Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“Do not repeat today, all right? I know you mean well - you’re more knightly than many folks my age, honestly - but you need to walk away, sometimes. Seriously! Go tell an adult that a pack of twelve-year-olds are spying on a woman while she is bathing. Boom. Just like that - their credibility goes down the shitter. They can’t concoct their horseshit of a story anymore. And! With an adult on your side, they would not dare risk a fight.</span> Unlike the rest, Maeg actually cares to listen to my side of the story. Her words, stern, yes, but never imperious. Still, I find it difficult to heed such.
<span class="mu-s">“… ugh. But. But what if they are gone by the time I return?”</span> I try to reason with her, but a glare from her shoots that down right away.
<span class="mu-b">“They most certainly won’t. What incentive is there? Assuming they were the perceptive sort, you would just be some kid - some ten years old. Alone. He can’t take a group of five. But.. let’s say they left. Then… yes, that definitely does suck that they got away with it, but, hey, that woman is not leered at anymore. And you kept yourself safe. That is all which matters. Above all else! All... All right?”</span> Her voice trembles all over again as she states her case.
<span class="mu-b">“I’ve seen.. too many. Too, too many! Too many good men intervene in situations of this sort and were maimed or killed or crippled. What… what if you lost? You- you had a pen, yes, but what if they produced a knife? What if they were not as cowardly? What if you fell? Would- would they not stomp on your head, over and over and over again, fuck up your mind for the rest of your life? Or broke your arms, legs so - strongly - it never heals fully? What…… then? I don’t want you to die for shit like this when other.... paths………. could be taken. All…. all right?…..”</span> As words kept being produced, the more shaky her voice becomes, and the more her eyes glisten. Fuck. I really am making her cry, aren’t I? I let <span class="mu-s">her</span> down. I really, really let her down. <span class="mu-i">Her.</span> Of all people. Fuck. I really am such a fuck-up.
<span class="mu-s">“I… I promise. I promise - I won't go there again. I swear on it.”</span> I cling to her, wrapping my arms around her waist as tightly as I could, burying my face into her chest and feeling her breath.
<span class="mu-b">“Ah. Good, good.”</span> Her fingers glide through my hair once more. We remained in silence for quite some time - of which I adored every second of it, but eventually she withdrew from my hug. <span class="mu-b">“… err.. anyway. About the chocolate - you want any.. nutmeg in it? Cinnamon? Long pepper?</span> The ever-considerate Maeg asks for my preference in spices.
<span class="mu-s">“Nah. Just vanilla.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“All right then. I’ll be sure to put in quite the handful~”</span> Her eyebrows grow soft, and a faint smirk emerges as she prepares to leave - for good, this time.
