Scenario:Agielba - Growing Pains

Growing Pains

During pickup at the nursery, Agielba catches Ardora gazing wistfully at other families. He thinks back on his late wife and regrets not doing more for Ardora as a father.

---

Agielba: Pleasure doing business with you. Anything else comes up, you get in touch, hear?

Mission complete, Agielba shakes hands with his patron at the mouth of a village. Behind him, a vast field shivers in the wind.

Agielba: Monster or thug—one swing and I'll knock their lights out!

Boots padding on the grass, Agielba turns and waves at the villagers who have gathered to see him off. With his free hand, he tucks a pouch of rupies into his belt.

Agielba: Well, that's another job down.

Agielba: Time for Daddy to pick up his sweet Ardora!

An spiritual sun lights up the crags of Agielba's face. Not a second later, he breaks into a headlong dash.

Ardora: Gween light... Red light!

Scamp: ...

Ardora: Gween light... Red light!

Scamp: Whoah!

Ardora: Hehe. Saw you mwove!

A group of nursery school children play cheerfully under the watchful eye of their teacher.

Teacher: Hehe.

Agielba's Voice: Sniff... Sniffle...

Teacher: Hm?

Agielba: Aagh... Ardoraaa...

Teacher: Oh! Um, Mr. Agielba! Here for your daughter?

Agielba: They grow up so fast, don't they?

Teacher: They sure do. How long have you been watching?

Teacher: Ardora's learned to strategize. Earlier, she was modulating her rhythm like "Green liiight... Red light!"

Teacher: Their games get more sophisticated by the day. I can't stress how amazing these kids are. You blink, and suddenly it's like there's a whole new person in front of you...

Teacher: Oh! Mr. Agielba?

Agielba: Ardoraaa! Daddy's come searching for his little treasure!

Ardora: Papi! Papi! You're back!

Agielba gathers his daughter in his arms, nuzzling their cheeks together.

Agielba: Were you a good girl at school today, Ardora?

Ardora: Hehe. Were you a good boy at work today, Papi?

Scamp: Look, look! Ardora and her dad are being big babies!

Ardora: ...

Ardora: ...

Agielba: Hm? Somefink wrong, sweetheart?

Ardora: Put me down.

Agielba: Ardora?

Back on the ground, Ardora stamps her small foot.

Ardora: I'm nawta baby!

Scamp: Yeah-huh you are! Only babies get carried!

Ardora: Nuh-uh, I'm nawt!

Agielba: Ardora. Settle down, now...

Teacher: All right, you two. That's enough.

Both: ...

Teacher: Pack your bags, class! I've got a line forming to take you all home.

Scamp's Mom: Sweetie... You're caked in dirt. Must've had your fair share of fun for the day.

Scamp: Yup!

Scamp: Wait... No way! Dad's here?

Scamp's Dad: Work let me off early today. Thought we could go out for a family meal.

Scamp: Yay! Table for three, please!

Agielba: All righty, Ardora. What say you and me also hit the—

Ardora: ...

Ardora watches the family of three leave with wistful eyes.

Agielba: ...

Agielba: (I never wanted Ardora to feel the absence of a mother. I've always tried to love her enough for two...)

Agielba: (But I get swept away by work, and... now I wonder if I even loved her enough for one.)

Ardora: Papi? Papi, did you say somefink?

Agielba: ...

Agielba: (This isn't like me. World's greatest mercenary, crying over spilled milk...)

Ardora: Papi.

Agielba: ...

Ardora: Papi!

Agielba: Hm?

Agielba: Oh. Sorry, sweetheart. You know Daddy spaces out when he gets hungry.

Ardora: Oh no!

Ardora: Papi has to eat woads and woads! Your body is your gweatest asset!

Agielba: Asset? Where'd you learn that word? I always knew you were a genius!

Ardora: Stop it, Papi! You're awways egzadder-rating. People are gonna call you a doting dummy!

Agielba: Hahaha! Nothing gets past you, does it?

Agielba ponders his daughter's growth. So young she still speaks with a lisp, but already looking out for her father.

The thought wrings at his heart. I have to do something big for her, Agielba tells himself. The only question is, what?

Growing Pains: Scene 2

The pair runs into the nursery school teacher later and Agielba, hoping to introduce a mother figure into Ardora's life, invites her to lunch with them. That night, he reminisces about his first encounter with his late wife.

---

On the way back to the Grandcypher, Ardora stops by the show window of a toy store.

Ardora: ...

Agielba: Well! Isn't that a fine looking teddy?

Agielba: Tell you what, Ardora. You've recently learned to look after yourself. As a reward, why don't I—

Ardora: No.

Agielba: No? Did you want the sheepie instead? Or maybe—

Ardora: No, no, no. No wasting money.

Ardora: All I need is a "dank you."

Agielba: Huh?

Ardora: Don't spend on toys. Save for the few-chur.

Agielba: The future?

Agielba: Sigh... Ardora... Papi's starting to think you're a better adult than he is.

Ardora: That's wight! I'm gwowing up!

A proud smile lights up Agielba's face.

And through the misty plains of his mind, the voice of his late wife echoes from the past.

Mardora: Sigh... As soon as you get hold of a coin, you send it on its way again...

Mardora: But a mercenary's life is full of twists and turns. You need to save for the future, okay?

Agielba: (Heh. A regular chip off the old block.)

At that moment, a tantalizing smell winds its way down the street and makes Agielba's head perk up.

Agielba: Huh? My sniffer's picking up something delicious. And it's coming right from that diner!

Ardora: Hmm...

Agielba: Oh no... Don't tell me that eating out's a waste of money too!

Ardora: Food is Papi's source of power... So westewaunts aren't a waste...

Ardora: They're a must!

Agielba: Hah! That's the spirit, kiddo! Now, how about we go eat our fill?

Ardora: Sounds good ta me!

???: I thought I heard an energetic voice coming from over here. Headed for the diner, Ardora?

Ardora: We sure are, Miss Teach!

Teacher: Glad to see you're a regular little sunbeam even outside of school.

Agielba: That's a given!

Agielba: My Ardora's one in a million. She'll shine no matter where she is!

Ardora: Papi! I told you, no more egzadder-rating! You're embawassing me...

Agielba: What? But Papi was just telling the truth!

Teacher: Heh. I don't know about exaggerating...

Teacher: But what I do know, Ardora, is that your father loves you very, very much.

Teacher: You're lucky to have each other.

Ardora: Agweed!

Scamp: Ardora!

Ardora: Oh! Hewwo!

Agielba: Well, if it isn't your friend from school!

Scamp: Wait, Ardora. Is that your mom?

Ardora: Oh. Um...

Teacher: Hehe. Look again. Or have you forgotten your teacher's face already?

Scamp: What! You were Ardora's mom this whole time?

Teacher: No, silly! I was out shopping. I bumped into Ardora and her father by chance.

Scamp: Oh. Well, my mom and dad are here. We're gonna eat out!

Scamp's Dad: Hey, kiddo! Let's get a move on!

Scamp: Coming!

Scamp: See you tomorrow, then! Bye!

Ardora: ...

Both: ...

Agielba lays a hand on Ardora's drooping head.

Agielba: Hey, Ardora. Papi's tank has hit zero. Let's go fill it up, okay?

Ardora: Okay...

Teacher: ...

Teacher: Oh no, Ardora! Your father's in big trouble!

Both: Huh?

Teacher: He's got a bad case of the belly rumbles. If this goes on, he's gonna go as flat as a pancake!

Ardora: He's gonna what?

Agielba: ...!

Agielba: Aagh! Please! Ardora, help! I'm too young to be a pancake!

Ardora: Oh no! We've godda feed you, Papi!

Ardora dashes to the door of the diner, then swivels around, beckoning at her father.

Ardora: Hurwee!

Agielba: I'm coming!

Agielba: Hey, Teach.

Teacher: Yes?

Agielba: If you aren't busy, care to join us? No pressure, of course.

Agielba: And uh... To be clear, I'm not trying to start anything. It's just... Well, you saw the look on Ardora's face...

Agielba: And I thought... The more the merrier, you know?

Teacher: Yes... Yes, of course. If you're sure I won't be intruding.

Agielba: No, you really saved the day. Off the battlefield, I'm no more than a lumbering oaf...

Teacher: Don't be so hard on yourself.

Teacher: It's obvious how much you care. If anyone can make Ardora happy, it's you.

Agielba: Heh... It's almost like you're tryin' to make me cry.

The two follow Ardora into the warm smells and lively chatter of the diner, where they while away a pleasant afternoon.

That night...

Ardora: Zzz...

Agielba: (Argh... She's so cute, I could eat her right up!)

Agielba wanders away from Ardora's sleeping figure. By the window, he pours himself a glass of hard liquor and stares at the stars winking mysteriously at him.

Agielba: ...

Scamp: Haha!

Ardora: ...

Agielba: (If anyone can make Ardora happy, it's me...)

Agielba: (That was the promise, but I keep seeing the sad little girl from this afternoon.)

Agielba: Sigh...

Ardora: Mmph...

Ardora rolls over, flinging her covers to the foot of the bed. Agielba returns to her side and gently tucks her in again.

Agielba: (Ardora might be mature for her age, but she's still a kid. She needs love and attention.)

Agielba: (But what more can I do?)

Agielba: (If Mardora were here... what would she do?)

And before he knows it, Agielba is like a drowning man, writhing within an ocean of memories.

Agielba and a young roughneck guzzle from tankards of booze, egged on by the tribal chant of "drink, drink, drink!"

Agielba: Gulp... Gulp...

Roughneck: Glug... Glug...

Agielba: Ahhh!

Roughneck: Urp...

Agielba: Hah! Kid can't hold his liquor. Better luck in ten years!

A woman behind the counter side-eyes Agielba, who lets loose a guttural roar of victory.

Mardora: How many pints was that? Does he always drink enough to irrigate a small village?

Barkeep: Man's an alchemist of sorts. Needs to turn every coin he has into golden liquor.

Mardora: Every coin? He's a mercenary, isn't he? Shouldn't he be saving for a rainy day?

Barkeep: Spend enough time sharpening your sword, and you dull your wits. There isn't a thought in that mind for anything beyond today.

Agielba: That's a pretty song... You two little birds tweeting about me?

Mardora: ...!

Agielba: Now, now. Don't be scared. I don't eat pretty little songbirds. Hah!

Barkeep: Listen, you big lush. Lay a single paw on my niece, and you'll be out of here on your ass!

Agielba: Whaa? Who said I wanted anything to do with your...

Mardora: ...

Agielba: Niece! Uh...

Mardora: Um... Something wrong?

Agielba: No! No, everything's... perfect...

Mardora: But it looks like you're burning up.

Agielba: Oh! No! It's just the alcohol. Works on me like oil on a fire!

Agielba: I... I think... I think I'll go take a head. I mean, a walk! Take a walk! To cool my head!

Mardora: ...

Barkeep: Well, that's a rare sight. One good look at you, and suddenly Agielba can't tell up from down.

Agielba: Barkeep! You keep your mouth shut! I mean it!

Barkeep: Gahaha! Go cool your head, you lovestruck lug!

Mardora: Hehe.

Agielba: ...

Agielba: (Damn... No liquor intoxicates me like the thought of you...)

Growing Pains: Scene 3

After a night of missing his wife, Agielba asks Ardora if she'd like a new mom. Ardora thinks Agielba has fallen for her teacher and is heartbroken.

---

Agielba: Mardora! Would you... Uh... You know?

Mardora: I know what?

Agielba: The... The obvious thing! Argh, you're killing me!

Agielba reaches into a pocket, wrestles out a small box, then drops to one knee.

He cracks the lid to reveal a ring topped with a gemstone, which seems to flare rainbow in the sun.

Mardora: ...!

Agielba: I don't have a thing going for me, other than a talent for knocking heads around...

Agielba: But Mardora! You've gotta marry me!

Mardora: Try again.

Agielba: Huh?

Mardora: I said, "Try again."

Agielba: What! How could all this not float your boat?

Agielba: A passionate proposal on a beautiful beach... It's what you've always wanted, isn't it!

Mardora: All right, big guy. Settle down.

Agielba: Yes ma'am...

Mardora: First of all, a patch of dirt by the local lake isn't a "beautiful beach." You find beaches by the sea. In Auguste.

Mardora: Second of all, I wouldn't call your proposal "passionate" so much as aggressive. You might've seduced a bear, but not a woman.

Agielba: Aagh... It's all water, ain't it? And you know I'm a fighter, not a lover!

Agielba: ...

Mardora: Still...

Agielba: Hm?

Mardora: If I'm being really, really generous... that was pretty romantic for a lug like you.

Agielba: Which means?

Mardora: Try again in a few days.

Agielba: All... All right! All right, I got this! Auguste, here we come!

Agielba: Hraaagh! Just you wait, Mardora!

Agielba: It's... It's just not fair... Are babies even allowed to be this cute?

Mardora: Agielba, you sweet knucklehead. What are you even crying over?

Agielba: A miracle, that's what I'm crying over! Not only did I marry the most wonderful woman in the world... she gave me the most amazing daughter in the world!

Agielba: If I'm not allowed to shed tears of joy, then no man who ever lived knew true happiness.

Mardora: So... about her name. I've been thinking...

Mardora: How about Ardora?

Agielba: Ardora? Ardora... Ardora...

Agielba: ...

Mardora: Well?

Agielba: Ah... Ah...

Agielba: Ardoraaa! It's beautiful!

Agielba: She's going to grow into a fine woman just like her mother, or my name isn't Agielba!

Agielba: Hewwo, wittle Ardora. It's your Papi.

Mardora: Haha! You sound ridiculous!

Agielba: There wasn't a cloud on the horizon that day... I was sure we were going to live happily ever after.

Agielba: ...

Doctor: I'm so sorry...

Agielba: Is it gold? If I bring you enough gold, can you save her?

Doctor: I need you to stay calm, sir. My colleagues and I have done everything we can. But your wife's illness—

Agielba: There has to be a way! Mardora can't die... She just can't...

Agielba: Why... Why!

Mardora: ...

Agielba: Why is it so dark in here? Let me get the lights...

Mardora: Leave it. Ardora just fell asleep.

Agielba: All right...

Mardora: Isn't the moon beautiful tonight?

Agielba: Sure is.

Agielba: It's funny... Before we met, I was so busy putting things in the dirt, I never thought to look up at the moon...

Mardora: Agielba...

Agielba: Yeah?

Mardora: How long do I have?

Agielba: To do what?

Mardora: To live.

Agielba: Well... First, we've got to raise our little girl together. We've got to flounder together when she hits puberty, struggle together through her rebellions...

Agielba: And one day, when she brings a stranger in through the front door and says she's going to marry them, I'm going to breathe fire.

Agielba: Then you'll calm me down like you always do, and force me to see what a great person Ardora found...

Mardora: Don't cry.

Agielba: I'm not crying.

Mardora: Please... Take care of our daughter.

Agielba: Mardora...

Agielba looks down at his withered wife, made more skeletal by the bone-white light of the moon, and is struck by the burning intensity of her eyes.

Mardora: If anything were to happen to her, I'd never be able to rest in peace. You have to promise me.

Agielba: I promise. Come wind or rain, flood or fire, I will make Ardora happy.

Agielba: So you just worry about yourself, okay?

Mardora: The mind wanders where the heart is... And my heart... is with the two of you.

Agielba: You damn fool.

Agielba clasps Mardora to his chest, stifling his sobs so as not to disturb the sleeping Ardora.

Ardora: Zzz...

Agielba: ...

Agielba: You were right. The mind wanders where the heart is...

Agielba stares unsteadily up at the moon. The stains on its surface seem to swim, twisting into the silhouettes of his wife and daughter.

Eventually, dawn breaks and washes away all illusions.

Around noon, Agielba takes Ardora to the local lake, where a well-kept tombstone stands.

Ardora: Mama. I picked these fwowers just fwo you.

Agielba: ...

Agielba: Mardora, look at how big she's grown. Our precious baby girl...

Agielba: She's more than we ever dreamed of.

Ardora: Yep!

With a wide smile, Agielba ruffles his daughter's hair.

Agielba: Ardora, do you remember Mama?

Agielba: What am I saying? You were just a baby.

Ardora: I don't wemember Mama...

Ardora: But I wemember the smell of miwk.

Ardora: It smelled so good and sweet...

Agielba: That so? I think Mama would be very happy to hear that.

There is a moment of silence as Agielba turns his warm gaze back onto Mardora's grave.

Ardora: Papi? What was Mama wike?

Agielba: Well, let's see. Your Mama had a heart of gold, and she loved you more than anything.

Agielba: Her love was like the sun, and you and me were like two flowers growing in her light...

Ardora: Oh...

Agielba: ...

Agielba: Ardora?

Ardora: Mm-hm?

Agielba: Do you... Um... Have you ever thought about wanting a new mama?

Ardora: A new mama?

Agielba: Yeah. A new mama.

Ardora takes a few seconds to give serious thought to Agielba's question, before answering with a bright smile.

Ardora: All Ardora needs is Papi!

Agielba: Ardora...

Agielba: (Can't tell if she's being honest...)

Agielba: (Damn! If only I didn't have the insight of a bottle cap...)

Ardora: ...

Ardora: (A new Mama?)

And with those words, Ardora is reliving a scene from the previous afternoon.

Teacher: Hehe.

Agielba: Hahaha!

Scamp: Wait, Ardora. Is that your mom?

Ardora: Oh. Um...

Teacher: Hehe. Look again. Or have you forgotten your teacher's face already?

Scamp: What! You were Ardora's mom this whole time?

Ardora: (Papi eats wunch wif Miss Teach... Papi asks if I want a new mama...)

Ardora: (Papi... wike-wikes Miss Teach?)

The thought turns into a little burr and affixes itself to Ardora's heart—painful and impossible to dislodge.