Day: February 2, 2018

mythsandmonsters:

“Okay,” he repeated back, a tiny flash of a smile just barely making it onto his face, but it was enough to be noticeable at least.

Hot food was still something he was getting accustomed to, and especially all the different flavours and textures compared to the food his owner used to give him, which was more or less literally dog food or roadkill, and it had never been served on clean plates or with cutlery before he came here, so getting used to table manners and fine motor skills were more things on the list that he was slowly learning.

She hummed softly as she busied herself around the stove and toaster, making enough for both of them to eat and then a little extra in case he was still hungry. She didn’t like for him to eat alone, honestly, and she didn’t want him to feel like he was a bother either.

“Milk, water, or juice?” she asked as she slid a bowl of eggs and a small plate of buttered toast in front of him. 

mythsandmonsters:

It would take him a while to calm down enough to try to sleep again, so Quinn figured food would at least be a good distraction, even if eating his feelings wasn’t really an ideal habit to get into in his state.

He threw on a tank top over the sweatpants he’d gotten used to sleeping in and came over to the bedroom door, giving a small nod as he opened it wider to join Manson out in the hallway, though he still couldn’t maintain anything close to eye contact with her or anyone else yet.

She offered a warm smile before heading towards the kitchen. She always made a strong effort to stay in his direct line of site and never at his back so he didn’t get spooked. 

“Eggs and toast okay?” she asked, glancing over her should at him as she opened the fridge. It was light, quick and easy and still relatively healthy. Plus, if the eggs were scrambled, then he wouldn’t have to worry about fighting with a fork since spoons were easier anyway.

mythsandmonsters:

Ever since a few days after he’d arrived, he’d had the habit of keeping the door to his room open just a little, so that it was a visual reminder he was free to come and go at will, not locked in and trapped, and it still gave him enough privacy for him to get comfortable at his own pace.

He was washing his face in the small bathroom that connected to his room when Manson walked by, and he muttered a brief “Yeah” in response, though it was clear from his tone that he was still collecting himself.

She didn’t believe him for a moment, but she also didn’t push or enter the room. He hadn’t invited her in and she was big on respecting his privacy and safe space. It was something she knew he needed.

“You hungry?” She figured he might be and it was easier to offer food than to ask if he wanted to talk about it. There were still things from her own past she refused to put into words and she wasn’t about to make him feel like he had to spill his traumas either.

mythsandmonsters:

@ofviolentdeath

Quinn had been free from that hellhole for a while now, long enough to have gotten settled and confident he could trust the family who had taken him in, but still not nearly enough that his trauma had lessened any, memories still forming recurring nightmares that woke him in terror several times a night.

Tonight was no different, the sudden panic pulling him bolt upright and awake on reflex, though there was a lingering disorientation before he remembered he was safe, running his fingertips over the scar on the back of his neck for reassurance as he tried to catch his breath and swallow back the feeling like he wanted to cry.

It was a little weird having a teenager around again since Lola and TJ were grown, but Manson had been only too willing to take the boy in. She understood the levels of abuse he had been through and, between herself and Angelo, she knew he would be okay in time. Or as okay as any one the escapes hell can be.

Even though he seemed to be adjusting, she knew there was a long way to go and it had been almost too easy to get back on the same sleep patterns she held when she was a kid. She had been walking by his door when she heard him and she paused before knocking softly. 

“Quinn? Are you okay?”