Re: Marlene/Alastor
Alastor put an arm around her waist when she hugged him and kept it there. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and murmured, "I know...on both counts."
The days since the attacks had been long and tiring and showed no signs of letting up for a while yet. They had the people inside and safe, for the time being. Now they had to worry about keeping them that way, keeping them happy enough they didn't revolt, getting supplies organised and accounted for, putting out rules and regulations that would likely be unpopular but necessary to keep going until they could get a better sense of the world outside the walls.
Listening to Jamie give the portrait the combined thanks of all three of them, he had to wonder again if he was up to this task, despite his resolve to see it through for his former commander.
"It'll get easier," he said quietly, though if that was to reassure her or himself he couldn't have said.