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Chapter 37:

Spilling the tea

As Ashley and Velvette made their way down the street, the shorter overlord couldn't help but feel a little bit uncomfortable "You sure she won't mind?" Velvette asked, following Ashley as the 2 women passed the sign at the entrance of the district only known as "Cannibal town"

"Oh I'm certain, Rosie is a sweetheart, we have tea like at LEAST once a month" Ashley smiled as she answered "How do you think I keep so up to date with everything? Sure, I could check sinstagram but Rosie? Oh she's always right on top of the JUICIEST news, if ya want to be one of the first people to hear it, you go to her" and as Rosie's emporium came into view in the distance, Ashley would add "Plus, she's just a delight…just…don't take any of her snack cakes without asking what's in it….made that mistake once…." The shark-grinned sinner said as she shuddered.

Velvette would raise an eyebrow "So you accidentally tasted human flesh?" to which the sharp toothed overlord gave her an uncomfortable grimace and nodded "I spat it back out…..luckily, Rosie understood and didn't take offense to it, she said it was an "acquired taste" and that she understood it was "not for everyone" so, yea…..offending her is the last thing I want to do"

As they made their way inside, the door rang a dainty little bell as the cannibal overlord was currently in the middle of dealing with one of her last customers for the time being "Now now dear, and if he ever gives you trouble, I know a couple of lovely recipes, ok sweetness?" before her head turned to the direction of the bell noise "Oh. My. Stars. Ashley dear!" She said with a big, sharp toothed smile on her face as she got up and approached her fellow overlord.

"ROSIE!" Ashley happily piped up as she approached the cannibal overlord with wide arms and gave her a big hug "It's been FOR-E-VUR. I'm really sorry I couldn't make it last week. Official business, you know how it goes" Ashley spoke up as Rosie responded "Oh don't sweat it, dear. You know I'm not difficult when it comes to these kinda things, if you're busy, you're busy, simple as pie" the cannibal overlord said with a wide smile and a dismissive wave of her hand.

By now, the tall overlord's eyes had fallen on the short fashionista, who gave her an uncomfortable smile and a wave "Uhm…..hi….Rosie….."

At first, the tall overlord would blink a few times, a look of surprise on her face, before her gaze softened into a wide grinned, weirdly welcoming smile "Oh hello deary, what brings you to my lovely little emporium?" before her gaze wandered over the few exposed patches of skin that Velvette's outfit allowed to peek through.

She would gain a mischievous smirk as she gave Ashley a subtle elbow jab "my my, I see the rumors are true and the 2 of you talked it out then. I suppose the 2 of you are on "good terms" with one and another I take it? I recognize your lipstick anywhere after all, Ashley"

This caused Velvette to break out in a deep blush as she covered her neck with a hand "WAIT HOW DID YOU-" before Rosie interrupted her "Know it was Ashley's? darling, I'M the one who sold her that lipstick" as she gave the anarchy overlord a playful wink "Good to see it came in handy, my work here is done" to which Ashley too began to blush as she rubbed the back of her head with a dopey smile.

"As I said, Vel, nothing goes by Rosie, she hears and sees EVERYTHING"

About 30 minutes later and the 3 would find themselves in Rosie's garden, as they were enjoying a cup of tea and catching up on the latest gossip.

"So, a little birdy told me that the Vee's have found themselves a replacement for our darling little Velvette over here" Rosie spoke as she took a sip from her tea.

Ashley would raise her brow in surprise "Wait really? Any idea who?"

The cannibal overlord would shake her head "Sadly no, but I'm keeping my ear to the ground, as soon as I hear anything, you 2 will be the first to know"

Velvette would nod at the news, before she piped up "Rosie….i….i just wanted to-" she was unable to finish her sentence as the cannibal overlord raised a hand "No need to apologize, deary, I believe your actions have done that more then enough" as she gave her a soft smile "You're forgiven by the way. I'm just happy to see you're doing better" Rosie smiled.

By now, Velvette eyed one of the snack cakes uncomfortably. Rosie would however pick up on this as she piped up "Oh don't worry dear, I was half expecting Ashley here to visit so I came prepared" as she offered Velvette one "These are normal ones, you have my word, you can dig in without any guilt" before she turned to Ashley "Don't want a repeat of last time, now wouldn't we?" as she giggled.

Ashley gave her own awkward chuckle "Yea, gotta admit, looking back, it was pretty funny" before she too would plop one of the snack cakes in her mouth as she exclaimed "Ooh, custard" in pleasant surprise before continuing "any information you heard about this mysterious new Vee? Like, whispers you heard?"

Rosie sighed "Only that they go by the name "Vendetta" and that they apparently have quite a mean streak to them. That's all I know, no former associates, no true name, I don't even know if it's a man, a woman or a non-binary person, nothing. Whoever it is, this person is one big creepy mystery. Not even Alastor has been able to unearth anything, and I get some of my gossip from HIM"

The 3 woman sat there, pondering deeply before the tall cannibal lady shifter the topic "But enough of the mysterious doom and gloom, we're not in the doomsday district after all" as she made a little gesture between Ashley and Velvette "What's exactly going on here, ladies? Come on now dears. Don't leave auntie Rosie hanging, spill the tea, I want details, details" she said with an eager smile.

The 2 sinner women would glance at each other with wide eyes before looking away with bright red faces and dopey smiles "We're….not sure yet…" Velvette piped up, before Ashley added "…b-but I guess we're gonna see where this leads….right Vel?" she said as she gave a glance to the shorter overlord, who gave her a fond smile back.

Rosie would coo at the display before she spoke up "D'aw, how lovely. Well I'm glad you finally had the courage to ask her out, Velvette dear" causing the short fashionista to do a double-take "WAIT YOU KNEW THIS WHOLE TIME?!"

This caused Rosie to chuckle "Of sweetness, everyone could see it clear as day, I could see it, carmilla, Zestial, Missy Zilla could see it, even Alastor could see it"

Rosie would then put a hand on Velvette's knee "Tho I might have picked up on it long before the others did, you could say I have an eye for these kinda things. Romance IS my specialty after all" she said with a smile.

..

..

Back at Rosie's emporium, the 2 sinner women gave the taller cannibal lady a hug as they said their goodbyes "And if I hear anything about this new mystery Vee, you girls will be the first to know, ok dearies?"

To which Ashley smiled "Thanks Rosie, I owe you one" to which Rosie responded "Oh nonsense my dear, I gladly help out a friend, and I entrust once we know more, that you deliver the information to princess Morningstar and that lovely little hotel of hers?"

To this, Velvette would pipe up "Both of us will, you can count on that….and…thanks again Rosie…."

Rosie waved her hand "Ah don't mention it sweety, hardly any trouble at all" before she smiled at Velvette "Now the both of you are always welcome here" before she leaned down to the short fashionista as she whispered "And if you ever get curious and want to "indulge" in a more exotic taste, you're always welcome here in cannibal town" to which Velvette would uncomfortable smile "Uhm…..thanks?...but no thanks…but I'll keep it in mind" as the 2 female overlords left cannibal town waving and smiling….