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Ari: *shrugs* I don't mind. You seemed to sleep better than usual last night, especially for being right after a case. *that doesn't sound stalkerish at all, Ari*

Darnell: .............h-how...how would you...know that?

Ari: *hunches* I-I...was with you a long time before I felt the anomaly here...

Darnell: ........you said you followed me on cases . . . you mean to say you were in my /home/?

Ari: *please don't hate him* ...Y-yes...

Darnell: .............okay, first? You know that's creepy, right? And second . . . /why/? I'm not /that/ interesting. Especially at home.

Ari: I-I know... You just... you went from one case to another when I first saw you. I... got the impression that you did things like that... often. You were doing such good for people... I... I wanted to help how I could... which meant I had to be ready... be there.

Darnell: *takes that in, remembering that Ari first found him at Dire Grove, and that he'd JUST come off of Fate's Carnival /and/ his second round with Ravenhearst . . . nods* But thankfully, my life, my cases, /aren't/ back-to-back like that...?

Ari: Oh yes. I'm glad for that, for your sake.

Darnell: Well, sure, but I mean . . . why stick around then?

Ari: *shy little smile* I... I like you? I mean. You’re nice, and you’re creative. You care about people, and I...I just enjoy your company. *that...doesn’t sound creepy does it?*

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Darnell: .......so why did you never let me know you were there? I had /no/ idea. *not...sure if that should bother him or not*

Ari: I didn’t want to frighten you. *sad look.* You’d delt with horrors and monsters. I was worried that if I showed up you’d be afraid of me— people usually are— and that you might think someone sent me to hurt you somehow. I kept considering it; you’re so kind and accepting... but as more time passed the more likely it was that you would be suspicious that I was sent by an enemy. And the came the anomaly here. E-even if you hated me for keeping myself secret from you for so long, I knew you could help this world...

Darnell: *remembers how he'd gone belly-flat when they first met, and his reaction to letting the kids see him...sighs* Ari...like you said, I've faced real horrors. Appearance isn't what makes a monster. It's a person or creature's intentions and actions, their heart and soul and mind that make them something to be afraid of.

Ari: ...Not all people think like that. ...when I was younger I was chased away by frightened people pretty often, or in some places they wanted to capture me. I tried approaching people all kinds of ways and was only rarely accepted. It...it hurts less if people never know I’m there. I can be with them and enjoy their company without frightening them and being chased away or worrying that they want to cage me. I can pretend we’re friends, that they care for me as I come to care for them. *his eyes and voice are haunted with memories and resignation. This is just his life...*

Darnell: *softly* Thankfully, most people don't have the experience to know what real monsters are. *studies him a moment...then shift to HUG him* Ari, I'm so sorry you've been so hurt like that.

Ari: *huffs and /tucks/ against Darnell, a paw coming up to wrap around Darnell in return.* I-I’m s-ao glad y-you aren’t afraid of me, th-that you don’t hate me.

Darnell: Never. How could I? You're so sweet and kind and gentle. Anyone willing to look past your appearance would see that in a heartbeat. I'm just so, so sorry nobody's ever given you that chance before. *loving on him*

Edited 2018-07-16 17:35 (UTC)

Ari: *another huff, likely a soft sob, and he manages to tuck a little closer.* C-can I stay with you? Once I take you and Hellboy home, can I stay with you?

Darnell: I...I don't see why not. You wouldn't be able to show yourself to anyone else, though. Wouldn't you be happier here? There are so many who already know about you. You'd be welcomed by so many - /here/, at Lady Fenway's church, at Lady Rei's... Coming back with me would be awfully lonely and sounds like you've already had far more than your share of that. You deserve so much better.

Ari: I’d be able to help you, though, on your cases...

Darnell: True, but...is it worth that much to you? Trading everything else?

Ari: ...I don’t know... I... I guess I’m just waiting for someone here to really realize what they’re seeing and chase me off again. *eveyone’s been so traumatized or preoccupied, have they /really/ taken note of him yet? What happens when they do?*

Darnell: After being the single driving force that helped save their entire world from being overrun by demons? Kids won't understand, and yes, they're traumatized but not by you. Besides, they're resilent. They'll come around. And the adults will absolutely understand that you're not a threat and what youbdid for them. If those here just can't or won't for some reason, then Lady Rei at least could be your buffer while those at her church get used to you. Terris would help too.

((Hellboy'd be sleeping through all this, but I'm sure Terris has been listening from the start or close to it.))

Ari: ...Maybe I... can have both...? I can always travel between Earth and here...see people who accept me... *or is Darnell trying to say he’d rather not have Ari around? That thought just hit him and now there’s a tightness in his chest as he waits to see if he’ll be rebuffed and turned away again. That’s not the casethou, right? Darnell is just sorried about him having to hide all the time... right?*

Darnell: *blinks, then gets an "OH RIGHT DUH" look on his face* You can, can't you! That's right. I forgot you have that freedom. *scrubs behind his ears* You're more than welcome to come visit me whenever you like, Ari, but I really would suggest you spend at least /some/ time here, so I'm not the only soul you ever interact with. You're a social creature, like humans are. It's not healthy for your mind or soul to be so limited.

Ari: *That makes his heart soar, joyful that Darnell has accepted him and cares about him.* I’ll do that. Thank you. */leans/ into the scratches, making happy little noises of pure delight.*
Terris: *softly* You clearly just made his day.

Darnell: Ah . . . heh, yup. He's made all of ours, after all. Sorry if we woke you, Terris.

Terris: *smiles* Nothing to apologize for. You sleep all right?

Darnell: *shrugs* As well as usual.
Hellboy: *eyes still closed...but a faint grin on his face* I was fine till someone got noisy.
Darnell: *snickers* At least I don't saw logs all night. You really should get that looked at.
Hellboy: *opens his eyes and sits up, quirking a wry grin* Doubt they make a CPAP that could handle me.

Ari: *aw man, these people, able to see him, so accepting of him, he just... loves it. This giant kitty is so happy right now.*
Terris: *sits up, carefully* Speaking of looking at things, let me look at those stitches, Darnell

Hellboy: *smirks at Ari* You look like you should be purring. *glad to see Ari so happy*
Darnell: *frowns, watching Terris sit up* Only if you'll consent to being checked by one of the other healers here.

Terris: *smiles and nods.* If none are still here, I’ll head to the nearest after breakfast.

Darnell: Good. You do that. *pointing in a joking scold, then shifts to untangle himself from Ari and finally sit up out of bed*

Terris: *chuckles, hugging his ribs with an arm as he does. They’ve all been so worried, focused, serious...it’s good to see everyone relaxing.* Come sit. This shouldn’t take long.

Darnell: *will move over to settle next to Terris on his bed*

Terris: *will unwrap and check his arm, then check the stitches on his cheek and the cut on his forehead. Nothing looks particularly itritated, so he’ll rewrap Darnell’s arm and reapply the sealer cream to keep the ones on his face clean since he can’t bandage those easily.* Looks good.

Darnell: Thanks. We'll get you taken care of next.
Hellboy: *a /bit/ stiff as he gets up - he was injured, but he assured Terris and anyone else last night that he heals super-fast so not to waste any medical supplies on him. And indeed he's looking better already*

Terris: *still eyes Hell oy with a healer’s eye...and is satisfied that Hellboy is well.* After food, though. *especially since he knows there isn’s much a healer can do, except check him over better to confirm injuries.*

Hellboy: Man, I hope they've got coffee here. *getting his belt and such back on*
Darnell: *also pulling himself back together, eager for food - to Ari* Come with us. And make sure everyone can see you. We'll start getting people acclimated to you.

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