#missingprson

[philomelia]

cassie has a blanket thrown over her shoulders as @missingprson speaks   (the tent her mother pitched is cold and unforgiving,   so cassie must fill it with anything soft and warm:    she tightens it around her shoulders,   chewing on the inside of her lip as she gathers her thoughts).    she’s never been good at that--    saying what she means,   talking without rambling,   cutting open the truth until it bled grey and barren across her hands.     ‘‘    i don’t know.  a little like a dog.  or what you’d imagine a really evil dog to look like     ...     does that sound familiar at all or am i going crazy?     ’’

[notcoke]

    cont.  from  ...  @missingprson​

    steve  had  been  around  enough  bullshit  to  sense  a  wall  up  between  him  and  barb.  he  supposed  it  had  always  been  there,  and  he  didn't  help  matters  BEFORE  the  events  she  mentioned.  while  he  couldn't  defend  himself  by  saying  he  was  trying  his  very  best  now,  he  wanted  to  learn.  he  just  didn't  know  how  or  where  to  start.  nonconfrontational  where  he  could  manage  it,  all  he  knew  was  how  to  keep  things  cool  and  casual.  when  he  was  met  with  her  gracious  brush  off,  part  of  him  wanted  to  accept  it.  another  part,  one  that  was  becoming  more  prominent  lately,  couldn't  let  it  go.  

    a  voice  in  the  back  of  his  mind  whispered  he  had  no  right  to  push  her,  and  he  knew  he  wouldn't  get  her  to  open  up  if  he  pushed.  so,  he  nodded  although  there  was  a  well  of  emotion  in  his  eyes.  steve  wanted  to  believe  her  when  she  said  she  didn't  blame  him  altogether.  it  would  be  SO  EASY  to  move  on,  but  if  steve  knew  nothing  else,  he  was  sure  that  wasn't  true.  harrington  was  done  taking  it  easy.  "if  there's  anything...  i  know  i'm  not  exactly  the  person  you'd  want  to  turn  to,  but  i...  uh,  i'm  here.  okay?"  

    he  dragged  his  eyes  up  from  his  feet  where  he  tried  looking  for  the  right  words.  steve  looked  at  her  steadily  to  let  her  know  he  was  being  absolutely  genuine.  "and  i'm  sorry.  we  don't  have  to  talk  about  it  anymore  if  you  don't  want  to,  but  i  had  to  say  it  because  i  am.  i'm  really  sorry,  barb."  hands  on  his  hips,  steve  stood  his  ground  with  a  softened  expression.  he  knew  this  wasn't  the  olive  branch  he  was  hoping  for,  but  it  was  a  start.  maybe.