[Arietta Ostinato]

Her gaze didn’t draw up from her plate until his voice broke once more. Words leaving his lips but not really settling into her head- until they did. Gaze flicking up from the scraps infront of her, eyes wide she could only watch as Gabe began to list things- she hadn’t asked for this- right? The small things... he might has well have just told her that nothing she could do could help because... because she couldn’t just... change those things.

Hands fidgited in her lap as colour took to her face again- could she really... say anything back? How did she deal with this?!

The answer came quicker than she thought- you don’t. A noise left Gabe’s mouth- a sob?! Eyes widened with concern Arietta shifted, about to ask if everything was okay but he was standing up, moving to the register without so much as another word.

Arceus fuck- he... he was not just going to fucking leave her here?! Not... you don’t just leave like that- not after... she shouldn’t- she shouldn’t, and yet she was. Shaking ever so slightly, determined to not be put in this situation again her steps were determined, her mind clicking to thirty things at once. Things to do?! the card, a free meal? Would it be right to follow him- should she?! It might just hurt him further, was he... actually crying?! How did she even begin to know what the right thing to do in this situation was?

“Gabe!” Her voice shook slightly as she finally stood up, pushing hair from her face as she attempted towards the counter, fumbling around in her bag hoping he hadn’t paid already, waving the card in the air at a hopeless attempt to get his attention “M-Managers card!”

She’d moved closer now, determined to stop him from paying. She shouldn’t have come to dinner, she shouldn’t be meeting up with him. That’s having the opposite effect and... clearly nothing she can do can help.

She’s seen that look before, and it terrified her. “...you’re not leaving without letting me take you to the door, at the very least...” a pause, a shaky grin, “are you?”

[Gabe Alim]

Gabe— Her voice was blaring in his ears, and he fumbled at the register his hands shaking. The evening manager at said register was equal parts alarmed and confused. He kept looking from Gabe to Ara and then back again as the latter came over. Gabe was still fumbling to actually find where he’d put the cash, but it was hard to really research when one hand wouldn’t leave his face. Ara’s motion caught in the corner of his eye, and he froze momentarily. Oh…. He stepped sideways half away from the register and half towards the door.

Her question had him leaning against the adjacent wall, and his eyes dropped again. Slowly the hand around his mouth moved to rub his face, his eyes, and then back through his hair. His eyes weren’t went, but they stung. It was so much easier when I just hated you…. Before these feelings came back…. Before he considered…. Considered what even… Considered, he guessed, in the most general form of the word. “This is…. cruel….Ara…..” he finally spoke, his voice much quieter than before.

[Arietta Ostinato]

Arietta finished up paying, attempting a smile at the person behind the counter, taking a moment to breathe before she had to face the inevitable- Gabe with a hand to his face. He wasn’t crying, thank Arceus and everything else but...

Her lips tightened at his words and her hands moved into her pockets. “...sorry” it left her lips again before she could help us and and averted her gaze. “..,I’ll... cancel the dance membership and I can transfer you to melotwist, I can- uh- try block your IP to my blog..” her toe tapped against the ground and she took a step towards the door.

“I... shouldn’t have even come knowing how you feel, huh?” A soft noise akin to a laugh left her lips. “I can... try not to talk to you again, if that helps at all.” Her arms moved to pull her jacket closer to herself, the warm fabric being some sort of comfort.

“...I...don’t wanna be cruel...I just wanna help, promise.”

[Gabe Alim]

A soft dejected sigh escaped from Gabe. Ara was just… going to put distance between them. As if there’s anything else either of us can do… His stomach flipped over. Gabe shifted off the wall and started walking out the door not looking at her now but … keeping pace with her.

She was talking. She was always talking. She just wanted to help. She just wanted to help. She named a Mismagius after me and then…. Well, wasn’t that funny? He couldn’t even work up the anger he’d had earlier. He couldn’t even seem to dredge up the spite. All that was left was a dull throb like a bad sprain… or a break.

He didn’t say anything back as they got outside, but he did turn and look at her. “…I won’t see you later, Ara,” he’d state before slowly turning on his heels to walk up the street. “Bye.”

[Arietta Ostinato]

She forced herself to shut up as the door neared, hands clenching in her pockets. This atmosphere... shed just made it worse, again. That was... good- right? That’d help him?? Or at least, she wanted to believe that, but as the cool evening air hit her face all she could feel was doubtful.

He turned to her and she could only stare, chest tightening. He won’t see her again. Okay. Cool. Cool- yeah. She nodded, despite herself, swallowing down a wad of regret. This was fine. It’d be just like before, it’d be okay! Really! At least, that’s what she attempted to tell herself as she stared at Gabe.

Oh for fucks sakes. She had to speak, she couldn’t just... “...okay...” she attempted another smile, an attempt to be comforting, to do something but it just fell flat. “Enjoy yourself, Gabe.” Her foot tapped on the ground again, and then he was moving, turning around.

Oh she couldn’t bare to watch him walk away. Not again. She was stupid, and now... precautions. She’d have to take them, and talk with her team... she... how did you even deal with this?! This would help him, there was no way they could even start to be friends. They had a dance, they had their fun.

But wonderland was never a happy place, was it? Arietta could only watch for a second more before turning around, pulling herself away from the sight. Why was she shaking so much? Was was this so reminiscent and familiar? Eyes flew to the sky, and she mumbled out softly to herself “...am I sorry, though?”

A thought, and she’d moved to grab a pokeball. Coda breaking forth from her ball without a second thought. Fluffy, comforting, she needed noise, she needed something. Bending down to pick up the Eevee and hug her close.

“We’ll get a driver to take us back to Bass- instead of staying in Cedar- that’s a start- right- Co?” Walking now, towards the intersection, the Eevee nuzzled into her shoulder, she cried silently once more for what was once lost.

Who had Arietta been kidding?

[Gabe Alim]

Gabe stopped in mid step. His fingers twitched a couple of times, forming a fist, and then going flat again He wouldn’t turn around and show her what expression he was wearing now. “Yeah…” was breathed barely audibly, and then Gabe was walking onwards again, down the street, each step a little faster than the next. Finally, he found himself running, practically sprinting. He wasn’t sure where he was going. He passed his hotel pretty quickly and didn’t stop. It was only as he found the buildings peeling away at the edge of town that he realized he wasn’t even going to stop then. He didn’t know where he was going.

[Jenesis]

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Gabe Alim and Arietta Ostinato

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