Ideal Deals

## Content Information

It had been a quiet day for Dakota, the most peaceful in a while. Homework classes were attended, homework was finished, and there was no threat of a zealous cult today. They even got a smile from Penny after running into her in the hallway. Today should have been perfectly fine. Perhaps even good or great. But something had been nagging at Dakota. A lingering feeling that had been stirring for a while.

They found themself out for a walk, meandering near Carter Hall. Their fingers fidget in place as they catch a glimpse of the incomplete moon looming oppressively above. It’s not like Dakota had forgotten. They never forget. They cannot forget. But they didn’t feel like bothering up till now. But they can now feel the sensation of invisible strings pulling them towards a destination. A balance needed to be set.

Soon enough, Arsling’s window begins singing to the tune of tiny pebbles lobbed against it.

Arsling had been resting, still getting used to being five inches shorter than usual, she fiddled with a loose thread on her cotton jumper, she felt weird not being in her suit, then she heard a distraction, somebody throwing crap at her window “don’t people know how to knock?” Arsling quips to herself, honestly she wouldn’t be shocked if word had gotten out that Arsling is okay with people literally jumping threw her window

She looked outside and saw Dakota smirking slightly. She opened the window and said, “I should get a doorbell attached to this thing shouldn’t i?” the moonlight reflected off Arsling’s glowing eyes, it didn’t take being a wolf to know that the wolf is close to the surface

Dakota’s smirk evolves somewhat into a cheeky grin. “I suppose I could have knocked, but where’s the fun in that?” They step closer to the window, getting a good look at Arsling’s eyes. “Didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?”

Arslings golden eyes were...cute on her, although Arsling would never admit it “nah i’m not doing much, just kinda resting y’know...might head off to that hellfire party soon but i’m not sure” Arsling reached to her desk grabbing a ham and cheese sandwich “that and i’m really hungry and i don’t wanna eat all of their free food, might get kicked out”

Dakota slyly rummages through their bag, producing a box of snackcakes, already half eaten. “Well, they haven’t thrown me out yet.” They snicker, offering the box through the window. “I’m glad you aren’t too busy, though. There is something I’d like to… address.”

Arslings little golden eyes lit up as she happily took the box “sure what is it?” Arsling immediately dug into the snackcakes stuffing her face

There is a certain glimmer that can be seen in Dakota’s eyes. Even through the shutter shades. Something almost unnerving in a way. “Well, I’m assuming you already know who the werewolf hunting you was… But that’s not really fine, is it?”

Arsling sighs gulping down a large chunk of cake “yeahhh so what are we doing about that, you still owe me for stealing my chocolate, especially considering lycanthrope comes with munchees”  she says throwing down another entire snackcake

Dakota sends a playful, knowing smirk Arsling’s way. “Uncontrollable food cravings, huh? Can’t imagine what that’s like~” They manage a snackcake from the box and devour it with reckless abandon, the wrapper nearly caught up in the ‘event horizon’. “Seeing as neither of us are satisfied, there is one obvious solution. I take your memories and then tell you who was hunting you.” Dakota lets the weight of the statement hang in the air for a moment before they start snickering again. “But it would be better if we made a new deal, right?”

Arsling snicked slightly  “yeah, new deal time!...what do you have in mind?”

Dakota lets out a breath and leans back against a tree. “That’s the question, isn’t it?” They turn to Arsling again. “What is it that you want? Revenge? Answers? To be human?”

“Maybe that last one but...that would just bring the curse back wouldn’t it? Then my turner would notice, and turn me all over again” Arsling said solemnly “truth is i don’t know what i want...whats the Faes stance on being able to allow people to commune with the dead?” Arsling says weakly, as she pulls the thread of cotton apart

Dakota meets eyes with Arsling for a split second and no more, visibly deflating ever so slightly. “It’s best not to assume fae have stances on anything. But it’s not something I’ve thought about or would even begin to know how to do. The faerie king would know, but...” Dakota meets eyes with Arsling again for a split second.

Arsling rubs her face “how long does it take Fae to replace their king? Its been four hundred and fifty years” she sighs “damn you Fergal!”

Dakota gives a flippant shrug. “Most fae tend to just think of time as a thing humans made up. And it has even less meaning in the fae realm. There will be a king when either the fae feel like making a new one or the old one stops being dead.”

“Fantastic, so no communing with dead?” Arsling says hurt clear in her voice

Dakota reaches through the window, placing a hand on Arsling’s shoulder. “I can’t promise anything. But if I find a way to talk to the dead, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks Dakota, i appreciate it” She gives a hug to Dakota “you’re a darling”

Dakota easily gives into the hug, patting Arsling on the back. There is a very warm and inviting presence radiating from Dakota, almost hypnotic as Arsling would feel the scent of belgian chocolates intensify.

Arsling relaxes in Dakotas hug “o-oh wow this is nice” she says as if shes dozing off to sleep resting her head down on Dakotas shoulder not wanting to let go

Dakota glances down at Arsling, blinking for a moment as the hug persists. “Arsling? Arsling?? Oh!” It took a moment to hit them. They gently begin slipping from the embrace, waving the last snackcake in front of Arsling to snap her out of the trance. “You ok there? I didn’t want to disturb you but you didn’t seem all there anymore.”

Arslings eyes refocus on the snackcake eating it in one bite before saying “wh-what happened the last...thirty seconds?” all she recalled was hugging Dakota and feeling really really happy and relaxed

Dakota turns their head to the side for a moment. “Let’s just say I’m a *really* good hugger..”They refocus on Arsling before more questions can be asked, however. “But we do still have a deal to settle on.”

“Yeah! Em...i don’t know...i-i’d like another hug?” Arsling says softly before going back on herself “th-thats not the deal by the way!”

Arsling is met with a gentle smile, but there is an subtle vulnerability behind it. “Maybe one more. But only once we figure out this deal, ok?” Dakota returns to smirking like a trickster. “Now, what would you say is worth european chocolates?”

“Hmmmm what is worth my favorite food?” She thinks for a few seconds “damn this is hard...how about...i hear the transformation into a wolf is painful for a new werewolf...do you have anyway to mitigate that?”

Dakota strokes their chin a bit, pondering the matter. “Are we talking ibuprofen or weed? Because I’m pretty sure I can get you something.”

“I was thinking something more arcane but i guess weed works aswell” Arsling chuckles before going into full blown laughter

Dakota joins in on the laugh. “I could see if Hellfire has any arcane weed. If it doesn’t, I’ll just get you the regular sort. That sound good?”

“Yeah! Thats fine by me, thanks Dakota” Arsling says smiling at the fae her golden eyes giving the impression of puppy dog eyes

Dakota looks curiously into Arsling’s eyes, glancing away to playfully feign ignorance. They let the moment hang in the air for a bit before smiling and giving into another hug.

Arsling fully embraced the hug, letting herself be taken into the trance she looked so relaxed and sleepy

Dakota lets Arsling enjoy the hug for as long as she wants. Remaining there by the window as she drifts to sleep.