Weight of the world {Kire/Blitz}

She didn't notice her brother was gone until this morning.
"Mommy, where did Crane go?"
Her mother didn't say anything, just shook her head.
"Mommy where is Crane?"
Both mother and brother were silent.
"Does Daddy know where he is?"
No one said anything, so she went to see.

Her fingers made a hard tapping sound on his door.
"Daaaaaddddyyyyy."
Impatient, she knocked again.
"Daddy, it's me."
Giving up on waiting, she opened the door.
"Where's Crane? Mommy wouldn't tell me."
She looks up at him, curious.

Arbrette was never the best at judging other people's emotions, nor was she good at really thinking of anyone else besides herself. If she wanted to know something, someone would have to tell her because otherwise she wouldn't stop asking the question. Everyone had become accustomed to her ways and so most people would give in early to make her stop sooner. Unfortunately, that just made her more entitled.

Her father offers her a seat and a sigh.
"But Daddy, he is awake."
She flicks a hand towards the door and kitchen.
"Mommy is making him breakfast."
She stretches up in pride.
"I ate everything on my plate."
Of course, she was only ever given what she liked.

The tiny smile is lost on her.
"Just tell me, Daddy. I can tell Aarin after."
More likely, she would brag that father trusted her more.
"Did Crane go on a mission for you?"
The excitement is clear in her face.
"Can I go on a mission for you, too?"
She kicks her legs back and forth as she sits.
"Please, Daddy, please."

Subtleties are lost on her. The pain in his face, while normally visible to anyone else, is completely hidden from Arbrette. As every, she is only thinking of herself and the fame she could get by doing a mission for her father. She was trustworthy, after all, and she was important enough. Eagerly, she waited for her father to give her what she wanted. She always got what she wanted.

His words disappoint her.
"No missions? But Daddy don't you trust me?"
She doesn't know why he rubs his face.
"Sure, the experiment run by the Capitol guy."
She gets a dreamy look whenever the Capitol is mentioned.
"I want to be famous like him, Daddy."
All she wants is everything.

She doesn't put two and two together. Each thing he says to her is a new revelation and while either of her brothers might have figured it out by now she is still in the dark. Her beaming face is full of wonder at the idea of meeting a real Capitolite. To her the prospect only hold excitement. She wouldn't know what danger and sorrow were if they stared her in the face. Her own father's weary grief was completely lost on her. Had she really thought about it, she might have signed up for the experiment herself. Surely it would have made her famous.

Her brother always tried to take the spotlight away from her.
"But that means he'll be famous before me."
Had she been standing, she would have stomped her foot.
"Crane is trying to be better than me."
Finally she noticed the tear on his cheek.
"Daddy, why are you crying?"
His words made no sense to her.
"But you're powerful Daddy, you're the Mayor."
He rambles to her and she listens attentively, or attentively enough anyway.
"Oh I know Daddy."
Like that she dismisses his fears without a care.

The oblivion she experiences is beyond what anyone else notices. In her mind they are all her subjects and she, as queen, is guarded by her father, the royal knight, and advised by her mother, her fairy godmother. Her brothers are pages and eventually they will serve her as knights as well. She does notice the gap Crane leaves, but only because her picture is incomplete without him. There are supposed to be two brothers, and yet right now she can only see one.

He sighs as he tries to explain again.
"Why would people be afraid? It sounds like the Games!"
She has never been afraid of the reaping, to her it's exciting.
"But I do have a family, Daddy. I have you and mommy and Aarin and Crane."
The thought of growing up and having children has never come to her.
"I want to live with you forever."
Once more, the seriousness of the situation escapes her.

Somewhere in her mind she does register that she might not see Crane again, but she denies that thought. Daddy would never let one of her brothers be taken away. That's why their names have never come up in the reaping, he tells them that they can't take his children. She has no concept of luck and despair.