332 → Figured she'd stop by to see how she was doing. If they get up to an adventure, sweet, if not, it's completely fine by me.

The trek was a short but necessary one. She knew, of course she knew, about the woman's recent abduction and subsequent return. Despite her efforts to remain ambivalent to everything and everything, Magnolia's kind treatment of her as a (younger) child still stuck out to her. Eying the path she knew well with heated orange eyes, she picked her way toward where she knew the woman had staked out her home. It wasn't terribly far from where her mother had made her own claim, and she no longer felt a pressing need to alert the woman to her comings and goings. Soon she would be recognized as an adult and where she went would be entirely her own business. Though premature, it already was.

Little known to the dark, earthly colored child, was her pseudo-caretaker's venomous mood as of late. If she'd known she might have brought a gift or the note she'd written to her during her absence. It wasn't quite so eloquent as she would have liked, but the girl's penmanship was quickly becoming clear now that her fingers were more eager to obey the commands of her mind. Mid morning light helped guide her to her endpoint, and quickly the silver woman's home came into view. Hesitantly she sent a scouring gaze over the entire area, looking for whom she sought, but didn't see her. That didn't mean she wasn't around though, and as always, her muscles bunched in an eager sort of anticipation.

Fumbling to adjust her orange belt more securely around her almost non-existent hips, Arte's gaze never moved from the area in front of her, worried that even the most friendly face would suddenly becoming threatening and hazardous. It was against the doctor's mantra though, to help rather than harm, so her suspicion wavered where Magnolia was concerned. That, and she had no reason to harm the middle child. Only when she found herself to be presentable did she call out softly for the woman, "Maggie."

323 → D'aww, love Maggie.

A voice beckoned her to enter, along with the name of someone or something she wasn't sure she'd encountered yet. She vaguely wondered if Maggie had a woman with her, but made no move to voice this question. Instead she approached the homestead and eased her way inside, allowing her eyes to adjust before entering fully.

Though she didn't appear to be dying of a lethal injury, there was something different about the woman she so fondly thought of. Her eyebrows lowered, but it was neither anger nor pity that etched its way onto her face. Remorse was clear, and she disliked herself for it. All her emotions continued to play on her face, and it was something she would have to remember to speak with someone about. How to hide them, how to conceal her innermost thoughts. Briefly raising her empty hands, she took her gaze from the woman to herself, as if to note her lack of a gift. I should have brought you something... Were the words that fell from her charcoal lips, but the real meaning was clear. I should have come to get you.

Looking to the kitten then, she lost some of her sadness and nearly (but didn't quite) smile at the little body pressed to the Vedetta's side. Though she liked animals and on some level wished to have one of her own, she feared her inability to care for one properly, so hadn't actively sought out a companion of her own. Claudia? She questioned after a long moment of silence, gesturing to the black and white animal as she drew closer to kneel by the bottom of Magnolia's bed. She knew nothing of the fight with her older sister's slave, TaeKyung, but felt there was something wrong if her friend refused to get out of bed even at this hour. Still, she said nothing. After being taken and ransomed, Artemisia felt some rest was due.

411 → Awwee, Claudia's an adorable name. My cat's names are woefully boring and the product of a six-year-old's mind.

What Magnolia saw and the girl felt were two very different things. Her build was impressive, yes, but she longed for the curvaceous, feminine body of her sisters. It had far less uses than stature and muscle tone could provide her, but she cared very little about the facts. There were things she couldn't change though, and at some point she would have to accept that this body was hers and to use it to her advantage. Momentarily her eyebrows shot upward, nearly disappearing into her currently overgrown bob, but when Maggie continued to tell her that seeing her was the best present she could have been given, Arte's face settled into a look of quiet pride, the corners of her mouth turning upward in the faintest of smiles.

Stroking the corner of a velveteen ear on the kitten's head, she was pleased to see a glimmer of appreciation in its eyes, and she smiled down at the four-legged, adopted child of Magnolia's. Looking back to the woman when she spoke, she took in all the little details she might want to recall later. Despite her earlier mood, she seemed to have brightened visibly, and it heartened the child to know that this might be because of her visit. Her mohawk had always been an object of great fascination to her, and on a few occasions she'd wanted one of her own, but lacked the courage to do it; that, and she didn't know where to begin when it came to shaping it evenly. I haven't seen much of anyone, but I'll remember she's your sister, Of course she would. Maggie had always been kind to her and she would extend the same courtesy to her sister. Her memory was advanced, even for an adult's. Claudia is a pretty name, for a pretty girl, She oozed, running a long finger across the kitten's spine.

Glancing around the space, she found it had changed very little since her visits as a younger girl, but remembered it fondly. I would have come to get you, y'know. If I was older... Turning her fierce jack-o-lantern gaze on Maggie now, she searched her face for emotions. How are you? It was free for her to interpret as she wished, she played no games with the woman, nor did she think she ever would. If there was one person she thought she could rely on to be straightforward with her, it was this spry young adult.