"Nom nom nom, mm, nom nom—" Shatterpressure stuffed delicious cookies into her mouth as fast as she could to avoid talking to her stepmother.
"These cookies really are good." Roland picked one up. "Shatterpressure, why aren't you saying anything?"
"Standing in front of the woman with the worst taste in men in the entire universe, I have nothing to say," Shatterpressure muttered.
"Thanks to him, I happen to have plenty of fresh cookies!" Julia cheerfully brought out another plate. "Go on, eat up, my little Shatterpressure."
"Hey, it's not just that painting making me want to puke, but can we go outside?" Shatterpressure asked helplessly.
"Of course." Julia carried the cookies and tea to the doorway.
"I hate to tell you this, but you've got a pest in your garden," Shatterpressure said as tactfully as she could.
"We all need bugs, little Shatter-Duck! Bugs are what make a garden grow," Julia said.
"You—" Shatterpressure was speechless. How could anyone be so blind to Lobo's faults? "Lobo isn't a gardener, Julia. He's dangerous. In prison, they locked him up with the World Destroyers because he's one of them."
"Well, that's his job, and everyone needs a job! Love who you love, sweetheart. You can't change that."
Julia didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
"Listen, I know he seems... fun, or incredibly charming. But if you love him, I'm sorry for you. That kind of love makes you vulnerable. You think the person you love won't hurt you, but that's when you're hooked. That's when they hurt you the most."
"Thank you for coming, Shatterpressure." Julia stroked Shatterpressure's head.
"Right..." Shatterpressure knew her words had fallen on deaf ears. "Has Lobo been here before?"
"Yes."
"Tell me where he went."
"Honestly, I don't know."
"So I came here just to eat cookies...