❛ intelligence has nothing to d o with
virtue. the term IQ was invented to
prevent immigrants from entering
the United States in the 1900s
during WWI. it was also for the
military — to get the best soldiers —
see, it didn’t even exist until like a
hundred years ago !
& intelligence has nothing to do
with wisdom, either. in my opinion,
wisdom is empirical & you, scott
mccall, are more than qualified to
be a leader. your virtue is the
reason why. ❜
a small, reassuring smile filters onto her features
as a hand reaches out to offer a consoling touch.
lithe fingers wrap around his palm, encasing his
hand in a warm embrace. an echo of the past
surfaces as the gesture plays out, reminding her
of a time when peace was a rarity & the power
of touch had been the only thing that’d kept
them sane. she wondered if he remembered, too
— the moment they’d shared.
❛ i don’t think any of us have. i was in
denial for a while ; i refused to accept
that she was gone. i spent weeks
trying to find ways to bring her back…
i mean, peter did it — i think… you
have to let yourself grieve before you
can even attempt to be normal. this ?
whatever you’re doing — it’s not good.
i know it hurts, but it’s okay. you’re
allowed to not be okay. & if you ever
need someone, i’m here. ❜
silence ensues, followed by a harsh swallow.
❛ — i couldn’t save her. i couldn’t save
a lot of people. what good is a banshee
when she can’t even save people ?
i can learn how to defend myself, but i
don’t have people who can teach me
about my powers. i’m basically alone.
my grandma’s dead & meredith isn’t of
any help. it’s all hopeless. ❜
❛ ...thanks. for the history lesson, and,
uh, everything else. sorry, i don't really—
know what to say except for thank you.
not just for saying all that, but for being
here, for trusting me. i'm going to keep
you and everyone else safe, i promise. ❜
being complimented was a weird experience, especially
from LYDIA MARTIN, whom he had always seen as high-
maintenance and untouchable. but that was back then was
it not? when he was just some loser no one cared for and
she was the queen bee of their school. now, things were
different. they were different.
❛ you did? if i had known you were trying to
bring her back, i might've stopped being
a zombie to help you out. i guess things
have been t o o m u c h for me to really
try and...grieve. then there was mom—
i didn't want her to get worried because
of me. but i think i'm getting better now
that i actually have time to breathe. ❜
it was strange how easy this felt. previously it would hurt
to even speak allison's name, the hole inside him nearly
swallowing him whole. but now it was EASY to focus on
the hand encasing his own, the neat nails and soft skin;
the words he understood as if they had felt his lips.
❛ we couldn't save her. but—i don't think
she'd want us to be sad over that. i've
been thinking more about saving others,
those who need help. who can't...save
themselves. you've just found out that
you're a banshee, so, it's okay. really.
plus, you're lydia martin. you don't need
anyone to mentor you. you'll figure it out;
you always do. and the rest of us, we're
going to back you up whenever you need
us. you're not alone. you've never been. ❜
theartofmadeline
romaincrisis
