Quietly, the bird perched upon the tree worriedly watches on as the figure approaches the beast sat at a familiar spot, picnic blanket laid on the ground as the beast takes out the objects from within the basket before taking out his mandolin idly strumming it, waiting worriedly for the figure to approach as the bird could see the worry on the beast. She was late…she had never been late before…was she alright? Was everything okay? Was she safe? The bird could see the beast ponder such questions as he strummed his guitar before turning to the floral below beginning much to the surprise of the bird begin to tie them up into some sort of crown or at the least trying to if the petals weren't crushed from his big black crisp claws with death marked on one.
"A-Ava?" The beast turns to the ruffle of leaves turning to see the woman stagger slightly, limping forward holding her shoulder much to the bird's worry when seeing said mark that she so desperately tries to hide smiling strained at him.
"Death hey….sorry I'm late." Hoarsely, Ava whimpers weakly before tripping forward much to the worry of the beast rushing over to her, catching her.
"Your hurt…who did this to you?!" Enraged, Death demands from her, his voice dark deep, husky even as the bird shudders slightly scared from the raw rage within said voice. He holds his sister in his claws, being gently or at the least trying to be as she leans on him, her hand on his claw helping steady herself on him.
"Death I'm fine." Feebly, she whispers, her voice hollow, hoarsely as the bird watches on grimacing pained to see her pale skin, seeing the scars and small slits scattered all over her fragile form that she so desperately tries to hide.
"No you're not! Look at you!" Panicked, Death argues anguished at the sad state of her, scared even surprising the bird to hear such genuine worry come from the God of Death.
"Look it's nothing just some modifications…" Aloofly, Ava dismisses.
"Modification?" Alarmed, Death furrows his brow by her words.
"Got to keep up to date as the lord death's weapon." Simply, she shrugs smiling strained, ignoring the sharp sting to her shoulder.
"…Ava." Gently, Death furrows his brow, concern clear in his tone taking the bird aback at the genuine worry in his tone, weirdly enough reminding the baby bird of his own father fretting over their mother back then…back when they were a family…
"Hm?" Humming, she looks up at the distressed Death.
"You don't have to do this please don't hurt yourself for me." Pleadingly, Death almost begs shocking both bird boy and Ava.
"Death…?" Astonished, Ava gawks gaping at the god on his knees holding her shoulders sadly staring up at her. The two couldn't help but stare shocked to see the god of death bowing before the woman in his hands, acting as if she were a goddess as if he were a mortal man who never had a drop to drink and she were a sparkling river…
"I mean it Ava these medications they aren't right I don't want you hurt." Honestly, he confesses to Ava, holding her hands in his looking pleadingly at her, begging, beseeching her almost astonishing both bird and Ava.
"And I'm not, it was just a bit rough this time." Tensely, she smiles strained at him as the bird scoffs, rough was an understatement, Ava was always the first test subject before Ingram, mother had said Ava could deal with it deal with the repressions but him…he was always a sickly child his constitution was poor she couldn't exactly afford to experiment on him after having finally managed to find the perfect balance for him, so he understood…
"This time?" Tense, Death furrows his brow alarmed at her words.
"Yeah mother would do this to me numerous times heck how do you think I became a weapon in the first place?" Playfully, she shrugs smirking twitching briefly by the sharp sting to her shoulder, trying to dismiss it.
"…How long?" Sternly, Death demands after a moment of still silence alarming Ava.
"Huh?" Ava blurts out confusion clear on her furrowed features.
"How long has she been doing this to you?" Gently, he reaches out to her only to falter from her faint flinch alarming him.
"Well…I guess since my old man kicked it." Sadly, she smiles seating herself down leaning back on the tree, brow furrowed from the memory.
"She…experimented on you?" Hurt, he softly sits by her side the bird could hear the rage roaring in his tentative tone, shyly slipping out.
"Well my brother and I had to be of use to her we were running all over the country fleeing from people we had to find a way to defend ourselves and since magic didn't seem to be our thing we had to fight back somehow." Simply, she states the fact firmly oblivious to the pained Death.
"Ava…" Attentively, Death turns to her.
"Hm? Hey what's wrong?" Ava asks taken aback as he brings her into a hug of sorts.
"You're perfect…just the way you are." Firmly, Death tells her taking her aback.
"…What?" Softly, she whispers, her hues widening, tensing up at the hug.
"I…I do not fully know what it's like to lose someone but…that doesn't mean I want to see you get hurt just to survive." Seriously, he confesses to her.
"This is normal." Lost, Ava furrows her brow befuddled.
"Ava I don't need you as a weapon what I need is you by my side." Seriously, he tells her making her hues widen.
"…What?" Shyly, she squeaks out taken aback at his words.
"Your presence alone calms me helps me think straight and your insights are more than enough for me, your company is more than enough for me…you don't need to go through such things to be my weapon…" Resolved, Death tells her, his hands easily covering her own as she stares stunned up at him, her glassy gold gazing up into his shocked, stunned from his words.
"…." Silently, she stares at him, a part of her unable to even comprehend his words not that the bird could help him. He scoffs shaking his head at the creature's words as if she would fall for that trick, the two knew the truth of the matter, they were weapons that was their purpose such modifications were but a sacrifice to still be of use to the people around them that was how the world worked without purpose you'll be tossed aside, abandoned, left away to rot…that was what mother said and mother's word is law.
"…If it ever gets too much for you, you can come to us." Gently, Death's claw carefully plants on her cheek as she leans into the touch, her hand over his claw undeterred by his monstrous claw as the tears freely fall from her, wiping a stray tear aside as the bird scowls. He had to give it to his sister she sure knew how to act…
"I…heh." Shyly, she smiles leaning into his claw.
"What's so funny?" Frowning, Death queries concern clear in his tentative tone.
"You're surprisingly sweet for a lord of death." Slyly, she wraps her arms around Death.
"…I'm not sweet." Scowling, Death grumbles glaring to the side a cherry crimson tint to his skeletal mask as he turns away briefly but…
"Cute then." Teasingly, she smirks wiggling a brow bemused nuzzling into his side.
"I'm not cute." Coyly, he huffs gently placing her in his lap.
"Nah you're adorable." Endearing, she leans in, pecking his mask making his skeletal skull burst ruby red, steam spewing out of his mask from that singular small peck.
"You'll be the death of me someone woman." Huffing, Death mutters bringing her closer, wrapping his claws around the smiling woman, nuzzling into her side as she happily nuzzles back in his lap, the two holding one another close.
"I'm sure…" Smirking, she leans in just as Death does and the burn turns away repulsed to see such a sickly sight. He couldn't believe his sister could do it, could kiss that beast but she could, he had to give it to her, she was far more stronger and braver than he ever was…to lie in the lap of such a monster, of such a beast of such a inhuman thing without an inch of fear…it was amazing.
"Thank you…" Softly, Death whispers his temple touching her own as she smiles serenely, the two closing their eyes no other words needing to be shed as she simply silently nods her head leaning into his embrace as the two simply hold one another in their own little world, needing nothing more than one another's company.
Quietly, Ingram wanders through the town, his brow furrowing from the cheering children as he goes about his day. Why did he come back here? He had to ponder puzzled before faltering from the cheering children beaming brightly up at the woman, tugging at her floral skirt. Smiling, she talks to the children, cheering them on as he simply stares, watching on, a small shy smile crossing his lips when watching the display. A part of him couldn't believe he was seeing this…
The act he put on for a fight was often to lower his opponent guards, to finish the fight faster by riling them up or taking them by surprise. Then again sometimes it would be due to him dipping into madness, it depends on his mood. Still, nobody expects much from an old timer like him however here stood someone so bright, so loving so kind, he couldn't believe someone like that existed, there had to be something wrong or simple naivete…Ingram could ever decide which one it was. Humans could be so alive sometimes…he remembered when he was. Perhaps this was why she ever liked talking to him…she knew how he was, how he really acted and to see him act up like that to play this persona…perhaps it ticked her off…
"You made it!" Merrily, Missy beams brightly at Ingram snapping him out of his thoughts. Next he knew, his hues widen when his hand was suddenly snatched as he was taken away astonished; he now sat on a bench by the giddy girl's side.
"…Gelato?" Shyly, Ingram asks, his glaring golden softening slightly at her.
"Gelato!" Smiling, she shoves said desert over to him a heavy hue of ruby red to her crimson cheeks. Happily, he digs into the desert, relishing the minty freshness from said substance when…
"So…do you always have your head in the clouds?" Curious, Missy asks him taking him aback.
"Head in the clouds? I fly often." Unsure, Ingram offers as a response not quite sure what to say.
"No silly I mean…wait you can fly?" Giddily, Missy slams her hand on the bench top, turning to face him fully on giddily grinning at the thought making Ingram grimace slightly at the sheer intensity of her smile, a childlike wonderment to it.
"I have the ability to yes." Ingram confirms calmly, taking another scoop of the light green cream below, noting the fair amount of patchwork upon Missy's clothing, expertly stitched at that, he had to give it to her, stitching was not something he was adjusted to, commoner's work as his mother would call it…united for people of his and his sister's calibre.
"That's awesome think you could give me a demonstration." Hopeful, she asks as if she were some sort of kid making Ingram scowl.
"I suppose do you weigh much?" Unapologetic, he asks earning an eye twitch from her.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to question a girl's weight?" Sternly, she huffs puffing her cheeks out to him.
"I thought it was their age." Puzzled, Ingram's hues narrow.
"Anything to do with numbers you don't question." Smugly, she answers twirling her finger about left and right mockingly almost as Ingram takes a heavy scoop of the desert.
"Right…" Ingram mutters, his hues narrowing noting the handcrafted beads upon her, clearly not store bought from the rugged marks upon them and the material used…
"So…what was your mother like?" Curious, Missy asks snapping him out of his observations once more.
"Didn't I agree to this date to find out more about you?" Tiredly, Ingram reminds her, he hadn't meant to stare sometimes he would perhaps it came from his time being sick staring out at the window at those gifted with the chance of exploring, of adventuring of having the time of their lives…
"Yeah well it can't always be one sided besides it's not like I can tell you much on that end." Mischievously, Missy winks at Ingram.
"Do you ever want to though?" Curious, Ingram quirks his head to the side.
"Hm?" Humming, Missy raises a brow by his words.
"Find your mother?" Ingram proles perplexed, a part of him curious.
"Everyone always asks me that is it so surprising if I say no." Sighing, she slumps against the bench brow furrowed.
"Not really. She abandoned you, she isn't worth it." Irritated, Ingram seethes spitting said words out as if he had found a issue with the desert in his hand.
"…You sound familiar with it." Missy's beady browns soften slightly from his words.
"My sister abandoned me when my mother died." Disdained, Ingram sneers seething at the memory, his blood boiling, bubbling, burning at the miserable memory…
"That…I'm so sorry." Softly, Missy whispers seeing the crumpled up plastic cup of the desert be squashed in his hand, small chunks of mint falling flat on his lap already staining smearing his hand.
"So yes I am familiar with it." Bitterly, he huffs waving his hand aside allowing the birds to disgust the good.
"…Why did she abandon you?" Gently, Missy asks her hues softening at him.
"…I…I don't know." Pained, he grimaces bowing his head at the question that had haunted him for so long…..they were so happy before, just the three of them…if Ava hadn't gone through that plan of hers…
"Is that why you think of her?" Tentatively, Missy queries snapping Ingram out of his train of thought.
"Hm?" Humming, Ingram perks up.
"The last we spoke you mentioned her. Have you thought of asking why she left you?" Tentatively, Missy proposes.
"…I try…" Meekly, Ingram bows his head.
"You try?" Missy furrows her brow befuddled.
"But when I see her I just…I get so angry I have images of her dead in my head but I just…I can never seem to do it. It's frustrating." Frowning, Ingram confesses staring down at his fidgeting fingertips feeling fury through him, his blood boils, bubbles, burns at the sheer sight of her in his head.
"Seems to me you still care about her." Honestly, Missy points out.
"But why? Why would I care about that traitor? She left me! She abandoned me! She forgot about me!" Mad, Ingram snaps sharply scowling.
"I doubt she forgot about you." Bluntly, Missy responds.
"Huh?" Ingram blurts out.
"Your family, she's your sister I'm sure she had a reason for it maybe you should ask her or maybe you're scared of the answer." Earnestly, Missy points out.
"Scared?" Surprised, Ingram says shocked.
"Yeah I mean I get scared of the thought of meeting my mother and receiving the answer I know I'll get." Missy confesses calmly.
"And what's that?" Ingram raises a brow befuddled.
"Cause you're a monster. Do you think your sister would say that to you?" Missy asks him.
"…I think…she'll call me a burden." Bitterly, Ingram bows his head pained. He always was a burden even back then with his sickness keeping him bed bound he didn't have the energy to run as fast nor far as the others always holding them back, always being the problem…
"A burden?" Befuddled, Missy furrows her brow clearly concerned.
"She…always tended to her duties, did what she was told to not she…she's always made sure we were tended to. I suppose…when it was just me or her. She would mother me and I just…maybe I'm scared she left because she was sick and tired of me." Ingram explains to Missy even after he was healed, he was still babied. He remembered often in the temple back home as he would drink he would watch his sister tend to the people whenever he would help or would try to she would always swoop in and steal his work. Whenever he did try to sneak around and help it would only cause problems, the madness consumed the people he had hoped to help and so his sister would come down to fix the further problem proposed by him…
"…I don't see how she could be sick of someone like you…" Mischievously, Missy winks.
"…" Silently, Ingram bows his head into his fir feathery coat, trying to hide the ruby red tint to his cherry cheeks.
"You're never going to get the solace you seek sitting here stuck in the past." Pointedly, Missy leans back in her seat taking out her own gelato, strawberry.
"I thought you wanted a date." Dubiously, Ingram remarks, a small smirk upon his lips.
"And I do but I'd like to see you happy first before we can do that. A person has to learn to love themselves before they can love another." Amused, Missy scoops some strawberry from her ice cream.
"…How do you do it?" Ingram asks her baffled.
"Hm?" Missy raises a brow by the hurt expression of Ingram.
"Love yourself after being abandoned by the person who was meant to…" Pained, Ingram bows his head.
"Simple, I didn't need her. I learned to love myself for myself, for my own qualities and if your sister says she left because you're a burden then she's a fool and isn't worth your time." Truthfully, Missy confesses simply shrugging her shoulders stating the fact of the matter.
"…Ingram." Ingram slowly stands from his seat.
"Hm?" Missy furrows her brow by his words seeing him step forward turning to leave.
"My name…it's Ingram." Tentatively, he whispers to her as she stares stunned.
"…Ingram? An interesting name…I better see you around." Amused, Missy smiles shyly at him.
"You will…" Ingram nods his head at her before leaving, leaving the girl to her devices…
Quietly, Ingram sits down on the crater conflicted, brow furrowed staring at the eerily still silent of the woman by his side tending to her documents. He could feel his bones shake, quiver, quake feel his blood turn as cold as ice as heavy as ice even as he could feel his teeth chatter petrified of what was to come…he…he didn't want to but he had no choice, he had none. It was going nowhere, yes they were getting the supplies but she was getting suspicious…and…and you don't hide secrets from family not from your mother nonetheless….
How could she even think she could do this? Hide her plan from her mother, the woman who gave her life, who gave her meaning, who gave her purpose? Ingram couldn't understand his sister's betrayal. He eyed the boxes of chocolates and confections sent to them watching the woman with her back turned to him throw the flowers and bouquets into the fierce flames, adorning herself with the glistening gleaming gems upon her however her hues sparking shimming shining from the tiny trinkets.
Suddenly, she tosses a box over at him which he clumsily catches eyes the sweets below brow furrowing from all the orange tinted chocolates having been taken making Ingram furrow his brow by the sad sight…at least the coconut chocolates were left he supposed as he took a fair few watching her toss the rest of the unnecessary gifts into their fierce flames she conjured up, destroying each and every last piece of the offerings…
"Wha…what's going on?" The crisp cleek of heels echoes as Ingram could feel his body tense up, bowing his head.
"How about you explain that to us?" The cool cold curt tone of his mother proposes poisonously tossing another box of chocolates into the fierce flames by her side.
"…What are you!?" Alarmed, Ava steps forward flinching away at her mother's ice cold glare swiftly stopping her as she turns her focus to the shaking Ingram.
"I-I…I'm sorry sis but you don't hide secrets not from family." Firmly, Ingram attempts to explain himself to his sister scared when seeing her hurt expression at the sad state of her gifts but….
"My sweet baby bird, there's no need apologies especially not to her… at least I have a child who knows what loyalty is." Curtly, the woman places a hand on her hip turning to glare glower at the anxious Ava.
"M-Mother please I can explain…" Tense, Ava attempts to explain herself however the harsh heckle is her mother's rude response to it.
"Explain oh this should be good." Bemused, Morrigan turns to Ava hands on her hips, eager to hear what she has to say.
"Look I just…I know we're struggling with resources and with death and his lot on our trial all the time I thought if I helped it would get the heat off us and it has look at you, you and Eibon are close to finishing your magmas opus…" Tentatively, Ada attempts to explain gesturing to the box by her side seeing her mother's firm hand upon said box, brow furrowing from the mere mention of it.
"…And you didn't think to talk to me about this? You always do this. Why are you like this?" Tiredly, Morrigan huffs as Ava grimaces from her words while Ingram watches on. She was right, why hadn't she gone to mother? Mother knew what was best for them since they were born but Ava wanted to hide this from the woman who had done so much for them, who had kept them safe for so long, who had kept them fed on the run while she went days on end without even a scrap of food or water while they were spoiled with it…
"I just…I just want to help and I think I have." Self-assuredly, Ava argues as Ingram holds his stomach, brow furrowing, had he gotten fat again? Mother had mentioned him gaining chub, he should train more…get that tended to before he became a liability…
"Oh you think? Oh, so I guess I can't say anything anymore." Aloofly, the woman huffs her back turned to Ava wincing when hearing her words.
"That isn't…I…look I thought by getting close to lord death it would get the heat off us and it has and besides I…I think he likes me." Meekly, Ava confesses as Ingram couldn't help but gawk gape at her words what was she saying!? Was this some sort od spell, some curse that fool had put on her!? He couldn't help but gawk at the faint feverish hue to her tinted crimson and her shy small smile, seeing the warmth swell in her eyes as Ingram couldn't help but stare stunned to see such an expression upon his sister.
"Like you? Ava don't be demented this is why you never should have left my side, your imagination is running wild…again." Annoyed, Morrigan crosses her arms over her chest scoffing, shaking her head at her foolish child as Ingram couldn't help but nod, a beast like that having the capability of such an emotion? Impossible, it was impossible, she must have been cursed, hexed even whatever that monster did he would pay…
"Mom I'm serious, I think he really does like me." Earnestly, Ava argues a small smile upon her lips horrifying Ingram, this couldn't be happening, this wasn't part of the plan, sure letting the grim reaper trust her was the plan but this…this wasn't the plan. They were weapons, they were machines, they were better than that, they were above such things they were…they were…
"Dear, this whole romance that you've invented. Just proves you're too naive to be here." Haughtily, Morrigan smiles softly at Ava grimacing wincing when hearing her words, furrowing her brow by her words.
"I'm not naïve!" Annoyed, Ava argues as Ingram couldn't help but gape, gawk at this stranger, feeling his own throat tense tighten up at her, to raise her voice to mother…what was she thinking? Ingram winces when feeling his throat tense up feeling some semblance of acid sting the innards of his throat from the tight tension between mother and daughter.
"Oh really? Then let me ask you this, why would he like you? I mean come now really. Look at you, you think that he's impressed? Impressed with your chubby cheeks? With your heavy bags? Not to mention your skin you look as pale as a corpse not to mention that temper, no man wants a nag." Smiling, Morrigan saunters over to her daughter's side softly taking her head in her hands, her coal crisp crescents digging deep into Ava's face. Ingram swore he saw shy scarlet streams leak out the small slits of his mother's crimson crescents.
"…No!" Angrily, Ava steps back, freeing herself from such a hold, hurt, horrified almost afraid of the woman before her.
"…No?" Morrigan takes a step back, brow raised.
"I-I mean…" Messily, Ava attempts to explain herself trying to reach out to her mother but…
"Oh no you gave your answer." Aloofly, Morrigan reuses her hold raising her hands up in mock surrender as Ava's glassy gold gaze at her mother.
"That isn't…" Ava attempts to defend herself however…
"Oh, but it is. Ava knows best. Ava's so mature now. Such a clever grown-up Miss…" Mockingly, Morrigan circles the confused conflicted Ava on the brink of tears as Ingram watches on helplessly feeling his stomach flip from the not surprisingly similar situation…
"Mother please I just…I like him I really do. He's gentle, kind, he's…he isn't the beast people make him out to be." Ava attempts to explain but…
"Maybe for now but as soon as your warranty runs out he's outta there." Truthfully, Morrigan tells her daughter flinching from her words.
"Death isn't like that!" Defensively, Ava argues anxiously clutching her chest hurt.
"Isn't he? Look who he is standing with, you recognise Arachne no?" Smugly, she takes out a photo showing said woman standing side by side to death, her arm wrapped around his claw making Ava's glassy gold widen when seeing said picture.
"What about her?" Hurt, Ava furrows her brow gently placing her hand to her cheek pinching briefly wincing from the sharp sting of it.
"What about her? That girl is a fine witch unlike you things, she actually has the drive to things instead of laze about all day gaining flab like you do, you see those hips those are child-bearing hips and yours…you would break letting something out from down there not to mention unlike you. She actually can carry a conversation without a temper unlike a certain someone not to mention that waist…so explain to me my dear why would the lord death, the god of this world settle for someone like you when he has someone like her by his side?" Smiling, Morrigan explains to her little girl, draping her arm over Ada bringing her close, almost forcing her to stare at the picture of the two, gently patting her head as Ingram feels his gut churn when seeing his sister's solemn state, seeing the tears in her glassy gold attempt to flow freely form her.
"I…I…" Ava begins but goes silently slowly slamming her eyes shut.
"Don't have an answer do you?" Morrigan smirks smugly stepping back pleased by her still silence.
"…" Silently, Ava crosses her arms over her chest holding herself as Morrigan saunters over to the desk tidying it up almost as she eyes the utensils by her side smiling before scowling seeing said girl's hesitation.
"Urgh Ava dear I didn't mean it like that you just well…if you were just paying attention with that selective memory of yours you...if you'd just listen for once you'd see I'm just looking out for you because I love you, you know that right?" Gently, Morrigan reminds her daughter eyeing the blade bringing it to the high heavens. It gleams glistens from the light while Ingram watches on from the shadows…
"…Yes mother." Meekly, Ava bows her head obediently.
"Good girl now let's get you on that table shall we?" Smiling, Morrigan gestures to the once stainless steel silver table now coated crimson form an array of old and new blood, the stench of iron hanging heavily around it.
"…Yes Mother…" Meekly, Ava whispers weakly hoarsely slowly, shyly stepping up, placing herself upon the table ignoring the brief crimson chunks of dried blood brushing against her. She feels the slick straps pin her down on the table. She sees the bright beam of the light above as the implement is raised to the high heavens as next she knew…all she felt was the familiar love of her mother…
Merrily, Missy goes about her day as she leave the school house having finished doing her daily tutoring session, she wasn't doing much she was a simple teacher's aid nothing more, a stepping stone to her dream of teaching. Still she was happy where she was with all those kids around her…a part of her had to ponder children of her own. She always did want kids even as a kid…
Smiling, she greets the familiar faces passing by holding the bountiful bouquet in her hand, cradling it close to her chest as she eyes the petite petals below, plucking the stem of said daffodils in her hand, sniffing a fair few, a small smile gracing her lips from the soft smell. Smiling, she perks up at the sheer sight of the slumped state of the tall, towering lean figure of Ingram slumped against a tree, garbed in shadows and cloaked in fine feathers of black, she looks up at the tall towering tree hanging heavily above him. He was always like this…a small shy smile upon Missy's lips when seeing the children and people go about the day fearfully flee from him, some people anxiously avoid him but he doesn't bat an eye to it, not one bit. A part of Missy couldn't help but find his obliviousness or well lack of self-awareness adorable…
"Sooo…how'd it go?" Smiling, she crosses her arms behind her back bemused as she approaches him.
"Not well…" Silently, said male bows his head at the murky memory of it all.
"What do you mean not well?" Missy pries puzzled quirking her head to the side.
"I couldn't as soon as I saw her face I just…flipped." Furious, Ingram stares shakily down at his fidgeting fingertips curling in on his inner palm, his crescents digging deep into his palm, ignoring the sharp sting from the curt crescents.
"…" Silently, Missy stares at Ingram, her hues softening slightly looking up at him seeing the genuine pain, the fear, the hurt clear on his furrowed features making Missy's heartache at the sad sight. Slowly, she slides her hand upwards about to hold his cheek, wanting to provide some sense of comfort for the clearly confused man before her but she soon falters from his faint flinch alarming her to see him slam his eyes shut scowling, almost waiting for something but what…? Missy couldn't help but ponder, sure she had noticed he wasn't the most physical affectionate person there but…
"I'm sorry." Shyly, Ingram whispers slamming his eyes shut fearful, anxious at the thought almost of Missy's supposed wrath.
"Why are you apologising to me?" Missy questions confusion clear on her furrowed features, he didn't need to apologise not one bit…his past had nothing to do with her sure. She was curious a bit but even then she never pried, she never forces him to do if he wanted to talk, she'd listen like he'd always listen to her…
"Because I failed." Frowning, Ingram argues annoyed astonished even at her response perplexing and concerning Missy slightly.
"…Well…you may have failed the first time but there's always next time." Tentatively, Missy offers optimistically attempting to cheer him up puzzled by the sheer panic plastered all over his furrowed features.
"B-B-But the date…you wanted…" Frazzled, Ingram begins fearfully even further worrying Missy when hearing the hitch of his trembling tense tone.
"Like I said I'm willing to wait if you'll have me." Missy offers shyly smiling up at him.
"…I…thank you." Ingram bows his head, his temple touching her own.
"Don't need to thank me I'm just saying you may have failed once but there's always next time." Teasingly, she nuzzles her nose against his taking him aback at the eskimo kiss.
"…" Silently, Ingram stares softly down at her.
"What is it?" Missy furrows his brow noting his firm frown.
"Mother never believed in second chances." Pained, Ingram responds.
"She didn't?" Missy furrows his brow befuddled.
"She couldn't. Trusting people has always been a heavy risk being on the run and all. We lived in a cottage for a while once, it was nice the food was nice, the people were too but…" Ingram exclaims, a small shy smile upon his lips.
"But what?" Missy pries puzzled.
"Turns out the people mother had helped heal in exchange for the cottage had ratted us out." Ingram tells Missy her brow furrowing from his words, he spoke as if it were a distant memory…
"What did you do?" Gently, Missy asks softly sliding her hand over his dismissing the faint flinch from his hand waiting for it to still.
"We ran." Softly, Ingram's hand clasps over her hand, squeezing said hand rubbing the top of her smaller hand with his thumb.
"Why did they rat you out?" Mystified, Missy ponders puzzled.
"Because she was a witch." Ingram answers as Missy's hues widen when hearing his words.
"…A witch?" Missy whispers weakly taken aback at the news.
"Do you hate me now?" Miserably, Ingram bows his head.
"Why would I?" Intrigued, Missy asks astonished at his assumption.
"I have the blood of a witch within me." Ingram states the fact firmly.
"…So?" Scowling, she pries perplexing him.
"So? Did you not hear me?! I am the son of a witch." Ingram harshly hisses at her however…
"And I very well could be too just as the next guy could be a descendent your blood doesn't define you Ingram." Gently, she places her hand firmly upon her chest stating the fact firmly just like anyone else in the world why did it matter? What mattered was who he was…not his parentage...
"…Thank you." Gently, Ingram bows his head.
"There really is no need to thank me…I'm just saying how it is." Confused, Missy argues lost.
"Apologies I am bringing this date down am I not?" Ingram sighs stepping forward furrowing his brow.
"Not one bit…besides surely you've been asked out." Missy assumes amused almost.
"No it's mainly just been physical." Pointedly, he responds.
"Wait…seriously?" Stunned, she says shocked.
"Yes." Ingram confirms, it was how it was, back then, back with offerings given to him and his sister, women were often thrown his way men included and sure he indulged from time to time tentative about it. He always liked it, it was simple, nothing complex, just simple pleasure that was all it was and it would ever be…this though…this was different. It was…was this what his sister and Lord Death had?
"So…you never been on a date?" Dubiously, Missy wiggles a brow bemused, taken aback almost at it.
"Not really no." Ingram responds resolved.
"Well we got to fix that come on!" Mischievously, Missy winks at Ingram, gently taking his hand and entwining her hand through his bigger, leaner, colder one while she smiles softly, warmly even as the two begin their date…