Okay, this chapter is short but I wrote this in some mood and while listening and watching some videos for a class lecture. Let's just take a second and note how this is the second update this month.

One of the books I read a few months ago in quarantine was Hold Still by Nina LaCour and it was the inspiration for this chapter. It was a good quick read.


Photo #125: Hold Still

Eadlyn remembers when she was old enough to sit in the council chambers with the country's ministers, hearing them talk about current issues and restructuring policies.

Growing up, Eadlyn was excited to sit in on the meetings but her parents made her wait until she was older. Not only would she understand better but because they touched on sensitive issues in the country she was too young to know. First hearing about attacks and possibly controversial policies left her unsettled but now she understands. She makes sense of all the overflowing papers and long hours in his office once these meetings come to a close.

It's in the next photo. Her father sits in a messier version of his office. Around him are all his papers, policies needing to be revised, signed, and sealed with the royal decree. Photos and medals are tacked up on the wall and his suit jacket was strewn across a couch by the wall. He's staring at the camera with a glare that says stop looking and quit pointing that thing at me.

Is it possible that her father has ever looked that intense? Is it possible that people think she's as intense?

-o-

"I'm not in the mood for having my photo taken," Maxon says.

America lowers the camera, grinning wildly. She watches as his scowl turns into a tired smile. America holds the camera in her hands as she walks into his office. She would've taken a seat but all the seats are preoccupied with some royal business so she stands beside him as he turns his chair to face her.

"I plan to take a lot of photos of you like this, photos I will never throw away," America says, referring to Maxon in his office habitat. "You're very self-aware, very aware of being watched but in others, you're not. You're bent over a desk, reading or standing at the window reflecting or lost in thought."

Maxon points accusingly at her while glaring, about to tell her off but not mean it but he knocks over a jar of pens. America steps to the side to avoid it hitting her foot and she quickly goes to pick it up against his notions that he'd do it himself.

"Sorry about that," Maxon says as he holds the camera for her.

"You don't have to apologize for gravity," America responds, gathering all the pens and putting them back on his desk. "You need to hold still and smile for my photos."

Maxon scoffs a laugh. He's seen his father get into a calm crisis mode which would turn him into a special modified version of himself. A king who is more capable, more logical, much more serious … and they end up wearing themselves out.

America's right. He needed to hold still.

"All those photographs, they take up a wall in my room," Maxon points out.

"I know," America beams, readjusting the camera. "Why do you think I'm taking more?"

She holds up the camera to take another shot but he nudges it away.

Maxon smiles at her, wishing she caught this moment instead. He's happy and not glued to his job looking miserable. It's when he understands why kings aren't meant to rule without a queen for reasons beyond producing a legitimate heir. Queens can resurrect kings up so high that they grow to believe they can't live without them.

"And how many photos on your wall are blurry?" She asks.

Maxon sits back and pretends to think. "You'd be surprised."

"That's not an answer."

"It is."

"It really means you don't know."

"Or does it mean I've lost count?"

America shrugs as she tries to get another shot but Maxon holds up some documents to cover his face. She tries to hold the camera up above his head and laughs as he shrivels in his seat to avoid the lens.

"Just hold still," America says.

"I told you I didn't want my photo taken," he laughs.

"And I told you I'm taking photos."

"Fine."


We love when characters are so self-aware. Also I don't know how many of the photos in this story are blurry but it's probably a lot.