April 13th
Destin Florida
1600 CST
"Okay chick," Maddie said, taking a deep breath before addressing Pacifica. "You and me need to talk this out."
Giving her a glance, Pacifica felt like it might not have been the best time. The woman had just Zeta'd in, and she was covered in some kind of green goo from whatever thing she'd been busy handling. "Would you like to clean up first?" Pacifica asked, setting her drink on the end table and using a coaster so that Kristof wouldn't have a fit about rings.
"Walk and talk, I'm using the muck shower in the laundry room." Maddie said, already heading that way and undoing the zipper on her uniform. By the time Pacifica had gotten up and joined her, she was fully undressed and standing there in the simple shower, getting blasted by the high pressure nozzle.
"I assume we are to speak about Liho?" Pacifica asked, sitting herself down on one of the washing machines.
"Sort of." Maddie said, grabbing the bulk sized bottle of shampoo and lathering her heavily highlighted hair, trying to scrub the remnants of the critter she'd stopped from eating an entire city in South Carolina. "More us, but because of him."
Pacifica nodded, for a moment casually taking in the other woman. She was certainly amply endowed both top and bottom, and seemed to have no concern for being seen in the nude. Objectively she was quite beautiful. "I would like that." She said simply, preferring to see where Maddie wanted to go with it.
"So, I'm not mad at you, okay? I know last month I was really bitchy and everything, but I was mad at myself. I let him go and that's on me. You didn't steal him from me or anything." Maddie said, her tone saying she was trying to convince herself, not Pacifica. "So, I'm not interested in fighting with you."
"That is relieving to hear. I much prefer our reckoning to be with words. To speak for myself, I was unaware that you possessed feelings for him. Had I known, I would have selected another." Pacifica said, her words coming from a place of honesty.
"Had I known, I would have made it clear." Maddie said with a shrug. She glanced at her hands and made a sour face at the green suds, before going back to scrubbing. "But, it is what it is. This whole thing is easy now, because I'm not looking at him, but when he comes around, it's still going to be hard for a while. Don't take it to mean I want to try taking him back or anything though, I'll lie in the bed I made."
"I understand. I held deep feelings for someone my first year in the Conservatory, but could not muster the courage to speak up. When he fell for another, it took a great deal of time for me to let go." Pacifica replied, watching the other woman scrub her hair with such vigor that she feared baldness would soon follow.
"Okay, so you get it, cool." Maddie said, deciding to rinse and repeat instead of rip her hair out. It was a mercy it was some kind of plant creature, so she didn't stink in addition to being covered by some kind of slime. "So, yeah, that's kinda what's up. No hard feelings, really. Not for you or him anyway."
"I thank you for this." Pacifica said. "Such behavior is both respectable and commendable. I admit, I was concerned though, surface women are rumored to be far more territorial than Atlantean women."
"Oh, that's not me chick." Maddie said, satisfied to see her hair rinsing out clear. "I'm about as far from territorial as you can get. In fact, I tried getting Liho into some group activities once or twelve times and he wouldn't have anything to do with it. There I was, all but throwing ass at him and he turned it down. So, you're lucky there."
"You offered other women to him?" Pacifica asked, surprised to hear that.
"Oh yeah. I'd been craving some girl for a while and I wasn't going to be stingy. You've never played around?" Maddie asked as she began lathering her body up, and wishing she had a sanding block instead of a shower pouf to use to scrub up.
"Once. I allowed a lover to convince me to try, but I did not feel as fulfilled." Pacifica said, a lavender blush rising to her cheeks. "So, I can say I have experimented but found the results less enjoyable."
"That's cute actually," Maddie said, scrubbing her body as aggressively as she had her hair. "You do know you're getting Mustang in this deal with Liho though, right?"
"I, I, no, I was not made aware of this. I was led to understand that he belonged to another. I believe I will need to have a conversation about this." Pacifica said, her lavender blush turning a furious violet.
"Oh, no no no, not like that!" Maddie said, holding her hands up to pause the Atlantean woman before her imagination threatened to kill her. "I don't mean sex, sheesh, that's what Beegee and Ash are for. No, Liho and Deke are the greatest bromance since Blake and Adam."
"I do not know what 'Bro-Mance' means." Pacifica said, slowly over-annunciating the word. "Nor am I familiar with those two people."
Maddie shook her head and rinsed the soap suds off her body. There was still a faint green staining where it had sat, but it was barely visible amidst the red marks where she'd scrubbed. With a sigh, she went back to it. "They're extremely tight, those two. Where we've been so busy lately it's hard to tell it, but put them in a room together, you could walk in naked and they wouldn't notice. Trust me, I've done it."
"I am not questioning your honesty, but I have a difficult time believing that." Pacifica said. While their time together on Themysicra had been woefully quick, Liho had proven himself to be a very attentive lover. "Though, Beegee has said they have wandered into traffic without concern for their safety before."
"There you go." Maddie said, feeling like she was about to peel skin if she kept it up, and moved on to conditioning her hair. Shaving would have to wait. Apparently, her legs and vag hadn't gotten the memo about adapting. "But seriously, you're lucky. Of all the men to pick, you chose a good one. A little too vanilla for something really long term, but that's my opinion. Speaking of though, you two already knocked it once didn't you?"
"If you're referring to sex, we did, on Themyscira. I have chosen to remain abstinent for the time being though, in an effort to know him better." Pacifica said, marveling at the refreshingly direct tone Maddie was taking with her. No beating about the kelp with that one.
"So, you're okay handing him? Dude's kinda got a gigantic cock." Maddie said with a reflexive grimace before changing her mind and grabbing a disposable razor. She could at least get her pits handled.
"Atlantean women are quite flexible. I did not experience discomfort or difficulty." Pacifica said, feeling inwardly triumphant that she was able to do something Liho's former suitor seemed unable to do. She banished such petty thoughts however, they were certainly unbecoming.
"Doesn't hurt you're really tall either." Maddie said. At a much more surface normal height of five and a half feet tall, she was as short compared to Pacifica, as Ash was to Babs. "You're what, like, six three, six four?"
"I am one hundred eighty eight centimeters, yes. It is remarkably common for members of House Atua to be tall. I feel as though it makes me stand out even further among surface women in general, and especially so near Daeva. Is she uncommonly small?" Pacifica asked, trying to steer the conversation away from sex. Her choice to abstain occasionally bit her back.
"Oh yeah, she's itty bitty. Cute though." Maddie said, not even bothering to try and do the math. "Me, Ingrid, and Beegee, we're about average for surface women. Ingrid's on the taller end, I'm on the shorter."
"Very well. Speaking of Daeva, I do not understand her relationship with Mustang, and I have not had opportunity to ask them about it." Pacifica asked, remembering Liho gently pausing her when she was about to speak up.
Maddie shook her head. "It's weird, those three. Best to let it slide, they're not doing anything wrong." Maddie didn't add her continued jealousy at Aasha getting what she'd been trying for, for a couple of years. "Any more gossip you want?"
"Yes please. You seem quite content with Fujin." Pacifica said in a statement of fact. "Something which seems to set others at ease as well."
"Yeah, him. He's cute, and he's fun. I learned my lesson about treating people like sex toys but I'm not ready to label anything either. I suppose I'll keep him around as long as he stays entertaining or something else catches his eye." Maddie said, finally convinced she'd scrubbed the last of the plant creature's goo off of her.
Killing the water, she shook herself off and reached for a towel. Once she'd wrapped herself up, she tossed her costume into the industrial washer. "You're asking a lot but I still don't hear you offering much." She added with a sideways glance to Pacifica. Other than a couple of answers to point blank questions, she'd been listening far more than talking.
"I have little to tell. Surface media romanticizes nobility but the sad truth is that the lifestyle is exceptionally boring. There are certainly moments of less than respectable behavior, some of which is anecdotal, some of which I have witnessed firsthand, but even that is nothing compared to film, television, or books." Pacifica offered with a shrug of her slender shoulders, the motion causing her long blonde hair to sway gently.
"Okay, what about the Conservatory then? What was that like?" Maddie asked, deciding the point blank interrogation technique would be her go-to. While she asked, she was busy digging through laundry baskets, trying to find something that was actually hers. She could steal one of Mustang's shirts, but the fear of what Babs would do to her if she caught her stayed her hand.
"Oh, the Conservatory was a whole different matter entirely." Pacifica said, almost conspiratorially. She grabbed another wheeled basket, reminding her of the carts used in surface grocers (a place she was going to have to become better familiarized with, and soon.) and began trying to assist Maddie in finding clothes.
"Okay, don't leave me hangin' chick. What's the Conservatory like? Was Aqualad a wild man?" Maddie asked, finally finding a pair of underwear to slip on. They had to be hers; since she was convinced Ingrid wore petticoats or whatever the hell people used for underwear a hundred years ago.
"No, I have no good stories to tell of Kaldur'ahm. He was as studious and stalwart then as he is now. Moreso in fact. Tempest, who works for the Titans now I believe, he was another matter entirely. It took Tula to calm him enough to go from good to great. Is this one of your shirts?" Pacifica asked, briefly changing the subject and holding up a pinstriped tank top.
"Yes it is," Maddie said, pulling it so that she could transition her towel to her hair. It left her in panties and that shirt, but if one were being honest, it was a lot more modest than she generally worried about. "So, he was wild huh? Anyone else?"
"Many. For several, the Conservatory was an opportunity to truly make something of one's self. For others, it was a waypoint into proper adulthood. This is especially true for many scions of the Atlantean houses. Tula, like Kaldur'ahm, was not of noble blood and so they properly respected their time there. Tempest and several others were less inclined to good behavior. I can recall quite accurately an instance where they were responsible for vandalizing some of the art frescoes within the Conservatory. The results were, shall I say, scandalous?" Pacifica said, absently scratching at the corner of a gill. She'd need to take a swim soon.
"So, the rich brats didn't care, is what I'm hearing here. What about you though? You didn't fall for that?" Maddie asked, pulling on a pair of capris and struggling to get them past her behind.
"I am loathe to discuss this for several reasons, but yes, I too was less than exemplary. I showed little concern until Mera reminded me of my obligations, and none too gently. It was not a conversation of noblewomen. To this day my knee still aches in colder thermoclines." Pacifica explained, not enjoying dredging that memory up.
"The Queen schooled you? What got her so interested?" Maddie asked, deciding their laundry room was where this conversation needed to take place, and perching on a dryer to get comfortable to continue it.
"The reason I am loathe to mention this. Mera is my cousin. Not so close enough to make me a legitimate heiress without dramatic upheaval and loss, but a cousin nonetheless. It is not a secret, but I prefer not to mention this to avoid questions to which I lack the answers." Pacifica replied with a sigh. "I will not divulge the private details of the King and Queen, which is just as well, as I do not know these details either."
"Hey, I'm not worried about it." Maddie said, feeling considerably more comfortable around the woman she'd originally viewed as competition. When Liho showed up next, that would be the next test, but she had some time to prepare for that at least. "So, you get straightened out and do the good girl bit. Is that why you had to take a husband, some weird Atlantean punishment?"
Pacifica shook her head. "No, my need to take a husband is due to my obligations to House Atua, and part of the ancient laws of nobility. Also, loneliness is a very real source of sorrow among the titled. I, and all those younger than me, enjoy the decree made by King Orin, that we may choose spouses outside of noble line. Many will still choose to marry within, but I chose to exercise my new freedom."
"Did you pick Liho then? We heard the Queen did that." Maddie asked, drawing her feet up beneath her and watching Pacifica slip lightly onto a washer directly across her. That her butt was several inches higher made the task much easier.
"She did. House Atua had direct influence with the ancient Polynesian cultures. To this day, many traditions unique to my house are mirrored in the modern islands and their peoples. For example, the women of House Atua learn to dance at a very young age. I believe the surface word is hula, though the techniques have diverged considerably." Pacifica said, looking a bit distant in reminisce. Those were certainly easier times. "So, Mera recommended Liho as he would have much more in common with me than any other suitor who pleased my eye."
"I feel that. Good wingmate, your Queen. What is Pacifica's type exactly?" Maddie asked, feeling like she should be interviewing for GBS.
"I am cursed that I prefer men taller than me, when my family is quite tall to begin with. Also, I enjoy tattoos. Each one tells a story, and those stories fascinate me. The same could be said for piercings as well. I notice you have a few. What are their stories?" Pacifica said, expertly turning the conversation around back onto Maddie.
"If they tell stories, they're all porn, if I'm being honest, well, except my ears. Those were just because. It's common for surface women and all. My belly button was because it's seen as attractive and it would catch an eye. My tongue, since you asked, is to make giving head more interesting, and my hood piercing because it feels good when it gets played with." Maddie said.
"Giving head?" Pacifica asked with an arch of a delicate eyebrow.
"Blowjob, going down, oral sex? Any of these ringing a bell?" Maddie asked. At Pacifica's head shake, she opened her mouth appropriately, stuck her tongue into her cheek, and made the proper accompanying hand motions.
"Fellating, yes, I understand that. English is a very difficult language." Pacifica said, the impromptu demonstration finally clicking the light on for her. "I admire that you would choose to change your body in a way to offer more pleasure to a lover. It demonstrates an unselfish attitude."
"Well, I suppose, yeah, when you put it that way. I want to get my nipples done, but my skin has gotten tougher and tougher. I had to do my own hood since the piercing artist I was dating wasn't strong enough to get the needle in. I don't even know if there's a needle out there that can do the job. That and Beegee got hers done and I don't want to look like I'm copying her style." Maddie said, wondering if she should have even mentioned that one. She'd noticed the rings printing on her shirt at Deke's birthday party and hadn't had the time to ask.
"House Atua counts several artisans of body modification within its ranks. My Great Aunt is responsible for the tattooing done to the sorcerers of Atlantis in fact. I am certain we could devise a way to allow you to do what you would like." Pacifica said, her tone relaxing a bit more.
"You'd do that? After the way I'd been acting?" Maddie asked, genuinely surprised. Gossiping was one thing, but this was a whole other. Pacifica came across as someone who was genuinely sweet-hearted and all, but offering the resources of her house just so Maddie could get some hood ornaments seemed a bit strong.
"Yes, Godiva, I would. You acted out because you were hurt, and you have taken steps to make this right. I admire that, but more than that, you seek to find your real self. That is why we take body modification seriously. At birth, we are blank, and unwritten. By making these changes to ourselves, we are able to catalogue ourselves, and share what we have learned." Pacifica said, taking a much longer look at the woman who'd not that long ago seemed to be competition.
"That's, wow chick, thanks. I'll take you up on that one day. You seem to be a blank canvas though, what's with that?" Maddie said, gesturing at the other woman's deep bronze skin, which seemed unmarred by anything.
"I will pierce my navel as a symbol of union when that time comes, and I have my ears currently adorned." Pacifica said, referencing the thick wood spirals in her ears. She was easily gauged to at least a four if not bigger. "And my tattoos are my masterpiece. Kaldur'ahm's art is permanently visible because he did not complete his training. I have over a dozen layers, each one unseen until I must call on them to assist me in channeling the correct energies. I fear you will see them all before our time is finished." Pacifica said. "Mera's fury is a sight to behold, though you will understand if I do not wish a warranting situation upon anyone or any place."
"I'll bet. I can't get tattoos either, my skin rejects the ink within a couple of hours, just pushes it right out, but that's whatever. Everyone and their brother has tattoos any more. Hell, Kris has one, not that he'd ever show it off on purpose." Maddie said, shaking her head.
"Speaking of Fractal, was he not to join us today?" Pacifica asked, the realization that he wasn't there finally dawning on her. "I was looking forward to getting to sit and talk to him at length."
"He took a personal day. I've got the Hacienda until Mustang or Daeva show up. It's a girl's club today. Me, you, and Ingrid's in the shop. Not that there isn't anything the three of us can't handle." Maddie said with a dismissive shrug.
"I agree. We are bad bitches." Pacifica said with the most endearing tone of voice. "Did I say that right?"
"Yeah, you said it right." Maddie said with a snicker.
"Why are you laughing?"