[ nychaa nuttanicha, cis woman, she/her ] - was that ARANYA SAELI i saw by the lighthouse today? i heard that the TWENTY-SIX year old who has been in nightrest for HER ENTIRE LIFE and works as a/an TWITCH STREAMER has a reputation of being AFFECTIONATE, but also NAIVE. they reside in STOUGHTON ESTATES & people in town usually associate them with TRENDY, GIRLY CLOTHING BOUGHT FROM AN ONLINE SHOP, THE SCENT OF VANILLA, LATE NIGHTS AWAKE AND ONLINE, & AN AURA OF INNOCENCE letâs hope the killer doesnât go after them next.
BASIC INFORMATION:
FULL NAME: Aranya Saeli
NICKNAMES: Ari
DATE OF BIRTH: July 1st, 1998 (26)
ETHNICITY: Thai-American
FACE CLAIM: Fah Yongwaree
HAIR & EYE COLOR: Dark Brown
HEIGHT: 5â4â
TATTOOS & PIERCINGS: a few small tattoos, belly button piercing
SEXUAL ORIENTATION: bisexual
OCCUPATION: twitch streamer
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: english & thai
BACKGROUND:
the youngest of her family, aranya would likely describe her upbringing as peaceful and loving. her mother was an art teacher at the very high school she attended, and her father owned his own law firm. both of her parents, in addition to her older brother, were seen as academically intelligent, a trait that wasnât necessarily passed on to aranya. it wasnât that she wasnât smart, it just tended to take her longer to learn things, and sheâd always found it difficult to stay focused on school.
in high school, she was popular, largely due to the fact that she was seen as a sweet, beautiful cheerleader that just wasnât very bright. her heart was very pure growing up, and she often just saw the best in people and struggled to see when people would take advantage of her naive nature.Â
despite her image in school, the only real interest she had in a career was in gaming. video games felt like the only thing that really kept her attention, and aranya began streaming on twitch while she was still in high school, largely gaining a following for her looks, and later for the fact that she was actually good at what she played.
her parents werenât initially supportive of her choice to not go to college and decide to become an internet personality, but they eventually came around when they saw it was something she loved. though her family had always been upper middle-class, aranyaâs following brought her into money that sheâd never seen before, securing partnerships and brand deals along the way. for her twenty-fourth birthday, she bought a house for her and her family in stoughton estates, wanting to give back to her parents for supporting her dreams.
HEADCANONS
has been getting tattoos recently, loves the idea of having pretty art on your body so she tries to make her stuff thought out
yes she is inspired by pokimane ok zont come for me. started streaming seriously around the time fortnite got big and became one of the biggest girls playing the game at the time which gained her massive amounts of followers at a young age
she says sheâs grown and become less naive compared to before but she really does still see the best in people, and is the type to fall for peopleâs tricks
very innocent and very slow at times. will not get your jokes so get ready to explain them so she can laugh
big life of the party gal!! wants everyone to feel included and have a good time
smiles. a lot. is a big lover. loves love and everything about it and will fall in love with someone without realizing it. gets very invested in her relationships even if they are short-lived
very much the type to let people step all over it and then laugh about it in public like haha no biggie but then go cry into her pillow at home.
secretly worries that people still view her as the dumb pretty girl. sheâs not very book-smart but likes to think she makes up for it with street smarts and good people skills
lives on takeout, cannot cook. do not let her in a kitchen ever. sheâs nice and will offer to cook but all you will get is something burnt im sorry
very trendy and into fashion. as an online shopping addiction for sure
WANTED CONNECTIONS
ummm u know like all the stuff (besties, friends, exes, flings/hookups, childhood friends, ppl that think she has rocks for a brain, etc)
Look into your heart and let me know
Do things turn black and gray as they go?
When I'm far too gone, can you show me love?Â
tw: asphyixation, violence, blood, knives, stabbing, death
mentioned: @malachiphillips
For the first time in a while, despite the heartache and the pain associated with losing people around her, Aranya was happy. She felt lighter after Malachiâs words to her, for once not having to second guess her feelings or actions, finally knowing that he really did like her and that things werenât all in her head. And as naive as she was, she really did feel like he was the one for her, that sheâd finally met the person sheâd spend the rest of her life with.Â
Out of insecurity, sheâd always clung to the people she was with, afraid that if she ever stepped away, that theyâd leave. But with him, she hadnât felt that way. The old her wouldâve refused to leave his side even to use the bathroom, let alone go outside to get some air. The same very deck that Malachi had asked her to be his girlfriend hours ago, was now a fond memory, the cool sea breeze putting the brunette at ease. She felt like sheâd been doing a good job, keeping a handle on her emotions and not falling apart the way she almost always had before. In this moment of silence, her mind trickled back to the people sheâd lost, the people sheâd never see again. Some hit closer to home than others, but truthfully, it never changed the feeling of sadness associated with every lost soul. Even someone as bright as she was had been affected by the loss, the thought running through her mind these days that she couldnât really bear to lose anyone else close to her. Aranya had always been the kind of girl that defined herself by the people around her, loving herself only when there was someone else who loved her first.Â
In retrospect, she had a lot to be grateful for, things that she was proud of that werenât dwindled down to what everyone thought of her. Her career was one of them. She still remembers the look on her parents face when she told them that she wasnât going to college, and that she planned to become the biggest twitch streamer in the world. Her dreams were high, her goals were high, because it who she was. And year by year, sheâd grown bigger and bigger, successful at something sheâd wanted so bad. When she told people that she made her money playing games for fun, many had waved her off. She wasnât coined as particularly smart or ambitious, but her career was something that made her believe she was more than just a pretty girl who could make someone smile.
April 15th.Â
It was a date she kept to herself, no one else ever having known that today was something more to her than just a charity gala. 10 years ago today, she found something in herself that was more than just superficial. At school, she was a cheerleader, a ditzy, pretty cheerleader. But when she was alone, whether it was 1 viewer or 10, she really did feel like she was something more. That she was smart, in her own way even if that that meant she didnât excel in school and was seen as an airhead. Streaming, playing games and being good at it, it was the first time she really saw herself as more than just an attachment of whoever she was with. 10 years of doing what she really loved, something that she never gave herself enough credit for. And while she loved to talk, loved to be bright and bubbly and share her life with the people around her, she kept this date to herself, a celebration she had on her own.
This year though, not just because it was a milestone, felt more important to her. Maybe it was because she really was happy, happy to be with someone that accepted who she was. Rather than being one thing, she really did feel like he saw all of her. And it was something she wasnât used to. Malachi had never made her feel small or insignificant, had never pushed her away or put his feelings above her own. She knew it hadnât been perfect, that in the beginning, she wasnât the only girl, and that it had taken so much happening for them to be official. Everyone seemed to think she was fragile, that knowing he was with other girls would break her into pieces. But truthfully, Aranya liked his company, in whatever capacity it happened to come in. In the beginning, her feelings werenât that strong, and even if she was charmed easily, her heart had been broken too many times to read into something so soon. In a way, she liked the attention, and it was when heâd given her too much of it that she began to feel more intensely about him.Â
The most obvious moment, the first time sheâd really realized that she was falling for him, had been sneaking off onto the basketball courts during the snowstorm. Standing on the court with him, mind reminscing on a time when she was up in the stands looking from afar. A moment so simple, but it was more meaningful than anyone would really know.. It was the first time sheâd seen a softness in him, realized that he was so much more than the cool, popular guy sheâd pictured in her head. When Aranya was younger, that was exactly what she thought of him, ages too far apart during their time in school for her to ever be anything more than the shy freshman watching this townâs pride and joy go off to become something big. His name, whether it be because of his family or what heâd accomplished, it wasnât one that was forgotten easily. In her teens, it was more of a silly schoolgirl crush she had on him, everything about Malachi appearing so perfect from far away.
Except he wasnât perfect, and truthfully, seeing that was the entire reason she knew she loved him, that his faults and how things had been rocky in terms of what they were didnât scare her off. She didnât fall into a panic when she realized the way she felt, didnât break down because their relationship wasnât official. Maybe sheâd been a fool, but Aranya wanted to believe she was special, that what they had meant something, and that she didnât need to rush anything to know that much was true for him too. Being the one to hold him when heâd finally broken down over the loss of his brother made her feel that much more sure that this was the man she loved, and that there was a level of trust between them both.
She was happy, as much as she could be in the light of what had happened, the lights surrounding the deck dimming and a feeling of serenity and peace coming over her. Sheâd always been scared of being alone, never secure in herself to be content if she wasnât around others. Partially, she was still that way, mind telling her it was time to go back in and return to her friends. But she wanted to be better, so for once, Aranya tried to not be afraid of the silence, to not be afraid of her being alone with her thoughts.
Except, she wasnât really alone.
Behind her was darkness she hadnât seen, glimmering eyes focused on the way the waves crashed against the shore, a view of the beach directly in her line of sight. From afar, it looked peaceful, soft waves crashing against the shore, sand shifting slightly from the impact. From afar, the ocean looked delicate. It was up close when you realized the dangers. Her mind focused on the bigger picture, seeing things for what they could be rather than accounting for the moving parts. Sheâd stepped out onto the deck, thinking that there wasnât anything more to the scene.
Maybe if sheâd looked at what else was around her, it wouldnât have felt so unexpected. So fast. So terrifying. She wouldnât have felt as the sand did up close, the forceful waves breaking apart its moment of peace. The problem with Aranya though, was that she always saw the best, and never the worst. Even in this moment, sheâd never imagined the horror that would come.
âI told you Iâd meet you inside babe,â she let out softly, grinning from the sound of footsteps coming from directly behind her, thinking that of course it was Malachi. Just hours ago, heâd asked her to be his girlfriend in this very spot. She had no reason to think it was anyone else. Until the silence continued, no response to her words. Everything had happened so fast. The way her blood ran cold from the silence, the way she realized that the person behind her right now wasnât the man she loved. The way she suddenly unable to physically breathe.
A harsh hand tugged at her hair, taking the very necklace sheâd adored along with it, the string of diamonds threatening to fall apart against her throat, and the harsh edges of each gem feeling like tiny cuts on her neck. The gift sheâd loved so much was strangling her, hand lifting and attempting to break free. Except whoever was behind her was much stronger, delicate nails that clawed at the shining chain no use against them. The more she struggled, the more it seemed to hurt, imagining that there wasnât anything worse than what she felt in this moment.Â
With enough pressure, the necklace snapped into two, diamond gems falling over the deck and Aranya gasping for air in the darkness that sheâd once found peace in. Before she could let out a second breath, a rough hand encased itself over her mouth, and she realized that the pain of being unable to breathe or speak was nothing. It would have been kind to die that way, the lose consciousness from the lack of air. What she felt now⊠it was only pain. A muffled scream escaped her lips, tears following suit as a sharp object was plunged into the back of her.
Her legs gave out, falling to the floor and ripping her dress in the process. The light pink garment sheâd so specially chosen was tainted with red, another cry of pain leaving her mouth as whoever was doing this removed the knife. She thought the worst of it was over. But just as the waves crashed against the sand over and over, breaking it down until each grain made to feel like nothing, the knife lodged itself into her stomach once again. Over and over and over.
At some point her screams faded out, blood of her own pooling around the floor, soaking up the frills of her gown and washing over the remains of the diamond necklace sheâd once loved. The darkness around her became cold, and she felt alone. Where was Malachi? Why had she left him? Why had she stepped away at all? Tears dripped from her face, head falling to its side and the clear liquid dropping against the red. A part of her hoped he would come, trying to keep her eyes open even if it was just to see him one last time. Aranya wanted to tell him that she loved him, that in the moments they were together sheâd been happy. That even if she couldnât be his forever, heâd always hers. But she could feel herself letting go, slipping away second by second. Her surrounding became a blur, and the thought crossed her mind that sheâd die here alone. He wasnât coming. Nobody was coming.Â
The pain faded, the stab wounds that were too many to count began to numb, and after trying to hold on, her eyes closed. The darkness was back, as if the light that shined across Aranya her entire life had been swallowed whole. The happiness she felt mere moments ago was gone, left with a heartwrenching sadness that existed only in her mind. There were no tears left, every aspect of her body shutting down besides what little consciousness she had left. It was worse this way, feeling as though she truly was alone, fear of hers never going away and being trapped into this being her last moment. Alone, and suffering, with the only thing left to do was wait. Wait until it was the end, the dulling pain and sadness she felt the only emotions spreading across her memory as she died, laid out across the deck in a pool of her own blood and tears.
In her final moment, she forgot what being happy felt like, every experience, every feeling she had fading out into a state of nothingness. It was only darkness, only pain, only hurt. The people she loved, the man she adored, the accomplishments sheâd made. All of it felt foreign, as if it was in a past life. The stillness that ran through her mind was something that would have broke Aranya had she been aware in the slightest, who her mind was right now the opposite of everything sheâd ever been before this. The girl who had felt intensity in every emotion, the girl who didnât have a handle on her feelings, that gave her heart to every single person sheâd ever met. That girl was gone.
âGod, I love the sound of that,â Mal murmured with a grin. Hearing the word âboyfriendâ coming from her lips was something he had hoped would happen tonight, but he still hadnât let his hopes get too high. It was becoming a real fear of his, that everything that made him happy would be ripped from him eventually, his latest loss a cruel reminder of that so to have her be so happy to be his that she cried was something he hadnât expected, but accepted completely. It was easier now for him to stomp down on that fear because he had her, and it made all the difference. Mal chuckled as he let her lead them back inside the main room, but as soon as they were on that dance floor, he twirled her around once before pulling her close to him, unable to stop smiling, proud to be the one to have Aranya in his arms. âHey. Hey, buddy,â Mal said to the man also dancing beside them. âSheâs my girlfriend,â he added, gesturing towards Aranya before letting out a carefree laugh. Tonight was the lightest he had felt since that night, since that loss, and as he swayed the both of them to the music, Malachi couldnât help but still just be so grateful. His gaze rested at the necklace on her neck and he remembered when he gave her that months ago, wanting nothing more than to woo his hot, sweet neighbor, and how different everything was now. Sheâd been the best surprise of his life, and he couldnât help himself from leaning in to press another kiss on her lips, in front of everybody. âItâs you, babe,â Mal murmured against her lips before pulling away slightly to show her a soft smile. There was clarity there, in knowing exactly what he wanted, who he wanted, and knowing that was reciprocated and he now had someone to build a future with, to share a life with. Someone whose happiness was so important to him that heâd work towards being a better man because thatâs what she deserved. âYou think Jieun would know the best spot here for a good picture? I wanna make it official on the gram too and you look so damn beautiful in that dress,â he said as he smiled down at her, still swaying the both of them to the music.
Her entire life, she'd had so much love to give. So much love and care in her heart, and whenever she was with someone, she gave it her all. Aranya was clingy and affectionate, and thought about her partner constantly. The problem was that most people weren't like that, most people didn't feel to the degree that she did, or even a fraction of it. Being with Malachi, she'd forgotten about all the heartbreak she'd experienced in life. It felt as though they'd been through so much, whether it be the loss of the people they loved, or that their were hurdles within their own relationship that created uncertainity in Ari's mind. But after all of it, the way Mal let her hold onto him, never letting go for a second brought her a sense of comfort. She blushed at his words, grinning from ear to ear. "I've never seen you like this, Mal, it's adorable," she cheesed, wrapping her arms around his neck, For the first time in a while, she felt truly happy, truly light inside. Her heart swelled finally being able to call him her's, for once feeling secure in her own emotions. The love she had for him was so beyond obvious that Ari had forgotten about the words for now, thinking that even if the way she was in love with him had been obvious for weeks, she didn't want to rush anything. Truthfully, she'd become used to taking the lead in every relationship, making the first move, making things official, being the first one to say those three words. It was all out of insecurity, thinking that if her feelings and how much she cared were made obvious, that she wouldn't get hurt. Now though, she didn't feel insecure when it came to him, and for once, she was ready to let him lead. She leaned into his kiss, public gesture enough for her brain to short-circuit, pausing at his question. âHm?â Ari paused, blinking her eyes before realizing what he said. âOh! If thereâs anyone that would know, itâs definitely her. But... maybe it can wait. I donât want to let go of you yet,â she spoke with a grin, enjoying this moment alone.Â
The drink was a bit stronger than he was expecting, and his eyebrows raised at the taste. Before he could think about it too much, though, Ari spoke again, and he glanced over. "I wasn't either, to be honest." He'd known Mama's was infamous in the town, but he hadn't really realized just how much people cared. "I understand," he chuckled. "The nearest similar place is back up in Salem or something, right? And I'm sure it's not the same."
Though she usually preferred something that masked the taste of alcohol, Aranya wasn't a lightweight when it came to drinking, the more intense liquid going down just as easy, though she definitely wished it had been a bit more fun. "Oh, I'm not really sure. I just think... Mama's feels like home, if I went out into Salem it wouldn't be the same either way. I just think it'd be nice to keep a place like that around, I've been going there since middle school, and plus it gives me a chance to see my friends who work there."
Mal couldnât help the warmth he felt as his arms enveloped her in a hug, almost an instinct at this point. Being with Ari was just⊠right. Everything about this moment felt right, down to her reassuring him they were happy tears, which made him chuckle. âYou make me really happy and thereâs nobody else I want to be with,â Mal murmured, his thumbs brushing over her cheeks to wipe away some of her tears before he showed her a soft smile, leaning down to press a kiss on her forehead. âYou deserve the best, Aranya. The absolute best, and I swearâ I swear on my life that Iâll be that for you,â he said, truly wishing the circumstances were different. Better, because everything was still tainted in grief. But it was still okay because he had her, officially now. Kyleâs words from earlier went through his head then, about how he needed someone who wouldnât let him bottle everything up, and he thought back to how he had trusted her enough to fall apart completely and trust that sheâd still be there through it all, and as he pulled away slightly to look at her, he could have sworn this was what love was. What his father talked to him about all those years ago about. Find someone who makes you feel at peace, son. And Ari did. She was making him a better man just by who she was and he trusted her. Completely. Something Mal never thought heâd have to deal with because he always held everyone at an armâs length, even in past relationships, but he was ready now. Totally and completely ready to let her in and there was no hesitation as he pulled her in, his arm around her waist, his other hand cupping her cheek before pressing his lips against hers in a lingering kiss. He wondered if she could feel his smile in the kiss too. âHey, girlfriend,â Mal said when he pulled away slightly with a grin, adjusting his hands on her so that one was resting on the small of her back and the other held onto her hand. âIâm gonna be real cheesy here for a minute butâ Want to dance?â He asked softly, still hearing the music that came from inside the main room in the yacht club. It was his excuse, really, to just hold her close to him because now that he had her here with him, there was no chance he was letting her go.Â
She felt silly crying right now. But Aranya had always been an emotional person, always been the kind to wear her heart on her sleeve, her emotions written all over her face whether she'd liked it or not. The love she had for the man in front of her was so beyond obvious, thinking to herself that she'd finally found her person. Someone who didn't run at the sight of her being overly-involved, someone who accepted her for who she was. She smiled at his words, holding him close even as she calmed down. "You're already the best, Mal. There isn't anyone else I'd want to be with," she retorted softly. Throughout their hardships, throughout the pain, it was him she wanted to beside. Whether it meant taking care of him, or vice-versa. It was what she wanted. Even in the darkness, he managed to make her feel happy, make her feel wanted. Just as much as he'd opened up to her, Ari let herself open up to him fully as well. To let herself fall, feel as intensely as her heart wanted to. Even in her broken sobs, happy tears as they were, he'd been the first person she was comfortable crying in front of, expressing a side of herself that wasn't all the sunshine that she was perceived as. And she was hopeful, thinking that if they had each other that that things would turn out okay, whatever the future held for them. When his lips melted into hers with a smile, she could only really blush, public declaration of what they were making her feel giddy. "Yes, boyfriend," she replied with a grin, unable to hide its brightness in the moment. Her eyes lingered to the room inside, almost forgetting where they were but quickly nodding her head in agreement. "What do you mean cheesy? Of course I do." Enclosing her hand in his, she took the lead, happily pulling the both of them back inside.
"That works for me," he shrugged. "I don't recognize a lot of the stuff here, so at this point, anything sounds good." He chuckled, glancing around the room to see if he could catch sight of one of the aforementioned waiters. There, not a few feet awayâhe pointed them out, stepping to the side to grab two of the drinks. Offering one to her, he smiled. "Here you are."
As silly as it was, she wanted to try and make the best of tonight, not knowing how things would look by tomorrow. "Thanks Dae," she replied sweetly, taking the glass from his hand and taking a small sip of its contents. It was surely stronger than the rest of what she'd had tonight, but it wasn't bad at least. "There's a really big turnout tonight, I wasn't actually expecting all of this. I think it'll be really nice to have Mama's though, I can only go so long without one of their burgers."
â thank you, babes! â she squealed as she crushed ari into a hug. â you look like a princess in that dress. â she smiled as she took a step back to get a good look at it. pink was definitely her color. she took out her phone to take a picture of her while she only half listened to the words that came out of her mouth. â i actually never had stepped foot in that place. it looked like it would have flies and rats all around, but i guess thatâs where all the good food is at, huh? â the only reason she was here was because it would be wrong if she didnât show up. her followers kept good tabs on her, and she didnât want them to look at her differently and start digging into her past.
"Really?" she asked, smiling brightly at the compliment, posing for the camera as she spoke. A lover of food, of course she had a soft-spot for Mama's, remembering all the times she'd gone there late at night for something good to eat. "Aw, it's like super cute though, and during the day, the rats definitely go hide. Since it's getting rebuilt, we should definitely go. Besides, it's totally old-school, retro diner vibes. The foods really good too, in like a greasy, unhealthy way," she responded, knowing she was probably a bit biased after being a resident of this town since she was a kid.
Mal took a deep breath of the night air, still not letting go of Ariâs hand before he turned to face her, grateful that they were now alone. âNo, no, nothingâs wrong,â he immediately said, wanting to reassure her. âBear in mind, Iâm a little rusty with this since itâs been a while,â Mal admitted, clearing his throat as a hand reached out to tuck a strand of her hair back behind her ear. âI have literally⊠never met someone like you before in my life. Someone so⊠innately good. And kind. And sweet. And just so fucking genuine that I donât blame those nerds at Comic Con for falling over themselves trying to give you their numbers,â Mal said with a soft chuckle. âYou make everybody around you feel better, just by being yourself, and I⊠Iâm lucky enough to have had felt that, especially during the past couple of days,â he murmured, his thumb gently brushing over the back of her hand. âYouâve been my rock this entire time, when I know you didnât need to be, and Iâm just so damn grateful for you,â Mal said, before swallowing nervously. âI honestly can say thereâs nobody else Iâd rather lose to at the basketball toss, or watch for hours on end playing a game, or go on late night drives with, or eat five burgers each with. Thereâs nobody else Iâd rather be with in general, because youâre the only one I want. So, what do you say, Saeli? You wanna make it official and be my girlfriend?â Malachi softly asked.Â
Truthfully, Aranya was trying to not have expectations. Trying to not have her hopes high. For a long time, it felt like whenever she'd given her all to a relationship, expected too much, she'd always fallen short. She didn't want Malachi to disappoint her, so as secretly unsure it made her feel, she had always pretended she was okay with things being casual between them. But if she was being honest with herself, nothing about them had felt casual to her. In the beginning, she wanted to believe that she was special, that he treated her different from the other girls he was talking to. She wanted to believe that the flowers, and the necklace, and the way he was wanted to take care of her meant something to him too. She hadn't even meant to get close to him, meant to fall for him the way she had. But he crept on her, and at some point, Aranya stopped thinking about if there were other girls in the picture, or if he really even wanted things to be serious. Because neither of those things would change how she felt. Having expectations were what had ended every one of her relationships. So with Malachi, she'd forced herself to believe that it was okay. If he never asked her to be official, if he never wanted anything more, it was okay. And that she would take what she got, because in her mind it was better to have a part of him than nothing at all. She no longer entertained the idea of the conversation they were having right now, which is why she struggled to really form any words in response. Be my girlfriend. Be my girlfriend? The words circled in her mind for a moment, feeling as though she was in her own world. Be my girlfriend? It took a few moments for reality to kick in, looking into his eyes making her realize that this was actually happening. Her movements following that were in a flurry, the way she clung to his body, wrapping her arms around him and letting the tears fall from her face freely. She wasn't even really sure why she was crying, it was supposed to be a happy moment, but she really just felt so overwhelmed. "Of course I'll be your girlfriend," she finally responded, muffled against his shirt before pulling away, arms still clinging to him as she spoke. "These are like... totally happy tears, I promise. You just make me really happy, and I'm just happy that you want to be with me," Ari added, sniffling as she wiped away the remains.
Malachi was a little distracted that night, unable to stop his eyes from searching for Lany in the crowd. He felt more protective now than ever, and the tension in his shoulders only eased slightly once he spotted her, just in time to notice Ari pushing the plate in front of him. Guilt gnawed at his gut, because he had asked her to be his date for the event, and he hasnât exactly been the best company so far. and Ari definitely didnât deserve that. He showed her a grateful smile before taking a bite out of the food in front of him, his eyebrows raising when he unexpectedly ended up really liking the food. Mal took in a few more bites before standing up, extending his hand out for Aranya to take. There was one more thing he had planned on doing tonight, another thing that was making him nervous. âYou want to come with me out on the deck for a bit?â Mal asked gently.
She was learning to not take things personally, figuring that any brother would be worried about their sister after what happened. Ari didn't really mind, because even if she treasured her time with Malachi, she was still her own person beyond that. She was the kind of girl that always found a way to enjoy herself. Though, the smile on her face did brighten a little watching him enjoy what she'd offered him. "Oh... sure," she agreed, suddenly feeling a little nervous thinking about what it would be. Was he tired of her already? She kept the smile on her face despite the question brewing in her mind, standing up and taking his hands. Following him outside onto the deck, Ari turned towards him once they'd stopped, doe eyes glancing up at the man she really didn't want to lose. "Is there something wrong?" she asked, expression turning soft and unsure.
He smiled, trying to stop the train of doom currently running through his head. There were so many things that could go wrong at this event, and quite frankly, he didn't trust the hired security to do shit. Giving her a chuckle, he nodded along to her words. "You're right. Sounds good to me." With his arm, he gestured towards the bar. "After you, of course."
Of course, as positive as Ari normally was, she knew better than to expect nothing to happen tonight. Whenever this town had a shred of light, it always felt like there was something around to take it from them immediately. She was naturally someone that tried to be uplifting though, so pointing all of that out wasn't something she was planning on doing. "What are you thinking? I've been trying some of those drinks the waiters are carrying around, but if you'd like we can totally get something different."
He laughed at her decision-making strategy and shrugged as she handed one of the drinks to him. "It can't be bad, right?" he grinned, swirling it around as he stared at it. Pink may not have been his favorite color, but it wasn't a bad one. Plus, it usually meant fruity. That had to be a good thing. "Bottoms up!"
Aranya happily took a sip, thinking to herself that even if it wasn't great, surely it would be alright. "Mm, it's like, strawberry maybe? Maybe with some lime and a little ginger? It's actually pretty good," she let out after downing the entire contents. Sure, it probably would've been safer to take a sip before, but she was positive she had a special gift when it came to finding things that tasted good, food and drinks included.
Though she was happy to be with Malachi tonight, a part of her wondered if he was really ready to be out at a big event like this, remembering what happened at Rhee's. But Ari thought to herself that she might as well make the most of things, especially considering she loved stuff like this. Getting all dressed up and eating the finger foods that waiters would carry around throughout the night. Though one of her hands remained locked with Malachi's, the other occupied every passing tray, sampling the food to see what she'd like the best. Making sure to thank the same three waiters that entertained her test, she finally grabbed a plate, turning towards Malachi with a smile. "This is the best one, for sure. Come on, have a bite," she spoke, pushing the plate in front of him. Though her methods were a little strange, she figured that she needed to make sure that he was eating, especially if he planned on drinking, proud of herself for thinking of all the possible outcomes of the nights.
"Davina, you look, like, totally gorgeous tonight," she greeted the other with a smile, leaning against the bar as she ordered a drink, glancing at her friend once she was finished. "It's so sweet that everyone came together to help Mama's. I've been really craving their burgers lately," she added. Of course, none of it really changed what happened, but with the donation she made, Aranya could at least feel as though she was doing something to help, beyond just being a shoulder these days.
closed / @aranyasaeli
location : royal cove yacht club
"It's been a while," Dae said with a smile, stepping closer so that he was out of the path of the foot traffic behind them. "You look amazing, Ari." There was a moment of hesitation before asking the question he felt was getting to be way overdone. "I really don't want to ask how you're doing again, so if you've got any other icebreakers, I'm all ears."
"Thanks Dae, you do too," she added with a light smile. It was still hard for a lot of people, and tonight didn't erase all the loss everyone had faced. But at least they could help a great place in town tonight, that much at least helped. At his next works, she could only really nod, thinking she'd asked the same question plenty of times. "How about we just get a drink instead? We're friends, right? We don't need any icebreakers."
closed \ @aranyasaeli
location : royal cove yacht club
"There you are!" he laughed. "I don't know about you, but I am dying to get a drink." Deshaun glanced at the tray a little bit away from them. "Have you had any yet? Any recommendations?"
"Hey De," Aranya greets him with a smile before glancing at where the younger's eyes went. "I've just been taking whatever the prettiest ones are," she answered, taking two lightly colored pink drinks off the tray and handing one to Deshaun. "They, like, totally wouldn't make something pink not taste good, right?"
