"Daisy..." Max says in sympathetic reproach. "I know you don't think you're any good at it, but you've been what I needed when I needed it so many times." Daisy held him through the pain of so many terrible moments. As far as he's concerned, he can rely on her to come help him when he's in need. He knows she'd do the same for Erin.
"Yeah. Funny how that's an adjustment we all have to make, again. I didn't have to worry about paying for anything at Erik's home, either, so it's been forever since I had to budget for groceries. It's so... normal. How does normal feel this weird?"
"It's not like I think you're. Lying, or something. But I don't get it." She doesn't feel like a reassuring person. Blunt honesty and forcibly dragging someone out their own head, sure. But she's not sure that's reassuring.
She nods her head to the side thoughtfully. "'Cause weird became our normal. Now it's all turned upside down."
"Let me... put it like this. We love you for who you are already. I know trying to comfort me felt awkward for you, but you still did it. And you made me feel better because you made me feel safe and loved. You don't have to know the exact right thing to say, okay? The effort counts." Being there mattered more than the words.
Weird became their normal. Damn. She's right. "We'll get used to it again, I guess. This time, I think I really do want to stay here. I'm even working with a few people to invent some things like... a blender, maybe."
"Mmmm. Alright. Sure." She still sounds a little uncertain, but that might be more to do with how even now she doesn't really know how to process these people genuinely loving her than anything else. "You big softy."
She snorts, softly. "Trust you to try reinventing modern cooking appliances. Guess you'll have the time. If we really stay here."
This place is going to take some getting used to, but... there's not exactly anywhere else she's eager to be.
"It's why you love me," he retorts, batting his long eyelashes at her. Max owns being a big softie.
"You know, I could probably make a fortune inventing stuff like that, but mostly I'm just really really annoyed with how slow everything is." He never thought of himself as impatient until he had to learn to churn his own butter. Like, for real.
"I do really want to stay here if we can. I know it's selfish but... I'd love it if you did too."
Her expression softens in a way only a few would recognise. "...Max. That's not being selfish. Not the bad kind."
She's not sure she'd give herself the same grace for the same desire, but that's her own damage.
"...there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Not like home's an option. And I'm. I'm tired. Of hopping around. Back and forth and off somewhere else. Rather just stay."
"Yeah. I know." His mind knows. He's still convincing his heart that it's okay to want things that are best for him first.
"Then stay." Max leans in to give her a gentle sideways hug. "We'll be a family here. Neither of us will have to be alone ever again. You'll always have someone who loves you. You'll just have to put up with me making you a birthday cake every year from now on. That's all."
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"Yeah. Funny how that's an adjustment we all have to make, again. I didn't have to worry about paying for anything at Erik's home, either, so it's been forever since I had to budget for groceries. It's so... normal. How does normal feel this weird?"
no subject
"It's not like I think you're. Lying, or something. But I don't get it." She doesn't feel like a reassuring person. Blunt honesty and forcibly dragging someone out their own head, sure. But she's not sure that's reassuring.
She nods her head to the side thoughtfully. "'Cause weird became our normal. Now it's all turned upside down."
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Weird became their normal. Damn. She's right. "We'll get used to it again, I guess. This time, I think I really do want to stay here. I'm even working with a few people to invent some things like... a blender, maybe."
no subject
"Mmmm. Alright. Sure." She still sounds a little uncertain, but that might be more to do with how even now she doesn't really know how to process these people genuinely loving her than anything else. "You big softy."
She snorts, softly. "Trust you to try reinventing modern cooking appliances. Guess you'll have the time. If we really stay here."
This place is going to take some getting used to, but... there's not exactly anywhere else she's eager to be.
no subject
"You know, I could probably make a fortune inventing stuff like that, but mostly I'm just really really annoyed with how slow everything is." He never thought of himself as impatient until he had to learn to churn his own butter. Like, for real.
"I do really want to stay here if we can. I know it's selfish but... I'd love it if you did too."
no subject
Her expression softens in a way only a few would recognise. "...Max. That's not being selfish. Not the bad kind."
She's not sure she'd give herself the same grace for the same desire, but that's her own damage.
"...there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Not like home's an option. And I'm. I'm tired. Of hopping around. Back and forth and off somewhere else. Rather just stay."
Good place to wrap?
"Then stay." Max leans in to give her a gentle sideways hug. "We'll be a family here. Neither of us will have to be alone ever again. You'll always have someone who loves you. You'll just have to put up with me making you a birthday cake every year from now on. That's all."
yes!
Daisy wraps an arm around his back and bumps his side with her head. "Mm. I think I can live with that."