The Ascendance Gang’s Opinions on Candy Corn! I might add onto this later, but, here we are (also, his eyes are stars, it’s just not noticeable because of the poor quality - sorry about that).
“Hey,” Imani motioned to Ayo as he opened the front door to their apartment and began to walk inside. The male paused in the threshold, but stepped back outside once more. His sister followed him, letting the front door shut behind him as they stood in the hallway of the apartment building. “Something’s got Callie upset,” the woman began, arms crossed as she leaned back against the closed door, “and she won’t tell me what. She’s been down ever since I picked her up from school, but I don’t know why. Her teacher said she didn’t notice anything that could’ve done it.”
“Really?” Ayo cocked his head. “And what, you want me to ask her about it? If she didn’t tell you ten why would she tell me?”
“It’s not like she likes me better, Ayo,” the woman sighed. “I don’t know, I’m hoping that maybe it’s something she’ll be able to open up to you about. And I’ve got to head to the bar now anyways, that might make it easier for her to talk.”
“Okay...I’ll try I guess.”
“That’s all I ask.” Imani smiled at him, and after giving his hair a playful ruffle was gone. Ayo remained outside a few moments more, then stepped into the apartment. The sound of a tv playing could be heard throughout the area, and when he made his way into the living room the male could see the figure of Callie, knees drawn and shoulders hunched, sitting on the ground in front of it.
“You know you’re not supposed to sit that close,” he chuckled and squatted next to her. Yikes, she did look like she was in a bad mood. Sulky green eyes briefly glanced at him, and without a word the girl scooted a few feet back from the tv. Yeah, he concluded, definitely a bad mood. “Callie,” he decided to venture, no use beating around the bush, “Mani told me that something at school made you upset. What’s wrong?” Callie looked away, and after a few moments of silence came the sound of a sniffle. Oh shit. When she looked back at him, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
A hiccup left her, “Ayo, do I make Mani’s life hard?”
Ayo reeled back, shock widening his eyes. Did she...what? “Callie, what do you mean? Where’d that come from?” She shrank further into herself, sniffling and trying to wipe away some of the tears.
“I--I know I’m not supposed to look at what other people’re thinking, but when Mani was picking me up my teacher looked at her and thought it must’ve been hard for her to have to watch after me.” A whimper left her, “And--and I know that Mani has to watch me all the time and sometimes and keep her up when I have a nightmare and she has to cook dinner and make lunch for me and--”
Ayo’s arms wrapped around her, startling the young girl into silence. He was all too familiar with her worries, but to see it hurting her like this sent a sharp sting of pain through his heart. “Callie, you know that Mani loves you, right?”
A sniffle. Then, “Y-yeah...”
“And why do you think she does all that stuff for you?”
“I don’t know...”
“Would you say that it’s because she loves you?” Wide, watery green eyes looked up at him. “I used to think like that too. I still do sometimes. But I know that Mani looks out for us and takes care of us because she loves us. She doesn’t see either of us as a burden. If you were, then you wouldn’t make her smile as much as you do.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, pulling her in a little tighter. “And don’t let anyone tell or make you think otherwise.”
In which Vivienne throws some serious shade and Mr. Malpeza doesn't stand a chance. You'd think all that boarding school education would have taught her to be kind to the elderly ;) https://gildedshadowscomic.wordpress.com @kitkatkimble
