CHAPTER 11 - Locrian Scale

Marceline couldn't recall much of the events of the previous night… For a moment, at least. A blatant reminder came upon her as she found herself in the dull pink bedroom that was definitely Bonnibel's. She didn't even remember how they got here, since for the most part all she remembered was that she was about to get naked in the backseat of her car with said redhead. Instead, she found herself completely naked… but in Bonnie's bed. The redhead in question was sitting whilst writing up some papers on her laptop, still baring flesh as if last night did not happen at all. Every other mark on her body said otherwise, though.

"Bonnibel."

"Yes, Marceline?"

"How did we get here?"

With a hum, Bonnibel paused in thought. "I think I suggested we get in here since… Exhibitionism isn't necessarily my biggest kink, and I don't really believe that car sex in the best thing in the world. Also—"

The hum that came from Marceline got Bonnibel to look at her with a strange intensity. Was it off-putting? Was it somehow hot? Marceline couldn't really decide.

"Hey Marceline." Bonnie said, putting down her laptop and settling down her weight on her elbow.

"Yes, Bonnibel?" Marceline could only raise a brow, whilst trying to burrow herself deeper into the sheets. "I hardly think this would be an encouraging conversation, but shoots."

Bonnibel actually followed suit, sinking into the sheets and kissing Marceline underneath it. Marceline could even make out the green in her eyes. Next thing she knew was that she was underneath Bonnibel again, and she could almost feel the touch…

"I want you to help me with the petition."

Well, that kind of ruined whatever mood Marceline had.

"What?" she muttered, the word simply falling from her mouth.

"I want you to help me with the petition." Bonnibel repeated. "I want some random anonymous blogger to help me do something to make people listen."

Marceline just narrowed her gaze up at Bonnie. "So. All you wanted me to do was be some pawn to fix the stupid educational system or? Because I'd rather get off of this bed, take my clothes and just leave."

Bonnibel didn't even budge, merely hovering above her. Marceline would've felt conscious about the whole proximity, along with the fact that both of them were not wearing any clothing, but she didn't really feel to be in the mood for any of her little games. Her expression, though, was more serious than Marceline really wanted to give her credit for.

"You know how much this petition means to me." Bonnie murmured. "Besides, I never said I slept with you just because of the petition. I'm not that much of a manipulative slut. Sleeping with you feels nice."

"So you're saying you're a slut?" Marceline said.

Bonnie merely gave her a glare before caressing Marceline by her abdomen. She shivered at the touch.

Bonnie gave such a sweet smile before putting out the threat. "Will you listen or would you want me to kick you out of the house with nothing on? Because school is going to set in a bit, so I don't know how you'll feel in needing to streak to your house."

Marceline, as much as she hated to admit it, especially in that moment, was defeated.

"So… How the fuck exactly am I supposed to be doing some of your vigilante work, huh, Bon?" Marceline's face was almost mocking, but Bonnibel was just giving too much of a dead look that she didn't want to pursue into daring to deny the other.

"I want you to write something… controversial. Something that'll be out for scoops, but then the university will never have an inkling. You're a passive member of the Scarborough community, and I'm sure Lim and Petrikov wouldn't be able to do anything to you. Considering things."

Marceline blinked, trying to figure out whatever tactic Bonnibel was out to play. First of all, she didn't even think that was much of… a good thing. It almost sounded like Bonnie was blatantly insulting her social standing in school (or maybe implying negatively on her support system within the institution). She didn't know what much else to say though as she found herself just pulling Bonnie downwards to kiss her.

"Fine." Marceline decided.

"Fine?"

"Where do we start?"

/-/-/

Bonnie couldn't quite figure out what to make of the little affair with Marceline, but she knew one thing for sure. Merely hours after the kiss, she was just kept awake, thinking of how Marceline was kinder, softer, and sweeter. How had she not known this before? She didn't want to assume too much, she supposed. After all, Marceline wouldn't admit it to herself. All she could really do to make sense of it was to lie down in bed and just relish in the fleeting moment of a kiss.

But she knew it.

She kissed Marceline Abadeer.

"Ever elusive, ever wonderful Bonnibel Park," she reiterated in her head.

And that also meant that she kissed Red as well.

She smiled simply to herself and sent a text Marceline's way, and another note to the other persona. If she could find a way to make use of this knowledge, then maybe it would help. It's a good thing she had a crush on Marceline or else this whole thing would've been a difficult farce.

-/-/-/-

Before Marceline could really think of what to do as she got home, her father was just right outside by the gates, probably not having slept all too well. At the sight of Marceline, he seemed to calm down, settling for a pensive smile, wiping his hands by his suit.

"Marceline!" Hunson said, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I was worried… the Parks' butler came on call, but… I needed to make sure you would've gotten home before I left for work."

Marceline fidgeted a bit, toying the end of her shirt. What was she really going to say? The truth is, Bonnie was also in need of some other form of work to be approved by a lawyer. Maybe her dad can bring it up into proper jurisdiction? There were so many things to really ask her dad, a lot of things to tell him also. But she just couldn't find what exactly to say about it.

"I'm fine, dad… thanks for worrying about me."

"I heard there was something that Bonnibel Park wanted to talk to you about." Hunson said, resting a hand by her shoulder. "Is there anything in particular that you can tell me about it?"

"Dad…" she said, fumbling on her words a little bit. "I need some help with legal liabilities in terms of the petition that we need to pitch in back into the acceptance of some of the elective courses to be offered. It's kind of a big deal because of all the cuts that the school-slash-government has been putting us on and that might cause a lot of the major programs to be shut down… especially in the humanities department—"

"I see…" And Hunson's somber tone did not necessarily bode well by Marceline's anxiety. "Marceline… I'll see what I can do. We can talk about this when we get home later, alright? This is a big issue and I don't know if two students, no matter how prominent one is, could actually be able to handle something like that."

"We can always try…" Marceline sighed, rubbing at her arm again. The same anxious gesture she always had.

"I'll try with you, sweetie." Hunson nodded, giving her a thumbs up. "I know… You've got things to be a bit rough. But I can't promise you anything."

"It is fine, dad."

And at that Hunson left with the heavy stacks of paper probably inside his briefcase. Marceline didn't even bother with the time as she just opted to fix herself before heading off into school.

-/-/-/-

Keila was particularly concerned on their drive to school, but she didn't want to comment on the hickeys on Marceline's neck that were bared for the world to see. Perhaps Marceline just didn't bother to really try to hide anything, but she was just really too much exhausted to put any thought into anything at the moment. Maybe she just really needed rest and the task that Bonnie put on her shoulders were weighty. She didn't know whether the dhift of dynamics were preferable but she did know that it was entirely burdensome and she didn't really want to be openly subjected to involving herself to the petition and open movement entirely.

"Marceline…?" Keila said, as Marceline finally paid notice of her.

"Yes?" She said, blinking slowly as she tried to process what was going on.

"We literally just circled somewhere, and we passed by school a little while ago. We're going to be late, and I still have to put some makeup on you… your bruises are kind of getting more prominent, to be honest with you."

Marceline rubbed at her neck, and she was just too tired to really debate as she pulled back up and out of the stop where she found herself in.

"I think I'm just a little bit fucked up right now."

"Did you drink?"

"No… I just feel like someone put a totally huge load on me and I can't quite shake it off. It's entirely stupid and I don't know why they are doing this to me."

Keila looked like she knew – and she probably did – but she didn't want to comment any further. If she had any opinions on what she felt about Bonnibel basically making Marceline a mess, she didn't blatantly say them.

"As long as you're sure, Marce."

Marceline didn't bother responding to that one, because she really wasn't.