A short, simple sentence, yet it nearly broke Muffet’s heart to hear. Not only because it was coming from someone this young, but because she, too, knew a great deal what they meant, from personal experience. It wasn’t a dangerous line of thinking, per-se, but it’s not one someone should come to terms with; something to expect to remain the norm.
“My dear, if everyone subscribed to the mindset of ‘that’s just the way it is,’ I wouldn’t be here today running this bakery. I know what it’s like, believe me.” But she wasn’t trying to make this about her. “Which is why we need to apologize. The last thing I, and my spider friends here, want to do is make someone feel unwelcome or otherwise different from the norm for anything.”
What exactly has this kid gone through, by his age, for him to already be used to that?
Whatever hints of a smile were there, Muffet didn’t notice. The spider on her palm jumped onto the table between them, and took a couple tentative steps forward, towards Nico. It seemed like it was gauging Nico’s reaction, and whether or not it should come closer.
“I had a chat with my spiders, while you were eating. I can be very convincing. Especially when their reaction was purely instinctual by nature… but that doesn’t excuse it nevertheless. They all share the same apology and shame that this little one wanted to bring to you. It’s unfortunate, I feel, that he can’t tell you himself.. but you don’t speak spider, do you?”
Do you? He’d almost asked, however he decided to hold his tongue. She’d been kind enough to him already, he wouldn’t allow himself to poison a potential friendship by voicing his doubts. Instead, he abandoned his cake for the time being as he shrugged lightly, twisting the skull ring upon his finger- a habit he’d developed when he was anxious or agitated or both. “It’s fine, really. You don’t have to apologise,” He insisted, glancing at the second slice of cake and then at the small spider taking slow steps toward him.
“Like you said, it was instinctual. They can’t help it and it’s fine, I get it.” The aura of death surrounding him was enough to put anyone off, he completely understood that. He didn’t need an apology just because they were being cautious. It really was just the way things were, especially with animals. Anyone would be wary of someone so closely associated with one of things people feared most in this world. People liked being alive.
“If... it makes you... or them feel any better, though, apology accepted,” He cast a careful glance up at Muffet and her spider companion, hoping that would be the end of that discussion.