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"We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep." — Prospero (Act 4, Scene 1 of The Tempest)
"Thank you!"
Brandon said, hurriedly waving goodbye as he ran up the stairs with his new goods. Noli hummed in acknowledgement as she began to idly float behind her desk once again, waiting for her next customer.
Though... considering that it was pretty damn late, and that most of the people in the safehouse were likely already preparing to go to sleep or already WERE asleep, he probably didn't need to keep it open anymore.
With a sigh, he got ready to start closing up shop for the day.
She hummed as she began to put her stuff away so that the more Infuriating residents of the safehouse couldn't steal anything while she was out somewhere else for the night, pondering on her plans tomorrow.
Maybe she could expand the safehouse a little bit more? It Has been getting a little cramped as of late with the sudden influx of people. And Yorick... well, he might not like the skeleton all that much, but he knows damn well that small room the other dug out wouldn't be able to hold all the things it had collected! I mean, sure, it COULD store everything with its magic, but thats just far too inconvenient! And wasteful! The other SHOULD have more space to show off its things, it's just the logical thing to do! Just think about it! You never know when you're gonna need Yorick's magic for something important, right?
What?
No, she's definitely not thinking that so she has a better opportunity of steali- borrowing a few of the books from Yorick's large collection for her to read, alright? Alright.
...
ANYWAYS!
Expanding the safehouse, right? What else... Oh, yeah. She'll need to talk with the Captain later too to arrange an expedition. Their medical supplies are beginning to run low, and she figured it'd be better if she got that over with sooner rather than later. Because even if Brandon, Deivy, and Prototype could heal the others, they're still just 3 people. 2 of which being literal Children. So yeah. Get that problem dealt with as soon as possible.
There's also updating the map... but she'll sleep on that for a bit. He's not the best at maps, at all. Maybe if he's lucky, he can pass that job onto The Intelligence and Ben or something. They seem like the type to like... fuck, what was the study about maps called? He can't remember.
He grumbled, snapping out of his mind. Thought process ruined. He needs to look that up so it doesn't happen again. Geez, some deity he is...
...
He shakes his head, gently slapping himself.
No. No. Not a deity. Just the safehouse's Totally friendly shopkeeper. That's who he is.
After a while of silence, he sighs.
Of course its thoughts end up spiralling into There again. It always does, despite its best efforts.
Especially recently, with how the survivors are... strangely enough, warming up to it.
Trusting it.
It...
Makes her feel unpleasant, she thinks.
Their partnership was never meant to be anything more than just an alliance. Their goals overlapped, so she decided it'd benefit everyone if she helped them actually have a chance of fighting back and surviving the freaks out there long enough to get the information they wanted.
That was it. Never anything more than that. At most, she would've given sixer a choice to come with her after this was all over if they really wanted it.
They weren't supposed to come to Her for comfort. For advice that wasn't about dealing with the entities.
And...
It wasn't supposed to give those things, despite the thoughts coursing through its head.
It was just meant to be their shopkeeper. Not someone they could trust like a guardian. Like a parent.
She stiffens thinking that word. Unable to help herself, her gaze is drawn towards the red spike on her desk that she has yet to put away.
No.
He shouldn't keep entertaining them.
He wouldn't be a good parent. He's known that fact, and accepted it a long time ago.
He needs to stop acting without thinking before they get themselves hurt because of him. Before they get themselves killed.
It's already lost Them. It wouldn't be able to handle losing these kids from its mistakes too.
...
It tears its gaze away from the spike and to the stairs, where it can faintly hear a few of the kids giggling. Staying up despite how late it is.
They don't deserve to be tied to someone like her.
They have a life.
A life they need to live.
Dreams they need to accomplish.
Friends they need to reunite and make amends with.
If they stay with her, she'll take all of that away.
Just like the (* Gazers).
Just like Brooke.
...
And just like ████.
...
Later that night, when Brandon tugs at his sleeve, asking if he could read them a bedtime story again like he used to, he refuses.
He doesn't look down to see the kid visibly wilt before walking back upstairs to tell the others still awake. No doubt upsetting them as well.
He sighs with a tiredness he refused to acknowledge. Ignoring the ache in his chest at his decision.
This is for the best.
Even if the kids are upset with him, this is for their own good. They need a better person they can rely on. Someone more capable of saving those they actually cared about.
Someone that wasn't him.