#c: ariadne

[axisjr]

@ariadnewhitlock

[pm] Okay. We should steal water again, if you wanted? But it's okay if not.

[pm] [user took awhile to answer this because the thought of doing something “fun” is hard.] Do you think we could settle for another picnic?

Also, do you know Wynne’s favorite food?

[fearhims3lf]

TIMING: Current

PARTIES: @ariadnewhitlock @fearhims3lf

SUMMARY: Ariadne hears about Mateo's mean streak and decides to give him a haunt, but she quickly finds out that they both share the same nature.

WARNINGS: Insinuation of sibling death

Ghouls, ghouls, ghouls night out…!

Mateo fell into his bed, arms crossed behind his head, and an expression of euphoric satisfaction plastered across his face. His headphones blared with the last notes of the Misfits distorted guitar. They faded into the next song, and Mateo sucked his teeth, a little miffed at the opportunity he didn’t get to take. 

Too Drunk to Fuck by the Dead Kennedys roared to life, a perfect song for the man he’d been sent to kill. He was way too hammered to fuck anyone, especially the woman that stormed out of his room in disappointment. And then, with great relief to everyone, he was way too hammered to do anything ever again. Mateo chuckled to himself, closing his eyes as he thought about his latest kill. The police would have a field day trying to figure out who killed him. The mare was across the world and the next kill was already on the docket. All he needed to do was wait for the check to clear and he’d move out. 

For now, though? Well, it was time to relax with his eyes closed. Or so Mateo thought. There was a rustling at the end of his bed, and with no pets to account for, he opened his eyes to find a strange girl standing in his room. “What the fuck?!” He bursted out of bed, grabbing the bat next to his bed in preparation. It was more of a warning than anything. It wasn’t like homegirl would be able to take him…right?

“Yo, you got about ten seconds to explain before I start swinging. How’d you get in here?!”

She’d heard that this Mateo wasn’t always so nice. Ariadne didn’t know the specifics or anything, but if he was mean, then maybe, just possibly, she wouldn’t feel quite as awful about feeding from him. Maybe.

Or at least she could try harder to not feel bad, and then be on her way. She didn’t have to focus on it – on him – too much. Go in, get out, and go find Wynne and cuddle against them, maybe. Or maybe she’d just go to her apartment, because explaining what was going on to Wynne wasn’t something Ariadne was sure she could handle, right now.

What she hadn’t expected, though, was for him to be awake. She held up her hands, letting out a small squeak – this was like that doctor lady all over again, except that this time she hadn’t even done anything when he’d woken up, and at least she’d started to cause nightmares for the doctor. “I – I walked in. The door was unlocked!” She had no clue if that was true, but it seemed a good enough bet. She’d learned that more people in this town left their doors unlocked than she ever would’ve thought. “Sorry, I was just – hungry, and I wanted to see if you had any…” she scrunched up her face. “Any… ice cream. ��Cause I was really craving cookie dough.”

“Are you shitting me right now?” There was a literal child mare in his room, and she was too dumb to even make a good cover story on the fly or cover her glowing red eyes. A laugh almost escaped Mateo, but instead, he groaned when he realized he wasn’t going to get to wack someone. He couldn’t hurt a kid. Not even if they broke into his home.

Well…he could hurt them a little.

Mateo closed the distance and lightly smacked the girl on the head, like any sensible person would do when a child did something stupid. “You do realize I’m a grown man and you’re tiny, right? Pick your battles better.” He huffed as he flashed his own glowing eyes at the girl, throwing the bat aside on his way to the kitchen. Whether or not the girl would follow, Mateo wasn’t sure, but he guessed he’d find out once he reached his freezer.

“I got cookies ‘n cream and cookie dough.” Taking both containers out, he waved them in front of his chest, teasing. “Now, you can have some, but you gotta answer some questions.” Mateo plopped the ice cream onto his dining table and went for two bowls and spoons, sliding them next to the sweets. “You in, or you out?” He took a seat, gesturing to the delicious flavors in front of him. “Personally, I like to mix them together. Put both flavors in the bowl and really go to town. But…” He waved the food off, shrugging. “Guess you won’t know unless ya talk.”

“No?” She looked at him, wide-eyed, and only then realized that his eyes were also red. What a win she’d had here, huh? Maybe somebody had mentioned him being a jerk just because of what he was, and by logic or whatever, that meant she was also a jerk. Even if Ariadne didn’t think she’d ever actually heard anybody call her that. Still, if one mare was a jerk, maybe they all were.

Except she’d never call Leila or Inge that.

“I’m not that tiny. I’m taller than a lot of my friends, actually. My cousin just says I’ve got like, tiny energy or whatever? I don’t know.” She rolled her eyes (for maybe the first time in forever) and turned on her heels to follow him. “Do you like, fake-sleep a lot, then? Because I do, but that’s mostly because I have a partner. I’m sorry I tried to feed on you, though.” Ariadne looked up at him sheepishly. 

“Got chocolate sauce? I’ll answer questions, yeah.” She looked over to him, red eyes wide. “Just – not too personal, please.” Because she didn’t want to talk about what a bad person she was, or about how she’d died in detail. “Do I get to know your name, by the way?”

Mateo couldn’t help the chortle that spilled out of him, and he rolled his eyes to compliment the reaction. “Right, right…” He drawled, waving her off. “I guess? It’s just nice to close my eyes. Sometimes there’s nothing better to do.” Her cousin was definitely right. She had tiny energy. Tinier than most people he’d met. Whether or not he’d be able to tolerate it though, was to be discovered. 

He paused, arching a brow at the mention of a partner. How old was this girl? She looked like a child. “If you pretend a lot for them, then that means they’re probably alive, then?” With a shrug, Mateo nodded and threw open the fridge to retrieve the chocolate sauce the girl requested.

 “Don’t wanna know anything too personal anyway, homie.” He popped open all the containers, getting his own bowl ready to eat. “My name’s Mateo.” The bottle of chocolate sauce clicked closed, the final touches applied. He slid the bottle, along with everything else toward the girl, gesturing for her to make her own bowl too. “What about you? Got a name I get to know?”

“I get that. I wish I could sleep, because sleeping is nice. Was nice, I guess,” Ariadne shook her head. She didn’t know why she was going on about that so much, except she was still startled and surprised enough from finding out that the dude she’d tried to feed from was also a mare that she wasn’t keeping her composure best as she could. Not that she was entirely sure what a good version of keeping her composure would have been, but still.

“Oh, they are very alive yeah. Very much so. Human and alive and the best person I’ve ever ever met.” Ariadne narrowed her eyes. “You better not feed on them, like, ever.” She knew she wasn’t much of a threat at all, but she did also know that she’d do anything that she could in order to make sure that Wynne was never harmed, at least not by a mare, at least not when she could control it.

Well, that was something, at least. He didn’t want to know things that were too personal, and for that she was extremely grateful. “Ariadne.” She responded, “is my name.” She grabbed the chocolate sauce and fixed herself a bowl of ice cream, taking a hefty scoop into her mouth, chewing before she continued. “It’s from a myth, and I – I like it, even though I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody else with the same name as me.”

“Well that can’t be true now.” Mateo grinned confidentially, fingers interlacing as his elbows propped onto the table. “You’ve met me now, so they can’t be the best person.” It was all in jest. Sort of. Mateo’s ego was huge, but he knew better than to let that influence his entire tone. He played it safe and accompanied his statement with a laugh, waving himself off before reassuring his new mare friend. “But don’t worry. Don’t want a mare nipping at my heels while I’m trying to eat, so they’re so safe.” Mateo raised his hand, promising. “Scout’s honor, ma.” He was never a scout, but the sentiment still had to stand. At least, he thought it should. 

“Ariadne.” Not a name he’d heard before, but there was a flair to it that almost felt Latin coming off of his tongue. Had to be a culture that somewhat intersected, but that hardly mattered when they were getting to know each other and Ariadne didn’t exactly know where the name came from. Besides, there was something Mateo was far more interested in. He took a bite of his ice cream, humming at the taste. “How long you been a mare? ‘Cause it sure as hell hasn’t been very long if you’re jumpin’ around like this. And, well…” Another bite, “You got that weird moral compass thing going on.”

 “I – well, I mean, I’ve only just met you.” Her words caught in her throat, “and I – well, I’m their girlfriend and they’re my partner, so… I think they’re always gonna be the best.” Ariadne shook her head, forcing her gaze to anywhere but the other mare. Because she wasn’t sure exactly what to make of him, or what, exactly, he made of her, which was all the more confusing, but not something she could focus on right now. “But you’re very cool. I’ll say that! I just think I have to reserve best for either my best friend or the person I’m in love with.”

She pulled at the strands of her hair a moment, “I’ve – like, not more than a year. Or, a bit more than a year, but not long. Is it really that obvious?” Ariadne took a too-big bite of her ice cream. “Also, wait, what’s wrong with a moral compass? That’s good to have, I thought, right?” Though she wasn’t sure if Celene would’ve agreed, but that wasn’t something she was going to discuss with a stranger. “Also wait, what do you mean, jumping around? How else am I supposed to get places?”

Mateo rolled his eyes, unable to relate to the lovey dovey vibes Ariadne was giving off. It was all too sickly sweet for his liking. “Well I don’t do the whole…” He gestured vaguely to Ariadne with a playful grimace, chuckling as he refocused on his ice cream. “Love…relationship…thing.” Grabbing the chocolate sauce, he dowsed his bowl even further, shrugging with agreement at Ariadne’s correct assessment of who Mateo was. Though he was sure the girl was just being sweet, as she always seemed to be. It wasn’t something he could understand, but as always, to each their own. 

“Moral compass can be fine and all, but having too much of one can make you too vulnerable and naive.” Mateo huffed, taking another bite of his ice cream. “You gotta know when to let go of morals, and trust me, there are times where you gotta. Don’t make you a bad person, but being sweet all the time can be dangerous if you’re in this supernatural world.” Taking a final bite, Mateo slid his bowl off to the side, clasping his hands together on the table. 

“As far as jumping goes, you gotta know where you’re going, or shit like this happens.” Mateo gestured between the pair. “Not everyone is so nice, and not everyone is gonna be a mare like me. ‘Cause, sure, jumping around is how we get to our meals, but without strategizing, you could get fucked, and not—” Mateo stopped himself from being too crude, waving off his words dismissively. “You know. Whatever.” Shrugging, he moved from his seat to place his dirty bowl in the sink for it to soak. “But yeah. That’s what makes it obvious. Lack of planning. I was like that too when I first started, but I’m, like, five years in now.”

“Oh, well, okay. That’s fine! Lots of people don’t, probably, so…” Ariadne wasn’t sure where exactly she was going with that particular train of thought, but Mateo didn’t seem to mind too much, if at all, so maybe this was some sort of blessing of luck to balance out the utter disaster that tonight was, otherwise.

“It’s – it’s not bad. I like having morals.” She was trying her very best not to pout, because that would only make her come off as immature, and she didn’t want anybody – but especially any other mare – to think of her that way. To think of her like a little kid. Because she wasn’t. Even if Ariadne was never going to look like a full-grown adult, she still did want to be treated with respect and not just pushed to the side, or babied.

“I did know where I was going. I heard somebody say you were mean, and I prefer to feed on mean people, and so I came here, and I – we – can’t tell when somebody’s a mare, so I just didn’t know until, well, you know.” She stuffed another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth, chewed, before she rapidly shook her head again. “Not that – I didn’t know you, so that’s not me calling you mean. You seem very nice, actually! So. Yeah.” Ariadne made another face. “Not what? But okay. Well, I – I just go where I think is best. You’ve done this for five years? When does it get easier?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Goody-goody.” He couldn’t help but roll his eyes again, glaring a little at the idea of being seen as nice. “Well, I am mean. I’m just—you’re a mare. Easier to be nice when it’s a peer.” Mateo clicked his tongue and watched with a hint of amusement on his face while Ariadne attempted to explain herself away. She definitely didn’t know what she was doing, and while Mateo wanted to tease her further, it didn’t feel like it’d be much fun. Especially considering she seemed a little more emotional. And young.

“Honestly, chica?” Mateo pursed his lips as he sifted through his memories. He couldn’t think of a specific moment when it all clicked for him, nor could he think of a general moment in time. The last five years had been such a blur. After his first kill, everything fell into place, but with Ariadne’s sense of morality, Mateo doubted she’d have a similar experience. “No idea. I just sorta…happened.” He shrugged and leaned back in his chair, balancing it on just two legs. “Think it’s different for everyone. Obviously. But I think once you settle into your life and don’t even realize time is passing, that’s when you know.”

“I thought peers were like, only people close in age to you? No offense, but you are like a fully adult adult, so I guess I never thought of it that way.” Nonetheless, Ariadne shook her head. “But okay, I’m glad you’re down to be nice to me, I like when people are nice.” She offered a tentative smile because he still seemed impossible to get a read on, even though he couldn’t be that bad given how quickly he’d turned into caring and had offered her ice cream. She still wanted to tread lightly, if only because of her near-perpetual worry that she was seconds away from messing something up big time.

“Oh.” She took another big scoop of ice cream, leaving her bowl nearly all empty, and stuffed it into her mouth to give herself a few moments to think. “Oh. Well, maybe it’ll happen to me. I hope it’ll happen to me sometime, though I dunno when I can expect that, and…” Ariadne bit down on her tongue. “Yeah, that makes sense, but also time does pass, and I guess I’m still super hyper aware of that. Did you – did the mare who made you stick around?” Part of her wanted to know if the whole up and abandon schtick was a typical thing, and she wasn’t sure which answer would disappoint her more.

“Well, I won’t always be nice, so be warned.” He rubbed at his face and chuckled, narrowing his eyes at Ariadne. How could someone be so nice all the time? Mateo didn’t get it, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to at all. While not everyone deserved cruelty all the time, he certainly didn’t believe they deserved kindness all the time either. People were stupid and often indifferent anyway, and that’s how Mateo liked to be most days. Neutrality on humanity saved him a lot of time, and helped him avoid social interactions not unlike the one he was in now. He wished it would end, if only to avoid uncomfortable questions. 

Very much like the one about who changed him. 

“Yeah.” The man swallowed with a twitch of his nose and a clack from his chair meeting the ground again. “He-Yeah. Stuck around.” And I asked him to change me. I asked my own brother to change me and I…Mateo sniffed sharply and drummed his fingers to soothe himself slightly before he snapped at Ariadne. “Think we’re done here, chica.” He chewed at the inside of his lips and drummed faster, his posture stiffening up uncomfortably. Anxiety wasn’t something he was inflicted with enough to know how to handle it correctly, but he knew how to hide his emotions. That was the appropriate thing to do, right?

Thank you, dad. 

“You should go. We’re a few hours from sunrise and I gotta get ready for company.”

“Okay, well, I think being nice is good, but I respect your choices too!” Even if she didn’t understand them, and even if Ariadne found herself grateful that she’d met people like Leila and Inge before Mateo. He wasn’t bad! She absolutely didn’t think that, but he probably wouldn’t have wanted to help her out in the same way that the others had. Which itself had been a saving grace since she’d felt so incredibly lost and adrift.

“That – well, that’s good. You had somebody around. Mine … didn’t. Probably ‘cause she was ashamed of me, but I don’t know for sure.” And she felt her chest tighten at the thought of it, and so even if the snapping did make her jump, Ariadne was also grateful for it. Welcomed it, even in its uncomfortableness.

“Okay, okay – we can go.” She fidgeted slightly. “I mean, I can. Go. I’ll go, unless you want help setting up for your company.” Which Ariadne figured he probably very much did not, but it would’ve been rude not to at least ask, right?

There definitely was no off button for this inherent goodness inside Ariadne. It contradicted everything that Mateo had witnessed and knew of the world. He didn’t understand it, and if the conversation hadn’t veered toward their creator’s, he might’ve asked more about her perspective, or even let her stay to help him clean up what little mess there was. Mentally, he shrugged, and physically, he pushed himself from the table. 

“Don’t want help.” He huffed, scratching at his cheek and moving on as quickly as he could. On instinct, he went to the door to urge Ariadne to go through it, but quickly realized it wasn’t necessary and quickly steered himself back to his bedroom. “Just blip outta here.” For the love of god, please just blip away. Mateo plopped himself into his bed and let his face remain in his pillow for a while. Memories of Junior flooded his mind and he was thankful then that there was no need to breathe as he cried for the first time in months. 

It was a relief in one way, and a deep shame in another, but no one, not even Ariadne, had to know. Out of kindness, she’d blip away. That was the hope at least. And given that Mateo was met with silence for over half an hour, he knew he had been left to his own devices. He was alone and could leave himself buried. 

Just not in the same way he’d left Junior. 

[chasseurdeloup]

@ariadnewhitlock replied to your post “[pm] I think that it is great that Monty has a...”:

[pm] Oh. Sorry! I didn't mean to make you feel weird. I just think you seem really great. I haven't almost been murdered again if that's what you're asking.

​[pm] It's alright, I'm just used to kids your age making fun of me or playing pranks or shit like that. I'm not complaining that I get a reprieve, mind you, but it's not the norm.

Right, yeah, that's good. I-- I'm sorry that--- You shouldn't have to worry ab-- Do you own a knife? If you ever want self-defense lessons or, uh, something like that, let me know.

[closingwaters]

TIMING: Mid-June

PARTIES: @ariadnewhitlock @closingwaters

SUMMARY: Out on a walk, Ariadne finds a sleepwalking Teagan. The two talk and go back to Teagan's for late-night sweets

WARNINGS: References to Parental and Sibling Deaths

“Stop! Please stop!” Teagan pleaded, hearing the screams just outside the closet door. Why was it always the same? Why wasn’t she strong enough? “Please…” She whispered against the knees at her chest, “Plea—” The door burst open, and Teagan wasted no time rising to her feet and rushing past whoever, or whatever, opened the door. She needed to get away. She didn’t want to see the aftermath of her family’s demise. 

Nothing stopped her feet, and if it had been minutes or hours, Teagan didn’t know the difference. Neither did she know that she once again had finagled her way out of her bed. Instead of sprinting, Teagan’s sleep-filled gait was sloppy and staggered, crossing the threshold into downtown as she murmured the same thing over and over again. “Please…please…”

Once again, Ariadne had elected to go for a walk in the middle of the night. If she had been more prone to humor, she was fairly certain that she would have made some sort of joke about being unable to sleep, but that was a fact, and not one that she especially enjoyed (or enjoyed at all) focusing on. The nights were often relatively quiet (or at least Ariadne’s awareness was only of the quieter parts), which she treasured, even though the her of years past couldn’t have dreamed of anything better than getting to live with her cousin.

Not that she was complaining about Chance, not even in the slightest, but there was something about nothing turning out the way it was supposed to that did set Ariadne on edge, at least a bit. So what she didn’t expect - or rather, what jumped into her vision while she was far too caught up in herself - was a woman, staggering around, mumbling in a way that Ariadne didn’t make out at first - and when she finally could, her face contorted into an expression of confusion. “I - hello?” She said, gentle as she could manage. “What do you need?”

Teagan continued to ramble, eyes vacant and webbed feet slapping against the ground. She was lucky that most of the journey to downtown had been mostly unlit, but now she was venturing into more dangerous grounds. With her body unglamoured and her mind clouding her vision with nightmares, it was impossible to hear or see the girl in front of her. 

Their shoulders bumped together, the impact unable to wrench the nix out of her stupor. “Mum…?” Teagan muttered, pausing in her tracks. Her head turned left, and then right, as if she was searching. There was nowhere else to go. In her nightmare, she was in the middle of the woods, trying desperately to find a way out. Was there one? Teagan began to hyperventilate, panic rising as she was transported back into the cabin’s closet. 

Just as before, the fae burst through the door, keeping her eyes leveled so as to not see the vicious gore on the ground. It was no use. As soon as Teagan took a step forward to run again, she slipped. Her body fell backwards into a pool of red, and the impact was enough to send a breathless scream out of her lungs in the physical realm. Suddenly, the world came into view, and Teagan crumpled to the ground unceremoniously. 

She wasn’t sure who - or what (though what felt reductive and cruel) was in front of her, but Ariadne could recognize panic when she saw it. She was, after all, unfortunately well-acquainted with the feeling. Firstly, from having dealt with it for as long as she had, and now because she was a frequent cause of it.

“I - no, I - not your mom.” Ariadne wanted to go back to her apartment, but in the same breath of a thought, she knew that she couldn’t. Not when the woman in front of her was in as clear a state of distress as she was right now.

The woman crumpled to the ground in one sudden movement, and Ariadne rushed over, kneeling next to her. “I - hello?” She said, as gently and as quietly as she could. “I - I’ve got some tissues, if you scraped yourself at all. Also some candy, if you need something sweet.”

In one deep inhale, a switch was made, the humanoid axolotl no longer inside. It was replaced by something much more recognizable—a human-like appearance. Teagan looked around, dark bags beneath her eyes and lids heavy with exhaustion. The pattern was all the same, but it was jarring nonetheless. Waking up in strange places was never easy, not something anyone could just get used to. Teagan swallowed, gathering her bearings until—what? 

“Did you say candy?” That was enough to cause a laugh to escape her. Forget the tears and the panic, did this girl really just randomly offer candy? Teagan smiled genuinely, “You’re a sweet one, aren’t you?” Wiping her tears, the nix sniffled, the energy in the area much easier to be in. “Where are we anyway? Are we far from Darkling Lake?”

“I did say candy.” She offered another smile at the woman, hoping and praying that her red eyes wouldn’t be too noticeable. “I just like it, so I often have it with me, and… yeah.” Ariadne knew that it was far from her most eloquent moment, but then again, she wasn’t exactly sure how many of those she had anyhow, and the woman - who’d been in distress mere seconds before - was now smiling, because of something Ariadne’d said. She’d actually managed to cause joy for once instead of nightmares.

“I - I don’t know. Maybe?” Ariadne scrunched up her nose. “I like to be nice, and so maybe that also means I’m sweet?” She kept her eyes trained just past the woman - enough that it looked like she was looking at her without the fear that came with causing terror on-accident. “We’re downtown - just barely, but…” her voice trailed off. “Do you want help getting back to the lake? Do you live near there?”

Blinking away the lethargy, Teagan ending her gazing on the girl in front of her, eyes a glowing crimson red. That was no trick of the light, was it? Her brows furrowed together as she pondered through her foggy mind. Right, right. It was mares who had glowing red eyes. For a moment, Teagan wondered if the girl know Leila, but that may have been a far reach. That was like saying all lesbians knew each other, which was far from the truth.

“Yes, that also means your sweet,” A smile, “If you could get me back, that would be much appreciated. I’m all turned around and don’t quite know the town well yet.” Teagan shrugged sheepishly, wondering if she should bring up that she possibly knew what the girl was. Perhaps she should, the nix thought. “I’m Teagan,” She began, offering a kind smile. “Are you a mare? Have a friend that’s one. She’s as sweet as you are.”

“Oh, okay.” She blinked a few times, trying to refocus. “Yeah, of course I can get you back, whatever you need.” Ariadne hoped that was true - she figured that, having lived in town all her life, she should at least be able to get someone from one location to another one that would also be clearly marked. Visible. Whatever the term was. “I grew up here, so I bet I can help you.”

Her name was Teagan. “I’m Ariadne,” she offered. “I -” she would have blanched if she was able to, at the woman’s next comment. “I - yeah. I am. You have a friend who’s one? You’re okay with, uh, this? Me?” She shook her head. “That’s nice. I - most people don’t necessarily think that way.”

As much as Teagan despised the mare who haunted her dreams a few nights ago, she couldn’t very well hold a grudge against them all, could she? When she had first awoken and paced from her panic, it was easy to hate every mare’s existence, but at that moment, look at Ariadne, Teagan knew it wasn’t so simple. Mares couldn’t help what they needed to feed. There was usually no prejudice when it came to consuming their meals. 

So, she smiled wanly, looking down at the young (or possibly ancient depending on when the girl was turned) mare with kindness. “‘Course I’m okay with it. Had a run-in with one of your kind recently, but everyone has to eat, don’t they?” Patting Ariadne’s shoulder, Teagan took one last good look at the area and sighed, “Most people aren’t me. I’ve been part of this world a long time. Maybe I can tell you more about it over some tea? Doesn’t look like I’m going to be catching a wink tonight.” She shrugged languidly, stretching to ready herself for a walk.

“Shall we, then?”

“I - we do, but I - I’m sorry. I’m not gonna feed on you. I don’t like doing that, and you’re super nice, so there’s literally no reason for me to do so.” Ariadne glanced down at the ground for a moment. “Still, wish I could just eat cakes and sweets and fruit and be done with it, rather than nightmares.” Teagan – in what few interactions she’d had with her – seemed to be nice, kind, not at all deserving of being fed on by a mare. Which, in turn, made her feel some sort of guilt about not being loyal to her kind. Or something like that. She couldn’t remember Celene’s exact words to her, last year. 

Though Celene had left her, so what good was focusing on her words anyways?

“I’d like that. If I can – uh, put a lot of sugar in my tea? I love the flavor of tea but this whole – what I am – has me craving sugar whenever and wherever I can get it.” Ariadne nodded, steadying herself for a moment; because Teagan seemed genuine in her offer, and if she left, then Ariadne would be well-aware that she deserved it all. “Let’s go, yeah. Your place, or…?”

“I didn’t think you would feed on me, but I appreciate the reassurance. Try not to let yourself go hungry too long, eh? Indulge a little everyday so you can keep nightmares pretty tame throughout. It’s a method a friend of mine uses.” Teagan patted the young girl, listening intently with a smile. Sugar was something they could likely bond over, she thought. There was loads of it just sitting in the nix’s pantry, just waiting for the pair to consume it.

“We’ll eat sugar until our tummies ache, and then probably a little bit more. Let’s see where the first few treats take us.” A laugh tumbled past Teagan’s lips and she smoothed her hair down with a breath. “My place has a stocked pantry and I’ve even got some frozen pies I made that I can throw in the poppy ping. How’s that sound?” She pursed her lips in thought, tapping her chin. “I’ll even send something with you if that’s something you’d like. I bake entirely too much for my own good.”

“I try and feed on jerks, if I can. Like, mean people who maybe should feel bad about something, but even that’s hard for me.” Ariadne fiddled with her hair, once again, but tried to focus again on the woman. “That seems like a good method, though, but I - it can be hard.” Not to mention, she was still getting the hang of things, and so she wasn’t sure how fully she could control her feedings.

“Yes, good, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten my stomach to hurt from sweets, ‘least not since becoming… well,” Ariadne gestured to herself. “So I’m very down for the challenge. Whatever you’d like. If you know somebody like me, then you’ll know that I can do anything so long as it doesn’t have salt. That sounds perfect. You don’t have to send anything with me, but I won’t say no, either. I’m not one to turn down something homemade.”

[eileithyiia]

"I fear I'm fated to only be a mother to boys." Ariadne gives a fake little sigh but smiles, hand to her growing bump. "It would be more doable if their father wasn't so chaotic already." But really she enjoyed the chaos and being the orderly one in balance. (I realised I should have sent you an Ari thing ages ago so here you go.)

The only thing Eileithyia can do is smile, because she knows the gender of the latest baby is a boy but refuses to tell her dear friend wanting to keep it a surprise for her. "As much as I would love to give you a girl, I'm afraid it's out of my hands." She reaches for the glass of wine that Ari had kindly poured her.

"However, if you want me to whip Dio back into shape for the trouble he is causes you, I'd be more than happy to do it, he owes me one afterall." Thyia offers with a mischievous grin. "But you must tell me, how are you fairing? You haven't had any problems carrying this one?"

@singofus

[banisheed]

[pm] The course of life is such that you lose; you grieve. I live long—yes—but not forever; not like you. You will lose me, as you will lose everything.

It has changed a lot in some ways, and in others, not at all. Humanity is strange in that way. Wherever you look, you will find things you recognize and things you do not; perhaps the perception is left to your discretion. Oh, love, that is your reality. You will be left. Again. And again. The life of an immortal isn't easy, sweetheart. But I would be sad to know that you felt it robbed you.

[...] Ariadne, I am not immortal, but I will live for half a century more; will you accept my company then? It is not great company, but I can offer it for a time. Whatever you might get up to, I am keen to see. You may not age in the traditional sense but you are still a growing being. And I want to know where you go. I think you can go far

My well-being is irrelevant. How are you?

[...] If I can ask that.

[pm] But I can't lose you also!! You are very very important to me.

I'll keep them always. Whatever it takes for you to trust me

I am unnatural. I do know this. Has society changed a lot for you? I know you're not unnatural or immortal, but I hope this is okay to ask. I don't like the idea of being left again and again.

Thank you. That [...] means a lot. [ user is extremely emotional ] It is an honor to be able to remember so much, I think. I don't want to be empty. Your words are always so beautiful. I wish the words I had were even sort of as beautiful as yours are.

[...] How are you?

[...] If I can ask that.

[audreyscribes]

do you think Ariadne accepts Dionysus's children as hers too? She is very loyal to her husband, so I only see Castor, Pollux, Dakota and any other child born to Dionysus being automatically "adopted" by her too or "I'm going to mess with my husband (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)" and claim his children as her right after him do the announcement (poor kid)

i.g:

Dionysus: this one is mine, don't worry *see the sign in the kid's head* ... My grape!

(they're both extremely cute together and the kids suffers with this)

Oh yeah, I can imagine that being the case. Between her and Dionysus when Ariadne was still mortal, apparently they had a lot of demigods; so in terms of demigod children, she probably understands this is just him being a god and still loves her greatly, so it’s just probably filling a need once in a while; why else we see only a literal handful of Dionysus demigods.

So yeah, I can imagine Ariadne accepting Dionysus’ demigods as her own in a way, much like Poseidon’s godly wife, Amphitrite, being very cool to his demigod children. Heck, Amphitrite made cookies for Percy! So it’s not out of the question.

Thus insert the amount of godly shenanigans just between this husband and wife that the Dionysus’ demigods are subjected to. It's also been confirmed by Percy that Ariadne has a strange sense of humour, so yeah I can see that scenario happening a few times, which is practically all the time

What’s also nice to know is that Ariadne is the Cretan Goddess of Labyrinth and Paths, right before she was absorbed into the Greek pantheon. So you can imagine there’s some connotations…afterall, if you’ve ever been in a Labyrinth before, you probably have gotten mad trying to get out…but most importantly, just imagine getting minor blessings or gifts from Ariadne, especially those that involve weaving because of her iconic magic ball of yarn, she is considered the goddess of weaving in a sense. Prepare to get a lot of blankets/quilts, sweaters and socks for Winter Solstice/Christmas from her. There’s also a stretch to say Ariadne is to connected to her roman counterpart, Libera, is a minor goddess of wine with chthonic attributes too, so like can you imagine seeing the floating grape floating above the kid’s heads, and people thinking oh Mr. D is straight up claiming them normally, and him inwardly sighing at his wife’s antics. So very, “MY GRAPE!” 

It’ll be a very confusing but fun times ahead. 

Thanks for the ask and I hope you have a nice day! ヾ(•ω•`)o

[rottcn]

@exfortunas || ariadne delvara

ROBB  REACHED  FOR  THE  TREY,  CHARMING  SMILE  ETCHED  INTO  HIS  CHEEKS.  "Allow  me."  he  said,  taking  it  over  from  the  young  maid  that  had  reached  Ari's  chambers  same  time  as  he  did.  The  guards  announced  his  arrival,  pushed  the  door  open  and  let  him  in. For  a  moment,  he  stood  there,  mute.  Ariadne  Delvara  was  a  'breathtaker'  as  he  liked  to  call  it.  A  woman  of  such  beauty  that  --  when  looked  at  --  burnt  away  all  the  imminent  thoughts.  "Forgive  me."  he  said,  not  a  moment  too  soon,  and  proceeded  to  place  her  dinner  atop  the  nearby  table.  "I  do  hope  I  am  not  intruding,  my  lady.  I  would  have  come  sooner,  as  per  our  agreement  --  but  I  had  urgent  matters  to  tend to.  Are  you  in  a  forgiving  mood?"

[axisjr]

[pm] Wynne said you are all back. Do you want to steal rich people's water together sometime?

[pm] 💦💦 wet4u 💦💦

👁‍🗨👅👁‍🗨

🐙🐙🐙🐙we r wet4u🐙🐙🐙🐙

[muertarte]

[pm] Good. Maybe get ice cream. Good weather for ice cream.

Think she is staying no matter what but we will be okay. I heal very fast so do not worry about me getting hurt. Always get hurt. I am used to this.

You are strange.

[pm] I will. Very very soon. I think it will be very good to both be together, yes.

If I can disappear I will. The lady trapped me in a salt circle last time, but I am going to be more careful. I don't want you to get hurt, though. I wish there was slayer protection. Or I wish she'd just leave town. I think the guy who sucked at science and locked me in his van left town. That's good.

I do believe it.

[fearhims3lf]

@ariadnewhitlock replied to your post “[pm] Hi. It's [...] the girl who almost fed on...”:

[pm] Well, yes. And no!! I haven't!!! I don't do that! Normally. You were an exception! Only because somebody told me you were mean sometimes but you aren't really mean and so like, yeah. Sorry about that. I don't think you're mean. I don't really know you but I don't. Hi.

​[pm] People are babies. You punch someone ONE time and all of a sudden you're a bully. I'm a bad guy, sure, but I beat up worse guys.

Anyway.

Hi back.

[chasseurdeloup]

[pm] I think that it is great that Monty has a boyfriend who is as awesome as you. Just so you know!

[pm] Thanks, Aria. I think you might be hipping typing hyping me up a little more than I deserve, though.

How are you? Have you been okay? Safe? All that?

[tarydarrington]

I must know about hanahakish!

🔥\o/🔥 hanahakish is my special little baby project, the most self-indulgent of blorbo blenders.

it is pretty much exactly what it sounds like! essek catches an engineered variant of frigid woe during the aeor arc, and the somatic components to Spell of Don't Die Horribly include a kiss from someone who loves you.

here's a little (unedited) bit of the middle:

-

"That—"

Caleb kisses him. It's short, closed-mouthed, and deliberate. He pulls away again, hands still on Essek’s arms as though to hold him at a distance, and Essek reminds himself to breathe.

"You are very important to our goals," Caleb says in a rush.

His gaze flicks down to Essek's mouth. As though unconsciously, he runs a thumb along his own bottom lip. For a moment, Essek is certain he's about to lean in again and do it properly. Then he straightens, clearing his throat, and looks away.

“This—I did not intend for—”

He curls his lip, muttering something unintelligible. Essek’s heart threatens to claw its way out his mouth.

It’s the finest knife to slip between his ribs. Caleb loves him—truly, provably loves him—but wishes he didn’t.

“I’m sorry,” catches in his throat.

He bites down hard on the inside of his lip. There is little he can do to make this easy for Caleb, but at the very least he can keep from crying.

“Don’t be.” Caleb’s hand twitches in his lap. “I will save you a hundred times over, if that is what needs doing.”

If it needs doing. If kissing Essek is necessary, Caleb will do the practical thing. The potion went down easier than this. Essek swallows it anyway, pushing back the hair stuck to his forehead.

“Your help is appreciated.”

[fox--tales]

That's definitely a potential play! But like I have to be careful not to cross the line to make it free advertising. Because then like, why pay me? If I'm already singing their praises then they don't need to sponsor. And let's be so for real, I want their money. Or at the very least a year supply of waffles!

Ouuhh touch choice. I love a mini waffle, especially the ones that were like little "French toast" or whatever they were shaped like mini bread waffles. But you can't deny how amazing a huge Belgian waffle is. Which I know isn't really an Eggo but still. And of COURSE you need the real stuff! I think using Log Cabin or whatever will get you kicked out of town faster than saying I hate moose.

Sidenote, it's weird that the French have toast and Belgium has waffles. Where's Italy's breakfast carb? Or Spain's? I'd ask about England's but I'm already so sure I'd pass on that one.

[pm] Also, how are you holding up? You know, with the whole big legs world ending stuff that's going on or whatever?

Eggo Waffles are delicious!

Maybe if you talk about waffles a lot?? I can help you with that!

Do you like mini or big waffles more? What do you like to put on them? I love jam on mini waffles when they also have a lot of butter. But syrup is the best, too. Real syrup. Not fake stuff. I think you get kicked out of Maine if you don't like real syrup.

[glaze-chalk-eater]

question to my cultist

would u guys want to see a comic on the life of Dionysus

[aliciaclarkwrites]

ari/jasper - "tell me, if you were in my position, what would you do?"

Ariadne put her glass down with such force she was surprised the stem didn't snap clean in half. Instead, all she got for her troubles was a deep maroon stain on the sleeve of her favorite shirt, the liquid sloshing ungraciously over her fingers. Really, Jasper was lucky she didn't throw it directly in his face. The bottle had been opened hours ago, but Ariadne felt as clear headed as she'd ever been.

"If I were... in your position?" she asked, voice eerily calm as she over-pronounced each word, her work in the theatre having prepared her for this moment. She wore a face like thunder, tresses of blonde hair falling from her loose bun, unkempt even as she rose up to scold Jasper.

"I..." she started, taking a dangerous step closer to him in sock-clad feet, her finger jabbing at his chest in frustration. "Wouldn't be such a fucking coward."

Her palm made contact with his chest, giving him a slightly harder shove, voice wavering now.

"I would put a fucking end to this if it's not going anywhere, Jas. I would put an end to it..."

Ariadne made a sound low in the back of her throat, somewhere between a whimper and a sob. Like a fucking wounded animal. She flattened her palm against the front of his chest, smoothing down his white shirt, her fingers brushing the same buttons she'd fiddled with playfully earlier. She didn't want to look up and see his face, see the sadness in his eyes, knowing she'd lashed out and hurt him twice as much.

"Before I do something stupid like fall in love with you."