Completed Caring for Orphans

[Arianthe Swansong]

"I apologise if that is the impression you got." she paused and forced a small, albeit sincere smile, "When I come here, I just don't expect to meet people. People like you."

Kirara had finished and Arianthe pulled her up close, wiping away some drool on her chin. It now struck her that maybe he had a reason for thinking her hostile.

"I have told you my name, but you have not told me yours. It is a basic element of human society to introduce oneself on first meeting and now it seems I am at a disadvantage."

Arianthe did not look up, a veil of honey golden curls hiding her face, but proceeded to rock Kirara to and fro gently, trying to put her to sleep so that she could place her back into the cot.

[Valo]

An apology, was not an apology if one proceeded to act with equal hostility. But Valo decided not to point that out. Instead he spoke softly in a hushed tone as he noticed Arianthe trying to rock the little gem to sleep. "Might you have not escaped to quickly, I would have been glad to tell you my name. But I presumed you weren't interested. My name is Valo" he said without holding his hand out, as he would in a normal greeting. " Pleasure to meet you miss Arianthe."

The room was strangely empty. All the other children were either asleep or next door, playing quietly with the few toys they had. Valo has shifted to the window sill upon which Arianthe previously sat. But instead of looking outside, his attention was fixed on the two before him. "Do you come here often." he asked.

[Arianthe Swansong]

"Pleasure to meet you." said Arianthe, her hands to busy with Kirara to respond to his outstretched hand, privately thinking that he was making fun of her slightly.

"Do you come here often?" Well, now it certainly sounded like he was making fun of her.

"Yes. Twice a week for the past six months." it was another few moments before she added anything else, "I do not have a family anymore and, here, it is like having one. I'm good with children and I made a large donation so they really do not mind. On that note, it's strange that I have not met you before."

[Valo]

"I'm very sorry to hear about your family. May I enquire as to what happened, or is it really non of my business?" he replied with concern in his voice. Perhaps this was the cause of her bitterness. "And I used to come here pretty much every morning but life, being life, has it's own peculiar ways of filling our days with chores. Sadly I can only come two or three times a week now. You see the little ones help me very much with my work." he smiles pointing to his bag, which was carelessly dumped in the corner. From it's depths several paint brushes stuck out their furry little heads.

[Arianthe Swansong]

"It is none of your business." replied Arianthe shortly, letting him know that she would not be induced to go into the details, "And don't be sorry. I hated my husband and everything that I loved about my father, his love and affection for me, his sense of humour, his wit, all that died eight years ago, at the same time as my mother." Arianthe didn't mention that he spent the last few years of his life in his study, just sitting by the window doing nothing, wearing black and crying, looking down at the street, that his once extensive fortune had been reduced dreadfully by his unwillingness to upkeep his business and that, if Arianthe had not sold the beautiful family house, she would have been left with thousands of mizas in debt. She did not say this, but contented herself with paying all her attention to Kirara.

She listened as he talked, then glanced down at his bag. She smiled.

"Ah so you are an artist. Much like a quarter of the population of Zeltiva, who are all students, artists or musicians." she said this with a mischevious note, but still did not look up, "Are you any good?"

[Valo]

"Art is the reason I travelled to Zeltiva all the way from Wind Reach." he replied, trying to leave as many loose ends within his sentences as she did. Perhaps this would cause her some degree of interest in him. If not... well he was out of strategies. "And no, I don't suppose I'm any good at all. But I'm making progress and that's most important. Say, do you have any hobbies miss Arianthe?"

[Arianthe Swansong]

Arianthe raised her eyebrows, "I've heard Wind Reach is very beautiful. Surely there is inspiration enough for art there... but then, I suppose they do not encourage that sort of thing. Still, it is a long way to come."

A very long way. About as far could be, thought Arianthe. Kirara was now fast asleep.

"Do you have any hobbies Miss Arianthe?"

"Hold that thought. I need to put Kirara back in her cot."

[Valo]

"Hold that thought. I need to put Kirara back in her cot." said Arianthe, once again totally avoiding his question, as she again left the room. And again he did not fallow. Staring out into the city beyond the window he spoke to him self ever so nostalgically.

"If I'd had stayed in Wind Reach, my mother would constantly nag that I'm wasting my life on nothing. I wouldn't be painting, I'd be hunting, or making stained glass, or other such nonsense. Then again, I do miss mother... sure would be nice to see her again." And at that moment Valo decided he would write a long letter to his family that night.

[Arianthe Swansong]

Arianthe returned into the room and looked at Valo. Her first instinct was to ignore him completely now that she did not have Kirara in her arms, but she felt that would be unfair and rude. Well, she wasn't just going to talk to him - She would do something else at the same time and there was certainly much that needed doing. At her request of doing something useful, the relieved maid suggested that she turn her hand to darning some old socks; Socks which had been darned so many times, they were more patchwork than anything else. Arianthe couldn't conceal a sigh at this. If there was anything she hated she hated darning socks, but with gusto, she picked up the basket full of the things, a needle and some thread, then returned to where she had been sitting.

"Well. I have many hobbies but, above all, I want to be a perfumer." She didn't add much.

[Valo]

Ah perfumery, I see. I met a woman once in Syliras, who was a master perfumer. Her scents were incredible, magical, nothing like the dreary every day life. She could make such marvellous concoctions, that even the finest of men were rendered speechless." he spoke nostalgically. "I do hope you fulfil your dream." he added, now staring at her so that it was sure to eventually get on her nerves.