"Uhhhh. . . Hey," I greet haltingly, unsure on what to do. Yes, I did plan on making friends with Rafferty and Mr. Asshole, but on how to actually do that I didn't think of. I only knew how to interact with them when they were grown up and I had dialogue options, not as kids. I'm not any good with kids. I didn't even know how to deal with them when they were happy, much less when they were crying.

Ergh. Looks like I'll have to play it by ear. Ok Pam-er- Kal. You can do this. You can totally do this. All you have to do is make him feel better. You can at least do that, can't you? Rafferty stared at me, tears streaming down his face but brows furrowed together. He was probably trying to figure out who I am since he's never interacted with me before even though we're family. The fact that he was unaware of my existence in person made me a bit pissed off, but I managed not to let it show on my face.

After about a minute of staring back and forth, I decide to break the silence again. "You alright bud?" As soon as the words left my lips I winced at myself. Ok, that wasn't the most refined sentence, but it was the best I could come up with at the moment. I don't know how to be. . . Comforting.

He blinked, momentarily distracted from his sorrow. Ha. Does my crude commoner speech taint your highness's formal ears? "Well?" I ask, with a bit more force than intended. "You ok?" Rafferty blinked again and wiped his eyes before focusing on me once more. Tears began slipping from his eyes as he tightly clutched his knees, shaking his blonde head. He curled into himself and remained quiet. Ugh. Kid, whadda ya want from me? Give me something, would ya? I'm new to this whole comforting thing.

Another minute passed without him saying anything as I awkwardly watched in silence. I dig inside my head for some sort of solution but draw a complete blank on what to do. So in total silence we just sat together whilst he cried quietly. As I watch his shoulders tremble I can't help but feel a bit of sympathy for him. Reaching out my hand, I awkwardly pat his head. It probably won't help, but I can't just sit here like a tree stump while a kid is crying. It's starting to make me feel guilty.

He jumped at my touch, obviously startled, and flicked his wet eyes up to me. Eck. . . Don't stare at me kid, I don't know what I'm doing ok? Sorry if I'm not good enough at this but I'm trying here! Gimme some credit! This body is only two years old you know! What's a two year old supposed to do, huh? What do you want me to do?

Rafferty continued to stare at me, like a dog caught in the act of stealing food. Not knowing what else to do, I stiffly pat his head again. ". . . You'll be ok," I awkwardly reassured with another pat on the head. "Erm- there there bud. Let it out," This was the best attempt at consoling him I could manage.

Yes it was weak and probably cliche but I was just trying to be honest. Kids cry all the time right? So it's fine if he just cries himself out now. He can't do that when he gets older so might as well let the waterworks flow while ya can. Not that crying will fix anything, but hey, he's five. I'll cut him some slack. If he were older than I'd probably tell him to get a grip and stop sulking- what? Oh don't judge me, since when has crying ever solved a problem? Besides I don't know what he's crying about. Maybe his goldfish died or something, and he's mourning it. I've known a guy who cried for hours when his pet snail bit the dust.

. . . Don't ask.

Rafferty's eyes widened slightly when I said this and for a moment he was still. Then all at once his eyes quickly welled up again and he burst into tears, sobbing loudly. Before I could react, he flung himself at me and latched onto my body in a hug, still crying his eyes out. Well. You just got yourself tackled by the hysterical crying child. Great job me. I start to shudder at how grossly cliche this scene was but stopped abruptly when Rafferty let out some kind of wail right next to my ear.

YEOW! This kid's got some pipes!! I try to rub my ears to numb the pain but Rafferty had me in some sort of body lock and he was too absorbed with crying to pay attention to me. Thus resulted in my only option being to wait uncomfortably until he tired himself out while he wailed into my shoulder. Yeesh. It's hard to believe this kid's gonna grow up to be the same Rafferty from inside the game. That Rafferty never showed a somber face aside from a sad smile every now and then. This kid's crying is probably gonna cause the next great flood. Quick, someone find a Noah and build an ark! We gotta save ourselves before we all drown!

Finally after what seemed like an eternity but in reality was probably just fifteen minutes, Rafferty's sobs turned to soft sniffles. Oh god FINALLY!! I think with a surge of relief. Please tell me this means your gonna stop snotting into my shoulder. My shoulder is bare so you've basically been wiping your snot onto my SKIN. Hate to tell you, but my skin isn't absorbent buddy. I'm not a tissue.

"You feel any better now?" He wiped his eyes and sniffed before nodding slightly. "Ok then. Why were you crying?" I ask absentmindedly while I rub my shoulder in an attempt to clean it. He didn't respond for a few seconds but slowly began to answer in a wavering voice. "Some boys," he murmured. "Sons of my father's friends. They chased me into the maze and I got lost. I can't find my way out," Tears threatened to burst from his eyes again as he spoke. Wow, I stared at him, speechless. They forced him into a maze and then just left him? Man, kids are assholes. Well, if he just wants to get outta here I can do that.

"Oh. Is that all? Com'on then, I'll show you the way out," Now standing, I grab Rafferty's hand and pull him up to his feet. He stumbled and looked around uncertainly. "You know the way out?" I nod. "Yeah. It's not too far, though I guess it is confusing. If we go back the way I came it shouldn't take too long. Come on," I tug him forward, frantic to get out lest he break down again. I won't be able to manage trying to soothe him a second time- the first was awkward enough. As a side note, Rafferty seems to speak pretty well for a five year old. Then again he is Royal, so I guess it's expected. Still though, props to you Rafferty.

Thankfully he followed close behind me as I walked, gripping my hand tightly as if he feared I would suddenly disappear. After a few minutes of walking, it was his turn to break the silence. "Who are you?" He asked in a voice so quiet I almost couldn't hear him. "Eh? What'd you say?" He was quiet for a second and then repeated the question. "You. Who are you?" Ah, so now you care about my existence. I'm flattered. "I'm Kalliope, but call me Kal. I'm your cousin."

"C-cousin?" His voice carried a hint of surprise in it. "Your. . . My cousin?" "Yeah. That's what I just said isn't it," I add in a grumble under my breath. "O-oh. It's. . . nice to meet you Kalliope. I am Rafferty Quinn Cedric-" "Just Rafferty's enough," I interrupt before he could rattle off his list of names. "And I already know." Pft. Royals. Why are their names so long? Just one name should be enough- two at most.

"A-ah. Ok. . . Um. . . Which cousin are you?" Rafferty meekly asked, possibly embarrassed. Serves you right. You should at least try to get to know your own family. Since your young I'll let it slide this time, but you better not forget who I am! "I'm the daughter of Serenity and Prince David. I'm that cousin." My response must have startled him because he squeezed my hand even tighter.

"Uncle David had a kid?" Obviously. I'm standing right here aren't I genius?

"Yup."

"Oh. . . N-nice to meet you Kalliope. . ."

"Kal's fine," I grunt, tugging him past a dead end. "And you already said that."

"Oh. . . Kalliope?"

"I said just Kal is fine. What is it?"

". . . Why are you in your undergarments?"

Oh yeah. I guess people were gonna ask about that. "I don't like dresses, and it's easier to move in this. Besides it's not like I'm in my actual underwear or anything, everything that needs to be covered is covered!" "But still," Rafferty coughed into his fist, blushing slightly. "It's not. . . Appropriate is it? To walk around in your underclothes."

With a snort I turn to give him a glare. "Let's see you walk around in an overly frilled dress!" Men usually don't know the struggle woman go though in the name of "fashion". He was currently dressed in a formal blue suit trimmed in gold, making him look exactly like the little prince he was. After my sarcastic remark Rafferty remained quiet until we reached the end of the maze.

"Ok, we're out," I let go of his hand and point at the door I came through. "This door leads up to a hallway. If you walk around for a bit I'm sure a maid or something will help you." When he didn't answer I glance back at him. "You ok now? If you still feel like crying you should probably do it before someone else sees."

Rafferty gripped his pants tightly and stared at his shoes like he was going to start bawling again, but shook his head. "No," he said, turning his sky blue eyes up to me. "No, I'm ok. Thank you," he rubbed his sleeves across his eyes before pausing and speaking again. "Kalli- Kal?" "Yeah?" "U-umm. . ." He fidgeted uncomfortably, as if not sure how to say it. Good god, just spit it out kid.

"C- can I come see you?" He asked softly, voice hardly audible. Huh. Did not expect that. "What?" I ask, not sure if he meant what I was thinking. He swallowed. "U-um. . . I- I want to see you again," he declared, voice stronger now. "Your my cousin so, we can play together right? Right?" As he asked this his attitude changed to less "weepy boy" and more "please say yes", like a child wanting permission to get more ice cream.

Wait, so lemme get this straight. Rafferty wants to come play with me? Really? I don't have to do some drastically dramatic thing to get his attention after all? Sweet! See? Good thing I went into that maze wasn't it? Told you my way of impulsive wandering wasn't just stupid! Thanks to this I'll be able to befriend Rafferty! "Yeah sure!" I exclaim enthusiastically. "Come over and play whenever you want!" For the first time Rafferty's face lit up in a bright smile, highlighting his handsome features. Damn. He was a pretty cute kid when snot wasn't pouring down his face. Maybe he can turn into that fairy tale prince after all.