"Kanaya...?"
"Yes, Aradia?" the rainbow drinker replies, blinking sleepily with her head on the arm of the sofa.
"... Do you miss drinking blood?"
Aradia asks the question so simply that Kanaya takes a moment to register it, but when she does she sits upright, meeting Aradia's eyes.
"Why do you ask?" she responds. Aradia doesn't reply, but the curiosity in her wide eyes says enough, and Kanaya knows she has no choice but to answer.
"Not particularly," Kanaya tells her. "I am healthy; I can sustain myself just as easily with more conventional sources of nutrition. I have only consumed blood once, and my memories of that occasion are not especially clear."
"Why don't you?" Aradia prompts. "Didn't you enjoy it?"
Kanaya is mildly offended by the implication. "I drank Terezi's blood only because it was strictly necessary under the circumstances of my injury, and even then I was unaware of my actions. Otherwise, I would never have endangered her life in such a –"
"You saved it, actually." Aradia interjects. "I spoke with a doomed Terezi who –"
"Nevertheless, it was only under very extreme conditions that the injury and subsequent risks of infection could be considered justified." Kanaya feels herself flush. "I would never subject a friend to that if they were unwilling, and I am hardly likely to find a willing..."
Aradia turns maroon as Kanaya trails off, finally understanding. "Ah. You –"
"If you want to." Aradia says quietly.
Kanaya gets to her feet, and Aradia is briefly confused before the girl returns promptly, carrying the first aid box and several folded towels.
Aradia smiles at her, although she still looks a little flustered. "So – my neck..."
"I suspect your wrist will be more comfortable," Kanaya says, unfolding the towels to extract a sharp knife.
"I thought you would bite me?" Aradia asks, sounding nervous.
"Although it is certainly possible, the process would be long and painful," Kanaya explains. "Skin is not designed to break easily. This will be simpler."
She sets Aradia's arm on the towels, and places the blade against her skin. Aradia cannot help but flinch away, although she looks embarrassed at her own reaction.
Kanaya puts the knife down. Aradia protests. "No! I –"
"Why are you doing this?" Kanaya asks her. "I believed you had overcome your fascination with destruction."
"I have!" Aradia says. "But I thought you – If you want to –"
Kanaya smiles at her. "You do not need to do this to make me happy."
"I don't?" Aradia sounds genuinely surprised.
"The thought of injuring you is not one I find pleasant," Kanaya tells her. "Now, if I might make a suggestion – could we proceed with our usual activities?"
Once more, they cuddle up together on the sofa, utterly content with the world.