Mini-Chapter: Monkey and Misery
"Look, Arm. You can't keep this up just because I can." Sil said on the opposite side of the bed, back faced to Arms' back.
*Monkey silent treatment*
"It isn't easy for me either. You're suddenly a girl and it's awkward between us now… You know I still like you… You still like me. AND DON'T DENY IT!" Sil pointed the finger.
Meanwhile, eavesdropping outside of Silvana's bedroom. "Smothering Arms is awkward now because he is a girl now? That doesn't make any sense." Amitie stated. Immediately after she had a thought. "What if whatever the heck happened to Arms happened to Sig?"
It went ignored. "I question here sanity sometimes." Amitie's mom said with a yawn and a stretch. "It's worrying me."
"She's sane, Mommy, she knows it's just her." Sisters stand together. "She just gets carried away."
"That doesn't make me worry any less, Sweetie…"
"how many times do i have say it you didn't know either" They vaguely heard behind the door.
"Would it worry you if Arms was alive like Popoi?" The Co-Pierrot posed a hypothetical. "He'd be much nicer to her."
"I think Sil's unfiltered opinions would be on display if Arms was like Popoi." They listened in some more. "Is that how she copes?"
"Whaddya mean?" She faced her mom inquisitively.
"don't keep being another reason for my makeup to run"
"I don't know, Ammy, just shooting from the hip I guess." Melody rubbed her eyes. "I often catch her talking to Arms, and being cozy with Sig, You and the rest of the crew. I can just sense she smiles like you through the mask when she enjoys herself with other people, and she's such a downer any other time. I think she hates to be lonely." 'Isn't that everyone though?'
"Oh… hmmm… That makes… Yeah, that makes sense!" Amitie was about to turn the doorknob if her sleepy mom didn't somehow intercept. The adult shook her head at her pouting child.
"Sweetie, go to the gym to practice or your room to study." She said in a sleepy monotone.
"But Mom, you just said-"
"She's not alone. She got Arms."
"But-"
"No more buts (heh), this is something she needs to figure out herself. We might do more harm than good."
"…Iunno…"
"…Yeah me neither, never had to deal with a growing teenager. But we'll be there when we need to, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy…"
Amitie kept looking at Sil door until it was out of sight. And Melody did the same. Both felt a bit guilty.
Back in the ringmaster's quarters…
"They're gone." She took her mask off. Wiping her dried tear ducts out of habit, she grabbed a pillow to strangle and buried her face in another. "Army…" Silvana's whole body involuntarily quivered with grief.
"M-Mommy…"
She skipped dinner and hours later she fell asleep on one side of the bed.
The next morning Sil found Arms' arms wrapped around her arm.
Next up: Silvana needs help from an adult.
