splitmemory | Lilia's Daycare

Oh, this one is feisty. Lilia breathes out a sigh, lifting her up a little higher. She's kicking and squirming so hard that he almost regrets bringing Silver along with him to investigate this matter. He should've set the boy down...

A look he recognizes is in her eyes. Like a cornered animal, scared, hissing--

"You will be let go as soon as you calm down." Lilia decides, shaking his head. "For, I've no clue whether you're a little thief, looking to steal away what little we have, or if you're a lost child, looking for shelter."

With these statements, he turns them away from the window, still holding her up. He motions back to the window - it slides shut with ease. He shouldn't be using magic this frivolously, but.... well, he had both hands full.

"Now now, I won't hurt you. Take a deep breath, look around. You are in good company, little miss."

"Put me down, leave me alone!"

Things seem to be getting worse as Lilia holds his ground, but as he speaks so calmly and regards her with such a kind smile, the fight seems to seep out of her until that ferocity is replaced by a reddening face and watering eyes.

"I'm not a thief," she says with a hiccup and then a sob. "I'm just Mary. I don't know what happened...it was so dark, but it isn't dark out here. Are you going to put me back in the dark? Please don't make me go back!"

How was he not supposed to feel for such a frail thing when her face reddens, her eyes water-- and there come the waterworks. His own expression softens, the tension that'd seeped into his shoulders fading away.

After all, this was just a child. Whatever she was dealing with must feel so big for her. Such big feelings for such a small form...

"I will not be putting you anywhere you do not wish to go, 'just Mary'." Hopefully the small jest would get a laugh out of her. She'd be able to feel herself let down slowly. Once she's standing on her own two feet again, Lilia vanishes once more, appearing on his knees in front of her. He might be holding little Silver, but he still had another arm.

His arm is held out, both in the offer of a hug and to stop her if she tried to bolt.

"Come here, little one. You don't have to be afraid. We can figure this out. Together."

Tears still falling down her face, Mary sucks in air and sniffles as she feels the ground beneath her feet again. She blinks, surprised and clearly confused, as the man offers her his arm. What was this? It wasn't a gesture that she'd ever experienced. Not from her father, not from her many siblings, and not from Ib or Garry. Mary stares for a long moment before it registers what he's doing. She'd read about this in a book, she realizes. It's called an embrace!

And so she latches on at once, only as strong as any other child her size would be, but her little fists are not at all lacking in fierceness as she holds herself tightly against him. As if he'd change his mind. His body is so warm, it makes her want to cry even more.

"Together? You promise?"

Together. Isn't that what she'd been asking for, for so long?

The moment the girl latches on, Lilia's arm wraps around her, pulling her in as close as she could get to him. Oh, dear, how was it that he always ended up finding lost children and taking them under his wing? Malleus was sure to have a few words for him once he found out. Then again.... even that little prince was becoming weak to the whims of little Silver.

Lilia's hand is gentle against her back now, unlike the grasp he'd had on her dress earlier. A careful first two fingers draw circles against her, to try and help her relax.

"I promise."

At last, at all the shifting around, the small boy begins to stir, a soft, sleepy whimper escaping him. "Ah, Silver, shhh... Go back to sleep, alright? It's okay. No need for you to start crying too, my sweet." Lilia turns his attention to Silver for a brief moment, hushing him carefully. Luckily (for the both of them) this seems to calm the boy down enough for now, his small arms looped carefully around his father's neck.

"Now, Miss Mary... My name is Lilia Vanrouge. You may call me whatever you see fit. When you're ready, then we'll talk. Until then, I've got you. We can stay like this however long you need."

Lilia's Daycare

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