Harper
Anything beautiful, people want to break
And you are beautiful, I'm afraid
And you are beautiful, I'm afraid
Jude has returned to the Greatwood and his mother's arms for the next few weeks, and Edmund - in his new apartment now - isn't due to visit today. The house is empty, and Harper is left with his duties completed and nothing left to do but sit with his thoughts.
Or with something else.
Harper doesn't drink. He simply doesn't. But he had given in once already during LongNight, and though he'd irritated Melita a little bit, the Honeybee had guided him through getting his feelings out until the worst of it had passed. And here, in the dark of the empty house, there's nobody to hurt.
Nobody but himself.
Time stops having meaning with enough liquor, and soon he has his head buried in his arms at the kitchen table, staring past the edge of it down at his shoes while his hands grip his dark curls hard enough to hurt. The little shocks of it help - or so he thinks. Helps with what he's not sure. Punishing himself, maybe. But it doesn't matter because the rest of the hurt is dulled now, and it's nice to only feel physical pain for a moment.
Or with something else.
Harper doesn't drink. He simply doesn't. But he had given in once already during LongNight, and though he'd irritated Melita a little bit, the Honeybee had guided him through getting his feelings out until the worst of it had passed. And here, in the dark of the empty house, there's nobody to hurt.
Nobody but himself.
Time stops having meaning with enough liquor, and soon he has his head buried in his arms at the kitchen table, staring past the edge of it down at his shoes while his hands grip his dark curls hard enough to hurt. The little shocks of it help - or so he thinks. Helps with what he's not sure. Punishing himself, maybe. But it doesn't matter because the rest of the hurt is dulled now, and it's nice to only feel physical pain for a moment.
But I would love you in any form you take
