#2. in which Arc is nothing but a homesick toddler.

[taceoum]

[Accidental Video.][The feed clicks on, showing a very clean apartment kitchen. When one says "clean", it actually means spotless and glittering, since Arc is very, very passionate about cleaning and scrubbing. On the table is a bag filled with onion bulbs, and next to it is the brat herself, slumped over with her hat off as she peels them.

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[Video]

[chibibrushheir]

[Chibiterasu starts barking and whining, pawing at the screen of his 3STP with concern for the poor girl.]

[Video.]

[taceoum]

[She lifts her head from the table, confused before she spots her device on the ground. Then, humiliation fills her, although it's lessened by the fact that she remembers the sound of Chibiterasu's barking. Oh, Oracion, it was on! Thank god it's just the dog. But if it can hear me, someone else can. Oh dear God. What if the dog finds me stupid? It's smart enough...

She sniffles, sleeve smearing tears all over her face as she picks up the 3STP with her other hand. It might be okay to cry in front of a dog. It's not as if they have the ability to secretly judge you, she thinks.]

P-Puppy? Is that you?

[Video.]

[chibibrushheir]

[This one could, but Chibiterasu makes his feelings about people known. And right now he's very concerned because you were crying.

His tongue passes over the screen once like that could help with her tears.]

[Video.]

[taceoum]

[Watching the video, she can't help but feel her bad mood starting to start up again. She hiccups loudly. How pitiful of her, having a dog pay attention to her fits. Come to think of it, did the dog find its owner yet? Here I am crying because I miss home, but there's a dog who's still probably lost. What am I crying for? It's nothing. Dogs make do with what they have, don't they? Why can't I do the same?]

I'm o-okay. I'm sorry I couldn't... couldn't find you a--hic--gain. [She tries to clean her face, but it's not working as it should be.] I don't-- think I can play with y-y-you right now, though, because I probably wouldn't be any fun--

[So what's the point of going home? You may miss them, but everyone else might be having the time of their lives, now that you're gone. She starts bawling again.]

[Video]

[chibibrushheir]

[The video doesn't come off, but Chibi does pick up the 3STP after licking the screen, his teeth blocking out most of the screen but enough is visible to tell he's walking. It stops for awhile and someone can be kind of heard speaking, followed by a bit of background noise.

Apparently waiting, he sets the 3STP down to "talk" again, rubbing his cheek against the screen and barking.]

[Video.]

[taceoum]

[She tries to stop crying for Chibiterasu's sake, and after a moment of eye-scrubbing, successfully manages to reduce her howling to pathetic whimpers and hiccups. The skin around her eyes begins to sting. If the others are having fun without her, fine. There's nothing she can do to stop it, although the hurt won't go away.]

W-Where are you, p-p-puppy? [Stupid. Dog's can't talk. She's not sure what the dog's doing. Maybe it's itchy? Marking territory? Whatever the case, she's doing her best to calm down, and observing this tiny, unconditionally friendly animal helps.]

[Video]

[chibibrushheir]

[Small is relative, since he can carry children on his back. But he's not big by any stretch.

Picking up the 3STP, he turns around so she can see it's a kitchen of some kind. Then a bag is set beside him and he turns to look at it.]

[Video.]

[taceoum]

So you--hic--found your owner? [How weird. Was that bag always there, or did someone put it beside him? Perhaps the dog was guided back to its owner. "Go anywhere you'd like as long as you're home by noon." What was it like again, to be wanted back?

"Get out of our forest, you dirty Human!
"You will be the death of us all."
"Do you know what the difference is between our thoughts?"
"You're so annoying! Can't you act like an adult for once and suck it up?"
"We can't do everything for you. You're seventeen, and you should know how to be that age."

And, finally, that one last phrase that surfaces into her mind from some place she pushed away at this moment.

"Thank Oracion you're okay, Arc."She bites her lip before giving one last, painful wipe to her face, putting the 3STP on the table. When she sits back down at the table, she picks up the onion she threw down earlier, plucking the skin from its surface once more.] You're l-lucky, to be with someone over there, if there is. If not, then... [She deflates, then mutters to herself of

[Video]

[chibibrushheir]

[Chibi shakes his head, no it's not his owner. But he can hear her mumbling, it's no wonder she can't see his god markings. It makes him wonder what she'd say if she knew a god was being friendly to her and not a dog.

But he barks once and drops the 3STP in the bag before picking it up.

A few minutes later he'll be scratching at your door.]

[Video -> Action?]

[taceoum]

O-Oh. [She hiccups one last time before biting into the onion to block the rest, not noticing that her view might be obscured.] A-At least you're okay, puppy. I mean, it's... dangerous if you're by yourself--

[But then she hears the scratching, and it's sudden enough to make her jump out of her seat again, nearly dropping the onion. Butterfingers! Idiot! How do you expect to go home when you can't even keep a goddamn vegetable in your hand?! She deflates a little, feeling the tears come back despite her efforts. Now she's busy stumbling to the door and opening it.]

P... Puppy? Is that you?

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Chibi wags his tail, offering her the bag, which obviously has a cooked meal in it for her. Bumping her leg affectionately, he whines.

He's come to keep her company, like the thoughtfully helpful little god he is.]

[Action.]

[taceoum]

... [She's starting to feel very, very touched by this gesture. A dog knowing she's upset, running over to where she lived and keeping her company. As she crouches down, she can't help but feel miserable again. I really am pathetic, seeking comfort from an animal. I can't believe I thought about tossing this puppy into the fountain on my first day here. What kind of liar am I, trying to fool this dog into believing that I'm too good for asking for help?]

Y-You-- you actually-- came--

[She holds the onion with two fingers while the others try and hold at the bag, other hand reaching down to pet his head, and she wibbles. She starts sobbing again, but not out of loneliness this time. Animal, god, or not, Chibiterasu went out of his way to come here, and that's all she cares about.]

You--hic--really came to see me, puppy. W-W-Why would you do some--something like that when I can't do anything for you?

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Licking her tears away, Chibi just wags his tail slowly in response, nuzzling against her. He came because she was miserable and lonely, and it's what he does...and will continue to do until she knows she's not alone anymore.

Then he does something very un-doglike and wraps his forelegs around her in a hug.]

[Action.]

[taceoum]

[She's quite startled by the gesture, but at least it lessens her wailing to sniffling once more. Slowly, she's calming down. Shithead. You're alone now. No one will come for you. Not your friends, not your family, not Brandon. If you're here by yourself, at least try and stand on your own two feet. You've got nothing to lose in a place where no one knows you, so you might as well just do it and quit acting like an attention-craving child. Who knows, without asking, someone might even help you along if you can't stand it anymore, you dumb fuck! Get a grip!

Although it's a poor sort of motivation, Arc starts to shut up. Once she's sure that her runny nose is under control, she hugs Chibiterasu back.]

Um. T-Thank you, puppy. I'm... awfully weak, aren't I? Needing someone to help me with this, but I'm okay now.

[At least for now until her next sudden drop in mood, but regardless, she's immensely grateful for this little animal.]

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Chibi just licks her cheek. Everyone needs to be picked up until they can stand on their own. She's just fine and he'll keep helping.]

((ooc: My fault! But I hope you come back to us someday. <3))