Harper
Harper's laugh is a bitter thing, and he wishes he'd had the foresight to clamp his mouth shut before it escaped. She isn't wrong to have come to such a conclusion for herself; she has simply traipsed over the deepest wound he has, slicing neatly through his chest. "I disagree. The sentiment is what matters to me; that someone would try to keep their promise, even if other things break it for them." His voice is a dark, gruff thing, a sharp departure from his normal tone. It's not her fault. It's not her. But it hurts like coals burning in his chest, and he can't help it.
"Love isn't a cage when you do it right. It's a hand in yours; one that pulls you onto the right path when you stray, or squeezes through the hard parts and the pain. Someone to tug you forward when you can't take another step on your own, or remind you to slow down when you're being too brash." Harper's eyes are far-away on the sky, its shade reflected in his irises as he waxes stupidly over something he's never been allowed to keep. But for all he resents that sometimes, he doesn't regret having loved the people he did. Even if they were the ones that hurt him. "Promises are broken, sure. But I've stopped putting my heart on the line for people who won't even try." The poison comes fast and biting on the wake of such tenderness, the rattle of a snake's tail warning people away so that he isn't forced to defend himself.
Then he sighs and slumps back against the door, and gives Maea one more gentle squeeze where he still holds her before loosening his grip slightly; enough to allow her to move away without making it seem like she has to hurt his feelings or shove him away. She doesn't like cages. Harper reminds himself of it sharply, feeling regretful for his own outburst. "Sorry. I didn't mean to..." but there's no adequate explanation, so Harper recedes into himself, expression distant but focused between his knees now. He shouldn't have hoped. He shouldn't have even wondered...no. There's no room for doubts. The life he is currently living is the only one that ensures he won't be hurt anymore, even if it means sacrificing all other goals and desires.
"Love isn't a cage when you do it right. It's a hand in yours; one that pulls you onto the right path when you stray, or squeezes through the hard parts and the pain. Someone to tug you forward when you can't take another step on your own, or remind you to slow down when you're being too brash." Harper's eyes are far-away on the sky, its shade reflected in his irises as he waxes stupidly over something he's never been allowed to keep. But for all he resents that sometimes, he doesn't regret having loved the people he did. Even if they were the ones that hurt him. "Promises are broken, sure. But I've stopped putting my heart on the line for people who won't even try." The poison comes fast and biting on the wake of such tenderness, the rattle of a snake's tail warning people away so that he isn't forced to defend himself.
Then he sighs and slumps back against the door, and gives Maea one more gentle squeeze where he still holds her before loosening his grip slightly; enough to allow her to move away without making it seem like she has to hurt his feelings or shove him away. She doesn't like cages. Harper reminds himself of it sharply, feeling regretful for his own outburst. "Sorry. I didn't mean to..." but there's no adequate explanation, so Harper recedes into himself, expression distant but focused between his knees now. He shouldn't have hoped. He shouldn't have even wondered...no. There's no room for doubts. The life he is currently living is the only one that ensures he won't be hurt anymore, even if it means sacrificing all other goals and desires.
I cut my teeth on second-hand sentiments
you can't trust a thing I say
you can't trust a thing I say
