#laoft adder

Kleinespinne shrunk back and shuffled a bit.

“I uh, I dunno…”

Adder hmphed.

“Oh, be nice Adder,” Virgil said. Adder scowled in response. What was his deal?

“That’s why we’re here anyways. So Kleinespinne can get the tarantula they want.”

Adder hmmed at that. Admittedly, Adder hadn’t been paying much attention to what they were doing. He was perhaps a bit too eager to go somewhere with his brother. He could have asked permission, but Virgil didn’t say he couldn’t come. This being a mission for the ‘other’ sibling gave Adder even more incentive to be there. Even if he couldn’t care less if this Kleinespinne got what they wanted. But Adder was loathe to let the other spend more time with just Virgil, without Adder.

Of course, he tried not to let his dislike of the other show since Virgil was a fan of them. It didn’t go too well for Adder last time he let that happen. Unfortunately, he suspected he was not very good at hiding it completely.

Adder could tell the others in the group were not thrilled that Adder didn’t glamour himself. Adder didn’t see why he should though. It didn’t matter here. Wasn’t the goal of this excursion to intimidate so they get what they want anyways? It was no matter.

Adder stuck his nose up. “Well, good. No one should get away with such disrespect.”

There was a lot of racket in the pet store. The enclosed space of a human building made everything seem louder, like an echo chamber. Adder scrunched his nose at some of the pet smells of unsophisticated creatures. He didn’t quite see the appeal of some of the animals up for adoption here. At least snakes knew how to clean up after themselves, and didn’t stink the way some furry vermin did.

Kleinespinne gasped and rushed over to the spider enclosures. Adder heard chuckles and mutterings among their group. Something about how ‘smitten the adorable baby gay’ was. Whatever that meant. Adder rolled his eyes and followed. Virgil watched Kleinespinne as they browsed the different tarantula choices. Honestly, humans took such work. The lengths they had to go to get a simple animal companion. It was much simpler in the forest where there was nothing that had to be bought the way they were with humans. 

Granted, Adder’s sisters came from magical gifting, but still. Adder was gentry, he got special privileges.

“Oh! This one is so cute,” Kleinespinne exclaimed. Adder scoffed.

“Cute is not a descriptor I think of when it comes to spiders. I hope you are not infantilizing such a majestic species.”

Kleinespinne’s face fell at Adder’s comment. Virgil gave Adder a look who tried not to meet his gaze. Instead, he looked at the specific creature the human set their sights on. Adder nodded.

“She does seem like a good one. Great warning colors to ensure protection from dangers.”

“I don’t want her to seem even scarier to my parents,” Kleinespinne said.

“Why does it matter? Vee is giving you the spider as a gift, no? They would be stupid to make any sort of fuss. My brother is much scarier of course, and the lord of the forest.”

Kleinespinne sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

“What else do you need for your new spider, baby gay?” The moonshine seller, with the sunglasses, asked.

Kleinespinne perked up again. “Oh,” They started listing supplies and such they would need.

Also, “Wait, so the spider will be staying in a small enclosure?”

“Yeah. There’s no way I could just let her roam around my house. It would give my parents a heart attack. Plus, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her.”

“Hm.”

“What are you gonna name her?” The female of the group asked.

Kleinespinne brightened, “Pumpkin!”

The moonshine seller smiled and started tapping on his mobile device.

“Oh, the group chat is gonna join us with cooing over this.”

Adder pursed his lips. He wasn’t one for cute. But he had to admit it was hard to hold onto his dislike of this human. Not that it mattered anyways.

They started gathering supplies. Again, Adder just kind of stood near them. It’s not like he was asked to help anyways.

“So, I think Snowmelt is going to meet us at Kleinespinne’s house. Then we will convince their family to let them keep Pumpkin,” Virgil said.

Adder nodded. “Good. Although, surely if they have any self-preservation instincts it won’t be much of a challenge. I’ll make it clear their safety is contingent on their agreeableness to this.”

“You’re not threatening them, Adder,” Virgil said. Adder felt a tug at that.

“Wasn’t that your plan anyways?” Adder asked.

“As you said, we shouldn’t need to.”

“It’s the principle of it though.”

You would think Adder would be better at listening now, all things considered.

The group stood in front of the house. Snowmelt was with them now, he smiled with a bit of exasperation, yet held a stack of papers. Adder didn’t know what that was about. They walked in.

“H-hey, mom and dad,” Kleinespinne said.

“Baby gay has a spider pet now,” the moonshine seller announced. Kleinespinne’s parents sputtered.

Virgil came in holding the tank with Pumpkin, a strategic choice surely.

“It’s a gift,” Virgil said. “Since they expressed a strong desire for a tarantula companion. I wanted to make them happy and express my gratitude for our friendship.” He then proceeded to walk in and set the tank with the spider in Elliot’s room. There was no other acknowledgment to the parents.

Adder couldn’t help himself and watched the human parents to see what gall they had. Their expressions were twisted up, clearly not pleased but not saying anything. Still, Adder felt unsatisfied without saying anything.

“I would fix your faces if I were you,” He said coldly. “You are lucky. Be glad for the spider prince’s attachment to your offspring. It is the only reason you remain standing here unharmed. The nerve you have to give such disrespect to his highness’s species. The young human expressed a wish for you to be spared, a sentiment which I assure you I do not share. Be grateful for the faery ruler’s kindness. I would not have granted you such myself.”

“Adder…” Virgil said as he left Elliot’s room. Adder hmphed and hissed at the human parents.

“I mean, it’s true. They should know such disrespect will never be approved under your rule.”

“Okay, I think it’s time to go.”

“Whatever, I’ve made my point.” He glanced one last time at the human parents, to see them both gaping in horror. Adder smiled to himself in satisfaction and walked out to wait for the others.

“Adder!”

Adder turned to see Kleinespinne going up to him.

“T- uh, I appreciate what you were trying to do in there for me,” They said.

Adder raised an eyebrow. “It wasn’t for you.”

Kleinespinne half-smiled. “Yeah, I know. Still. I appreciate it anyways.”

Adder hmmed and nodded. “You’re welcome, I suppose.”

Kleinespinne went back inside. As the group began to leave, Virgil turned to his brother.

“See, Kleinespinne isn’t so bad.”

“I never said they were.”

Virgil smirked. “Yeah, I know.”