[VIDEO; UN: LittleGreenLiar]

[demonicbeauty]

[There are a number of indications that this is a misfire, even before it becomes clear what's going on. First, there's the fact of the username. Ariadne has never once set a username. Everyone who keeps promising to show her how to do it keeps disappearing or dying on her. So she's been "username not set" for years, at this point.

Then, there's the angle. It's tilted. And the feed isn't vibrating and shaking as Ariadne tries to hold it steady. Clearly, her Omni is sitting off to one side, forgotten, at the moment.

Ariadne is standing in her bedroom, sunlight filtering in through the gauzy curtains. She's in her underwear. Of course, it's pretty medieval underwear: a ribbed corset, tied in front, and knee-length bloomers. Bare feet. Green feet. She's in her natural form, her candy-floss blue hair loose and streaming down her back, practically to her knees. She wags her hand in front of her face, as if she's holding a fan. Daintily, she touches her fingertips to her collarbone.]

Me? You want to dance with me?

[There's non one else in the room. It appear, she's been caught in a game of make-believe. Adorable? Creepy? Hard to say.]

Why, sir, I would be delighted!

[She dips into a neat, perfect curtsy. And then rises, eyelashes fluttering.

At which point, she starts to dance a waltz, her arms around an invisible, imaginary partner. She moves smoothly, gliding across the room, looking very much like she's ready to fall in love in a ballroom.

One, two, three. One, two, three...]

Comments

Voice; un: ...

[opress]

[Savage is confused by her make-believe, having not seen it present in adults for the most part unless there was some kind of mental affliction. On his planet, those with such afflictions died quickly, but Trench was different.

He also was confused why she was in her natural state. Normally he found he had to request for it to happen. This clearly wasn't a matter she would want seen.]

Why are you practicing dancing with no one?

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne lets out a less-than-dignified squawk of surprise.

She looks from side to side, rushing to the window, wrenching the curtains open. She knows Savage's voice, but she can't smell him. What is happening? Where is he?]

Savage?

[opress]

[Her reactions were strange, and it was only the fact that he wasn't in her presence that he had no idea what was going on. His blood this month forced him to share things, not that he knew it yet.

He made a rumbling noise as if to summon her attention to his location.]

Airy. You're very odd and flighty today. Are you sick?

[VOICE; UN: LittleGreenLiar]

[demonicbeauty]

[This time, she follows the sound of his voice.

And her eyes widen in horror as she spots the Omni.

Quickly, she lunges for it, turning off the video feed.]

I...I didn't know my Omni was on!

[Video][UN:A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

[The feed shows Wesker in his bedroom (one post of the four-poster bed visible in the background), clearly standing in front of a dresser or something, glasses off, hair ungelled and falling over his forehead, clad in a black tee shirt meant for a slightly shorter and proportionately less robust version of himself. He's currently retouching the black polish on his close-trimmed nails (never visible given the gloves he wears constantly, but he pauses, eye on the device, a small, mischievous smirk playing over his face. He dips the polish brush back into the bottle on the dresser top and with his free hand, reaches to the device, hitting a few buttons.

[Something a lot peppier than a waltz starts to play. Game faced, he goes back to patching his polish, as if nothing had happened.]

[demonicbeauty]

[The music takes Ariadne by surprise and she stumbles, racing for her Omni.

For someone usually graceful and lithe, it's actually kind of funny. Like a golden retriever puppy who isn't entirely aware of just how long its limbs have suddenly become.

All the same, she manages to grab the blasted thing and hold it up so that her face--flushing pink all at once--fills the screen.]

...Albert? What was that? What...is that?

[subject_013]

[He does something like a double-take, looking into the device, and trying to look innocent, though there's a hint of the cat that got into the cream about his face.]

Hm? Oh. [He reaches in and taps the device, turning the music down.] It's a song from youth. And apparently, since our devices seem to have developed wills of their own this month, it decided your dancing required accompaniment.

[As he says this, Cypher rises up in frame, eyeing their Sleeper as if to say, 'Really, Boss?'.]

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne looks at Cypher, then back at Albert.

Her eyebrows pucker inward a little. She shares his sentiment completely.]

Really, Boss?

video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ Thankfully Chizuru does immediately recognize Ariadne in this form - though she's a little bit confused by everything else that's going on here. The broadcast that seems unintentional, but which is happening anyway. Her showing herself in this form to everyone - and then dancing with.. seemingly no one..?

She doesn't know what exactly this message is about, but on the other hand, Chizuru would feel very rude to not reply to any of Ariadne's broadcasts after how kind the other has been to her. ]

Um, miss Airy..? Are you.. [ .. gosh, w-what does she even say? Chizuru sounds a little shy and awkward as she continues with-- ] .. h-having fun?

[VIDEO]; UN: [Airy]

[demonicbeauty]

[By this point, Ariadne's unexpected broadcast has snowballed. At least Chizuru isn't giving her a hard time about it.

She's grateful for that.

With a sigh, the feed comes on, Ariadne back in her Human appearance.]

I don't know what happened...it just started recording without telling me.

[tealeafs]

.. that seems strange..

[ Granted, Chizuru is well aware that she doesn't know a whole thing about these devices, nor about the exact way they function.. But she's pretty sure that her own has never started recording without her permission, which makes what Ariadne is saying stand out to her. ]

Wasn't there anyone else who could have accidentally activated it? [ It does feel somewhat important to figure out what exactly happened here - if not just so the other won't have to worry about this happening again, especially if it might be embarrassing to her. ]

[demonicbeauty]

I was alone in my bedroom.

[She smiles in amusement, remembering how puzzled Savage was that she didn't just ask someone to dance with her.

You can't ask if there's no one there.]

And I certainly wouldn't entertain company in my underwear.

video | un: rosestorm

[thunderingcourage]

[This was kind of a familiar scene, Makoto had spent a lot of time dancing around alone in her own apartment.]

You look like you're an excellent dancer.

[VIDEO]; UN: [Airy]

[demonicbeauty]

[By the time Ariadne replies, she's gone back to her Human form; pink skin, brown hair, raspberry lips.

But she's blushing a little. And it's definitely a purple blush.]

Th-thank you, my lady.

I'm sorry. That wasn't supposed to be public.

video | un: rosestorm

[thunderingcourage]

I figured. I'd have been mortified if it was me, so I wanted to say something.

[Makoto offered a reassuring smile.]

You really seem like a wonderful dancer, do you have a chance to do it often?

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne laughs softly, turning her face so that her hair hides the worst of the blushing.]

Not as often as I would like.

And never with a partner, really.

video | un: K

[obeir]

[ It's good to see that Ariadne has finally figured out the user name business — as far as K's aware, that is — but the rest... had she meant to broadcast this? He's been so preoccupied with Luna and the recently cocooned Peter (...Paimon) that he hasn't been paying much mind to everything else that's happening in Trench, such as the misfires.

The sight is a little nostalgic for him and he isn't in a hurry to interrupt. It isn't so different from how he'd first learnt how to dance: with a hologram partner, whom he couldn't physically touch. Eventually, he does speak up. ]

Looks like you're having fun. You dance well.

[VIDEO]; UN: [Airy]

[demonicbeauty]

[By the time she responds, she's thought ahead at least enough to put on a dress. Modesty has never been a big deal for her. But she was raised to have some manners.

She smiles shyly, brushing her hair back, behind her ear.]

It was fun...

But no one was supposed to see it!

[obeir]

[ The wardrobe change is noted with a curious look. He isn't familiar enough with different eras and styles of clothing to know she was previously in her underwear, or he'd be more embarrassed right now. Because, indeed, manners. ]

Oh — then I apologise for watching. [ He offers an apologetic smile. ] You looked happy. Practising for any reason in particular, or just for the enjoyment of it?

video; username: mariathorpe

[givetheslip]

I don't think you meant to show us that.

[Maria won't ask for more information, at least not yet. A person is entitled to their privacy, even if they inadvertently rid themselves of it.]

[VIDEO]; UN: [Airy]

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne smiles weakly. By this point, she's changed back into her Human form. And she has the grace to be more amused than horrified.]

I didn't...

[givetheslip]

...it was a lovely dance, if that's any consolation.

[It wouldn't be for her, but maybe Ariadne is different.]

voice: | un: shithog

[foulhussy]

[ Kainé does not dance. She can't really say anything as to the skill, or really what she's doing. For all she knows, there's some hideous invisible creature puppeting her body.

But probably not. ]

You left this on.

[VIDEO]; UN: [Airy]

[demonicbeauty]

[Thanks to Savage, Ariadne's more or less managed to wrangle her Omni back into her control. At least for the moment.

When she replies, it's with her shiny, new user name. And very intentionally on video, with her humanoid face, so as not to scare anyone.

And since she doesn't recognize the voice or name of the person reaching out to her, she wants to make the right impression.]

It seems to have a mind of its own.

[She laughs, appropriately chagrined by the whole situation.]

It just turned on, without me knowing it

[foulhussy]

[ Kainé is just fine not showing her face right now. The secondhand embarrassment is too strong. ]

Fucks sake, we can't even trust our damn Omnis anymore?

[ She wouldn't want to admit it, but she's become pretty reliant on them over this last year. ]