Happy Death Day [Mana/Ari]

The fact was that Arianda is simply doing her best to think of the future to keep her mind off the fact that her daughter, and unknown, unborn granddaughter, was gone from this world; Ne’er to return. Not as she was once, at least. Regardless, the demon soon found herself distracted by the gin and tonic that Mana had quite literally conjured out of thin air. Frankly speaking, even if she wasn’t much of one to drink alcohol, the burn of it might be what she need to feel right again. Or at least loosen her lips on the tightly held desires.

After a moment’s of hesitation, uncertain if she would like the flavor of this cocktail, the demon took almost as big of a gulp as Mana did. The taste was a little perplexing, truth be told; but the alcohol at least seemed to help a fire be set in Ari’s belly. Then again, that could just be Ari feeling the alcohol in her stomach. Either way, the demon let out a gentle sigh as she let herself be pulled into Mana’s side, quietly nuzzling into the embrace, pressing against the demon queen’s ample bosom. Indeed, they would both die at some point, likely later rather than sooner; and it seemed pointless to worry over much about it. After all, it was best to live their life to the fullest, the way they deserve, instead of endlessly worrying about the end. The question was what did she really want out of life?

A flick to her nose made the demon squeak gently as she was stolen from her reprieve thanks to Mana and her finger. She looked up at her Queen, a woman who Ari still regarded with a great deal of affection, and the demon woman posed the very question Ari had been needing to hear. What did she want out of the future?

It was a hard question, frankly. She knew she wanted a wife, kids, all that good stuff; but that was just simple goals that could be attained easily. It was wrong to say, however, that it was exactly what she wanted. What did she want, then…? Another long drink of Gin and Tonic, which was starting to give the demon a slight buzz thanks to Mana magically enhancing it, was all it took before Ari’s lips and mind finally agreed to let her words flow.

“I want a family, Mana. It’s all I really wanted, I think. Which brings me to something that I’ve been thinking of recently… my parents.”

Arianda leaned her head against Mana’s shoulder as she thought of the memories that had been slowly ebbing back to her as a result of her Eris Seal being removed; and the training from Ulv for her Tulpa. Both events seemed to remove a self-made seal that protected the Ari of the past from what events before what Mana and the seal of Eris had made her. Regardless of the reasons, it had long led Ari to believe that her parents must be alive… somewhere. She looked up at Mana after a long period of contemplation before finally speaking.

“I want to find my parents, Mana. I want to scour demon world, find my old home when I was a child, and I want to find them... I want to have a family again, like I did so long ago. That’s what I want for the future, my dear Mana. Shit, I even want you to be part of my family, if I can manage it. But, I know you have your own things to do. Still… We deserve some measure of happiness from the suffering we have endured, don’t we? I definitely believe you deserve happiness, Mana. Even a godly being deserves such things, right?”

Arianda smiled softly and gave Mana’s cheek a soft peck, without really thinking about it honestly speaking.

“Besides, I’ll help you make sure we have a chance for a stable future too, Mana. I’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure that we both can get stable futures, if I need to. You need not fight for it all alone, after all.”

Indeed. Family. Ari was deadset on this notion. It's why Arianda had children, it's why she was wanting a wife, and it was the exact reason why she wanted to find her parents. Perhaps it was just the desire for a sense of safety, no matter how fleeting. However, it was that send of grounding that Ari needed. She needed something to ground her to the present, and for the future. She needed some form of support outside of friends, loved ones that knew her better than any other. Such reasons were why Ari hungered to search for her parents, to tear apart demon world just to find them. However, Arianda simply let those thoughts simmer in the back of her mind. She let them be, allowing them to be fuel for the fire that she needed in order to push forward; a goal to set her sights on for the near future. However, the demon soon found something else to fuel the fire inside her.

Frankly speaking, Mana was being very, very intimate with Mana. The repetitive kisses on the cheek, how she stayed so close to the woman as if they were lovers, and even the way Arianda spoke; she was with a lover right now, her lover Mana. However, it seemed that her inability to keep her lips off Mana finally gave the demon Queen enough notion to pull Arianda into a kiss that made the demon's heart flutter.

Mana had always been such an excellent kisser, but Ari wasn't one to back down from such an amazing kiss. She needed to reciprocate, pour her love into the action, and maybe even take over a little bit. It was difficult, because Ari was more than willing to be lulled into the stupor that being tipsy, and around Mana's influence, had brought her into. However, the demon pushed back in the kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around Mana's neck as the demon briefly straddled the demon Queen's lap and legs. The heat of the moment got the better of Arianda as she raised her hips, kneeling a tiny bit, gaining a higher position as she made the kiss far more intimate, and lengthy, than Mana likely intended. Frankly speaking, it could possibly be surprising how much Arianda had turned the kiss into one of such pure passion, but then again, Mana might've expected it. She knew Ari well enough, and the demon becoming so extremely enthusiastic over a kiss was simply par for the course. Regardless, it was a little hard to deny the technique and attempt at dominance that Ari displayed with surprising ease.

Dancing tongues, exchanging saliva, deepening their love; Ari desiring to do nothing more than to have Mana for her own. However, the kiss slowed to a halt, and Arianda's senses slowly returned at a soft trickle, the little demon lowering her hips until she once more sat on her dear Mana's lap; her breath a little ragged, but measured. All good things must end, even if such an end was simply the break of a kiss. She grinned a tiny bit, silently remarking how silly she was being, before her attention was drawn to Mana's wrist as it was presented to her. She tilted her head, looking upon the emerald eyes of her darling Mana, and listened as she spoke of showing Mana her memories; memories of her parents. What she said next, however, made Ari frown slightly.

Not worry for Mana? Sure, Mana was an all powerful being with more than enough ways to keep herself properly cared for. But did that mean Ari was going to stop worrying about her love? No, of course not. That was positively absurd. However, the demon listened quietly, not wishing to be rude for the moment as Mana continued to hold out her wrist. The demon hummed softly as she peered at Mana, looking her straight in the eyes.

Eventually, Arianda slowly took Mana's hand, instead of her wrist, briefly avoiding sharing the memories; at least for a little. She gave Mana a warm smile, and leaned forward. She gave the demon a soft, loving, peck on the lips. One that lingered both too long yet not long enough, and portrayed a great deal of love just from how careful the kiss was. Then, the demon squeezed Mana's hand gently.

"Oh my dear Mana, I'll always worry for you; even if you tell me not to. I want you to be happy, and I want you to enjoy the same stability I wish to enjoy. But, I understand. However, since you don't mind being part of my family while you stay here, in this crazy ass world, I'm gonna eat it up~ Who knows, maybe I'll find a way to get you to stay so I can get a little greedy and keep my lovely Mana all to myself~"

Arianda added her own cackle to the room, being quite serious about trying to find a way to get Mana to stay, some time after Mana's, as the demon drew extremely close to Mana, gently sliding a her hands down Mana's hand to her wrist, placing her forehead against Mana's own; their horns likely brushing together with surprising gentleness. Ari hummed calmly, locking eyes with Mana before she closed her own eyes, squeezing Mana's wrist gently. She slowly established that mental connection, one far more personal that would perfectly fit such an intimate sharing of memories. However, Arianda purred gently as she spoke one last time before the flow of memories.

"I'm quite serious, my love. But, I understand that I cannot control a lick of what you wish to do, in the end. I know that you will need to return eventually, and I won't try to stop you. I'll just take what time I can have with you, Mana. That doesn't mean I won't give up on trying to get you to stay one day~ Now, I suppose I've let my loose tongue run long enough. Here, love, as you requested; the memories with which we can find my wayward parents~"

Soon after falling silent, a sudden influx of memories rushed over the link between Mana and Ari, the blue demon holding Mana quite lovingly as she let the surprisingly gentle flow of memories move between them. She shared memories of her youth, the names of her mothers, Zayla and Mirin, what they looked like, and even the approximate location of her old home. The demon even let slip how Ari was separated from them so long ago, in an effort to protect her family, she became a weapon for a faction unrelated to Mana. Afterwards, Arianda slowly shut off the flow of the river of memories, and remained leaning into Mana while holding her wrist, allowing the demon Queen time to process not only what Ari had said, but also the memories that had just been shared between them.