InsaneJournal

kingofmycenae (kingofmycenae) wrote in nevermore_logs, @ 2017-06-14 20:45:00

WHO: Menelaus and Arianna [Narrative]
WHEN: Wednesday night
WHERE: Apartment
WHAT: When reality comes knocking. Menelaus tries to bring up Arianna's mother...



Since the newfound appearance of Arianna's mother in the form of a letter, his worry grew exponentially every day. Arianna carried the letter around reading it over and over again, and the once crisp paper was starting to wilt. He had known it could happen, he'd always known the woman may try to reappear, he'd just hoped fate would be kinder to him a second time. He had lost a daughter in the past to the absence of her mother, and while circumstances this time were decidedly different, it didn't set his heart at ease. In this modern world he was very protective over his little girl since he didn't have a war (and a cowardly prince) to contend with. However, his world was quickly getting snatched from him again. He did not wish to begrudge Arianna from her mother, but he most definitely did not wish the woman to be a part of her life. She has walked out on them years ago, and if a crying baby could not convince her to stay, why would a six year old? The fear that he could lose her was real.

Biting his tongue, Menelaus sat down on the couch beside the red-haired little girl as she flipped through a book. "What are you reading?" He asked as she flipped the cover over to show it off. "Greek mythology!" She said as she flipped through one of the pages, one of which was about the hero Achilles. "I like Achilles." She said. Menelaus couldn't help but chuckle. If only she knew....

"Come here," he said and patted his lap for her to take a seat. "I'll read some with you." Arianna crawled into his lap and rested the back of her head against his chest, listening to the sound of his voice as he recounted a "children's" version of Achilles and his adventures in Troy. When he finished he proposed a very real question to her. "Arianna, I know we don't talk much about your mother...." he felt his throat close up, but he had to fight back his fear for her sake. "If you could see your mommy again, how would that make you feel?" She beamed and turned around in his lap. "Is mommy here?" She asked excitedly, the answer to his question on her face. He took a deep breath, and thought what to say next. "No, sweetie. But, I think she really wants to see you." He didn't know what this woman would do, or if she would throw him into an ugly custody battle, he hoped that the family he had now was going to be ripped from him.

He choked down his pride at her smile. "You should write her back. I'll put in the mail okay?" He'd much rather keep any new letter the woman sent back to himself and never show them to Arianna again, but he couldn't deny her that piece of her own history.