[ text; backdated to about the 18th ]

[loadme]

Name: Monika
Date: Octeuril 18
Format: Text

Isn't it funny how you can spend weeks, months, and maybe even longer in trying to be a better person.

Only for a couple of bad days to make it feel like you lost most of your progress?

Comments

[loadme]

Can I see you?

I want to see you.

[beariot]

You're always welcome to. I'm in the usual place.

action;

[loadme]

[She made her way over without saying anything else. Monika had largely kept in-person interactions down to a minimum after returning to her human form. There were only a select few that she wanted to see. Her bonded and someone else.

Someone who was just as important to her.

And it was this same someone who found themselves receiving a sudden hug from Monika, her faced buried against them.]

Re: action;

[beariot]

[ She had a strong feeling this was coming, and was well prepared for it, wrapping her arms tightly around Monika's shoulders and acting as an anchor for her, hand along the back of her head, the other gripping tightly to hold her close, just... holding her.

No judgement, just love. ]

[loadme]

[Monika may not have been Bonded with Ursula in the way witches and monsters were. And that was fine. She was certain that the two of them had bond all their own. The way Ursula always knew exactly what to say or do that would bring ease and comfort to her even during her worst days.

It felt beyond just being friends, though she couldn't really describe or put it into words.

She didn't really need to.

She was just happy to have her.]

Thank you, for this.

[beariot]

[ And Ursula was happy to provide it. She felt that closeness, something that went beyond simple friendship, beyond mentor and teacher, beyond anything that really had a proper word for it, beyond even the Bonds of the Coven. They had something... and she cherished it. ]

You're always welcome... [ Ursula gently brushed some of Monika's hair aside. ]

[loadme]

[The words "I'm sorry" were begging to escape her lips. She wanted to apologize for not being at the school in the aftermath of the mist. But knowing Ursula, the apology would never be needed. Instead, Monika offered something else.]

I, um, I think I can... go back to the school, soon.

I just needed some time after everything that happened.

[beariot]

I know... [ And Ursula was giving her as much of that time as she needed. ]

The kids miss you...

[loadme]

They do? I'm surprised.

[beariot]

I'm not. You've got a magnetic smile, Monika.

... I've got a new blend, if you wanted to try it. [ Coffee, she meant. ]

[loadme]

O-Oh, um... sure. I'd like that.

It's always nice, drinking coffee with you.

[beariot]

I'll get that ready... [ Ursula was hesitant to pull away from Monika, despite saying that, lifting a hand to gently frame the girl's face for a moment and just... letting out a small sigh before heading to the kitchen to do just that.

The apartment had since been cleaned past the mist incident, but there was still a distinct scent of... beasts, for lack of a better word. And more cat toys than had been around last time. ]

[loadme]

[The scent doesn't escape her, and she does notice the added toys around the apartment. For as frequent a visitor as she was, she found it curious that there so many new toys around the place.]

Did you end up getting a pet?

[May as well ask.]

[beariot]

N-no, those...


...


were for me. [ From when she was a cat. ]

[loadme]

They're for...

[Oh.



Oh...]

R-Right, you were a cat, back then.

[Monika goes quiet afterwards. The memories are just too unpleasant for her.]

[beariot]

Fang was really into the idea of helping me explore my feral side in a safe way. She took me hunting with her, allowed me to indulge in play, things like that. It helped us grow closer, I think.

[loadme]

Oh, Fang.

[Right.]

She helped me, too, during the mists. I went feral and she... quite literally knocked my senses back into me.

[beariot]

You got to meet her, finally? [ It was hard to ignore the brightness in Ursula's tone, so glad two of her favorite people crossed paths, even if it was a situation like that. ]

... I guess it could have been under better circumstances, but I'm glad you did, all the same. I'm not surprised she did that for you.

[loadme]

I think I understand better now when you talked about her before.

[A sigh.]

She's something else.