[𓆩⟡𓆪 𓆩⟡𓆪 𓆩⟡]
“It’s not your job to look after me.” Though those words were uttered frankly, Thalia had also stated it to make a point—the fact that it was really not Desdemona’s job to look after her. They were friends, yes, close friends if you will, whose friendship had not been quite long but still had managed to click in no time. Thalia appreciated Desdemona—no, that was not the right word. There wasn’t truly a word Thalia could use to describe her feelings for Desdemona and how happy she was to have her. But at the same time, Thalia worried for her. She was worried that Desdemona was taking on too much.
Desdemona’s willingness to help, to be there for Thalia in every way possible, was admirable. It was endearing and touching, but it was also a source of concern. Thalia feared that in her eagerness to support, Desdemona might be neglecting her own needs and happiness. Desdemona had once told Thalia she was the center of her world, and Thalia had smiled at that, laughed at that even as she gave her a hug and a kiss on her cheek on how innocents those words sounded, but she wondered, how much did Mona mean that truly.
"But I want to!" Desdemona had interrupted, and Thalia couldn’t help but smile despite herself. There was something fiercely endearing about Mona’s determination to make her feel better, even if it was misguided. Thalia’s headache pulsed, reminding her of her own frailty, but she pushed it aside. She needed to be present, for Mona’s sake.
“I know you do,” Thalia smiled as Desdemona swung their hands forward and back, “But really, you also have to take care of your own self. And besides, really, I’m okay, I can handle my own self, today was Just a little rough morning, that’s all.” Now, Thalia wasn’t too sure of the ‘i can handle my own self’ part, but maybe if she could convince herself and Desdemona enough, it will come true
When Desdemona started talking about Esther, Thalia’s focus sharpened. Near death? Not an accident? There was so many implications on this, so many reasons that seemed to connect back to each other. It was strange really, how during the day when the Headmaster had finally acknowledged the disappearance of North, Esther suddenly fell ill, almost close to death. Direct or indirectly, these two situations had to be connected in some way or form, and Thalia wanted- no, she needed to know more about the situation. “If it wasn’t an accident, do you think someone did it on purpose? Or was it some kind of magical backlash?” She was careful with her questions, not wanting to push Desdemona too hard or cause alarm when there was not yet proved need for alarm, “It’s okay, if you don’t know,” Thalia had said softly, “But did you happen to hear something? Other than Atlas, was another name mentioned?” She questioned, "Sorry, am I asking too many questions? " She let out a small laugh, one she hoped did not sound quite too nervous, “I’m just really intrigued by all this,”
“Think of super man,” Thalia had alluded to, with a playful shrug of the shoulders, “He does not even wear a mask and yet people can’t tell his identity, because he’s wearing different clothes and his posture has changed. It’s the same way with masquerade balls, I think, or well, how I understand them. We can become someone entirely different with just a mask and a change in demeanor.” There was a sense of relief Thalia had gotten, wearing that mask at the ball, because, yes, indeed even though her mask did not fully cover her face, there was still a sense of protection from them. Even if she did stupid shxt, she had the mask to blame. It allowed her to act more freely, without the usual fear of judgment as people who aren’t used to seeing her everyday, cannot really tell it’s her- oh, well accurately make out her face.
“Maybe his story wasn’t true, but maybe he wants it to be, you know? For something like that to happen, so he tells it to himself and others with the hope that it might. I wouldn’t hold that against him.”
True, Thalia also could not hold that against him. She was a writer after all, and a photographer- one who tells stories, whether fake or real true words and pictures, creating a sense of ‘there-ness’ for things that aren’t really ‘there’. And Thalia was definitely not much of a truther herself, she was a liar- she would admit, one who lies when needed for her own benefit, so she supposed it would be quite hypocritical to judge him. “Mmm,” Thalia mused, “I suppose we can’t really hold that against him,” Though Thalia was quite sure that was not the reason he had told the lie- he had merely lied for the sake of lying, because he was bored and because he was a performer, but it seemed that Desdemona was quite impressed by him, even if it was under some deluded fantasy, and Thalia did not want to break her spirit, or argue with her, really- especially not now.
It’s strange still, really, the idea that Atlas and Esther- two people she wouldn’t have really connected together in her web, had some connections with each other- a history of some sorts, whatever that history was. She should take note of this, be sure to add it later. Thalia reached into her pocket, bringing out her phone, typing the password- *****, she opened her note apps and wrote, Esther and Atlas- connected??? and then swiftly placed her phone back inside her pocket. Her attention back at Desdemona.
They had continued talking, Desdemona’s sharing her worries, when she had suddenly shared a noise about side effects, causing Thalia’s eyes to widen. Side effects? What does she mean side effects? Thalia wondered, as she cupped Desdemona’s jaw, albeit a tad bit roughly, What happened, tell me? She had asked, worried visible in her tired eyes as she continued her questions, asking if she needed to be taken to the school nurse, and Thalia did not know what she was expecting, but it was definitely not the reaction Desdemona had. Desdemona had threw her crossed arms open, making Thalia stumble a bit in shock as she blinked rapidly. huh? Was she scared of the nurse or something along those lines? She had never seen Desdemona respond this way, and her eyes watched Desdemona’s as Thalia regained her composure, walking closer to her again, as Desdemona quickly apologized.’ I just felt a little dizzy, but that’s normal’ Sure, just dizziness, Thalia definitely believed that, yup just dizziness, that was why she responded the way she did, sureeeee. “Alright, no nurse,” ,she agreed gently, though her gaze still meticulously scanned Desdemona’s features for any other signs of distress, “Any reason why though?” Thalia had said this in a manner that suggested ‘you could keep me in the dark or you could tell me’ to not alarm Desdemona. She wanted to see, if Desdemona would lie to her again, or if she would give an actual reason, though she was not going to force it out.
Do you really think they’ll like me? Thalia turned to face Desdemona, as she turned on her camera. “No,” At this, Thalia’s face was blank but her eyes was quite playfully, signifying she was joking, “They will love you” She had place dos much emphasis on the word love. “Wyndham needs someone like you, this days, it’s too gloomy,” She grimaced. When her camera had finally turned on, a bright smile had reached Thalia’s face, as she scrolled quickly pass photos that were ‘suspicious’ into the more ‘normal innocent ones’ . “Alright, let’s take a little journey through Wyndham together,” she said, her tone light and playful.
Thalia began showing Desdemona the snapshots she had captured: the grandeur of the campus buildings, the serene beauty of the gardens, and the bustling energy of the students going about their day
“And here,” she said, pausing on a particularly scenic shot of the sunset painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, “is where we’ll make countless memories together.”
a little trashy but i tried my best