But it was Daffodil who left first. Irene’s stomach gave an almighty jolt at her harsh words; Daffodil had always had a sweet disposition, and so any words that resulted in her frustration hit by twofold, and it was plainly obvious that she was incredibly flustered and exasperated. Her parting words gnawed at Irene as she watched her leave. Even worse was the fact that Elias moved after her, and it might have been the fact that this entire encounter seemed like a fever dream, but it seemed to Irene that he moved with such decisiveness, such swiftness and such disregard for anything else that it felt as if she had an answer to a question she had been too afraid to ask. He was just outside, but she was alone.
‘Whatever it is I interrupted…’
Irene scowled at the words hanging in the air as she stood there in the empty workshop. She hadn’t shown any sort of willingess to share her news to Daffodil when she appeared, and yet it still stung that her news should have been followed by such disaster.
Had she not said anything at all after telling Elias, she might have had more agency to feel indignant. But instead, she only felt the nauseating burn of shame curl in her stomach. She had come so close to lighting fire to everything she’d tried to suppress for the past few years; so close to ruining what Daffodil and Elias had.
The shop that had always felt so comforting had taken on a strange chill, and even Elias’ return couldn’t bring it back. She remained silent as Elias cursed. It wasn’t often that he got frustrated but when he did, it was palpable.
Love will do that to you.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Irene looked toward the point where Daffodil had disapparated. “And neither does she...I’m..Im sorry.” It’s me who should apologize…
Of course he hadn’t a clue what had just happened, but if Daffodil had seen them in the seconds before her appearance had been made known…Irene could infer, and it left an uncomfortable feeling in her chest. She watched as he began to fuss about with the tools on the bench; allowed until she could see his movements smooth into something a bit more instinctual than out of pure disorientation.
“No,” she replied quietly. “I’ll be taking him. I’m not leaving him behind.”
It had always been a possibility, but it wasn’t until a few moments ago, when she saw what she’d almost done, that it crystallized. With her mind already shifted elsewhere, to things she needed to complete before she left for Italy, Irene heaved a sigh. “Besides, he leaves sooty paw prints everywhere. That would be horrible for the workshop. I already have soot I can’t get out from my bench that’s been impossible to remove.” She laughed. It was a horrible attempt at lightening the mood, but she laughed anyways.
‘Whatever it is I interrupted…’
Irene scowled at the words hanging in the air as she stood there in the empty workshop. She hadn’t shown any sort of willingess to share her news to Daffodil when she appeared, and yet it still stung that her news should have been followed by such disaster.
Had she not said anything at all after telling Elias, she might have had more agency to feel indignant. But instead, she only felt the nauseating burn of shame curl in her stomach. She had come so close to lighting fire to everything she’d tried to suppress for the past few years; so close to ruining what Daffodil and Elias had.
The shop that had always felt so comforting had taken on a strange chill, and even Elias’ return couldn’t bring it back. She remained silent as Elias cursed. It wasn’t often that he got frustrated but when he did, it was palpable.
Love will do that to you.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Irene looked toward the point where Daffodil had disapparated. “And neither does she...I’m..Im sorry.” It’s me who should apologize…
Of course he hadn’t a clue what had just happened, but if Daffodil had seen them in the seconds before her appearance had been made known…Irene could infer, and it left an uncomfortable feeling in her chest. She watched as he began to fuss about with the tools on the bench; allowed until she could see his movements smooth into something a bit more instinctual than out of pure disorientation.
“No,” she replied quietly. “I’ll be taking him. I’m not leaving him behind.”
It had always been a possibility, but it wasn’t until a few moments ago, when she saw what she’d almost done, that it crystallized. With her mind already shifted elsewhere, to things she needed to complete before she left for Italy, Irene heaved a sigh. “Besides, he leaves sooty paw prints everywhere. That would be horrible for the workshop. I already have soot I can’t get out from my bench that’s been impossible to remove.” She laughed. It was a horrible attempt at lightening the mood, but she laughed anyways.
![[Image: 9EDhNw4.png]](https://i.imgur.com/9EDhNw4.png)