[ P ] Morning Thoughts.

While he knew in some regard that the ‘family’ that had been constructed within the Brothel was inherently not enough for the woman before him, Danya couldn’t help the sensation of slight disappointment that touched him. It surprised him, admittedly. Why did he care? He twitched an ear absentmindedly, eyes narrowing slightly at the thoughts that touched his mind. ’Why do I care? She is a courtesan, nothing more. She’ll work her way up in the brothel’s supposed ranks but… all she’ll ever be is a whore to me.’ He thought, but… was it true? Or not?

The way his mind worked around Aurelia at times was confusing at best to Danya. He didn’t fully understand many of the things that crossed his mind around her or the emotions that he felt. While, yes, she was ultimately a whore who was in debt to him, she had slowly become something more. She was a friend, someone that Danya trusted. But, he questioned that at times, since, after all? Would she stay if there were no strings attached? Would she stay now if he told her she could go? His brows pinched together. Of course, she wouldn’t. Why would she? He turned his gaze to her as she began to speak.

”They died and I was left alone.” Aurelia said, starting her sentence with a shrug. He eyed her curiously, wondering in passing what might be happening between her ears. ”It’s not that I don’t appreciate you and the girls, it’s just… not the family I dreamed of. I always wanted a… a husband, children. But with my blindness, I never thought it possible. Who’d want someone they’d have to look after constantly, after all.”

Danya’s head canted to the side slightly, a small laugh coming from him.

”You think it’s impossible, but yet I want you around. There’s folly in the thought that your blindness means much.” He paused for a second, quiet stretching between them before he spoke again. ”It isn’t something that matters to someone that cares.”

He did not understand much of softness, of a warm familial bond. It was not something he had grown up with. His birth pack had been harsh as the tundra they lived on, and about as warm as the snows that surrounded them most of the year. What she sought Danya knew little of. He, in his own backward way, cared for the woman, however… he would try his best to give her something she could at least be happy with.

’What if she got what she wanted though?’ A little fly whispered in his ear. Danya brushed it away with a flick of that same ear.

”You think it’s impossible, but yet I want you around. There’s folly in the thought that your blindness means much. It isn’t something that matters to someone that cares.” Aurelia's ears perked at this and she looked towards him curiously. He... cared? She drew a breath, but said nothing. What could she say? It wasn't like they were lovers or anything, but the fact that he cared about her made her feel... good. She cared about him too, despite all that she had to do for him in order for him to care for her. She supposed it was only fair that she did something of use after all.

A long moment passed and she stood up. "I care about you too," she said softly. The faintest smiles lingered on her lips and she walked past him, tail brushing his shoulder. "Thank you, Danya." she said. She was glad for his kind words, as they uplifted her however slightly. She felt a bit better now, though she knew better in the moment than to think this meant much more beyond what it was. They were their own strange little family right now and she could be happy with that but some day... some day she wanted more and this life would not always be hers... or so she hoped.

exit aurelia

Danya could see that his words seemed to strike a chord – but a good one, at that. Aurelia brightened up, her ears perking forward at the sound of his voice and the words that he said. He felt a small sense of happiness that he could brighten her up some, although he did not understand why he felt that sense of happiness. It was strange, and something that he did not feel like unpacking at the moment.

”I care about you too,” Aurelia said, with a ghost of a smile touching her charcoal lips. Danya dipped his head slightly as if she could see him. He watched as she stood, and began to move, her tail brushing his shoulder. He felt a wave of heat touch the skin beneath his eyes, and in that moment, he was thankful for the fur that covered his cheeks.

”Thank you, Danya,” she said.

”You are welcome,” he rumbled in his usual quiet baritone. He stood in turn, flicking his own tail before following her. His paws left shallow prints as he followed her quietly.

[ exit, danya ]