A Bite As Harsh As Her Hiss

> “I go by many names these days.” 

The individual speaks calmly. If you look carefully, though the darkness a deep dark crimson can be seen. Glowing faintly from the center of otherwise empty sockets, barely illuminating a cracked skeletal face and the warped sharp toothed grin present on it.

> “Nightmare again..?” 

Crimson just nodded with a sigh.

> “Well tell your nightmares if they keep coming back I’ll have to come and help you kick their asses.”

The wisp responded earning a chuckle from her. She gently rubbed the stop of the reptilian monster’s head an involuntary pleased hiss bubbling up in the back of Crimson’s throat.

> “K-Knock it off yer cold...”

Phalene just kinda leans over using Crimson’s trunk at a pillow mumbling tiredly.

> “There.. Problem solved..”

> “Oh come on not you too.”

> “I’m not adorable.”

“Oh, you mean the king.”

Widow never bothered with him, mostly because she just did whatever she wanted, but he was the one who made the rules (rules she regularly disregarded but rules all the same) so she wasn’t really a fan of him anyways.

“What an idiot.”

Well that was the end of that. She moved on.

“Believe you me, I know about the possible consequences of small missteps.”

She pauses to gesture to her scars.

“I believe the phrase, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” may be applicable here, but I don’t fully believe in it anyways. I suppose “caution” is a broad enough term that one could argue I practice it, but I’d rather be dangerous than wary.”

There’s a pause before Widow averts her gaze from Crimson.

“And… I don’t have a favorite color either. It’s stupid…”

Crimson didn’t like the king to begin with, not because of rules necessarily but because of what the Underground had become thanks to him. Though she also had her personal reasons for hating him even more. He might not be the same Asgore that she loathed so much but he was close enough at least for her. 

Crimson pointed to the obvious large scar on her stomach.

> “I got this when I was pretty young from someone who tried to do me in, obviously they didn’t finish the job. They’ve tried since but I’ve been lucky. If one person’s dust is going to be on my hands it’s going to be his. Being wary isn’t great on it’s own, and being dangerous only works if you can make yourself a threat to any potential enemies. I choose to be a mixture of the two personally.”

She couldn’t help but smile slightly at the color comment. She didn’t really care what they talked about as long as it didn’t travel into anything she disliked discussing but talking about lighthearted things was always a nice breather down here in her opinion.

> “I actually fancy myself a bit of an artist. It’s all private of course, almost no one down here appreciates any hobby that doesn’t directly benefit them. It’s mostly just abstract or whatever but I find it enjoyable I guess. I think having to pick favorites of things is kinda stupid in general but even if I didn’t I’ve just learned to appreciate the expressiveness of every shade and hue out there.”

“…Curiosity. Have you ever heard the term: curiosity killed the cat? Well, I want a dead cat.”

Widow laughed, a sound that is the stuff of nightmares.

“Do not worry. I don’t threaten. I simply ask questions. Does the nature of the unknown make you uncomfortable? Such a dangerous fear, one might mistake you for a skittish creature. It would be their mistake, of course. Still, you should not be wary when I speak out loud. If you knew me, which I am grateful you do not, you would know I’m all bite and no bark.”

Widow brought a hand up and adjusted the bandages around her jaw. Well, at least she seemed to be in a good mood.

“I believed socialization was useless and thought it unnecessary, but this friend of yours intrigued me. I’ve avoided society most of my life, but knowledge is power, and power is what I’m after. If I’m to learn about the world, I might as well acquaint myself with those who live in it. You seemed like a more interesting candidate than him. So here I am.”

Widow crossed her arms.

“If I wished to hurt you I would’ve done so already. I already have my weapon drawn, don’t I? I have no intention to harm you. I have no preference of the information you give. You can tell me your greatest weakness, or you can tell me your favorite color. I don’t care either way. I’m simply here to learn what I can.”

There’s a pause.

“If it helps, after I have heard enough you can ask me whatever it is you wish to know.”

Crimson rose a brow as she listened to the spider speak, opting to ignore some of what she said when she opened her own mouth.

> “You are.. something.”

She shrugged admittedly a bit intrigued herself now. 

> “..To answer your earlier question my two major goals at the moment are to finally get rid of a certain fuzzy tyrant, and revenge on a certain ax wielding carcass from Snowdin. I’m not strong enough for my liking yet, but I will be.”

> “The unknown doesn’t make me uncomfortable, but down here a wrong move can end with a knife in the back. It might get people misjudging me but it’s nothing I’m not used to. Just makes it more fun to kick their sorry asses and see the shocked looks on their faces.”

“Oh.”

Well that doesn’t sound very impressed. She rests her face in her hands.

“I suppose if one is powerful enough they can afford to spend time with others. Or if one is ignorant enough.”

She tapped at her scars idly.

“Trust is a strange thing. People claim there is strength in it, and yet it’s so fragile, one small mistake could shatter it like glass. I wonder, if trust makes one fragile too. If letting it into one’s soul makes them weak. Tell me, if I reached out, grabbed your soul, and closed my hand around it, would it turn to dust? One can only be curious.”

“But I digress. I did not come here to threaten you. You two share a goal, do you not?”

> “A decent bond of trust shouldn’t shatter at a small mistake. Perhaps be damaged but not beyond repair. It can be dangerous, but only when given to people who never deserved it.”

> “For example. As someone who just threatened to kill me, although I don’t take the threat that seriously,  it makes one weary of giving out any sort of personal information. Not that I really trusted you at all to begin with, but I presume you don’t really care about that.”

If there was one thing Crimson had a plethora of it was trust issues, and.. well, anger. The naga didn’t trust anyone until that trust was beyond earned, and even then it could take a long time before she’d ever trust them completely. The end of her tail flicked back and forth slightly.

@serpentine—soul

Via

“…right.”

Widow fiddles with the bandages on her chest at the mention of him being the only dragon. It didn’t matter, the less people knew about her and her family, the better.

She takes out her warhammer, not to fight, but places it’s head down on the ground, balancing herself in a crouching position at the end of the handle. She tilts her head to the side.

“A fascinating creature. Tell me about your relationship.”

Cool, that wasn’t a question as much as a command but she doesn’t seem to care. There’s a pause before she lifts up a hand, touching her chest.

“Widow.”

At least she remembered to introduce herself.

 > “Crimson.”

She moved some of her trunk in front of her resting her elbows on it propping her head up in her hands. Might as well get comfortable if the other was going to.  The question/command was admittedly odd but she saw no reason not to answer it.

> “Fascinating ‘s a word for it. He’s certainly an interesting individual. As far as our relationship goes, we’ve known each other for a long time and have a habit of saving each other’s tails. I know I can trust him and that he’ll have my back when I need it.”