Arietta

A grimace at the taste of chocolate, far too sweet for her taste buds as she pulls the coin away. It hurt her teeth to gnaw on it and she far prefer to gnaw on a bone. “....Sated???” Sated? What did that word mean. This ladies words are hard for her to understand.... Arietta frowns and holds her doll even closer...

it's commitment, it's devotion, it goes often without saying, but is felt nonetheless. it's accepting that you would travel to hell and back for them if they asked and knowing that they would do the same for you. it's an old ache, long after they've burrowed deep into your chest and settled there like a weight- grounding, an anchor point. even when you're apart, you can still feel the shape of them, it's like phantom pain. neither of you can help but succumb to the other's gravity, yet neither of you fear the collision. it means that you trust them, that they make you feel safe, that they feel like home.

“...Please sit.. with Arietta? Syo needs to rest.” A small tug, pleading for him to listen before leaning forward on the tips of her toes. A sniff. Curious if he smelt sick. 

this one comes with a pang. it is the wrinkled brow of something unpleasant sinking in. they've left to find some new adventure. or they've met someone else. and you have only just begun to understand their true importance to you. you watch them drift toward a future without you, and in that stark numbness of their absence, it hits you. Oh. oh, you want them close. you hopelessly, selfishly want them all to yourself. you'll support them no matter what, but you don't want them to want a future that doesn't involve you. you want them to read the near-invisible signs of your love and decide to take a chance on you. you never want to say that you *used* to know each other. so what are you going to do?

“...Arietta is sorry.” She just wanted to know. But it seemed like now wasn’t the time to be asking about it. Rudy hues watch the other for a moment longer, before she reaches to hold his hand. Arietta would rather Ion be happy. “Does Master Ion want to play today? Or do you have work to do?” Being the Fon Master must be hard to do on his own, even if some of the order no longer listens to him. 

“... Then why did Master pick Anise... did Arietta do something bad? When Arietta asked no one would answer.” It was... frustrating. She’d ask and ask about why her beloved Master had replaced and all she got was silence or lies. But it didn’t matter now, did it? Ion had come back to her and she was as happy as could be.  “...Arietta is happy. Happy Master Ion is talking to Arietta again.” He was holding her and telling her that they’d be together again. She was happy. So happy. “Arietta and Master Ion can be together forever!”

 “... Never again?” A sniff as she looks up. She wants that, to be with Ion forever. Ion... Mommy... her siblings and her friends. “Arietta trusts Master Ion. Arietta will protect Ion better than Anise...Brother is stronger too... he’s gotten really big... and Master Ion can sit on his back too. Brother... and Arietta’s friends will help...”  All her monster friends, they were strong and they’d never hurt Ion.

“...Some of them. Van helps too... but he’s busy a lot...” She felt like she was being bothersome when she asked about certain words. “Arietta asks Largo first...” She smiles softly, happy to show him how much her skills had improved. “...Arietta can even write dates...”  It’s a bit messy still.  She pauses at his next words, holding the doll tightly in her hands. “.... But... Master Ion picked Anise over Arietta... Master Ion... left...-” A hiccup as she held it even closer, fingers causing the cloth to bunch under her fingers. Fat tears already rolling down her cheeks. “... Master... you won’t abandon Arietta... again? Arietta can get stronger... So please don’t go..”

“...Thank you, Miss!”  A gentle smile as bites into the given meat. It’s yummy even when roasted. After a moment, the girl gives pause before holding out her doll. She didn’t have much to offer, so the least she could do is let the girl hold it.  “...Arietta wants... the pretty miss to hold the doll... as a thank you.”

“.....” She could have escorted Master Ion, Asch >:(

“Arietta has been good... Largo is nice, we write letters when on missions... He even helps Arietta with the big words.” A smile as she looks up at Ion, she’s so happy to talk to him again. “Miss Legretta is nice, Asch is kinda scary... but he can be nice too... Dist says lots of words that Arietta doesn’t understand... And Sync is a bully, just like Anise!”

The warmth of his hand on her head, it’s soothing to her. All of it was soothing to her, like the warmth of fur on a cold night. She’s not alone like this. Slowly she steps a little bit closer to hug him, nuzzling his chest with a happy noise. “Of course. Arietta loves Master Ion, Arietta won’t forget.” Because he was very precious too her and she’d always protect him.

“... Sorry, Mister Rappig.” She feels bad. A blink as she notes the scent of the nice stranger. Oh. Is he here for his cub? “....Your daddy is coming...So... don’t be sad... Mister Rappig can’t hurt you...”