For now, Good Enough!

"Where are you going?" a child rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

Not one but three blankets bundled over this person, in a confusing pile up where you couldn't tell where one started or ended. Bare feet, as white and pink as little warm water seashells, peeked out occasionally under the train of blankets.

His guardian instantly threw a pile of clothes up, then cursed under his breath. He was so distracted he somehow didn't notice when Lukas snuck out of bed and made it all the way here. In fact…

"How did you leave your bedroom, young man?" Gable turned to stare down imposingly, looking every bit the picture of a stern parent.

"Nooooo, I'm a boy... I'm *yawn* too awesome to be a man." Lukas's bare feet pitter-pattered on the floor, only tripping once when he made his way to sleepily cling to Gable's leg.

"Lukas," Gable called again sternly.

"I missed you too much." Lukas clung and hugged coyly.

"It's been less than two hours since I tucked you in…"

Lukas didn't respond to that.

The last time Lukas just blurted out every little thing he did to escape his little den of a bedroom, Gable didn't praise him for his awesomeness at all. Rather, his Gable just made it so much harder for him to use any of his room's doors and windows. Talk about unfair!

Both his sidekicks had once or more so agreed that it was a very stupid thing for him to do.

In the end, Gable was just an adult. Adults were very strange and unfair creatures to the viewpoint of a very reasonable child. Yes, Lukas would like to keep all his current entry and exit ways unblocked. It was no fun when Gable went and undid all his efforts with his boring 'adulting', pfffft.

"Gable, where are you going?" Lukas wouldn't let Gable change the topic, even as he was lifted off the floor.

Due to not being awesome enough to be taller than anything but his sidekicks, Lukas was more than happy to let the adults carry him up much taller. It was like a 'sample' of being super tall one day!

"I'm going back to YOUR bedroom, to place you back into bed young man," Gable answered swiftly.

"Nuh-uh, not before I came!...Are you gonna be gone long? You're packing stuff and not in the cleaning way. You're not still mad at Cap, right? You're not gonna leave for 5 years?! Or more! Are you leaving now too? I thought we would stay more. More than this…" Lukas clung pitifully, big puppy dog eyes staring wide at Gable in distress.

They reminded him of a certain little girl that once clung to him just like this. Somewhat.

Lukas's silvery crystal tears weren't quite as large and drowning. They didn't seem to go on in an endless pool of warm childish innocence. Instead, a film of guilt flashed back to Gable's own eyes when he looked at him. An altered reflection in the ice, staring back.

Gable saw his guilt on Lukas's face where he never did on Maria. Because for all her strange little struggles and growing pains, she never started as Lukas did.

She was never alone.

"What are you crying for, you silly boy?" Gable hefted the lump of a child.

He was quite proud when he felt the slight strain of his muscles, how Lukas wasn't something one could consider light. At 7 years old, the average adult may have some difficulty lifting the boy. Gable had worked very hard to feed this child all this time.

"Because you're gonna leave! You're being all weird and stuffs. Amar went gone all ZAPS and POOFS and Rosa calls it shady and you're being shady and you can't fool me! You're gonna leave too…" Lukas uttered that last line uncharacteristically soft.

It was almost muffled into silence when pressed on Gable's neck.

As an adult, with all his reasoning and supposed wisdom, Gable wishes he had something to say about that. Something smart, mature, and reasonable yet soothing to the other's ears. But all Gable could hear was the static silence, the only coherent thought in his mind was how hot a child's tears could be. How engulfing it was for such a small space they took up.

"I'm…I'm not leaving." Gable could only respond, repeating back part of Lukas's concerns.

With a shake of his head, the little boy resembles more of a soft fuzzy trembling dog. His face and hair rubbing violently in the crook of Gable's neck.

"Liar liar pants on fire. Grown-ups are all liars! You lied before and you're doing it again. I heard you! You were talking to the mirrors and sending letters to birds and now you're packing! You don't pack if you're not gonna leave!" Lukas sputtered out.

Don't look down on him for his age or inability to communicate the way some other kids do. Though upset, Lukas spoke with conviction and backing behind his every listed reason.

It would be rather easy to defend himself, just deny and comfort Lukas's fears. But Gable had a feeling this ran much deeper. A scarring gap in his heart. Something buried over the short breath of time, under all the bright white shine reflected from the pristine surface of the snow. And it wouldn't be gone even when summer came hot when the covers of childhood melted away.

"...I'm not leaving you, Lukas. Nor do I plan to. And if I do go somewhere, just for a little bit, I'm coming right back. Just like your friends, no, even more so. I'm here. I'll be here for you." Gable was never one to fluff up his words. Actions always spoke louder to him.

The child in his arms wouldn't take to empty promises anyways, not that Gable would do that to him. He's been hurt enough. They've all been hurt enough, especially by their family.

Gable could feel the pressure in the back of his jaw, grinding a little too harshly in memories that had nothing to do with Lukas. This boy, his boy, was innocent. As were all children. The helpless inheritors of the sins of the adults before them.

He and his younger sister were innocent, once. A very long time ago. Now they have long grown up, more than capable of destroying another generation. He was the last person who should be judging her, but perhaps he was the only person. More than once, even before little Lukas came into his life, he wondered if perhaps their late mother, bless her soul, had impacted them so much that his sister just went the very opposite route of that mad control.

Utter abandonment.

"I'm not leaving, shhhh. Shhhh, it's alright. I'm sorry, I haven't been very clear or understanding with you lately. Shush. Don't cry when there's no reason to cry. I'm right here. Everything is safe and fine, especially right here and now. I just got a message from an old….colleague. It would be nice to see old…friends, yes."

He wasn't good at fluff or sweet promises. That was more Ron's forte. The rambling made him uncomfortable. It reminded him a little too much of a self better off forgotten.

But it was exactly that kind of on and on, and constantly ongoing reassurance that Lukas needed right now.

"*sniff* Really?" Lukas asked, his eyes pink from rubbing and crying.

"Yes. Really." Gable nodded, glad the tears were beginning to ebb.

"You're not leaving me? Forevers?" the boy sniffed again, his voice spiking back up. As if threatening to break into a wail and cry at any time.

"No. No, of course not you silly little bear. I would never. Now that I have you, I would never do such a thing." the grown man comforted, rocking his arms as sore as they got.

"You need to go see your friend? Is it a good friend? Nothing bad will happen? You're not gonna be gone for 5 years or more or -?" Lukas asked, curiosity slowly taking over as the dominant emotion, though there was a delicate balance for Gable to traverse in answering.

"Stop only taking in the oddest things." Gable pinched Lukas's little pink nose at that last part. So he rubs it around Ron sometime, damn 5 years. Who leaves for 5 way too convenient years?!

But this wasn't about anyone else. Just them.

"My colleague…while I can't say is a good or bad 'friend', is certainly a fine companion in this line of work. Hermitdom. Yes. It certainly has been a while and…let's just say he needs help. After what he's been through."

"...Ok. I get it." Lukas sniffed and wiggled, yet didn't loosen his grip at all. The child was perfectly content to just hang on to Gable's warm hold. The search for reassurance of something that all kids felt but didn't always know to express.

"That's good." Gable pressed a soft comforting peck on his little head, glad that the boy was growing. Through it all, good, bad, and ugly, his little boy was growing through it all.

It was a soft moment. It was growing to be a tender life, touched with more kindness than was given to him. In a way, Gable missed this. For himself. For his own life. It was perfect, no matter how late.

"When are we going to help be heroes to your hermitty friend! I love you and your awesomes but you're not a very good hero. Unless he needs a burning haircut then you're a superhero. Are you packing for Cap? I don't see capcap's stuff. Are you doing yours first? Can I bring my bed? And my snowglobes? And my bacon, oh I need to go tell my sidekicks. But I only have one sidekick right now. We gotta go tell my sidekick and sissy so they don't worries and be awesomes still without me-"

"....what?"

The warm and comforting moment of parent and child resumed its regular pattern. Where Lukas rattled off back to his usual pace, leaving Gable reeling to keep up or make sense.

Internally the older man felt the beginning of a headache start.

For one, when did it become a family trip? With Lukas included?!

But it was too late to clarify, or even put up a bit of a fight. Ramble along as he may, the night was long dark, and Lukas's nonsensical happy words grew fainter. Just a child late for his bedtime cuddled in the protective hold of someone who loved and cared for him.

There weren't always words between them. It wasn't very often expressed, especially verbally. But he knew, Gable knew his little growing boy knew.

" Tonight…imma… *yawns* sleep ….wit….you..zzzzZzzz…"

As Lukas drifted off, not even waiting for an answer, Gable chuckled and shook his head. Then tucked the boy and himself in his bed, luggage and piles scattered on chairs and tables. Everything else would be a problem for the morning or another day. Safe in this humble bed, he held on to the warm and small figure.

He had a promise to keep, many of them actually, but the needy little one in front of him now was the most precious of them all. He wouldn't leave that, not anymore. As flawed and unfit as he was, he knew he couldn't leave even if he wanted to.

Lukas snored, clutching him even as he rolled in his sleep.

Just right now, for this very moment of peace and security, he could afford, it was worth leaving it all behind.

—------

—

–

Have you ever seen a green so thick that when you stare in, only a void of night sky blue and lurking black stares back? So dense, no sunlight seems to be able to breakthrough.

The frame of leafy canopy and twisting vines leave no comfort either, though they're the only things one can see. Can grasp, even if there was no way to make sense of what they were. Strange. Foreign. Intimidatingly frightening.

They made such a perfect cover, a nightmare welcoming you.

Far from being overgrown, this was the natural state. Nature demands chaos. In the chaos, lay the most primal of orders. Down to the very cell of instinct and survival.

Ignore it all. Leave your perceptions and all you know behind. Live. If you want to live you must.

You must….run…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" comes a scream unlike anything this jungle of chaos and order had ever experienced.

Beautiful birds and adept little critters scattered at the strange animal screaming. Though they didn't know the creature to make such a wail, the instinct of danger and the knowledge of another prey animal failing the race of life was something embedded into their bones.

If they were close enough to take note of what the strangely crying creature was, they would only note how terribly adapted it was to any sort of survival.

Its long limbs were very skinny but could not climb the vines and trees to escape.

Its legs were uselessly clumsy and slow, at points tripping over the move obvious of rocks and mosses.

Its fur was simply pathetic and could not even be called that. Bald all over but for barely a few patches on its screaming head.

The natives of the land could only scamper and shake away, if they could think such a thing they would wonder how such a hideous animal had survived so long. It looked too stupid to mate and pass down its genes. An animal that was made to be a targeted 'Eat me! Free meat!" sign.

"Kitty?" one of the creature's stumpy limbs made such a strange sound.

On further inspection, it was not a limb, but a young!

A juvenile of the stupid species. It was a shame to be killed when so young and meatless before one could feel enough sunrises on their face and eat the wonders of the land but that was the natural chaos of the world. Eat or be eaten.

"NO! No?! Not a kitty!" wails the screaming young adult. Truly, too stupid to have survived to this point. Such a miracle.

"Kitty?" goes the young, crooked backward in the running adult's arm. Perhaps that was the natural cry of this animal?

"No! No bad! BAD MURDER KITTY AAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

Such a scream was futile though, at warding off or intimidating anything. Especially not the predator that easily stalked them through the broken paths of the jungle. Its steps were fast and nimble. Every movement is fluid and graceful yet ultimately deadly.

"A tiger!? Why a tiger! Why is a tiger out here!?!?!" Georgie cried as he stumbled and ran for his life.

"Kitty lives here?" the little boy explained.

Georgie had nothing to say to that. He could only cry and run faster, to save his breath. He was going to need it after all since he was running from a damn predator.

A tiger of all things!?

He had only seen tigers in picture books and legends, had heard vague descriptions, and even sat atop a stone statue depicting one. Let's just say that reality was a far different creature.

Not that he ever saw a real tiger before, but was it supposed to be that color? From little that he did see, its imposing face was bigger, fatter, and far more ferocious than he previously thought. Fear and terror force injected adrenaline through every fiber of his being, forcing him to just run without looking back.

"So many different types of kitties." Amar bounced, not by his own will.

He was still being carried along with Georgie's desperate escape. His little face glowed when staring back, trying to spot the big kitty, as he called it.

Such cuteness and innocence made Georgie unable to know whether to feel warm and fuzzy or mind-breakingly terrified. Either way, Georgie settled with screaming

"Georgie? I think we're going the wrong way?" Amar pointed out, though the older teen couldn't see it from behind.

Georgie did know however, it was pointed exactly in the wrong direction. The very direction he was running from. Away from the man-eating big cat.

"No no no, away is good. Away from that THING is very good. Definitely not wrong." Georgie panted in suffering.

Who knew his forced drills and marching practice-built muscles would come in handy here. He would have probably already been tiger stomach slush otherwise if he were any more unfit. The mental image did little to relieve his fears. Not while that beast was still on their tails.

"But we're supposed to go up there?" Amar pointed still.

Where he pointed was too high to see. Nothing but green to the point of the clouds. Maybe he wanted them to just die and go to heaven, where they could frolic around with kittens while their earthly bodies became tiger poop.

Yeah, Georgie didn't really like that idea. Bad idea.

"I was supposed to climb up the big mountain. There's something there? That's what I was told. I have to climb it…if I wanna know anything more..." Amar trailed off, as if confused by his own words.

But in the end, he was just a child. He could only do what the adults around him told him so.

Threats and promises were the same things. His fate was up in the air.

"Up there?" Amar titled his head.

The awkward position turned his vision upside down. The bounce of a frantic messy run did nothing to right it back up. Yet there was something strange and novel to a child in that way. A whole new world maybe?

That was something kinda interesting, the child decided. And interesting was about halfway to funny he figured.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH No no NOOooO?! Bad not kitty, bad trees! AHHHHH!!!!!"

There was also Georgie to look after, a bigger than usual kitty to pet, and a mystery up the top of the mountain they were running away from. How nice. Now it was just a matter of what to take care of first?

"Is it speeding up?! Oh, Gods above and below! No! Noooooo!!!" sobs Georgie even as he runs. The tiger was indeed gaining on them, narrowing in on its prey.

It was getting so close that Amar, in his awkward position, could almost pet its vibrant fiery fur. Even when viewing the big cat upside down, Amar couldn't help but reach out to touch its fat angry face.

Fat, fanged, and kinda scary looking, but oh so cute.

Sadly when his young arms reached to pet the kitty, he found it to be very lacking. The fur seemed to melt right off his hands and the creature only got angrier.

How sad.

Well, that was one thing crossed off the checklist.

On to saving Georgie's butt from being eaten. Amar shook his little head which was growing dizzy on the run. No matter how big and cute the kitty, biting into Georgie's flesh and butt was a big no. Rosalia would never do that.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!?" Georgie screamed, ever the louder and more frantic at the brush against his pants.

"Um…Nothing?" Amar responded. Right after throwing a pocket full of candy and sand into the creature's face.

"THat didn't SOUND like NOTHING??!"

If Georgie still had the strength to scream, it couldn't be too bad. Right?

The creature was taken aback by the surprise of irritating particles in its throat and eyes. But it wasn't going to be down for long.

Cautiously the child looked up, or in his upside-down case, leaned back to get a good view of their surroundings. It was easy to see green. Green and only green, unless you counted the fiery blur of fur not that far from them, roaring in irritation.

Georgie was already doing a very good job at traversing the dense jungle, surprisingly not tripping over an overgrown root or tangling himself on the dangling vines. Even though they kept smacking his face with nearly every move. Like walking through a veil of thick green beads. Heavy, long, and not delicate at all.

Passing through, they're nothing like something Amar maybe remembers. Maybe.

The child doesn't remember much of anything at all.

If ever.

A beast roars, slicing through the foliage easily with its sharp powerful claws. Their distraction was only momentary and not long enough. Georgie wasn't just getting tired out, he's been tired. There was no escape.

Amar felt his head hurt, though that could just be from being carried upside down for this long. Then again it's nothing new or worse than how Lukas carries him or what silly stuff Rosa rolls them in. So he holds his head steady, feeling the softness of his cheeks. The kind his friends pat and check for "fatness" and "mochi" levels.

They feel good.

Soft to the touch and better than before.

His head still hurts a little, humming like tropical heat, buzzing like a mosquito right by one's ear. But what the mind doesn't want to remember, the body does.

When in doubt, there was nothing to do but trust the body.

Instinct.

First reaction, anywhere, anytime.

Always look for a way out.

"Georgie! Let go." Amar shouted through the whizzing air, green and openness all around them.

"What?! No! I'm not feeding you to that thing!"

"It's ok, I don't wanna get eaten either. There are vines everywhere, these are big trees."

"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH-"

"Up, Georgie. We gotta go up."

"AHHHHH WHY IS IT SO FAST?!?!"

"Now. Georgie? Now? Georgie! Let go of me and dive! Now!"

It was frustrating. The dizziness, the adrenaline, raising one's voice in this chase. For the first time in a long time. Screams caught in someone's throat.

It works.

A small figure goes flying, just momentarily.

Vines tense in force, and Amar grabs on to what he can, thankful for the extra air. Not as good of a throw as what Lukas can do but good enough. High enough to avoid and grip. The thick-soled shoes on his feet slip here, but he makes up for it with a relatively small weight and twisting all of his body in use. He's climbing up in what could be described to an observer as no time at all. Children were light and fast like that.

No time wasn't entirely accurate though, since in that time frame a predator goes crashing face-first into a tree.

If the tiger was capable of human emotions, it would be screaming and cursing colorfully at this point. How could its might and pride handle such frustrating prey?

The stupid sluggish two-legged creatures should have been easy to kill. Yet somehow they were more bothersome than the most bloodsucking of bugs. The young juvenile especially was as spiteful as a face of hornets and jumpy as a langur. It was probably as tasty as those bony monkeys too.

If the mighty predator was a human, it might have felt spiteful enough to keep going. A hunt for its pride and honor. But to a tiger? It just wasn't worth it.

Too much trouble and annoyance for just a bony little bit of meat!

There was bigger and easier, prey to gobble down.

"...what was that….Amar?! AMAR?! Where are you! I didn't mean to oh God I didn't mean to just…kiddo where-"

"Up here, Georgie! I'm fine!"

"Oh thank the gods. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to let you go like that…"

"I know but hurry Georgie! It's dazed right now!"

"I'm sorry…"

"I'm sorry too but there's no time! Climb up. Climb up and, oh no, Kick! Kick it back!"

Maybe it was fear and pure adrenaline, but Georgie did just that.

The teenager was dazed out of his mind in disbelief. Did he just kick a tiger in the face? And survive? His foot was still on his person? What the hell?

He could only do one thing in response to that. Scream!

"AHHHHHHH WHAT -"

Some colorful human language burst out of the dense jungle. The kind that could make a sailor blush. If Amar paid enough attention, he could be learning new words!

Swearing, climbing, drop-kicking a tiger in the face repeatedly, and screaming some more. Georgie was really letting it all out. Yuna, safe and unknowing wherever he was, would have been so proud.

"You got this Georgie! Keep going!" Amar called out from where he nestled in the tree up high, looking around for anything that could help. Just green, green, brown, and more green. Huh. Well, it would just have to do. Good enough?

"I don't 'got this'? AHHHH! I DON'T! BAD KITTY! BAD, STOP BEING UNDER ME!" the older boy scrambled up the best he could.

Unfortunately, the trunk proved slippery, and pure fear wasn't the best climbing aid. There was also a very pissed carnivore ready to explode.

Georgie wasn't ready to be tiger poop.

"Grab on!" Amar, now but a small cataloged speck in the branches tossed down towards Georgie.

It was a vine. Ok, it was two or three vines, twisted together for extra strength. But it was still just some vines.

Angry roaring tiger. Slip and slide tree. A vine in his hand. Yep, Georgie felt like crying.

"Georgie, you should jump now?"

"...I don't want to." The teen took after his young mistress, speaking his true thoughts out loud with tears already streaming down.

Just what did he do to deserve this, Georgie wailed to the heavens. You know, where he might end up since he was basically dead in a few minutes.

"Just jump! Kick-off hard, swing, and don't die." The normally quiet child yelled out as if it were an order.

Wonderful. How encouraging. Georgie was just gonna hop over the ravine of death. Of course.

He screamed and cried the whole way.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Nothing but incomprehensible screaming filled the air, in very much the literal sense since Georgie's feet kicked around to nothing but open air.

Round and round the sturdy vine swung. Around the tree like a ball and rope tied to a pole, except Georgie seems to be acting as the ball. To a child or perhaps a very crazy daredevil, it looked rather fun. To anyone else, it would be plain dangerous and horrifying.

Amar was looking from atop, but he would admit this kind of swing did look a bit fun. Look how surprisingly fast and high Georgie was going.

The older boy didn't sound to be having much fun though unless you considered his constant screaming. It was like a bad Ventrella festival ride, but far more dangerous. Those didn't come with tigers.

"Why is it still spinning?! Why is that thing still chasing me?!!"

Indeed, the tiger just would not let it go.

It already frustratingly lost one seemingly easy prey. Now this big one too? After all the trouble and injustice that a top predator took on, it had to eat this stupid creature. It just had to!

So round and round the tiger ran, chasing after the flying Georgie. Though Georige was merely hanging onto the vine for dear life, letting his weight and physics itself spin him around higher up the tree. He was catching some incredible air as he spun at high speed. Which only forced the angry animal below to run in wider circles.

Round and round it ran, heating up in fury and tiredness.

Amar watched the whole thing with slight giggles. Sure he was trying to help Georgie on top of the vines, but it really was a mesmerizing show. Up here the tiger looks so small, just like a very red kitty. Only getting redder and redder and….

…while Amar sometimes imagined a certain red angry creature in his company would explode into flames, he never expected her to. Likewise, he didn't think the tiger would either.

Not only that but it seemed to have melted. A quick flare and then, a puddle of goop.

Amar stayed silent, even as Georgie fully swung his vine entirely around the tree. The poor young man was still clinging and screaming with his eyes closes shut.

"Is it over?!! Is it still there?!! Am I dead yet?!!" Georgie cries eyes clenched shut in fear.

"Um…"

The child thought long and hard but still couldn't come up with what to say to that. After all, how does one say that the tiger…melted?

A lot of strange new experiences for these out-of-place boys, and this was only just the start.

—--------

—

–

I'm adopting a temporary new maid.

Just as soon as she stops her stubborn hunger strike in my dungeons.

A strange plan, I know, but I feel a bit responsible.

After all, the minion of my minion is also my minion. Since Amar isn't around to worry Cass or eat her yogurt cups, I suppose then I must make suitable arrangements for the displaced maid. It is only right.

Sure she's technically employed by the troops but it's obvious the only reason she's around is to hunt for and keep track of a certain little brain-damaged brat.

Thus why she must be throwing such a tantrum in our dungeons now that he's been poofed off to 'boarding school'. Pffft.

Regardless, it's scaring all our guards.

You would think that the forces of my family would be used to far worse, but I cannot blame them. Cass is just scary.

"Listen up," I announce on the other side of the bars.

In a resting meditative pose, the scary maid sits like a perfect straight diamond. Hair neat and braided, with her eyes closed, and sitting back with her weight on her legs, she looks almost peaceful.

When she peeks her dark eyes open, barely affording my noise a glare, I jump back with a yelp.

Curses, why did I react like that? No, why is she so scary?! Someone come and take care of this!

But alas there is no one like that.

Days ago, when I was first informed of Cass's imprisonment, our whole entourage came down to check. She hardly blinked at our presence. Too focused on being silently scary on the floor of our cells. At most I think she spoke a few words to my mother and threw a key at Yuna's complaining head.

Since then I have been visiting every day at various times. Sometimes even two or three times a day, just to check.

She moves.

Every other day or so, she's in a different cell of the dungeon. She is certainly moving but I never see her move? Not even out of that center sitting pose. It's creepy as hell!

No wonder our guards are crying, begging for deliverance. Or why Amar doesn't ever seem to get scared easily.

It's Cass! Too frightening. Is she trying to act out a horror movie here?

"I don't know what you're up to, but this isn't healthy. I know you already spoke to my mother, oh and probably Alfonso. Definitely Alfonso. Turning into a cryptic haunting sighting in my dungeons is not a very good coping method." I explained to her.

Once again she barely blinks at me.

Once again my little legs scamper back out of instinctual fear.

A snort, I possibly hear a slight snort on the other side of the bars. But when I look back up, Cass is still in her pristine meditative pose, not bothering with me at all.

Courage Rosa! You've already died once, or twice, not like I can remember. You are stronger than this! It has been days of this maid silently terrorizing everyone by just sitting there like a haunted ghost. It cannot go on.

She's gotta eat eventually right?! Or poop?

I don't want to deal too much with bathroom matters. Let's leave that for someone else.

Food I can do. It must be very tiring to sit underground in prison all day and night? Even if Cass seems to be magically ghosting around, looking neat, clean, and not miserable at all, she must be tired to her core.

Tired of the food!

That's right, the reports say she hasn't been eating. Not even a sip of water! At least not where anyone can see. It's as if she's surviving off spite and her own aura of fear. While that may be possible for a mysterious and eerily competent maid, it must not be a very pleasant way to live.

"I may not have the solution to your problems, I certainly do not have the solution to my problems, but I have many compromises. More importantly, I bring snacks. See if you can ignore….this!"

"M-my young miss, I d-don't-t th-think th-this is a good idea?"

"Worry not Abbey! Cass probably won't kill us. Probably. Be brave!"

"...th-that was n-not my concern, my young miss…"

Abbey still looks reluctant as she rolls out my setup, even as she works. Her eyes shift from the concerned guards hiding around the corner to the prisoner who won't come out or communicate properly. But work she does.

After all, they can't all be as silly and useless as my Georgie.

Poor Abbey though, on my orders she's often been bringing down things for the scary prisoner. However, I think the rejection affects her more than the scary cell or the lady behind bars. Prison food sucking shouldn't be an issue when Abbey has been bringing things straight from our kitchens.

Yet everything goes untouched. Abbey can only run back crying to me for forgiveness.

There is nothing to forgive, this is just one hard nut of a maid to crack. Not that I'm calling Abbey easy or anything….sorry Abbey.

From what I know about Cass, she's not lacking in taste. She has her means, magical or not. She's from a harem. A harem!? Where they probably hookah smoke cinnamon sticks and all have access to cavities. I don't know! What I do know is that very little will affect her, let alone impress her.

So we must simplify. A stronger focus on the quality, the mood, something that could make you feel alive again! She's been locked up in this damp dark place enough to affect her senses, right?

"M-my young miss, I-I beg of you to reconsider. T-this isn't-t quite safe." Abbey's hands shake with the firestone lighter.

"Nonsense. It's perfectly safe. The floors are entirely stone or something. Nothing flammable." I tap my foot on the exposed parts of the 'dungeon'.

Right outside the zone of my mini camping set!

Behold! The troop's latest model is a standard tent, and pack set. Made for one, solo, just one camper. Grab and go! Try not to die.

I had nothing to do with this process, so it will be quite fun to test it out. Perhaps I shall find a great flaw or improvement? Or perhaps I'll just take an uncomfortable nap. Who knows?

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not so carefree to have forgotten all my problems. Just useless! There's absolutely nothing I can do effectively at this current point in time. Also, I'm far too young to overstress about things outside of my control. So like any real child, I should just enjoy myself.

Have I gotten used to the mental regression as well as the physical? I sincerely have no idea!

Huh, I'm sounding a bit like Grampa there. How scary.

Before I devolve myself even further, I should focus on properly starting my campfire.

If only this darn firestone would work.

I shake the fire starting stone over the pile of wood. Part broken furniture from my Father's office spaces, part pure firewood, plenty of kindling. Does my reasoning state that it should light up like a firework with a magic lighter?

I used this very same one before when Grampa forced me to go camping by myself in the woods. I would recall. Very memorable in this lifetime. It was horrible and I still made it. But I guess the firestone lighter didn't?

"What am I doing wrong now? It worked just fine before? Did I magically drain it or something? Out of juice?" I shake the thing.

"M-my y-y-oung m-miss. P-please reconsider?!! L-look, I hav-ve set up the towel warmers and-d light stone lanterns. I-isn't th-that enough?" Abbey cries in an odd combination of eagerness and desperation. On her knees, her frame trembles, hands shaking to take the fire starter away from me.

"Oh, silly Abbey. Yes, you have done a very good job making the trial display warmer, brighter, and more inviting. Very glamping. That's glamorous and camping, don't be too confused now. But it can't be a camp without the centerpiece of roaring fire. Once I get this up, you'll see. Cass too. It shall be very charming. Huh?"

After constantly flicking and even smashing the firestone into my pile of fire fuel, it somehow goes flying out of my hand. Like a strange coincidence, or maybe a haunting, it clatters across the floor to Abbey's feet. There my little maid gratefully ceases her sobbing and quickly pockets it away.

"...I guess it is empty…" I try to comfort myself.

"Right! Yes! Yes, my young miss, it-it is empty so th-there's no need to start a fire inside anywhere. I-I have an approved food warmer set up for you. You can even melt cheese in it-t!" Abbey does her best.

"Hmm, alright. A not bad plan….but we must have a campfire. It's just not glamping without it. I guess this is just a chance to try it the old-fashioned way. Can't ever be too prepared. I'm sure I have knife and flint in here." I rummage through my purse.

"My lady, no!" Abbey scrambles back to me and falls over.

Back and forth, to the doorway and back. This can't be good for her knees.

"...Did you want to start on the campfire then, Abbey?" I ask the rather pathetic maid on the floor.

"...Yesh. Yesh please let me, my y-young miss!" Abbey sobs, literal tears already running down her face for no reason.

Dear me, how is this maid ever going to survive? What is there to even cry about? Did she fall that hard?

It's a rather embarrassing show for Cass across the bars.

That is if she was even watching? Her eyes remained closed the whole time but I suspect she's somehow watching, especially if those fists clenched in her skirts mean anything. Annoyance perhaps?

"Well…I suppose so. It is a lot of work to start a manual fire…alright. I'll start cooking what I can on the food warmer. You do the fire! Then we'll really show Cass a good time." I snap and look over again to the older maid.

Nope. Still unresponsive.

Well, I won't let that ruin my fun. I have a much nicer setup over here than what she has in there. Extra pillows across a little campsite, were made all the cuter with Abbey's hard work and my visionary direction. Mmmm, soft and comfy.

I climb over to where Abbey has a well-lit table set up. The food warming stones underneath the tray only get as hot as a tea light. But they're sufficient for many outdoor garden parties so they will do.

"P-please let me get that for you, my lady!" Abbey rushes over when I try to move a kettle, abandoning the fire attempts entirely. Oh, I knew I shouldn't have trusted her on that. She's just so little and weak.

But my young maid is just too eager to please, taking the initiative to pour in the hot water and set my pasta noodles to boil

"I could have done that much Abbey? Hmmm, what next? The shrimps are already skewered. Ah right, let's grill the bacon and vegetables. We're going to make creamy pasta, but with a twist and smokey flavor. And lots of mushrooms!"

There are just so many choices on what to have for a camping meal. But simple and convenient is best. To be honest, I'm not a very big fan of bacon. But it's very tasty on occasion. Also, there's something just so craveable about eating forbidden unhealthy foods. Especially when it's someone else's favorite thing and they're not here. Oh ho ho~

"... Now where did I put that knife?" I look around to prepare the ingredients.

"My young lady! Please!" Abbey cries, seemingly never stopping.

Then, a scary clattering sound comes out from nowhere! The echo is quite loud down here in this dungeon. It makes me jump and fall into a pile of pillows in my play camp. I think I even cowered in there for a bit before peeking out.

"What was that? A guard? I would have heard them?! Shouldn't it be only us down here?" I question under all my pillows.

"T-th-thank you very m-much," Abbey calls softly, wrapping up the kitchen knives in cloth and leather.

"Hey wait, Abbey don't put those away, we need to chop the-"

"I-it's already done, my lady!" Abbey shows me quickly with a flair as if desperately trying to please me.

I see that indeed, somehow all the vegetables and bacon have been perfectly cut. So neat? The bread for toast too?

"That…that was…way too fast? Abbey…did you…" I look up to my little maid in awe, "are you a secret cooking prep genius?"

Abbey smiles nervously.

A part of my imagination hears a sigh and the slight slap of a palm to the flesh. But when I look behind the bars again, Cass is still motionless as ever. As if she doesn't notice us at all.

Hmmph, we'll see how she holds out when we start cooking.

"Ahem. Since these are somehow all ready, we just need to drain and remove the pasta. Then we must start grilling for that char. …But this level of heat really won't do the job for maximum flavor. I'll start on the fire then."

"No! I mean, my young miss, look. Look, I am starting to grill the ingredients. I-tt will cook perfectly well. P-please, please sit down." Abbey works as fast as she can, balancing multiple things.

Maybe she's feeling stressed from the lack of Georgie. I admit things are smoother with my little assistant around. It's my uselessness though, my fault that he's not here right now.

Because of my mistakes, Abbey is left alone to deal with me. Georgie is gone, thrust into a strange environment and situation he did not sign up for. Amar's at risk for god knows what, lost and brain-damaged in the wilds. Lukas is brooding in his own way at our beloved once trusted Gable, don't think I can't tell. And Cass right there is protesting most strangely on my dungeon floors.

None of this happened before, none of this was an issue. It's me. It's happening because of me, somehow. My own mess-ups.

"D-don't be up-upset, my young miss! L-look, there can be a warm lantern set on a brazier for-for th-the fireplace. A-and the food, i-it can be grilled hot-t-ter! I-it will certainly be alright-t. Don't-t be saddened, my young miss." Abbey flails, misunderstanding my silence.

Even that is my fault.

"I-it will certainly taste alright-t!" she yells, trying to cheer me up.

Unfortunately, trying to take on all the work makes for a very clumsy and distracted Abbey.

"That's too much seasoning oil!" I watch but can't act soon enough when it goes spilling.

A heartbeat too late, silence, followed by a slight whooshing sound. Then a miracle happened.

We have fire.

The bacon caught on fire. On that weak little grill? Amazing.

Without even a single spark, we somehow created a fire! Whoopee!

"Don't just stand there staring with your mouth agape, Abbey! Quickly. Throw the flaming charcoal of fat and fire-soaked meat into the campfire pile!...Abbey? Oh, it's gonna go out, I'll just do it."

For a good amount of time, my little maid stood frozen in shock at the sudden fire in front of her. Unable to comprehend it. But when I moved to take some of it to start the stubborn dead pile of wood, she grabbed the whole flame growing tray away.

"My lady, you can't!" Abbey practically screams.

"Abbey, put that down! Isn't it hot!? Are you holding it directly!?" I scream back in worry.

"EEEEP IT IS! I mean i-tt isn't! Don't come any closer, my lady!"

"Don't panic or move, Abbey no you'll trip again!"

Then panic she does and I swear I'm seeing a disaster in slow motion. For she backs up in the motions of tripping over herself, as always. It becomes hard to breathe.

There is no air.

For a sudden moment, there is no air and the fired-up bits in the pot go entirely out.

Abbey does not trip but is righted up by an invisible force. I can't seem to move my legs to get up to help. There was seemingly no transition time to notice the air returning or turning as cold and dry as a tundra.

I could turn my neck, but I fear there is no need to. I fear that if I turn to look behind those dark iron bars…

"Who or what household, in any right mind, would leave you two ALONE to do anything?!" a scary maid suddenly stands tall in front of us, snatching the tray out of Abbey's frozen hands.

"AHHHHH!!! HOW DID-WHEN DID YOU GET THERE!?"

"EEEEEEEEEPPPP! I'M SOWRY!!!"

Abbey and I scream at once, at the same time we're also plucked out of our positions and thrown into the tent. Quite literally. Cass has picked us up and thrown us into the tiny tent. Thank goodness I am very small and have this thing entirely decked out in soft fuzzy rugs and fluffy pillows.

"You two, the supposed YOUNG MISS especially, stay put. Stay put there away from fire, sharp objects, stupid ideas, and especially fire!" the demon ahem maid chastens and glares down at us.

Fearing for my life, I nod along with Abbey frantically. The two of us were freed enough to hug and clutch at each other. Or a pillow. That works too.

"...I do not curse….but if I did…" The angry maid holds her temple in a headache.

With a single hand wave, she calls for Abbey to stand and hold out her hands. Then slaps them painfully loud before sticking them in what I presume is a cold water bucket. As she throws down Abbey and the water bucket in a chair, I am left alone in the tent to cower.

Scary…too scary. Why is her face so scary?

No wonder Amar doesn't get frightened by anything we do to prank or scare him, he had that following after him! How horrid!

"To the young miss of house Ventrella,....I suggest you control both your magic and your mouth." Cass turns back in my direction in warning, and I clasp my hand over my mouth just in case.

Satisfied, she turns away to busy herself with ruining my play camp.

The campfire pile is moved away. The lantern lights are set up high and bright. Food is grilling away with the sounds of a sizzle. Oh, is she cooking?

"Did I or did I not say to stay put, as a young lady should!?" Cass warns without even looking as if she had eyes on the back of her head.

"I am staying put!" I yell back mumbled behind my hands, cowering deeper into the tent and my pillow pile.

Such torture. This sort of suffocating hiding and waiting for the dawn is not what I expected. I was just trying to safely convince a new maid with deliciousness and camp indoors a bit, that's all. Why did it come to this?

I am truly useless after all.

"It is like a box of mewling abandoned kittens caught in the rain here-..... " Cass suddenly opens the flap to the tent wider, sticking her head in,

Though her sudden, even closer, appearance is quite frightening, I peek out of my pillows and blankets at the trailing off silence. Just a little. To stay safe from this unprecedented wrath. There is an awkward moment of eye contact, dragging until Cass decides she has had enough.

"...I will not ask." She picks at a handful of mushrooms, then leaves to continue cooking.

I too will not ask why there are suddenly mushrooms growing inside the sides of the tent when they were not there before. This is a new tent too! Darn it Grampa, did he give me something defective?

At least there are plenty of mushrooms to go around? Are these even safe to eat?

I don't know. I don't know enough about anything at all, and it's quite upsetting. I just stated earlier today I would stop being so upset. I'm too young for this kind of depression!

"M-my young miss? It's t-time to come out to eat! " Abbey is next to stick her head in calling.

A strange sound of wailing and not crying comes out of my mouth. Or does it? No one has to know.

"Th-there th-there my young miss, we can clean up the mushrooms! Don't-t cry. T-there's noth-thing to be ashamed of-f. Th-they're so small and cute! Mu-uch easier to clean th-than the others. C-come and eat now, Miss Cass made a wonderful menu for you! I-it's better than-"

Another strange not cry comes from my general direction, say inside my lungs and vocal cords. A disgusting "UUUuuwwwUUUU *hic* uuuuuuuuah" sort of sound. I'd rather not describe it.

"M-my young miss!" For some odd reason, Abbey starts to cry too. Again!

Everything is just so upsetting and nothing is even happening yet. I barely just turned four! Life is sincerely unfair to me in this identity. I don't want to be this way, sincerely not. But I can't seem to control my body anymore.

Cursed Father! Nothing works! This body doesn't work the way I want it to, it doesn't stop crying sometimes.

"A box. A box of abused kittens in a flood. Why is there a flood here? I simply tell you to- ….never mind. It is a waste of my breath….this is neither safe nor sanitary. I am removing this." Cass interrupts the unexpected crying sessions rather effectively.

I don't know if I am grateful to her for that, or rightfully resentful at her for starting this.

We wouldn't be down here if not to coax and comfort her during her unhealthy coping time in the dungeons. If she is upset then she should deal with it in a better fashion!

It is her fault in this case, but I cannot and do not dare to say so. Primarily because she has lifted me out. Awkwardly there are rocking motions as if I was a wailing child that needed to be comforted. Eventually, I am moved around as the older maid settles me in one arm as she resumes the work she silently took in.

I hardly notice when or how the tent goes flying away. Perhaps creating a small bed of mushrooms elsewhere in the corner of this dungeon. My pillows are also cleared and rearranged on the carpet, inexplicably smelling much cleaner.

When I am calmed to but a bunch of sniffles, I am set down on a cushion. A cold towel forcefully scrub over my face, and more than a few threats and scolding washed over me.

"No self-control. No self-discipline. No sense. Too much freedom and allowance. How has a child like you gotten away with it all this time? With tears?! Never have I seen a supposed noble child cry so violently. Do you do this often or just hold it for a show? No. There is no more crying after that flood, not without replenishing." Cass scolds, abusing me in all sorts of ways from making me blow my nose clean to forcing me to drink a tall cup of water.

The spread is laid out mostly on the floor, with a small table holding the hot meal. Three additional dishes have magically been created from my ingredients beyond just my intended cream pasta in the middle. Abbey sits numb in shock, fear, and perhaps something of awe at the spread. At first bite, then second and third, her face grows intensely brighter. I dare not describe her grateful sparkling eyes as worshipful to the older maid pouring tea.

"Are you no longer moping? Is the hunger strike over? You really should learn to cope better?" I sniff but stay obedient as I'm served a clean plate of each portion.

"..." Cass glares down in warning.

I shut up by stuffing my face fearfully. But it's hot! Hot hot oh it's tasty, how-AH IT'S HOT SHRIMPY LAVA FLESH IN MY MOUTH. Gotta do the reverse blow.

"....Spit. Careful. Sip. "

Cass finds it necessary to hold my little face, partially feeding me herself. Through her silence, I still hear sighs with her every action. As if she were quite tired and had already given up.

Is this it?

Did I win? Did I get a new maid? Or a temporary new maid? Are we safe and free from this horror?

"...Eat. Behave. …We …will have much to work on." Cass sighs, stuffing another yummy shrimp in my mouth. Oh my!

With deliciousness bursting in my mouth, a fresh yet delicate flavor incompatible with this dingy basement camping, I am certain that all will be well. Kinda. Mostly. Good enough!

That is until a scary sound pops from the rafters and a cursed little red-haired doll falls out from there.

Then it's back to screaming and cowering.

Cass glares in silence but still allows me to hide within her lap. That is as good as any victory in the tragic unfair life of one Rosalia Ventrella. Me, unfortunately.

Like Grampa tends to say, GOOD ENOUGH!

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