♈ Aradia: Be the bitty.

[psych0p0mps]

[Why, what's this wandering the halls today? It's a little girl, maybe four or five years old, who happens to also be an alien. She seems distressed, and so sounds the little voice picked up unwittingly by the journal.]

hell0?
is anyb0dy there
m0mma im l0st where are y0u

((Aradia's a wiggler! Headed to work but will respond asap.))

Comments

[disciplines]

[Now that's an odd reaction. She blinks again, holding her hand out as if to grab her, but instead just sort of pulls her hat down over her face.]

...Smart bet is on the castle.

[She follows quietly, having her monkey Ruu lead the way. Maybe if she sees him instead she'll feel more comfortable being around her.]

[psych0p0mps]

[Aradia has not gone far; as soon as she got around a corner, she hid under the first table she found. But she is quickly overwhelmed by curiosity. What was that thing? So when Alleyne gets around the corner, she may happen to see one wiggler "discreetly" peeking out from the long tablecloth.]

[disciplines]

[She'll let Ruu take hold of this for now, his small, fuzzy pink face looking up at babby Aradia with wide, curious eyes, posture as gentle as can be. His tail is wagging a tiny bit.

Alleyne is not too far off, watching your reactions, trying to look as nonthreatening as she can.]

[psych0p0mps]

[Aradia studies Ruu for a moment, not sure whether to be alarmed or intrigued. Ultimately she leans toward the latter, and cautiously holds a hand out to the pink monkey, while at the same time trying to keep herself hidden behind the tablecloth. (The effort is unsuccessful.)]

[disciplines]

[The elf nods to Ruu, as he extends his hand and looks at you, tilting his head. Man, what kind of creature are you? His other hand reaches up for a horn, mostly just curious.]

Play nice, you two.

[psych0p0mps]

[Aradia takes the monkey's hand - man, what kind of creature are you? - but shies away from letting Ruu touch her horns.]

hey

[disciplines]

This is Ruu.

[Alleyne motions to her pet and then turns to talk to him a bit.]

Don't startle her now. Be a good friend, now.

[Phooey, Ruu squeaks a bit, sounding rather happy. Or at least, much happier and friendlier than Alleyne usually sounds. He is trying to inform her she won't hurt her, but can't quite form words.

Alleyne crouches down though, trying to sound calm.]

Kind of cramped under there, isn't it, Aradia? You'd be safer out here.

[psych0p0mps]

[Sorry bro, Aradia doesn't speak monkey. She scoots back under the table as Alleyne crouches down though.]

are y0u an alien

[disciplines]

I'm afraid not; merely an elf.

[Poor girl really seems to have lost it. Ruu watches for now, clinging to Aradia's side and looking as cute as can be. You're his sisbro now.]

I know you're a troll. It's okay, I won't harm you. You've never done anything worth my ire, child.

[psych0p0mps]

[0k well she has no idea what ire is, so she assumes that means "you're not worth it to kill," the nearest response that makes sense to her. Petting Ruu carefully on the head, she finally scoots out from under the table.]

whats an elf

[disciplines]

[See those ears? They perk up a bit, wiggling as she adjusts her hearing, helping show off what an elf is.

Ruu happily chirps, following her, curious what this hide and seek game is all about.]

We're people who protect forests and live with nature, simply put. There's a few of us here. We're quite tough and able to survive with anything the trees give us.

[psych0p0mps]

[Aradia looks left... then right... then left again... then up at Alleyne.]

theres n0 trees in here

[disciplines]

Well, of course not, they're outside. I live in here too, same as everyone else. We're alike in that way.

[She digs in her pouch and shows you a leaf all bunched up on itself.]

I do have this, though.

[psych0p0mps]

[Aradia assumes that is for her and takes it. She turns it over in her hands a couple times before unrolling it and finding berries inside! This brightens her spirits visibly. She pops a couple into her mouth to taste.]

mmm!
thats yummy

[disciplines]

[Alleyne also passes one down to Ruu, which he gobbles up extra happily.]

I picked those myself outside; they're good for when I'm working. Speaking of, what were you up to before I found you? Don't worry, you can't make me mad.

[psych0p0mps]

[Aradia answers with her mouth full. What are manners :| ]

umm
i was l00king f0r my lusus
we g0t split up
i d0nt kn0w where she is now

[She sounds worried!]

[disciplines]

[12 points for manners, but she won't mention that for now.]

Ahh, that's what you call your parents, right? Well, if you stick with me, I promise you'll return to her safe, whenever we find her.

I'm sure she wouldn't mind you working alongside me.

[psych0p0mps]

[What is parents... well this offer sounds 0k, but Aradia's still a little bit unsure.]

eridans gh0st t0ld me shes n0t here
and shes n0t c0ming f0r me

[disciplines]

Dammit, Eridan. Zero points for tact, kid.

[She makes a mental note to grade him poorly later and lecture him on this because that is rude, dude]

Look, don't listen to him. Eridan is...he's him. We'll search the castle ourselves and have an adventure looking for her, okay? It'll be good for you to get some exercise in.

[psych0p0mps]

[Oh good, an excuse not to listen to Eridan's ghost. Not that she wanted to anyway, but now that she has confirmation he was lying, that's good.

Aradia gets to her feet, looking a bit more chipper.]

i like adventures

[disciplines]

Well, you're in luck, this castle is full of them. Outside, too. I'm sure your lusus wouldn't mind if you got a bit of education while we looked for her; I know I'd be proud of you for taking initiative.

[Well, organizing gradebooks is gonna have to wait. Babysitter mode engaged.

She takes her cap off and puts it on your head.]

You can be leader for now.

[psych0p0mps]

[Aaaaa the hat the hat the hat!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's too big for her, but she feels so important now! Good luck getting it back, Alleyne.]

the leader is me??

[disciplines]

[Good thing she can wish up or make more if needed.

Ruu hops on Aradia's shoulder and squeaks again.]

Yup. You get to decide what we're up to. If anything terrible comes our way, I can take care of it. I'm pretty tough.

[psych0p0mps]

[OH MAN THIS IS SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY!?? Okay okay. Aradia puts on her best serious face and be's the leader. She picks the direction of hallway that she hasn't been down yet, and points authoritatively.]

0k
lets g0 this way
t0 the 0utside

[then, turning back to Alleyne:]

she eats grass and plants m0stly
s0 0utside is where she w0uld g0
if she was hungry

[disciplines]

[She hrms curiously. She honestly doesn't know much about how their lusus actually are yet! This makes her sound like a farm animal to her, or at least a strange vegetarian.]

Alright, just stick close by to me as you lead. What does she look like? If I get up a tree, I can see pretty far.