I wanted to have some fun after writing chapter 19 for the main series, and by god, I had fun.
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I wrote this in one night, reviewed this in one night, and posted it in. One. Night.
Sorry if the quality is subpar.
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Enjoy the machinations of my madness!
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'Sometimes it takes a real man to be best girl.' - Socrates (probably)
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Eyelids a moment ago still, now pressed hard together, before fluttering open to the light of a new winter morning.
Bell shuffled up to rest on a shoulder, the cover sliding just off one shoulder, but not the arm.
The light was white as it came down from the top to bottom of the window, stretching across the floor.
Bell sat up, rubbing her eyes with a thumb and index finger, easing her eyes to the new found light.
She pushed the covers down and to the side, groggily pulling herself up to sit, greeting the new day with bedhead.
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(Have you guys figured out the twist with Bell yet in this chapter?)
(Good! It's another parallel world, only if Bell was female, that's the only change. I will potentially flip flop between chapters depending on what I feel like writing. Deal with it, and a reference image is in my profile.)
The room was simple, a light brown tile floor, with white and grey walls. The room was rectangular, maybe 25-foot by 15-foot. (Around 7.5-meters by 4.5-meters). In the center of each longer side, was the door, and on the opposite, Bell's bed and nightstand. To the sides of the bed, we're two windows, one on each side.
Less important, was the existence of a bedroom set, this included a sofa, sofa chair, table, a tall dresser and mirror-topped dresser.
The tall dresser was maybe a foot from the mirrored dresser, both facing the bed on one of the shorter walls. Directly opposite was the table and seating, the couch against the shorter wall with the chair at an angle from it, both facing the short table.
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She stretched her legs forward, then pushed her center of balance forward, sliding off the bed.
The girl raised her arms over head, stretching them as well.
Before turning to the window beside her nightstand.
She lazily moved the curtain over, peeking out the window, seeing a fresh morning snow had fallen.
She smiled, humming happily.
"Perfect!"
Bell smiled still as she went up to the taller dresser, pulling the stomach height drawer out, selecting her garments and grabbed the dress from the hook on it's side. She had been anticipating today, even setting out her simple sweater dress for the occasion.
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Before long, she had ridden herself of the light sleepwear encumbering her, replacing it with a long tan/white sweater dress, and a pair of thicker black pants, electing to wear her nicer combat boots as well.
She looked at herself best she could in the short mirror, frowning a bit as she struggled with her height.
'I should request a full sized one soon.'
She twirled, a grin reappearing on her, she'd let nothing bring down her mood today.
She stopped, looking at herself in the mirror, before giving a battle ready nod.
Bell quickly scampered to the door, an unobstructable smile plastered across her.
That was until the door opened, coming face to face with Mia as she was about to open the door herself.
"Oh, perfect!" Mia smiled, placing her hands on her hips.
"H-Hi Mia!" Bell gave an easily seen through fake smile. "What brings you here at-" She looked over her shoulder to the wall clock above the couch. "-Six in the morning?"
"I need your help opening up the hostess, care to join me?"
Bell stared at the woman, knowing she was telling, rather than asking.
Bell pouted, before turning around and heading for the dresser.
Mia smirked, feeling kinda bad, she did know why Bell was all dressed up, but she also needed to be open at least once in a blue moon, ya know.
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Mia scraped together a large order for the Loki Familia, they had become regulars for whenever Mia opened up.
The Freya and Loki Familia's were significantly closer to one another at this time, as opposed to when they would have been the top two Familia's of Orario.
It did help that a certain pallum and werewolf (along with just about half of their Familia and Loki) had a certain little thing for a certain little White Haired barmaid.
To be honest, who could blame them, she did look quite nice in the uniform, an outfit that did everything it needed to for her.
"Order up!" Bell shouted just above their volume of conversation between the rowdy executives and goddess.
As per usual, she set the tray down in the middle of their table, Loki Familia picking it apart until only the wood was left.
She leaned over to grab the tray, almost daring Loki to try and touch her, desperate for something interesting to happen, even if it had to be Loki getting the snot beaten out of her by Mia.
Bell made way to the bar once more with an empty tray, Mia was front and center, the ever mysterious May in the back cooking, Ryuu standing awkwardly by the counter and Mia.
Mia had a hard time trusting the part time blond elf with anything nowadays. She was a total klutz when it came to this type of work, dropping multiple plates a night if she wasn't monitored closely enough.
The doors opened, winter air sweeping in, freezing Ryuu's legs beneath her skirt, Bell not caring at all for the cold.
Mia shouted at the top of her lungs when she saw the group of new patrons. "GET THE HELL OUT ZEUS."
"But Mia!"
"OUT!"
"Aww-" Zeus moped as Hera and her two girls walked past the now-leaving pervert god.
Bell rushed over to greet them.
"Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility, would you like to be seated?" Bell tilted her head a touch, adding to the innocent vibe she carried wherever she went.
Hera, Alfia and Meteria all covered their mouths, looking away to maintain their dignity.
"Y-Yes." Hera finally found the strength. "A table for three please."
Bell nodded, motioning for them to seat themselves at any of the open tables, they soon did.
Bell was quick to bring them a set of menus, not sure if they would be needed or not.
She left them to decide, quickly making way to the vacating table as they headed to the counter to pay.
Ryuu watched her closely, making Bell feel kind of strange, wondering if she needed something.
Bell was wiping the wood table down, prepping it for the next patron… The possible next patron, the Hostess wasn't that well known yet.
The white haired girl was slowing down as she wiped, her head gradually turning to meet Ryuu's.
Ryuu quickly turned away, embarrassed and hoping Bell hadn't seen her.
Her hopes were dashed though, everyone saw her, even Mia standing across the counter from her, staring holes into the elf.
Ryuu chanced a look at Bell's work again, only for Bell to be right there, just a step or two away.
"Why are you staring at me?" She spoke rather bluntly, but not angrily.
"Ah-ahh.." Ryuu was embarrassed.
"Lion, answer me now." Bell pouted, leaning towards her.
Ryuu shuffled her feet so she was entirely facing Bell, her head hanging down.
"I-I just wanted to see how you did it…"
"What?"
"How you do everything without failing over and over like me." Ryuu was trying to keep her embarrassment down.
"Why this all of a sudden?" Bell asked nonchalantly.
Ryuu spoke just above a whisper. "W-Well… I want to prove Alice wrong."
"..."
"..."
"I'm gonna need more than that Lion." Bell spoke matter-of-factly.
Ryuu got a dusting of pink on her cheeks, kicking dust in the meantime. "A-Alice keeps making fun of me and how klutzy I am with the work here…"
"Is that all?" Bell smiled with a raised eyebrow.
Bell moved before Ryuu could react, grabbing her hand.
She never saw the blush from this act, because it was hidden behind her earlier blush.
Bell and Ryuu arrived at the Hera party's table, each having now figured out their orders.
They both stood there, Bell beside the silent Elf.
Bell leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Get the notepad!"
Ryuu jumped, but fumbled out her notepad from her side pocket.
"M-m-m-m-m-m-m-"
Bell lightly pinched the nervous Ryuu's side.
"Ah!- May I take your order?..."
"Are you okay, miss?" Meteria grinned.
"Y-Yes!" Ryuu stuttered.
Hera and Alfia were also smiling as Meteria started her order.
"I'll have chicken and pancakes please!"
Hera spoke. "A chicken pub sandwich."
Alfia finished for them. "And turkey club for me."
"A-Alright, that'll be out shortly!" Ryuu smiled, turning back towards the kitchen.
"Ryuu." Bell called, stopping the girl cold.
"Y-Yes?" She grinned nervously.
Bell extended her hand. "Show me the notepad."
Ryuu eyes her hand wearily, pouting. "I don't wanna."
"Ryuu." Bell spoke more sternly.
The trio of women giggled lightly at the display before Ryuu relinquished her notepad to Bell.
"..."
"..."
"Ryuu." Bell looked up from the paper. "We do not serve turkey and pancakes…"
Ryuu looked down, embarrassed.
Bell smiled. "It's alright, we'll get you to an acceptable level, it always takes time."
Ryuu looked up with the faintest of hope in her.
Bell could never abandon a girl in such a pitiable state, she wasn't a monster after all.
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Ryuu would break a record twenty-three plates that evening.
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The light was white as it came down from the top to bottom of the window, stretching across the floor.
Bell sat up, rubbing her eyes with a thumb and index finger, easing her eyes to the new found light.
She pushed the covers down and to the side, groggily pulling herself up to sit, greeting the new day with bedhead.
She stretched her legs forward, then pushed her center of balance forward, sliding off the bed.
The girl raised her arms over head, stretching them as well.
Before turning to the window beside her nightstand.
She lazily moved the curtain over, peeking out the window, seeing another fresh morning snow had fallen.
She smiled, humming happily.
"Perfect again!"
Bell repeated the last day's tasks, getting her nice sweater dress on, then going to the mirror.
The moment before she opened the door, her hand wavered.
Bell turned, evaluating her surroundings before making a decision.
She nodded to herself before walking up to the open window and jumping out.
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Bell made a quick stop by the kitchen, avoiding all the men of Folkvangr as she prepared a small basket full of lunch foods.
'For me and… hehe-' She giggled to herself, excited to see them.
She quickly set off before anyone could catch her in the act of taking food.
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Bell merrily walked north on southern Main, humming happily to herself as she did.
Everything was right with the world.
- Mia was looking for her all around Folkvangr, but she wasn't there.
- Bell wouldn't have men (And Loki) staring at her butt and chest all day.
- Ryuu would be another person's problem today, since… Well, Bell didn't want to get into that.
- Ais was standing right in her way.
…
Wait.
...
"H-Hi Ais!" Bell rambled off nervously.
"Hello Bell." She responded with a light smile.
"W-What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
"I see." Bell responded pleasantly, but she was trully about to commit murder.
"Training." Ais nodded affirmingly.
"O-Oh?…" Bell tried to be neutral.
"Come to the Twilight mansion." Ais grabbed Bell's hand.
Bell's eyes went wide as shock crossed her.
'NOT AGAIN!'
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Bell had made the mistake of training once with the Senki, and she's regretted it ever since.
She always, without fail, wore her down to the bone.
Bell was reduced to a panting mess, desperately trying to reclaim her last breath, plans for the day having gone out the door when she entered the Loki Familia's property.
Bell and Ais rested, sitting against the stone brick wall of their ill used training area.
Nobody cared to train in the cold. Well, except Ais, obviously.
Ais stood to fight again, Bell (miraculously) following.
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It was quite beautiful out, Lefiya had to say, from the library window.
The roofs as far as the eye could see were covered in last night's fresh snow.
The city as a whole looked magnificent as white, grey and black outlines made up the skyline until babel and the handful of notably taller locations scattered around the dungeon city.
But Lefiya didn't care much for that type of sight seeing today, no.
She was more focused on the unbelievably confusing girl known as Bell.
She had stolen her from Lefiya, 'her' being Ais.
But the short Loki Familia elf wasn't necessarily angry about this.
Lefiya was having one of her ever more frequent episodes of internal turmoil.
Since first seeing the quick and fleet footed Elf known as Bell, she'd begun to feel things not unlike with her idol Ais.
This was very concerning to the already in-denial Elf girl, not willing to admit that she had a crush on not only a human girl, but also The Snow Elf of Freya Familia.
Oh, that was another thing, Bell was basically worshipped as a deity in Orario now, both for her heritage leaving her as the last chief of all Elven kind, a literal princess among princesses.
And for her outstanding beauty, comparably to the gods the same as Lady Riveria.
"Oh gods, what am I gonna do?!" Lefiya shouted outwardly in the not so empty library.
"LEFIYA! Quiet down!" Riveria shouted, scaring Alicia who was working diligently before now.
"Huh?" Alicia called out, lost.
Riveria sighed. "Lefiya was ogling Ais and Lady Bell again."
"I thought she ordered you to just call her Bell, you know, after a certain emerald haired elf refused to do so willingly?" Alicia teased.
"B-But she's royalty!"
This got deadpan stares from both Alicia and Lefiya.
Riveria sunk in on herself. "O-Okay, I get it, hardy-har-har."
The two elf girls giggled amongst themselves as Riveria blushed at her own hypocrisy.
Lefiya was suddenly distracted, still standing by the library window as a small "Eep!" was heard.
"W-What?!" Riveria asked to the surprised elf girl who now covered her embarrassed face.
Lefiya was slow to respond as the other two began to move towards her and the window.
"A-A-A-A-"
"Speek!"
"A-Ais just cut Lady Bell's shirt off!"
The other two bolted to the window, seeing if what Lefiya had said was true.
There Bell was, embarrassed, sitting on her knees, arms crossed over her chest as Ais tried to figure out what to do, not meaning to have caused such a situation for Bell.
Riviera was very distracted by the shirtless girl outside, but her blood boiled when she saw a third person with them.
It would seem a certain, seemingly love struck, pallum had been intending to 'assist' the elf girl in her training. When he stopped, frozen sollid after getting the unexpected, but likely more than welcomed sight of the poor girl's chest.
Riviera was already halfway down to the courtyard when the blush finally hit Finn's face.
Alicia and Lefiya were both watching with slight blushes at the unlikely scene before them as Ais desperately held Bell to try and preserve her dignity from the captain, who was too shocked to leave.
They watched as Riveria quickly opened the nearest door, trudging through the roughly four inch deep snow, and grabbed Finn by the shirt collar, throwing him head first into the snow.
The High Elf eventually made it to the two embarrassed girls, bringing a new sweater around the blushing Snow Elf.
Needless to say, that was the end of training for the day.
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Finn would have a half-and-half night, getting to sit in his own little world, thinking about the pleasant image that had now burned itself into his memory.
But also having to deal with Tione's wrath after Riveria had told her about what the captain saw.
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The light was white as it came down from the top to bottom of the window, stretching across the floor.
Bell sat up, rubbing her eyes with a thumb and index finger, easing her eyes to the new found light.
She pushed the covers down and to the side, groggily pulling herself up to sit, greeting the new day with bedhead.
She stretched her legs forward, then pushed her center of balance forward, sliding off the bed.
The girl raised her arms over head, stretching them.
Before turning to the window beside her nightstand.
She lazily moved the curtain over, peeking out the window, seeing that yet another fresh morning snow had fallen.
She smiled, though was a bit pessimistic.
"Perfect... Again."
Bell repeated the last day's tasks, getting her nice sweater dress on, which she ran clear across Oraio to get last minute after yesterday's… events.
Jumping out the window without any hesitation, just as Mia was about to open her door.
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Bell once again stopped by the kitchen to build another small basket full of lunch foods.
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She almost headed towards Orario's central Plaza, but stopped herself, instead going to the wall and skimming the edge until she reached the Western Main gate, then headed east down Western Main.
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Bell's smile was triumphant, she had finally made it to her destination.
'Only after three… Three whole days… oh my gods.' She leaned with her hand against a dilapidated building.
She stood herself back up, smacking her cheeks to reset herself.
'No! I've done it now! It doesn't matter how long it took, all that matters is now!'
Bell was no less nervous than before, the pep talk not really working.
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The Snow Elf slowly, nervously, approached the door of the Blue Pharmacy.
She opened the door as gently as she could, not wanting to startle the person she hoped was behind the counter.
It was Miach.
How unfortunate.
Her expression turned sour.
"Hello Bell!" He greeted the girl with a smile.
"Hello." Bell exchanged the courtesy, she was nothing if not civil.
They shared a dull glare at each other as Miach stood calmly behind the counter, and Bell, center of the room holding her little basket.
"Is Naaza here?" Bell asked.
"Oh, I think she's still making potions, but I wouldn't want to bother her-"
"MIACH!" Naaza shouted from the back room. "Where's the chemical agent?!"
Miach sighed, before quickly fixing his face back into his more iconic smile.
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A bit of a war had secretly been underway in the Blue Pharmacy between Bell and Miach.
It was not a normal thing for Bell to become interested in somebody romantically, but who was she to complain about her fate meeting that humble day, as she was looking for a cheaper potion than was sold by the Dian Cecht Familia.
But, Bell's fated meeting had an unfortunate side effect, Miach also had feelings for Naaza, but he was timid and Naaza would never have been the one to make a first move. So they were stuck in a perpetual cycle of Miach hoping something would happen, but never doing it himself.
That was until a competitor showed themself in the form of an elf girl named Bell Cranel.
Miach became more openly romantic with Naaza, complimenting her more and doing things to be more involved with her and the Blue Pharmacy.
But Bell was persistent, not giving up at the first sign of trouble. So they competed in their own little ways.
Naaza figured this all out on the first day, she just liked teasing the two idiots, but wasn't quite sure who to pick, not really wanting to pick between them. On one hand, she loved her god to death and back for all he'd done for her, but with Bell, she provided just about everything he lacked, even monetarily as well.
That isn't to say that Bell bought her way into Naaza's heart.
Upon hearing of the Blue Pharmacies debt, Bell requested the funds from the near bottomless Freya Familia treasury, and all but bought the Dian Cecht Familia for what they'd forced Naaza and Miach to live through. But Naaza talked her out of it, instead, ordering a few years in advance for the Freya potions reserves.
Because of this removal from debt, the Blue Pharmacy had improved in both it's living conditions and overall potions quality, bringing in a larger customer base with time.
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Naaza nearly broke the back storefront door down as she entered from the potion brewery, covered in a pink powder.
"Where is the compound Miach?!" She shouted.
"G-Good morning Naaza!" Bell called out, blushing slightly.
Both Miach and Naaza looked at her.
"O-Oh, hi Bell, how are you!"
'She wants to know how I'm doing- gah!' Bell squealed internally.
"I-I wanted t-to know if you'd want to- to have lunch with me!" Bell stuttered out her question, holding the basket out towards them, a nervous smile plastered over her.
"Oh!" Naaza exclaimed with mild glee. "A picnic?" She asked.
Bell nodded furiously with a blush all over herself.
"-In the middle of winter?..."
Bell paled, having forgotten that oh-so-crucial detail.
"O-oh." Bell sagged, dejected, the basket coming down to rest in her hands just below the waist.
Miach of all people gave a solution. "Ah! Well, we could eat in the living room upstairs…"
Bell looked at Naaza, a blush visible on her.
"Sounds good to me." The Chienthrope decided.
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They ate the small meal as a trio, Bell appreciating the good willed nature of Miach, which had shone through, regardless of their little spat with each other.
They would be back to their normal passive aggressive selves by the night's end.
Naaza enjoyed their little backhanded compliment fights, since neither truly knew how, or even had the courage to insult one another.
She hoped their little feud would end soon, she wanted them to be friends, she just had this feeling that they would be really good friends. So she brainstormed that night on how to do just that.
'Maybe that trip down south Miach always talked about, it'll be warm down south… Right?' Naaza thought before falling asleep. Sleep being another thing made easier with Bell's lifting of their burden.
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Bell also sat with her mother that night, as Freya brushed her hair, listening in on Bell talk about how adorable, cute and otherwise amazing Naaza was.
Apparently Naaza had this thing she did when eating, always swaying her tail around when there is peanut butter in something she ate, hence the recent peanut butter shortage the day before PB&J day in the Folkvangr kitchen.
Freya was truly happy for the girl, but she was still concerned.
After all-
- Freya just wanted some freakin grandchildren!
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A/N
Again, I wrote this in one night, reviewed this in one night, and posted it in. One. Night. Sorry if the quality is subpar.
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Oh god, I...
I don't know why…
Why am I even asking this…
They're all going to judge me so hard!
Oh, god why...
Okay, well…
Here it goes…
…
…
…
SMUT, I said I wouldn't be writing it in the main series, but, in case you folks didn't notice, this ain't the main series!
HOLD ON. Before you leave me and never return, I simply want to ask-
-Do you guys want me to make an attempt at it in this story. I'll clearly mark it and all that stuff. Just let me know, I won't be upset with being shot down here and now.
I still refuse to write it in the main, but here… I'm a lot more willing.
But it's up to all of you, I won't if nobody wants me too. The ball's in your court readers.
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I have no self confidence, so the only reason I'm able to ask this is because I'm currently tired as hell, so good night, see yall (and your judgment) tomorrow, peace!
(I probably won't even remember writing any of this come tomorrow.) (God, I'm gonna die of sleep deprivation aren't I?)
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Thank you all for reading! I hope you all enjoyed it!
Take care!