mistymansion | bug yuri

[ Hornet had been waiting for Lace to snap.

It was only a matter of time with her. She had a seemingly infinite amount of energy and her boredom always coursed through the room like electricity, bright and crackling. Hornet had felt her eyes on the back of her head. But she would not respond until Lace used her voice.

She'd been here in Bellhart for a while now, and though she knew that one day in the far future she would up and leave to journey elsewhere, that day would not be soon. She was comfortable here and wished to rest and see what became of the ruins. Besides that, many bugs still lived here. She wished to offer her protection for a land that still had something of a pulse for once.

Though she did not show it outwardly very well, Hornet had much to process, herself. In a short matter of time she had learned much of her ancestry and what became of her race, the Weavers. Yet most here were killed -- some by her own hand, an unfortunate necessity that she wished had not been the case -- and almost all of those that remained had fled, leaving Hornet cold and empty, picking up the pieces of their story to put back together.

She thought often of her own mother, Herrah, and the life she had given up for her.

But she did have Lace.

She had come to learn a good bit about her...friend? Companion? Date? ~~Pet?~~

In some ways, she was all of them.

No matter the case, Lace was a part of her life now. Lace had saved her life and Hornet had done the same for her. They could not simply part now as if it had not happened. Even if Lace was a handful, Hornet was still fond of her, and she kept her entertained.

Here at her desk Hornet had both a metal crossbow and some sort of silk contraption. It looked like a large spider's web or net, with metal wire around the opening to keep its shape. ]

A trapping device. It is meant to be used as ammunition for this gun. When I fire it, it launches a silk net at the target to ensnare them. Though it is still a prototype for now. I am considering adding a function for it so snap shut, or perhaps barbs on the inside.

[ The design is clean, yet disturbingly sadistic in its craftmanship. Her words don't help. Well. If the feral bugs here stopped attacking here, Hornet would have no need for such nastiness. ]

[Look at that. Lace is grateful Hornet did not have this on hand any of the times they fought. She started to reach out to touch it, then thought better of it and retreated her hand. Last thing she wanted was to accidentally set it off and ensnare herself. Or Hornet.

Well, actually, the latter would be pretty funny.

Instead she just seated herself on a corner of the desk, putting herself directly in Hornet's field of vision.]

You do so love your tools, don't you? Just how many of these do you have?

[ Goodness, now Lace is all in her personal space. Being in Hornet's field of vision should rationally make it impossible to ignore her, surely.

But today Hornet is feeling a little mean. She wants to play with Lace some more. So she pretends to not notice her, fiddling with the silk net in her claws. ]

Dozens, if not hundreds. I have taken a great liking to crafting, and the tools offer considerable protection.

[Hrrrrmmmmmmm.

Well, she was talking to her at least but how did someone not look at a person right near them??

Maybe...it just needed a minute or two.]

Protection indeed. I wonder how differently things might turn out were we to fight with only our weapons. [She took on an airy voice, trying to goad her.]

[ Oh, her little silk imp is so hard to resist sometimes. She sounds so sweet and enticing.

But Hornet keeps her gaze firmly planted on her desk. ]

I would be fine.

[...]

[She isn't bothered by Hornet's cocky response as she is by the fact that she still isn't looking at her.]

So confident! Just one of the reasons you make such good company.

[Now she lays out across the length of the desk, propping her chin on a hand.]

Reminds me of when we first met.

[ Okay this is getting ridiculous.

And incredibly amusing.

Hornet drops what she is doing and finally sets her gaze on Lace, sprawled out across her desk. ]

Do you wish for something from me?

[Finally! Nevermind the fact she could have just asked her for her time.]

So sweet of you to notice, spider dear. Aren't you tired of being cooped up and hunched over such trinkets? We ought to do something else!

[ Ah. There she was. Hornet sighs and sweeps her contraptions to the side, just leaving Lace and her theater show. ]

That was not so bad, was it? If you wish for my attention, you only need ask. It is good for you to advocate for yourself.

[ She leaned down and put a soft kiss between Lace's eyes. ]

[...she did that on purpose???

Lace opens her mouth to retort but the waspish remark dies when Hornet pecks her.]

Hmph....if you say as such.

[She's caught off guard both by the kiss and sentiment, and truth be told she hadn't really far enough to figure out a 'what?'

She knows there's so much they can do but she's a bit overwhelmed by the fact that she even has a choice, still. She realizes with some frustration that for all her want of freedom, she's still not entirely sure how to function freely.]

...can we walk around outside?

[ Oh Lace, you need a hobby. Reading? Painting? Exotic pets? Working on your fencing skills? Perhaps even employment? Hornet has ideas.

No matter. She stands and dusts herself off. ]

Of course we may.

[ It was a nice day, even living to the left of gloomy Greymoor. She makes her way to the door after packing her bag with tools and her map and holds it open for Lace. ]

They've finished painting the bell red this morning. What do you think?

[ The same as her cloak, of course. ]

[She steps out, blinks a little at the light and then stretches. It is nice and the brighter light is pleasant. Her gaze turns to the bell--once cracked and tarnished, now so vibrant.[

It looks good. [She admits, then turns her gaze to the rest of Belhart. It has grown significantly since the void had left the land. Lace is acquainted with most of them but she wouldn't say she really knew any of them.

The sound of chatter surrounds them, Pavo's singing rising above it all. She glances down his way, faintly amused.]

...he never stops, does he?

No, he does not. He used to sing at night as well, but he was threatened. And not by me.

[ Hornet gives a rare smile. Even for her, born in Deepnest, fond of tight dark cramped spaces like any spider, the sunlight still feels nice on her mask and on her shell. Bellhart is busy today with lots of trade coming through, and Hornet even sees little Sherma down below.

She sits down on the porch of their Bellhome and thinks about what kind of attention Lace might enjoy. After a moment, she offers Lace her hand. For a little while, she'd like to bask here. ]

Will you sit with me for a moment?

[Huh. She wonders who that must have come from. She looks at Hornet's hand for a moment before taking it and nodding, taking a seat and stretching out her legs.]

Well, I would thank them heartily for putting an end to that. [She was surprisingly fine with his singing but at night? Absolutely not.]

You are...friends with all of them?

Indeed I am. [ She pauses, tilts her head. ] Or, that is what I believe. At the very least, I am on good terms with them all.

[ And their little affection was on clear display for everyone now, but Hornet did not mind. You could only have a bug stay at your home for so long before people got suspicious, couldn't you?

She tugged Lace just a bit closer, so the warm sun would envelop both of them as one body. ]

I am sure they would like to be your friend too. But from what I understand, you are a mysterious presence in these lands. It is hard for them to approach you. I imagine it is hard for you, as well.

[She leaned against Hornet, finding herself relaxing a little.]

I know not what to say to them. [Needless to say small talk was not her forte. For all that she could run her mouth with taunts, jabs and jokes in poor taste, just having a conversation did not come naturally. She struggled with it even with Hornet, oftentimes.]

And it seems they find my demeanor harsh.

[...]

But...

The pinmaster. He is pleasant enough company in my limited experience.

You are harsh. And you are also sensitive, and gentle, and even pleasant, sometimes.

[ Oh Hornet, you've developed quite the soft spot for Lace, haven't you? ]

It seems you've made your first acquaintance, then. He is a good bug, and skilled with a pin too. I am sure he would be happy to duel you.

[ Hmmm. She'll have to check later to see if she has any materials left to sharpen and polish Lace's pin. For now, she just leans back against her. Then she turns and buries her face against Lace's shoulder, appreciating the softness. She'd recalled something she wanted to ask Lace about. ]

When I first arrived here, the bugs of this town were all strewn up with silk. It turned out there was a Weaver just below. She had been stripped of her mask, and she had two pins in her back. Yet she seemed loyal to your mother still, for she was orchestrating this. Do you know anything of this?

[It's true. At least the first part. The issue is Lace doesn't know how to reign herself in without feeling like she's being fake. It's easier with Hornet who she believes is unaffected by her words.

The question catches Laces off guard and for a moment she's not sure what to say. Depending on how much Hornet has learned of Pharloom's history, that could be a short answer, or an incredibly long one.]

Yes. She went by the name of Widow. Even after learning that my mother lied to the Weavers she remained loyal to her. And so the other Weavers mutilated her so, so she could not interfere with their plans of escape.

I see.

[ That explains a lot. So much so, she feels she better understands the imprisoned Weaver she had later met, as well. Hornet sits with this information for a while in silence. Longer than she'd like. And then her shoulders sag, as if in acceptance. ]

In the end, I freed Widow from her misery. But I wish we had met on different terms. I find no joy in the act of slaying my own, no matter how distant.

[ Though Hornet holds herself as proper as ever, she is evidently pained. ]

[She keeps her eyes focused on Hornet, shifting her shoulder ever so slightly so the spider could more comfortably keep her head in place.

She didn't know such thoughts had been weighing on her. She feels a brief moment of panic because this is the sort of situation where she should say comforting words, right? She can't even remember the last time she had had to comfort someone.

Yet she does want to. She doesn't like the idea of Hornet being sad or guilty. It felt wrong.]

You did her a mercy indeed. And sad as it is, in doing so you not only defended yourself, but it led to laying my mother to rest. With her gone any Weavers that remain out there are now safe from her for good. Perhaps one day you might chance upon them.

[ Hornet thought about Lace's words. She allowed herself to be vulnerable for once, as painful as it was; she allowed herself to expose this open, weeping scab. She imagined herself, far in the future, meeting old and long-fled Weavers who no longer had anything to fear nor a monarch to control them any longer. She would not have to raise her needle nor rend flesh. They would just be.

And that thought made her feel good and warm. It spread through her stomach, her chest. ]

One day, I believe that will happen. I would enjoy that very much.

[ Perhaps she should visit Deepnest soon. She wondered if anyone was still left there. The Spider Tribe had always been fond of her, despite having little reason to be kind to a child sired by the Pale King, whom they had detested. Hornet imagined that Lace would not enjoy her stuffy and dark birthplace and the thought amused her greatly. She sat a while with Lace like this, her face stuffed into her shoulder, not caring if anyone saw her at all. ]

Thank you.

As I said earlier, you are pleasant and gentle, when you want to be.

[Unfortunately she can't exactly deny the gentle allegation this time. Especially not with what she had been thinking. Lace just awkwardly looks away, withholding from shrugging her shoulders.]

I am simply making a factual statement.

[And to move on from the matter of her gentleness] Who knows. There might still be others in Pharloom. What constitutes the kingdom is much than just these lands that form the starting point of the pilgrimage.

[Much of the citadel still remains intact as well, considering the vast complex it is. Perhaps Lace might be able to scrounge up some information. She knows pretty much every inch of it after all.]

I suppose that is possible. Perhaps we will even discover something together, someday.

[ That would be very nice, Hornet thinks. Weavers were intelligent bugs. What was the chance there was a wall she hadn't busted into hiding an entire party of them?

...And now Lace is looking away from her. Shy, upset, angry? Hornet cannot tell with her sometimes. She pulls her head away from Lace's shoulder. ]

You are being very shy, yet just earlier you were vying for my attention. Have I done something to earn your ire?

Shy?

[She looks back at Hornet, puzzled, but then gives a shake of her head.]

You have not, no. [She hopes she hasn't given the impression she's put off by Hornet's openness. It had been nice, actually, to have seen this part of Hornet even if she wished the spider was not weighed down by those thoughts.

Lace could probably clarify things easily if she just spoke up but. One step at a time. She'd rather hear more about Hornet anyway.]

Were there many back in your home of Hallownest?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

throwing bricks at them for being so cute

they areee ;w;

no subject

no subject