Hey, here's an intro. of Ariadne in the Neon Gods sequel. I had to edit her out of Neon but we got her in Book II and she's really talking.
Preston Copeland: RighteousIndignation: Ariadne's Folly: Ariadne fell silent, staring at the grocer. A turnip of a man, his unusually large jowls and high forehead gave him the appearance of ...
Friday, October 5, 2018
Ariadne's Folly
"Miss, as I said before, the prices really aren't negotiable."
The food market had opened a couple of hours prior. An outdoor Saturday morning event, Ariadne had been coming since she descended a year before. It caused her to think of home, which really was a burden given there was no feasible way she could get back. And she had tried. Visiting every charlatan, witchdoctor, and paranormal psychologist in the city. They had all referred her to a shrink, even the medicine man, which was depressing unto itself.
She wandered the shabby, little makeshift kiosks trying a lime here or a pear there, ignoring the downtrodden glances of the fruit owners. What good was being a salesman if sampling the product was unacceptable?
Ariadne huffed and kicked her feet. Her marble blue eyes scouring the kiosk stand for a mango that was ripe enough to eat. "Well, I'll tell ya." She began slowly, not entirely confident the man was apt to have this conversation. "Eating a mango that isn't ripe could crack my teeth. Are you prepared for that outcome? Have you taken the necessary precautions just in case? Wouldn't want you to have to live off your...product?"
It really was a question. This vendor looked to have picked these fruits and vegetable out of a restaurant trash bin.
"What did you say?" The man spat arrogantly. "You will not find more delectable fruits anywhere in the city. Look at this mango."
Ariadne glanced sheepishly at him.
"It is of the utmost quality." He said.
"Well, I might be a heathen but I'm not seeing it." She retorted.
"How dare you!" He cried miserably. "You've stood here nearly thirty minutes, not happy with anything! Go bother somebody else."
"You see," She began again. Her voice took on a motherly quality. "You have to wait until the fruit is ripe."
She plucked the mango out of his hand. The man tensed as Ariadne put it to her nose, smelled it briefly. He cocked his head as she slowly squeezed it, rolling it around in her hand."
"And?" The vendor demanded.
"I don't even know if it's worth it." Ariadne spoke slowly, cautiously. "There's only one way to know for sure."
"Don't you dare!"
She took a large bite, feeling the perfectly ripe fruit burst into her mouth, sugary juices on her tongue, running down her chin. She slurped the pulpy texture, let it linger until she could smell it.
She brushed her dark hair away from her face and tucked it behind her right ear. "This one will do, but just barely."
The man looked stricken, as if she'd given him terrible news about his health. "You did not! You're gonna pay for that!"
"Well, of course I'm going to pay for it." She took another bite. "I'm prepared to purchase all the mangoes. Given they're suitable."
"Suitable?"
"Yes."
"You just ate one! You know they're suitable."
"We're gonna have to discuss that."
The man stiffened. He trembled a little. Ariadne wasn't sure he'd make it through this. She looked at him, seeing the beet face and sweat. The little shakes he had when he mopped his forehead.
Ariadne took a deep breath. "Now then."
He took a step back.
"The pressure is on mister. How much for the pears?"
Forty seven minutes later, Ariadne found herself at a large fountain a half block up from the food market. It was a robust gray, bespeckled with little dots of white and brown. Clearly areas where the city pigeons had an urge. In the middle of the fountain, a statue of her husband had been erected. Oh, not him exactly. It was a statue of Pan, all cloven-hoofed and horned with shit on his face and pipes. It wasn't Dionysus. Some say her husband was the faun's father but she wasn't one to gossip. And Dionysus was mum on the matter. So that was peculiar.
But there she stood, glaring up at Pan's contorted, muscly, shit covered face when she heard a loud "Hmph!" behind her.
That unhinged vendor. She thought pitifully. "Hey, we agreed on ten for the bushel. I can't help if growing fruit isn't easy on a city sidewalk!"
"Look what we have here."
Ariadne turned and grimaced at the face in front of her. He was a bear of a man. Unshaven, unkempt, frightfully fat. He wore a t shirt that looked about to split. But he had a warm smile. Even if he did waddle around. He held a leash in his large hand that was attached to a waist high donkey that, at this very second, was digging into her bag and munching on carrots she had worked twenty minutes to procure.
"Oh, hi Silenus." She said. "Hey Rat!" She bent and patted the animal stiffly on the head.
"His name isn't Rat."
"So what is it?"
"Donkey."
"God, your dense. Well, I'll tell ya. One animal name is as good as the next. Don't be prejudiced."
"Huh?"
"Where's my husband Silenus?"
"Dionysus has been searching everywhere for you." Silenus said. He straightened, arching his back in some show of dignity. Ariadne squinted at him. "He has scoured the city."
She nodded. "From a barstool?"
Silenus's eyes widened. He shivered at her apparent prescience.
"Oh god, where else would he be? I could have found him in days had I not wanted to explore awhile."
"He has been terribly worried. Especially after the happenings last year."
She rubbed at her lips. The killings had been all over the news. One after another until finally they just stopped. Ariadne bent and picked a mango out of her bag. She placed a hand on Rat as she took a bite.
"How did you descend?" Silenus asked,
She forced a smile. "Come again?"
"Descend, child. You're not a goddess."
"Oh, let's not get into that again."
"Ariadne!"
"I don't know! I'm a princess. I make things happen. What about you, Silenus? You're not exactly a god." She sized him up frowning. "How did you make your way here?"
The old tutor hadn't considered the question before, Ariadne surmised. She scowled, slowly shaking her head. "You don't know either. We're as stuck as they are."
Ariadne wiped her mouth, tossed the mango core into the fountain. "Take me to my husband, Rat."
She ordered.
"Silenus, they really captured your likeness with it. The white spots are especially fitting."
"What are you getting on about?"
"Oh sorry, nothing." She smiled sweetly. Taking the leash out of his hand and leading Rat away. Silenus frowned, staring at the ground. As he followed, he glanced up at the fountain statue and his brow furled. He couldn't say why but he felt that he should be offended.
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