#v soft thread

Ariadne was new. She wasn't part of the original allgoods, and Ren hadn't talked to her too much at the party, but then again, Ren barely talked at that party. It was far too overwhelming. One on one, she thought, would be a lot easier. In the same way talking online was much easier. Ariadne had been so sweet online, Ren was hopeful that this little get together would be a successful one. 

After all, they were looking for bugs together. Few people shared the entomid's love for the ‘creepy’ crawlers. Ren never saw them like that. Each bug had a part in the food web. A purpose all their own. Bugs were magnificent and unique, and more people should understand– it didn't even matter that Ariadne wasn't… people. She was undead. Probably. No beating heart. Core temperature barely above the ambience of any given room. Did that matter? 

It might have, before. 

Ren didn't like that. Didn't know what it meant now. She'd written her reports, keeping out any emotional attachment exactly like she was supposed to. But that didn't mean she had to hate everything that wasn't human, right? Nora wasn't human. Ren liked Nora well enough. She could like Ariadne, too. She thought she already might, if the online conversation was anything to go off of. 

The commons were bright, but not blazingly so. The grass and foliage were alive with activity. The deeper thickets of woods would be perfect for bug hunting. Especially if they could find any nice old logs to turn over. Ren stood, anxiously waiting to see the blonde. A freshly bound journal in her hands. A few older drawings of bugs sewn in, just in case Ariadne wanted to see. The nymph was starting to learn that a lot of people liked seeing her work. Strange, but…nice. 

A splash of yellow rounded a copse of trees, and Ren perked right up. Waving an arm rather stiffly to get the other's attention. "Over here." 

—

She didn’t know Ren too well, other than having run into her at some parties. Which was a weird concept in and of itself, considering even at her most extroverted moments, Ariadne had never been one to love parties. Still, she did like talking with Ren, in what talking they had done. Which, admittedly, wasn’t all too much, but it was something, and Ren seemed nice, seemed like maybe she could be a friend, which Ariadne needed.

Recently, she wondered if she was getting too greedy with friends. She’d gotten so used to having nearly nobody around, so maybe, when presented with the chance to have friends, she’d wanted too much? But today wasn’t the day to focus on that. She was happy today, she was happy and she’d brought along gummy worms for Ren because Ren had said that they liked those, and Ariadne liked to pay attention whenever she could, however she could.

Even if Ren deserved a better friend than her. Even if she didn’t have the same things to offer that they did.

But she did love the Common, and it was a beautiful day out. One of those that made her feel alive, again. Which wasn’t something she felt so often. She felt it with Wynne, always, but to feel it on its own, with the promise of having a good day with a new friend – that was pretty spectacular. 

She rounded a set of trees and waved to Ren, rushing over. “Hi! I brought gummy worms, because I think you said you like them? Just wanted to give you something for being so nice.”

—

Once again the nymph wished she were a little less formal. A little less stifled. More open. Ren couldn’t help but feel, and subsequently look, quite awkward as the other girl approached. Shoulders squared, back straight. Looking more like a soldier at attention waiting for their sergeant than a person greeting a friend. Was that what they were? Friends? Where was the edge of the divide? When did that start, or end? 

Her green eyed stare was just as intense as usual. Still not quite up on that whole blinking habit they were supposed to have. Ren was looking at the brightly colored bag. Touched by the gesture, far more than her stoic exterior would have anyone believe. Ariadne had remembered (which seemed to be a much harder task for people who weren’t Ren) what she liked, and went out of her way to go get some before meeting up at the park. They were a little bit stunned at that. No one had done that before. Not when she didn’t know them well. Not like this. The nymph’s brow furrowed slightly. 

“You did not have to do such a thing. I do not have anything in return for you. I am sorry for this.” 

— 

“You don’t have to say sorry!” Ariadne’s eyes grew wide for a moment. “I just wanted to. I didn’t expect you to give me anything in return. I’m just pleased you like them.” Which she was, and it made her feel a bit more relaxed that Ren hadn’t been entirely turned off by the fact that Ariadne had brought her a gift.

“It’s really nice to see you. I think, for me at least, I like this kind of hang out much more than parties.” She felt her eyes grow wide a moment. “Not that – I love being invited, and I’m super grateful to be hanging out with you and others, but I prefer smaller groups, usually. Or just – one-on-one, like us, now.” Ariadne toed the dirt with her shoe. “Especially on such a beautiful day.” 

Ren hadn’t had to agree to hang out with her, and yet they did. Ariadne admired her smarts a great deal, though she would’ve been good to hang out with them even if she hadn’t. “Did you wanna go for a walk, or just hang out here? I’m good with either, whatever’s good for you.”

— 

“Oh.” She was quiet and careful in her wording, so Ren was quiet in return. It’s quite possible that Ren would have been quiet and reserved no matter whom she was talking with, but with Ariadne it carried a sense of camaraderie rather than a standoffish presence. As the other went on, rambling endearingly about how she preferred this kind of company to the parties that they had met at, Ren couldn’t agree more. The nymph nodded and even almost smiled. “Yes this is very much the case. Both the day and the thing about one on ones.” 

Green eyes scanned the park, trying their best to pinpoint the place least populated by people and most by potential bugs. “I think walking could be a good thing. Then perhaps settle over…. There?” Ren pointed to her ‘perfect’ plot. A copse of old trees. Gnarled and twisted by hundreds of years of people playing with their branches. 

They looked welcoming, open. Like they were ready to give support or even hugs to any passerby who needed a moment’s rest. Low branches hung down enough to be benches, and plenty strong enough to hold whoever needed the respite. It was shaded, and cozy looking. Somewhere Ren would curl up if she were the size of a normal bug. 

—

She felt relaxed. Ren was sweet, and Ariadne could only feel a sense of hope that maybe this was the first of at least a few hangouts that the two of them could have. Hopefully more than a few, but sometimes she didn’t let herself hope too much, if only as to not disappoint herself.

“Walking would be good. Yes. Then we can go sit there.” She followed where Ren was pointing. “It looks inviting.” It did, there was something almost magical about it – not that she was going to bring that up to Ren, at least not yet. Ariadne didn’t want her to think that she was weird – though a small part of her mind told herself that Ren wasn’t someone who’d judge her for thoughts like those.

She took a few steps forward, motioning for them to follow her. “Just - this way might be nice?” She chirped, “though if you wanna go any other direction, we can. I’m just – well, really happy to be walking around with you. This whole thing is nice. Really nice.” Ariadne rubbed her fingers against her nose. “And I’m saying nice so many times that it almost doesn’t feel like a word anymore, heh.”

—

Hope seemed to be the word of the day. Not that either knew the contents of the other’s mind. Ren was happy to let Ariadne talk. Her voice was melodious and warm, pleasant to listen to. In a way, it reminded Ren of the sunshine all around them. Ren’s was monotone, low, brusque. It felt unfair to break up the other’s symphony just to croak like a frog beside her. That was the strangest part about Wicked’s Rest. Not the monsters, not the anomaly. It was how meeting more other people her age. People who should be peers. It made the girl examine herself in a way she never had before. Often comparing and finding herself lacking in whatever category she came up with. 

Though, a lack of self confidence wasn’t anything new. It was just the subjects that didn’t make sense. Save for perhaps her fighting prowess, Ren wasn’t particularly confident in anything anymore. She hadn’t put thought into her appearance before seeing that girls could be pretty. She hadn’t thought about her voice until she heard other people talking sweetly. Ren thought about Van. How she thought the girl was both pretty and nice to listen to, and wondered if anyone could think the same of them. Unlikely. Her mind supplied. 

“It is a good word for you to be using so often. Because you too are nice. I am… glad I was able to meet you.” Ren offered her best approximation of a smile again, dropping it before starting up their walk towards the tree, following Ariadne. Ren could smile, she could talk, or she could walk. She didn’t think she could do all three at once. But there was always room to try. “Ariadne…” The nymph raced up a few steps, trying to keep pace while keeping up conversation. “I have seen how you act with Wynne.” Observations, Ren’s best skill. 

“Is this a partnership or marriage?” Understanding social particulars, was not. The people in Ren’s life before Wicked’s Rest that acted remotely close to them, showing any affection and living in close proximity… they were always married. Partners for life. She hadn’t spent enough time around the younger folk to actually learn what dating was. That there was a step before. There were people, and there were pairs. Simple as that. 

—  

Not that she’d had any significant sort of doubts regarding Ren, but Ariadne continued to feel immensely pleased at just how relaxed she felt around Ren. How immediate it all was. Maybe there was something to be said about how the more awkward, shy, and kind someone was, the more easily she connected with them. Of course, most people were kind (at least to some degree), but some seemed exceptionally so.

She was glad someone as cool as Ren was one of those exceptionally nice people.

“I am glad I was able to meet you too.” Another genuine, bright smile crossed her features. Ariadne nodded, “really glad.” She slowed her pace just ever-so-slightly because she was the taller of the two of them, and so it wasn’t fair of her to expect her to keep full pace. “I - yes.” She couldn’t keep the smile off of her face at even the barest mention of Wynne’s name.

“Oh. Um, partnership.” If she could have blushed, she would have. “We – we’re dating.” Part of her wanted to say that the deeply romantic part of herself would have married Wynne in a heartbeat, but that was perhaps just being in the beginnings of love. Even her parents, who’d had her literally in college, had been dating for about four years prior to that, and had gotten married later on. She had the photos to prove that.

“Some day it might be more, but not - not yet, and… yeah.” She scrunched up her face, in a bit of a smile. “The ‘me dreaming about marriage’ part can stay between us, yeah? I just don’t want to stress Wynne out.” Ariadne sighed. “Looks like we’re almost at the resting spot?”

—  

Partnership, marriage, these didn't really have much differential meaning to the sheltered fae. The word dating though, that was new. And of course, out here in the open Ren couldn't hide her lack of knowledge behind a computer screen. Behind a quick Google search and a rabbit hole of endless information for her to sift through and attempt to construct context from. 

"Uhmmn–" She fumbled, turning the word over in her mind. Any attempt to connect dots was met with a block or two. Leaving the girl physically and metaphorically stopped in her tracks. "What– what exactly is dating?" Ren's cheeks reddened as she asked. Green eyes darted away, staring instead at the foliage all around them. 

"I will not talk of this if you do not want me to. I am just… unfamiliar with many terms." And concepts, and experiences, and so so much more. There were endless pages on endless books that could be filled with the things Renata Daryova did not know. 

The spot was more or less right beside the pair, and it was just as inviting up close as it had been from across the park. "Ah yes. Good. Do you have specific bug you are hoping to see?"

—

“It’s okay if you’re unfamiliar with stuff,” Ariadne immediately reassured the other, “I – I know others who are, too.” Wynne, for one. Cass, about some things. Two of her favorite people, and it wasn’t as though she would’ve minded at all even if she hadn’t liked them or hadn’t thought Ren to be fascinating, cool, and lovely.

She bit her lip, trying to best think of ways to describe it, “I’m not an expert,” Ariadne started, “just like, for the record and stuff, but it’s basically when you like someone as more than a friend – like you wanna kiss them or you feel all giddy whenever you talk to them, or like, stuff like that, and then you two ‘go out’,” air quotes were made with her fore and middle fingers on each hand, “which is seeing how you both work as a couple, which is just like… meaning I guess you are each other’s like, number one person? And then you can hold hands all the time and kiss and cuddle – though you can hold hands and I guess cuddle even with friends – but this is different, and then you can stay stuff like ‘I love you’ in a romantic way.”

Ariadne tapped her fingers against the side of her thigh. “Um, I’m – sorry if that was a bad description. I can answer any questions you’d like, and you don’t have to worry, okay? I’m happy to help you understand terms, okay? You’re cool and nice, and it’s great to hang out with you.”

Pondering the other’s question for a moment, Ariadne shrugged, “anything, really. I always like butterflies How about you?”

—

Ariadne had a way with words. Trepidatious maybe, but far more willing to chart a course into unknown waters than Ren had ever been. She explained, and the fae listened. Carefully taking each chosen verse into consideration with the highest of reverence. Even if it didn’t show up as such on her face. Ren’s expression was always a bit… severe. Like her mind couldn’t quite ever get past the confusion etched into everything new that she encountered. So much of this world didn’t make sense. So much of it was open to be explored now that she was able to, and still she kept it at a distance. Whether it was intentional or not was– harder to parse. The concepts landed, but never settled. The ideas permeated her mind, but always felt like they were made for someone else to live them. Not for her. Never for her. 

“It is good. You have found someone like this then. Good– for you.” Talking. Holding hands. Cuddling. Kissing. Ren had never really been much of a talker. Words came slowly, and always seemed to be the wrong ones. Her hands were only ever meant to destroy. To take life from those who would harm humanity. She’d heard Gael refer to the kittens sleeping next to each other as cuddling, their grooming licks as kisses. Neither seemed something that she would participate in. She couldn’t. Sleeping near someone meant… showing herself. Intentionally dropping control over the one thing that made her feel human. 

Her antennae twitched uncomfortably underneath her glamour. Making it look like the wind had caught a few curled locks of orange hair. “You are good at describing things Ariadne.”A pause. “Do I make you feel sorry? That you have done something wrong? I do not understand why it is you say that word so much.”

Bugs were something she understood. Ren only had names for the ones that filled the field journal she kept close at all times, one of the few books she had growing up. But she had an intense love for any and all she came across. “I particularly like spiders. People do not like them very much, but they are… protectors in way.” The nymph closed in on the tree, big eyes scanning the bark for what would always be there. Spiders were everywhere, after all. She found one, a teensy little thing. A jumping spider, one of the gentler varieties. “They help humans because they take out harmful species. Like mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. This is admirable.” Ren smiled at the small creature that danced about on her finger, which she held up to show the other girl. “And they are very cute, I think.”  

—

“I am very grateful for it.” Ariadne glanced shyly over to Ren. It was admittedly still a bit weird for her to talk about, but talking about joyful things was what she was supposed to do, whenever possible, and there was nothing that brought her more joy than Wynne. Nothing and no one. Dance came in at a close second, with candy at a third, but she hadn’t smiled nearly as much as she did around Wynne, ever since the whole dying thing. They made things feel lighter, and easier, and it didn’t mean she was bragging if Ren had asked about it, right? “Wynne is also just the best, and so I am glad they like me back. Even if I was a bit surprised they really did.” 

She wasn’t sure why she was being so strangely vulnerable with someone who was, technically, still a stranger, but Ren was nice, and Ariadne trusted her, and that was that. Plus, talking about Wynne wasn’t really talking about herself, so it made things easier. She couldn’t imagine anybody not wanting to know how wonderful Wynne was.

Ren thought she was good at describing, and Ariadne brightened at that, before her expression briefly fell at their next comment. “Oh – I – no, I just am – I just say it, a lot. It’s not ‘cause of you, I just… do it. I am trying to not do that as much, but it’s not you, I promise.”

Ariadne nodded at Ren’s explanation. “Did you ever read Charlotte’s Web? It is a lovely story, and one of the main characters is a spider, and she’s the best.” Another nod, “I think their web-spinning is sort of like a beautiful dance. Which is so wonderful, so I like those too. I will say that sometimes things like tarantulas make me nervous, but I still have tons of respect for them.” Ren’s next words drew an enthusiastic nod from Ariadne. “Yes, they are very helpful for things like that, and it feeds them, so it is extra good.” She watched the spider on Ren’s finger, half-swearing to herself that she could hear it screaming at her, “they are very cute. I like to think that they have very nice smiles.”

—

The nymph studied the way the other girl spoke. The way she moved. There was a timidness to each action, like she was worried about the very space she took up. In a way, Ren could relate. She often felt like she wasn’t supposed to be wherever she was. Or like she wasn’t supposed to do whatever she was doing. Her mission was a solo one. Was meant to be about as removed from genuine interaction as it could have been. And yet, here she was, again, making friends with someone sweet. Someone who would surely be considered a monster by her mentor. The entomid was keenly aware of things like temperature and vibrations. Two things that Ariadne notably was different from any living human being about. 

The undead were by far a blindspot in Ren’s education. Her mother had been so solely focused on teaching the young nymph about all the terrible monsters that shared the same ancestry as she did, that she only got a cursory glance at shifters or those that rose from their graves. Maybe, she thought, that meant that they weren’t all bad. That people like Gael or Alex could be better inherently. They weren’t tarnished by what happened to them. Fae were born how they were. And from all the ones Ren had met and talked with, the good ones had to learn to be so. “This is not surprising to me. You are both very kind and generous…. They suit you.” 

She nodded along until Ariadne launched into an explanation of her apologies. A head full of red curls tilted to the side, quizzical. Ren knit her brows close as she tried to understand. “Did someone teach you to do this?” Darya often said sorry was an excuse. And while Ren had learned just how wrong the woman was on many topics, the lessons still ran so deep. 

“No, I have not read this book.” She paused a moment, reflecting. “I have never met a spider named Charlotte either.” Ren looked intently at the spider on her finger, as if expecting it to actually say something in return. Even if entomae could actually speak with insects, it was more of a… emotional, instinctual thing. Not a language, not really. “I think they are very expressive, yes. In their own way. Sometimes better than I.” 

— 

There was a certain part of her (and it was more than a small part) that felt a kinship with Ren, solely because the two of them seemed to both be more than a little bit anxious and more than a little bit unsure of just about everyone around them. Ariadne knew that that might have made other people turn away, or push someone off, but it made her even more keen to know Ren. “Oh, thank you for saying we are both kind.” She wanted to say just how much they were wrong, how much better of a person Wynne was than her, but she refrained. At least for now, because that was no sort of way to actually make a friend, and even if she had a best friend, she figured she could have more – or at least more friends, if asking for more best friends was too greedy.

(Her stomach turned at that, but she pushed the thought out of her mind, because this was nice – so nice, and she didn’t want to ruin it.)

“Oh – I, no. I just, uh, do it? I guess?” She didn’t have even the slightest decent bit of reasoning for why she did, it just… was that way. Ariadne did know that her tendency towards apologizing had gotten a noticeable uptick ever since she died, but it had certainly been around before, too. “That’s – that’s all, I guess. You didn’t do anything though!” She reassured, just in case Ren thought she’d done something.

“Would you like to read it? I can let you borrow my copy. You don’t have to though, but you might like it. It is a wholesome story.” Ariadne dug her toe into the dirt. “I think everyone’s version of being expressive is good, so I don’t know if they’re better than you, they’re just different, and if it’s worth much, I like your way of being expressive. It makes me feel nice and calm.”

—

Another thank you, one that Ren quietly dismissed under her breath as a strong wind carted leaves all around them. A politeness that humans and people that used to be human often fell victim to. Sometimes, the nymph wondered if the obsession that folks seemed to have with the phrase was one that was taught by the fae. The longest of cons by the oldest of thieves. The girl couldn’t even count how many thank you’s she had to dismiss just going about her day to day life around anyone in a customer service job. It made her stomach sour just thinking about it. A shame, really, considering the fact that Ren also preferred to be polite. Maybe she’d teach Ariadne the simple, but far less dangerous phrasing ‘I appreciate you’ to replace the one she so often chose. 

“Okay.” If it truly was just something Ariadne did, then who was Ren to argue. It wasn’t hurting anyone, she supposed, except maybe the sorry giver herself. If she felt the need to say it simply because it was the right thing to do, that was fine. But if Aria actually felt as awful as Ren did whenever she said sorry, well… the nymph just hoped that was something she could help with too. Even just a little. Even if she didn’t know how to go about doing something like that. 

“Oh, I– yes I think I would like this. I did not– get many books growing up.” Things that didn’t directly relate to hunting were far and few between. Darya had only gotten the girl a few, a couple old science textbooks, and one antique field journal from an entomologist. The warden said she found it at a garage sale, something that Ren still hadn’t figured out the correlation of. What did parking cars have to do with interesting books? “Perhaps we… read together some time. Gael and I do this often. Drink tea and sit by fire while we each have story. I am– I think I am sure that he would not mind having someone else to be joining.” 

—

“Okay.” She offered Ren another shy smile. “Though I guess I can try to not say sorry to you as much, though I might still mess up, and it’s also never your fault if I do say sorry. Again, just something I do.” A sort of nervous tic of sorts, maybe. Ariadne wasn’t going to overthink it now. Right now was for having time with a new friend, and getting to talk about bugs with someone who knew so much about them and also loved them so much, and Ariadne was in significant admiration of Ren because of that.

She frowned, briefly, at the mention of not getting many books growing up. “I took a while to read books, and I still do, sometimes, but I … was lucky and I did get them when I grew up.” Maybe this was also like Wynne, with not being exposed to lots of stuff Ariadne figured was completely normal. Which just made her excited to maybe-hopefully get to explain stuff to Ren, to show her beautiful amazing things that she hadn’t gotten to see before. “I’d love that. I don’t want to intrude, but I would love to read with you, and also answer questions, if you have them, like if there’s other books and movies and stuff you don’t know a lot about.” Her face brightened. “We could have cookies too, maybe? With the fire and tea and stuff?”

—

“Mm!” It warmed Ren, to think that something she said actually had an impact on someone she felt like she had only just met. Hopefully it would be a positive one. The nymph knew she was often too blunt, or not well versed in people to know what was appropriate or not. She hoped she hadn’t offended the girl, especially if it was just a habit or something like that. Ren had a habit of not blinking for long long stretches of time, which was considerably more off-putting than being extra polite ever could. “If there is something I do that does warrant a sorry, that is okay too. You are fine just way you are.” And she meant that. It wasn’t often Ren met someone as kind-hearted and agreeable as Aria. She even wanted to talk about bugs which Ren could do all day. Obviously.