Chapter 35 The Not-Fun Kind of Friction

A much longer while later, Jack was getting his clothes back on, while Misty was nakedly stretching her legs in the bathroom, juices still dripping out of her. "Not sure why I keep putting myself through this..." Misty said.

"What do you mean?" Jack asked as he pulled his pants over his underwear.

"Gonna be walking off-kilter the rest of the day..." Misty said, pointing at him. "Yeah, that thing between your legs definitely got bigger."

"You had it inside you on Saturday night." Jack fired back, remembering the night each of his Brides had taken a turn with him.

"Yeah but I was way drunker... And not out in public." Misty grunted.

"I wonder how Flannery's doing..." Jack thought out loud. Before he'd pummeled Misty's womanhood with his cock, his hand had done a lot of work on Flannery's backside. He remembered Misty sucking on the sexy, submissive, bartender's titties as he took her from behind.

Misty sighed. "I bet we'll both be walking funny."

The two finished getting dressed, and Jack noticed his phone only had one text, coming from Ursula, informing him she had arrived. "Well, fun-time's over." Jack said. "Ursula's in the building."

"Maybe you can fuck her to the point she can't walk. Then you can leave her behind." Misty suggested jokingly.

"That can always be 'plan B.'" Jack replied with a grin.

"But then what's 'plan A?'" Misty asked him.

Jack shook his head in frustration. "Working on it..."

When Jack and Misty got back to the bar, Flannery was walking much more slowly behind it. "There you two are. Where'd you go?" Flannery asked.

"To sober up." Jack lied. "Now I'm ready for another round."

Misty gave him a look of concern. "You may not want to drink too much around her..." Misty warned him.

"If Irida's there, I'm going to need a couple drinks to stomach the sight." Jack replied.

"Two shots of tequila and two Alolan Blues please..." Jack instructed.

"Coming right up, mas-" Flannery caught herself. "S-sir..."

Jack did his best to stifle a laugh. After taking their shots and sipping on their drinks, Jack texted Ursula.

Jack: Just got a couple drinks, where are you at?

Ursula: Giovanni's spot.

Jack rolled his eyes. That was where he'd had his initial meeting with Giovanni, it was on the opposite side of the atrium from where the Draconid elders were seated. Up the elevator and around the atrium, he saw Ursula's distinctive hairstyle and Giovanni in the booth he'd been at just under a week ago. "Time really flies..." He thought to himself as he made his way to the cocktail lounge.

He saw Arezu and Mai at the bar, both of them with cocktails in hand. He noticed Irida sitting between Giovanni and Ursula, looking rather uncomfortable.

"There you are, Mr. Cobal." Ursula called to him. Jack waved and kept his Alolan Blue in hand.

"Ursula, Giovanni." Jack greeted as he stood over the table, Misty by his side.

"I believe there's a spot at the bar for your attendant." Ursula noted, doing a "shoo" motion her hand.

"Attendant's a funny word for one of my brides." Jack said, taking a seat, inviting Misty to join him.

"Bride?" Ursula asked.

"It's what my girlfriends call themselves. How many brides are there?" Jack said, turning to Misty.

"Four- wait, five." Misty said. "Can't forget we added one last night."

Ursula's eyes investigated Jack suspiciously.

"Five's not too shabby. Better keep him away from the strip club. He'll double that number." Giovanni interjected with a chuckle.

Jack noticed the careful phrasing Giovanni had used to indicate he was playing along. "The go-go dancers at the club on Friday were so hot I can't imagine how the strippers would be even hotter."

Ursula sighed. "Irida, have you ever been to a strip club?"

Jack noticed Giovanni's slight grin turned into a noticeable grimace.

"No, Mistress Ursula." Irida replied meekly.

"I think getting you trained as a stripper would be very beneficial for my family." Ursula said, her eyes glancing at Jack. "Mr. Giovanni, any chance you're looking for another stripper to join the ranks of your esteemed collection of ladies?"

Giovanni chuckled. "Well, maybe. Not sure this girl here quite has the approach for it. Little too shy for my club."

"That can be changed." Ursula said, glaring at Irida, who shrank into her seat. "And I suppose we'll have to get her quite a boob job to make any money?"

Jack turned to his drink and took a sip, trying to ignore the conversation. "I bet the conversation with Mai and Arezu would be way better." He thought to himself.

"And what do you think of that Irida? Having breasts so big you'll have back problems the rest of your life." He heard Ursula say.

"W-whatever you wish, Mistress Ursula..." Irida squealed.

"This is just wrong." Jack thought. He glanced at Giovanni who watched with a poker face.

"Big breasts aren't the big selling point." Giovanni said. There are plenty of dancers at the G-Spot who are flat." Giovanni explained. "It's all in the the way a girl carries herself."

Ursula grimaced. "Well I'm afraid we've got a long way to go with you, Irida." Ursula said, disapproval coating her voice.

"My apologies, Mistress." Irida said.

"You always just seem so brow-beaten. Why can't you be more enthusiastic about doing my will?" Ursula critiqued.

Irida's face froze, but her hands began to shiver.

"Because of you." Misty retorted. Irida's frozen face turned to Misty and shook her head.

"Oh really?" Ursula asked, glaring at Misty. "Just because you're Jack's temporary cock-sleave-"

"ExCUSE ME?" Jack interrupted. "Did I hear you right?" He asked, giving Ursula an out.

Jack noticed Ursula's eyes glare at him for a moment before changing her attitude. "I..." Ursula took a deep breath.

"You called me a 'cock-sleave' did you not?" Misty said.

"I-" Ursula paused once more, her brain seemingly trying to generate an answer. "I get very bothered when people who weren't invited to a conversation interject their meaningless opinion into it."

"Not even an apology, wow, you elitist cunt." Misty said. Ursula gasped.

"Good-bye then." Jack said, trying to be calm as he got up from his seat. "Thanks for the venue Giovanni."

Ursula gritted her teeth. "Mr. Cobal, I wasn't finished speaking with you." Ursula said.

Jack took a few steps before turning around. "Not everyone is your slave like Irida is." He turned back around, eyeing Arezu and Mai to make sure they didn't pull anything.

Jack's blood felt quite hot as the two got out of the cocktail lounge. "Sorry I even put you in that situation." He said to Misty.

Misty giggled. "I'm actually kind of glad we didn't have to sit and bear that awful spectacle any longer. And I got to call her a 'cunt.' So worth it."

Jack laughed, and gave Misty a kiss. "I'm starting to get a little hungry, want to get something to eat?"

"Sure."

The two grabbed a burger at a spot a block away from the Battle Club, and made their way around the marina district, basking in the perfect coastal air. When Hilda informed him she was arriving soon with Zinnia, Lillie, and Bea, the duo made their way back to the Battle Club. Action had picked up quite a bit, with the battles beginning in a couple hours.

Jack and Misty made their way back to Flannery's bar, which Shelly had now joined behind the bar-top. It was much more packed than when it had been earlier, and a number of people were hovering at the bar waiting to get drink orders in. Jack decided to wait for the people in front to get their orders in, but Flannery pointed at him.

"Hey Jack, Misty, what you havin'?" She called out.

A couple of the guys in front of him turned around and glared.

"Couple shots of tequila and a couple Alolan Blues." Jack said.

One of people infront of them a tanned young woman with dark hair and green streak in it, turned around. "Hey, they just got here." She said in protest.

Flannery shrugged. "Yeah, but they tipped me more than I make on a busy Friday." She said, getting to work on his and Misty's order. The young woman sighed.

The young woman was quite cute, and he immediately felt bad, regardless of who was to blame. He stepped closed to her. "Can I get your next round?" Jack asked.

She shook her head "I'm fine, thank you though."

She said as she got the setup for the mixed drinks.

After taking their shots, Jack got a tap on the shoulder. He turned around expecting, Zinnia or Hilda, but it was Arianne. "Boss wants a quick word." Arianne then turned to Misty. "Alone."

Jack sighed. "Figures." Arrianne didn't lead him to the third floor like expected, but to a balcony overlooking the atrium on the second floor.

"Hope Misty and I didn't ruin too much." Jack said.

Giovanni shrugged. "It was all a setup. Ursula's whole dumb scheme is to get me to try to patch things up with you and her."

"And how come we're not doing this in your spot?" Jack asked.

"She might've bugged it." Giovanni said. "Arezu and Mai are pesky bitches."

"I bet..." Jack said. "I'm glad we didn't have to endure that shit with Irida any longer."

"Yeah." Giovanni said lowly. "Horrible stuff. And that's coming from a guy who's ordered over a dozen people killed."

Jack nodded, trying not to be too surprised. "Part of me really wants to help that Irida girl, but I'm not sure how... Any chance the Veilstones go bankrupt?"

Giovanni shook his head. "They're solid as a rock. Only feasible way would probably be to blackmail Ursula..."

"And I'm no good at that." Jack said, hoping Giovanni got the hint.

Giovanni smiled. "Those days are behind me too. But I do hate having to walk on egg-shells in my own place."

"So what was the next phase of her dumb little plan?" Jack asked.

"She'd come up to you and Misty during the battles and apologize to try to show some humility. As a peace-offer she'd suggest bringing you and your girls over to their prime seating. I told her you'd say no to that, but she thinks you would." Giovanni explained. "This cunt's in her own bubble."

"Yeah."

"Then she'd basically get you drunk and try to get Arezu to get on the good side with your girls, she'd take you and the girls to Arezu's hotel room, get you to black out and wake up with Ursula next to you and claim you got her pregnant." Giovanni said. "Really dumb plan."

"I got plenty of stuff to do after the match. The Draconids..." Jack then explained the conversation.

"Yeah they're stubborn." Giovanni said after hearing the entirety of the story. "You think Zinnia goes back?"

"Highly doubt it." Jack said. "But she's hard to predict. I sure hope she doesn't."

"She owes you..." Giovanni said.

"Yeah, I don't want to hold that over her head though." Jack replied.

Giovanni turned his head and seemed to take an interest in what was behind Jack.

"Wassup?" Jack asked.

Giovanni's glare narrowed, and Jack turned to see Anabel and Selene.

"Hey there Mr. Cobal!" Selene called out enthusiastically. "And look who it is, my old boss..."

Jack noticed Anabel seemed stone-faced.

"Ah, my least favorite customer." Giovanni said with a chuckle.

"Least favorite?" Jack asked.

Anabel smiled. "He thinks I'm the only reason Selene left the G-Spot."

"Well you certainly didn't help." Giovanni said, looking at Selene's body. "Those breasts of yours are really starting to grow. At least a few cup sizes since I last saw you."

Selene smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, finally having them grow in I guess."

"Mr. Giovanni, do you mind if we steal Jack away for a minute? There was something we wanted to speak to him about." Anabel asked.

"Of course." Giovanni said. "Enjoy the Club, everyone." He then took his leave.

"So what's up?" Jack asked Anabel. Anabel took Giovanni's spot, leaning over the glass overlooking the atrium, a glass of brown liquid with ice in her hand.

"The Aether stuff." Anabel said. "You said you had some valuable information for us about our investigation."

"Oh yeah..." It took him a couple minutes to explain everything, and how he figured Cosmog was the target, and that a dangerous person was likely going to raid his property while he attended Aether's dinner party.

Anabel nodded. "Great!" Selene cheered.

"I think 'troubling' is more of the word I'd look for." Jack replied.

"Trail's been cold for a bit." Anabel said. "If we could maybe capture this person..."

"Not sure you can count on that. Giovanni was pretty spooked about her." Jack said. "That's very troubling."

"Yeah..." Anabel said. "But if it's truly Lusamine orchestrating this, she won't want to harm her own daughter, just get that little puffball back. Do you have a panic room or anything secret that Aether wouldn't think to look into?"

Jack chuckled, realizing the basement would be a perfect hiding spot, if he could open it. "I do have a panic room I bet they expect I have." Jack said. "But there's a secret basement I have too."

"Secret basement sounds promising." Selene said cheerfully.

"Problem is the way in is so secret I haven't figured it out yet." Jack said.

"Fudge." Selene said.

Jack eyed her weirdly. "You don't have to censor yourself around me..."

Selene's eyes darted to Anabel a couple times.

"Cursing while doing detective work isn't how a member of the IP should conduct themselves." Anabel explained.

"So you're a detective now, Selene? Congrats!" Jack assumed.

Anabel face-palmed, while Selene cheered. "Yup!"

"Not exactly..." Anabel said. "She's still free-lance-"

"You're not saying no." Jack said, giving Selene a high-five.

Selene gave Jack a hug, and put her mouth to his ear. "Wanna suck on these bigger, milky titties of mine?" Selene whispered.

Jack felt his loins stir. "Yeah-" He then saw Ursula, Irida, and Mai approaching. "Fuck." He cursed, leaving Selene's embrace.

"Huh?" Selene asked, then turned around.

"Irida Acuity?" Anabel asked aloud.

Jack turned to Anabel. "How do you know her?"

"Her family has helped the IP a few times..." Anabel said. "I had a case in Sinoh last year..."

"Bad news then." Jack said, pausing because he figured Ursula was in earshot.

"There you are Mr. Cobal." Ursula said. "And with a pair of different women I see."

"I'd appreciate it if you left me alone, Ursula Veilstone." Jack said.

"Mr. Cobal, I've come to apologize." Ursula said insincerely.

"Apology not accepted, leave me alone." Jack spat back.

Ursula gritted her teeth.

"Ms. Acuity, it's a pleasure to see you again." Anabel said, taking advantage of the pause.

Irida didn't even acknowledge Anabel's greeting.

"Irida...?" Anabel said, sounding very confused.

Irida nervously turned to Ursula. Ursula's gritted teeth turned into a grin. "Oh, are you talking about my little pet here?" Ursula patted Irida's head. "I suppose you haven't heard of the Acuity family's fall from grace then, I take it." Ursula said. "And you are?"

Anabel eyed Ursula suspiciously. "Anabel."

"And I'M detective Selene-"

Anabel shooshed Selene.

"Detective?" Ursula stated, a curious tone in her voice.

"Private detectives, in my employ." Jack lied, hoping to cover Anabel's ass and Selene's blunder.

Anabel nodded. "Yes, Mr. Cobal."

"Oh, interesting..." Ursula said, her gaze lowering.

"And pardon if I'm wrong, but did you just refer to Irida as your 'pet?'" Anabel asked.

Ursula's face contorted into a cruel smirk. "Yes. Isn't that right? You're my pet?"

Irida nodded. "I am whatever you wish, Mistress." Irida said emotionlessly.

Anabel coughed. Selene looked weirded out.

"Ms. Veilstone, I'd appreciate if you left. This conversation doesn't involve you." Jack said.

"Well, me apologizing for referring to your concubine as a 'cock-sleave' does in fact involve me." Ursula said.

"Well your apology isn't accepted." Jack replied. "And as a matter of fact, I hope I never run into you ever again and your sick power games with Irida here." Jack said.

Ursula gasped. "But Mr. Cobal, we're about to become neighbors."

Jack's jaw dropped. "Neighbors?"

"The property next to yours..." Ursula spelled it out, grinning evilly. "...My family has placed an offer on the property, a property the owners can't refuse. It'll be accepted in the coming days. What will happen if you ever need a cup of sugar?"

"I'll drive fifteen minutes to the store with no regrets." Jack said.

"Come now Mr. Cobal, are you really so unhappy with my company?" Ursula asked. Jack even noticed Mai rolling her eyes after that statement.

"Sure your company leaves a lot to be desired, but the part that outright disgusts me is your treatment of Irida." Jack said. "This girl looks like she's a few steps away from killing herself because your family tricked her family's money away from them, and you justify your disgusting behavior by saying it's justice. You know what real justice would be? Letting them be ashamed and out of the picture instead of taking away the lives of the children who had nothing to do with their family's history-"

"Her family-" Ursula protested.

"And yet you still claim the moral high ground you disgusting, obsessive, CUNT!" Jack said in a huff, turning away, but pausing and turning back around once more. "I'm getting a restraining order on you if you ever speak to me again." Jack warned the woman. He then turned around, and he heard Anabel and Selene's footsteps follow behind him.

"That felt good..." Jack thought to himself. "Should've done it sooner though." Suddenly feeling guilty for not sticking up for Misty earlier.

"Hey Jack, wait up." Anabel said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "What the hell is going on with that?"

"These fucking Sinoh elite families." Jack said, shaking his head. He explained the arrangement Irida's family had made with Ursula's, basically letting Irida be enslaved.

"That's awful." Selene said.

"That's a legitimate human rights abuse." Anabel said.

"Think you can do anything about? The family has blackmail on a lot of important people. And I doubt Irida would ever file a complaint, she looks just... mind-broken." Jack said.

Anabel sighed. "This isn't an IP thing, so my hands are tied. I bet local law enforcement can't do anything about it either."

"C'mon Ana..." Selene said tenderly. "There's gotta be something we can do."

Anabel shook her head. "Fuck that ruined my mood."

"Hey, no cursing, detective." Jack corrected, a little chuckle in his voice.

Both girls rolled their eyes, but Selene did crack a smile after. "I need another fucking drink." Anabel said, chugging the rest of the contents in the glass.