Rosaria finishes the rest of her cup of water by the sink, then washes her face a few more times. She slaps her cheeks, pours water over her head, then shakes it in an attempt to get rid of her insobriety as best as she can. After a while of this routine, she's convinced that there's nothing more that she can do beyond what the multiple trips to the bathroom, the more numerous servings of water, and the generous care of her friends have accomplished. She takes a few deep breaths while staring into her own eyes in the mirror.
"You're too horny," she whispers frustrated curses as she puts her claws back on her fingers, then materializes her polearm through cryo. A quick kick to the weapon breaks off the ice frosted across its surface to reveal its true violent and bloody details.
Her palm similarly impacts the bathroom door, revealing the dark hallways and their snuffed candles. She walks down the hall and back to the meeting room, but when she finds Eula sitting on the couch alone and seemingly meditating, Rosaria quickly retreats from the light and remains in the shadows. How should she approach her? Should she wear her honesty beside the gem on her chest, or simply repress and deflect? That would be a sin, though. Not against the vague deities of the winds, but against herself, because Eula's piercing glare can penetrate even the narrow pupil passages into Rosaria's pale soul and if she was to dance her way into Rosaria's deceitful heart… well, the penance Rosaria would have to pay to sate Eula's noble vengeance is one which would render her body and mind unfit for the graceful halls of any church. A chill travels down Rosaria's spine, though it is a superficial fear which conceals a deeper exci-
"Have you calmed your nerves?" The force of Eula's caring purpose erases any ease her gentle and refined voice may impart otherwise. "There is plenty of water for you to have, and I can attend to you for as long as you need it… though, that may make my night later than it already will be."
Rosaria emerges from the darkness and walks across the room. "I'm fine. I've been fine. It's just that current investigations have brought a little more stress than usual," she retrieves her crown from the table which was once dressed with the map of foreign territories. "Unfortunately, I'm sober enough to remember just how annoying the recent peace for Inazuma has been," she admits, resting her spear against the table before sitting on the table as well. Rosaria is more self-conscious than usual about having her side towards Eula, but how else is she going to maintain a comfortable conversation in the state she's in. To face Eula is to face death.
"Elaborate, Bacca. You keep me in the dark about the things you investigate far too often, so it would be in your best interest to be transparent now and delay your punishment for later," Eula suggests. Rosaria buries her hands between her thighs, and sighs as her eyes close.
"There has been an alarming uptick in treasure hoarder activity in the region. It seems to be especially be coming up from Dragonspine and the Highland. Found information over my past few hunts that suggests the gradual re-opening of Inazuma has strengthened treasure hoarder networks," Rosaria reveals.
"So, they're becoming emboldened by these reinvigorated networks. Funds from Inazuma are no doubt boosting their manpower, materials, and confidence," Eula deduces.
"Can we keep up this conversation over the course of a night walk? Some fresh air would do me well," Rosaria asks, turning her head just enough to at least glance at Eula's feet.
"... I'm sorry, Bacca," Eula's crossing legs are the last sight Rosaria allows before averting her gaze from the woman altogether. "I need to work on finalizing a few aspects of the Operation tonight. But, I don't mind a quick rundown-"
"Don't worry instead. I need to continue my investigation anyway, so this is a blessing of convenience," Rosaria hops off the table, then uses a kick to her spear to send it into a twirl and warm up her dexterity. Although Rosaria meant the exercise to be quick, Eula pauses it with her hand catching the pole. Rosaria's full attention now turns to Eula, finally establishing eye contact. Frustration reinforces the gates to her soul with a narrow glare. Eula's stare remains open and unassuming for the most part, but the slightest hints of concern curve parts of her soft face. It's almost enough to disarm Rosaria.
"Please, provide at least a short summary. I would like to help as much as I can," Eula insists, pressing against the spear a little before Rosaria's grip twitches the weapon and warns Eula to keep distance.
"I'm sure you have too much to do to help me, what with your trips with Noelle and talking to that friend of yours in Liyue," Rosaria says before tearing her glance away from Eula's shock. Rosaria's grip only tightens on her spear as she musters up the will to take steps forward, trying her best to ignore the blizzard of questions bearing upon her mind. Each movement of her leg is one more struggle to trudge through considerations regarding her harsh language and self-conscious anxiety of perhaps revealing her true complaints too obviously.
Eula sucks her teeth as she re-secures her hold on the spear, and uses it to force Rosaria into giving her full attention. Eula's free hand clutches Rosaria's other arm as her concern attempts to capture the taller woman, but Rosaria keeps her glare away from Eula's upturned eyes.
"What is wrong with you? What do you think I'm doing?" Eula seeks Rosaria's eyes, but the latter's dodging pivots the both of them. Rosaria slightly stumbles back in her evasive maneuvers, and ends up on the table again, but this time Eula's legs pin her against it.
"Y-you're definitely not doing me…" Rosaria mutters with a pout.
"What did you say?" Eula sharply asks, holding Rosaria by the chin and forcing at least her face to respect the direct conversation even if her eyes won't.
"N-nothing. I said nothing. I understand you're busy with work, and I have my own work to do. Let me go," Rosaria demands, her legs trembling. She prays Eula can't feel them, and digs her claws into the wood of the table to get some kind of a grip on herself, but it's truly sinful how her thighs quake against Eula's. Eula sighs.
"Are you sure?" she asks, Rosaria noticing the pressure loosening. She dares a glance at her captor as the hand falls from her chin. Eula's eyes have fallen to Rosaria's body, but their attention is elsewhere.
"...yes. I am sure…" though Rosaria's answer is hesitant, Eula gives little resistance to freeing her. Rosaria is hardly in a rush to escape as well, but Eula doesn't make the kinds of reinvigorated advances Rosaria secretly yearns for. Rosaria keeps Eula in sight, who simply stands in the middle of the room staring down into empty space, as she makes her way out of the meeting room. She breaks her eyes away from Eula once she steps foot into the hallway, but stops cold in her tracks when soft fingertips coldly press against her shoulder blade.
"If you're lying to me…" a finger traces Rosaria's spine slowly.
"then you will enact vengeance upon me for my sins…" Rosaria finishes just as Eula's hand slips away from her hip. Rosaria stays put until Eula's footsteps are sufficiently quiet enough to assume she retreated into the room, then she concludes her exit.
≿—- ❈ —-≾
"Heard some hoarder companies have been losing members here and there, especially close to Cider Lake," says a treasure hoarder as he drinks some water while sitting on a rock. One of his partners works hard at digging a ditch while some others check the maintenance of their camp. The one digging throws his shovel aside, then goes through a bag while mumbling something.
"I guess they do… we've definitely been getting enough treasure and supplies to branch out way easier than before. Reminds me of my early days in Liyue, before things started getting too popular down there," the sitting hoarder continues. His partner shows him dark bottles, and the sitting hoarder excitedly laughs, takes a few of the bottles, and begins following his partner off into the trees and bushes.
"Yeah, don't worry so much," his partner says as they stop by a tree deeper into the forest. "We've already got like four other groups securing trails and paths closer to the Lake, more moving in through the mountains and hills. Whether it was the Knights that got'em or if they went and did their own thing, it don't matter. We'll all be eatin' good soon enough," the partner assures before drinking.
"Talkin' about eatin' good, we're off to hunt for some dinner. You guys tryna join?" asks the leader of three men as he approaches the two by the tree. "We'll be out by Wolvendom, catch us either some pig or dog," he chuckles.
"Since when could you hunt? I thought you were still too hurt from the one time you got caught up with that adeptus-"
"Allegedly caught up with that adeptus."
"Right, allegedly caught up with that adeptus when you were out doing some dumb shit out on Cuijue," ask and tease the drinkers by the tree.
"Hey look assholes, it was definitely an adeptus. Ain't no way two lawas and a few vishaps are just gonna get knocked out so easily by any average guy wandering the wilderness with a pointy stick. In any case, my injuries healed up just fine, and my leg is all goo-" about five months of recovery are wiped away the instant a cryo blade plunges into the hunter's calf.
The giant spear of ice which shoots from the midst of the trees catches the hunter's two party members by the back of their necks on the blunt stems of its cross-section, carrying them forward until the wood of the drinking tree halts the progress of the spear tip and launches the two men far into the shrubs. Before one drinker could process how he fell to the ground, a kick to the jaw puts him to sleep, and the blunt butt of a pole to the same area knocks out his partner.
Rosaria takes a deep breath to recover from the swift multi-man takedown. She takes a brief look around her to ensure no one was left out of the punishment, and that no other devils are coming to the aid of these sinners. Once sure of being the only conscious individual standing, she silences the pained cries of the re-disabled hunter, then digs through the belongings of the three men on the ground. She stores the trinkets, folded papers, cards, and other seemingly relevant pieces of inventory which may help her investigation into the hunter's backpack. She steals the rest of the alcohol off the drinkers and sets the bottles beside the backpack now at the tree, then drags the men's bodies into the bushes to clean up the scene.
The drop of the last man's body hitting dirt and wood is accompanied by a bit more crunching and ruffling than Rosaria expects. Her head quickly whips around, scanning the area. Had she missed another hoarder? Did the screams of the man reach his comrades and they are finally arriving on-scene? Was she spotted cleaning up, and now they're springing a trap they had carefully laid while she was working? Moments of silence pass as Rosaria remains as still as a statue. She carefully lifts the man from the dirt, then shoves him back down. Immediately, the sounds of someone trying to cover their progress reach Rosaria's ears, and she dashes toward her spear. Whoever is hiding in the darkness meticulously times their own steps according to Rosaria's, and although this is effective at hiding their proximity, it does not hide their general presence upon earth of a different texture. Reaching the tree lording over her loot and weapon, she spots the rustling leaves out of the corner of her eyes and glances at her spear to secure her hold. A massive blade smashes apart the wooden handle right below her hand and cleaves deep into the tree. Rosaria instantly twists her body to reach for the handle of this suddenly-appearing claymore, but right before her grip can secure the handle a flash of baby blue hair fills her vision. She chokes upon a hand catching her by the neck, and her attempt at the claymore is thwarted by another hand lifting her arm away by the armpit. Her whole body is lifted by these two holds, then her back is slammed onto the flat of the claymore, knocking the wind out of her lungs. Despite being unable to breathe properly, Rosaria scratches at the claymore's blade to find a hold on its sharp curve. She does, but just as she tries to pull herself down and into her assailant to knock them down with her body weight, her legs are held up and apart, and her crotch strikes a hard surface that doesn't budge at all. Panting and looking down to see if there is anything about her environment she can exploit, she realizes her doom within the yellow predatory glare cornering her from the shadows of long bangs.
"You lied to me," Eula hisses from between Rosaria's thighs. Rosaria calms down her outward resistance, but her frustration is still clearly writ on her scowling face and clenched teeth. Even this is difficult to maintain though, knowing that she had slammed right into Eula's abs.
"And what about it?!" Rosaria snaps. Her defiance is transformed by shock, but that gasp gets caught in her throat as a moan escapes after Eula materializes a cryo knife in her mouth, and swipes her face down to tear apart the strip of fabric uniting her outfit between her legs and tear through the mesh leggings beneath it. The cold blade's blunt side grazes Rosaria and electrifies her body with a satisfaction it has been begging for more than even she knew until now. When Eula resumes eye contact, Rosaria's defiance persists anyway. "D-do your wors-" Rosaria can't even finish her challenge before she catches the handle of the cryo knife in her own mouth after Eula spits it at her. Her jaws crack the ice between them, deep satisfaction clutching Rosaria's entire body as Eula's tongue dances across her stage beneath the pale moon.
"Already prepared for my assault, eh?" Eula's face rises with a glimmering bridge connecting her wet tongue to Rosaria. "So you've felt guilty all this time, and braced yourself once you could identify the one collecting your egregious debt?" Eula's interrogation is punctuated by her pressing thumb.
Rosaria really had no way to answer beyond her moaning, but her cruel tormentor presses her harder for an answer anyway. Being able to grasp a moment of clarity through the whistling scratch of her nails against the blade she laid upon, Rosaria could muster naught but a feeble gesture: a sobbing, affirmative nod into the ghoulish golden glare. Her sobs catch in her throat as Eula's hands respond by holding her thighs tighter, and her body trembles in pleasure as Eula resumes her performance.
As careful techniques are strung together to new heights, Rosaria has to grab onto Eula's head just to hold onto something material since her sanity is no longer in reach. This does little but encourage Eula further, much to Rosaria's demise. The dance reaches a depth familiar yet desperately missed, and therefore excruciatingly gratifying. A cry through the night celebrates the artistic climax, and Eula leaves her captivated audience choked up in tearful gratitude and euphoric paralysis.
Rosaria, barely anything more than a thoughtless ragdoll now, has no choice but to let Eula lift her body up into a sitting position. She weakly holds onto the woman's muscular arms as a wet thumb is pressed between her lips.
"Never lie to me again, else you will be punished again. Do I make myself clear?" Eula asks. Rosaria nods as slow as her tongue rolls around the thumb, and lets out a small whimper just in case her compliance is too obscure.
"Good. It is only proper that a woman so holy understands the will of her higher power. Now, I need some divine satisfaction as well. Will you give it to me?" Eula asks. Rosaria nods affirmatively to this too, and tries to test her grip against Eula's arms. No small panic comes to mind as she realizes she's hardly strong enough to put any decent pressure, but a mind-numbing stroke of pleasure suddenly pierces through the panic as a frosty phallic formation is shoved into her. "Don't worry. I understand you need rest, so I won't force you to put in much work. You've paid your due," Eula takes her finger out of Rosaria's mouth, and lifts her off the claymore by the side and thigh. Rosaria is hardly able to keep her legs wrapped around Eula's waist, and luckily she doesn't have to do it for long since Eula puts her down on the dirt.
"Just lay here, and recover. Watch, if you would like to. You've earned it~" Eula turns around and sits on Rosaria's abdomen. But, she pauses briefly. "Ah, I almost forgot! Let me borrow these," She turns and reaches back to slip an index claw off each of Rosaria's hands, helping Rosaria rest her hands on Eula's ass with a wink afterwards. She puts the claws on her own fingers, then uses them to tear slits on either side of her bodysuit. Eula moves further down Rosaria's body and takes advantage of the split fabric to slide her suit to the side and establish the icy connection between the both of them.
Both of them breathe heavier as Eula's rhythm becomes smoother and Rosaria is more and more capable of following her lead. The union rejuvenates Rosaria further with every clap of the beat, and the pleasure fuels her instead of crippling her this time. She looks at the high moon one last time before she shakes off the lazy indulgence and kicks herself into gear. Her fingers dig into Eula's soft flesh, and she spies the daring grin Eula tosses over her shoulder. The rider grinds her hips deeper into the love they share, bending over further to rub it in right, even slowing down to focus on the gyration mixing up their insides.
"Alright, this is beyond justified retribution," Rosaria grunts over Eula's shoulder after dragging her upper body up from its leisure like some undead thing rising from its slumber. Rosaria's hand shoots past Eula and freezes the bark of the tree in front of them into a smooth surface. She shoves Eula off her hips, picks the bitch up by the back of her shirt, and throws her against the ice while elongating the stick hanging between her legs.
"Now you're simply being degenerate. And there is no excuse you can whisper to the wind for that," Rosaria props up Eula's left leg onto the stuck claymore, and informs her of just how deep of a price there is to pay with her body.
At first, Eula exudes the kind of smug confidence fit for someone of her social stature, handling herself well between the tree and the nun. But, Rosaria is well-aware that this attitude is unacceptable for any true repenting soul, and so she seeks to humble this foolhardy whore. Her claws dig beneath Eula's lifted thigh and upon her bouncing chest as hold for stronger thrusts, her determination striking at the arrogance nestled in the furthest depths of the noble's rotten soul. With the Sister being so proficient at dealing the will of Barbatos in the most physical rituals, it is little wonder how within minutes Eula is reduced to a sniveling reprobate too busy sucking the wretched nectar of her saliva and blood on Rosaria's finger to babble out whatever repentant prayer she might be impassioned to provide. This is fine, though, because the holy prayer they both simultaneously moan, Rosaria's crawling down the neck she bit and bled, Eula's singing into the ear she has been stupidly confessing to, indicates well enough that Rosaria's lesson has taken hold. Considering that, Rosaria adds Eula's pure essence to clean the mixture between Eula's lips as a generous reward.
"I've missed this so much…" Eula breathes. Rosaria's hand guides Eula's hand into a vampire's kiss, reciprocating her sentiment with the same thick, red love as the trail staining the corner of her mouth, down her pale cheek, around her alabaster chin, and across her white neck.
≿—- ❈ —-≾
"...Anyway, we've been here for twenty minutes and they've been out for far longer. Us talking about hypothetical strategies does nothing if we can't implement them in a timely manner," Diluc cracks his knuckles while looking out toward Windwail Highland. "And the Knights who were guarding this gate aren't paid to have their posts relieved for so long."
"What's the hurry?" asks Kaeya, putting his hands on his hips with an amused grin. "Is Jean's mattress truly calling out for you that loudly? I sure don't hear it."
"It's not like that, you imbecile," Diluc grunts.
"Oh? Well then you have no reason to be impatient. Besides, when's the last time you've been able to enjoy the cool night air without ash and smoke clogging up your nostrils?" Kaeya takes a deep, appreciative breath. Diluc gives no response, but something does catch his eye eventually. He begins standing up, but Kaeya makes no move to what Diluc has seen.
"Is...Is that Eula?" Diluc asks, his head cocking in confusion as he observes the limping warrior.
"I told you she would be here. But, don't get so worked up. She can make it here on her own just fine," Kaeya assures. Diluc remains tense, but holds back.
Eula reaches them soon, and her eyes narrow to match her frown.
"W-" she stumbles before she can complete a syllable, but steadies herself quick enough to avoid a complete chuckle from Kaeya. "What are you two doing here?"
"What are you doing looking like this?" Diluc interrogates faster than Kaeya can form a clever quip of his own. Diluc approaches Eula, but stops at the command of her hand.
"None of your business. Now leave and let me pass, else you will feel my wrath come morn-" her attempt at an authoritative stride ends with her body in Diluc's supportive arms since her legs give out halfway through. She beats a weak fist against his chest in protest. "I said it's none of your business!"
"Oh, then might it be the business of the miscreant scaling the wall?" Kaeya asks, his eyes catching Rosaria mid-climb. Rosaria makes the mistake of checking on Eula, finding her plan thwarted. She drops from the wall quickly, but makes no hurry to get to the gate.
Once Rosaria reaches the group, a bucket of water greets her sooner than any words. She snatches the bucket from Kaeya's hands, then leads the way to a dark shadow to wash under. Diluc helps a cursing Eula hobble her way over as he brings a second bucket with the other arm.
"Those treasure hoarders are becoming far too dangerous," Diluc comments, returning from the women as they undress and clean themselves.
"Maybe if the Fatui simply romanced their way towards their goals they could completely avoid your otherwise keen eye," Kaeya replies, nodding with disapproval.
"I have no intention of being in your presence if this is how you'll be. I only have so much patien-"
"Wait!" Kaeya successfully stops Diluc's stomp into the city. "Fine. I apologize for ruining our brotherly outing. What I mean is that it's… surprising, that you couldn't notice what exactly happened between them."
"What do you mean?" Diluc rejoins Kaeya's side. "Isn't it obvious that they were out fighting the treasure hoarders that have been invading from the south, per Rosaria's report?"
"If the treasure hoarders were so tough, then why is it that Eula is in such a terrible state, yet Rosaria is mostly unharmed?" Kaeya asks.
"Maybe Rosaria arrived late? And what do you mean mostly? I didn't see any injuries on her," Diluc crosses his arms.
"Are you suggesting Rosaria arrived without a weapon? Because if Eula, in as terrible of a position as she seems to be, was capable of returning with her claymore…"
"Hmm… " Diluc rubs his chin.
"By the way, Rosaria's bodysuit and tights are torn at-"
"I get it now," Diluc cringes and sucks his teeth.
"So when it comes to Eula-"
"Yes, I understand that the three of you are not only drunks, but licentious drunks," Diluc interrupts again.
"Good. I do encourage you to employ some of our methods with Jean. Maybe she-"
"I promise she isn't like that."
"Ask Lisa just to be sure," Kaeya winks, and before Diluc's rising blush can give way to complaint, he responds to Rosaria's poke on his shoulder by turning in surprise.
"We're ready to go," Eula announces with no good tone.
"Thank you for the water and clothes, we appreciate it," Rosaria says as she rolls up her shirt cuffs.
"And I'll give you both something to appreciate tomorrow. Mark my words," Eula hisses.
"Before you finalize any revenge plots, consider the relief I'll provide Rosaria from her duties investigating the treasure hoarders," Kaeya says, bringing surprise to Eula's face. She looks at Rosaria, who is just as surprised.
"Amber will take over the investigations, along with some help from the Knights. Let's go to the Angel's Share and talk about how Rosaria will join your expeditions in Liyue," Diluc invites Eula, leading the way into Mondstadt.