Lady Black Heart, the Goddess of Lastation, sat alone in the pouring rain.
As raindrops danced upon her skin, glistening like fragile jewels against her pale complexion, her gaze remained fixed on the world around her. Eyes the color of vermillion blood held a depth of intense emotion, as she fought an intense inner battle with herself for both her pride and her place as a Goddess. With that came a quiet acceptance of the solitude she found herself in, as if she were the only person to exist in the world right now.
Noire's posture was one of contemplation, her delicate fingers tracing patterns on the wet surface of the bench she sat on. The world around her seemed to fade into the background, and for a moment, it was as if she had created her own sanctuary within the rain's embrace. Her stillness contrasted with the lively rhythm of the rain, forming a tableau of contrasts – nature's dynamic energy against her serene and dejected presence.
A symphony of droplets played a soothing melody, and Noire sat there, a solitary figure wrapped in her thoughts and the beauty of the moment. The rain was her companion, a silent confidante to her unspoken emotions. And as the rain continued its gentle descent, Noire's enigmatic presence remained, a portrait of grace and contemplation amidst the tranquil embrace of the rain's soft embrace.
She was a failure, pure and simple. Nothing in the greater history of Gamindustri could even come close to matching the sheer ineptitude and humiliation she had displayed today. Lastation simply didn't deserve a Goddess as useless as herself.
Maybe she should step down. Maybe she should give the helm to Uni and go retire someplace quiet. Goddess knew that she would be a far better fit for the job than Noire could be. After all, it was hard to match her failures today.
She was a shame on the name Lastation, a blemish on the grand name of Goddess. She was worthless, useless in every sense of the word. She didn't deserve to be here. Noire should just go crawl away somewhere so she'd stop being an embarrassment to everyone around her.
Uni would be disgusted with her.
In the midst of the harsh downpour of rain, warm tears spilled down Noire's cheeks as she looked down at the ground.
She was pathetic.
"Hey, what's a pretty lady like you doing sitting in the rain?"
Noire jolted, understandably not expecting someone to call out for her. She turned her head and saw Neptune standing right beside her, holding a purple umbrella over herself. She was completely dry, unlike Noire, and she looked down at the raven-haired beauty with a small smile.
Why was she here? Did she come to mock Noire? Brag over her superiority over her and kick her while she was down?
… No, no. Calm down. Neptune wasn't that kind of person at all. If she was here, then that only meant that Neptune was worried about Noire, not to make fun of her.
"W-What are you doing here?" Noire asked, turning away for a moment as she remembered that she had been crying before. She hoped Neptune didn't notice as she wiped her face clean.
"Nuh uh, I asked you first." Neptune shot back with a smile. "Did you get a new hobby of brooding out in the rain? Because I can say that's a quick ticket to catching a cold."
As if on cue, Noire sneezed. The ravenette blushed and looked away, all while Neptune smiled and chuckled.
"Come on, get outta the rain already." Neptune held the umbrella over Noire's head as she said that, and it took the ravenette all of three seconds to swallow her pride and stand up. She got under the dryness, her clothes soggy and dripping wet as if she had just jumped in a pool.
Noire started to shiver, as the sudden dryness made it obvious just how cold she actually was. She sneezed again, and there was no way to hide that from Neptune even if she tried. Just another one on the list of humiliations for her today.
"H-How did you find me…?" Noire asked her plainly, as they began to make their way back to the Basilicom.
"Uni was worried about you, duh." Neptune said, as if it were obvious. "You didn't come home for hours, so she called me up to come find you. I didn't think you'd be sitting out in the cold rain, though."
On cue, Noire sneezed again. She shivered, but she also felt a sense of shame over making Uni worry like that about her. She was so obsessed with being childish that she hadn't even considered that.
"Hey, don't look so doom and gloom on me," Neptune told her, even putting a finger to Noire's cheek to force a smile. "Pretty ladies like you don't need to frown so much. I heard it's bad for wrinkles, or something like that."
"N-Neptune…" Noire pushed her finger away, sighing as a result. "Ugh, can we not talk about this right now? I want to get back home first."
"Whatever you say, Noirey." Neptune said with a smile. "But don't expect me to just hop and skip away. I still wanna talk to you about some stuff, you know."
Noire fidgeted as Neptune said that, unsure of how to respond. She knew Neptune was the type who didn't leave problems alone when she was involved with them, but being at the other end of the spectrum here was a little uncomfortable for her. She didn't feel ready to speak about something like that.
Would she ever?
It hadn't taken that long before the two Goddesses made their way back inside Lastation's Basilicom, where Neptune finally closed the drenched umbrella and let it dry on the nearby rack. Noire developed goosebumps from the warmth of the Basilicom in stark contrast to the cold rain.
Noire was immediately enveloped in the familiar symphony of metallic whirs, hissing steam, and the gentle clicking of intricate mechanisms from all around the building. The interior was a testament to the fusion of Victorian opulence and industrial innovation, with every detail meticulously crafted to exude a sense of awe and wonder.
The walls were adorned with a mix of polished brass and exposed copper piping, forming an intricate network of pipes and valves that wind their way across the expanse of the room. Elaborate gears of varying sizes are mounted as decorative accents, some serving functional purposes while others are purely ornamental. Large pressure gauges and vintage dials were strategically placed, their needles ticking and fluctuating with the building's internal machinations.
Warm, ambient light spilled forth from a series of stained glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the space. The light danced upon the rich wooden flooring, a contrast to the metallic fixtures above. Persian-style rugs with intricate designs soften the footfalls and added a touch of luxury to the utilitarian surroundings.
In the center of the room stood a colossal, ornate staircase. Its banisters were wrought with delicate scrollwork, and its steps fashioned from a blend of dark wood and gleaming metal. The staircase served as both a means of traversal and a masterpiece of engineering, as the steps occasionally shifted and retracted, revealing hidden passages and compartments beneath.
Whispering galleries line the walls, intricate nooks adorned with plush leather armchairs and velvet drapes. It was there that Noire saw the various Basilicom staff out and about, all of them stopping to give their welcomes to their patron Goddess.
It was obvious they were hiding how disgusted they were with her.
"Sis!"
In an instant, Noire had her balance shifted as Uni ran up to her and tackled her into a hug. The ravenette was taken by surprise as her younger sister latched onto her in a vice grip, since it was just so unlike her to do something like this.
"U-Uni…" Noire awkwardly returned the hug after standing still for a moment. "Um, sorry for worrying you…"
"It's fine." Uni reassured her, breaking from the hug and getting her own dress wet as a result. "I'm just happy you're safe, though I'm a bit annoyed Neptune found you first…"
"Hey, what's with the accusatory look?!" Neptune sounded positively offended as she looked at her younger sister. "She was the one sitting out in the rain like a brooding anime protagonist! She even got a little cold from it."
Noire blushed, then she sneezed again to prove Neptune's claim. She looked away in embarrassment, not wanting to be even more of a blemish to her sister than she already was today.
"... You should get someplace warm." Uni told her, as if she were the older sister at that moment. "Go back to your room, and don't even think about moving for the rest of the day, alright?"
"R-Right…" Noire meekly agreed with her younger sister.
"And I'll go with her." Neptune proudly jumped in. "Just to keep her company, you know? Don't want her doing anything dumb again."
Uni looked at Neptune with dejected eyes, then looked back at Noire. On that end, all the ravenette could do was shrug with a slight smile, leaving Uni to simply sigh and shake her head. "Fine. I still need to finish some paperwork anyway… and change into a new dress."
"Thanks, Uni!" Neptune happily announced, and Uni just rolled her eyes before she left. With that, the two Goddesses made their way up the grandiose staircase and eventually made their way to an unoccupied elevator and made their way inside.
The elevator's interior was a fusion of modern aesthetics and subtle steampunk touches. Polished brass accents adorned the walls, and intricate cogwheel designs were etched into the metal paneling. Soft, ambient lighting created an otherworldly glow that bathed the space in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
As the elevator began its ascent, Neptune wasted no time in pressing various buttons, a playful curiosity gleaming in her lilac eyes. "Oooh, do you think this thing will change into a robot if I press these things in a certain way? Nepgear did that once, and lemme tell ya, Histy never looked so shocked before or since."
Noire leaned against the back of the elevator, watching Neptune's antics with a mix of amusement and mild exasperation. Her vermillion eyes followed Neptune's movements, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips despite herself.
As the elevator glided upward, Neptune's excitement was infectious. "Imagine if this thing suddenly turned into a rocket and took us to the moon! How cool would that be?" she mused aloud, her eyes shining with childlike wonder.
Noire rolled her eyes playfully, her initial reservations giving way to a more relaxed vibe in Neptune's presence. "I think I'll settle for a less dramatic destination, thank you," she responded, a hint of amusement in her tone.
The elevator slowed to a stop, its doors sliding open to reveal a stunning view of the city skyline bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. Neptune gasped in awe, her hands gripping the railing as she leaned forward to take in the sight.
Noire stepped closer, her gaze also drawn to the breathtaking panorama. "It's quite the view, isn't it?" she remarked, a genuine smile touching her lips.
Not as beautiful as the view standing right next to her… Wait, what was she thinking?! That sounded like something Neptune herself would say.
"Yeah, it is." Neptune's eyes shifted from the window to Noire herself. "Though it's not as breathtaking as the view right in front of me."
… As she just proved right then and there.
"Y-You… Ugh…" Noire blushed and looked away, causing Neptune to giggle from her reaction. Eventually, the two made their stop to the top floor of the Basilicom, where they stepped into a narrow and elegantly designed hall that was mostly empty.
"Huh, this feels like I'm in that scene from that one movie." Neptune pondered as they walked. "What was it called? The Brightening? The Lighting? Noire, help me out here."
The ravenette just rolled her eyes as they eventually came up to the entrance of Noire's bedroom. A part of Noire felt embarrassed that she was taking Neptune into her chambers, but it wasn't as if they were doing anything strange! It was just a simple commune between friends, t-that's all…
As Noire and Neptune stepped through the heavy velvet curtains that draped the entrance, you're immediately transported to a realm of dark elegance and intricate beauty.
The walls were painted in rich, deep hues like burgundy, crimson, or even charcoal gray, creating a dramatic backdrop for the ornate furnishings. Elaborate floral wallpaper in muted tones also adorned one of the walls, adding a touch of vintage charm. Intricately carved wooden panels and moldings frame the space, showcasing a remarkable attention to detail.
The focal point of the room was the grand, canopied bed. Its dark wooden frame featured intricate carvings of vines, roses, and other gothic motifs. The canopy itself was draped with layers of heavy, velvet curtains in a deep, rich color. The bedding was equally lavish, with high-thread-count sheets, plush pillows, and a comforter adorned with lace, brocade, or silk fabric.
Near the bed, a vanity table stood adorned with a three-panel mirror, its ornate frame reflecting the Victorian sensibility. A collection of vintage perfume bottles, delicate jewelry, and intricate hair combs rested atop the vanity, surrounded by the soft glow of candlelight. The vanity's drawers housed an array of cosmetics, brushes, and ornate hairpins that Noire used in her day to day life.
An assortment of antique furniture pieces filled the room. A carved wooden wardrobe with brass handles stood against one wall, its doors hiding a collection of luxurious gowns, dresses, and accessories that Noire kept in store for balls. A comfortable armchair upholstered in velvet beckoned Noire to sink into its plushness, accompanied by a small side table holding a stack of leather-bound books and a porcelain teacup.
Gothic arches and stained glass windows let in a filtered light that casts ethereal patterns on the floor. Heavy drapes with intricate patterns framed those windows, allowing Noire to control the amount of light that bathes the room. On the windowsills were potted plants, both deep red roses and elegant orchids, adding a touch of life to the dark ambiance.
A fireplace rested against one wall, adorned with a mantlepiece featuring more carvings and a collection of vintage candlesticks. The hearth exuded warmth and added to the room's cozy atmosphere. Above the fireplace, a moody portrait in an elaborate frame gazes mysteriously into the space, adding to the romantic allure of the room.
Throughout the room, candelabras and candle sconces are strategically placed, providing both a soft glow and a hint of theatricality. The flickering candlelight dances upon the surfaces, casting dancing shadows that emphasize the room's gothic charm.
… Now that Noire really thought about it, it definitely looked like she was taking Neptune in here to seduce her. W-Which she absolutely wasn't doing, for the record! Not at all!
"I-I need to dry off…" Noire stuttered as she quickly left for her bathroom. "J-Just stay there, alright? I'll be just a minute…"
Gah, everything she was saying was just making it worse!
"Gotcha, Noirey!" Neptune announced cheerfully, after taking a spot on Noire's bed. "I'll wait right here like a good little girl."
Noire just let out an exasperated sigh as she made her way into the bathroom. She finally stripped out of her soggy clothes and dumped her dress into the nearby basket for cleaning later. With that out of the way, she dried herself off with a towel before slipping into a comfortable velvet red robe.
She made her way out of the bathroom, where she saw Neptune doing anything but being still. She was rolling around Noire's bed like a puppy, only looking up when Noire came out of the bathroom.
Neptune whistled when she got a look at her, causing Noire to blush. "Lookin' good, Noire~!"
"S-Shut up, idiot…" Noire grumbled as she sat on her bed, with Neptune crawling up to join her right by Noire's side. "You can't stay still for even one moment, can you?"
"Bah, it's boring to just sit around all day! You gotta get out and stretch your limbs, you know?" said Neptune. "There's nothing better than going out and about on a really nice day, beating the crud out of some monsters is just a neat bonus."
"Hm…" is what Noire responded with.
"So…" Neptune asked just a moment later, as silence was basically illegal with the purplette around. "Do you wanna tell me why you were sitting out in the rain all moody and broody?"
"W-Why do you have to say it like that?!" Noire yelled, causing Neptune to giggle as she was playfully shoved. "I was not brooding."
"You kinda were, though." Neptune said. "Like, it was a textbook. If there was a definition for it… Hey, hey! I'm kidding, alright?"
Neptune backed off when Noire glared at her, and the older woman ultimately sighed. Honestly, this girl…
"It was… just a hard day for me." Noire admitted, finding it pointless to even try to hide it from Neptune. The truth was everywhere, after all. "Today was supposed to be the presentation for the Lastation 6, but it was a complete disaster! The damned thing stopped working on-stage and even exploded, and then I got booed off… It was humiliating."
Noire shuddered just recalling the entire thing, as every single second on that stage was essentially burned into her mind permanently. It was, quite possibly, the most humiliating moment in her entire life and even admitting that to Neptune felt like admitting a weakness to the girl.
"Pffft…"
… It didn't help at all that the girl had started laughing as a response!
"W-What's so funny?!" Noire demanded as Neptune laughed. "Answer me! What's so funny, Neptune?!"
"I-I'm sorry, it's just…" Neptune finally stopped laughing, wiping her eyes as if it were the most hysterical thing ever. "That's it? That's what you were brooding about?"
"Yes!" Noire exclaimed. "Why is that so surprising?! It was disgraceful!"
"Oh, come on, don't tell me you're gonna let something like that get to you?" Neptune asked her with a raised eyebrow. "You're Noire! You're made of pride and determination! You always rolled with stuff way worse than this! This is babysauce compared to everything you've managed before!"
"N-Neptune…" Noire muttered, surprised by the girl's determined voice and her praise for her.
"It don't matter what those bozos think out there, you're always number one, Noire." Neptune stated firmly, as if it were the most obvious fact in the world. "You know it, I know, we all know it! So wipe that frown upside down… Or however it goes, I dunno."
Noire was speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say, but deep down… She knew that Neptune was right in her own special… weird way. She had dealt with things far worse before, so something like this… It was nothing! It was far from something she could recover from, no matter what her critics said! This was just a small blemish, and she'd be able to move on from it.
"N-Neptune… Thank you…"
"Hey, I'm made of lifting people up!" Neptune said. "Especially when it's a pretty lady in danger."
"Ugh!" Noire glared back at her. "Can you go five minutes without being a shameless pervert?! Are you like this with Vert and Blanc too?!"
"Nah, just you." Neptune admitted casually. "Because I like ya."
Noire's heart skipped a beat at that declaration.
Then, she clenched her fist.
She was through with being outdone.
"W-Well… If that's how it is, then…!"
"Eh, what are you— Gah?!"
In an instant, Neptune was tackled onto the bed in a forceful kiss, likely to stay at the bottom for the remainder of that night.
