When Sig's advice gives Jaan better results in scaring others, she knows the perfect way to thank him. Requested by a tumblr anon!
The Ladybug and The Cicada
Sig's advice didn't turn her arm red like she hoped, but it had a very unique effect.
With his help, Jaan managed to summon a plethora of cicadas, loud, obstructive insects, perfect for startling unsuspecting people. She managed to tease that adorable imp Lidelle with her newfound swarm, laughing as she yelped and scampered through the trees when she poofed up with her insect army. Suketoudara screamed and swam as far away as he could, his supposedly beautiful legs pumping faster than he could dance. Sending her cicadas after him as he tried diving up for air each time made her laugh so hard that she thought her lungs would combust.
She hadn't had so much fun startling people in such a long time. If she hadn't consulted Sig, than she would have been doing the same boring routine. Popping out of nowhere with smoke surrounding her only worked for so long. She even remembered Rulue having the gall to yawn at her when she leaped up next to her, commenting that she needed to grow up or find a better career.
Rulue certainly had nothing to say when she appeared with hundreds of cicadas launching at her. Only screams left her as Jaan gave chase, her cackling echoing throughout Rulue's dojo and mingling with the persistent thrum of her cicadas.
She owed Sig, and she knew what to do. A proper thank you was boring. She needed to spice up her gratitude. Knowing how much he adored bugs, her idea raised her smile into her high cheeks.
Sig was having an average day. He was in the forest searching for bugs once again. It was mundane to any onlooker as he held his net over his shoulder, but he found true enjoyment by playing with insects. People were nice, but bugs were far more understanding and didn't ask questions about his red arm.
His ladybug fluttered around his head before perching on his skull. He hummed, his voice high and uneven. So far, he wasn't having any luck finding anyone new. It was nice seeing old friends, but he wanted to meet someone exciting.
He trudged behind a bush and shoved through the prickly stems. Nothing new was there, dashing his hopes only for an odd noise to catch his attention. His antenna-like hair twitched, and he straightened his hunched back, another monotonous hum pressing against his closed mouth.
"Hello?" he called, slowly looking around.
It sounded like buzzing, but he knew the cries of the bumblebees well. He memorized the sounds of the wasps and hornets, too. The strange noise grew as if doubled, then tripled, and Sig felt the hairs on his neck stand at attention. It was too peculiar to rationalize like a cacophony attempting to be harmonious. He almost wanted to cover his ears, but he remained still, listening to the noise grow around him, deafening him to the point where he couldn't even hear himself think.
"Siiig!"
"Uwaaah."
Jaan's cry and his mumble meshed as smoke billowed around him. He felt the taller girl's arms wrap around his waist, lifting him off his feet. Another muted yell left him, and his neutral expression hardly changed as she swung him around.
Yet, as the smoke dissipated, his eyes widened as far as they would go. Hundreds of cicadas raced out of the smoke, surrounding them and fluttering in zigzag fashions. They zipped and zoomed, their wings beating and cries echoing around them as Jaan continued swinging him around.
"Ja-ja-jaaaan! Thank you so, so, sooo much!" Jaan set him on the ground but kept her arms around his waist. "Because you taught me how to appear with a swarm of bugs, me and my cicadas have been on a scaring spree! We even scared Rulue! Can you believe it? Rulue!"
"Wooow. Impressive." His tone may have registered as potential sarcasm to others, but he was truly genuine.
"And aren't they cool? Cicadas really are the best bugs ever!" Jaan added, throwing her enlarged hand out.
Sig pressed his lips into a grin as the cicadas swarmed around them like a tornado. They caused them no harm, eagerly racing about and roaring instead. Letting his net drop, he placed his hands over the one that Jaan wrapped around him. He felt her bigger hand rub his head, her giggling as boisterous as the cicadas.
"Ah! What's going on over here? Is there trouble?"
Racing in from another path was Ally, shocked from the crying cicadas. She blinked, her hand raising towards her mouth. Taking in the situation as Sig and Jaan blankly looked at her, she shifted her attention to the cicadas. She seemed to be lost in thought, processing the situation before a gasp slipped out of her.
"Oh! Could this be a meeting between lovers in the woods?" she gushed, clasping her hands together. A fond sigh escaped her, her vision blurred with romance. "I'm so glad I could have seen such beautiful love!"
"Ja-jaaaan! Th-this isn't-you know-! It's appreciation! Gratitude!" Jaan yelped, quickly detangling herself from Sig who began scratching his cheek.
"Hmm...guess so," he muttered, and the blushing Jaan jerked her head towards the grass, Ally's starry-eyed gaze burning through them.
"Pretend I'm not here! Enjoy your insectoid romance!" Ally exclaimed, waving and hiding behind a tree. She peeked out once and then resumed hiding.
Stomping her foot, the scarlet-faced Jaan blurted, "It's really not like that! Listen to me!"
"Pay no attention to the supportive girl behind the tree and love freely!" she shouted, shaking her hand.
"A...misconception, huh?" Sig wondered as Jaan rushed forward with her cicadas, earning a scream from Ally in return as they ran off. He offered his claw to one cicada who remained, grinning as his ladybug joined it and nestled together.