Interesting

[the_gardens_apple]

My dear, you've been my voice for several years now. I do not understand how this is different.

Your weekend with your friend was certainly entertaining, despite the circumstances surrounding it.

Take your time and breathe, young one.

Although, I must admit the title is amusing. Michael will no doubt be irritated and my husband, Lucifer, will be laughing about it. What Raphael and Gabriel do will be interesting to see.

Now, as you have football today, and I have several Incubi and Succubi that require my personal attention, not to mention my sons needing me to do various things - and no doubt Lucifer will be called out to the office as well - and the vineyard needing me to actually be the business woman I pretend to be, I would suggest that you leave this be and return to your assigned tasks today.

I know, you are bothered by more than you allow out, but... well, that is the way with all, isn't it?

Wait, what's a 'Sterek'?

... Never mind. Pay attention to your work, writer, and not to the shiny new thing to have tickled your fancy. Now, to work for both of us.

Comments

[let_me_loose]

What else can you expect of mortals?

[the_gardens_apple]

I'm very fond of mortals. At least they keep time interesting.

[let_me_loose]

Yet they mirror one another. Their deaths are the only aspect that interests me.

[the_gardens_apple]

Only their deaths? A dreary way to look at humanity is it not?

[let_me_loose]

One shouldn't expect different from me.

[the_gardens_apple]

I'm afraid you have the advantage. I am unfamiliar with the visage you wear.

[let_me_loose]

If I'm not mistaken, you are younger than I am. My name is Hades.

[the_gardens_apple]

[A warm smile.]

My name is Misa. It is nice to meet you.

[She leaves the age thing alone because, well, no she's older but it's nice to be thought of as younger.]

[onlyheremains]

They don't know when to leave well enough alone.

[It's almost - almost - hesitant. Drawing attention is generally a bad thing, but Max has learned it's generally male attention he needs to avoid.]

[the_gardens_apple]

[She settles on the ground next to him, her arms wrapped around her knees, making her look so much younger than she is - honestly, were it not for the curves she had, she could pass for twelve sometimes. There's a reason she plays up her assets.]

Mine does not seem particularly vindictive.

[onlyheremains]

[Max watches, wary, guarded. They didn't match his actual age, and they certainly didn't match the age he appeared to be, once with stunted growth was factored in.]

Do they have to?

[the_gardens_apple]

They can be. My writer has problems for me to get through, but I knew long ago they were coming.

[Not even from foresight, just from knowledge of life.

She tilts her head at him, studying silently for a moment. Then, suddenly, there are two apples in her hands. She offers him one.]

[onlyheremains]

He doesn't tell me. Just that it won't be as bad.

[Though he's not sure he trusts that.

His eyes flick from her hands to her face. Neither trusting nor distrusting, but searching.]

For what?

[the_gardens_apple]

I dislike eating alone.

[She takes a bite of her apple. Apples are the one food she can conjure on command without thought. A long ago joke that still amuses her from time to time.]

I'm Misa Almassy.

[onlyheremains]

[She doesn't read, at least to him, to be lying, so he reaches over to take it, a tiny thin blade appearing from inside a sleeve, as Max started carefully cutting slices from the apple. Small slivers, a bite at a time, chewing too quickly, not even tasting, before swallowing. And always keeping his arm between himself and the woman.]

Max Eisenhardt.

[the_gardens_apple]

[She watches him, almost with fascination, chewing her own apple slowly.]

It's nice to meet you, Max. Would you care for more?

[onlyheremains]

[He can't take bites. Lack of vitamins means the skin of the apple would cut his gums. But he eats quickly anyway.]

What do you have?

[the_gardens_apple]

[Angelic head tilt.]

Apples are the only thing I can conjure.

[She doesn't explain the word, expecting him to know it.]

Anything else I'd have to cook. Or go find.

[onlyheremains]

[He knows what conjure means, though he's not certain how it applies.]

I don't want to be any trouble.

[the_gardens_apple]

[A small, warm smile. She doesn't reach out to touch him.]

It won't be any trouble. Just a moment.

[Misa disappears with a rustle and then comes back, carrying a plate of sandwiches - turkey and cheese on rye - and a few fruits. Including pomegranates.]

We were in luck. The pomegranates were ripe at home.

[onlyheremains]

[The smile is almost, almost enough to make him drop his guard. But not quite. The same as the food. It's almost enough. He wants, very much, to trust an adult. Someone.]

What are pomegranates?

[the_gardens_apple]

[She settles the plate between them and points to the round red fruit.]

These are. They're a fruit that I like. Take your knife and cut them in half. You eat the seeds inside.

[onlyheremains]

[He watches the plate. But he takes the pomegranate and starts cutting it, getting red juice all over his hands in the process.]

Um..

[the_gardens_apple]

[Misa smiles again, aware that to laugh would break the fragile peace between them.

Instead, she reaches down to her boot and pulls out a small knife, making sure he can see it. She takes another fruit and carefully cuts off one end, then scores the skin into quarters. Putting the knife on the ground, she sets the fruit on the plate and breaks it apart.

Then, she hands him a damp towel.]

Apologies. I forget, sometimes, not everyone knows how to eat them.

[She takes a few seeds and pops them into her mouth.]

[onlyheremains]

[He watches the knife until it's down, then takes the towel and wipes his hands, then the fruit, and then manages to get his open, mimicking Misa's actions to try to get the seeds out. He bursts a few but manages to get some out as well.]

Never seen one before.

[the_gardens_apple]

[Misa picks up a few more seeds and eats them herself, before taking one of the sandwiches. She muches quietly for a moment.]

No, I don't suppose you would have.

Do you like them?

[onlyheremains]

[He finishes the seeds in his hand, watching the sandwhich.]

I don't know?

[They were tart but anything tasted good.]

[the_gardens_apple]

[Misa nods to the plate.]

There's far more here than I can eat, Max. Help yourself.

[onlyheremains]

[He takes one of the sandwiches, putting half against his lap and the other half in his hand, eating quickly.]

Thank you.