A Pale Affair   von Oogie-Boogie
             (Humans have only one Quadrant but trolls have many)
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                        Kapitel 3: Cuddling and talking
                        -------------------------------


Tangled limbs, two bodies pressed together, a deep embrace and the beautiful
warmth of being with somebody who loves you.
Kanaya didn’t expect to feel that. She didn’t expect that Vriska would be
this courteous for a change. 
“Oh, that was incredible, Fussyfangs.”
Well, as courteous as someone like Vriska could be.
“Vriska, I requested that you do not call me Fussyfangs anymore.”
“C’mon, it is a great nickname and you didn’t complain about it so much in
the past.”
“You said yourself that you changed”, the jadeblood said, remembering the
assertion Vriska had made about herself.
Vriska sighed, annoyed. “Okay, Okay, Jeez, Fu... Kanaya you are still
fussy.”
“And you still sound arrogant.”
“As arrogant as in the past or at least less arrogant?”
Kanya had to admit that Vriska really didn’t sound so arrogant anymore. “Yes
Vriska, your arrogance level has diminished.”
“Thank you... I hoped that I would manage that.”

Kanaya was baffled. As she took Vriska's proposal she didn’t thought it would
work so well, especially their first time. She even doubted its sincerity, but
the way Vriska said it sounded so true to her.
She came here to fulfill her need, but also in order to see whether Vriska was
serious or not.
“Since when is what others think about you important to you?”
“Since I'm trying to forget my old self for a new self. My old self sucks. It
sucks horribly.”
“All of your old self?”
“Well, probably not, if it was absolute shit I wouldn’t even try what I'm
trying at the moment with you, right?”
“Yes... Without at least a little bit of good will you would be a real monster
without anything decent about you.”

Vriska leaned her head onto Kanaya's head. Kanaya stroked through Vriska's hair
and gave her a soft pat. She drove her nose over the neck of the young spider.
“Being somebody who is stronger than anyone else has a terrible price attached
to it”, Vriska said with a slight sad tone in her voice. 
Kanaya hummed a soft answer.
“I hated it so much... So much.... And I didn’t have the courage to speak to
any troll about it.... Not even you. Only John was the exception.”
“Did you really think I would have turned on you for that?”
“Paranoia was a big part of my life”, Vriska told her friend. “I had to be
paranoid to survive.”
“I was rather safe and sound in the desert, far away from all the danger.”
Kanaya remembered her old life. “Not even other jadebloods bothered me. My
blood caste is not so bloodthirsty in comparison to most others.”

They lay in silence for several more minutes, enjoying the embrace and each
other's company.
“I have to go soon," Kanaya said. 
“Because of Rose? She isn’t your lusus. Not all of your life is about
her.”
“Yes, but she could become suspicious of me doing something behind her back,
something forbidden.”
“Tell her you’re cuddling with a good friend. No reason for secrecy.”
“She is still a human from birth and upbringing. She couldn’t understand my
need. Couldn’t understand why I’m doing it.”
“Jeez Kanaya, if it is so troubling for you, you should reconsider your
relationship with her.”
“Never!”, Kanaya said with more force than intended. “Oh, sorry.”
“No, no it is your right to be angry at me for doubting your love for her.”

Kanaya stared slightly in disbelief at Vriska. 
She made it harder and harder to leave her.
Kanaya had secretly hoped that Vriska would still be egoistical and only think
about herself. She was still a bit gruff but not so hostile anymore.
She had hoped that Vriska was still that impossible person that wasn’t able to
detect true affection if you smashed it into her face.
She had hoped so much that Vriska would be terrible at this, would be doing or
saying inappropriate things, would be egoistical, harmful or rough.
But she wasn’t. Or did Kanaya fall again for this psychotic mess that was
Vriska Serket?

“Sorry to disappoint you for the moment but I really have to go.”
“Do we meet again?”
Kanaya thought about it. “I think... Yes.”
“Can you come to me?”
“No, here again please.”
“I made such a nice pile at my place. It is made out of soft stuff, not broken
sharp shards, extra for you.”
“I was always well informed about your toughness, but even I can't believe
that you could sleep on broken glass.”
“The trick is to lay right and develop calluses in the right places. Also you
have a good weapon in case somebody stands over you in your pile and tries to
kill you.”
“Didn’t you sleep in your Recuperacoon?”
“Yes, there were also weapons stored, just in case.”
“How often were you attacked in your hive?”
“Next time, okay?”
“Okay.”
Vriska embraced Kanaya one last time and Kanaya embraced back. She felt guilty
about what she had done but she felt better than before in general.

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