[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

[givetheslip]

[That gets a skeptical look.]

No, I can't.

[demonicbeauty]

[She laughs. But not at her. Just at the situation, really.]

Well, someone can. We have ambassadors for a reason. To broker peace.

[givetheslip]

[No offense taken.]

Swords can often obtain the same result.

[She's smiling, though.]

[demonicbeauty]

Depends on what you're raising them against.

[thunderingcourage]

I know, I thought the same thing. But apparently he and Reaper are happily married. Well as happy as either of them can be.

[opress]

What more is there to learn?

[She seemed well enough put together by his eyes after all. He set her profile and offered back her Omni.]

Do you want to show me how to get to the profile?

[demonicbeauty]

[Give her a second. She's just a little...

Wow.

Maul is married. Here. How did she not know this?]

...oh.

[demonicbeauty]

I just mean...

[She takes the Omni back.]

That I'm still learning and growing. There are still so many things I haven't had the chance to do or try or be yet.

[Hesitantly, she points to the settings icon.]

This one?

[givetheslip]

Only those who deserve it.

[demonicbeauty]

Agreed.

[She pauses.]

Although, in this narrative we've created, it sounds like someone we need to placate. And someone we probably can't kill.

[obeir]

[ An apology feels warranted, but. ] All the same... I didn't mean to intrude on your private moment.

[ A daydream? He considers that for a moment before hazarding a guess. ] Hoping to dance with someone one day? [ Maybe someone in particular? But he keeps that part to himself, not wanting to cause embarrassment. ] It's good to see you chose a user name, too.

[ A couple of them, even, but he assumes that first one may not have been by choice — it seems unkind. ]

[opress]

You are evolving based on your experiences. What would you like to be?

[He nodded his head when she pointed at the appropriate icon.]

Yes. Then profile which gives information about you. Scroll down and there is your user name.

[demonicbeauty]

[She taps the icon. It's still a wonder to her that she can do that. There's no lever or button or catch. It just...knows.]

I think I'd like to be...well, part of a pack again, to be sure.

And...I want to try more new things.

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne laughs.]

I suppose it was long overdue.

[And she's just going to ignore the whole "LittleGreenLiar" part. That feels like judgement. And she doesn't even know who's judging her, so she can be stern with them.]

Anyway...who doesn't like to dance?

[thunderingcourage]

There have actually been a lot of marriages. Recently two of my friends had their ceremony, Minako Aino and Vira-Lorr.

Reaper was there too though I don't recall seeing Maul.

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne smiles. Faintly at first, but wider as she thinks about it.]

This place might really be a miracle.

These are people who were never supposed to meet. But apparently who love each other very, very much.

[thunderingcourage]

It is. To get the chance to meet so many amazing people that otherwise you wouldn't have the chance to.

And finding someone who understands you, who you just kind of seem to connected to. Learning more about yourself through them, and growing because of the time with them.

[Makoto smiled, obviously speaking from experience.]

I'm happy that they all get to celebrate it together.

[demonicbeauty]

You understand.

[Which is not something she says lightly. There are those among the citizens of Trench who can't see it that way.

Who won't see it that way.]

[thunderingcourage]

[Makoto nodded.]

I do. I even got a tattoo just to make sure I wouldn't forget.

[demonicbeauty]

Oh? Really?

[She pauses, a little hesitant.]

Might I see it? Or is that too personal?

[thunderingcourage]

[Makoto blushed just a little but ultimately shook her head no.]

It's not as bad as your video going public.

[After a moment Makoto adjusts her pj to show the tattoo in question.]

His name was Atsushi.

[demonicbeauty]

[She watches with interest. Tattoos aren't terribly popular in Valeria, but she appreciates the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into making them.

Also, the tiger is just cute.]

I like him! I like him very much.

[thunderingcourage]

Thank you. I wonder at times what Sushi-kun would think of it.

[demonicbeauty]

Um...

Should I know who that is?

[thunderingcourage]

O-oh sorry. Atsushi Nakajima, Usagi and I just called him Sushi-kun. He was someone that was really special, but he went home a few months ago.