"I still know what it's like to live with 'em, Phoebe! We don' bother the Gods here 'cos we know they do bad stuff!" He exploded back at her, frustrated that she couldn't understand. Since his childhood surrounded by superstitious farm folk with whispers and traditions, it had been the common knowledge that the Gods were to be politely asked for help with the crops and that was all. All this...meddling, lately, couldn't be good.
She got up to leave, made him promise not to lie. But it hadn't been a lie, none of it had; one of Emmett's best and worst qualities was that he was always painfully honest. He had no other way to be. He did have feelings for her, new and strong and overwhelming, but they had come at the worst time, gotten tangled up in the inky blackness of his grief and newfound anger.
"Bye, Phoebe. ...Be...be careful." He mumbled out as she left, curling up to hold his knees and stare at the wall. It was lame, not at all what he wanted to say, couldn't sum it all up if he tried. She was gone, just like he'd wanted, but he still felt so alone suddenly, regretted it at the same time as was glad for it. He stayed there on the floor for a long time, studying the way the whiskey dripped down the walls then dried.
Eventually, Emmett fell asleep and did not dream.
She got up to leave, made him promise not to lie. But it hadn't been a lie, none of it had; one of Emmett's best and worst qualities was that he was always painfully honest. He had no other way to be. He did have feelings for her, new and strong and overwhelming, but they had come at the worst time, gotten tangled up in the inky blackness of his grief and newfound anger.
"Bye, Phoebe. ...Be...be careful." He mumbled out as she left, curling up to hold his knees and stare at the wall. It was lame, not at all what he wanted to say, couldn't sum it all up if he tried. She was gone, just like he'd wanted, but he still felt so alone suddenly, regretted it at the same time as was glad for it. He stayed there on the floor for a long time, studying the way the whiskey dripped down the walls then dried.
Eventually, Emmett fell asleep and did not dream.
Emmett
The sun went down beyond yon hill, across the dreary moor
Weary and lame a boy there came up to the farmer's door
Weary and lame a boy there came up to the farmer's door
