89 ASH 121
The last time that Nnerka had ever shared a space with someone during her molt had been with her sisters. It hadn’t felt so bad — given their molt took place around the same time as each other’s — and they had understood what was needed for the process to go smoothly. The horror stories of relatives having complications was almost akin to hearing the dangers of two-legged childbirth. A concept that hadn’t been appealing and made the idea of the molt all the more pressing as each spiderling considered the gravity of being stuck in their own skin. Not a fun way to end one’s life.
But for all the time that Nnerka had been in the city — a choice she had made only semi-willingly — she had depended on herself. The Madame had allowed her certain liberties when it came to her molting; her days cleared to allow for the process to take hold and her quarters sealed. Sometimes, even, a meal delivered. And by delivered, she meant some brave soul would knock on her door, open it, and shove whatever it was inside before slamming the door shut and running down the hall as if their life depended on it. Which it didn’t; she found her appetite was lacking on some occasions and she had never been one to waste a meal.
However, being here, sharing this particular space would take some getting used to, even with it only being a temporary situation. It was partly a problem that had involved a recent request at the Cabaret. Something about the potential backlash that had truly forced her hand on the idea. And while she had asked, it had been...surprising that Rickter would be so affable about the whole ordeal. Maybe because he didn’t understand the full details.
Even as she wandered through the home, she could feel the layers of her skin separating. Lifting and filling with the start of something she could only describe as slimy, the liquid sliding down her skin. Already, the usual rosy hue of her hair had drained into a soft cream. The pigmentation taken from her as the new layer of her exoskeleton came in. She fiddled with her hair a moment, inspecting the ends as she went to find an area that may fit her better.
She was hunched over as she turned to Rickter, brows raised. “I shouldn’t be more than a few days here — four, at most.” It felt a little like she was trying to plead her case, she realized. Make her seem like a welcome guest to any. But that would be hard to do, wouldn’t it? Not with the cooing children she could hear, the hairs on her legs picking up their noises.
“And my days of eating children are very much over. Unless provoked. But I doubt they would do anything that would warrant such a thing. Where are they, anyhow? I’d like to see how your progeny looks. They must be so...squishy.” She let loose a little giggle, no more than a little titter and click of her teeth as she rubbed two fingers together. "Do the little puppies bark? Or are they still blind and dumb?"
But for all the time that Nnerka had been in the city — a choice she had made only semi-willingly — she had depended on herself. The Madame had allowed her certain liberties when it came to her molting; her days cleared to allow for the process to take hold and her quarters sealed. Sometimes, even, a meal delivered. And by delivered, she meant some brave soul would knock on her door, open it, and shove whatever it was inside before slamming the door shut and running down the hall as if their life depended on it. Which it didn’t; she found her appetite was lacking on some occasions and she had never been one to waste a meal.
However, being here, sharing this particular space would take some getting used to, even with it only being a temporary situation. It was partly a problem that had involved a recent request at the Cabaret. Something about the potential backlash that had truly forced her hand on the idea. And while she had asked, it had been...surprising that Rickter would be so affable about the whole ordeal. Maybe because he didn’t understand the full details.
Even as she wandered through the home, she could feel the layers of her skin separating. Lifting and filling with the start of something she could only describe as slimy, the liquid sliding down her skin. Already, the usual rosy hue of her hair had drained into a soft cream. The pigmentation taken from her as the new layer of her exoskeleton came in. She fiddled with her hair a moment, inspecting the ends as she went to find an area that may fit her better.
She was hunched over as she turned to Rickter, brows raised. “I shouldn’t be more than a few days here — four, at most.” It felt a little like she was trying to plead her case, she realized. Make her seem like a welcome guest to any. But that would be hard to do, wouldn’t it? Not with the cooing children she could hear, the hairs on her legs picking up their noises.
“And my days of eating children are very much over. Unless provoked. But I doubt they would do anything that would warrant such a thing. Where are they, anyhow? I’d like to see how your progeny looks. They must be so...squishy.” She let loose a little giggle, no more than a little titter and click of her teeth as she rubbed two fingers together. "Do the little puppies bark? Or are they still blind and dumb?"
