Interlude 17: The Witching Hour: The key to a broken heart.
"Lord Kirihara, I must admit, I wasn't expecting to actually enjoy myself on this mission. But.."
The old man chuckles as he sips a cup of chai, both of us relaxing in what I assume is the Indian equivalent of a Solar.
"In truth, Your Highness? I was hesitant to accept your aid on this mission. But since you insisted on helping, Kaguya believed that I could have no finer bodyguard or companion on this trip. And I am forced to admit, you have been both proficient at your job, and superb company. I owe you an apology."
I suppose it's a good sign that Gilly and I were trusted for this mission. I was to go with Lord Kirihara, and he with Lady Sumeragi. Then again, I'd have refused to leave if...if Lelouch hadn't survived the surgery.
Bah. No use getting misty eyed like some doe eyed maiden. He's alive, he's recovering, and with any doubt, he'll be awake and full of his usual fire and brimstone in no time.
"At this point, sir? I rather doubt I'm still in the line of succession. And at this point, I dare say we have enough camaraderie to dispense with the formalities. You may call me Cornelia, if I may do the same?"
Lord Kirihara raises his glass in typical japanese fashion, one hand held under the cup, the other steadying it as he holds it towards me, bowing his head, "Of course, Cornelia."
Chai isn't my preferred beverage, but it's surprisingly good for relaxing in this dry climate. Not quite as bad as Arizona in the summer, and certainly better than Saudi Arabia.
"I do find myself impressed that a man of your years is handling the situation so well. Both having to leave Ar-..er.., Japan and the climate here in Mumbai."
Drat. Even months later, I still find myself tripping over that faux-pas.
"This is not my first trip overseas, Cornelia. Nor my first to India. Though I usually do not travel in such esteemed company, or with so formidable a guardian," he says with a wry smile, stirring a cube of sugar into his tea.
Yes, and it's unfortunate that we have to cut this short. Because the Maharajah is suspicious of why we're here. Taizo he may know of, but Taizo here after the Black Rebellion's failure? I have no doubt we have been under surveillance. India's ruler is not a man I would trust at twenty paces, let alone for clandestine affairs. Fortunately, my presence hasn't been realized yet.
"Thank you. It has been a rather vexing challenge attempting to fight in...this," I say with some disgust towards my current attire. A garment whose name I cannot bloody pronounce. Ni-rab, ni-zab? Confound it, I'll be glad to be rid of this thing! How the hell is a woman expected to even move in a robe that encumbers her every movement and a veil blocking everything but her eyes?! I've been in more danger from this bloody thing than the assassins I've foiled!
Taizo lets loose a breath as he closes his eyes, munching on a piece of bread..nana? Nami? Naad? Whatever, it's decent bread, regardless of what the natives call it.
"Having you dress as an Arab woman was perhaps, an inspired decision. I must give credit to your younger sister, it certainly meant you have been overlooked where you might have otherwise attracted attention. You will pardon my saying so, but you are a rather striking woman and one not easily mistakable."
The worst part is that I can't be certain Laila didn't come up with the idea simply to vex me, and that all the camouflage and reasonable arguments were simply window dressing. It did indeed work, but damned if I didn't hate every minute of it. Especially having to act subservient, meek, and submissive. Grrr.
The only times I'll do that, is for someone I want to, thank you very much. Certainly not every man I pass on the streets of New Delhi or Mumbai. How the Arab women haven't risen in revolt against this idiocy is beyond me.
"Yes yes, it worked superbly," I say, rolling my eyes as I sip down my tea. "But if it had come down to a truly brutal fight instead of a few scattered hitmen, I'd have ripped the damn thing off, camouflage or no. The city was dirty, noisy, crowded and…"
A knowing smirk appears on the japanese man's wrinkled face, "And?"
"Fine. It wasn't actually that bad. I rather enjoyed the culture, from what little I saw of it, aside from the rampant sexism. The poverty on the other hand?"
And there's the rub. India is a country that by all rights should be much more successful than it is. Zero's use of their technology alone says they have the potential to be a much larger player on the world stage. Potential, which is stagnated and drained by the bloody Chinese Federation. Whether it's tax money siphoned away, industry being regulated and restricted, or simple pogroms purging dissidents for complaining about the conditions, China has a firm stranglehold on this country.
A stranglehold, that I find uncomfortably familiar in more than a few ways…
My service to the empire has been a source of pride and reassurance to me. A pillar of my life telling me that I was doing the right thing, or at least, acting with the honor and dedication worthy of His Majesty's armed forces.
That it was what my lady would have wanted.
I do not apologize for my conduct as a general, the business of war is ever a grisly one. No man or woman who commands armies has clean hands or a clear conscience. Lord Nelson and King Richard the Lionheart killed many for their heroic deeds. Even our greatest female heroine, the Witch of Britannia, is despised as a fiend and a butcher by Europia.
But when I look back, what have I truly accomplished? Fulfilling the will of an emperor absent from the throne for his own eccentric projects, brutalizing people for a system that wastes so much time and effort subjugating people who could be made proper citizens of the empire. Even the damned Elevens could-!
Ugh. Damnation. It's so hard, to just let go of all the hatred and seething resentment towards them. I've spent so many years hating them, part of me baying for their blood for what they did to Lelouch and Nunnally. And now, even as I know that my sire was the one truly to blame for what happened?
I can't let go of it.
"Taizo. Tell me, how are you able to tolerate...this? Working with someone like me, whom acted as tyrant overlord over your people, who massacred countless civilians for resisting the empire, who played a part in bringing down the one man who tried to save you?"
A teacup clinking onto a saucer is the only sound for minutes as the old man gathers his thoughts, sunlight streaming through a lattice stonework covered window.
"The fact that you have deemed it important enough to ask that question, Cornelia, is why. I am eighty one years old. I have seen the Chinese Federation degrade into a festering mass of corruption. I have seen the Soviets disintegrate under the assault of Arctic Squadron. I have seen the plans of we, the Six Houses of Kyoto, burn along with my country for our hubris and greed."
His hand raises to stroke his chin as he continues, eyes narrowed in a serious expression, "Had someone told me that I would be acting as an agent for an exiled prince as the last best hope for my people, and having a friendly conversation with his sister, the Witch of Britannia, in India? I would have dismissed them as a drunkard or a lunatic. And yet, here we are."
Indeed, a strange set of circumstances to be sure.
"I could be angry at you. I could gnash my teeth and rend my clothes in rage for all you've done to my people. I could have easily decided that Genbu Kururugi was correct, that it was better to burn down Japan and take our invaders with us in our death throes."
Is that why Kururugi killed his father? Euphie said he did so to stop the second Pacific War, but she didn't elaborate on why. It would appear I owe that young man a debt of recognition, assuming he does not die fighting against us thanks to Father's machinations.
Taizo tears off a piece of bread, chewing on it for a moment before swallowing and continuing, "What would that accomplish however? You were not even twenty when the war happened, nor a commanding officer. And even as Viceroy, you could have been far worse, especially compared to the likes of the current one."
A reminder most foul that I had no need to think of. Damnation, now my appetite is curdled even reflecting on it.
"Worst of all, after hearing your reasons for your hatred of my people..I find myself in sympathy with you. Sympathizing with a Britannian Princess for her desire of vengeance against my own people. Ha, ha, ha ha..I can think of no more cruel irony for an old man reflecting on his life and where it has turned," he says, a gruff laugh emanating from his lips as he shakes his head slowly, sagging into the chair, his age apparent on his brow.
"I'm an old man, my time has come and passed. But I owe it to those who will succeed me to help craft a better world for them and rectify my mistakes. Much like how your brother seeks to build a world more equitable and just than the one we inhabit now."
More equitable and just. Euphemia has said similar things at times. Things I've ignored and tried to stifle, for her own protection. She's a kind girl, but naive. The world doesn't work that way, society only takes kindness for weakness.
I learned that lesson from all the times an open hand has been spat on, an unguarded moment rewarded with a knife in the back. Just like how Lady Marianne was assassinated.
...Then again, if I truly believed that, I would not be here in India. Lying to myself about my motivations is self-defeating. It wasn't just Euphemia defecting to Lelouch's side that changed my heart, or Nunnally scourging me for my dereliction of duty.
The unspoken truth, was that they were right. I had been punishing the Japanese for deaths they were never guilty of.
"Perhaps. But I have yet to be convinced of the power of his vision. I am here because it is my duty to my siblings, and to make up for past failings. Nothing more, nothing less."
An inappropriate answer mayhapt, but not a dishonest one. If Lelouch wants me to become a sycophant or one of his fanatics, he'll be sorely disappointed. Gods know he and I need to have it out at some point in the near future. There's too much bad blood and rancor between us right now.
"Hmm. Very well. It is not my place to tell you how to conduct yourself regarding your family. I do however, recommend you resolve this with him as soon as possible. Kami granting that he returns to us hale and whole."
Gods willing that it happens soon.
Standing up, I note the time is now past five in the evening. Time to pack and return to Area 18. Perhaps I'll come back to this country someday, it was an enlightening experience, even enjoyable at times.
Though mostly certainly not in this hideous and restrictive garb.
"So he's awake?"
Millicent Ashford nods as I walk with her in the base. It still surprises me that she and Euphie get along so well, given her...eccentricities.
"Yeah, he's been up for awhile. Took him awhile to get enough energy to do more than sleep in bed, but he's been trying physical therapy and working on a laptop."
Relief is far, far, too congenial a word for the long breath I let loose, my worries about his health fading away to nothing.
"Your relating this information to me is much appreciated, Millicent. Are my sisters faring well as well?"
Egad, what is that mischievous look on her face? If she thinks I'll tolerate the shenanigans she pulled at her school, she'll quickly learn otherwise.
"Euphemia is helping with the injured and providing counseling. She's...really good at it," she whispers in a tone that conveys her disbelief at the subject, which I can't help but agree with. Then again, perhaps I have truly underestimated her as well.
"She hasn't been troubled by any ruffians, has she? I was concerned about leaving her here given the anti-Britannian sentiment that was brewing in some quarters," I intone, casting a wary eye around the base as we travel through a hanger to one of the meeting rooms, noting the cautious optimism, albeit underlined by tension as the Britannians mingle with Japanese, Arabs, and other groups. Credit to these desert rascals, they seem a pragmatic sort.
The blonde shrugs as we pass through a door, "Not as far as I know. I hate to say it, but most of the people here hate you more. You...didn't make alot of friends last time you were here. Or in Japan."
Wincing as you say it doesn't make it anymore palatable, girl. And it's not like any would accept my condolences or apologies for my actions.
"Mincing words or dancing around the subject won't do any good. I'll bloody well own my conduct as a general. To do otherwise would be a grotesque insult to any soldier who died facing me. Now then, how are Laila and Nunnally?"
"Laila is around, we don't really talk much. She's busy with spy stuff. As for Nunnally? She's walking with a cane now, and some help from her girlfriend. It's enough to make your heart burst with joy. It certainly helped Lulu's mood," she says, smiling warmly at the thought.
One can only imagine the look on Lelouch's face when he saw that. It's good to know that much has not changed about him.
"On that note, when can I see him? We have much to discuss-"
"He doesn't want to see you."
...what?
As we cross the threshold to the meeting room, I'm greeted by the occupants, CC and old Reuben Ashford, sitting in a collared shirt wearing a work vest, his sleeves rolled up, as I stand stark still, eyes focused on Millicent, who's looking away guiltily.
"What do you mean, 'he doesn't want to see me.' Explain yourself, Millicent," my voice ringing with incredulity at the very idea. I'm his older sister, of course I should be able to speak with him! What absurdity is this?
"I have every right to see my brother, why the deuce would he deny me? I want an explanation, Miss Ashford."
The young woman grimaces and looks away from my stern gaze, her eyes pleading for help from CC.
"Milly, I'll take over. Have a seat. And you as well, Cornelia. You need to understand a few things befo-"
"I'll stand, thank you. Now what in blazes-"
My next words are interrupted by an icy cold feeling as CC looks up at me, her golden eyes narrowed, something...dark in them as her voice fills the room.
"Ce n'était pas une demande. Asseyez-vous maintenant." (That wasn't a request. Sit down, now.)
I could argue with her, refuse her command. She might be the Witch of Britannia, but I refuse to be talked down to like a chil-
"Tu es beaucoup trop jeune pour défier des gens comme moi sous le soleil qui se couche en rouge," she says with a bloodthirsty smile, her finger coyly beckoning me forward. (You are much too young to challenge the likes of me beneath the sun setting into red.)
…No. How? How can she know..?
My body slowly moves to take the seat, hands shaking as I hold the table to steady myself.
"My word, what did you say to her? My french is rather rusty," the older man says, his walrus mustache twitching from side to side as he looks at CC with concern.
The oppressive feeling fades out of the room as CC leans back into her seat, smiling congenitally as she stirs her tea with a spoon, eyes closed as I work to get my breathing under control from the shock of her statement.
"My apologies for the shock. It's been awhile since I had an unruly student needing to be brought to heel. Cornelia knows exactly what I said and why. Go on, Nelly. Tell them."
Those words, that phrase she said, the way she moves, her history….there's only one explanation for this. At this point, I might as well resign myself to being surprised by impossibilities. Though this one was clearly outside of my wheelhouse.
"It's a specific phrase meant to be transmitted from master and disciple. Lady Marianne said it to me, when she taught me the combat forms for my gunblade and Knightmare combat. Very few people know the true meaning behind what she said."
Given the available evidence, the conclusion is obvious, save for one problem.
"You know the forms I was taught. And given your age and experience as my illustrious predecessor...I can only conclude that it was you who taught them to her in the first place. Except for one problem."
My finger comes up, pointed at her accusingly, a snarl on my lips, "I don't remember ever seeing you around, or near Lelouch&Nunnally. But you knew my lady, and apparently me. So explain the discrepancy, Queen of Hell!"
CC tilts her head quizzically at me, "That's odd, I would have thought you'd...oh. Of course," she says with a sigh as she leans forward, her hand on her cheek.
"Hold still please. This may hurt a bit."
What may hurt-ARGH!
WHAT IN THE NAME OF HELL IS THIS?! What are these images, places...people...I,..I..I know her.
I know this woman. This devil queen of Zero's. My lady did teach me her arts, yes. But it was under this woman's supervision.
She is my lady's teacher. Which makes her mine by descent of the forms I was taught.
Bowing my head, cheeks hot with shame, my arm crosses my chest in a salute, "Forgive me, your ladyship. I have failed to greet you properly as befits the one who taught my lady."
CC nods, taking a sip of her tea before responding, "Good. You recall everything then?"
Everything..oh. Oh yes, I do recall that. Seems we shared something else in common with Lady Marianne.
"Yes, milady. Though I must ask, how is it that I forgot such things? And what was it you did?"
Milly chooses that moment to groan and palm her face in her hand, "Oh come on! Is there anybody in this crazy family that didn't get geassed?"
Geassed?! The clear look of alarm on my face must be plain to see as CC reaches out to hold my hand, her mouth set in a neutral pose before she begins speaking.
"Listen carefully. Your father, Emperor Charles zi Britannia, has his own geass. He can alter memories. That is why your sister Nunnally was blinded, why you could not recall our time together, and why Suzaku Kururugi has been brainwashed into the new Knight of Seven."
...Gods be damned.
"Hold the phone. That's what happened to Suzaku?! What the hell, CC?! We have a right to know this!" Milly yells, standing up, the tea set clattering on the table.
"Does Euphie know?"
The entire table freezes at that question, Reuben frowning deeply, taking off his glasses to rub his eyes, Millicent stopping mid-tirade, and CC? She simply closes her eyes, shaking her head.
"No. I have not revealed Suzaku's fate to her at this time. I will do so soon. And Milly, there was another reason I asked you to leave, or did you forget?"
Reuben reaches over, rubbing his granddaughter's back as she sits back down, biting her lip.
"Ladies, perhaps we can discuss that another time. I'm sure Cornelia would prefer to see her family soon. And unless my old eyes deceive me, CC had something to say on that note," the older man says with a twinkle in his eye, holding the lapels of his vest as he settles back into his chair.
CC snorts as she reaches into her dress with one hand, pulling out a cigarette case and extracting a..what is that? Wait, I know that smell. So she shares that vice with her husband it seems.
"Light please."
On reflex, I pull out my trusty lighter, only for her free hand to gently hold mine and turn the lighter over, the inscription plainly visible in the light from the lamps overhead.
"So that's where it went. I wondered where Mari hid that little toy of hers," her voice whispers, a lilt of affection and longing in her tone as she runs a finger over the writing.
I nod slowly, holding the lighter up so Reuben and Milly can read it, "Yes, it was one of the last gifts I received from her. It...it was a late birthday present to me. She gave it to me only a few months before her death. I've kept it safe on my person ever since."
Of all the gifts my lady ever granted me, this one was what made my heart ache the most. I kept it as a symbol of my bitter failure and regrets, a reminder of how I let her and her children down. Now though?
Now it is an emblem of my renewed vow, a promise to a lover and a teacher, and to her children, my siblings.
To never abandon them again.
My body flinches as CC touches my cheek gently, her gaze warm and inviting, welcoming in a painfully familiar manner.
"Nelly. I know how you must feel. How much you yearn to see him awake and vital. But you can't go in there thinking that he'll be the little boy you abandoned all those years ago."
Reuben speaks up at that moment, his face projecting the soothing presence of a beloved grandfather..and perhaps I do consider him mine own in a sense. He was a faithful and reliable presence in those halcyon days.
"Cornelia. You are a proud and unyielding woman. A model general and a courageous warrior. But Lelouch? He's not a child anymore. I've spoken with him, given him counsel, been there for him in those dark days after he and Nunnally found their way to us at Ashford Academy. There are to this day, things I do not know about what those two and their friend Suzaku saw on their way to us. But I can tell you this."
The man whom I would call a family by choice, if not by blood, looks me deep in the eyes, "Those two children were marked by the hell of war. Nunnally hides it well, but she was hurting for a long time. She hid it behind a mask of placidity and kindness, wanting to smile for everyone caring for her, because she felt it was the best thing she could give them."
...At this moment, my heart feels like it's going to burst, a well of deep and overwhelming sorrow rising up within me.
"She's doing better now, more like she was back in Aries Villa. But even she isn't the young girl of yesteryear anymore. I consider those two as close to me as my own granddaughter sitting at this table. And as much as I've worried about Nunnally, it's nothing compared to the fear I've had for Lelouch."
Perhaps I'm swaying in the chair, or it's something on my face, but I suddenly find myself being held by CC and Millicent on either side of me, supporting me as they move their chairs to sit next to me. I do confess, the gesture is appreciated.
Reuben smiles at the camaraderie being offered before he continues, "Lelouch though? Lelouch buried himself into a deep dark place. One he only rarely emerged from because of Nunnally. He hid it well for years after, but I saw that mask being forged, many years ago when Nunnally and he were recovering with us. That boy, no, that young man, was dead inside."
"The only thing keeping him alive was caring for his sister and the thought of vengeance upon those who wronged him so."
Lelouch..is this what you meant back in Tokyo?
"Would you like to know what happened to them during the war, how they really died, Witch of Britannia?"
"Zero, he taunted me during the Siege of Tokyo, that he could tell me how he and his sister truly died. I didn't think, didn't realize he meant himself…"
Millicent sighs loudly, "He was being metaphorical, and mocking you just to be an asshole. He wanted you to hurt from it, Cornelia. He even admitted that to me a little while ago."
"To know the feeling of being abandoned by those you love. The cruelest taunt he could think of. The one thing he knew would enrage you beyond all reason and wreck your self control. Exactly what he was counting on to use you as a distraction to beat the Siegfried."
CC's admission shakes me to my core, my eyes watering as I recall the sadistic hiss in his words, the vicious tone in his voice, as though his slender fingers reached past my breast, caressing my heart within his grasp, before slowly tearing it through my chest, ripping everything asunder as he laughed in demonic glee.
"Come at me then, Witch! Hell waits for no man or woman!"
I slump forward, eyes downcast as I think back to all the times I encountered Zero, our exchanges, the repartee, the...I suppose one could call it flirting. One particular thing stands out to me on reflection.
"All those times we spoke, not once did he ever refer to me as Princess. Only as General Cornelia. He..didn't see an older sister. Just a rival commander," I say slowly as the realization of the depth of his hatred for the royal family seeps in.
My lady's former patron hums in thought as he frowns, "Hmm. Cornelia, humor an old man for a moment. This might be an obvious question, but? Did he ever once say that he hated the royal family, or just his father? Did he ever indicate he wanted you dead, or just defeated?"
What an absurd notion. Of course he did-...didn't he?
Upon further reflection, Lord Ashford is right. Zero threatened me, he mocked me, he challenged me. But not once did he give the impression that I was a bitter enemy to him. That he would strike me in an instant if he could.
!
Oh gods. That fight over the skies of Tokyo! He and CC were trying to disable the Reginleif, not kill me! They had plenty of chances to annihilate me with those blasted Hadrons. I remember everything about that woman's skills now. She was more than capable of beating me on even ground. I recall training with her and my lady. All the times she stepped in where Marianne didn't elaborate enough on a particular point, or when she wanted to demonstrate her swordsmanship.
While her skills in a knightmare were not equal to my lady's? She was most certainly rounds level. Had I tried to fight the Gawain with a Gloucester, I'd have surely lost, even with a FLOAT system. I have to be sure, I must know I'm not imagining things.
"CC. When we fought during the siege, what was your objective regarding me?"
Her amber eyes glow with satisfaction as she leans back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other regally, "Took you long enough to ask. The plan was to crush your forces decisively, seize the Viceroy's palace, capture you, and then take Japan itself as the first step to his plans."
I turn towards her, eyebrow raised at the blase way she's discussing my defeat, "And as for my person afterwards?"
CC leans forwards on the table, resting her chin on her steepled fingers, smiling mischievously as she answers.
"Why, convince you to support my husband in the divine ambition, of course."
Divine Ambi-! Lelouch intends to go that far?!
Millicent waves her hand between us, "Woah, woah. Time out. What the hell is that term? Why is Cornelia going all googly-eyed?"
Does she not know..of course not. She's a civilian, not a military woman. Reuben I think has some idea of what it means, so Millicent is the odd woman out.
"It's an old term, one that I believe originated in the far east and made its way to Europia, and later Britannia. The phrase 'Divine Ambition', refers to the ideal of world conquest, to challenge God himself and seize the divine mandate."
My lady taught me this term, as did CC, though CC said it in a mocking fashion, as though it was something humorous to her. In hindsight looking at her history, perhaps it is darkly humorous if she was connected to as many famous figures as she's implied. I strongly suspect my lady and Lelouch were not her firsts.
"Huh."
Milly pauses a minute, taking a sip of tea as she gathers her thoughts. It's a colossal challenge. To say he will not only defeat Britannia, but the Federation and Europia as well? Yee gods, Father was an absolute ass to throw him away. If we were truly seeking to claim the world, Lelouch would have been the perfect person to succeed him.
"Soooo, I don't really have a problem with this. I kinda figured he was aiming for something bigger than just stopping Britannia, given how he's blasted Europia and the Chinese. This? This just means I have to work harder on popping his ego-swelled head," she says with a smile that lights up the room.
Followed by a frown as her brow furrows, "And stop him from making the world hate him in the process or getting his cocky ass killed."
Swirling a sugar cube in her tea, she turns to me with a mischievous grin, "Want to lend a hand? I need all the help I can wrangling him, and getting Lulu to drop his grudge against you and the non-dickish parts of his family would be a great idea."
Me? The revelation that he didn't want me dead aside, he clearly isn't in a forgiving mood after what happened, not that I blame him.
"Surely you jest, Millicent," I say with a raised eyebrow..what the deuce?
The blonde winces at the remark before raising a weak smile, "Sorry. I had a close friend named Shirley who I lost track of. I was reminded of the old joke, you know, 'Don't call me Shirley.' "
A bitter reminder that war has costs. Still, she didn't say that the other girl was dead, so one supposes they simply are out of reach of each other.
"Digression aside, how do you propose I bridge this chasm between Lulu and I? He certainly doesn't seem inclined to let the past stay buried, or bury the hatchet with m-"
Millicent raises a hand to interrupt me, "Not with that attitude he won't. He's an obstinate self-righteous megalomaniacal asshole who thinks that he's totally in the right in what he's doing."
Upon finishing, she stops and smiles cheekily at me, "Sound familiar, Nelly?"
Why of all the impertinence! This girl dares to insult me in such a manner?! I stand up in a huff, ready to cow this insolent slattern into apologizing.
"How dare you! You think you can insult me in such a manner with impunity?!"
She stands up, staring me down, her blue eyes narrowed in determination as she steels herself. I dare say she's come a long way since Aries Villa.
"I'm daring because if you try to go gung-ho in there and browbeat him, you'll lose him. And Nunnally. And most importantly to your tunnel vision, Euphie!"
..What?
"Yeah, you heard me. Euphie sided with him. Not you. Him. Because she believed in what he was doing enough to rebuke you and the shitty way the empire was being run. You're here because of her and because Nunnally beat the tar out of your ego. You're not here because you believe in what Lelouch is doing. So you can stuff the holier-than-thou looking down at me up your ass! I don't care if you're his big sister, I'm not letting you go in there looking for a fight!"
Our eyes meet in a mutual glare of hostility as I answer her, "And what makes you think I want to fight him?"
She snorts as her eyes roll, "Maybe because you're fighting me right now? Or maybe it's because you don't want to face up to the fact that you've spent the last 8 years working for the wrong side and brutalizing people who didn't deserve it across the world. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because you never bothered to ask yourself why Euphie defected, or why Lelouch wanted to fight you instead of coming to you directly and talking things out first. As general of the empire, you were taking out your revenge on the Japanese, just because you could! You rebuked the empire, but not what it stands for!"
Before I can speak, CC taps a spoon on her tea saucer to get our attention, "Nelly, you have done a great deal of work over the past few months to keep the peace. But you have not embraced being a black knight. Witness the fact that you're still wearing your general's uniform."
Stunned, I look down and realize she's correct. I haven't donned their colors, or embraced the...Japanese...as my allies. Granted, some of them were far less than eager to embrace myself or my forces, but that does not excuse my failing to set an example.
Hmm. Perhaps that's what I've been doing wrong. Much as it galls me to admit it, I haven't really accepted being in rebellion against the empire. Or that my brother has changed and isn't the little boy I once knew.
Let none however, claim Cornelia li Britannia is a craven incapable of recognizing her faults!
Lighting up my cigar, I take a deep pull on the soothing tobacco, letting the smoke rings from my exhale float in the air and dissipate. Drat. Still can't manage the ring shot.
"I apologize, Millicent. I was-"
"Just call me Milly. Everyone else does. And...you're gonna be my sister-in-law if we win this. I'd rather be on good terms with you," she says in a soft voice, a faint smile on her lips.
Skullduggery and hellfire. I should have known. Oh well, my lady did say Mill-err, Milly, was one of the few she wanted to marry Lelouch. One can't fault her, or my brother, for having good taste.
"Milly then. You were correct. I was going to barge in there and likely try to treat him as a child. Something that on reflection would have failed miserably. Galling as it is to admit, you were also right about my...motivations," I intone softly as I tap ash from my cigar into a tray on the table.
Tis' uncouth to admit such things, but better to have it out in the open now. It's not as though anyone here isn't already aware of it.
"I did want the bloody Japanese humiliated, broken, so they would understand the gravity of what they had taken from me and the rest of our family. Losing Lelouch&Nunnally tore a hole in all our hearts, even if Lelouch would never believe it. Clovis lost his mind, I lost any desire to show compassion to them, Schneizel..," I pause trailing off as I gather my thoughts.
It's hard to say exactly what Schneizel lost. He and I haven't spoken about the matter for the most part, other than him reminding me not to slaughter the Japanese for what happened. But that was more out of pure pragmatism than any sense of kindness.
"Schneizel became colder and more remote, even to those of us who call him family. He's been more difficult to read and speak openly to ever since."
Heels clicking on the ground causes my ears to prick up before a hug envelops me from behind and familiar tresses of pink cross my vision.
"Welcome back, Sister Cornelia," Euphemia's soft and soothing voice whispers in my ear as she embraces me, a gesture I lean back into, letting my worries wash away.
"I've missed you, Euphie," I whisper, as she walks around to-what the deuce?
"What on earth are you wearing?" I ask in disbelief, seeing her in a black knee length sleeveless dress, the black knight crest proudly displayed on the choker around her neck.
She blinks, then looks down, flushing in embarrassment, "Oh this? Well, I needed something better than ballgowns and court dresses. So I had this made. It's quite practical and shows my solidarity with all that's happened."
I dare say it does, at that. Well fitted too.
Taking a deep breath, Euphemia closes her eyes before she speaks, "Sister Cornelia. Can you please come with me?"
Looking to the side at the tea group, none of them have the foggiest what this is about.
"Much as I would love to spend time with you Euphie? I have someone who's been waiting a bit longer than you to see me," I grouse, taking another pull on my cigar.
My beloved sister nods, smiling congenially, "I know. That's why I want you to come with me. Lelouch is being just as pig headed as you were about Suzaku. I'd rather not see two of the people I love fight any more."
Kururugi..damnation. If I tell her now, I'll be putting off meeting Lelouch again. But if I don't, I'm lying to her by not saying it. Gods be damned.
Fortunately, it seems I'm not going to be the bearer of bad news this time, as CC has turned towards Euphemia with a frown on her lips.
"Before you do that? I apologize for not informing you of this sooner. Laila and I were correct in our original presumption regarding Suzaku. He is the new Knight of Seven. And he believes that Zero murdered you." she says with an aggravated sigh.
Long experience with Euphie's moods and humors lets me detect her silent pain and shock at this statement.
A faint sniffling and her dainty hands tightening into fists is the movement she makes, her eyes watering as her lip quivers.
"I...I see."
With a gesture of will that leaves us all astonished, she slowly reaches up, wiping her eyes clean as her gaze hardens, her hand never wavering in it's motions.
"Then I will demand recompense from His Majesty after we rescue my Knight."
Her hand reaches out, pulling me to my feet as I blink in astonishment at the transformation I've witnessed. Where has the sweet girl I used to shelter under my wing gone?
"Come with me. It's time we brought at least some of this family back together," she says, her voice filled with determination as she pulls me along, my astonishment rendering me uncharacteristically meek as all I can do is nod and follow.
"Bye Euphie! Don't let him browbeat you! If he starts acting like a dick, just smother his oversized head with your tits!"
Milly's parting remark nearly causes Euphemia to miss a step before she recovers. For my part, a suppressed chuckle escapes my lips as it becomes apparent that my dear sister hasn't quite changed that much.
"Aside from the obvious, is there a reason why we are rushing to his erstwhile lair at this moment, Euphie?" I quip as I continue to puff away at my cigar.
A sound of frustration comes from her lips as she hunches her shoulders up. Something I said?
"You have not been here, so you could not know. Lelouch has been holed up in his room working on something. Whatever it is, Rakshata, Bartley, and Nina Einstein have been in and out of the room. He's not taking care of himself and refusing to listen to reason. CC is ignoring it because he told her he was inspired, and that he didn't want to interrupt his muse," she says, the last word dripping with sarcasm.
"While I can appreciate the fact that he isn't in a depression and feeling sorry for himself? Throwing himself into some project is hardly ideal either. And after what was just revealed to me about my darling Suzaku, I find myself unable to tolerate the idea of further discord between my remaining family and lovers. So! We are going to go in there, get this sorted once and for all, and then..," she says, trailing off at the end, her voice growing faint as she stops in place.
Heeled boots rap against the ground as I hold her in my arms, gently rubbing her back as she shudders, "And then, sweet Euphie?"
"And then I am going to find a quiet place and cry for a little while, and pray that Suzaku will get through this safely and return to us," she whispers in a tiny voice whose misery speaks volumes despite it's lack thereof.
Oh Euphie. I'm sorry I ever doubted that young man, or the depth of your feelings for him. Sir Kururugi has more than proven himself a man worthy of the title 'Knight of Honor.'
"My dear sister. Never doubt for a moment that we will bring him back to you. Galling as it is to say, he's a better man than I. I refuse to let a man of such caliber suffer at our father's hands."
Her nose wrinkles as she sniffs, holding tightly to me, "Lulu is undoubtedly taking worse than I am. One can hardly blame him, considering."
My purple tresses bob as my head lowers, my lips caressing her forehead in a comforting gesture, "It will be alright, my brave little sister."
We hold hands the rest of the way, each supporting the other as best we can. After a brief period, we finally arrive at the door, a most surprising figure standing at attention in front of it.
"Your Highnesses," Jeremiah Gottwald says, raising his hand to a quick salute before resuming his guard stance, a heavy battle rifle in his arms, one of which looks decidedly...mechanized. The left half of his face is lined with red colored steel, including a collar around his neck, his orange eye on that side replaced with a robotic one, whose pupil is filled with spinning green lines constantly in motion. I could hear a distinctly heavy metallic sound from his foot as he shifted back into position from saluting.
Good god, what have they done to him?
"Gottwald, is that you?" I say, ash dropping from my cigar onto the ground as I nearly let it fall in my surprise.
"Indeed, Your Highness. Doctor Chawla and General Bartley have been quite thorough in their work upon me. The materials you see displayed on me currently are temporary. The rest will be internalized once I've finished recovering and the final work can proceed."
Reaching out to touch his metallic shoulder gently, Euphie looks him in the eye before asking in a quiet voice, "Did it hurt?"
At that, Jeremiah chuckles to himself, smirking casually as he responds, "It was excruciatingly painful at times, Your Highness. But it was nothing compared to the knowledge that it helped save my master's life. He has more than earned my loyalty. To sacrifice this body, my sanity, even my title as a Margave and my humanity, is a paltry price to pay for my continued service in his name."
Standing ramrod straight, he looks up, back lined up in a solid line, a tear in his right eye as he salutes, hand over heart.
"For my king, I would endure such agony a hundred, nay, a thousand times over!"
Such loyalty, such fervor. What is it that gives my brother such ability to inspire men and women to his side?
"I'd like to see my brother, Jeremiah."
The half machine man pauses in his salute to look at me with some surprise as he resumes his post, "My apologies Your Highness, but I was instructed that he was not to be disturbed. In particular by you. As Zero's Knight of Honor, I cannot help but abide by his wishes in this matter."
The tone of his voice is sheepish and apologetic, the mark of an officer given a duty that he does not approve of, but is nonetheless committed to carry out. As expected of a former imperial guardsman.
"Sir Gottwald. I cannot ask you to act against my brother's wishes. What I can ask you, as your former commander of my lady's royal guard, is whether this is an order that you agree with."
Jeremiah furrows his brow in thought at what I asked him. An imperial guardsman cannot disagree with their sovereign's orders at all. A knight of honor however?
While they are bound in the same way to obey their liege lord, they are also encouraged to act proactively to protect them. Which is what I'm hoping will gain us entry.
"My wishes are irrelevant in the matter, Your Highness. I cannot go against my master's desires," he replies after a moment of consideration, his expression troubled at having to justify it.
Aha. A chink in the armor. My hand raises in a gesture of salute across my chest, "I recognize the position I am putting you in. I only ask you to consider that as Lelouch's knight of honor, that you must act to protect him when you deem it necessary, regardless of how he orders you. For example, Suzaku leaping to defend him or Euphemia without their ordering him."
Tis rather cruel of me to put him on the spot with that comparison. But gods be damned, I'll not let my brother's fey moods prevent us from finally speaking face to face for the first time in 8 years.
Euphie holds her hands up in a pleading gesture, "Please Jeremiah. You know Lelouch shouldn't be isolating himself, regardless of how 'inspired' he claims to be. And we both know that he and Cornelia need to reconcile, for the sake of morale and repairing the rifts in the Black Knights, even ignoring the personal aspects. The holes in their hearts must be mended if our family is to be put back together."
Her head bows as her voice lowers, "I know that you are only trying to make up for failing him at Tokyo. But this isn't helping him. Please, let us through."
The green lines in his robotic eye rotate and pulse, his face betraying nothing of his inner thoughts, his lips set in a thin neutral line, and then instantly, he turns on his heel and steps back from the door.
"Lady Nunnally instructed me and several others some time ago, that we were not just Master Lelouch's subordinates, but his friends as well. Indeed, he himself has asked much the same of me. And as his friend? I must agree that this state of affairs cannot continue. You may proceed. I will accept whatever punishment is meted out for my actions."
Truly a man for all seasons. The two of us nod gratefully as we open the door, the sound of writing apparent as Lelouch has his back turned to us, sitting up in bed as he works on what appears to be a drawing pad.
A cough from Euphie makes him tense up for a moment, the scribbling from whatever he was working on stopping as he turns around.
"Who's the-oh. Cornelia. To what do I owe the pleasure?" he grouses, eyes narrowed at me as I look askance at his form. He looks...ghastly. Fatigue plainly writ on his features, a growth of beard on his face that must be weeks old, sweat on his forehead as his hand shakes.
What the bloody hell happened?
"Lelouch vi Britannia! What do you think you're doing?!" Euphie yells as she stomps over to the bed, causing him to break his locked gaze with me to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"What am I doing? I told everyone to leave me alone and let me work. I'm making up for lost time and getting things done. And I believe I specifically said I didn't want to speak with Cornelia yet. So I'd like to know-"
Before he can finish, Euphie has pulled his drawing pad away from him, and put her hands on his cheeks, staring intently.
"Your hands are shaking. Your skin is clammy and hot. Lulu, you're going to make yourself sick trying to push your body too hard."
He looks away, grumbling, before she pulls his face back towards her with her left hand, a frown on her face as she gestures with her free hand for me to come closer.
"Now you and Cornelia are going to sit down and discuss things congenially, like family."
My brother snarls and pulls himself free from her grasp, finger pointing out accusingly at me, "Like hell! I'll talk to her when I god damn feel like it! After she abandoned us to the wilds and let Charles exile us, why should I trust that she's here for any reason other than you? She'd spirit you away and back to the empire if it wasn't a death sentence for both of you!"
...The worst part is that he isn't wrong. I do think this entire thing is quite mad. And I certainly deserve some of the rancor he's sending my way. Not to mention he's right about my being here because it's the safest place for Euphemia. Nevertheless..
"Lelouch. I know you're angry at me, and you have some right to it. Do you truly think however that I wouldn't care about two of my favorite siblings?" I whisper to him, taking a seat next to the bed, meeting his gaze eye to eye, unflinching at the red glow emanating from his eyes and the patterns etched into his skin. Even hearing about it beforehand, it's an intimidating sight.
"You didn't give enough of a damn to look for us after the war-!" he bellows, grasping his forehead in pain as he leans back in the bed, teeth clamped together, his glowing nerves pulsing like the beating of a heart.
"Lelouch, what is wrong? You weren't in this much pain the last time I saw you. What is wrong with you?" Euphemia says, her hands on her hips, posture clearly showing that she's not amused at seeing this.
He waves her off dismissively, rolling his eyes, "Nothing is wrong. I simply stopped taking the pain medication Rakshata prescribed. It was making me too drowsy and unable to focus. I'd rather deal with the pain sharpening my senses than a soporific haze."
While I can understand someone not wanting to be dazed from medication, this frankly, sounds asinine. And judging by the shocked expression on Euphie's face, it would seem I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Her fists shake as she looks down at him, "So you're going to punish yourself for losing the Siege of Tokyo and what happened to Suzaku? Is that why you're making yourself go through this pointless suffering, brother?"
She sits on the bed, her eyes watering as she glares at him, a sullen look on his face, "You and everyone else kept this from me. I can understand not wanting to reveal the circumstances behind why it happened."
Her right hand rears back and slaps him across the face as she screams at him, "But not telling me that our Suzaku, the man we both love, is now a knight of the round acting as the emperor's executioner to avenge me?! HOW COULD YOU?!"
Our?..that explains so much. Small wonder he was reluctant to pursue Euphemia if he was involved with Lelouch at the same time.
..Good god! No wonder he looked so sick at heart when he swore his oath of loyalty! He must have felt he was being cleaved in twain.
"And this?! You think you're the only one who suffered back then?! Cornelia and I cried ourselves to sleep for years thinking about what happened to you and Nunnally! And scourging Cornelia for not looking for you two is ridiculous, when you were in hiding and didn't want to be found to begin with!"
Lelouch hisses in pain before snarling at her, "And that excuses Cornelia from her using the Numbers as bloodied punching bags to take out her guilty conscience and feelings of failure? I think not."
Before the two can go hammer and tongs again, I step in and hug both of them to my bosom, shaking my head slowly, face downturned to look at both of them.
"Please, just stop. I know I've been a wild boar run amok the last several years. I wanted the damned numbers, particularly the Japanese to pay. However!"
My arms squeeze both of them as my voice wavers, "The last thing I ever wanted was you to hate me, Lulu. Or to see you and Euphie fighting. Please stop, your big sister is asking you to be kind to each other."
"Why weren't you there? Why...why didn't you save us, Nelly?" Lelouch whispers, looking up at me, angry tears in his eyes as his beard brushes against my chest, before he shakes with silent crying, his long arms circling around the two of us as Euphie rubs his back with her left, her right holding onto me.
"Do you know...how many times I had to reassure Nunnally that it would be alright? That we'd see you and everyone again? How I had to lie through my teeth because I never wanted to ever come back to that nest of vipers? Even when we were wandering with Suzaku, cold, hungry, and afraid, she still hoped we could come home. I didn't have the heart to tell her we'd never go back.."
My lips brush against the top of his head as we all sit on the bed, three siblings lost and found again. It's a tragedy that it took all of this misery and eight years for us to finally be here in each other's arms.
"I thought you were dead. That a bombing mission gone awry had hit the wrong place. Or that the damned Elevens had butchered you in retaliation. I..I..I failed you, and your mother. I lost myself in anger, I wanted to make them pay," I growl out, holding them both tightly, as if I could guard them both from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, however impossible a task that seems.
"And then I was afraid. Afraid that I was too weak, too trusting, that I would lose Euphie the way I lost you two. I couldn't let that happen. So I threw myself into my career, hardened my heart, and earned my way to the infamous legacy of your wife, 'The Witch of Britannia.' All so I would never have to go through that again."
If there was ever a time for me to say this, now is the time.
"Lelouch, I was wrong. I wasted years of my life prosecuting vengeance on those who had done nothing to earn it. I do not apologize for doing my duty. What I do apologize for, is letting my zeal overcome my good judgement and not recognizing that I was perpetuating needless suffering," I say, wiping my eyes as I hold him by the shoulders, Euphie sitting back as he looks at me in shock.
"What?"
Though it pains me to say it and makes my heart grow heavy with remorse, I nonetheless press on, "You were right in what you said to me as Zero. As was Euphie all the times she brought it up to me over the years and I shushed her out of fear that someone would hear and use it to take her away from me."
Euphemia gasps in astonishment, her hands clasped together in surprise at my admission. I'm sorry little sister, it took far, far, too much for me to finally admit my fault in this matter.
"The Empire is wrong. The number system is pointless cruelty. And I am willing to hear what you plan to do to fix this deplorable situation, brother Lelouch. No. Demon King Zero."
A joyful cry from Euphie bursts out as she hugs both of us, smilingly brilliantly despite the tears streaming from her cheeks. Tears that mirror those on Lelouch's face as he continues to look at me in disbelief and shock, the red fading into purple from his eyes.
"I...I don't know what to say," he rasps out, eyes blinking tears away as he cautiously wraps his arms around us both.
Still smiling even as her tears wet my dress uniform, Euphie place her hand against his cheek, the light fading from his skin, "Lelouch, there is something I've been bothered about for some time now. Something I want to address now. The executions, the brutality, the aura of terror you've cultivated around yourself. Is this what you really want? How you want to be known if you intend to rule the world?"
Aura of terror? Pshaw. He's simply acting in a manner necessary to cow his forces into line.
"Sister Cornelia, don't roll your eyes at me. You know full well that what he did to that man Sawazaki was beyond the pale, even if you found it amusing," she says, giving me an expression that tries oh so very hard to be a glare, and instead somehow falls it's way into a pout.
I shrug and sigh at the chastisement. "My apologies, Euphie. I've been a soldier most of my life. One tends to develop a morbid sense of humor when one's life is on the line."
"There's a reason they call it 'gallows humor.' Because you might as well laugh when you're swinging from the end of a rope or about to be," Lulu quips, a sardonic smile on his lips.
Hahahaha. That is exactly the spirit of the thing.
An annoyed cough from Euphie breaks up our quietly laughing as she crosses her arms, frowning.
"Since I'm not getting through to either of you, perhaps I should put it in a way you'll both understand. Lelouch, do you want to end up becoming exactly like our father? Because if you keep terrifying people into submission, that's what will happen if you win."
What an absurd notion. He's nowhere near the level of cruelty of-..Lelouch?
My brother's expression has frozen, his hands shaking, his face sweating as a look of horror begins to break out on-...damnation!
"Euphie! Get his medication! We're bloody idiots! Here we are debating politics and he's been sitting here suffering without saying a damned word!" I yell out as I hold Lulu to my side while she looks among the contents of a nearby table.
"I...don't..want that...fucking pain...medication. I'd...rather...smoke..," he grunts, his arm gripping mine with more strength than I would have thought possible from a man recovering from surgery.
My left index finger pokes his forehead as I frown at him, bringing my full bearing as an elder sibling to bear once more.
"You will sit down, relax, and take care of yourself. I don't know where your accursed cigarettes are, but you need to take the damnable medication and rest. Listen to your big sister, please?"
Lelouch blinks, craning his head up to look me in the eye, his gaze softening as his right hand holds onto my left, fingers intertwining as he speaks softly.
"I'm sorry I was so cruel to you in the Siege. Please forgive me, Big Sister Nelly."
Blast it all. It shouldn't sting so much hearing that. But...hearing him call me that again after all these years makes the core of my very being fit to burst. My voice refuses to answer him, even as Euphie returns with a bottle and a glass of water, giving him an imploring look as she holds it towards him.
"Lulu, I don't know how many of these you're supposed to take. Can you-?"
"Two pills every 6 hours. No more unless I have a severe flare-up. And the next time you see Rakshata, tell her to give me my goddamn joints back."
It only takes a moment for him to swallow the pills, though his hand starts to shake a bit while holding the water and Euphie needs to take it from him. He seems so fragile, so vulnerable right now. Dear brother, why do you do this to yourself?
We can tell the medicine starts working when he sighs in relief an indeterminate amount of time later, the shaking of his hands subsiding and the stress on his face receding. Hmm. On that note? He does seem a bit rank and exhausted. And that ghastly beard is simply terrible.
My mind made up, I lift him in my arms...far more easily than I would have thought. A tactile reminder that he's far from fit and needs time to replenish his reserves and vital energies. I'd say he's at least a few pounds underweight.
"Nelly, what the fuck are you doing?" he says, an annoyed look on his face as I stride forward carrying him.
"You dear brother, smell like a drowned rat. And that horrible beard needs to go. So, since you are highly unlikely to be able to do so yourself, I shall help you."
A dry laugh purses from his lips, the shape of which takes on a mischievous turn, "Finally got Zero right where you wanted him? I shall accept my defeat at your hands, mon general, just as I said I would back at Saitama."
Saitama? What on earth-oh. Ha! You absolute cad. Though I cannot deny there's some appeal to the notion of him having him semi-helpless and at my mercy...
Hmm, why not? A little hanky panky would be a good mood elevator.
"But I'm keeping the beard. I want to see what it looks like when I grow it out," he says after a moment of thought.
Gah. Why the deuce does he vex me so?
"Lulu, be reasonable, it looks abominable. You're going to look like our father if you keep it. Now listen to Big Sister, or else I'll shave your testicles clean too," I say with a humph and a smirk on my face as he narrows his eyes at me.
"Don't you fucking dare. I will fucking fist you if try it, Nelly."
Before I can fire a retort, Euphie puts a hand between us, interrupting the discourse.
"Sister Cornelia, leave them be. I rather like the hair on them," she says shyly, a blush on her cheeks.
...Why that cunning fiend!
"All this time and neither of you bothered to tell me you'd been intimate? For shame," I say, shaking my head solemnly.
Euphemia curtsies, her cheeks red as she winks, "I'm sorry sister. I wasn't aware I was to inform you that I'd made love with Lelouch and Suzaku. I shall strive to keep you better informed of my sex life in the future."
Cheeky little minx. Wait, where is she going?
"Euphie, are you leaving?"
She nods, a sad look on her face, "Yes, I think I rather want to be alone at the moment and ruminate on what's to come. And you certainly don't need a third wheel crowding you when you and Lelouch.."
Her voice trails off as she shakes her head, wiping her eyes daintily.
"Why not?"
Both of us blink at Lelouch speaking just then. What is he talking about-
"What happened to Suzaku is my fault above all others. I should pay recompense with my time and body, if nothing else. I know when someone shouldn't be alone, Pinky Princess," his deep voice intones, resonating across the room.
He waves his arm to make me move closer to the still surprised Euphie, who's struggling to process the idea. A notion I oblige after a moment, I'm curious where he's going with this.
"Cornelia and I both love you dearly. Do you truly think we want you to suffer alone? Or that either of us would be so selfish as to deny you the joy and succor your heart so desperately craves right now?"
..Skullduggery and hellfire. He's absolutely right. We can't let Euphie suffer like this. She deserves better than that from us.
Her cheeks flare pink as I kiss the left side of her face, to which I note Lelouch had the same idea on her opposite side, "My dear sweet Euphie, do you really think I would ever want you to deny anything? We both love Lelouch and each other, so why not share the love as well as the sorrow?"
"Ouu, you're both so mean bullying me like this. It's not fair," she says in a pouty tone, but the smile on her face betrays the truth of how she feels.
"Please. I had to seduce both you and Suzaku last time because you were too shy to just go for it. And this was after Suzaku and I had fucked each other silly a few times," Lulu boasts, rolling his eyes as he smirks that damnable smile of his.
Euphemia turns up her nose as she marches ahead of us into the bathroom, "Sister Cornelia, I find myself in agreement. That horrid beard simply must go. Because I absolutely will not kiss him while he has it. And Lelouch needs to be punished for his infuriating ability to enrage and enamour everyone around him."
The man in question crosses his arms sulkily as my boots click along the ground following after the devilish little succubus.
"Gotterdammerung. Am I never going to get to try a beard out? CC kept threatening to shave this one off."
I gently set him down in a chair, cuffing him behind the head with a small tap, "No arguments. Both your sisters and your wife have said no. That should settle the matter."
Hmm, not bad. Decent sized shower, sink, toilet and...aha. That will do nicely. A large bath just big enough for three people to enjoy comfortably, if they're willing to be a bit close, and unless I miss my guess, those are jacuzzi jets. Someone clearly had expensive tastes. It's more likely for medical and rehabilitation use, but a bit of stress relief technically applies surely.
One thing I do like about my dress uniforms, they are rather easy to remove. A few buttons undone, gloves discarded, cravat tossed aside, and off the top goes.
"Hmm. Nelly, when I'm feeling better, I can probably sew you something better than this," Lelouch says as his shirt drops to the floor...oh god. He's...he looks so fragile.
A flutter of cloth makes both our eyes drift over to Euphemia, whose dress has fluttered to the ground, leaving her only wearing her choker and a tasteful pair of black side tie panties.
"Lelouch, are you sure you're up for this? You look..," she says trailing off as she bites her lip in a manner that makes blood rush to my lower half.
He laughs softly at that, running his hand through his hair, "I certainly can't be as vigorous as our last encounter. I'm afraid you and Cornelia will have to do most of the work this time. But rest assured, I'm not here to just be a dildo. Rakshata cleared me for having fun, as long as I don't over exert myself."
Argument settled then. I step out of my uniform pants, reaching down to remove my military issue undergarments, leaving me starkers. A view both my siblings clearly appreciate judging by the red look on Euphie's face, and the wolfish leer on Lulu's.
"Forgive me sister, but I simply can't help myself," Euphemia says half to herself, and half to me before walking over and kissing me on the lips, her arms wrapping around me, breasts rubbing against each other.
Gods be damned, this is exquisite. My hands rove along her back, a lusty sound in the back of my throat as one hand grasps her arse, the other holding her back as I dip her, the kiss deepening as my tongue dominates hers, her eyes fluttering in bliss.
"Mmm, sister Cornelia. Take me~," Euphie whispers in a breathy tone as I break the kiss.
A slow clapping from Lelouch pricks my ears as he sits there, cross-legged, pants discarded on the floor, his cock hardening with a drop of wetness on the tip.
"Bravo dear sister, bravo. You should know Euphie can get a bit..overheated at times. She's quite enthusiastic."
Looking between him and my sister, I help her back to her feet, "Sweet Euphie. Do you ever have the urge to both smack our idiot brother and kiss him to make him shut up?"
She giggles at that, a hand over her mouth as she sashays over to where he's sitting, planting herself in his lap.
"CC told me that I should hit him if he ever starts doing that beastly laugh. I silenced him with a kiss instead," she says, giggling as she plants her lips on his, making his eyes widen for a moment before he returns the favor.
"Ahh. Sister, your turn!" she giggles as she steps back, eyes twinkling at me in amusement.
Heh. I've certainly waited long enough for this.
"What happened to not kissing me with the beard?" he snarks, spanking her with his right hand.
She crosses her arms under her breast, mock glaring at him, "Hmph. That was an incentive to make you discard it. It simply doesn't suit you. Your face is far too attractive to hide it behind a mane of coarse hair."
As I lean over, holding his face with my left hand as the right gently caressing his cock, I take satisfaction in the shuddering breath escaping his lungs.
"Any last words before I make you kneel, Zero?"
"天下布武。" he proudly announces, baring his teeth in a hungry grin. (Tenka Fubu.)
"Well said," are my final words before I hold the back of his head, kissing him sensually, our passion and love feeding off of each other, his hand finding its way between my legs, slim fingers caressing the hairs along my labia as a moan echoes into his throat.
However? First things first.
Our lips part, both of us catching our breath as I pick him up in my arms, carrying him to the shower and setting him down under the showerhead.
"Can you stand on your own?" I ask gently, seeing him sway and use the wall to support himself.
As he starts to respond, his legs fail him and he falls face first into my breasts, his arms holding himself up on my forearms. Euphemia steps over the threshold, wrapping her arms around his torso from behind, her chest pressing against him.
"Let's go with...no. It seems only one part of me is standing at attention," he says with a laugh, kissing along my nipples, his tongue slipping out, twisting and dancing along the mammary flesh.
Seems his spirit is willing enough. Just have to support the flesh a bit. The warm water of the shower begins beating down on the three of us as I move my arms to support him so Euphie can undo her hair buns and let her tresses down.
"We're going to clean off a bit, search and destroy that ghastly forest on your face, and THEN we shall enjoy ourselves. Am I clear?" I speak with the force of a drill sergeant, glaring down at the soon to be eradicated facial menace.
Lulu rolls his eyes before speaking in a voice that nearly makes me stumble hearing it again.
"Of course Nelly. I can hardly be Leloucia with this thing on my face."
...That's...that's not possible. That voice...my lady?
Euphemia gasps in astonishment, which means I'm not imagining it. That...that was Lady Marianne's voice!
Seeing the look on our faces, Lulu sighs, looking down in shame.
"My apologies. I forgot you didn't know. I...came to a conclusion sometime ago. I'm genderfluid, sometimes I want to be a woman, sometimes a man. And as Milly, CC...and Nunnally made me aware? I sound...just like my mother when I use my female voice. I'll try not to do that again, I know you loved my mother dearly, Nelly. So I know how much it hurts hearing that."
I can hardly help the tears streaming from my eyes as I embrace the both of them, shaking my head slowly in denial. I'll set this record straight right now, I'll not foster ill feelings between us over this.
"No, no, no. A thousand times no. I will never ask you to deny any part of yourself. Whether you are my brother or sister, I love you dearly. I was taken aback hearing it, yes. But it makes my heart joyful that one more piece of Lady Marianne survived than I realized. And I'm certain Euphemia feels the same, doesn't she?"
My sister nods her head, tears in her eyes as her arms wrap around our torsos, her lips planting soft kisses on Lelouch's neck.
"Of course. I want my brother and my sister to be happy."
He sniffles at that, a smile slowly blossoming on his lips, holding onto me for support as we stand there, under a shower together in a foreign land, exiled from all we knew and love, but together again at last.
"Mara damn it, I've missed you both so much. I'm sorry we didn't meet sooner, sorry that..I didn't do better when I had the chance.."
Always blaming himself for things going wrong and taking everything on his shoulders. Seems some things haven't changed at all.
"Euphie, pass the soap please. It'll be better if he can sit down for a bit," I say as I push a few locks of hair out of my eyes.
"Don't drop it. I might not be able to resist," the sneaky jackal says with a leer, before hissing as I spank him.
"Mmm, harder, big sister."
I dare say that I may ask for a repeat of this if he does well enough, because I'm quite certain he's not in good enough shape for the kind of tumble he's egging me on towards.
After a fair amount of groping, pinching and wandering hands, we finally make our way over to the side of the bath, a razor in my hands, and a washtub set aside.
With a sigh and a roll of his eyes, Lelouch moves himself to sit down, face turned up in preparation for clearing that wretched thing from his face.
"Nelly, have you ever shaved a man before? I could do this myself you know."
A scoff issues from my lips as I hold his head in my lap as I sit crosslegged, Euphie lathering up his face as I sharpen the straight razor, "Pshaw. I've shaved Gilly several times. He rather enjoys it. Surely you can trust me to know what I'm doing, little brother."
His hand reaches up, gently touching the knuckles of my right hand holding the razor, slim fingers caressing the calluses as he whispers to me.
"Of course I do, I trust you and Euphie as much as I do Nunnally."
Damn that man and his way with words. Wiping my eyes with my free hand, I then take a moment to feel along the contours of his face, making sure there's no places where I might accidentally nick him. Fortunately, his face, despite his saturnine countenance, shouldn't be difficult to shave.
"Euphie, make sure to catch the hair in the tub and reapply the lather when I tell you, this is a slow process and I want to make sure we do it right," I say as the blade slowly glides across his cheek, facial hair falling into the wash bin, his eyes closed in quiet contemplation.
As I start working on the other side of his cheek, he holds up a finger for me to pause as he speaks.
"I've been thinking about what you said, Euphie. I was furious at Sawazaki, and various other people as I've been waging my campaign. I wanted to make them answer in the most painful way possible for their crimes. So I decided to kill a few birds with one stone, beginning with Clovis. To satisfy my desire for vengeance, demonstrate my resolve, and send a message that I could not be bargained with or corrupted in my ambition."
My sister shakes her head sadly as she hears that, "Lelouch, I understand what you did to Clovis was cruel. But considering what he did to your wife, I cannot reprimand you for it, much as it hurts. I know that what you did at Kawaguchi was for my sake. And I appreciate your protecting me. But the world doesn't need a Demon King who only terrifies those around him. You asked me to be a saving angel some time ago. Let me save you from seeing only darkness, my dear brother."
She reaches out with both her hands, gently holding his right hand as she smiles warmly, like the morning dew, "I love you dearly. I would be a terrible sister and a terrible partner to you if I let you keep hurting yourself and lashing out at a world you denounce for it's cruelty, without trying to show you that there's more than hatred and cruelty in this world. You can be a Demon King, Lulu. But no one ever said a Demon King can't be a hero as well."
Are my eyes watering from soap? No, I dare say Euphemia li Britannia has proven once more why even someone like Zero would kneel to her.
"...Everytime I think I can't fall for you any further? You prove me wrong. It is by your perseverance, your courage, your compassion, that Cornelia and I have found the love we held for each other again. It was your attempt to create the SAZ and rebuttal to my cruel words, that demonstrated that I could never defeat you. And it is your love and generous heart, that will let us save Suzaku from what Charles has done to him," Lulu says as he starts to sit up, a broad smile on his face, the lather making his beard look like fluffy white clouds.
Only for Euphie to gently push him down with a finger and a wink, "Let Sister Cornelia finish before you try to kiss me. You already had your freebie, brother Lelouch."
Rinsing the blade off, my left hand turns Lelouch's face so I can get a proper angle for the blade, "This will take me another fifteen minutes at least, so do be patient and hold still. And Euphie, don't cock tease him, he's having enough trouble controlling his ardour."
The adorable pout on her face almost makes me laugh out as I gently scrape along his lips with the utmost care. The trick to using a straight razor is making sure that the skin you're shaving is properly prepared and kept wet & lathered as you work. Speaking of which?
"Euphie, I need to clean the razor a moment, can you relather his face and neck?"
Nodding, she takes the brush, swiping it like a paintbrush across his face, the shaving cream seeping into his pores as he looks on, decidedly unamused.
"Euphie, is this how you shave your legs? Because I can tell you firsthand, this is not the right technique."
Her hand darts out, batting at his chest, "Well if I'm not good enough at it, you certainly can do it yourself, you bloody ingrate!"
Instantly her hands move to cover her mouth as she flushes red, mortification written clearly on her face.
It takes me only a moment for Lulu & I to burst into laughter at the sight.
"Hahahahaha!" "How is her swearing so cute? Hahahahha!"
Lack of attire aside, this feels..nostalgic. Like a time once lost suddenly appearing before my eyes.
"Hehehe, this was worth the pain of the last few days. Getting to see cute innocent little Euphie cursing out loud, hahaha," Lelouch chuckles, holding his sides, the lather on his face only half done.
My pink haired sister puts her hands on her hips, a pouty expression on her lips as she turns around, offended. While I can certainly appreciate the view? We should probably curb her annoyance at us.
"Alright, alright, that's enough. We're sorry for laughing at you, Euphie. Come here, I'll show you how to properly lather a man's face for a shave. That way you can practice on Suzaku or Lelouch next time."
She turns around slowly, an immaculate eyebrow raised as her chest rises and falls with her breathing...best not to focus on that whilst I am still armed with a razor.
"Very well. I will forgive you just this once," she says in a tone that would be haughty and imperial, were strands of her wet hair not over her face and her cheeks not cherry red.
Taking her hand carefully, I move her through the motions of applying the lather on one side.
"It isn't simply a single brush stroke. One must carefully cover every spot and ensure it seeps into the skin. The reason for the shaving cream is to prevent razor burn and ensure the hairs on a man's face and neck stand up straight to be cut by the razor's edge. And yes, as Lelouch so rudely remarked, the same principle applies when shaving one's legs," I say, rolling my eyes as the incorrigible scoundrel smiles cheekily.
"Hey hey, I had to learn that one from experience myself. Keeping my legs groomed was essential for wearing pantyhose and stockings. Milly walked me through it the first time."
Perhaps it's a mark of how odd a turn our lives have taken that my brother remarking on the proper wearing of feminine legwear elicits no reaction other than a smile from me. I do admit I didn't really go into depth on proper shaving technique the last time I explained it to Euphie, though that may have been more because she was too embarrassed at the time. Twelve is a perfectly respectable age to learn such things...oh.
In hindsight, it may have been whom was explaining it to her rather than what was being explained.
Annnd, finished. Just a quick inspection and wash..and my my. He does look fetching once he's been cleaned up a bit.
"See something you like?"
Before I can answer the cheeky git, my little sister is on top of him, grinding her hips against his as she kisses him.
Now there's a sight for lusty eyes. What to do- ohh! I gasp as I'm pushed down, my legs are pulled open, and two hungry mouths start slathering over my labia.
"Mmm, tastes like, ahh, raspberries. Don't you agree, Euphie?"
My breath hitches as a silky tongue teases along my clitoris before planting a sucking kiss on it.
"Muwah. I quite agree, Lulu. I never realized I'd enjoy the taste so much!"
Ah ah ah! Where the blazes did she learn how to do that?! And why in god's name did I not ask her to do this sooner?
As I gasp and moan, Lelouch crawls on top of me, holding my cheeks with his hands, eyes lit up with ardour as he kisses me, our lips touching like a sweet caress of rose petals. Mmm, not bad little brother, not bad.
Breaking the kiss, I let a husky purr as my fingers cup his arse, "Do I have you to thank, ahh, for Euphie's new found talents?"
The girl in question stops her ministrations to pop her head up from between my legs, "Oh I learned from watching Suzaku do it the first time."
Clever boys. I turn my gaze to Lelouch, whose fingers are dancing along my breasts as he plants kisses along my neck and shoulders, "Let's get you in the bath, that way I can do more of the work to spare your no doubt limited stamina."
Ha! The look on his face says he's both grateful and offended that it's true.
Sitting up, I lift his legs up, and with a bit of help from Euphie, maneuver him into a seat in the tub, setting the jacuzzi jets on at a low enough setting that they won't disturb us while we play.
"Come now Lulu, don't be a sourpuss. I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunity to..set the record on your prowess straight later?" I say in a slow teasing tone in his ear as he shivers, sitting back in the tub, letting out a sigh of relief.
"I swear to Mara, I will make both you devilish and vile succubi pay for this. I am better than this, damnit. Just..not at the moment," he grumbles as he stretches out in the water, letting the motions massage his body for a few minutes before sighing.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. I'm just used to being a far more active participant in sex," he says after a moment, a chagrinned look on his face as I enter the tub, settling myself in his lap and guiding his hands to my hips as I embrace him in a hug.
"There is no shame in admitting one's weakness in a time of recovery. You need not put on airs for me or Euphie. We're family, Lelouch. That means you can let down and be yourself among us."
Feeling his length pressing against me, I gently move my hips to let him inside me, letting out a low moan as I rock my vagina along his phallus.
All while a red faced voyeur with pink hair is shamelessly masturbating right next to us, her violet eyes alight with passion.
No reason to leave her out of the fun. My left hand slides between her legs, fingers diving in like a paratrooper unit conducting a night assault on an enemy base.
"Ouuu!"
Successful assault. Commence entrenchment of position.
My fingers enter, two, three at a time, combing the depths of Euphie's opening as my own grips and writhes on Lelouch's cock. Gods be damned, when was the last time I just...let down?
A fine bit of hypocrisy on my part, telling Lelouch to let down and be himself when I haven't done the same thing with anyone save Guilford in years?
Oh to blazes with it. I can't change the past, so I might as well work towards something bett-ahh!
My voice cries out as my arse is rocked by a strike upon the cheeks, a panting Lelouch rearing back his hand for another hit.
"I did promise you I would hit that ass like an airstrike, big sister," he says with a cackle as his hand slaps against my posterior once again.
Why you insolent little-! You think you can get away with this with impunity? Witness what happens when you trifle with the Goddess of Victory, Demon King!
With an effort of will, I intensify the movement of my hips, clutching tighter onto him with the inner walls of my core, a triumphant smile on my lips as he gasps, hands holding onto my sides while I wrest control of the pace from him.
"Ah, ah, not so, ah ah, confident now, rapscallion?"
Given the look on his face, he's rather enjoying the tables being turned. Much as I would enjoy stepping up the pace, I doubt he'd have much energy left by the end of it.
And that would hardly be fair to Euphie who-ahhh! Little vixen has her mouth around my right nipple! My moans keen to a higher pitch as the crescendo rises in our shared passion. Ah, ah, ah, ah! Now Lelouch, seeing my siege falter, has launched a counter assault on my unguarded left breast, the sneaky blackguard!
"Nelly, I can't hold-!" "Sister, I'm close-!"
One for all, all for one then, as Dumas says. Excelsior!
"Cum with me then, my lovely siblings! AHHH!" "SISTER!" "NELLY!" my voice cries out in release, joining Lelouch and Euphemia in a trio of high notes as I feel the walls of her vulva constrict and juice around my hand, and Lelouch's cock engorge before discharging his own passion deep inside my vagina, causing my back to arch, long purple tresses flipping backwards from the sudden motion.
Panting as my inner walls spasm, milking the last of Lelouch's essence from him, I settle myself into his lap, planting a soft kiss on his lips as he holds onto me, his energy spent for the moment. My eager sister turns my head to engage me in her own kiss as she grinds herself against me, her right hand caressing Lulu's bare chest.
"Mmm, may I assume I lived up to your expectations, Goddess of Victory?" the man who would claim the world says, his face clearly showing what I hope is temporary fatigue.
Despite my legs protesting moving, I manage to move myself off his erection and settle into a seat next to him, luxuriating in the feeling of the pulsing water jets.
"Quite satisfactory, considering your current condition. Though I fear you've exhausted yourself too much to give a round to poor Euphie here."
He raises an eyebrow...along with his middle finger at me. Really, brother? Flipping the bird?
"When did you become so uncouth? I seem to recall you were much more polite as a child."
Euphie maneuvers herself into the tub, a goofy smile on her face as she leans her head against his left shoulder, myself on his right side.
"Nelly, let's not spoil the moment by my listing off a litany of the bullshit I've dealt with. Let's just say I've seen and been through some shit and leave it at that, shall we?" he says in an exasperated, but cheerful tone. Perhaps he's right, plenty of time to trade horror stories later.
"Here here. I for one am enjoying the company and ministrations of two of my favorite people in this lovely jacuzzi," my pink haired sister chirps as she wiggles around to lay across our respective laps, her hair trailing out on the surface of the water like some form of cephalopod. Or perhaps a mermaid, were I feeling more poetic.
"Lelouch, I have a question, what was it you were working on before we barged in?"
I only caught a glimpse, but it looked..intimidating.
"Ah, that. Secret project that's going to be in the works for a few months. Along with some other plans. Some of which I'll be explaining soon. The design phase is finishing up, the mad scientists are going to start production on that and the other ideas within the next few weeks. Between input from CC, myself and the science loons? We should have something impressive to show off in the near future. Ha ha ha ha ha ha…" he says, trailing off to start laughing to himself, a devilish smirk blossoming on his face as he sits up in the bath, his stamina clearly reviving from his second wind.
"Oh! Did someone just poke me? I felt something prodding at my derriere," Euphie exclaims, blinking cutely, an expression of complete innocence on her face. Alright, now I'm certain she's doing this on purpose. There is no possible way she's unaware of how enticing she appears at the moment. Particularly given the wiggling of her hips on Lulu's lap.
"Really Pinky Princess? You can't wait five minutes for me to catch my breath?" he says with a roll of his eyes as he reaches under the water with his left hand, a gasp of exclamation bursting from Euphie's lips a moment later as she sits up in surprise.
"If you're going to be a pain in the ass? You can take it up the ass," he whispers seductively as I yelp from his right hand wandering and grasping my own.
My hand reaches down, grasping his around the wrist as I give him a flat look, irritation displayed on my brow.
"Lelouch. I appreciate that you are feeling randy, but are you certain your reach is not exceeding your grasp at the moment? Or that Euphemia is interested in-"
"Oh I don't mind. I rather enjoyed having Suzaku and Lelouch both inside me at once," she cheerily replies as she wiggles her arse at me.
...At this point, I should just accept that Euphie has inherited the familial libido and not be surprised anymore. She's old enough to make her own decisions, so why..?
Why does this bother me?
I blink in surprise as Lelouch and Euphemia both wrap their arms around me, looking up at me with warmth and affection in their violet orbs.
"Sister Cornelia, don't feel bad about my not telling you about what I've been doing. Or feel left out. I'll always be there for you, and I'll always love you. I'm sorry I abandoned you in Tokyo. I..I just couldn't stand it any longer."
She lets out a whimper as she buries her head in my chest, "I never wanted to hurt you, I just thought you'd be able to take care of yourself. That it would be easier if you weren't constantly afraid someone would take me from behind your back-"
Not another word escapes her lips before I find myself blubbering like a child and holding her tightly, quiet aching sadness leaving my body like water down a cistern.
"Oh Darwin, I never wanted you to leave. I'm sorry, my baby sister. I drove you away. I did it with my pigheadedness, my unrelenting anger, and my blind foolish trust in an empire that hasn't deserved my service in many years…"
A kiss marks my cheek as Lelouch gives me a solemn look, some strange notion of morose understanding and remembered pain in his gaze.
"I'm sorry too. I was angry and vengeful. I never should have forced Euphemia to choose like that, even if I never thought she would defect to my side. Or scarred your heart so. We...we were both stubborn fools, weren't we, big sister?" he speaks with his voice full of dark mocking humor.
Clearly it's a familial trait. But the past is the past. We're here now, and that's all that matters.
"Yes. Yes we were, little brother. Come what may, I'll be here by your side from now. I won't abandon you, Nunnally, or Laila again. You deserved better from your big sister, and by jingo, that is what you'll have."
The two of them lie against me, content smiles on their faces as we bask in the warmth of the flowing water.
"...I do hate to interrupt the mood, but...Lulu...are you still able to..," Euphie mumbles after a few minutes, a blush on her face as she squirms in both your laps, hands roaming around between our legs.
Ha ha ha ha ha! Yee gods, where has this vixen in heat been hiding?
As I laugh heartily at Euphie's gift at icebreaking, Lelouch takes the opportunity to slip inside her rearguard, holding her hips gently as he kisses her, rosy lips meeting as her hands hold his face.
"Muwah. Before I forget? Cornelia, please summon the Glastons for a meeting tomorrow with the command staff. I just got an idea."
"Really? Just now? While you're inserted inside my behind? I really do not understand how you can focus on your planning right now, dear brother," Euphie says with a flat look as she grinds herself on him, while I take a moment to catch my breath from laughing.
"What are you, ha ha, thinking?"
At that moment, Lelouch's demeanor seems to change, a certain feeling descending on the room, his presence growing and enveloping both of us as his words resound with a level of gravity and weight that his nudity fails to belie.
"I believe it has been long enough that I have need to remind everyone of just what they're fighting for, and why they fight in my name. It is time Zero, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, reasserted command of the Order of the Black Knights."
Well now. A masterful countenance indeed. Small wonder I was enamoured with him even as an enemy. What more can I say save for..?
"By your will, Demon King."
And just as quickly as the weight had fallen upon us, it vanishes in an instant as he kisses me full on the lips, whilst flexing his hips upward into a gasping Euphie.
"But for now? We relax and blow some steam off. I might conk out after this round, I'm starting to hit my limits. Which means? You're going to have to handle the rest of Pinky Princess's libido yourself, Nelly. Try to haul me out of the bath first though," he says with a wink and a cheshire cat grin more at home on Millicent.
I sink to my knee, giving him a saucy look as I get a first hand view of him rogering my sister, which I dare say is an intoxicatingly erotic sight. Enough my left hand is between my legs, and my tongue is already sliding along her arse while my right hand caresses his testicles. Gods bless the joys of incest.
Guilford is going to find this riotously funny. And likely be amorous himself after the telling of the tale. I do hope he returns soon, I miss him dearly. But that's a concern for another day. For now?
"Mmm, very well. I shall do my best to keep my randy brother and sister well satisfied~."
For now, excelsior!
