Gwendolyn Lockhart

Squib fighting back for Recreancy

[gwenlockedout]

mfletcher​:

“Not taken that way, I mean, shit, if you didn’t chose yourself over someone else, I might be a little worried about ya,” Fletch stated with a shrug, “That’s what everyone is supposed to do, right? Though, I am glad to hear you wouldn’t be trying to get me into trouble.” He hummed a little, stretching as he leaned back and held onto the counter slightly.

“I’m trying to be a good boy anyway,” He teased lightly then, “So I think I can get around the disappointed looks, at least.” He playfully winked at her, before letting out a loud sigh and shaking his head. “Nah, I’m good,” He added, “Nothing else that I can think of, unless you wanna escort me home with all this?” He smirked again, chuckling to himself.

.

Gwen rolled her eyes, but she offered him a slight smile. “I think you can find your way home jus fine, Fletcher. Have a good day.” She turned and pulled out her inventory sheet. As entertaining as this conversation had been, Gwen knew she still had work to do.

[End]

[gwenlockedout]

regulus-blacked​:

Regulus knew that look and while he had once seen it as a person sign of his failure, now he reveled in it for it was its own silent reward. So many people had an idea on what it meant for Regulus to be a Black, a Slytherin, a once-Death Eater. That expression to him usually conveyed success in imparting what those titles and obligations meant. It was its own merit of success. Perhaps that meant the conversation would be able to proceed without the usual level of stupidity and social convention. Now was not the time for them.

That hope was immediately discarded. “I do not need any such thing,” he declared, one eyebrow slowly raising to newfound heights. “I’ve made it this far, have I not? It is better than some people and despite all attempts to prove to the contrary, I am doing remarkably well. You,” he fixed her with a look, “can therefore rest assured that I am fine.” He paused for a moment. “Stupidity is always involved, you know. I mean, you’re talking to me now. Surely that is not the smartest choice you could have made.”

“What I need…” He laughed as the words trailed off, the sound cold and dry and harsh. “I assure you that you cannot replace my leg.” That was perhaps a bit too harsh for someone who was attempting to extend a helping hand, though Regulus hadn’t asked for it. Taking a breath and biting back the sarcasm, he leveled himself again. “Basic pain potions stopped working within the first week,” he shortly declared. “So save them for someone that needs them. Potion ingredients should be fine, but the ones for the potions that work are almost certainly illegal. Is that an issue?”

.

Gwen arched a brow as she listened to him go on, insulting her for having the audacity to offer this arrangement. “So it’s stupid of me to have offered my services?” she asked in summary, rhetorical but sure he would have a snarky response back regardless. Gwen should have known better when she started this conversation. His type of wix always seemed to be like this. While she was sure they’d both balk at the comparison, she couldn’t help think of James Potter. Both pureblood men seemed convinced their life experience made their opinions expert, made their preferences automatically correct, and scoffed at anyone who wasn’t immediately on the same page. She supposed if there was one positive aspect to Regulus, it was that he hadn’t pretended to be charming and easygoing until challenged in the slightest. No, in its own way, she supposed his immediate challenge regardless held a shred of fresh air.

That hint of charitable opinion vanished as his next words hit her across the face. Gwen flinched. No, she couldn’t replace a leg. If healers with magic couldn’t do something, of course he’d feel the need to rub in that she couldn’t do anything close.

“I can find you some things of that nature,” she said coldly. It would be easier to focus on just that. “I may need to be careful of quantities to avoid arousing suspicion, but I can get you some things. Depending on how strong the sanctions and bans are, there are things I can’t get.” Gwen normally didn’t like to disclose related to business, but if he was going to use implication to throw her lack of ability at her, she had nothing to lose. “Many dealers of that nature won’t sell to me. They won’t even meet. I don’t have magic, so I’m not worth their time.” She didn’t offer a challenge, but she let her words hang there. Let him agree. She’d walk away right now.

[gwenlockedout]

silenceisoverrated​:

Amelia & @gwenlockedout​ July 5, 1984 - Diagon Alley

It was one of those evenings where Amelia couldn’t stay still. Being cooped up in her flat wasn’t working so her next best option was wandering and finishing up the last couple of errands she needed to run for the day. She got to Flourish and Blotts ten minutes before closing. An apologetic look was thrown the cashier’s way and was relieved to not be the only other customer in the place.

Locating the book proved easier than expected, if only because she hadn’t expected it to be in the exact same location it was the last time she was there. Amelia handed over the change for the book and murmured a thank you. Departing from the shop was marked by her pocketing the book and tugging her cloak closer around her. She made it several paces before accidentally brushing shoulders with someone.

Worry creased over her features and the apology flew from her lips with minimal thought until she gave a proper glance at who she was speaking to, looking relieved to have bumped into a familiar face. “I am so sorry,” Amelia murmured and had been about to continue until she locked eyes with Gwen. A small smile replaced the wary look she used. The look grew when she spoke again. “Okay, still sorry but it’s good to see you.”

.

Gwen often tried to keep her eye on any potion boiling, but she’d made this particularly cleaning brew what felt like a million times since opening the store. She knew it would need to simmer all night. Since she’d go to bed and leave it unwatched later anyway, Gwen didn’t feel too bad about leaving it on low. Cauldron safety and blah blah blah, but she’d seen the way some other wix treated their cauldrons. She wasn’t worried.

Instead she grabbed her grocery list to pop by to her favorite little shop down one of the side streets. As Gwen walked, she scanned it over, trying to determine if she’d missed adding anything she needed. She vaguely noticed someone walking toward her and thought she was far enough over, but apparently that wasn’t the case as their shoulders bumped.

She took in the apology as she looked up and recognized Amelia. They knew each other from the Order, of course, but she was also one of those people Gwen never quite knew what to do with because they should have been in school together. Would have been, if things had been different.

“Hello,” she said back. It probably would have been most polite to point out they were equally at fault, but it didn’t really matter and Amelia seemed content to claim their run-in. “Out for pressing necessities?” she asked, nodding to the book in Amelia’s hand. As she spoke, she tucked her list back in her pocket. 

[gwenlockedout]

mfletcher​:

She narrowed her eyes, and Fletch couldn’t help the way his smirk widened even more. Perhaps it was a little rude to be so annoying to her, but wasn’t there truth in the fact that he only really annoyed people he liked to be around? Therefore she should take it as a compliment, shouldn’t she? Either way, her tone was a bit more final than before, and Fletch just let out a slightly loud, sad sigh at hearing it. Fine. He’d behave for now.

He raised his eyebrows as she leaned in then, listening to her words, and a grin slowly started appearing on her face again. If she truly thought that going to Moody about him would do anything, then he welcomed the challenge. “Thing is though, even though that’d maybe help you get away from whatever it is, Moody happens to like me,” He stated simply, shrugging and leaning back from the counter, “Gotten me outta more scrapes than I can count, and would do it again. I can handle the disappointed looks he gives me.”

.

Gwen shrugged. “I didn’t say I’d be trying to get you in trouble. If he likes you, then I suppose it won’t matter if I’m choosing me over you. Again, nothing personal. Simply a fact of life.” She mentally considered the list of people she’d put above herself in the kind of situation he’d proposed. It was small. Very small. Peter. Lily. Was there anyone else? Perhaps a couple people in the right situation, but they might have been it as a default. Gwen wasn’t sure if it was a sign she needed more friends or that they’d earned more than she deserved. Regardless, Fletcher certainly wasn’t at the top. 

“Did you need anything else?” she asked. “I’m happy to make a list that you can check on later.” 

[gwenlockedout]

speakablyundone​:

She wasn’t totally immune to that chilling smile, but Robyn was familiar enough with the sort to be able to forge forward without being completely put off. “A majority doesn’t make it an intelligent opinion.” Robyn paused for a moment, lips curling in a considering frown as she cocked her head to the side. “In fact, I think it is likely to make it an increasingly stupid opinion.”

The frown wavered as her lips pursed for a second before calm reaffirmed itself as Robyn pointed out, “Neither can the majority of the wixen population. Nor plenty of people in the Order, for that matter.” Really, that the Patronus Charm, a highly advanced, complicated spell, was the only defense against Creatures that had been pointedly weaponized against wix and where now breaking free of the boundaries placed on them—well, it was worrisome and ridiculous. “I didn’t mean a Patronus when I said defense mechanism. If there aren’t other options,” which she wasn’t convinced there weren’t, yet,”then we ought to make one. Or several.”

The very Robyn-ish attempt to offer help and connection hung between them, earnestness making her eyes bright.

Gwen tried not to smile, but perhaps Robin had a point. Still, majority opinion had done a lot of ruling in her life. Stupid didn’t mean it didn’t happen. Stupid just meant all too often unfortunately. “You may have a point,” she conceded, hoping the acknowledgement would appease Robin.

Gwen had heard the patronus was tricky magic, but that didn’t mean much to her. It all sounded complicated. What was one more spell? She closed her eyes, letting in a deep breath through her nose before opening them again to look at Robyn. “You shouldn’t joke about things like that,” she said, voice flat. “It’s one thing to tell me others can’t do it because it’s hard. It’s quite another to try and dangle some false hope in front of me. There is nothing else. There’s never been anything else. You can’t make a promise like that. It’s not attainable.”

She turned away, not even caring that she was technically walking away from a customer at the counter. Robyn had already payed. She was technically done. Gwen walked right past her to start straightening a shelf as if she wasn’t there. Still, she added, “I’m sure this is funny. It always is.”

[gwenlockedout]

regulus-blacked​:

Ah, Regulus thought, fingers still itching to return to their book. Someone with the ability to snap back. Wonderful. Too often the members of the Order seemed either unwilling or incapable of continuing a conversation on the terms Regulus had presented them with. This had taken the form of grave insult over a snapped retort hastily interpreted as an insult. Regulus just didn’t know if the witch across from him had taken it that way or if she would have been a Slytherin like him if she had had an ounce of magic in her.

It would be a mystery for the ages, but it did at least pull his focus more toward the conversation and he did perhaps the greatest favor to her that he was able to offer: he decided to treat her like a Slytherin.

“Your powers of observation astound me, Lockhart, truly. You’ve dashed my hopes for the weekend, I hope you know. How ever will I go about my shopping and tea parties with the sudden realization that I am still legally dead? Woe,” he declared flatly, one eyebrow cocked. “Woe is me and blessed are you, my savior from my own stupidity.”

His cane hit the ground with a thunk. “You’re right though, as I’m sure you managed to judge. Don’t gloat about it or I’ll hex you. I am and always will be an enjoyer of the illegal and suspicious. Anything like that I can get my hands on is always welcome. If you are able to obtain such things, then yes, Lockhart, the inconvenience of this entire mess may yet prove beneficial. I am admittedly a bit light of galleons at the moment, but I have a contact in Gringotts only too happy to assist me when I need a few more. What were you thinking of?”

.

As Regulus started talking, Gwen pressed her lips together in a thin line, one brow arching automatically. She wasn’t particularly worried about looking offended when he seemed so unconcerned about whether he might offend. The tone she’d heard his name whispered in suddenly made a lot of sense. 

“You probably do need saving from yourself,” Gwen said, letting the sarcasm slip back into her voice. “I’m not sure stupidity is the issue, but I will try.”

Her eyes darted down as he hit the cane to the ground before returning to his face. Don’t gloat. Until his attitude had come into play, Gwen wouldn’t have wanted to at all. Still, she decided to hold her tongue. If he was willing to acknowledge that he wanted her help, it wouldn’t do to drive him away. He didn’t need any help on that front apparently.

Gwen shrugged instead. “I suppose that depends on what you need,” she said. “The majority of my stock is potions ingredients, but I sell some potions too. Household basics, a couple simple pain potions.” She didn’t know if those would be helpful to him, but it seemed relevant to bring up. “I can make more, as well. Just because I don’t stock it in the shop doesn’t mean I can’t make it for people around here. I have before.” Not often, but she had done it.

[gwenlockedout]

mfletcher​:

Fletch blinked, eyebrows raising at Gwen’s deadpan words, before he let out a laugh. “No?” He asked, purposefully leaning further against the counter now, watching her closely. He playfully did a once over, hoping that she’d note it, and just generally trying to be an annoyance at this point. He paused, before a smirk crossed his face and he shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m pretty good at running away from things,” He stated innocently, “that’s a running kind, isn’t it?” He watched her as she moved to the display, snorting out another laugh. “I’m not planning on doing anything illegal! I mean, not today at least, but you just asked about today. I was hoping to get some good food, or maybe a drink or something.” He shrugged his shoulders, before pausing and adding, “You’d really turn me in if I said anything, would you?”

.

Gwen narrowed her eyes at his little display. If that delightedly little look on his face was any indication, he was hoping for a reaction, so she tried not to give him anything further. “No,” she simply agreed. Her tone wasn’t mean, but Gwen hoped he’d realize she wasn’t interested in playing whatever little game this was.

“I suppose that’s good,” she eventually said. As far as Gwen understood it, Fletcher did a fair amount that wasn’t strictly speaking legal, but if he wanted to pretend at innocence, she supposed that was his prerogative. Still, when he asked about turning him in, Gwen leaned on the counter herself, moving closer to him. “If it’s a matter of telling the truth and saving my ass or lying and covering yours? I’m going to pick me every time.” She nodded, her eyes wide to throw that same fake innocence back at him. “I would turn you into Moody if he asked in a heartbeat, be that as Ministry or Order. Let him play disappointed bad cop with you or whatever he does.”

[gwenlockedout]

ofdorkass​:

Dorcas knew that she was supposed to be brave. She was a Hit Wix. She was supposed to be at the top level. In charge of keeping people safe. But there was only so much she could take. And it was slowly beginning to break her. There was too much death. Too much injury. She had no idea if she’d wake up the next day, or if she did, who wouldn’t. She kept a lot of it to herself. But it was eating her from the inside. But she put on a good front. She was trained to do exactly that.

“Yeah….” She mused, taking another bite of her sandwich. At least then she could busy herself eating for a few seconds, and not have to talk about her job. “Depends how one defines exciting.” It was busy, but she didn’t know how exciting it was. Her entire life revolved around catching bad guys. She never really had a break from it, and it was probably why she was so determined that they would win. Then she could sit down and actually relax. “But I do love it. Even if the Ministry is fucking corrupt” She’d wanted to make it better but felt like she was getting nowhere. It was frustrating. “What do you do?”

.

Gwen raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask for further prompting about how Dorcas defined exciting. It seemed like something she didn’t necessarily want to focus on, so Gwen just shrugged and returned to her sandwich. She swallowed hard as the other spoke so openly in disdain for the ministry. Clearly no one here had faith in the ministry, but it was still a little off-balance to hear people who worked there say it so plainly. 

“Me?” she asked. “Hardly exciting by comparison, but it’s good work.” Most of the time. “I run an apothecary. It’s steady enough.” Less so now that her squib status was public knowledge, but Gwen made enough to pay the employees. That was the important part. Goodness knows that other jobs that would allow them to drop everything for the Order were few and far between.

[gwenlockedout]

speakablyundone​:

“A bit tired,” she said honestly, not in the least bit bothered by that hesitant reservation. Honestly, she barely noticed it, too fixated on making sure the woman was okay from the weekend to recognize the potential discomfort in this current moment. “Those sorts always take a lot out of anyone, and having to deal with so many of them.”

Let Gwen decide if ‘those sorts’ were wix or Dementors.

A beat of quiet started to stretch, teetering on the edge of awkward before Robyn said abruptly, “I disagree with Tonks, by the way. Andromeda, that is. I’m not concerned about your safety in the field. In general. I suppose if they prove to be an ongoing issue,” her lips tugged in a frown; she very much expected them to continue to be. A gaggle of rogue Dementors wasn’t simply going to go away. “—some defensive mechanism you can use should be developed, but that’s hardly insurmountable. Any of the other scenarios encountered of the weekend, and I’m certain you would have been perfectly fine.”

Gwen nodded, keeping her face neutral as she listened to Robyn talk. Obviously dementors took a lot out of people, but Gwen felt like there was another edge to it, something else she was supposed to imply. Was she talking about the Order? About wix in general? Robyn was both of those things, and Gwen was the former. She didn’t quite know what to do with it.

Any considerations she was making about it froze as Robyn brought up Andromeda. After Gwen had practically dragged her through the floo to get her safely back to the Prewett Estate after her own magic had made her unable to function, and yet Gwen’s lack of magic was the sole problem. Andromeda had used the dementors as proof she was helpless, ignoring what Gwen had done, not just in preparation and in the field but to her personally. Part of her wondered if she’d do it again, knowing what she did now. Would she be petty enough to say, Sorry, I’m too useless to do anything. Guess I better just stay with the family and let you risk bleeding out if you can’t get yourself back in time. She didn’t think so. But it had crossed her mind.

She didn’t know that she believed she would have been fine with any situation--fiendfyre scared the shit out of her--but Gwen offered as warm a smile she could at the idea. It was still rather icy. “Yes, well, clearly that isn’t the majority opinion. I appreciate the sentiment, I suppose. Besides, you can say defense mechanism like there’s any options to make me feel better, but we both know squibs can’t produce a patronus. Thanks, though.” 

[gwenlockedout]

bmfletcher​:

“Perfect, you’re awesome,” Fletch chirped out, following after her to the counter and grinning at the small smile he got. He rocked back and forth on his heels, not impatient, but just unable to stand still as he waited for her to add up all of his purchases. He almost felt bad about having brought such a list in, for her to have to add it all up, but the other half was just impressed that she could do it that easily. Besides, wasn’t this what she had her shop for?

He dug in his back to get his money out, counting it and putting it on the counter for her, making sure he had everything correct. He watched her as she wrapped up the packages, a smirk crossing his face and he leaned on the counter, playfully raising an eyebrow. “You almost hate to ask, huh? Are you so bored in here that you’re willing to go run off on an adventure with me, if I’m doing something exciting?” He teased playfully, “Is that why you want to know what I’m planning on doing?”

.

Gwen finished his transaction, her lips pressing together as he asked questions right back. She didn’t get Mundungus Fletcher. This had been a totally normal conversation where everything had seemed pretty standard. And now... Was he flirting with her/ Gwen shifted on her feet. He probably didn’t actually mean it. From what she could tell, he was an incorrigible flirt who would smile at anything that stopped and looked at him for more than two seconds. 

“I was trying to be polite, but I’m going to be honest.” Gwen kept her voice deadpan. “You don’t exactly strike me as the running kind, Fletcher.” 

She turned away from him, tidying the display on the counter. “I suspect it’s probably for the best if you don’t answer anyway. I don’t need to know anything incriminating, after all.”

[gwenlockedout]

ofdorkass​:

Dorcas hadn’t realised how hungry she actually was until she started to eat. And come to think of it she couldn’t actually remember the last time she’d had something to eat. So she was pretty grateful that Gwen had suggested it, since she probably wouldn’t have said. “Yeah…. It was not fun.” And if she saw another bee it would be too soon. She didn’t really know how to process the fire, and was just glad that they’d managed to protect the muggles. “Oh fuck. That does not sound fun either. Sorry, but I’d take fiendfyre over dementors every day.” And that was coming from a hit witch. She really could no stand Dementors. It was worrying though. Did the ministry lose power over the Dementors? 

“Oh… yeah.” She didn’t talk about her job too much. Most people knew what she did anyway. “I’m a Hit Witch.” And she did love her job, despite all the shit the ministry dealt her with. But she was determined to make that better. It was the only reason she was actually still there after all. “So you’d think that i was actually ready for some of this stuff.”

.

Gwen grimaced as she took another bite. If the witch in front of her also didn’t want anything to do with dementors, it made her feel a little bit better about her own instincts on the situation. It wasn’t just her being unable to handle them; people who theoretically should be better prepared didn’t want to either.

Her mouth fell open without meaning to as Dorcas said she was a hit witch. Oh. Of course. Naturally. Because nothing made Gwen squirm like all the people around here who held so much power in their jobs. Casual success all around, and she tried not to think about it too closely most of the time. “Wow,” she eventually said. “I’m sure that’s quite exciting most days.” Certainly more exciting than sitting around a shop trying to convince people that just because she couldn’t throw ingredients across the room with a stick didn’t mean she was incompetent about their uses.

[bakerolivias-archived-deactivat]

BOOKS READ IN 2022: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 

“Don’t laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic romances are hidden away in the hearts that beat so quietly under the sober gowns, and many silent sacrifices of youth, health, ambition, love itself, make the faded faces beautiful in God’s sight. Even the sad, sour sisters should be kindly dealt with, because they have missed the sweetest part of life, if for no other reason.”

[gwenlockedout]

regulus-blacked​:

Silence was an increasing rare commodity in this crumbling estate, or so Regulus believed he was slowly discovering. It was starting to seem that he would require either a very potent  disillusionment charm to keep everyone in this bloody place from seeing him as he tried to work or he was going to need to murder someone to really send the message home. The charm seemed like less work and less like he was going to disrupt whatever tentative progress he’d made lately with that apparently reality-shattering announcement he’d made.

But Merlin, if he couldn’t get through this book in a timely manner, someone was going to bleed.

The individual in question seemed about as comfortable as talking to him as he was talking to her. He’d heard of her before, of course. Gwen’s story had been one that made its way up to his portion of society like a modern fairy-tale, the kind that promised bad dreams and unwelcome lessons. He’d never spoken to her before though, her or her family. It simply didn’t seem relevant or worth the effort.

That was a choice that was coming back to bite him now. Lacking in any real information on the witch woman in front of him, Regulus was forced to play nice until there was something he could use to get her away and so he could finish reading for once. “Miss Lockhart,” he nodded, snapping the book shut with a degree of finality that managed to perfectly convey just how unwelcome he found this interruption. “With qualifications such as that, how could I refuse? Are you here because you know I’m clever and want my help, or are you here because you expect me to need your products?”

.

Gwen nearly took a step back from the vitriol of his tone. She got the feeling it wasn’t personal and yet it was. It always was. Back stiffening, she drew herself up to her full height and leveled him with a neutral look. It was the best she could do to avoid glaring at him at the moment. With qualifications such as that. He knew. He had to know. Just another pureblood with his nose in the air because he was clearly above her. She’d spent her whole life trying to please them, and at this point, she was done.

But she couldn’t go off on him, not when she’d started the conversation. To avoid it, she answered flatly, “I did think my shop could be of service, yes. You’re not exactly someone who can wander around Diagon Alley at leisure at the moment, and you seem like the sort to need things he’d rather not have the ministry looking at too closely.” There, let that serve as close an insult as she dared make without actually insulting him. “If I’ve judged wrong and you’re totally able to handle everything on your own, then fine, ignore me and forget I asked.” He’d hardly be the first.

Still, Gwen found herself unable to resist adding, “I’m terribly sorry wanting to help when you’ve joined a new organization is clearly an inconvenience to you.” She kept her tone level, her face neutral, and she was almost proud of herself for it. But then again, he was no James Potter. She wouldn’t let herself be riled so easily.

[houseofabrasax]

[gwenlockedout]

.

[gwenlockedout]

speakablyundone​:

Robyn Lynch didn’t haggle. Or at least, she didn’t haggle for the sake of a penny pinched. Presented with a reasonable enough price, she’d take it, even if there might be some wiggle room. A few knuts was hardly going to make a difference to her vault balance.

With a nod, she reached into her bag and found her wallet, fishing out two galleons. Sliding them across the counter, she stood at ease as she waited for the woman to wrap up the purchase. She looked around the shop, taking in the shelves of ingredients as well as confirming that the place was empty, at least within audible distance.

“And how are you fairing, after this weekend’s excitement?” Said so casually, she could have been talking about anything. A house party, helping a friend move, a particularly long session of brewing that carried on through the night. The only people who might guess ‘unexpected battle with a bunch of escaped Dementors’ were ones who either needed their head checked or were already in the know.

(Two groups with an alarming amount of overlap as it was.)

Gwen had figured Lynch would take her roots and go, so she paused herself, still behind the counter as the other looked around. Ah, this was about to become a larger conversation then. She wasn’t here as just a customer but as an Order member. Gwen supposed she should be pleased a little shopping had happened to then.

“I’m fine,” she said, reservation clear in her voice. She’d discussed it directly with very few people and certainly hadn’t expected Robin to be someone asking her about it. She had never struck Gwen as the cuddly type, so Gwen couldn’t help her wariness as she wondered where this was really going. “Yourself?” It was only polite to ask in return, even if it felt like a bit of a false pleasantry as it was. She didn’t know whether she could truly trust where things were going yet.

[gwenlockedout]

♫ for all three?

Peter: He was just an employee and then a fellow Order member originally, and Gwen can't even pinpoint where that changed. She's become fiercely protective of him in the years since and thinks it's a tragedy that Peter so rarely gets to win. He's been winning lately, though, and Gwen dares anyone to try and stop him. The situation is so precarious. She'd hate to see him fall.

Fletch: Gwen doesn't fully understand Fletch, but the parts of him she does look all too familiar: survival instincts and a desire to thrive despite it all. She respects the hell out of him for it, even if she won't tell him that.

Glenda: She's a pretty, perfect little thing, isn't she? Everything about Glenda looks like a happy life, but Gwen wonders what all lurks below that surface. She seems to understand the system perfectly, even as she bucks it from within, a system Gwen is envious of her ability to navigate.