XLII

[wilder]

[Zelos cared little about the magical kissing going on. If anything, he figured it was kind of fun, a few instances withstanding he rather not talk about. ]

[Because of that, Zelos is sitting at the table in the kitchen, paying no mind to the various nutcrackers that have been put around the room. On the table there seems to be what used to be the toaster, now disassembled with Zelos taking apart the final remaining pieces while whistling to himself without a care in the world. ]

Huh! These things sure have a lot of pieces! Oh well!

[And no. He has no idea how to put it back together again. Nor does he care]

[Really you guys should stop letting him come in here]

[OOC: Open post for all planned and unplanned kissing! Or you know, just talking]

Comments

[persequor]

I was going to, but other things happened. And anyway it's not so bad. I didn't want to be a bother.

[wilder]

Tt, you wouldn't be a bother.

[persequor]

[ A slight smile. ]

You're the only one who thinks that.

[wilder]

What?

Don't be ridiculous, I am not the only one who thinks that.

[persequor]

Here, you are. You and Nymeria. Even when she was a pup, she loved me even if no one else did.

[wilder]

Tch.

Your mother doesn't think you're a bother. And Queen Elizabeth's crazy about you too.

[persequor]

[ She is a bother. She knows she's her mother's biggest disappointment. ]

How do you know what the queen thinks?

[wilder]

We talked about you during Tsuna's birthday party. She had nothing but good things to say about her little knight.

[persequor]

She wasn't so happy with me after.

[wilder]

Huh? What happened?

[persequor]

[ She pushes his hand away in order to cover her head with her arms. Her voice is muffled slightly by the table. ]

What always happens. I disappointed her. Like I disappoint everyone.

[wilder]

Hey!

So what? You're going to write her off?

[persequor]

Write her off what?

[wilder]

Write her off in thinking that she doesn't care about you because you let her down once.

You really think so low of her?

[persequor]

No.

[wilder]

You sure? Because assuming she thinks you're a bother sure sounds like it.

[persequor]

Because I am! Because I've always been! [ She stands abruptly. ] Even my mother despaired of me! I was always the ugly, dirty second daughter that couldn't sing or-or dance or write poems and always had crooked stitches! The only ones who never minded were Jon and my father. And I won't ever see Jon again and my father... [ Her throat closes. ]

[wilder]

You're wrong, Arya.

[He'll eye her]

You know what your mother does every time she talks to me? She talks about you- about how she loves you and proud she is. Sure, you can be a handful- but not once has she ever said she despaired over you or that you were ugly or dirty.

If anything, she's so proud of you for being exactly who you are.

[persequor]

I'm angry all the time. I wake up with it and I go to bed with it. I'm even angry at myself for being so angry. I'm tired of it and I'm scared. Why would anyone be proud of that?

[wilder]

Because you're more than just anger.

[persequor]

[ Am I? She doesn't think so. For as much as she hates it, it's preferable to the hollow in her chest. ]

Does it ever go away?

[wilder]

Depends how hard you're holding onto it.

[persequor]

Did you?

[wilder]

Oh...for awhile.

[persequor]

[ She twists her bracelet around her sprained wrist. ]

I couldn't stand you when we met. Did you know?