Pictures in the Dark

[formidable]

General PSL/FUNBOX post for aurajen and formidable. Lots of OC shenanigans. ➢ Cool Mood Music No. 1 ➤ Cool Mood Music No. 2

Comments

[oren]

Doesn't want you alone.

[dilatory]

[Oh, Iona...

Michael fidgets with the corner of the quilt.]

I live alone; sleeping off too much to drink in my own bed isn't really something she needs to worry about.

[oren]

Worries anyway.

She's like that.

[dilatory]

Yeah, I know. [It's breathed to himself, with an odd mix of both exasperation and fondness. The next is louder, and meant for Oren:]

She has her own share of worries, and though I appreciate it, I don't want to add to them. But I guess I should tell her that myself.

[oren]

...

[Oren doesn't reply at first since he's thinking of Iona and the state of her rather new friendship with Michael. It's still at a relatively early stage and already the witch shows her weakness of attachment, one she is strangely not ashamed of. But it's not his job to referee that. She and Michael can grow on their own into this.

Humans were adaptable like that.]

Good idea. She goes overboard.

[dilatory]

Maybe, but I think that's why everyone likes her so much.

[oren]

Confuses some people too.

Confuses you?

[dilatory]

Sometimes.

[He exhales, an almost sigh, then begins to fold the quilt he had been given. When he finishes, he sets it next to him on the sofa, and runs a hand over it to straighten out any stray creases.]

I suppose less "confused" and more wondering at how she does it. I'd be stretched too thin, in her place.

[oren]

Sense of purpose. Feels like she's supposed to.

Wants a lot. Can't have everything.

[dilatory]

[He's silent for a moment.]

I guess it's a more charitable goal than most people in the world have. It could be worse.

[Michael, always trying to parse out the good in something, especially if that something is a friend.]

[oren]

Could be.

In the end, only human.

[dilatory]

And still learning and growing. [Same applies to him.]