[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

[demonicbeauty]

Only for sport.

[A small shrug.]

It was...fun. But not really for me.

[opress]

What is for you then?

[He lifted her Omni a little.]

And what name do you want for your network title?

[demonicbeauty]

Maybe just "Airy." It's easy. Simple.

[A pause.]

It's me, really. Isn't it?

[opress]

[He paused typing in the new name to peer at her.]

It's you. You'll always be you no matter what Trench does.

[demonicbeauty]

Well, I hope so.

[She laughs that infectious little laugh of hers.]

Although, I also hope I learn to be more me.

[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]

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?

[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.

[opress]

[He watched her and nodded his head. She could not change her own profile he imagined. Yet, his eyes lifed from the Omni to watch her.]

You were part of a pack? How big? Was it all your species?

[demonicbeauty]

When I was a little girl, yes. I had a pack. It was very small. My family--mother, father, brothers, sisters--and some honorary aunts and uncles.

[She almost looks apologetic.]

Most Alastrian packs are much bigger. Two or three mating pairs, all of their litters, and the extended family protectors.

[opress]

I see. [He considered it for a long moment.] But if was your pack, and now you want to replace it with another? What defines a good pack where you're from?

Nightbrother's also formed packs, but we called them clans.

[demonicbeauty]

Oh, I don't mean replace it... You can't replace family. I just want...

[She waves her hands uselessly for a moment.]

I just need a new family. A place to feel like I belong, you know.

[opress]

No, you can't.

[He could never replace Feral or Maul, though he was definitely lukewarm when it came to Mother Talzin. There was a permanent formality for that particular relationship, not that she would want anything familial with him.]

And do you have people here that gives you that feeling already? Or are you still searching?

[demonicbeauty]

I...

[She frowns.]

Dean was like the big brother I never had. When Deeringotn was falling apart and everyone was huddling together, he opened up his home to me.

[It's a little hard for her to say, in spite of all the time she's had to grieve.]

I still can't believe he's gone.

[opress]

I never met him, but he does sound familial in action at least.

[He made a noise in his throat as he looked around her place.]

Do you have anyone else who offers you something similar then? Or a group of people?

[demonicbeauty]

Well, I have friends, of course.

[She gives him a very warm smile.]

Including you and your brother.

[A small pause.]

And Ezra. I'm quite fond of Ezra, although I know he doesn't really agree with the Sith philosophy.

[opress]

[Savage peered at her as if she might have momentarily given leave of her senses then sighed from his nose. Fine, friends.]

So you're bonding with those of our galaxy. [He rolled his eyes.] Jedi are trained not to believe in anything but their own teachings.

[demonicbeauty]

I've noticed that.

[She scowls a little.]

They all keep trying to explain it to me. The need not to have attachments. But it's so contrary to everything that I've ever...

[A small shrug.]

I can't understand it.

[opress]

From what I've been told Jedi find attachments will detract from their ability to achieve harmony. My Master told me that their friendliness and amicable outside hides a strict doctrine of aloofness to the plight of common people.

[He shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know much about Darth Tyranus's personal life aside from scant details, but being Jedi had always come with a sneer from the man. His education on them came from a tainted warped lens.

He just knew he was good at killing them.]

So perhaps you can form your family with the Dark Side. My brother has plenty of attachments, and he functions well enough.

[demonicbeauty]

[She's not entirely sure Maul functions well enough, most of the time. But politely--and wisely--decides not to say anything.]

Attachments form through love. And time.

I have plenty of time.

[opress]

And do you have people that you love as well?

[demonicbeauty]

Some.

[Ariadne shrugs, walking over to her display of dried herbs.]

Although, I don't know that any love me back.

[opress]

[He watched her move away, folding his arms over his chest and remaining rooted where he stood.]

Have you asked them?

[demonicbeauty]

I'm not sure it's socially acceptable to go up to someone and say "do you love me?"

[Which actually makes her laugh a little.]