Visiting Ari 2: Advice Boogaloo

For the second time in a relatively short while Cala once again found themselves back at Ari's house, well, the front door of it at least. They weren't quite sure if she was home but at the very least now that they had a cell phone again they could give her their number and stay in contact more reliably. Softly knocking on the door Cala would fiddle with their hair anxiously, check their rather surprisingly finely pressed outfit, and shuffle from foot to foot.

Cala had taken quite a lot of time, painstaking effort, and several mortal salons having their appearance adjusted and clothes fitted just right. Some basic studying they had done in mortal media made one thing very clear when it came to dating and that was to look your best but after that? After that Cala had no idea what to do and that was their reason for visiting Ari today.

It was a bit odd to admit to themselves but Cala didn't quite have a lot of friends and, from those, not really any CLOSE friends besides Ari, and that was more due to what Cala perceived as Ari being kind and loving more than them knowing each other for very long. Granted these perceived traits only made Cala appreciate Ari more as a friend, almost viewing her as a sister in a way, and so they could think of no one else they could go to, or would rather go to, for advice on how to properly go about having a crush on, or 'dating' as they had found out it was called, Saiko.

As Ari answered the door Cala would smile softly, a very sheepish smile even by their standards, and fiddle with one of the buttons on their clothing as they asked quietly.

"Ummm h-hi Ari.... I was wondering if you were busy?"

Cala would nod, indeed very anxious, and follow Ari into her house. It was somewhat familiar to them at this point and once they reached Ari's den Cala would smooth their clothing on the couch and sigh softly. Hands resting in their lap, curled up anxiously, as Cala straightened their posture and inhaled sharply, working up their courage to even ask this of their one and only friend. Their face doing it's best color impersonation of a tomato as they struggled to look directly at Ari all of a sudden.

"I-I... I umm.... w-well....."

Cala swallowed what felt for all the world like an entire softball down their throat before murmuring.

"I.... like.... s-someone.... and w-well.... I was wondering if maybe I could ask you for advice?"

Hurriedly, Cala would add.

"I-I don't have any experience dating and the way mortals do things is just... weird but whenever I am around her I feel.... I-I feel..... well...."

Trailing off, Cala would fiddle with their clothing anxiously before shrugging.

"R-Remember how I said I felt like I had lost something?"

Completely without their knowing Cala smiled a smitten, wistful smile, rocking in place without even realizing it as their voice took on a quiet, awed quality.

"She... feels like part of it returning.... l-like.... well... even she asked if I thought we met in a previous life..... I-I dunno if I seemed familiar too or even if I interest her THAT much b-but.... I just.... I HAVE to try... Ari..... please?"

The look Cala gave to Ari was a very odd, very out of place look on Cala's face, a mixture of equal parts determined and pleading with their demon friend.

If someone had told Cala that they would soon consider coming to Ari for advice a mistake they would never have believed them. Ari was, aside from their other self, the closest thing to a best friend or family Cala possessed if one did not count other Hollows 'family' by technicality. Cala had expected..... enthusiasm? Understanding? A friendly face and an even friendlier explanation? The thing they usually associated with their demon friend but as Ari sighed and Cala sensed their.... anger? Frustration? Their own small, hopeful and bashful smile died on their lips. The spark of determination in Cala's eyes withering like a candleflame placed under a mountain of dirt.

As Ari leaned forward Cala did not flinch so much as simply step back from her. The feelings currently crackling out from where their heart should be made them feel.... bad. Their throat hurt, clenched, and felt a bit more dry. Their chest felt like it was filled with sand, breathing becoming more difficult, and Cala's pupils would dilate down to tiny pinpricks of worry while their irises would expand in something almost like fear. That certainly roused their other half's attention in the depths of their mind, mutually, twinned confusion emanating from both halves now at fear directed at Ari of all people would only make Cala feel worse. They had not even truly noticed they stopped breathing when Ari mentioned it was doomed to end in tragedy as this all felt... like a knife to the back.

Even as their literal other half, a second voice in their mind, pointed out with calm, though undoubtedly hostile intonations that Ari was merely overreacting from her own experienced as Ari all but said as much the present Cala... couldn't bring themselves to listen. Their blood thundered in their ears and they had begun to well and truly panic, now taking another step back from Ari and altogether failing to parse their emotions effectively. Whatever Ari's own experiences Cala had come to her with trust, with hope, and the tiniest bit of budding determination only to be told their outlook was a mistake and likely doomed to failure. They were, in a word, hurt by the only real person they trusted deeply and it was not something they could deal with.

Turning away Cala would look down at the floor, their voice tiny, quiet and shaking as they murmured.

"N-Never mind. I... I want to leave now."

Cala tensed as Ari grabbed them, the quick grip only emphasizing how truly helpless Cala was by comparison to her, and as they were hugged close NOW it was Cala's time to flinch. Being held close, at this moment, was not reassuring as it was with Ari before. The soft embrace along with the soft sound of Ari's heartbeat did nothing but remind Cala just how much they were at Ari's mercy if she so chose. As Ari began to speak, to apologize to them, began to explain how it connected to her own hurt Cala could feel the Loss flooding out from her... and even though they should have been angry at her, or at the very least upset, to know that their current hurt came from hurt inside her.... only made Cala frown.

The kiss to their forehead would usually make Cala smile, or at least blush a little, but knowing now that Ari was hurting so much that it had spilled forth to hurt them.... it made Cala almost choke in indecision. Never mind the fact that Ari's voice was entering their mind as well, though both of them could hear it before, it at least made the communication more direct. This made both sides pause, internal communication taking place as Ari picked them up and carried them to a place to sit. What exactly they said to one-another within their own mind spoke of what they had discussed with Saiko about their powers, about what they could use their abilties, and that Ari was still their friend. At the end of the day, their choice was made.

As Ari sat down with them Cala would adjust themselves to sit facing Ari, looking at her with eyes much less bright than before, but still dimly smoldering with that ember of determination as they forced themselves to speak.

"H-Her name is Saiko, and her powers are like mine, she feels.... feels like a part of what we said we were missing and.... she helped us understand how our powers compare. Their... Th-Their use.... and... if you hurt Ari.... w-we want to help you if we can. We can.. c-can try to take those memories, the cause of those memories, a-... away...."

Cala's hands would gently grip Ari's shoulders, their lips pursing softly, even as their chest continued to ache at this.... forced determination. Their instinct was to hide, to run, but now that someone so close needed them, they made their offer with full intent to follow it through.

"I-I want.... I want to learn how to cook. We... talked for a while a-and.... she likes food s-so... if it helps make her happy then we want to learn."

Cala understood Ari's point of view all too well as she turned down having the bad memories, her Loss of faith in relationships, taken away. It was something they accepted as a good, just reason for holding onto something that otherwise hurt someone. Cala noticed the wince Ari gave and, now worried that cooking was something much more complicated than they thought, Cala nodded slowly in response to the warm smile. Only for Cala to blink quickly as Ari mentioned already knowing Saiko and, though Cala did not anticipate that fact, they were only slightly surprised by it. The teasing and tickling made Cala smile, though they did not laugh, not because they weren't ticklish, but because their heart was still mending from the earlier pain and couldn't quite.... bring itself to laugh.

Cala would stand and nod as Ari mentioned cooking being difficult, their gaze sweeping over Ari's kitchen studiously, before Cala looked back at Ari and shook their head quickly.

"O-Oh no no.... Umm.... if you're Saiko's friend then I definitely want advice!...."

Cala's voice would trail off softly, their eyes landing on an elongated box of some sort, and they would curiously pick it up and study it for a moment. Only to show it to Ari as they inquired with wide eyes that were nothing short of completely, obliviously sincere.

"Umm.... is this stuff easy to make? It says it's a..... cereal?"