9 - ARACHNE
We were on our way to the stupid Council Gala. One I wasn’t planning on attending despite Spun’s charitable donation to the orphanage they were fundraising for tonight. My initial decline was driven by a certain crooked-winged general.
However, a personal invitation from Supremae themselves as a thank you arrived on our doorstep at dawn this morning, and that was that.
“You like her,” Blossom accused. “There's no other explanation for why you had three outfit changes. Ara, you need to admit it.”
I feigned innocence, but my best friend wasn’t accepting it.
“You were flirting with her in public!”
“Now you’re parroting the tabloids?” I demanded, brows raised. “You weren’t there, Bloss. Besides, I’ve been avoiding her. If I liked Athena, I would’ve agreed to go with her tonight instead of forcing you to come as my emotional support date.”
Blossom shook her head, making her glitter painted cheeks shimmer. “No way. You’re too stubborn to agree to the first ask. When was the last time you went on a date that wasn’t prompted via Text Match?”
I paused. It was a valid question. The tally wasn’t looking great either. I’d been exclusively finding my escapades through that app for decades now.
“Exactly,” she chided. “You have a thing for her, just admit it already!”
“There's a fine line between hating someone and wanting to fuck them and she pushes all of my buttons. My control is garbage around her,” I admitted, which loosened my lips. “There’s also this fantasy I’ve built up of her, sans horrible clothing, hair, and you know…
it's not real. Just spite-fueled attraction.”
Blossom gaped before flicking me on the forehead.
“ Ow !”
“You deserved it for saying that! There's nothing wrong with her looks! When did you become so vapid?!”
“It's not her looks; it's her style ! Two separate things, one is unchangeable, the other isn't. What I'm picturing is slight.”
Blossom’s brows pulled together in further doubt. “Well, go on. Don't stop now. What adjustments?”
“Chopping the mullet.” It felt like a kick to the gut to voice watching her eye twitch, but I continued. “And throwing out all of her clothes to start over. That’s it.”
The one being who knew me better than myself rocked her head from side-to-side in thought. “I expected worse,” she admitted. “Sorry for overestimating your horrid-meter. You can’t blame me though; the fashion industry is rotten. I feared it might’ve finally rubbed off.” She wasn’t wrong.
However, those pitfalls, despite tossing me into the limelight, never daunted. I knew Spun would face more scrutiny because we didn’t follow the popular trends or standards. Our last campaign exclusively featured plus-sized models which an army’s worth of tasteless idiots couldn’t get behind.
It wasn’t my problem, I knew from the start that my designs weren’t for everyone; my art being accessible for any size was what mattered most. They frequently painted me as a villain for being ‘unapproachable’ or ‘not smiling enough,’ and that was fine too.
I was pursuing my dreams while being myself.
All of Spun’s negatives compiled were still more positive than the decade I spent attempting to free Blossom from the Council’s clutches.
“Forgiven,” I waved her off. “Even if my fantasy actualized, it wouldn't change the fact that Athena’s a pest who goes to any length to unnerve.”
“Aren't you into that, though?”
I shook my head. With force. I was far too old to be training brats.
??
The gala was being held at the Council's Chambers, an oversized glass walled pyramid in the center of the city.
It was decorated in moody hues tonight, spelled to look as though Idyll were dark outside.
It wasn't of course, the sun didn’t reach and there weren't any moons; but it did wonders to soften the atmosphere.
It no longer resembled the Chamber Blossom was sentenced in and for that I was grateful.
“There's your girl,” Blossom teased, earning herself my elbow to the gut for pointing as though we were in primary school. I knew Athena was here; had already felt her beady yellow eyes on my ass. There was also zero chance of my turning around.
The femme was trying now, that was evident from our last encounter. It wasn’t worth the risk of potentially thirsting after whatever subpar brand had dressed her tonight. I was saving myself the embarrassment. Keeping my gaze carefully guarded.
“It's going to be so fun seeing her reaction to your web,” Blossom unknowingly hit a nerve.
My subspecies was typically something I hid; most of the population found Arthropoda creepy. It wasn't as though we chose our classifications. But still, Athena would likely be disturbed. Another bullet for why this could never work.
It’s just a harmless crush anyway. Nothing more.
“That’ll never happen,” I grumbled before downing my glass.