(Untitled)

[provenhumanity]

It seemed like it had been so long since George was in a good mood that he'd almost forgotten what it felt like. For over a month now, it seemed as though there had always been a cloud over him, weighing him down with guilt. Of course none of it was his fault; no one could really be blamed for the way the island brought people and took them away,

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[justsookie]

There were times when a new interest would suddenly pop up and overtake Mitchell's life for a time. Sookie was starting to see that. He was capable of acting on a whim, of working up excitement within himself for something that Sookie herself would feel swept up by the sentiment. Try a new food, take a new trail (...admittedly, the second was rarer than the first). But lately, Mitchell's newest obsession didn't quite seem to fall in line with the others, fingers smudged with ink from newspapers he'd grabbed from the bookshelf to peruse on his own time. And the new activity had not only contrasted with the others, but it was longer-lasting at that, weeks' worth of papers strewn around wherever he went.

Eventually, it'd gotten to the point where a girl just had to try to get to the bottom of it all.

Leaning over the opposite side of the table, Sookie lowered herself to try to get a look at his eyes, a thick copy of the Bristol Evening Post tucked under her arm. "So," she greeted, softly interrupting his look of concentration. "Wouldn'

[justsookie]

When Mitchell's hand slid away from Sookie's, her lips pressed together, tightly enough that it was almost painful, the effort it took to keep her suspicions quieted. She didn't have a good reason to think that there was anything wrong, after all, and that only made her feel worse about doubting Mitchell so. If there was anything that a relationship needed, it was trust. But there was also that sinking feeling in her stomach as well, one that Sookie had trusted for good reason in the past. And it wasn't quite going away.

Perhaps she needed to speak with Nina.

"Well, I don't know... what's necessary to sort through, or if it's just one of those things that can't go away. I guess I- I just hope that there's something I can do to help, that's all," Sookie exhaled softly. "Or at least have a better idea of what's going on in there." That she felt like she was losing him in recent weeks was a fear that Sookie didn't voice; doing so, she suspected, would feel too real.

[chasinghumanity]

"I told you," Mitchell replied. At least in this his tone didn't grow sharp. He was annoyed by his situation, annoyed by the island and the fact that he couldn't just sweep all of the bones back into the closet and lock it shut. But Sookie's concern wasn't annoying. It might turn so in the future, but he appreciated the concern now, even if it did make him nervous.

"That's all there is. And there's nothing you can do about it, Sookie. And I know, I know that's frustrating and makes you think there's something else, some secret to ferret out to make it all work together. But there isn't." He managed the slightest smile, almost genuine and almost sympathetic. "It just is what it is, Sookie. I'm dealing with it."

[justsookie]

"Okay," Sookie nodded, her lips quirking into the barest of smiles before she exhaled, letting the tension go, nudging her seat over until she could lean in and press a kiss to Mitchell's cheek. She knew that it couldn't have been easy for him to field her questions time and time again, in the same way that she grew quickly irritated with friends if they buzzed forever around her ear, but he'd been patient with her. If there was pain and worry on his end, Sookie was still sure that he didn't deserve it, but he didn't seem to be the type of person to easily forgive himself. Not with the way that he'd dwelt on the subject for so long.

Whatever amount of burden she received as a result, it didn't matter. Most important was for her to continue to be there for him. "You know me," she smiled. "I worry about people, and I feel like idle hands are the devil's workshop- especially for me. But... okay." She nodded again. "I trust you. And I trust that if there is something I can do, you'll tell me."

[chasinghumanity]

It was trust misplaced, a part of him thought. But Mitchell told that part to go to hell and slid an arm around Sookie as he leaned in to kiss her, short and chaste but proper.

"Hey," he said in a hushed voice, touching their foreheads together. "I love you. And I do know you. The last thing you are is idle." Mitchell's hand found her shoulder, squeezed it gently as he leaned back, his arm still around her. "It'll sort itself out. Trust me."