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Only incompetents relied on any sort of substance abuse as means to regulate their emotions, or so had Riddle learned from her mother. It had been ingrained into her brain, the unhealthiness of it, how the inability of looking things in the face was just weakness. So, yeah, she knew better than to overindulge in sweets, and, Sevens forbid, knew better than to drink alcoholic beverages to soothe her heart. She was strong enough to be able to endure this honorably.
After taking down four tarts, however, with the sting in her chest not subduing in the slightest, she was not so sure of her own strength anymore. And she had tried everything else beforehand, too, had tried losing herself in work, had collared tens of students, had tried (and failed) to relax, had tried arguing with people here and there and nothing, nothing could make her forget Floyd's words.
'You know, Kingyo-chan, if you keep bein' like that you're just like that mom of yours.'
'Since Mother is always right, I, too, must be, no?'
'Really now.'
So what if she was like her mother? A well respected healer, her reputation was a most desirable one; it was actually a compliment to be compared with her, no?
If so, if it was a remark not to be understood negatively, why had the words stung as such, why could Riddle not shake them off, why could she not shake off Floyd's upset expression upon uttering them?
Because she was wrong. She had carried out days and hours of introspection and, while inconclusive, somehow she had to be wrong. Being right did not hurt as such, after all. Then perhaps she could try apologizing, could try fixing this, could try fixing everything.
Apologize for what? How could she even begin to come up with an expression of remorse, a reason for it, when merely thinking of the situation at hand got her ribcage to collapse into itself? Moreover, if begging for forgiveness would not grant her that, how could she possibly continue living with herself? She knew, had learned throughout her life, that begging one's pardon came with the possibility of said pardon being dragged through the mud.
If this was the case, she could first give something else a try as well, since she had already exhausted all other remedies, and especially because it was starting to mess with her daily activities. Doing so might at least give her the space to think. Thus, while reluctant, she monitored Jade's movements at the bar. Of course it had to be her tending it just at that time.
"Riddle-san, what brings you here?"
"Good evening, Jade. I..." What? I wish to get so wasted I forget my own name did not sound quite proper. "Wanted a change of atmosphere." Coward.
"And this is what you chose? How intriguing." Jade was irked, to say at the least, Riddle knew; there was no way she was not aware of what had happened between her and her sister, after all. And it would be the understandable decision for her to side with Floyd rather than with her, all in all, with the situation being as subjective as it was.
Was it really subjective, though? So Riddle wanted to believe. It was a mere discrepancy in opinions. That's what it always was.
"Shall I pour you some tea, then?" Ever the composed one, ever the concealer of her true intention. Perhaps this was just a bad idea, and Jade's presence there was proof of that.
"No, but thank you," Riddle took in a deep breath. "I think I should head back after all."
"Now, Riddle-san, it would be a shame to leave this soon, no?" the person Riddle most desired to avoid came into sight. Well, second most. Having Floyd see her as such would have been worse.
But, Azul urged her to sit down by the bar, and Riddle, unsure what best behavior to put on, allowed it. "There we go," the Housewarden of Octavinelle nodded, pleased. "It is so rare to have you here unless it's for business, we should make the best out of the occasion!"
That was not true; Riddle had frequented the premises much more often after the beginning of her relationship with Floyd. Was Azul pretending such was not the case? Was she seeing that, too, as mere business? Too many uncertainties so early into a conversation were never a good sign. "It would be best if I did not," Riddle attempted to get out as soon as possible.
"Riddle-san," Azul tapped her shoulder, eyes dark, "I tried to save you some grace, but this will not do."
"And what do you mean by that?"
Sitting in front of her, "It would be but my pleasure to aid such poor unfortunate soul as yours, as you must be already aware by now? There is no need to be evasive."
Riddle scoffed. "I am not unfortunate. Or evasive."
"Now, now, enough with the pleasantries. Jade, be kind and get our guest the fine goods."
"Understood."
While Jade was rummaging for whatever the fine goods were, Azul was keeping on her best customer service smile, eyeing Riddle for any show of weakness. Which was futile, as Riddle consistently ascertained to look perfect, even now, so there would be nothing to take advantage of. Still, as the gaze was getting maybe a tad too intense for comfort, "Are you trying to raise your sales using me right now?" the red-head inquired.
"How could you possibly think something of such villainy about me, Riddle-san. I would go as far as to say that such distrust is hurting my feelings..."
So, that was it, then. No matter, all Riddle had to do was drink one cup of complacency, and she could run away from there without being impolite.
"This," Jade returned, placing a wine glass in front of her and presenting the bottle, "is a twenty year old Occhio di Pernice, if it may be to your liking."
Riddle had drank only out of courtesy at social events, and nothing more. Thus, there was no 'liking' to speak of. "Let us just get this over with."
As Jade was pouring wine into three glasses, Azul smiled; "Are we not the company you were expecting for the night, I wonder?" she smirked.
"I did not want any company, in fact."
"Riddle-san, it is most counterproductive to drown into your own sadness by yourself after a break up," Azul chided.
She wished to deny it, scream at the top of her lungs that she was not sad, and for the two to leave her alone; instead, she merely grabbed her chalice.
"Cheers!" Jade offered, clinking them.
One drink, and it would not be ungracious to leave; then, Riddle clinked it in turn and, without further ado, chugged it all in one go. The cold liquid turned hot the instant it hit her stomach, sending tingles throughout her entire body. Perhaps it had not been the wisest of decisions to not take her time with it.
Still, leaving the chalice back on the counter, she planned on making amends for leaving, only to see Jade pour her another.
"My, how enthusiastic!" Azul cheered.
"I did not take you as a heavy drinker, Riddle-san. We are most glad that it was to your taste, though."
Saying it was to her taste was but an overstatement; she could not even remember the taste, only felt a pit of flames into her gut.
Now, it would be most unrefined to escape with her glass full, no? In that case, she'd have to be quick about it, empty it and announce her exit when the two mermaids would not be paying attention. For now, though, she sought to settle to mere sips, as to be able to catch them off guard, listened to their fake small talk. Truly, Riddle should have learned better than to try to come to Octavinelle for anything by now.
On the flip side, the wine was fine, sweet aroma of plum surprisingly enjoyable.
"So," she interrupted whatever they'd been chatting about until then, "you have racked your sales for the day with this only, I am sure. What else do you want?"
The two stopped in their tracks, acting confused. "Would you not accept our honest kindness, is that it?" Jade raised her eyebrow.
There was nothing honest and kind about any of this, truth be told. "Wouldn't... Floyd... think it unpleasant for you to spend time with me now?"
"Your hundredth fight this month is quite frankly none of our business," Azul sighed, seemingly affected.
Taking another sip from her chalice, "She broke up with me," Riddle grunted. "She is mad at me." She found it weird, how it became a tad easier to say it now, as if the heat of the alcohol could warm up her fear of talking of this furthermore. Because saying it officially made it real; Floyd had left her.
"My," Jade puffed.
Azul poured her more wine and Riddle found it hard to find the will of telling her to stop. Instead, she took another gulp. "I miss her."
Because, Riddle had never intended for things to go as such, no. They had both promised they would talk it out, whatever it was. And talk they did, and fight they did, and it had turned out to be prodigal in the end.
"And have you ventured to talk it out with her?" Azul inquired, spinning the glass in her hand. "Since you miss her as such."
What, did they offer couple's counseling now? Would they tax this conversation as well? Riddle should really stop coming around the Lounge. "She's... blocked my number."
"Now is that not a shame," Jade fought to muffle a laugh.
"Is this amusing to you?"
"Seeing Floyd this affected? Yes, very much so."
Affected. Did that make her affected, not mad? Nonetheless, the two did not exclude the other. But if she was affected, it may mean something more. Or so did Riddle want to believe, hope, wish for the possibility of this not being the end, as much as Floyd tried to make it seem as such.
Floyd, how nicely her name rang through these countless thoughts. How beautifully it made her face appear onto Riddle's retinas; yet, no matter how much she struggled to remember her smile, all she could see was the disappointed face she'd had upon leaving.
'Is it me you like, or whatever sick idea you have of what you can make outta me?'
Propping her head on the bar with a sigh, "I miss her so much."
"Is Riddle-san a lovesick drunk?" Azul pointed out, entertained.
"I shall have you know I am always in love with my sweet honey pie."
Jade patted her crown. "Shall I give you my phone, so that you can call your... your 'sweet honey pie', then?" she offered, corners of her mouth upwards.
How kind of her; how kind of them both, actually, to spend this time with Riddle, to aid her in such troubled period. "I am scared," she wailed, reaching for her cup; empty, but Jade, in her endless compassion, made sure to pour her some more wine.
"How unforeseen, to hear Riddle-san make such proclamation," Azul nodded, clinking their glasses before taking a sip.
"It's the appropriate reaction, no?" the red-head lamented, legs dangling by the stool; with how up she was, how far the floor seemed, she felt as if flying. "She must hate me so, my honey butter biscuit, and she has every right to... I ought to spend years in seclusion to repent."
"Now, is that not too extreme?"
They really understood her, these two! "You are correct, it is! It would kill me to be away from my sugar snap pea for so long, after all..." Riddle shrieked, wetting her lips with the wine again, feeling its sweet aroma down her throat. So sweet, it reminded her of Floyd. "Even these night I've spent in her absence are draining me, you see? So long, and there are no stars and no moon in the sky, nothing to soothe my loneliness."
"Is... that so?"
"Maybe we have given her too much to drink."
"She is sort of cute like this, though."
"Do you know who else is really cute..." Riddle intervened.
"Your 'honey butter biscuit', I reckon?"
Tears bubbling in the corners of the red-head's eye, "Yes!" Of course they could see it, the people most close to Floyd, her attractiveness, her endearing side. How Riddle ached for her. How Riddle had lost her, out of her own bloody misdemeanor.
"Alright, Riddle-san," Jade urged her to face towards the bar; head spinning slightly, she looked like she was wobbling. Funny. Floyd would have probably found this just as funny. "You can try contacting Floyd with this," the twin offered.
"You two are too kind to me," Riddle sniffled, accepting the phone.
"Am I not?" Azul nodded, pleased. "I simply adore this version of you, Riddle-san, perhaps we should discuss some business too while we're at it?"
"I wish to speak with Floyd."
Arranging her glasses, "I meant afterwards, of course."
Dialing her number, the string she knew by heart, could recite it in her sleep, Riddle waited and waited and waited. And nothing. No matter; she called again.
And again. And again and again and again.
Now this was just plain rude. "Useless," Riddle groaned.
"Perhaps she is busy?"
"Silence!" Who cared about whatever puny excuses they were trying to make for Floyd? The truth was that she was being impolite, no matter what.
"Oh, my."
In the first place, why was Riddle trying to reach out to her either way!? When Floyd's been the brazen one to dare break up with her over nothing, it should be her groveling on her legs and begging for mercy! What indecorous display, for Riddle to act as such, when she was in the right. She was always in the right; she knew best!
Still, defying her as such, not returning her calls; blocking her number, too, did Floyd see herself as so important? She was nothing; Riddle would show her. After one more glass of wine.
You DARE oppose me?
The law of this world is none other than ME!
You ought to have learned that hitherto, but I shall ensure to drive it in that skull of yours!
I will command your punishment!
"Riddle-san, are you alright? What has gotten you so worked up?" Azul checked, bowing to look into her phone.
"Halt!" Riddle put an end to her advance. "Your underling has been most insolent and, if you do not have it in you to discipline her, I shall take it upon myself!"
"So much for being a lovesick drunk…"
"Who are you calling drunk? Do you wish to lose your heads?"
Jade sighed; how impudent. "Of course not. We shall leave you to it," she declared, filling her drink back before resuming to tend the bar. Yes, that was better, that was the attitude retainers ought to have!
"What insolence," Riddle clicked her tongue, glaring towards Azul next. While the highest standing person of this enterprise, daring to muddy her sight still after having insulted her as such was all but polite. Even after, the mermaid felt not the need to get up, merely sipping from her glass, merely watching Riddle sip from hers. As if taunting her, as if mocking her for her unreturned calls.
No, this could not be. Floyd would have to answer the phone eventually, and then Riddle could prove it to Azul that she had everything under control, that her rule was not being infringed. So, sure, she called again. And again. And once more.
And it was quite frankly infuriating, this cheekiness, the rudeness Riddle had disregarded beforehand out of the kindness of her reign. But no more.
Still nothing, is that how you want to play this game?
FINE!
When you ain't shit without me! Dickhead!
I should've never laid my eyes upon you in the first place, cum slut!!!!!
Whens common courtesy to at least respnd to someone when they call you too! JUST GO TO HELL YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!!
I HATE YOU!
"Are you enjoying yourself, Riddle-san?"
Looking down on her, as usual; some things change by no means. "How about you shut your damned trap for once, Azul."
"My, what change of character," the mermaid sighed, in her usual pertness. "Jade, won't you be kind and retrieve your phone? I do not wish for Floyd to skip work tomorrow after getting a mood swing from this mess."
Calling her a 'mess' and attempting to silence her, what brazenness. She was the Housewarden of Heartslabyul! As if she'd go down that easily.
OR ARE YOU SCARED OF FACING ME? AS YOU SHOULD!
COWARD!!!!!!!!!!!
BUT YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID IN THE FACE OF THE MIGHTY RIDDLE!
I HOPE THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD MAKES A LADDER OUT OF YOUR FUCKING BACK BONES WHILE PICKING APPLES IN THE FIELDS OF AFTERLIFE!
"There you go," Riddle flippantly handed Jade the device upon her return.
Refilling her glass, "Now, Riddle-san," Azul smiled, unduly, "I truly hope you will not take this the wrong way. I merely wish to offer you the opportunity to tell me all that bothers you about my… underling, was it?" Next to her, Jade nodded, fiendishly.
"Miss me with that fake facade of yours, you crook!" the red-head accepted the cup.
Reaching to sip one more time from it, the object suddenly disappeared from her grasp; by her, Floyd was chugging its contents down. "What are you doing?" she asked her dorm mates, not glancing in Riddle's direction, after having so rudely stolen her drink.
"Merely not letting Riddle-san drown into her sorrow alone, of course."
"Don't take advantage of her like this again."
"I am FINE!" Riddle reclaimed her cup. "After discarding me, you dare come here and put on such a show? I'll punish you here and now."
"You are drunk," Floyd declared, slight annoyance in her deep tone as she fought Riddle for the glassware. Insulting her and making a fool out of her, with audience present on top of that, how shameful! But this was all Floyd did, taking advantage of her benevolence and conning her through that. What had Riddle ever seen in her, really?
Struggling out of her grasp, "Get yer filthy hands off me!"
Refusing to let go, "I ain't in the mood for playin' around today," Floyd gritted her teeth, yet her voice sounded… tired. Of course, she'd gotten bored of Riddle in the end, so of course she'd feel exhausted to deal with her now. She'd always felt exhausted when dealing with her. Surely she'd not ever liked Riddle, had just been in the mood for playing with her for a while only to leave her so curtly. She's eternally been this rude, after all, her unreasonable Floyd. But she was not hers, she'd never been hers. Her mother had been, again, correct; all led to naught were Riddle to not listen to her.
"I will not back down so easily!" the red-head stood her ground.
Floyd let go of her; it was so unusually frosty without, as if all earth would freeze loose in the absence of her touch. "You know what? Fine," the mermaid shrugged. "You wanna fight? Let's fight."
"That's more like it," Riddle nodded, pleased, "finally you ain't acting like a bloody wimp for once."
"Now, now, let us not do this here, shall we?" Azul had a go at talking them out of it. Whispering to herself, "I've just gotten some new furnishing, too."
"You can afford new ones," Floyd smirked towards her. Vexing. Floyd's smile, no matter what emotion hidden behind it, should be reserved for Riddle and Riddle only; and yet, the mermaid had the nerve of showing it to someone else, in her presence nonetheless! Not that she had any right towards anything of Floyd's anymore, brazen confession of severance seeing to that. Not that she desired anything anymore.
Placing her fists up, "Running away again?" Riddle taunted, drew Floyd's attention back to her. She could see it now, how her expression changed each time she saw Riddle. Good. Let her see what she'd let go of so easily.
Floyd fixed her hair. "'m gonna squeeze the loving days outta you."
"As if. It's gonna be off with your head!"
"I am sure there has to be a more peaceful way of resolving this, no?" Azul tried to intervene again. "This is a place reserved for sophistication, after all."
"I don't care who you are! Off with your head!"
Oh. It seemed Riddle had not the control she'd expected of her magic. Was it the alcohol, presumably? No matter, she just had to get used to it. Until that time, she changed tactics, balancing to smash her fist into Floyd; such crude mannerism, but it had to be done.
Yet, Floyd evaded her easily. Insulting her in even her escape, what nerve. How dignified her moves were throughout this insult. Then, Riddle would just have to beat the dignity out of her!
And it was easier said than done, Floyd being more skilled at physical brawl than her even without the alcohol flooring her veins, having more experience either way. Riddle had no choice but to win this out of sheer will.
"Why ain't you attacking me back?" she scoffed, noticing the pattern of Floyd's defensive only moves. "Underestimating me will just bring you to your demise."
"You ain't at your full strength, so 's not really that fun."
What impertinence! Riddle was well off on her own feet!
Azul separated them. Why would she do that? More important, why did Riddle lament said separation? As if she'd want to be closer to such scoundrel. "We do not take kindly to fighting of any kind in the Mostro Lounge," the splitter proclaimed, calling Jade over. "You should know that, Floyd."
"Tch," she rolled her eyes, dropping out of the combat stance. "You planning to have Jade kick my ass, then?"
"If need be."
Jade's voice, giddy but severe as she brought a hand to her chest, "I promise to be gentle."
Riddle was confused; how had they gotten from battle to her merely watching the mermaid trio argue? Were they pretending she was not there anymore, her presence too much of an impediment to their night? Useless.
However, "'n that case," Floyd sat down at the bar, playing with an empty glass, "if we fight on who can drink more 's fine?"
Jade muffled a laugh; "But of course," Azul's eyes shone as crystals in the dim lightning of the Lounge, hurrying to tend to the new customer.
Well, Floyd usually got wasted pretty fast. The odds were starting to be in Riddle's favor, as it was. At last Azul'd done something useful. The red-head gladly sat next to her ex girlfriend, took in her inappropriate way of lounging, even now; yes, she'd been correct, of course she had, a different posture would fit the mermaid better. Not that any of that mattered anymore.
'You're just like that mom of yours.'
"Considering Riddle-san had a head-start, I find it most fitting for you to drink some more before you commence your contest," Azul filled Floyd's glass to the brim.
"Does it look like I care, dipshit?" Riddle declared; she would win no matter what. She was simply not destined for losing.
Floyd drank it all nonetheless, barely struggling with it, slamming the cup onto the table. What a show off she was. How… intriguingly a mere drop of wine ran down her neck. "Since you're all about fairness, or whatever," the mermaid taunted her, wiping the droplet off.
In a scoff, "So now you listen to me, is that it?" Riddle raised her eyebrow. Maybe if she had listened from the beginning none of this would have happened.
"'m merely making fun of you, baby."
Raising to resume the physical brawl, "Don't you dare call me that, or I'll chop your fucking head off!"
Azul sighed; "What did I say about violence…" she lamented, massaging her temple.
Resuming her previous position, Riddle watched Azul switch spots with Jade, entrusting her to step in as she had other guests to entertain.
"So," Jade jeered, "what shall I serve you tonight?"
"Surprise me," Floyd tapped onto the table, in rhythm with the background music, refusing still to meet Riddle's gaze. A coward was all she was. "Just put it on Azul's tab," she added, cracking a laugh.
Pouring transparent liquid into shot glasses, "I could perhaps do that with Riddle-san's consummation from before likewise," Jade informed them, amused.
"Go wild."
"You fuckers think I can't pay for myself?" Riddle was starting to get way past annoyed at their demeanor.
"I think," Floyd stopped herself from winking, tone solemn, "you should make Azul pay for trying to exploit this funny mood of yours."
Hands on the jigger, Riddle observed the liquid's movement, blue lights reflecting atop the translucent surface. What a sick joke this all was. "And how could I make you pay?" For tonight, the nights before; for everything.
"Win." She next dunked her shot without any reticence; "Bleargh, what's in this shit?"
Jade hid the bottle from view. "It would be more amusing to me if you do not know, I'm certain you can indulge me at least that," she pursed her lips. "Now, Riddle-san, if you would?"
As instructed, the red head let the alcohol sting the inside of her throat, felt it warm her guts, felt it put fire to the scorching grudge within her. Of course she'd win.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Cyan hues engulfed Riddle's silhouette as she slept without a care in the world, strained slow breathing and, at times, grunts meeting the muffled sound of waves from beyond the glass. How peaceful she looked now, nothing compared to how she'd been while awake. Such tumult of emotion, it was not to say that Floyd had not seen it before, just this once it had been perhaps different.
Yes, since there was no fun aspect to it anymore; just a reminder, really, of why Floyd had had to let go of her in the first place. This devoid of remorse anger, Riddle, ever the studious Riddle, had not learned anything during the albeit short time they'd been away from each other.
Of course, Floyd also knew alcohol drew out the worst, to say so, out of her ex girlfriend, had all her restraints dissipate, all her well hidden fears emerge like a flood. Nonetheless, that did not make it ache any less. Did Riddle think she had no feelings? That she could not get hurt, that no matter what bullshit would be thrown her way, Floyd would just forget all about it and understand?
When had Riddle understood any off deeds of hers, anyway?
Maybe that was an exaggeration. But what could Floyd do? Her head throbbed like hell, and she'd tried sleeping on the couch, but had found it hard while inevitably listening to Riddle's breath, so loud in the dead of the night. It seemed so far, the sound she was most used to, which, in consequence, felt wrong to her body; if Riddle was close by, she should be in her arms, it was as easy as that to her limbs, still not having had caught up with the reality of them. Yet, unable to give them what they desired, they just made her feel jittery. So, no problem, she'd just have to wait until she would be ultimately too exhausted to sit straight, and all would be fine.
Only, doing that was boring her out of her mind. She was not interested in any of the shitty "How to Get Rich" books Azul had on display, and she had gotten tired of doom scrolling a while before as well. Thus now she was merely strutting throughout the room, struggling enough as it was to not make any sound as to not wake up Riddle up.
Why did she care about that, one may wonder? Floyd was not certain herself. It may have been the pristine expression she was wearing, taken away by the deep sleep, or maybe the fact that she was drooling all over Azul's pillows.
There was her hair, too, so striking red even in the darkness, calling to Floyd, calling to be caressed, calling to be made into a mess. And, truly, she craved nothing more than to do just that, to fall into Riddle, feel her until she'd lose sense in her digits. Then again, she was too cute in this state, plump cheeks puffed out even in her sleep.
"Tch," Floyd sighed with her whole chest, sitting by the edge of the bed. "You really don't plan on makin' this any easy for me." Not that she did not know, not that she had expected anything different.
Riddle turned around in her sleep, much livelier now. "Floyd…" she whispered, low, but not low enough to not be caught.
Yet, checking her out, she seemed asleep even while doing so. Dreaming of her, saying her name so lovingly, frustratingly so, after the tantrum she'd just thrown; it had Floyd's mind in disarray. She did not enjoy how any of this made her feel.
"Floyd?"
Surely her dream could not have been that engaging.
"Floyd, is that you?"
Gazing back at the bed, she saw Riddle now up on her elbow, massaging her temple with her free hand in a pained grunt. The nebulous shades of Azul's bedroom engulfed her frame as if sitient, greedy shadows hiding her from Floyd's view. "Ki… Did I wake you up?"
"No," she whispered, as if afraid of the silence of the night. "My head feels like it might explode."
That much was to be expected, no? Or did Riddle think she was immune to hangovers? Floyd kept silent, however, did not necessarily have a mood for cracking jokes.
In a mutter, sole activity seeming to pose somewhat difficulty, "Where are we, either way?"
"Azul's bedroom."
Riddle's expression darkened, so much so that it might have gotten lost in the outlines of the waves striking through the wall glass. "Hence I must have blacked out at some point? Did you take me here?"
"Yep." If she could call it that, given Riddle practically dragging her to the bedroom no matter how much Azul'd complained.
"…so I lost."
It seemed she remembered most of the night, at least until Floyd's arrival. Made things easier. "But you get drunk easily, how do you look so… fine?" Riddle inquired, still focused on the matter of that stupid contest, as if that was all that she cared of.
Fine was the last thing Floyd was feeling. "'Cause I had Jade give me water when you weren't looking, duh?"
"That's not fair!" Riddle jumped up, shock of the sudden movement accentuating her headache, having her try to hold onto her forehead in pain.
"Well," Floyd poured her a glass of water and handed it over, "I had to knock you out somehow." Lest she would've inevitably gotten hurt, that much she was sure of.
Riddle took it gladly, gulped it down as if she'd been parched for years. "Thank you," she smiled, drained. "And sorry," she next added, biting her lip. "I know my behavior of the night left much to be desired."
Instead of responding, Floyd refilled the cup and offered her a painkiller. That was not the problem, somehow; she did not mind Riddle being irrational, none of the sort, not usually. But it had not felt irrational, in a way, not the words, at least; no, they'd felt as if that was what Riddle had thought of her all this time, just as she'd dreaded having to be around Floyd. Which, of course, made sense, since she had been so set on fixing her.
"You are taking care of me," Riddle pointed out. "Why?"
Floyd did not know. It just came to her like breathing. "D'you wanna eat something?" she chose to ignore her question.
Biting the inside of her cheek, "… are you mad at me?"
"Why?" Was it really that obvious? She thought she was acting as though a bitter-that-she-had-been-bothered-for-nothing ex would, not as a kicked in the gut fish.
Staring into the glass, "You haven't been calling me… that."
Right. But again, why would she? To have her voice break upon trying to utter the nickname, to make it as obvious as the rising of the sun in the morning just how much she missed her? Of course she'd avoid calling her as she had before. She avoided calling her anything, in fact.
"Floyd, I… never had the intention to hurt you, you do know that?" Riddle's eyes dampened; she may crash out, Floyd observed, watched the small shivering of her limbs, wanted nothing more than to take them into hers and comfort her. And yet she couldn't, own stubbornness keeping her frozen.
"If there's anyone I hate at this time, it's myself," Riddle continued, seeing no response. "I could never hate you."
The silence was too much for her, it seemed, had her breath hitch, her teeth hit one another in panic. "Now you tryna' make me feel bad or some shit?" Floyd couldn't help but ask, annoyed at her own reaction to it.
Stopping a sob, "What!? No, of course not!" Following a sigh, Riddle reticently came by her side, took her hand into hers; she reeked of alcohol in such a foreign matter it had Floyd dizzy. "Is it that unconceivable to you, that it pains me to hurt you, even if unintentional?"
Rather, Floyd understood the sentiment entirely; she'd just done the same, afterwards, felt the same sting in her chest now. "That's not…" The hands holding her were sweaty, sticking to Floyd's as she quavered around them. "Ignore I said that. I think 'm just tired."
"No, I think we need to discuss this."
Floyd freed herself from her clutch; "Well I don't fucking want to talk about it, so just go back to sleep." Sitting up, "And drink more water." It had been a mistake to sit by her side all night, in the end, but she'd been too worried, couldn't shake off the image of Riddle awaking alone. Too short since their break up, for them to meet as such.
"Then," Riddle fiddled with the corners of the blanket, "would it be alright if only I talk, for starters?"
Propping her body onto the desk, arms crossed to her chest, "I guess."
"Thank you."
However, that was it; it seemed Riddle found it hard to continue from that point on, as if all her confidence had been scattered into thin air, as she set to arranging her hair, playing with strands of it in discomfort. This, too, was unsettling; it was not like Floyd intended to make her feel bad for any of it, but she could not keep her stance neutral. One second of not being on edge, and she'd dot on her goldfish, let the confession that she'd take her back in a blink slip past her lips with no restraint. But that would not work, had not worked ever, had only made her lose bits and pieces of herself in arguing and arguing and arguing to no end, so much so that it seized all the fun out of it.
Riddle took a deep breath in the end, and, "I admit it was I in the wrong," she muttered, unsure of her own words, unconvinced, potentially; but Floyd did not want to think that she was being lied to, so she kept listening, with nothing else to kill time either way. "Now, and before just as much," the red-head continued, scratching her nape, "as I had been too… restrictive of you. I suppose."
That was something, at least. Riddle did not fancy being in the wrong, that much all who knew her were aware. However, there she went again, with the right and wrong. Win and lose. That was not the problem. "If you keep it up with the formal speech 'm just gonna sleep in the bathtub."
"No!" Riddle cried, standing up, prepared to hold Floyd in her spot; yet, seeing her unmoving still, she just remained like a statue in between the bed and desk. "I am not sure how else… I could speak, though?"
Of course she wasn't. "Really?" Floyd taunted, fiddling with her own fingers. "Cause you gave me a hell of a different speech last night."
"Because I was mad!" Riddle finally all but screamed, body trembling at the force of the utterance. Massaging her throat, "I was mad at myself. And it would be a lie to say I am not mad at you for leaving me, but I cannot keep you chained to my side, nor would I want that." Averting her gaze once more, "I have just been feeling so much… crap these days! And I have no idea how to deal with it, there you go!" she puffed her cheeks in displeasure. "I miss you so much it eats at me, but having you back would not mean anything if you would not be willing!" Sniffling, Riddle clasped her hands over her head, trying to calm her voice. "No force I could use to even try to control you would erase the expression you've had when you've left me, and that annoys the hell out of me!"
Floyd stayed speechless even after realizing she must've finished her lecture, since she was irresolute of what she could even say at this point. Given that, after all, Riddle did not understand anything. "You still haven't given up on your control obsession," she at last commented. "Maybe it would help to get a lil mad at how you tried to change everything about me too, hm?"
Riddle dared to take her hand off the desk, into hers, so fast Floyd hadn't even noticed her approaching. "I only want what's best for you," she declared.
Something must have clicked into her brain at saying the line, however, as she let go of her. Of course it would; Floyd was sure she'd heard that a dozen occasions from her parents, this sugar coated infringement of liberty, knew how much Riddle disliked being told just that in such subjecting manner.
"No…" she muttered, mostly to herself, eyes pinned to the floor, "But I… I only tried to keep you safe. So why…?"
Now, the mood had been getting too solemn for a while, was what Floyd thought. "See," she attempted to lighten it up, "I like my women with a huge rack, but 'm not tryna change that about you, am I~?"
"Are you seriously commenting about my chest size at this moment!?" Riddle ran her hands through her hair, exasperated.
And perhaps it was better this way, to have Riddle be mad at Floyd, rather than at herself. Perhaps this anger she could take, if it gave Riddle at least some peace of heart. But wouldn't she be just as bad if such were the case? Thus, Floyd grabbed her chin, forced her to meet her look.
It had been lame, yes, Riddle's alcohol ridden words, how she, in her drunken state, had found it fitting to allocate a right in Floyd's decisions, and had such words stung. She had been, had become at that moment, eventually dull.
And yet, Floyd could not shake off the gaze of her stormy eyes, opened so far wide as if intending to swallow all of her. If Riddle was now dull, how was she stirring Floyd's heart as such, even then? "'Cause I think," she whispered, watching Riddle try to look away, watching Riddle unable to do so, "your boobs are perfect~!"
"Do you wish to lose your head, is that it!?"
"And I think," Floyd ignored her, smiling, a bittersweet arch, "you're great, really, even with that short"—she observed Riddle frown at the word ever the slightest, incapable of stopping—"temper of yours." Hand next moving to cup her cheek, "So why can't you see," Floyd's voice almost cracked, "how it makes me feel when you act like 'm shoddy?" She generally did not care what others had to say on her acts or personality, after all, however even the thought of Riddle hating her, truly, entirely hating her and nothing more, was most excruciating.
Riddle leaned into the touch, closed her eyes as she took in the skin of the palm holding her, corners of her lips arching upwards fairly. "I have never felt as at peace as I do in your embrace," she murmured, covered the hand with her own, nails digging into the knuckles, "how could this haven be faulty?"
"Your words and actions ain't matchin', you know."
Eyes locked upwards, Riddle reached to kiss her wrist; a mere brush, at first, as she checked for a reaction, and, as if pleased with whatever expression Floyd was wearing—she was not entirely sure how the muscles of her face were contorting themselves, too focused on the red-head's mouth to care—, she pushed her lips into the joint. Continuously scanning the positioning of Floyd's pupils, silent praise, silent encouragement.
Floyd wanted to crack a joke, wanted to point out how Riddle quite literally reeked of booze, how sloppy her acts were, something, anything, yet nothing found the strength to pass past her tongue.
The pecks advanced further low, stopped at the middle of her forearm; brow furrowed, "You're hurt here again, see?"
Following a gulp, "So what?" Of course she'd have injuries, who in her club didn't?
"This is exactly what I mean," Riddle turned the arm over, checked it for scars, blemishes. "I can't take it, seeing you bruised."
Why should Floyd bother caring about those? "You sure didn't mind it when you gave me hickeys~," she pointed out instead, amused at her worrying over such unimportant matter.
Riddle's face reddened, that shade of red Floyd could watch days on and not get tired of one second. "Now that is an entirely different thing, I'll have you know!" she huffed, irked.
"So, what's the plan, hm?" Floyd backtracked, happy with the teasing to serious conversation ratio so far, "Lock me up? Manage my schedule for the entire day?"
"I assume not, no." Riddle let both their hands fall by each's body; next, undecided of what to do with herself, "I had genuinely believed I was doing you good, so it is taking me a while to wrap my head around this. Sorry." Hugging her own chest, "You are too reckless at times, though," she emphasized.
"It can't always be you that's right." Patting her head, "'n you're stuck-up as hell, but I'd rather find it cute than dwell on it~."
"Don't patronize me," Riddle turned her back at her. "Plus," she added, muffling the words, moving her leg in circles, "it's not that I… don't find it—you, I mean, enchanting, in your temerity, to say so. I just… can't help feeling worried, and acting on it." Making fists around her frame, "But I can try. If you'd… give me another chance?"
As if waiting for that specific lure, Floyd embraced her from behind, nuzzled her face into her nape, all defenses discarded, all facades scraped. She was glad Riddle had asked, elated even; solaced. As she'd assumed this had been it, had assumed in fact Riddle would not step down from her ideals, would not budge from that spot she remained in, throne and castle of frozen adamancy. So it was unexpected, to see her willing to try again still, to try to please her. Riddle felt at the arms caging her, hugged them in return, sigh of relief brushing past her lips. Until Floyd pushed them both onto the bed, refusing to let go, falling atop the sheets with a thud.
"You…!" Riddle halted—fast learner!—, trying to shift into a more comfortable position. With Floyd's cooperation, they faced each other, Riddle's fingers playing with her hair. "Why are we in Azul's bed anyway?"
Floyd giggled; "You threw a tantrum on how you'd rather die—your own words, by the way—than sleep in my filthy bed, and how you wanted Azul's instead." Booping her nose, "It was kinda fun to watch~!" If only it hadn't ached as it did, having seen Riddle so repulsed of all related to her.
Glancing below in embarrassment, "And what am I wearing?" she at long last observed. "I remember being in my uniform…?"
Shy Riddle was truly the best, so Floyd nodded to herself. "You stormed Azul's drawers the second you got in here, haha!" she narrated further. "I thought it looked fun so I did the same by the way~. Though 'm not sure how I feel about seeing you in another woman's clothes."
Covering her face with her hands, "I can never meet Azul again…" Riddle sobbed.
After kissing her temple, "She must be havin' bigger problems to deal with right now~," Floyd reassured her. They had made quite the hole into Mostro Lounge's, no, Azul's budget, after all. "But who cares about all that? Tell me, did Kingyo-chan miss me so much she got drunk for me~?"
Riddle scoffed. "I went to drink because I missed you. I got drunk because your dorm mates played me a fool."
Shaking her head in disapproval, "'m the only one that should get to bully you like that~," Floyd hummed, and snuggled into Riddle's chest, legs entwined to and fro her waist. Haven, had she called it? It did feel as one, that much was certain, so much so that Floyd must have dozed off at some point, unknowingly so, the ease of being next to her beloved again, of having her beloved back, enough to allow her tired mind to at long last fall into slumber.
A dreamless sleep, for no fantasy could even begin to compare to awakening in Riddle's arms, to seeing her so unguarded, so uncaring anymore to how she might appear, how she may act; fully entrusting herself to Floyd, even in her sleep, finally, at long last, no longer wry, no longer stiff in her attempt of remaining immaculate at any given moment. If only there was a way to get under her skin, become the blood flowing in her veins, pump life into her slowly beating heart, become the air in her lungs, of this gorgeous entity, so irascible, demanding, imposing, perfect in its flawed, ever enthralling authority.
It would be a waste of time, sleeping, missing this still, missing Riddle allowing the comfort of amnesty in such a simple act; yet, it meant so much, the feel of her body around Floyd's, this malleable, this mellow.
"Nnnngh…" she grunted, hugging Floyd tighter. "Is it morning…?"
"I don't know~," Floyd answered; cleared her throat, next, to get rid of the gruffness of it.
"Are you… any better?" Riddle checked, kissing her temples. "You looked… tired. Before."
Nodding, "Yep, yep, Riddle's lewd body kept me energized me all night~!"
Said lewd body froze, perplexed for one sheer second, before ultimately pushing her away, curling into itself. "You are honestly so insufferable."
"You love it," Floyd boasted, grabbing her waist from behind.
"I," Riddle stood up, despite Floyd's forceful clutch, "will go wash my face."
Floyd pouted. "So no morning quickie?"
Arranging her pajama top, "It's never just a 'quickie' with you, and I feel like I've been hit by a truck."
"Lame…" As if it was only Floyd that was usually against stopping.
Still, she watched her head to the bathroom door, barge inside, listened to the water pour down from the faucet, listened to it stop, listened to the rummaging that followed. "Do you think Azul minds if I use a spare toothbrush from here?" echo of Riddle's voice could be heard from the slightly opened door.
Stretching her limbs, Floyd at last rose from the bed and headed inside, caught Riddle looking through Azul's drawers. "I don't think," she giggled, "it matters at this point~." So, she helped her look; found where Azul kept her spares, neatly arranged, earning nods of approval from Riddle before her carefully removal of two, handing one to Floyd. Offering, perhaps? Not in a forceful way, as she'd gotten her used, but more of a choice, which she lazily took. They brushed their teeth in silence next to the other, Floyd still half asleep as her movements were too careless, earning peeved glances from Riddle through the mirror. Slight glances, glances she tried to keep to herself, but failed at times. This was pretty fun, actually, watching the goldfish struggle to meet Floyd's wishes; had her yearn for more.
"How come Azul gets to have her own bathroom, by the way?" Riddle complained, in between brushes.
"Ah, she made it out of another bedroom last year, was it? Headmaster pro'lly hasn't found out yet though~."
"I am most certain that is against the rules."
Following a shrug, "And yet here you are, making use of it, what a rebel you are~." Floyd rinsed her mouth; "So, does Riddle still feel like she's been hit by a truck~?" she brought it up again, unnerving.
In turn, she blinked firmly, scanning Floyd's reflection with a puzzled expression, which she ultimately hurriedly ditched. "I am not having sex with you now."
Floyd pinched her nose. "Mean," she accused, heading back to laying on the mattress. Hands propped behind her head, she started gigging to herself, before attempting to hush it. Laughing would not do; she had to be more convincing if she wanted to fool Riddle. Instead, she set out to whimpering, hushed calls for her lover, subdued enticement for her quarry; hearing no reaction, Floyd set the volume higher, gradually, moans impossible to ignore, she knew. "Riddle," she groaned, followed by the echo of something hitting the bathroom floor, and muffled cursing.
In front of the blasted opened door, Riddle stopped, met with the reality that Floyd was not actually touching herself, as she'd been fooled to assume. It took the red-head a split second to make her choice still, before ultimately opting to fall for it nonetheless, all but running towards the bed, climbing on top. "Fine," she breathed, rapture sinking into her irises, "take your pants off."
"Ain't you gonna lecture me on how it's not good to eat me out just after you've brushed your teeth, or somethin'?" Floyd cupped her face.
Clearing her throat, "While imprudent, I will bear the risk."
Floyd liked seeing Riddle want her, to such lengths. But she knew she could have her more pained by want, more anguished. "Cute, but 'm not in the mood anymore," she winked.
A sigh, most affected sigh, as Riddle propped her rear onto the soft surface, scrutinizing her lover's expression. "I cannot believe you."
Kissing the corner of her mouth, "I'll draw you a bath," Floyd stood up, satisfied of Riddle's annoyed frown. "Your hair smells of vodka~."
"Fine!" she scoffed, in her usual endearing frustration, turning around.
Preparing the tub was actually pretty boring, so Floyd was not sure why she'd suggested doing that, as she did not particularly mind the smell of alcohol in the first place. But there she was, listening to the water pour, checking out Azul's collection of toiletries, not feeling particular about any. Now, Riddle wearing someone else's clothes was one thing, but smelling as someone else was completely out of the question. Did all Azul own have to be scented?
While she was about to throw hands at the shampoo bottles, her ears caught sound of Riddle entering the room; "Will you wash my back?" the red-head questioned, sliding the walk-in shower door open; stark naked.
There came a faint memory, of Riddle's reluctant, timid, flushed expression each time a hint of her skin would be exposed, each time Floyd would drag her digits atop it; she missed that, the intensity of it, that it was her awakening such conflict in between the red-head's barriers. Then again, having her trusting enough to disregard all of that gradually may be worth the loss of it.
Now of course this bareness was not a sight Floyd was foreign of, but it felt brazen of Riddle to just appear in this state in full light out of her own will. Right, she must be playing around in turn, trying to tempt her. Games were more fun in two!
"'ll do your hair first, sit down~," Floyd steered, not moving from her spot.
Instead, Riddle came to her side, leaned over her to turn the tub faucet off, and slid back to her initial position, fondled the hem of her shirt, moving it upwards slightly. Seeing Floyd raise her arms upwards in approval, she took it off, left it to fall by her legs, caressed her chin. "Join me?"
"Alrighty~," she planned to rise up, stopped in place by Riddle's sudden kneel, reaching down to kiss her waist, remove her pants, leave her likewise bare. Hands on knees, the red-head next placed pecks on the calf in front, onto each bruise and scratch she found, sucking at the scarlet surface.
And Floyd watched her mesmerized, still, even while standing up just as abruptly, strolling towards the glass wall, inviting her by her side. Shaking her head, the mermaid all but sprinted by her side, pushed her inside the shower, until her spine hit the tiles, until she shivered at the sudden cold surface atop her heated skin. A smile, leaning in for a touch of lips, and, seeing Riddle close her eyes expectantly, she fiddled at the tap, had droplets pour upon them.
Gasping, "For goodness' sake," Riddle scolded, not even giving Floyd one second to laugh before tip toeing to close her mouth with her own, fingers piercing her nape as she drew her lower. The mermaid's hand fell on the wall for support, as she pushed her tongue inside Riddle ruthlessly, free palm cupping her jaw in search of better angling.
Riddle's lips, so soft and wet and hers, yet again; how she thought she'd never get to taste them again, not once more bite into their plump flesh to draw whimpers out of her throat, to feel her scrunch her nose in ache, to sense her run out of breath and yet be unwilling to let go. What games, what teasing and what waiting, Floyd wanted to take her then and there.
But she also wanted more, wanted to swirl her digits through the vermilion strands, get lost in their wavy maze, and she did not have enough limbs and enough fingers and enough anything to sense all that she desired to at all times. "D'you see any unscented shit around here?" she broke the kiss, watched her pant, confused at both the sudden severance and the question. Her hair, so straight now from the liquid pouring down, contoured her frame perfectly, all unruliness from her bed head long gone.
Wiping the water off her pretty eyes, "But I like scented soaps."
"Too bad, Riddle~," she pinched her cheek, so plump, how she craved to bite it off. Whirling, "Ah, there's one! Yay~!" she poured its contents in her palm, and reached behind to shut the water off.
"That does not look like it is for hair."
Ignoring her, Floyd began massaging her scalp, making sure to be throughout, just as Riddle preferred it; and she could see, matter of the soap aside, how it left her speechless, not being given any opportunity to even form a snide remark. "My Riddle's the prettiest, 's what I think~!" she hummed, catching glances of her red, always reddened face.
Tone demanding, usurping, embarrassed beyond salvation, "T-turn around and let me wash you as well!"
Floyd did her the kind favor of sitting down on the stool, sparing Riddle the need to ask, as she watched her rummage through the options of shampoo until ultimately choosing the same odorless bottle. "What happened to 'that's not for hair'~?"
Following a pout, "…I don't want you smelling like Azul." So they could agree on that!
"I like it when you're jealous~."
"I am not jealous," Riddle rubbed into her skin, annoyed. Winded up, reverted to pushing gently into the scalp, to massaging her nape, feeling at her shoulder blades. "Maybe just a bit," she added, in a whisper.
A change of mind on Floyd's side at the remark, so obvious to both yet so stimulating when uttered; it had her jolt up, almost smash into Riddle again, halt millimeters away from her lips. "I can't decide what I wanna do first 'n it's driving me crazy," Floyd admitted.
"How about," Riddle pressed a digit upon her nose, covering it in bubbles, "rinsing?"
"The most boring option…"
Riddle rinsed them both still, careful as to not miss anything, and maybe the water felt nice onto her body, followed by the loving palms, followed by a trail of kisses. Followed by the shower head getting turned off, a push into Floyd's spine, a meeting of the glass wall, smudging of the perfectly steam draped surface, warmth hugging her from behind. There was no sun warmer than her beloved.
One hand on her inner thigh, one thumb circling her mouth. A grab of leg flesh, a finger taunting in between her sharp teeth. "Will you entrust yourself to me?" Riddle breathed into her blades, teasing at the folds.
"D'you need me too crouch, or are you good back there?"
"You can be so unromantic sometimes…"
"It's my charm~." Floyd twirled, grabbed Riddle's wrist, guided the digits in front of her mouth as she desired it, had them push into her lower lip. Placing a peck atop their tips, "'s weird," she tried to put her emotions into words, "letting you see how much your voice flusters me." A lap across the length of them, "Being honest, feels like 'm giving you too much leeway to restrain me," teeth scratching at the creases, "'n it reminds me how I'd let you do it without a second thought."
Tip pushing itself into a fang, "So why trust me with it now?"
"'Cause," Floyd stuck her tongue out, "'s a risk 'm willing to take if it means getting you this red~."
"It's good, I guess," Riddle muffled, nails shifting from her thigh to drawing curves in between her breasts, "that my shameful reactions still keep you keen."
Whispered into her fingers, "The sun will die out before my attraction to Riddle does~." Tongue hastily wrapped around her digits, forcing them inside her trap as beasts of deep oceans lured their prey in caves of mangle, wrist held it in place by the claws entangled over it. The red-head's visage, so focused on Floyd's suction onto the tips of her limb, got unfrozen just in time for her free hand to slip in between the mermaid's legs, probing her clit harshly, encouraging her to take in the pointers deeper, dissolve and absorb them if such possibility arose. Riddle's tongue, traversing her chest, such focus on maintaining the action in tandem with the now thrusting force below, with the might pushing deeper down her throat, had her brow furrow, had Floyd moan into the digits in her mouth.
Letting them go with a pop, letting her joint free, Floyd forced Riddle off her breast, pulled her into a most fervid union of their lips, felt the rhythm disrupt in between her walls ever the slightest. Had her body trickle down the glass as she urged Riddle to follow suit—met with grabbing of her waist as they both meet the shower floor, knee protruding at her cunt. A kiss, flesh cupping her breast, squeezing into her sternum, two fingers back inside her, the fingers she'd sucked on, mercilessly pounding, pounding, pounding, having Floyd's hands grab at her hair in a futile attempt to steady herself, in a premeditated attempt to have her beloved's pace be disrupted from the pleasant sting. How pleasingly she broke the kiss at each tug to pant, how hurriedly she returned, unsure of which sensation to revel in, that, or eating up all of the mermaid's whimpers.
How beautifully she froze upon Floyd making way to her neglected clit, aiming to match Riddle's tempo, sensing her get ever more frenzied in her pound. She must be taking it as a contest, it seemed, ever the competitive. How charming, how maddening, how much more intense each thrust felt.
Riddle was not given a chance of regaining her strength after letting Floyd ride her orgasm, no, she was merely pushed onto the ground, gently, shocking perhaps to the both of them. "My turn~," the mermaid grinned, climbing on top, finally nibbling at the cheek she'd been lusting over ever since catching glimpse of her drunken antics. And Riddle allowed her to do her bit, invariably did; more than allowed, she relished in each bite, watched Floyd's fangs dig into flesh as if beguiled. Her fingers resumed her conduct into the slippery sex, orchestrating the red-head's chords to play whatever notes she saw fit, erratic cries of her name enabling her intensifying the movements, arching of the spine below bestowing her the need to leave lovebites all over the plum breasts.
Nails rasping her scalp, nape, this sting Floyd had dreamed of nights on end, intensity a reminder of it being real once more. Erratic, the motions as her serrated teeth dragged down her belly, further down, where Riddle's hips met her mouth, eager, overbearing; tongue sucked at her arousal in a tango with the digits inside, whimpers as background music.
If only she would not haver her jaws preoccupied, so Floyd could spell out worship, sing laurels about the sumptuousness of Riddle's folds, of the rich taste, of the sublime hold on her tongue, covetously chaining her in between the walls, the only kind of restriction the mermaid would accept without further ado, no, seek it herself even.
But Floyd wanted to see more of her ashen eyes, and it was so hard from down there… Much to the bottom's displeasure, she scaled back, mouth sucking her jaw and and lips, mouths reuniting with one another. Her free hand found one of Riddle's, entangled their fingers, had her smile like a fool. They were both fools, mutually; that was the whole appeal.
"I shouldn't have—ah!—washed my hair…" a complain arose.
Fastening her pace, "Is that what you should be worrying about~?"
Riddle's legs embraced Floyd in an attempt to feel more, give her more, how generous, how strong of a grip. To cooperate with the clenching of her walls, Floyd stayed on her best behavior, maintaining the rhythm she knew Riddle enjoyed most; left her clasp, reluctantly, to caress the skin of her elegant neck, licking her fangs in anticipation of biting into it. Instead, she felt Riddle's hands on hers, urging her to circle around, to apply force.
"Ask nicely next time, hm~?" The image of Riddle begging to be choked was exquisite in itself, after all. Still, Floyd obliged, gladly, too impatient to stall through the details. "Off with your head~, 's that how it goes? Haha!" she mocked, gingerly pushing into the arteries, more intensely strangling the closer her lover was to her release.
And yet how pleased Riddle looked through it, fully committing to her, not one ounce of distrust in the enamored gaze she struggled to maintain towards the one choking her.
Floyd allowed the air back in her lungs, blood back to her face, as she regarded her blissed out release, the rapid heaves of her troubled chest. Tasted her off her fingers, sweet, as usual, sweet just like her beloved, most precious girlfriend.
After regaining force in her body, Riddle stoked at the shadow of a shackle around her neck, displeased. "How will I hide this if it bruises…"
Helping her up, into her expectant arms, spot merrily accepted, "Just say someone finally collared you back~?" Floyd chucked.
"Should I get my Magic Pen so we match, love?" Riddle sent her glares.
"I hate that shit of yours 'round my neck with a burning passion."
It was cold, Floyd realized, steamy atmosphere losing in the face of the glossy tiles. How she'd hit a bath… Of course, she could do just that. Blessed be Azul's opulent lifestyle. "'m gonna go soak~."
"…should we not… clean up and leave already…?"
Standing up, "'zul pro'lly doesn't want to see you now, 's what I think, so it'll be fine, c'mon~!" Floyd offered her hand.
"That just makes me feel worse…" Riddle took it, still, followed her to the tub, watched her sit by the enlarged edge as she poured hot water over the already chilled one; sat in her lap, placed a kiss onto her chest, propped her head into the same place.
"I've missed you," she admitted.
Floyd could tell; liked it. There was one good thing that had come out of this whole situation! And she could have said it as well, savor the glow of her irises. Instead, "Say, Riddle, where are most fish found?"
"…where, Floyd?"
"Between the head and the tail!"
She always giggled at those, no matter how pissed off she seemed at first. How Floyd adored her.
"I actually have one, too," Riddle announced, pleased. Clearing her throat, "What do you call a fish that won’t shut up? A big-mouthed bass." Then, a snarling addition, "Made me think of you."
"Haha!" Floyd grinned, smooching her temple. "Yeah, 've missed you too, Riddle~."
The red-head twitched, tip of her nose flushed; hugged her tighter, demeanor solemn all of the sudden. "Thank you," she hushed, patting her hair, "for letting me try again."
Such seriousness, as if Floyd would not allow her as many attempts as need be. "My Riddle's so earnest~," she praised; she'd scream it at the skies, oceans, lands, boast about her girlfriend.
"My Floyd, too," Riddle backed down, "her speech is so much more elevated now!"
Floyd cupped both halves of her face. "Riddle," she hummed the name, reveled in her rosy complexion. Again. "Riddle." Once more. "Riddle~. I like how it sounds, 's so pretty, no?" Pinching her cheek, "I love it almost as much as I love you."
Such solemn L-word drop, yikes. But maybe it was fine, if for her. Yet, Riddle got off. "…I'm eating you out, recline."
What happened to 'I love you too', or whatever? "Riddle's so greedy~."
Enticing her legs to open, "There are no words," kissing her tummy, "I could use," the skin atop her bush, "that would express," her inner thigh, "how much I love you." Biting into the leg flesh, "I have no choice but to show you."
A hickey sucked next to Floyd's happy trail, abundant smooches atop her lower abdomen, a thumb rubbing her left nipple; a lap of her clit, a digit circling around her entrance, a suction into her arousal, and it already had her see stars. The brightest one of all shone in between her legs, tactic so much more rough, each touch coarse, vulgar; enchanting.
"This 's so much better after not going at it for a while, maybe we should break up more often~?"
"Hmpf," Riddle detached herself from in between her limbs, licked the gloss off her lips, conceited. "I am positive I can pleasure you no matter the circumstances, thank you very much."
"Riddle doesn't wanna break up again, is that it~?"
"No," she breathed into her cunt, "I don't." And she made sure to convey just that with her almost brutal pace, so indelicate, so indecorous, so confident in her skill. Tongue, fingers, nose, in perfect harmony with one another to deliver the masterwork of Floyd's mind going blank, of her hands uncertain of their grasp, desperate for something to hold on to. Desperate to hold on to Riddle, bite, scratch, boast at how impossibly good this felt. But, yes, Riddle had been right, there were no words for this, no vocabulary yet invented, no language passionate enough. The only sound left, her name.
"Who's all shy now, ha!" Riddle bragged, stood up to place a kiss upon her lips, breathe life back to her, pull her into an embrace so disproportionate to her words.
Pesky. Floyd kittled her waist, had her burst out laughing while trying to get free.
"If you keep tickling me I'll kick you!" the red-head struggled.
"Since Riddle's sober now I don't mind resuming our fight~."
Hiding a blush, "This is not the time or place."
"You always say that…"
The tub water had chilled, again. Riddle decided to handle herself the job to get it hot again, kindly allowing Floyd the time to catch her breath, which she did not particularly need. She took it instead to watch her girlfriend, the curls returning to her unruly, drying hair, how she avoided any gazes sent her way with bent on resolve, as if she hadn't just made Floyd's thighs and hips ache from the amount of strain forced upon them.
Yet, the second the bath was prepared—just hot water, Riddle having given up on finding any odorless products, green with jealousy amid checking the options—, Floyd almost jumped towards it, giddily turning into her merform at being immersed. A crammed space, still, liquid spilling out during the transformation; did Azul not soak in her octopus form, or why was this so tub so small?
Riddle, having surrendered in making any other remarks about the situation, merely tried to squeeze in between Floyd's arms. Smiled, even, at feeling the tail fondle around her body, sunk into the embrace further.
"So, 's your idea of love to have my hole sting like this?" Floyd complained at the aftermath of the roughing up.
"Indeed. I needed to communicate the extent to which my infatuation for you burns me from inside out."
"Wow, my Riddle has such a way with words~."
Floyd could see it, even with her hind turned, how the red-head's expression would turn into a smug agreement. Could tell, by how she changed the subject afterwards, that she'd gotten shy at her own confessions. But she commenced narrating the events of the latest Unbirthday Party—gossip!—, any rule breakers, how tasty the sweets had been, how, voice much more muffled at this part, she'd have favored having Floyd by her side, share it all with her.
Further, Riddle grew silent, taking Floyd's hand in hers, analyzing her claws, the webs in between, caressing these tools of havoc and slaughter so tenderly, kissing them with such admiration. "Your true form is most beautiful to me," she disclosed, playing around with the member.
"More than my human version?"
"This is the real you, no?" Riddle let go of her hand, turned her head to face Floyd. "Of course I fancy it more."
A snog turned into a tongue kiss, neither unable to keep anything to themselves, as if the need to make up for the time they've lost was eating up at them. Out of mercy for Riddle's strained positioning, she aided her to straddle the upper part of her tail, claws clasped over her nape to draw her back into the union of their lips as soon as her positioning was secure. Riddle's hips rolled into the smack, her groin meeting Floyd's fin, the tail twisting at the sudden sensation of the folds across it, having her mouth gasp. "For all your big talk you're sure looking eager to screw here," the mermaid pointed out, entertained. "Don't tell me you actually wanna get caught?"
Torn between hiding her blush from view and resuming what she had started, Riddle must have remembered she deemed herself not a quitter, for she merely pushed into the fin again, grin wide.
"Does the idea of Azul seeing you ride my tail excite you, 's that it? Ain't you the cutest~."
Her fingers landed on both sides of Floyd's eyes, as she brought her face closer. "I do not want you talking about other people when you're fucking me," Riddle avowed, tapping their noses together. "Focus on me only."
It left the mermaid inarticulate, which was perhaps saving her some grace, lest she'd plead for Riddle to rough her up more, lest she'd solicit to see the extents of this love of hers. Not that she did not have faith in her, not that she needed any reassurance, not at this point in time; no, she had long since entrusted her all to Riddle the way her fins entrusted her being to unruly waves. "'m always focused on you only," Floyd gave her a peck; how she'd never get tired of her lips. Of the beauty spots and freckles on her light-kissed skin, not one being more adored by the sun than her; of the teeth marks and lovebites Riddle had gifted her biped form, not one soul more cherished by such warmth. "You're all that's on my mind."
Floyd waved her tail enough to have it meet Riddle's groin, had her claws dribble atop her chest as she watched her breasts spring in delight; relished into the sensation of her doted on fin, sensitivity of it being taken advantage of beyond belief. Scarlet strands, how they poured onto the webs of Floyd's palm like blood streamed through vessels. Slightly bruised neck skin, how pretty it delivered itself with the talons nuzzling around it. Riddle's smile, how uncaring in face of the possible dangers of having her nape torn apart.
And how could she care, when the pincers simply adored her, when the fins achingly sought her friction; sorry excuse, mere shadow of the huntress Floyd had been. A willing demotion.
Spent, Riddle's body fell back atop hers. "My headache's returned…" she lamented, nuzzling into her hold.
"Wanna go snatch some grub?"
"Fine…" Then, surging up as if electrified, "Shit!"
Caressing her cheek, "What's gotten Riddle so worked up now~?"
"I got drunk after snacking yesterday…"
"…so?"
"The Queen of Hearts's Rule 339 is clear: 'The post-meal beverage is to be lemon tea with two sugar cubes'," she sighed, head in hands.
"Hmm… you also didn't get one after eating me out, Riddle's such a rule breaker~."
"Your insolence truly knows no limits!"
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
"Why do we have to eat here out of all places…" Riddle heaved, sat at a Mostro Lounge table, the one place she wanted to avoid.
"It was the closest option, duh?" Floyd leaned her head onto her shoulder. "'n I couldn't let my dear Riddle starve any longer~."
Arms crossed at her chest, "Flattery will get you nowhere."
"Really?" Floyd snorted, nuzzling further into her nape. "'Cause it got me pretty far this morning~."
"You impudent thing!" Riddle slammed her first into the table. "So that was all adulation to get into my pants!?"
The mermaid kissed her, had all her anger melt away like magic; and returned it just as fast: "I didn't need it, so nope~!"
Unfortunately, she could not deny it.
"Please do not tell me you two… eloped… in my bed," Azul's voice rose from behind. Great timing.
Floyd's tone, giddy as she held her lover's hand, "Nope, nope~! I only banged Riddle in your shower~."
"And in the bathtub." She had at least had the decency to mop the tiles before leaving, much to her girlfriend's displeasure.
Whatever confusion had passed Azul's visage, she discarded it instantly. Instead, arranging her glasses, "I assume it is good that you two made up, above all…" she sighed. "But you are both banned from drinking in my prestigious Lounge hereafter!"
"Perhaps you should know better than to rough up your customers before pointing fingers?" Not that she had any plans of drinking there, or anywhere else, for the foreseeable future.
"You tell her, Riddle~! Kick her ass!" Bonus points for the ovation.
"I feel I am undeserving of this vile treatment, as it is by virtue of none other than I that you two have reconciled, no?"
That much was likely true. All in all, it served as a parable, that being right did not grant her much in the end. That she could be wrong and forgiven. But more than anything, she was thankful to Floyd, ever the patient over what felt like forever until she figured it out. Her most beloved, beckoning glimpses of enamor her way, only her way, as the moon beckoned oceans; not letting go of her hand as they stood their ground, relentless. They made such a good pair if they put their minds to it!
Then again, "I am clearly in the right!" Anyone who disagreed should be prepared to lose their head.