. “ During the full moon, it’s sort of like I’m there, but… I don’t really have full control or anything. I forget most of it when I wake up the next morning. “ Max nodded at her explanation, trying to imagine getting visions like that. “ So they’re like… vague? Does it show you who dies? “ Her smile was almost contagious to him; it was in his nature to gain happiness merely from making others happy. “ I mean, everything can always use a bit of improvement, but… I’ve never seen anyone do anything like that. “

"i guess? it still sucks that something is part of your making hurts you” was he created in laboratory like her or had he been free once upon a time? it seemed that with each question her curiosity only seemed to grow. “why? does... it hurt more?” she really wanted to see how he would look as a wolf, maybe because in her mind he would be more like a fluffy dog than a menacing creature. would he fur be as soft as the other wolves? a tensing of her fingers at the memory of the feeling of matted fur. had they hurt the werewolf just so they could test her? a shake of her head so she could get rid of the memories “do you think that’s a blessing? forgetting if you did something bad.” but he was a really nice guy, lia doubted he could ever hurt anyone “do you think...” she pursed her lips “i mean, could i maybe see it? i mean, your wolf form?” the brunette noded “they are vague, more like fleeting glances and snaps of videos. and yeah, if the person is alive or dead in my visions, that depends.” she was happy that someone recognized what she had done, make her feel warm and fuzzy inside “thank you! oh, i think it might be a banshee kind of things. like... you shifting?”

Sometimes Emery worried that she was going to rub someone the wrong way, by messing up somehow, and for a moment there was actually terrified that she did. However, when the dark haired girl finally spoke in such a calming, reassuring manner, Emery felt relief wash over her, a smile fluttering onto her lips. “Yeah, I could definitely use some help. You’re… Lia, right?” She asked, remembering the girl’s name and face from when she had come into the tent to find animals who were more than just animals. “Some help would be fantastic, actually. You’re not allergic to anything, are you?” It was the standard question she used, not wanting to be responsible for any allergy attacks that could happen. And while the girl wasn’t human, she still had to check.

she recognized her? lia couldn’t help but smile warmly, she hadn’t thought that someone like emery would remember someone who wasn’t even part animal. but that she had? it made the brunette happy. a nod of her head “yeah. and you’re emery?” she tapped her chest, just where the other’s name tag was “it’s nice to see you again. i didn’t know if any of the humans would  have stayed here.” the coumpound was made for the species, after all. lia shook her head “no, i’m not allergic to anything. and usually i do well with animals? at least the very few i interacted with.”

Rae entered the little store, the small belling causing her to jump slightly. Looking around her eyes widened, it was her first time inside and the charm of the place overwhelmed her, so much so that it took her a moment to realized she had been spoken to. “Oh yeah, I was wondering if you had any books for sketching here, or painting paper.. and, like art supplies?”

lia smiled at the red haired female, supernatural for sure. even if she couldn’t sense she wasn’t human, the gaze of wonder at the little shop was enough to assure her of the fact. “art supplies?” lia frowned, did they have some? “i know we have art books, but i’m not sure about the supplies.” she left her place at the counter, to look through the art section “but if we have it’s probably here?” she took out a thick, black bound book with blank pages “is this one?”