Replaced?

And dammit, are none of my emails getting through to you?

Does the universe really have to conspire against me today?

Oh - I had a tooth pulled and a root canal today. I'm still a bit grumpy. Not an excuse, just a statement.

Replaced.

Arrasto?

*blinks again*

And that poem... Ragin isn't dead, theunre. You can't kill... ahh, but that's almost a line from another story that I'm not writing here. Not my tale to tell, really, although I am holding it for ransom.

I haven't even written back to Angel. I've not written much to anyone... except, apparently, to the few people who either don't notice my emails or aren't getting them.

Grr.

Replaced? The boy doesn't even understand why anyone would think he replaced anything. He doesn't understand at all. He's an INNOCENT.

Which doesn't really help, does it? You know my tastes.

He's as innocent as they come... all puns intended.

But... replaced?

*is still struggling with the idea that anyone COULD*

I haven't felt anything, through the link or otherwise, in weeks. I've shut myself off completely. Blocked out the world.

I thought it was reasonable to do so... apparently I was wrong?

Ehh. Not the first time I've been wrong.

Arrasto wants this explained. How the hell d'you explain to a housecat that someone a) thinks he's a tiger, b) expects him to suddenly be in the zoo, and c) wants him to be a mouse?

It makes no sense, I know. Let it alone. I know what I mean, and this is as close as I can come to an explanation.

In a very odd way, Daris is one of mine. Or was. I'm not sure on the correct tense just now. Many of the things Arrasto currently does, Daris has also done... mainly be incredibly amusing, a good distraction, and generally confuse me.

On the other hand, what Daris is/was/*blink* to me... Arrasto has no idea. Nor could he match that.

Do I want a chain around his throat?

Hell yes, I'm not stupid. He's sweet and innocent. He's not a housecat, not a tiger... he's a human, and prey.

If it were Kadin who had said what Daris did, I'd say he was jealous... and he might have reason to be, if Arrasto ever matched what kadin did and does for me.

As it is... it's... ehh. It IS a tiger being jealous of a housecat. It's a tiger being jealous of a housecat who isn't even aware he has claws and fur.

It's sad.

And confusing.

Arrasto, you want me to explain... here's the short version:

Daris thinks that you are becoming what he was/is/could have been - my property, my friend, and someone who improves my life and my existance simply by being YOU. In some ways he's right, in others he is dead wrong. You aren't mine. I would like it if you were, but you're not, and I don't even know where to BEGIN explaining the concept of 'mine' to you. I don't think you get it.

He's either envious, or jealous, or just practical... and I don't know which. I wish I did. I'm worried about him and don't know how to react.

On the other paw, he's drawn my attention to something I was trying damn hard to avoid and forget... that you would make excellent prey.

*shrug*

Consider this warning, offer, and explanation.

It's as close to any of those three as I'm likely to get.