The witch and the werewolf

Silvertongue

Max stepped into the diner on Sunday, sketch book in one hand and their wallet in the other, they were tired, so, so tired, yet they couldn't rest, exams were coming up and they had to prepare, they had barely slept that night, eyes flickering open and close like a candle.

The morning light filled the room, for something so bright and warm it had no effects against the freshly fallen snow outside, Max wore a sapphire blue, rectangle, wool scarf to at least look like they were putting effort in not to freeze to death.

They wore the scarf in a traditional way, they way most people would think when people say 'scarf', in a hacking knot way except the tail of the snake like cloth- its rattle when behind their structure- cascaded down their back.

The shimmed their way into a red velvet, sighing with relief at how the material felt freezing at a first touch, they held their wallet close to them as they started to sketch in their book, connecting lines between topics they knew could weave together into a more sophisticated answer on an exam.

"Max?" Someone said, their voice familiar.

Max looked up.

"Miss!" they smiled.

Art didn't smile back.

"Max what are you doing here?" She asked.

"Oh, I'm studying." Max explained. "House was getting kinda stuffy. "They chuckled dryly.

"But." Art said, her voice so small it made Max reconsider their words. "It's the lords day."

The lord's day?

Oh.

Human religion.

...

God Damnit-!

"O-oh." Max closed their eyes.

"Why aren't you at church?" Art asked.

"I-I. "Max choked, what were they supposed to say in a time like this?

"Father Yamato works at the church." There goes another excuse Max could've used. "So why aren't you there?"

Max swallowed. "I-I'm studying, a-and isn't thinking about my future-"

"God has a plan for all of us, I'm sure you could've gotten out of studying once to acknowledge him and give thanks to him." Art said.

"I-" Could Max have given up one morning to go to church, it wouldn't cost much, it was in the middle of the town, plus they could've seen Miss Art so much more. "You're right I'm sorry." They said.

"I'll go there now-surely there's enough time." They had burst up, hands on the table they moved around it but stopped as something warm grabbed their arm.

"Church is over." Miss said as she grabbed Max's arm.

"What-" Max breathed, confused, surely it couldn't have ended that quickly, Father Yamato always arrived and hour and a bit after every sermon, except.

How long had Max been waiting for.

They didn't know what they were waiting for, but they had sat waiting for it, the chair was warm, and Max tended to phase out from time to time.

"Oh." They breathed, small and simple, air on their tongue.

"Yeah." Miss sighed. "If you want, we can do a prayer here?"

"We can?" Miss nodded and Max was quick to sit back down.

"Pass me your hands." Max obliged, miss pressed them together and her fingers touched each other but her palms were holding Max's gloved hands.