MABEL
The words came out simplistically; promises for the present, though she wasn’t certain how far Wessex wanted the convictions to stretch. For the next year? For decades? For eternity? For oblivion? Until there was something else, something monumental, something blistering, beyond doors and apertures? Given the opportunity, they needed more; like little avaricious, greedy thorns and nettles, brushing up aside strongholds, hitching their ride to the next venue, carving their wherewithal into the Queen’s sides.
Obliged, listening, she bent her head down respectfully, Evelyn taking over the acknowledgments, the thank yous, and then the next plea. “Yes, and after?” She drew a hand upwards to dash away a tear threatening to fall down her cheek, pressing, clasping her palms and fingers together, as if in some mockery of a prayer. Her voice intentionally wavered, yearning to appear strong, but collapsing on its ends, fringes, and boundaries; a little quiver to each segment and line. “What if something like this happens again?” Did they have a notion, a semblance of fear, for the future? It’d be foolish to not carry some sort of apprehension in the back of their minds – but for now she didn’t care about that, committed to her duty, to her sanctity, to whatever requirements needed to be met.
And really, would anything be enough?
Obliged, listening, she bent her head down respectfully, Evelyn taking over the acknowledgments, the thank yous, and then the next plea. “Yes, and after?” She drew a hand upwards to dash away a tear threatening to fall down her cheek, pressing, clasping her palms and fingers together, as if in some mockery of a prayer. Her voice intentionally wavered, yearning to appear strong, but collapsing on its ends, fringes, and boundaries; a little quiver to each segment and line. “What if something like this happens again?” Did they have a notion, a semblance of fear, for the future? It’d be foolish to not carry some sort of apprehension in the back of their minds – but for now she didn’t care about that, committed to her duty, to her sanctity, to whatever requirements needed to be met.
And really, would anything be enough?
I bare my teeth
and stretch my claws out
and stretch my claws out
