"Don, forgive me for not coming to chat for the past few days... I caught a cold of sorts, and had to get bedrest- Muffet's orders."

I eagerly await his response, a warm mug of hot chocolate in my hands as I let out strained, shallow breaths. For one reason or another, I can't seem to understand why I always grow to be so excited when writing to the Don. He has a way of speech that's strange to me, and I can't seem to get enough of it. I enjoy our written conversations, despite his vulgarity and witty remarks. He's proven to be entertaining, and a nice person when your buff out his edges.

I listen to the scribbling of pencil on paper and hope to high heaven he doesn't take too long to write back. Surely enough, I receive the notebook from under the wood of the shed door. I smile softly in relief, paying no mind to the constant stops and hitches in my breathing.

"Save it, Kitten. It's no problem so long as ya take care of yourself. I don't need to be worrying about you, after all. Not worth my time right now."

I furrow my brows upon seeing his handwriting shakier than it normally is, and question why his reply wasn't as whimsical as it would be. I'm quick to coast my response under the door, pages getting wet from absorbing snow.

"Why would you worry about me anyway? And what do you mean by 'It's not worth your time'? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, Kitten... I'm just a bit pissy 'cause I gotta leave the shed tomorrow."

"Why would you be upset over such a thing? That's wonderful news! You can finally start working for my father and be able to see people!"

"Yeah, and what of it? As you said, I'll be working for him. And he's going to give me hell on earth every second of every day because I touched his fucking daughter."

"Don, please... Don't say that as though being in there is worse than being out here."

"It is, Kit. In here, at least I have the freedom to avoid people like him. Now, I'm going to be slaving away for that kill-joy every minute of every day 'til he decides to sell me off to some other human, or 'til I kill myself while out bustin' my ass for him. I couldn't even do what I came for."

"Well... I may not be able to help that, but there is one thing you can look forward to when you're out of here."

"Oh yeah? Lay it on me. Brighten my day."

"There is no need to be sarcastic, Don."

"No really, tell me, I'm interested now."

"When you're allowed out, you can look forward to seeing the garden. I tend to it every year, and grow roses. Perhaps, when you're no longer on the hook, I can show you how to plant ferns in the pottery hanging from the front porch?"

"Yeah. That'd be nice, Kitten. "

"I'm glad you think so."

"Do you normally do all that alone?"

"Yes, I do tend to garden alone, why?"

"'Cause now you won't need to worry about that anymore."

"Isn't gardening a woman's work? Or so other men would say."

"Well, I'm no man, I'm just your friendly neighborhood skeleton.-"

I giggle before reading on.

"-Besides, I have a brother whos best friend was a woman. 'Used to rattle on and on about her night and day like she was some spectacle."

"And?..."

"And he sort of helped me learn that I don't believe in being a sexist prick."

"That makes me thrilled. Thank you for no longer being a prick."

"No longer? The hell does that mean?"

"Nothing!"

"How rude."

"I'm honest, not rude."

"I know. And that's one of the things I can respect you for."

"So you're coming out tomorrow, right? That means I can see you, right?"

"Yes Kit, you can see me tomorrow. Let's just hope you don't have a heart attack while staring at my atrocious face."

"Since when have you started to use such lengthy words?"

"Since I decided I wanted to be smart like you."

"Ha. You're terrible at flattery."

"I'm not trying to flatter you, ya nitwit! I'm saying you're a smart kid."

"Oh, now look who's being rude."

"I just called you smart, Kitten."

"But you also called me a nitwit."

"I could call you a lot of things."

"I'd prefer it if you didn't."

"Then I won't."

"Thank you." 

"Yeah, whatever."