#i didnt have any ideas i just set em loose lmao

[stxrmapper]

🎵 (ari!)

'Cause I'm not buying the things you wanna say I've heard 'em all now anyway You're such a liar My favourite liar

---

"Hey sweetness, you'd look pretty good grabbin' at my bedsheets, don't'cha think~?"

Ari looked up at the Exo snort of laughter, "Yeah, no. I'm not makin' your bed for y', Scout."

In turn, Scout gave an overdramatic sigh, which Ari gave a roll of her optics at. As annoying as he could be at times, she did have to admit that he was usually good enough company. Better than most of the fireteam, given most of them were either too busy, or she just barely saw them. Ari wasn't entirely convinced she really wanted to know what Lynx got up to.

He spoke again, "What, do I not even get any points for effort? I think that was a decent one, at least."

"Save it for later. Thought you were gonna show off just how many people you could win over. Or at least how quick."

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes as he responded, "Just gettin' ready, y'know? Gotta warm up." Instead of waiting for her to respond, he just headed back into his room to get ready. Probably without making his bed. Ari knew that for most of the night his attention was probably going to be on her, which was fine, she could handle him.

---

What she couldn't handle, was when Scout guided her over to a pretty nice looking Awoken woman. Why exactly was he bringing her over here? Ari thought the whole point was for him to show off. Giving a little stuttered 'u-uh...' Ari wasn't sure what else to say. Then Scout chimed in.

"This is Rose. She's not really into guys, buuuut she did ask who the pretty girl I was sittin' next to earlier was. And that would be you, so. Have fun!" Pushing her forward a little, Scout promptly headed off towards where they were sitting before, leaving Ari to stare wide-eyed at the Awoken, who just offered a smile and motioned for her to sit down, which she did.

Ari realised she should probably give her name, since Scout hadn't even introduced her. "I'm Ari, i-if he hadn't already told you, that is."

"Ari..." Rose repeated, seemingly contemplating the name, "Sounds pretty. A lot more unique than mine, that's for sure." Looking back at Scout, she giggled, "He's not really the best wingman, is he?"

Oh, okay. Ari could do that. She could totally get a conversation going off of how awful Scout could be at times. "Nah, he's good, he jus'...gets a kick outta flusterin' me. 'N' now he can't do that with his own flirtin', he's gotta get someone else to do it for him. Better a real pretty lady than him, though. I mean--!" Ari's lights flushed a darker red colour, and the way Rose smiled - those sharp teeth - just made her fans kick up.

At least they weren't audible over the chatter of the bar.

"Why thank you. You're real pretty yourself~"

That just made Ari give a soft giggle as she dipped her head to avoid eye contact for a couple seconds. "I dunno," she shrugged, regaining her bearings a little in the conversation, "I don't think I'm much. Probably woulda looked better when I was human. Or if I had those Awoken marks o' yours. Always liked how they kinda follow touches uh Light."

Rose extended her hand across the table, "Oh yeah? Why don't you show me? I don't think I've seen that trick before."

There was no way she hadn't, but Ari still tentatively reached to touch her hand, her Solar equally as timid, far from the blazing fury she showed in battle. Sure enough, Rose's Awoken marks followed her touches, moving to where the little orange trails lingered wherever Ari's finger had graced over.

"You're a Titan? Y'know what, I can see it more now," the Awoken said, "I can definitely picture you in that armour. I could never wear it myself, but I think you Titans look good in it. Really accentuates your muscles~ Though you're still a little short."

By the Light, if it was Scout who had said that, he'd be nothing more than a pile of metal in the ground by now. But Ari would happily make an exception for Rose. There was no need to get hostile over that, was there? She flushed a little more at the comment about muscles. "I may be short, but you're right about the muscles thing. That's our secret, we all just gotta look as big as possible with the armour. I mean, have you seen some of the shoulder pads people wear? I'm not sure if I'd go that far. Either way, I'm still sure I can pick you up easily even without the big, fancy armour."

Rose seemed to consider this. "Alright."

"Wait, what?"

"Prove it."

Who was Ari to refuse? She stood, and picked Rose up out of her chair, the other giving a startled gasp, quickly followed up by a chirrup-y noise of happiness as she was hoisted up onto Ari's shoulder. "Told you I could~" Now Ari was getting a little more into things. She certainly wasn't going to let a Hunter get the better of her by any means.

---

"Take it you had fun~?"

Ari lightly punched Scout in the side to get him to back off, to which he just laughed. She was attempting to pretend the Light marks along her neck weren't there, and nor were the bite marks.