Chapter 24: Somnium Illuminus
Well… It starts at the top. There was a reason why Rouge Arc was a little suspicious of Saphron's sudden question. The truth is a little more complicated than you'd think.
She didn't like the silence, as her older sister's face darkened. She really didn't. What Rouge had done had been wrong, it had been wrong and terrible, but… she was still her oldest sister. Jaune hadn't seemed to remember, which was a good thing, she guessed. She'd tried to guess a few times whether he did or not, but it was perhaps the luck of being asleep to really remember the specifics.
"Please, Saphron."
"It's okay. Don't do it again. It's our little secret."
Her sister's secret was safe with her. She'd seen what Rouge had done and she'd protected her little brother. Rouge wasn't going to do it again. She would keep her brother safe. Saphron's face showed clear signs of distress, her training whispering instructions on how to unbalance her sister and slam her face against the table before going in for the kill, which she pointedly ignored. Family was family, after all.
"Saphron?"
She knew that she'd messed up. Saphron looked just about ready to bloody murder someone, not giving a moment of thought for what things would be. Rouge couldn't help it, she couldn't help doing what she'd done. Jaune hadn't been hurt, but Rouge had retreated into herself.
She'd still been supportive, doing the tasks that she'd had to, beside her studies as a psychologist. She wasn't giving up on the family and Saphron couldn't see that.
"She's not bad, Saphron. She's our sister."
There was little room to reason with Saphron, and Violet spotted the friend of Saphron, the blonde woman coming their way, her eyes looking worried. It was perhaps a little queer to admit, but Violet let her eyes go over the features, making a calm assessment as Grandmother had taught her.
"Still- She did that to Jaune. Jaune, Fifi. Our little brother."
He was their little brother, yes. He was important to her, to Saphron. The friend sat down next to Saphron, laying a hand on her shoulder. Violet could see that it was an affectionate touch, but not one that a lover would give to the woman she loved.
A little further study of the woman, noticing the facial features that were set in a way that was warm, concerned. She didn't think that the woman could ever be so duplicitous as to make the world her stage and to act like she was the one performer upon said stage.
A certain openness, a familiarity with her sister's open nature and her warmth, and Violet found herself assessing the woman known as Adelheid Blau with a critical eye. Visually, she looked fine. A bit less makeup and something to really bring the hair out.
She mentally counted the seconds that passed before Saphron spoke up again.
"Violet, it's wrong. What happened to Jaune was wrong and it shouldn't have happened."
It shouldn't have, but it had. Violet had kept a good eye on her only brother. She'd kept him safer than he would've been if she hadn't, because of the things that Rouge might do. She'd kept herself under control, Violet knew.
"I've got to go, Saphron."
She felt sick. The dosage of venom had to be taken in order to build up resistance to it. She knew that she'd probably have to fiddle the timing a little to line it up, but Grandmother had said that family made you weak, that it made you feel worse about everything.
"Are you okay? You're looking a little pale."
Saphron looked worried, good ol' Saphron's care-stare being shot at her again. The previous anger and the rage was replaced by care and concern. Saphron really was the weakest of them all when it came to things that hurt, but Violet couldn't stop herself from feeling touched.
"I'm… I'm trying to get out of the life. There's only so much dick a girl can take, y'know?"
It was a weak rationale, as she knew that she would be better at the job if she did everything that she could. She had beauty, she had agility and she really should have a moment to get herself injected with the venom, but she didn't want to let her sister see her weak like that. Big sis Saphron was the one who loved the most, and Violet would not let her sister see her in pain like that.
"We'll have to meet again, Violet. Thank you for telling me about… things."
Her alarm buzzed and she winced. It was time for her dosage. She shivered.
"I've got to go to the bathroom for a moment, Saph. What happened when you were nineteen, let's not talk about that now, okay?"
She left, before Saphron's confused 'Nineteen?' came from her sister's lips, going to the ladies' restroom and clicking the lock shut, the needle inserted into her veins. Dark patterns of venom started to spread through her body, knowing that it was hurting from even the diluted dose of the venom.
She leaned against the wall, just letting the venom surge through her system, feeling her heartbeat pick up and then slowly work down to a manageable level, her body lit up with the pain, slowly getting up and fixing her appearance again. Sweaty skin didn't need to be shown, her makeup fixed immediately. She was Violet Arc, the one who kept the secrets and who would be the best.
She emerged, Saphron looking worriedly at her. Violet hated that look. She hated that Saphron loved the family so much that she'd push aside the worries for her own health and her brother to be a listening ear. She hadn't much of the same feeling, but the word stuck with her.
'Nineteen? Why would she be confused about that? She was nineteen, wasn't she? We only had unpainted doors for five years.'
"You're not doing drugs, are you?"
She shook her head. Venoms weren't drugs, they hurt the body but she had to build up a tolerance. Several of the nervous system affecting venoms had the benefit of creating a hyper-focus on things, which was a good thing.
"No, I…"
She looked at her arm, where the wound had opened up again. She mentally chastised herself for being sloppy. Adelheid, Saphron's friend, offered her a tissue to dab at the blood. She used it, Saphron's eyes looking worriedly.
"You're not hurting yourself, are you?"
Another shake of her head, trying to keep herself in check, to keep the pain from showing on her face. She leaned on the table, closing her eyes. She felt the warmth of a hug, noticing that Saphron was hugging her and stroking her head, her older sisters' fingers going through her hair.
"Stupid little Fifi, you don't have to bear the burdens on your own shoulders… I'm here."
It was nice, and she felt the other blonde join in the hug after Saphron motioned for her to join. Being hugged was nice. It'd been a while since she'd been hugged, especially after Saphron's return. She felt so cold sometimes, and it was just the touch that she needed.
"Thanks, Saph. I'm… Everything is going to be better when I get my new job, I promise."
She would be the best assassin on Remnant, her grandmother had said. The moment when she had her Aura awakened would be the dawn of a new assassin, someone who could work for the Mistress that her Grandmother owed allegiance to.
"We're going to keep Jaune safe from anyone who would dare to hurt him, Fifi. Adelheid too, she'll be a member of the family too."
The friend made a sound that didn't fully agree with that, but Violet felt a little happier anyways. Saphron had been through a lot, and she wanted her big sister to be happier. If she was going to marry this Adelheid girl, that'd make her happier.
"I'm still making you pay big bucks for being Jaune's date, lady. Saphron might get the family discount, but I'm not going to be on my knees sucking his cock without some serious money offered."
Saphron, who usually would've minded such a crude joke, merely gave a soft sound that might've been a laugh, if she wasn't feeling so sad. There was a tone that seemed more like the cool big sister that Saphron had been before.
"She'll do that herself, I reckon. She's got this habit of just humping my leg because she fancies our little brother during the night."
Violet supposed that there would be some appeal in him for someone like Adelheid. A rugged young man, kind and with a protective streak that was a mile wide…
'Not a bad prospect, little brother.'
"Umbra's got a murder contract on me, Saph. If I touch your brother or get drunk and do it, it's my life and family destroyed. Financially! I can't let my mom starve!"
She hugged her older sister back tightly, Saphron giving a soft little sound, hugging her harder than before. She knew that there was something inside her sister that'd been shattered, something that had broken when Terra had dumped her.
"But if you could?"
There was a soft groan from the other woman, Violet noticing that it wasn't entirely unwanted. There was something about the other young woman that made her want to tease her a little. Of course, there would be teasing when Saphron came around. Her older sister had the most jokes about her own status as a proud and out girl, so it made sense.
"I'm not going to talk about it, but hypothetically…"
A cough, as Violet felt her new sort-of-adopted sister's chest brush against her.
"There may be just a bit of touching involved before your brother gets himself Blau'd. I'd make sure that he was ready to fire his shot into big sis Adel. Oh yes, hmmhmm… I'd make those blue peepers stare into my own as I'm moaning for daddy to break his little slutty bitch in."
'Yeah, I think Rouge would call this a 'sex addict'.'
She couldn't resist adding a little bit of a comment, knowing that it'd drive the woman into frustration. Saphron might be queen of the queer, but Violet herself wasn't too much against being a little tease.
"Hmm, run your fingers over his chest, scratching your name into his back and then groaning that you want to be made his, right? Ain't that a hot thought, sweetheart?"
Adelheid stiffened, as Saphron picked up on what she was getting at. Violet supposed that this was a tag team effort.
"And then feeling big sis grab a hold and just drive herself in from the back, hmm? Arc sandwich time…"
It was strange how the conversation had switched from serious to teasing, but Violet wasn't complaining. As long as things could be casual and easy, she would make sure that the family wouldn't suffer. She'd do what she had to.
'Lie, cheat and steal, kill and murder and maim…'
This was normal, sort of. Teasing someone with Saphron was just like when they'd been younger, Beryl being the favourite target of the two of them. It was unfair of course, but Beryl had been thought to be a boy more often than not. With how often Beryl got into fights, calling her the 'Bear of Arc' wasn't too inaccurate.
"Damn it, Saph. I'm not going to get that image out of my mind. It's bad enough that I've not seen him shirtless yet, now I'm getting thoughts that're not safe for work! Stop it!"
Violet could make guesses. There was something about Jaune's body that was much like their father. A bit of that solid, steady build, a hint of a blossoming masculinity that was as rugged as the mountains.
"Why stop it when you can be in bed with all three Arcs, hmm? I don't kiss and tell… Right Saph? How about we get little Miss Blau her first experience, y'know, just for kicks? I'll even lower my rates…"
Saphron looked like she considered it for a moment. The hug was abandoned by Adelheid, who looked nervous, Saphron's smile broadening a little. There was something about Saphron that reminded her a little of grandmother, even though it was perhaps just the wickedness in her body.
"Well, given how hard her nipples are most of the time… What do you say, sis? Up for joining forces against the Blau Queendom?"
Saphron meant it in good jest, of course. Saphron was always the caring one, the one who did not stop to think too much about how the world was a frightening and scary place. Violet smiled softly as she saw Adelheid fidget a little.
'You're such an easy to tease girl…I can see why Saphron gets along so easily with you… time to up the ante a little.'
"Pay me, you queer bitch, and I will eat her out like it's taco night."
Saphron pulled out her handbag and placed it on the table, pulling out five two-hundred Lien cards, shoving them at her. Adelheid's eyes went wide, Violet could tell.
"Oh, that looks like it's just enough… Guess it's Blau on the menu now."
The woman was out of her seat in a flash, Violet and Saphron bursting into laughter immediately at the way that she did it. It was the defusion of tensions that Violet had needed, as Adelheid looked at the two of them with a look that was about as sure as a fart when you had diarrhoea.
"This is for mom and the others. I'm not going to let you starve. You're… You're helping someone, aren't you?"
Violet nodded. She was being helped herself. A softness of the features, as she thought of Grandmother. The woman was harsh and cruel, desiring that she would be the best. She would be, because it was better than being a whore.
She was not the first to be trained, but she would be the last to be trained. She would be the best. She'd be the best and she'd make her family proud. Her mother…
'Mom doesn't care about us. All that she cares about is appearing to be the perfect little wife to dad…'
It wasn't a pleasant thought to think about, but it was there.
"She's the one who's making me take the shots. She's…"
Devious. Cunning. Cruel. She remembered that she had the test tomorrow. The first test of many, the first test that would see her become what she should be in the eyes of Grandmother.
"A woman who has high standards. Everything has to be perfect."
She would be perfect, and she would be fast. She wasn't someone who was unworthy, and she knew that it would be perfect. Every moment during the training, she kept thinking about the people who cared to acknowledge her existence.
Her brother featured in those thoughts from time to time. He was maligned, done dirty by the fate that had made Rouge be born in their family, but it was still something that she felt bad about. Without the guidance that she got from Absinthe, she'd be raped again, and now…
"She sounds a little like my neighbor. She had this massive collection of hunting trophies. Antlers, fur tails and hooves. She used to hunt in her youth."
'The trophies from her confirmed kills.'
They weren't animal fur, to say the least. Everything that hung in the trophy room had been torn from a Faunus body when Grandmother had been on the prowl. She'd been expected to make something like that for herself. The will had already been sent to the administration of Vale, making her the sole inheritor unless Grandmother decided otherwise.
'The next Absinthe Moor… Or rather, Cyanide Moor.'
She didn't know whether to feel bad or not. Grandmother made it sound like it was an honour, but she'd rather be curled up in bed next to someone that loved her. She wasn't absent of that desire either, knowing that she was nearly twenty-two and still hadn't had that person appear yet.
'I want to find someone who holds me and tells me everything is going to be alright, that special guy that just makes me feel warm and safe.'
She'd said it aloud, apparently, because her sister started to mumble something about that going to happen, if she just tried. Saphron was the weakest link of the whole family, so easily emotional and distraught about the family's happening.
'I love you, Saphron.'
She loved her whole family. Tomboyish Beryl and her constant fights, Rouge and her own personal demons, the twins that did not stop for a second to think about things, just doing whatever they liked, her youngest sister Azura, who did what she wanted, painting and being a teacher…
And her big sister Saphron, hurt so terribly by her wife and that accident, as well as her little brother Jaune, who had been touched and raped by her oldest sister, who seemed to still want to become a Huntsman no matter what.
'It's funny that I don't really consider mom and dad a part of the family anymore… When have they ever helped us out? Rouge did her best to raise us all with Saphron helping out from time to time, and…'
"I'm going to talk with Rouge. Don't worry, I won't… I promise I won't do anything too bad. Just a talk."
Saphron said it, and it would be as she said it would be. Saphron did not break her word easily. Violet trusted her big sister more than she trusted her other sisters. Rouge had only slipped up once, to her knowledge, but Saphron had always been true to her word.
"Hey, Saph? When I'm done… When I've learned all that I can, do you think we can…"
Saphron smiled softly, her voice coming like a balm to a weary soul.
"Of course, Fifi. The family wouldn't be complete without a little dog, right?"
She mock-pouted, as she sighed softly, Saphron not letting the joke go in the slightest. It'd been bad enough that when she'd been born, Rouge had wanted a dog.
"Adelheid, no matter how much I may tease, I don't mean bad stuff with it. It's just how Saph and me work together."
The hesitant nod, as Violet smirked.
"But cash up-front if you want to have an incestual threesome with me and my little brother, though. I'm not an easy girl."
The look turned heated and Adelheid started to squawk about how this wasn't fair, how she was being oppressed by mean sisters who didn't know the trials of someone who enjoyed a good bit of manly company.
'Ah… This is just like back in the days…'
Jaune looked at the large building, the lights off as the daylight was still going. Gruff-faced men looked like they meant business, even with Tyrian at his side, fully decked out in his combat attire. He hadn't opted for his own, merely going for the suit combination that his Mama had said made him look distinguished, stepping up to the door that was being guarded by two of the men, their suits and sunglasses giving them an intimidating look.
"The boss says tha' nobody's ta enter. We doin' refurbishment still."
Tyrian moved, his body in a fluid motion that did not even seem unnatural when witnessed. Jaune held up a hand to forestall the man from moving further, his steps lighter, as he pulled out the picture.
"Your boss is expecting me."
The meeting had been easy to arrange, given Tyrian's special set of skills. A number scrawled onto the man's bathroom mirror in blood-red marker and a 'Call between 20:00 and 21:00 Standard Vale Time' scrawled below it in dark blue marker had been easily arranged.
It was time to pay criminals with the same measure that they brought to the world. He knew that, and Tyrian knew that. It was the ease with which the man had navigated the criminal's personal residence that made him invaluable to him.
"I'll call the boss…"
The man pulled out a Scroll and pressed a few buttons. Jaune waited, patiently. There was nothing wrong about sending a message towards one's superior. The man had sounded scared of what might have happened. The pictures that Tyrian had taken during the night of the man and his company of the night had been already spread onto his fingers.
'There are many ways…'
The door opened and the tall man stood there, dressed in a formal suit, a set of sunglasses worn on his face in a deep dark red colour for the shades.
"Mister Prince?"
An alias, something that was made with the suggestion of Mama, as it showed that he was the prince of her life, of her domain. He knew that it was just a fancy of his Mama, that he really wasn't a prince, but he knew that discretion was key.
"Mister Xiong."
The man preceded them, Tyrian moving three steps behind him. The power inside him was swelling, the darkness slowly engulfing the flame, incremental steps forward, not bringing even the slightest whisper of that life-light to pass from that dark depth.
An office was found and the man settled behind the desk, a chair held out, Jaune letting Tyrian inspect it. It was a sign of power, a sign that he held the dominance over the man called Tyrian Callows, the Mad Scorpion of the world of killers and assassins. Fear was in the man's eyes behind the glasses, as he dominated the desk with his presence, the chair cleared.
"Thank you, Tyrian."
A casual thank you, given with the veneer of someone who held the power. Tyrian knew his role, the respectful whisper of 'Yes, Master" speaking with only the most respectful of tones, not a single mad cackle uttered in his presence.
He pulled out a picture and put it in front of the man. The man took a look at the picture before he grimaced.
"What do you want with that one, huh? She busted up my club a month ago, I'm not going to-"
His body posture shifted, slowly leaning forward and letting the man see his expression barely change. He may be seventeen, but his bearing and manner of holding himself was older, more pronounced. He'd been worked on with some makeup to make him look like he was in his late twenties, something that had taken a bit of extra preparation, more padding on the cheekbones and the hair a slightly different shade of blonde.
"I want her to suffer, Mister Xiong. I am sure that given your previous acquaintance, we can become very good friends."
It would be a deal with a criminal, even as Tyrian started to giggle and laugh madly behind him, further unnerving the man. Jaune smiled, just as his Mama might have, and he started to speak.
Leaving the office with Tyrian in tow nearly an hour later, he allowed the little smile to slip on his face after he had spoken with the criminal about the plan. The man had agreed, of course. It was something that had to be executed perfectly… which was where he came in.
Tyrian got the car, driving him through the city, leaving him to take the short route towards the next appointment, the small location where the others had been located. It was all for the next course in his publicist's scheme to make him the best he could be, and it involved getting up close and personal with one of the least popular radio hosts of Vale… But he supposed they had their worth as well.
His face was cleared of makeup and other grime on it within a public bathroom, the makeup washing off without much difficulty, just as intended. The professional job had been something that a specialist had applied, with just that little bit of money invested to make sure that they kept their mouth shut about the job afterwards.
You could trust people when you had power over them…
"Jaune!"
Nora's happy exclamation was something that made the smile on his face turn more genuine as the bubbly ginger girl bounced at him, hugging him tightly, her body squeezing against his own, not even stopping with the enthusiastic hug when Pyrrha and Ren joined them. It was an awkward little compact that they'd made, as the laugh of a woman came.
"Right there's the team spirit that we want to see at Knowledge Wars! Come on kids, it's time to get your leader up on the radio show, right after our latest guest is done, for the Mac'n-Easy brand! Yeah, we got a REAL lineup going soon!"
The woman was definitely somewhat different from the regular, her blonde hair combed with that special style that only people in their late thirties would really call 'hip', the woman making an excitable noise as she pushed the people out of the way. Adelheid smiled at him, her eyes holding that little hint of amusement in them.
"I'm glad you're here. Did your business in the city go alright? Do we have to worry about any illegal scandals?"
He smiled softly, the folder that he'd kept most of the stuff he'd used for the negotiations with Hei Xiong, part of the Xiong Family and a branch member of the Spiders of Mistral, already in the safe where it was to be kept for the next use. It would be taken care of after the final piece was moved into place.
"Only some assassination, a bit of a schoolyard bully being taken care of… Don't worry about it, Adel. Just worry about my sister hitting on you."
Adelheid did the prettiest little pout that he'd seen her do, putting her hands on her hips. He was just teasing, but her eyes didn't really look very happy as he had done so.
"I'm still not gay, no matter how much Saphron wants me to be. I'm an all-man kind of woman."
She grumped a little, giving him a look that wouldn't be amiss on one of his sisters' faces, her eyes looking a little frustrated.
"Preach, sister! We're all-Jaune-all-the-way! Jaune fanclub member number one, two, three and Pyrrha!"
Adelheid looked uncertain whether she wanted to be a part of it, whilst Ren smiled, his pink eyes looking bemused as Nora started to bounce up and down, trying to get Adelheid to join in with the 'Jaune-Cheer', Pyrrha just sighing a little.
"She's a good publisher, Jaune. I've seen many in my career as a fighter. Professional and arranging for things but not too cold that you'd think they're all in it for the money."
Adelheid's blouse was a little disheveled as she made herself scarce from Nora's grip, straightening herself a little with her hands, the shirt that she wore straightened perfectly again. He knew that she might have a little problem with stuff, but that was fine.
"Sorry for being a little late, Adelheid."
She smiled, her eyes looking him over a little, her hands tugging on his shirt a little. She was a bit like Saphron, fussing over every small little thing. Rouge always had a tip for appearance and what-not, because she had to look perfect for her job all the time. It had been Rouge that had told him that if he ever needed advice, he could come to her.
'She looked a little bad after saying that. Maybe it was the break-up?'
Rouge had not really dated anyone after she was sixteen. It'd been a bit of a running joke between the twins and Beryl that they'd probably get hitched before Rouge brought home a man.
"We had some extra time, so it's fine. What's this I heard about a schoolyard bully? Is someone bullying my little brother, hm?"
She was running with Saphron's little joke, so he'd roll with that little punch-line. Adelheid deserved to be teased back a little.
"Just someone who's getting what she deserves, don't worry about it. I'm more worried about you becoming my sister, Adel. When did you marry Saphron?"
Adelheid mumbled something about that coming to bite her in the rear eventually. The blonde woman emerged again.
"Alright, time for you to be up, kid! We've got that Mac'n'Cheasy commercial running, so now it's time for the next generation's leader of Atlas Pussy-busters to be up on stage to fight against the evil Cordovan conspiracy! Come and get it in the War Room! YEAH!"
Nora cheered, bouncing with every step behind the woman, whose name was Alexandrite, apparently.
'Well… This is going to be fun. My first interview.'
The amusement on her face was to be seen as she tuned in to the show, the earbuds in as the advertisement played, the goings of the banquet that she was at already starting to bother her. She caught sight of Councilor Sleet giving a speech about gratitude and the Atlesian way, perfectly lip-reading the words, the Schnee family present in Willow, Whitley, Winter and the hanger-on called Jacques, a man whose talent for financial gains she could respect, even if there was nothing to say about his other virtues.
"Team JNPR's leader Jaune Arc, of BEACON ACADEMY from our own patch of land called Vale, ladies and gentlemen! I'm here, Alexandrite Stones, giving you the RAW NEWS! And do we have a sizzling hot burger-beef barbecue for you today with this hot young man! A real Patriot, ladies and gentlemen!"
There was a certain amusement as her son looked like he was amused by the woman's manner of speech. She idly prodded at the food whilst she listened to the woman rant her little silly rants about Valean supremacy.
"Well, my name's Jaune Arc and I'm the leader of team JNPR. Thank you for being open to letting me be on air with you."
Her son had manners, giving a charming smile. She could hear someone give an excited whoop, the girl that had been on her child's team. A supportive teammate, she supposed.
"Glad to have ya! Some real Valean blood, strong and manly! So, I heard you're trying to go for the Argus connection with yer own Publisher from that place's own institute of Intrigue, aye? Come on, son. Tell us about what you've found thus far."
The Blau woman sat at his side like the perfect representative, decked out in an outfit that looked to suit the theme that they were going for, her son dressed impeccably, conflicting not one bit with Adelheid's own colour scheme.
"My publisher is a wonderful woman who has great heart for making sure that I become the best Huntsman that she can publish. Working with her has been a dream, and I'm not just saying that because she's a very good-looking woman, if you don't mind me saying that, Miss. Blau."
The girl's professional smile didn't even slip. Salem wondered briefly whether the girl's own hedonistic tendencies had been properly coaxed out of her by the abstinence that had been contractually enforced, before she spoke.
"I have had the joy of working with you, Jaune. Today, we're here to show the world that Vale has great and upcoming talent within its ranks. Miss Stones, I-"
The blonde woman was interrupted by a roar from Alexandrite Stones, the woman roaring something.
"The great and mighty Vale will never bow to the silly Atlesian Supremacy that is being enforced by the miniature demon midget Cordovan! When that woman comes to Vale, we will see riots, fires and death! She'll be the death of us all, grounding our Faunus populace up for her special growth tonic, drinking the blood of the innocent like it's a pep-Schnee!"
Adelheid Blau looked a little surprised by the sudden roar, as Jaune gave an indulgent smile. Salem wondered whether he was going to respond in kind, before she noticed the little twinkle in his eyes.
'Oh, you're going to meddle… Do show your kindness…'
"My sister was harmed in an accident in Argus, Mrs. Stones… The standards of the place must be dropping, if such a horrible thing were to be happening there."
The right bit of patheticness in that voice, the look at the camera that was just hurt enough and Adelheid Blau's facial features showing a similar concentrated look of empathy just sold the image of a brother agreeing with the host about the situation.
"Yeah! Innocent people being hurt, like Mr. Arc's sister! Wherever you are, girl, I hope you're doing better! Don't let it be said that we here at Knowledge Wars don't have love for the people! Cordovan's a blight on the system, just like that evil Hill woman! Councillor of Atlas, what a joke!"
The woman took a breath, her chest rising and falling, the Knowledge Wars shirt that showed clearly the outline of her chest moving a little, as she pointed a finger at the camera, getting up.
"There'll be a cold day in hell before that evil creepy monster woman with her band of Sapphic seductresses sits on the council of Atlas, or my name isn't Alexandrite Stones! I see what you're doing, woman! You'll be sitting on that seat in Atlas, leaving the good and sane people of Mantle to rot whilst you drink Faunus blood, just like Schnee is doing! Super Female Vitality! That's what you need to resist the evilness that is Atlas! In Vale we trust! Hill for prison!"
Her son and his publisher's faces were carefully schooled to hide their amusement, but Salem could see that neither bought into the woman's ranting. The other Councillor of Atlas started a speech about the workings done for the people of Atlas, the Schnee family looking as bored as they came, General Ironwood sitting there with a faint look of dull boredness in his eyes and expression, as gestures were made and comments about the 'prosperity', 'wealth' and 'delicate situations' were spread.
'Such a dull, dull gathering…'
"I'm going to be the Huntsman who'll be guarding the Kingdom of Vale in the future, once I graduate. People need a hero, they need someone to look up to."
Salem smiled a genuine smile as she looked at the expression of the young man that meant so much, knowing that he wouldn't just be guarding the city of Vale in the future…
'And when you have graduated, I will give you a throne…'
It was a soft warmth that came from her lips as she looked at the sight of her young son, sitting in his seat and smiling at the camera, the Stones woman yammering on about a true patriot for the city of Vale. He would be a patriot, a winner in this world of pain and torment…
'My son deserves nothing but the best in the world…'
"Your godson's doing an interview, Selene?"
Willow Schnee inquired, Salem's attention going to the happenings around her. Salem realized that she'd been staring at the interview, the Stones woman already on another tangent about Atlesian frog people. Adelheid Blau was doing an impressive job of keeping a straight face as she answered some questions that were ludicrous about the Argus sewer system.
"There are no Faunus bo-, no, wait, there was this case of a Faunus with an amputated trait being found dead in the sewers, but there wasn't anything there that- Why am I talking about this?"
The woman sounded taken aback by the question, Jaune laughing softly with her. The playful look that he sent to the woman was filled with that natural charm that he oozed, that he should have. The son that she should have had. A beautiful boy that would destroy the world before he would harm his Mama.
"Indeed. He is quite the young man, don't you think?"
There was a silence as the next course was being given. Willow leaned against the back of Salem's seat, one of the earbuds offered to the woman.
"Schnee evil imperialism, with Jacques Schnee like the dirty bug that he is! Back when Ol' Nick was still at the helm, they stood for INTEGRITY! Now he's funnelling Faunus bodies into the Cordovin War Machine! There's rumours, people, rumours about a giant robot death machine!"
Willow's smile was warmer, as she gave a soft laugh. Salem looked at the woman for a moment, smiling softly. There was a warmth within the woman, amusement. Hope and joy…
'Oh, I would imagine that this is funny.'
"It's more akin to a small mechanical suit for when he needs to travel on-site, really…"
Willow mentioned, which was probably the reason why the man kept such stringent security measures around him. Even here at the formal, he sat with the Council, a valuable member of the community whilst his family, his wife and his only son, sat slightly to the side. General Ironwood and his aide, Specialist Schnee, sat at the edge of the table.
"Ground up Faunus babies, people! Take your Super Female Vitality against the mind-control of the evil Atlas government!"
She checked the time, blinking in the corner of the screen, her son speaking up once more.
"Thank you again for the interview, Mrs. Stones. It means a lot to me that I can have my first interview with you and your news station."
The big woman gave a hearty laugh. "It's all going to be much bigger when we get the new studio, Mister Arc! We've got a big anonymous donation for our work, and I won't spoil it people, it'll be wonderful! New location, news reported from all the Kingdoms, all for Knowledge Wars! Know the treachery of Atlas! HILL FOR PRISON, YEAH!"
She smiled softly, as the interview cut off. Willow chuckled softly.
"His first interview… Ah, I remember my own. I was so fragile back then, just married… Jacques insisted I wear this horrible dress that made me look like a tart. I burned that the next day and bought a nice soft satin one."
She could understand the sentiment. A woman needed to wear a proper dress for the man of her heart, after all. She should shop for something suitable with Saphron. Her son deserved another visit from his Mama.
'I am sure that the master bedroom will suit us well…'
There was that desire within her, her breasts feeling a little tense, the thought of him, of what he had planned… It was delightful to see such wonder in another, such creative drive.
"I would hope that he will continue to please you, Selene."
Willow said, Salem giving her a soft and tender smile back. A good head maid might be made with the woman serving…
"He already does. It feels like he is my natural-born son…"
Salem noticed that the woman's eyes lit up, looking at the close-up of Jaune's face. It wasn't a bad thought to have the woman's interest stoked a little more.
'The entertainment of the Stones woman might be stoking the flames of rebellion…'
"Thanks again, Miss Stones! We'll use them every day!"
The massive bag of merchandise that they'd gotten from the woman was in Nora's safe hands as Pyrrha gave a soft smile, Ren looking like he wanted to be out of the proximity of the woman, who seemed to have a boundless excitement.
"Super Female Vitality, guaranteed to awaken the Sexual Faunus within you! Remember, three a day or else you'll go cray cray! Pleasure getting to know you kids!"
Adelheid looked like she was getting close to the point of breaking out the alcohol and just getting drunk, the woman pacing a little.
"We're due for the photographer, Miss Stones… We can't delay much more, but please… I'll let you know when we're going to make our appearance next, alright?"
He laid a hand on her shoulder, rubbing over it. A grateful little smile as she shifted her stance a little, the Stones woman bustling off with a moment of 'Thank you for your contribution! Atlas is going to be up in a buzz! Our reporter just gave us the scoop of the hour!' as someone called her and a quick conversation was made.
"Thanks… That woman…"
Adelheid looked like she really needed some time to herself without any distractions. Pyrrha and Nora seemed to be talking together about something, Nora holding up a small bottle, Pyrrha's face looking like she was trying really hard not to laugh at Nora's crazy plan.
"She's amusing. Mama said that Alexandrite Stones is at the very least someone who reaches a modest audience."
He had gotten the entire interview recorded as it was being played, already loaded onto his Scroll. It would be wonderful to show to his mom, who hadn't really gotten much of an interest into those things.
"Well, I guess we'd better go meet the photographer. I want that team picture looking snazzy and jazzy and whatever…"
Adelheid looked a little frustrated as Tyrian drove the car, Pyrrha talking softly to Ren, whilst Nora bounced in her seat. He let his mind wander a little, thinking of Weiss and how she'd been growing fonder and fonder of him. She was such a friendly girl, so wonderful, but he was concerned that she might be ignoring her partner in favour of him.
'I don't want her to end up lonely…'
"Are you okay?"
Pyrrha asked, her voice soft. Adelheid was tapping away at her Scroll, looking a little annoyed. That was par the course for Adelheid when she was on the job, as people rescheduled things and meetings had to be rearranged.
"Yes. I don't think there are crocodile Faunus in Argus, at least in the sewer system."
Pyrrha smiled softly, as she looked at him with her eyes half-closing, a deep sound coming from her lips that was half-sigh and half-moan. His fingers laced together with hers, squeezing her hand gently, letting her warmth feed into him.
'You're my partner.'
He looked into her eyes, the deep green colour not as confident as they should be, his other hand grabbing her fingers as well. There fell a silence, as he just stared, feeling the warmth shoot through their touching fingers.
"My…"
She was hesitant, seemingly trying to find the right tone to say it on, as her eyes looked down.
"Mother, she wishes to come visit. She's coming from Argus and she wants to know about-, about the boy that stole my heart."
Nora gave an 'OOHHH!' and Ren merely gave a soft nod. He smiled confidently back at Pyrrha. He wasn't sure that he'd stolen her heart, but mothers saw romance where there was none. The sob sessions for the Preacher soap series was almost like a weekly ritual.
"But- But it's okay! We don't have to meet her, I can just… say that we're busy."
She flushed, adorably so. He knew that she wanted him to meet her mother, simply from those moments. His hand lifted hers and he gave a soft kiss to her knuckles. She turned redder and redder, as he smiled at her.
"For you, I'm never too busy. For all my friends, I will go to the end of this world."
Adelheid cleared her throat. She looked a little touched, but there was that look in her eyes that showed that she was going to make a comment as well. It was really amusing to see her mirror Saphron a little. They were great friends.
"And what about your publisher, huh? Am I just the minion you've got working below you to finish up stuff and arrange public appearances, huh?"
He let go of Pyrrha's hand, getting up a little and turning to her, his hand grabbing her own. She had a small hand, delicate and pale, her eyes looking surprised, as he brought his face closer to her own.
"Hmm, if I'm the king of the world, you're the advisor that hides behind the throne and whispers things in my ear, Adel."
His index finger brushed over her skin, Adelheid's skin slowly flushing. "A nice dress, perhaps a little golden circlet around the upper brow… Adelheid Blau, the advisor to the King of the world…" She was turning redder, her breathing starting grow a little harsher, his body feeling warmer as he leeched the warmth from her, the flames inside his body stoked.
He didn't know what made him do it, but his lips brushed over her ear. "Or the hidden consort to the King, screaming every night as he makes her feel that ardent desire?" She shivered, her lips parting and a gasp came, as she inhaled deeply.
"Just a publisher will be fine."
Her voice was tiny, but his eyes looked into her own, staring in their blue depths and seeing something in that. His mouth came ever closer, as her lips parted, tongue sliding over them. She was his publisher, nobody else's.
"You're going to be more than that, Adelheid. You'll go down in history, if it's up to me. Adelheid Blau, the discoverer of Jaune Arc. Wouldn't that be a nice thing?"
She was hot. The heat made the darkness within him recede like it had met a wall of flame, her cheeks flashing a bright red. His hand crept up, laying on her side. She looked vulnerable, tense… Just right to take, to make feel liberated, relieved of her burdens…
"Ah-hah?"
Confusion in her voice, as he could smell the perfume she wore. A soft licking over his lips, as his eyes bored into her own. She was quivering, trembling, tensed up and wound.
"Good. Don't think of yourself as anything less than the greatest. You're my publisher, and Saphron sees you as a sister. With what Saphron's been through…"
He smiled. She had this very strange expression on her face. His hand had already strayed up, half-way around her upper body. She was warmer, the heat bubbling up inside her like a hot Jacuzzi.
"I'd rather you remain a very good member of the family, Adelheid. Saphron cares for you a lot."
Saphron wouldn't like to see her friend turn away from her. Saphron hadn't had many friends since she'd came out as liking women over men.
"Y-yes. Whatever you say, Jaune."
She allowed a little smile, her lips softening and her eyes looking at him with the hesitation in their depths, as he moved away. She looked at him and then gave a soft whining sound, going back to her Scroll. A small tune of the Scroll's notification played the death march, the woman's eyes looking somewhat amused.
"Ah, the boss thought the interview went well. She 'liked how sociable you were'. That's a good thing, because I was getting kind of nervous when… Well, good job anyways."
He smiled, aware that Mama might be calling a little later to ask how he'd experienced it. She'd said that she'd like a picture of him with his team.
'Perhaps we can get a picture with Adelheid as well.'
Surely there'd be some time for a group picture, protecting the innocent little publisher from the big bad Grimm.
After an exhausting session with the photographer and being forced into many different positions that had varying levels of discomfort, he allowed himself to relax a little, Adelheid looking somewhat amused at him trying to get the blood flowing through his muscles again.
"So, how's the feeling of being hot and desirable, Jaune?"
She was teasing him, his arms wrapping around her and lifting her up. She started to struggle a little, lifting her up effortless.
"Hey, stop! Lemme go! This isn't how I'd want it to go!"
She was half-beating on his back, acting like the struggling waif in some of the lewd comics that he'd sort-of-maybe-had-read-once-upon-a-while, setting her in front of the white screen. He signaled the photographer, a man named 'Maxi Nut', though that was apparently not his real name.
"Maxi, I think we need a picture of the good ol' Publisher with her Huntsman! My older sister would kill me if I didn't get her bestie on the picture with me."
Adelheid started to struggle a little, muttering something about that not being necessary, as his arms wrapped around her neck, his body leaning against her back. It was an odd hold, possessive and she stiffened a little.
"Sit down and get your picture taken."
It was what his older sister Rouge had told him when they'd gone for a sister-brother picture, the oldest and the youngest, and Adelheid got very still as she sat there, his arms holding her there. She looked up at him with her blue eyes questioning his decision, a smile on his lips.
She exhaled softly, and he could feel her heartbeat spike, her heart beating ever faster, the heat rushing through the contact that he had with her, the darkness inside him banished by that heat.
"Now, hold still… Yes, yes, that's the pose. Hold her tighter, Mister Arc. Miss Blau, make sure that you angle your head, yes, yes, that's like it. Give a look, look like you want to eat- yes, that's the look. Desire, passion! A publisher and her Huntsman!"
She was a pretty woman, her eyes looking into his own, lips parting softly. Her breathing was slow, yet her heart beat like she was running. A smell, deep and womanly for some reason, came from her, as he looked into her eyes. His head moved ever lower, as the sound of a shutter came and a picture was taken. A low hum, a softness as his arms tightened and Adelheid's breathing stopped, a gasp emerging from her lips at the sudden tension.
"Now, different pose! Sit on his lap, show the world that you are good for him and protected! Wrap your arms around her waist and make a serious face. Rawr! Think like a tiger, defend her!"
He sat down on the stool, Adelheid fitting into his lap perfectly, her body a little smaller than his, but still, his head appeared above her shoulder. She was breathing deeply and he could feel her rear push against his groin, a little slow waggle as she seemed to find the proper spot.
Getting hard by the stimulation was sadly just a side-effect. It had been the same when he'd been told to have all three members of his team on his lap, the positions a little awkward. He'd gotten aroused as well. Nora just hadn't stopped bouncing.
Adelheid stiffened and went very still when she felt it. She took a deep, shuddering breath before she turned her head, looking at him with those eyes questioning. A little wiggle of her rear and she moved a little, sliding up and down.
"Sorry."
His apology was accepted, Adelheid suddenly bursting into a shifting frenzy, his own breathing a little harder as she seemed to want to get into the proper position.
"Defend her, Mister Arc! Show your war face! Growl! Rawr! Like a tiger!"
He did, and she quivered on his lap. The man snapped several pictures and then motioned for them to get up. Adelheid did, and he did as well after a moment of looking at Adelheid.
"And number three, with Miss Blau behind Mister Arc."
They changed positions to the first time, Adelheid's breasts laid against the back of his head, whether intentional or not. She smelled nice, and he gave a confident grin to the camera, Adelheid's expression not quite seen, but good as well. The man snapped several pictures.
"Now, Miss Nikos! On his lap! This will be for the cheesecake shots, yes! Branding is important!"
Pyrrha hopped onto his lap easily, her fingers touching his chest, legs wrapped around him, the man looking at them.
"Lean back, let him support you. He's the leader, you're the member of his team."
With how she was sitting, his arms wrapped around her easily, her groin pressed against his own. A pleasant throb in his groin as she rubbed herself up and down, her cheeks a little flushed, but nothing that would stand out on a picture.
She looked at the camera, her professional smile on her lips as he gave a challenging look at the camera, as if he dared the one looking at them to take this woman from his hands.
"Good, good. Nice look, nice look!"
It was late in the afternoon when they were finally done with the photography, Adelheid looking a little wearier than she had before, her lips quirking into that small smile that she had whenever she was feeling good. She'd gone to the bathroom and seemingly been relieved, the sickly colour of her skin having gained a healthier flush. It wasn't something bad, he supposed.
"So, who's up for getting something to munch on? I'd better feed you guys before you go and eat me."
Jaune smiled at her and looked at the others, Ren looking a little peaky, his smile never quite fading. There was eyeshadow on, and he'd seemingly done something with his hair to make it shine. Jaune should have done so as well, but that was alas just something for later worry.
"I know this great place where you can get burgers on the cheap. The owner let me work there for a few weeks in the summer, great guy."
Adelheid shrugged, and he grinned. A good burger was worth a smile at least, in his opinion.
"Let's get Tyrian to drive us."
The man was still as obedient as he was before, having been gone for two hours to 'deliver instructions', the man having hovered in the background, Adelheid trying to strike up a conversation. The man's attention was solely on him, those cunning eyes looking at him.
They were tasting the deliciously grilled burgers after thirty minutes and a bit, the trip not as far as he'd imagined it to be. The owner of the place was a large and round boar Faunus, wearing a large white apron and a generally white ensemble, a large hat on his head as his tusks stood out proudly from his fat face.
"Yeah, enjoy em. Boar's Den Burgers are best! We're opening a new location when that pesky Count family leaves, son."
He smiled a little, the man bustling a little as he got the fryer set up with another load of fries. Nora was gorging herself on the fries in front of her, humming an off-key note whilst Adelheid looked somewhat bemused at the fries in her hand, dipping one slowly into the mayonnaise and lifting it up.
"We're his girl-pack, ayep! We'll make sure that he comes back a man that you can be proud of, Boss Hogg!"
The man usually kept to the back office, counting his money. It'd been good work for the summer, Beryl usually giving him a ride on her bike whenever she'd had the time for it.
"Miss me much, big boy?"
The teasing voice that came from behind him was enough as he smelled the familiar scent of motor oil and that weird perfume that made him sneeze most of the time, his smile soft.
"Hey Daisy. Come to work again, or did your cousin once more blow the car up?"
His vision was restored and the older girl, around twenty-two if he'd remembered right, stepped up to the boss of the place, the man giving a soft grunt as he made his way out from the fryer section, shaking his head.
"Remember! Boar's Den Burgers are good. Your dirty hobo cousins better beware, Daisy!"
The man disappeared, Daisy giving a little shake of her head.
"Lookin' good there, Jauney. That's the guy who dropped the burger before he got it to Nancy… and now he's lookin' all fancy."
She seemed to be a little hot because her top was opened up a little more, the shorts that she wore definitely not being too short. He thought he could see her underwear. Pyrrha made a deep sound in the back of her throat, sipping the drink, her fingers squeezing the drink a little more.
"He's a very popular topic right now."
Adelheid added, her knee bumping against his own, probably to signal something. Daisy was just trying to have a bit of fun.
"Yeah, that's what his sister said before she eh… Yeah. You're the… youngest?"
He smiled, wrapping an arm around Adelheid's shoulder. The woman did not move much.
"She's my big sis' girl-pal. They're not dating, but she'll be a member of the family soon."
Adelheid mumbled something about needing to find herself something that she could love soon enough, too softly. Daisy merely gave a soft 'ah-huh' as she rolled her fingers over the counter, letting her attention go to the counter.
"More fries, Fry-boy? Or are your girlfriends all going to be eating you up when you get back to… well, whatever you're doing now."
He remembered suddenly that he hadn't told her.
"These are my team, I've decided to go to Beacon."
There was a lot of things that Daisy didn't know yet. She'd broken her arm a while ago, apparently a spilling of something and her arm having snapped like a twig.
"They're cute. Sooo… which one's the one you're currently dating? The gossip might want to know, y'see…"
He wasn't really thinking much about it. Adelheid gave a little wiggle, her hand lightly pushing at him.
"We're all together with him. Yep. Nora Valkyrie's found her glorious leader and you can replace that l and an a with an s and an e for what he'll be doing to me!"
Pyrrha turned red in the face and Ren turned slightly paler, as Nora bounced a little up and down on her seat, some of her fries scattering onto the table as she bounced a little, a wild smile on her lips.
'Eesder?'
"Nora!"
Nora gave Pyrrha a look that challenged her. There was something in those eyes that promised trouble, something that never seemed to quite fade.
"We've all been talking about it since he got with Snow Princess, you can't hide that from us. Stop hogging him and start sharing him, alright? We want group hugs too."
'Oh, so it's like that…'
Nora had always been interested in getting close and physical. Ever since Ren had said something about what'd happened in Mistral, he understood that Nora was someone who needed the affection, his smile broadening. He could be the guy they came to with their problems, even if they were weird.
"Everyone's allowed to get a hug, yeah. The more closeness between a team, the better it works."
Nora was with Ren and she was just trying to get a rise out of him, even as she gave him a look that made him feel like she was giving him a look. Ren just looked at him and smiled, patting Nora on the shoulder, the enthusiasm bleeding out of her as she groaned.
"Stupid period… I hate it when those sync up. Next week, Jaune. Next week."
'Yeah, Pyrrha had that too…'
Daisy put sundae's in front of them, Adelheid raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, we didn't order this. And we still have to pay, an-"
Daisy gave a smile and then set the final sundae in front of him, giving him a grin that showed that boundless spirit of 'you're going to get the Daisy Count special' and licked her lips.
"Consider it on the house, lady. Hey Jaune, since you're now going to be this hot-shot Huntsman, give me a poster or somethin'. I'll hang it in my room, and you can come over personally and sign it yerself."
He smiled, giving a short nod.
"Sure, we just went to get pictures taken. I'll see whether I can arrange something."
She grinned, patting him on the cheek, her eyes holding something that made him feel like he was sixteen again and she'd just said that he should be cleaning the freezer. It'd been when he'd gotten sick and had to call Beryl to get him back home. Daisy had broken her arm, slipping on something, and Beryl had muttered something about 'stupid hoes' though he knew that she didn't really have an interest in gardening.
"Oh, I'll have the room neat and tidy, just for you… Let's make it a bit messier, alright?"
That was nice of her. She winked and gave him a kiss to the cheek.
"Sure, eh, but if you need a hand cleaning it up, I'm not doing the dog vomit thing again."
She smiled at him and then shook her head, going back behind her counter. Adelheid looked a little put-out, the fingers sliding over her purse. She was already half-way through the sundae, her eyes looking at Daisy for a moment, before she just started to devour her sundae, heedless of how she looked.
"Big ice-cream fan?"
Adelheid looked up, her little spoon made out plastic pointed at him. Her smile was great as she licked her lips. Nora was mumbling something about the unfairness of it all, decimating some of her fries before she went for the sundae, destroying the pristine surface. Even Ren ate his sundae slowly.
"From time to time, a girl needs to eat something cold and sweet. I should get a tub so we can share it when I get home and Saph wants to watch her soaps. She's currently wrapped up in some drama or the other, I mean… I like different stuff."
He could get that. He wasn't a huge soap opera fan, it was always something that had extra things added to it.
When they got back to their dorm, he noticed that it'd already been opened up, Weiss sitting on his bed, looking up at him. She looked really sad, a nearly visible wall of dark emotions around her, getting up and leaping at him, his body barely rocked by the smaller girl's sudden leap.
When the crying started, as well as the halting and sobbing word flood, he moved to his bed, trying to get some semblance of control over her.
"It'll all be okay, Weiss… I'm here now."
He would be there for his friends.
All of them.
"- like, so unfair! You should've been there, he was just like 'boom, bratwurst right between my buns' and- Hey, why are you laughing?!"
Saphron was making fun of her. The woman was half-bent over the table at the bar that they'd gone to, a drink (without alcohol, sadly) provided to work off the sexual frustration of having beefcake material around her all day. It'd been stressful dealing with the Stones woman, whose questions had been weird and outlandish. Who even cared about the albino crocodile women of Argus? Not Adelheid Blau!
"It's just so funny to see you getting what you wanted, but complaining about it."
Adelheid pouted at her bestie. It wasn't fair. She'd felt that bulge! That was prime real estate, prime pole-dancing dick! She wanted it, and she wanted it now. This whole sobriety thing was getting worse!
"It's not fair!"
A soft chuckle, as a familiar voice behind her spoke up.
"No, it isn't, is it? Adelheid…"
'Artemis… Whoop-tee-doo.'
She turned around to look at the other woman, who held a drink in her hand and another, setting it in front of Adelheid.
"I want to bury the hatchet, Adelheid."
The drink smelled nice. It wasn't something that smelled badly. She glanced at Saphron, who seemed to shrug. She didn't know who Artemis was, or what she'd done, but she supposed…
'Well, I guess it might be better to be the bigger woman…'
Perhaps a bit of fence-mending might not be bad.
"Why now?"
She asked, as Artemis put a smile on her lips. The drink smelled really good. Something that was just a little bit too touch to resist, making her mouth water. She sipped it. Just a little. Just a quarter, of course. She wanted to listen to what Artemis said.
"Because we're both in the same gig, and school stuff should remain in the past, Artemis. When Sabrina debuts onto the stage, she'll shine, and I don't want the past to hang over the two of us. Holding on to something when one of our clients is going to debut is going to just make it a messy affair."
It was a logical way of looking at it. You had to forgive and forget, or something. Dad had said that a few times, but it wasn't really applicable here. They were competitors, but they'd also been… well, friends, once at a time.
'Perhaps it might be time to bury the hatchet indeed.'
She smiled, offering a hand. Artemis Manilla took it and shook it.
"A bit of a peace offering… I know you like this."
'I shouldn't drink, but…'
The glass was empty and she looked at it. A few drinks couldn't hurt when she was off the job, just schmoozing up with Artemis, right? Saphron looked a little worried, but she ordered something a little more alcoholic as well, just to go along with the flow. Let's get another of those Jenever with the sweet stuff through it, that sounded like a fine idea.
"Thanks, Artie… I mean, shorry for the stuhff."
She smiled a little as the pleasant buzz went through her. Her eyes fell onto a cute butt that came wagging by, her eyes checking out the front when cute butt turned. It'd been… five glasses or so? It was just like water, and she'd drank perhaps a teensy bit more than she should.
'Hmm… perhaps I should go dancing… See whether they'd like a bit of an Argus bun stuffed… Because damn, I'd rub my butt against that dick like it's momma coming home to pound town.'
She could go for a doubles session in the bedroom, maybe a triples. Her tongue licked over her lips as she got up, Artemis giving her a look that asked.
'What were we talking about? Oh yeah…'
"I think I need the bathroom… I'll be back… Yeah, take care of Saph for me, alright?"
Cute butt just went into the bathroom. Not too bad a place to take a load off…
She could do a few loads herself. Yep. She staggered a little. She wondered briefly whether that was 5% or 50% alcohol content in the Jenever. Wasn't that a Valean drink?
She pushed open the door and smelled the scent of the men's room, spotting cute butt and someone else over at the urinals. Not her type, but she wasn't quite caring about that anymore. She just needed to get laid.
'I'm gonna score tonight… Aww yeah…'
"Hey boys… How about those big hard sausages getting polished clean by a woman in need of some dick, huh?"
'It's been so fucking long…'
Alexandrite Stones... is a fun character.
OMAKE SECTION
KNOWLEDGE WARS SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN!
"Alright, you meager maggots at Atlas! This is Alexandrite Stones, speaking from the Vale Studio! A breaking news bulletin, about the eeeeeviiiill of Robyn Hill! Them Sapphic Seductresses are crowding around Mantle, saying that the government is bad, that they should rise up... But secretly, she's sipping Faunus blood in her own apartment, her whole little harem of sapphic seductresses just serving her every need going "Yes Robyn, yum yum yum, more Faunus blood, yes!" and making good and upstanding Faunus citizens of Mantle cower with their weird ways!"
Alexandrite Stones shifts a little on her seat, an exclamation of womanly furor coming from her as she raises her fist.
"We have hot blood in our veins, ladies and gentlemen! We're here to FIGHT, and Cordovan and her owner Hill are just the symptom! Faunus Vitality prime is our new product! Our fellow patriot Paul has grown stronger ever since he started taking our vitamin supplements! REAL PATRIOTS BUY KNOWLEDGE WARS STUFF! YEAH!"
The screen behind the woman shows the image of Robyn Hill, looking as impressive as the real thing does, aged 23.
"And when we see her coming up to Atlas, you'll just see the corpses fall from the sky! That hot-headed sapphic seductress has been trying to reach out to Knowledge Wars, speaking about 'defamation' and 'conspiracy' but you know me... Fighting the GOOD fight! She'll be here, explaining about how the Faunus are being fed into the grinder to get Cordovan's new growth spurt! That demon devil midget and Hill are working together, good people!"
A banner of 'FEMALE VITALITY FORCE 1000' appears above Alexandrite Stones' head, as she points towards the camera, the viewers seeing that womanly face distort.
"BRINGING THE NEWS, EVERY DAY, EVERY TIME, STRAIGHT FROM VALE! REMEMBER IT WELL, PEOPLE! RESIST HILL AND THE CORDOVAN CONSPIRACY!"
The news bulletin cuts off, with Alexandrite Stones' voice coming through for a moment.
"I need a drink. Do we still have those milkshakes with Female Vitality Pro? Yeah, I need me some of that..."
An omake because... well, Alexandrite is a fun character.
Leave a review if you'd like!