divinity.

“Oh, who cares? How many are there here, four?”

“Since the moment I met her!” Which was probably at a party, now that she thinks about it. Laura has always admired Rhiannon’s courage. “Yes, of course! I’d love that. I can bring Dahlia along, we’ll have a bunch of fun.”

“That’s a whopping here!”

“Yeah,” he deadpans, “I’m looking for my dream daddy.”

“Must not get a whole lot of trouble, I’d think. But you don’t look like any librarians I’ve ever known, either.” Dante has had his fair share of rummaging through libraries, much to their hatred of him. “Thanks, though. I hope so too.”

“I wish you luck finding all your dreams, and all your dream daddies.” 

“You should run for mayor, you know. I think you’d be great at that. I’d vote for you.”

Laura laughs, not at all surprised that a party thrown by Rhiannon, inside of a bar no less, would end up with a couple of heads in the toilet. “Your sister has always known how to throw a party.” She thought it was amazing that she actually threw it in celebration of her own homecoming, as well. “I’d love to come hang out with you guys sometime! It’s been a while since I’ve gone to a party.”

“I’d be so busy! And I’d have all of no UPS drivers’ votes. But... thank you, really.”

“Oh yeah. And none that could kill me if we got in a fight or anything either.”

“Must like it enough to stick around, then? Congrats on the job.” Dante thinks he could see the appeal, but he’s used to bigger and busier places. “Nah, you’re alright.” He knows how to get around anything he doesn’t want to answer well enough. “This is the first time I’ve been here. My parents are split, just visiting his side of the family.” It’s honest enough.

"So, hoping for no dramatics. And no Black Widows. That leaves you with, what, Daddy Long Legs?” 

“Hopefully he learns his lesson. I’d hate to see our beaches or fields filled with trash someday.”

“Thank you so much, that’s so sweet of you to say. I’m really excited for it, I love what I do.” Laura can’t imagine herself doing much else, either. “Oh yes, Rhiannon! I saw her at the store the other day, getting things for her party. I wanted to go, but I was working. She’s a lot of fun.”

"It exhausts me, thinking people are okay just being so careless.” 

“A considerate one. One that winks with at least four eyes.”

“Yeah? How long have you been around for?” Dante doesn’t mind slow, not when it lets him get things done, but he’s not sure how he feels about stick around Redwind for too long. “Thanks. I actually came here for family.”

“So, a more thoughtful spider. One you could take home for Thanksgiving, if it wasn’t already there.” 

“Oh, absolutely not. What happened?”

“Wish it wasn’t, but… something to work on, I guess!” She’d love to be able to remember every compliment and well-wish more than every difficult moment or an especially hard to hear criticism. “I’ve been doing pretty well, thank you! School is going great, I’m getting pretty close to graduation. How about you? Everything good on your end?”

“One of the UPS drivers dropped his plastic for the soda cans, and there’s so many strays around where it happened! I really couldn’t help it. If for nothing else, then at least for future reference.” 

“You’re right. I wouldn’t date a spider that only winked at me with one eighth of their eyes.”

“It’s kind of creepy.” The thought of Redwind Beach was always creepy to him, but actually coming here has proved his point. It might just be him. “But yeah, I think you’re actually only the fourth or fifth person I’ve even spoken to.” How his own sister beat the odds here only adds to his weird feeling about this place.

“What kind of a spider would you date?”

She gets some teasing for it from time to time, that’s for sure. But she doesn’t mind. “Oh? Did you have a bad run-in with a rampant litterer?”

“That makes sense. It’s always easier to remember the bad than the good, as sad as that is.” The bad always gets to her more, always sits at the front of her mind. “But I do mean it. I got really lucky that it was you who found my locket.”

“I did. I couldn’t just let him go scot-free like that, could I?” 

He laughs quietly, deciding to push further. “Would a winking spider be just one eye, or four, you think?”

Dante shakes his head. “Nah, I actually just got in this morning. Sure gives off that vibe, though.”

She laughs harder then, almost in disbelief. “It would be sort of an insult if it only blinked one, right? Don’t you think that would feel a little half-assed? Like you were getting a 20%?”

“I think you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met.” Laura’s voice has a hint of a laugh in it, but it’s true. Ever since she’s known Alice, she’s been the epitome of a truly good and caring person.

“I didn’t mean to just jump you like that, but I mean… at least you didn’t mind. Thank you again. And really, if there’s anything you need help with, or that I can do for you, just let me know.”

She lowers her gaze, an appreciative hint of color rising in her cheeks. “The same could be said for you, Laura–but I’m sure you get that a lot. And at least you don’t go giving people trouble when they litter!” 

“And all those eyes. You think they all blink at the same time, or individually?” He’s not sure why he’s giving her a hard time. For the distraction, maybe.

He reciprocates the exchange before pulling his hand back. “Just about. I take it you’re new, then?”

She laughs into her hands, covering her face and trying to push the image out of her head. “No! That’s terrible!”

“I’m glad too! Honestly, you’re a life saver. I owe you one. Or ten. Anything you need.” She looks down at the locket again before clutching it tight.

Laura smiles when her eyes meet Alice’s again. “My mom handed it down to me when I turned thirteen. It’s been in my family for a long time.”

“Oh, don’t think of it like that! I couldn’t stand to think of something that precious out there by itself. There’s no telling what people around here would do, not knowing its value. ” 

“Still pretty creepy looking though, huh?” He gives her a bit of a smile, mostly just an attempt to make her feel a little better if she needs it.

“Yeah, sure thing. I’m Dante.” He hesitates for a moment, but decides to extend his hand. “Thanks again for letting me know. Before he decided to take up residence in my hair, or worse.”

“Oh, definitely. I feel like if you zoom in a little they’d have all those hairy legs. I couldn’t deal with that.” 

Alice answers her prayers without a second spared, sending her frantic pulse and upset stomach both into quick relief. “Oh thank you!” She beams, taking the locket carefully back in hand. The clasp is broken, but that can be repaired.

Without much warning she gives Alice an excited hug. It dawns on her a little too late, so she keeps it brief. “Thank you so much, again! If I lost this, I… I don’t know what I’d do.”

She’s not averse to hugs in the slightest - especially ones of relief, which Laura deserves. “Oh, no need! Really, I’m just glad that I found the right person.” 

Her response gives it away that she doesn’t care much for spiders. It’s not like he’s Charlotte’s best friend, but he doesn’t tend to kill spiders unless he thinks they’re poisonous. Or unless someone wants him to. “Ah, I just don’t pay ‘em much mind.”

Dante nods along with her thoughts. He’d rather have a whole lot less flies and mosquitoes. “That’s what I figure. Don’t mind getting rid of him though, if it’ll make you feel better.”

"Hey, I get it. They’re not doing much more than minding their own business.” Still, they make her skin crawl.  

Her heart starts to race when she can’t immediately find it. She starts checking under tables, only seconds away from resorting to getting on her hands and knees when Alice grabs her attention.

“Alice, hi!” She offers her a genuine smile, trying to be polite and still look. Alice is just as polite, seeming to notice her distress right away. “I lost the— the locket I always wear. It’s silver… some carvings in black, and with a red gem at the top. You haven’t seen it, have you?”

Concern washes over her features until Laura brings attention to the fact that she does in fact have exactly what she’s looking for. And what luck!