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Despite the chaotic blur of events strung together with tears and smiles and unsure laughter, things were finally starting to even out. There had not been any significant sort of attack on the school in the last few weeks, the witch had not been unduly worried more so than usual, and she was even working toward positively impacting her potential career as a Trick or Treater. Honestly, despite the one glaringly awful part of her life that seemed a temporary hurdle, things were going pretty well. Perhaps not all dead roses and rainy days, but better than bright sunshine at least. And that was enough to have the witch feeling amicable enough to go on a stroll.
Strolls were not something she enjoyed participating in alone, mostly because one was never alone when one had a mind that fretted and worried and picked at the small occurrences between friends and lovers. Particularly between Belladonna and her lover, now that he cast her accusing glances or gave grumbled replies. Constantly she told herself it was just the disease, it was just Insanity making him second guess everything, but she still couldn't help worrying that he might act on it.

Maybe it was all her worries that had her following that mournful sound of music as she looped back in her walk. Maybe if it had been happy and upbeat she would have gone in the opposite direction instead of chasing it down. Maybe never knew, but it was a surprise who she found producing the music. Stopping nearby and careful to be in his line of sight, the witch waited until he'd finished his song before she piped up.
"What has you down, Lover Boil?" She asked with a small smile, one hand finding her hip in a jokingly cocky manner. The fact that Roch and Amphi had separated was something the witch was aware of, but she had also seen (and heard tale of) the Reaper's various dates with other ghouls. So why the sad song?

The guilty look was a bit of a surprise, for guilt was not necessarily something the witch had thought Roch would express over playing a mournful song. Perhaps gladness that someone noticed, maybe willing to share his story, even boastful of his playing skills, but apologetic? Belladonna, the one who delighted in the unexpected, was taken off guard. Even more so when he ran through a few notes to sing her another song altogether, one she'd heard of before and that made her smile, if somewhat hesitantly.
"Well, forgive me, but I doubt there is anything old fashioned about you." She replied with a drop of her hands so that they swung around to clasp the other behind her back. It was a joke in reference to the song, for it was a rather good song, but his apology distracts her once more.
For a moment she stood there, blinking and confused and very much not sure what to do.
On one hand, he was obviously upset over something. On the other, Amphi had seemed just as down about something and though the witch had not been privy to details, she was sure there were equal part blame on both of the previously together parties.
But... But obviously Roch needed her help!!

Another few seconds longer the ghoul stood there before she finally dropped all pretense of composure and relaxed.
"Are you alright?" Belladonna asked in a soft voice that hoped to indicate should he wish to talk, he would find a willing listener in the fellow Reaper.

The bit of silence between them did not much bother the witch for she had grown accustomed to waiting for responses. When one asked questions there was a considerable amount of time needed for others to think of an answer, so she did not mind casually standing there. As she had developed a rather large cache of patience as well, it was honestly no bother to her. The reply she was given, however, did make her perk up a little in interest.
The name 'Marosa' was familiar, especially in conjecture with 'love magic', but she couldn't quite place it. More than that, the fact that Marosa seemed to be of the male type and that Roch had fallen for him, as it were, was all the more interesting. The witch had definitely pegged the fellow Reaper as one who liked ghouls, so even though there was probably a reasoning for the occurrence in the mention of love magic, she was still very much intrigued by this turn of events.
But anything she would have said over it died at his last two questions.

"Yes, I am dating Mort." It felt silly, and a little wrong given how visibly upset Roch was, to still feel elation at being able to say that, but Belladonna really had always been a very silly ghoul. Her cheeks pinked at his last question, mostly because something as personal as telling people she loved him was new. It was certainly no secret that she loved him, especially given since she had professed said love in a very public manner back at the Haunted House, but still.
A moment passed, not a very long one for the witch did not like taking time for her own responses, before she nodded gently, her expression turned soft.
"I love him very much." Enough to do very stupid things about it, which she was fairly certain was something Roch would understand in full.
"May I inquire as to why you ask me such?" Belladonna added in that same calm and gentle voice, a tiny smile tugging at her mouth.

Another little moment was given after all his words, a careful moment of consideration where the witch had to very firmly keep her mouth closed and not jump to saying anything too suddenly. This was a delicate situation, one where the boil was showcasing some obvious signs of heartache, something Belladonna was not able to ignore. As easy as it would be to just assume that because the witch had encountered Amphi first, that she was obviously the one most heartbroken, but now that Roch is actually volunteering information, she is not longer sure.
A 'dear John' letter? Oh! Oh, the witch had heard of that, certainly. Hadn't they made a movie of it recently? Or was that something else?
Either way, she let a small sigh float out of her as she strode forward to stand a bit closer to the boil. After a moment of consideration she instead sat down in front of him, her skirts poofing out around her in quite a large show of fabric and lace and tulle.

"I do not think it is reasonably fair to say that she 'just dumped it like that'." Here she paused to raise her fingers to do delicate little air quotes, before she dropped her hands back to her lap. Another sigh left her, for this was much more difficult than she thought. Far more muddled, too.
"And maybe it would be best to... To take a more critical look at why things fell apart?" The gentle smile she had given him had now turned a little hesitant. "As painful as that might be..."

Mildly surprised that he looked directly at her, the witch froze under his gaze and when prompted for a response, was only able to give a quick, cute nod. Knowledge was always a highly valued commodity where Belladonna was involved. But the description of Amphi as a wave catches her off guard in its beauty, for that sounds almost like a compliment. Of course a mermaid would be like a wave, there was simply no other way for it. But as beautiful as that was, it must have been very frustrating.
The kind expression the witch had begun to wear faded to something almost pitying, for she did feel bad for Roch. Undoubtedly it hurt, but she wasn't sure what else to do but listen. The part about Amphi's kidnapping was known, perhaps not as in detailed as Roch gave, and the witch winced to hear it again. What was news was the knowledge that Amphi had actually befriended a Hunter. It wasn't surprising, not given how sweet the ghoul was nor her quiet demeanor that made people want to protect her. The witch had fallen for that quite fiercely. But Belladonna could also not blame the mermaid, it would have been too hypocritical given that the witch had two Hunter friends. Tenuous relationship as it were, but enough that should the time come she was sure she could trust either of them, at least a little.
But there was no way the witch could actually say of any of this and instead gave a short sigh.

"I have to think that letting you go while she was not around was more of a way to help the situation. You know that watching her cry would not have been something you would have wanted." Nor would Amphi have wanted to see the hurt on Roch's face. "And perhaps she was always afraid you would not trust her... Once revoked, trust is nearly impossible to fully win back." Unfortunate, but true.
"I think she just wanted you to be happy... And she probably thought that you were not." It hurt to see the one you loved unhappy, especially with you, so Belladonna understood that in full. But she could not give Roch the answers he needed, only able to do what little she could.
"You have been seeing lots of other ghouls. Are they making you happy?"

All in all, it was honestly much better that Roch spared the witch his honest feelings on the subject. While Belladonna might have been just a teensy bit at fault for trying to make Amphi not necessarily a martyr, but certainly reasonable in her actions, she would not have taken kindly to Roch's harsh feelings on the matter. Even the knowledge that he was heartbroken did not condone anger, however hypocritical it might be to believe such. The witch was an occasionally fickle creature, choosing to believe what she wanted regardless of whether it was always wholly appropriate. Which, for Roch, probably would do him a disservice, but at least he was wise enough to let the whole thing go!

When the boil began to speak of his dates, the witch found an odd thing happening. Instead of actually feeling interested in his dates, the feeling in her stomach was one of apprehension. It felt awkward to hear him speak so lightly of the ghouls he dated, especially given how serious he had been just moments ago when speaking of Amphi. It was... Certainly very odd.
"I am sure Miss Mia isn't that hard to keep up with." So maybe the witch had a bit of a soft spot for high maintenance ghouls. "Why do you play around with them if you almost forget their names?"
But it was that last phrase that made the witch's eyebrows quirk and she wiggled a finger at the boil.
"At least you are honest with yourself, but there is nothing wrong with love..."

"Then why did you not give yourself more time to put Amphi's name from your mind? If you are dating other ghouls, then aren't you just reminding yourself continually of their similarities, or in most cases differences, from Amphi?" What was it that Mort had once told her? Don't bait the boss? Ah well, the witch did so love poking in places she wasn't necessarily supposed to. All for the quest for more information. All for the ability to understand people better.

Yet it was quite clear with his defensive words what the real problem was. When he stood, Belladonna craned her head back to look up at him. Oh! He was leaving.
"No, I kindly disagree." She replied in just as mild a tone. A firm smile was turned up to him as she reached out to grab whatever part of him she could. Whether it was the bottom of his jacket or just his pants leg, her fingers wrapped around the cloth and held on tight.

"There is really no reason why you must be in love with someone and marry them once you're out of school." She began airily, holding onto him tight enough to keep him, but not enough that he couldn't escape if he really did not want to.
"You needn't have just one or the other. Surely there is a ghoul out there that would be happy to go to all those events with you but not want to rush into things." There was always a compromise...