🇮 🇹🇭🇴🇺🇬🇭🇹 🇴🇫 🇦🇳🇬🇪🇱🇸 🇨🇭🇴🇰🇮🇳🇬 🇴🇳 🇹🇭🇪🇮🇷 🇭🇦🇱🇴🇸
Time passed in different ways here, trapped with Gahbriogyva. There was no painstakingly waiting for the minutes to pass by, there was no clock to watch, no ending to dread or look forward to. There was only she and Gabi and the deafening intimacy of the night.
Jaffe knew what Gabi was capable of because of how much time she spent studying the superstar, but she was not ready for what it felt like to have Crimson Dream used on her. Gahbriogyva was almost a peerless combatant. Jaffe knew if this woman wanted her dead, she would be. Knowing at any moment Gabi could decide to snap... brought unimaginable fire to her gut. It was also knowing that Gabi in fact hadn't snapped, but was enjoying herself more than she could hide, that made Jaffe feel like she couldn't handle how turned on she was getting. The time to need more than heavy touching was fast approaching. There was hardly a death wish more apparent than being involved with Gahbriogyva, the great terror of the already terrible house of Darkness; daughter of the monster Gahbreal and his unhinged wife Cyva; raised by more psychopaths than a child raised by wolves. Well, to be fair, she was raised by wolves. Jaffe was familiar with Gabi, yes, but only to an extent. For example, Jaffe assumed Gabi wasn't a virgin - there was no fucking way in hell this vixen had never been touched - but also had no idea who would or could have deflowered such a goddess. Part of her was jealous, if she was honest with herself. This view should belong to her alone.
It was all too beautiful. It was enough to make someone want to cry. Even on the way over, Jaffe had never suspected things would end up this way. Honestly, there had been a 60% chance she was going to be slaughtered at the door. Then there was a 70% chance Gabi would just decide to break her body or mind out of boredom once she was drunk. It was the most fun Jaffe had ever had gambling.
"Wait. Lemme focus for a bit." Gabi's words sent a flurry of excitement rushing through Jaffe's body. "I ain’t done this in a while, but I need it." The water claimant started lightly laughing at that - the noise was quickly stifled by locking eyes with Gabi. No, Gahbriogyva. This was Gahbriogyva. Eyes like burning rubies or hellfire or swords being struck to form their shape - Jaffe couldn't decide. It was overwhelming. "I’m gonna have ya look at nothin’ but me." The water claimant couldn't fight her on that. She couldn't look at anything else. Eyes wide, jaw slack, Jaffe Testua was mesmerized. There was nothing else to think about or see than Gabi. There was nothing else in the universe so terrifyingly divine. And it will all be mine.
Her mind could barely fathom what was happening. The sounds of the night slowly slipped away until they were choked out completely. Even the stars dimmed in the sky. The only thing to see, hear, smell, feel was Gabi. Jaffe could hardly ask for it to be any other way. The water claimant wasn't familiar with the feeling coursing through her veins and there weren't many feelings Jaffe Testua was not familiar with. She could feel something changing within her.... Like something was breaking away from the rest. What it was, she couldn't put a finger on. As Gabi reached for the knife Jaffe couldn't help but follow every movement with her eyes as if at any moment Gabi could leave. It felt clingy and therefore foreign in an almost-uncomfortable mostly-giddy manner. She envied the knife for managing to become closer to the darkness claimant than she was.
Blood flowed between them like warm ambrosia. It poured from Jaffe's mouth and Gabi's hands and met halfway somewhere in a compromise, mixing and swirling into each other like taking direction from the women themselves. Black overtook blue as if art meant to imitate life. Gabi was sweet and heady... Jaffe felt herself becoming intoxicated all over again. If Jaffe was honest with herself, Gabi was right: the darker-skinned woman was absolutely famished. She nearly had to sit on her hands just to keep from tackling Gabi as soon as black started seeping out of her.
"If you’re hungry, then eat. Think of it as a reward for your cute little efforts."
Jaffe Testua did not have to be told twice. She leapt onto Gabi like a vulture on prey, lapping up everything she had access to on the woman whether it was spit or skin or blood. If the presence of the liquids made Gahbriogyva dirty, Jaffe's hungry tongue made sure she was licked clean. Suddenly she felt impossibly insatiable. No matter how much of Gabi there was in her mouth, there was never enough...
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Jaffe couldn't tell how long they stayed like that, with her sat on Gabi's lap, languishing the feeling of lips roving over her skin as her mind spun. This was something separate from the drunkenness she'd been feeling. Gabi's lips only felt softer as the kisses grew deeper before morphing into bites. That first nip on her neck made sure Jaffe knew no one had ever made her feel this way before. Part of the woman wanted to make the moment stretch forever but the greater part was impatient to see how long she could make Gabi beg to finish.
She was getting ahead of herself now. The former soccer player brought herself back down to earth by closing her eyes as hard as she could and opening them again. Still, she could form no thoughts that weren't littered with Gahbriogyva. She could see nothing that was not Gahbriogyva. It was as she had thought before: there was nothing in their domain but each other.
I love you.
Jaffe almost slapped herself. The words appeared like an intruder in her mind, which had already been feeling different. It was as if Gabi's fingers themselves were inside her mind, holding and dissecting her brain as if trying to figure out what to make of it. She felt more naked than she felt a person could. She was fully exposed to Gabi in a way she hadn't even been with herself.
"Ya got me here; beneath ya in a way you may never experience again. So follow through… no more singin', make me scream." A better invitation could not be expressed if it were written among the galaxies. "If ya do a good enough job I might make those screams sound like your name." Every other word was accentuated with a kiss. Gabi had to know the effect she was having; she seemed supremely pleased with herself. If it weren't for the faint smell of alcohol on her breath no one would be able to tell Gabi was under the influence and she would just appear like the corrupted succubus she was.
🇸🇪🇪 🇭🇴🇼 🇩🇮🇷🇹🇾 🇮 🇨🇦🇳 🇬🇪🇹 🇹🇭🇪🇲, 🇵🇺🇱🇱🇮🇳🇬 🇴🇺🇹 🇹🇭🇪🇮🇷 🇫🇷🇦🇬🇮🇱🇪 🇹🇪🇪🇹🇭
"I know what you are," Jaffe giggled, her voice sing-song as she watched Gabi relax below her. A devil. She had been watching the darkness claimant for an inordinate amount of time... but never... had she seen Gahbriogyva relax. Perhaps this was something she was the only person alive or dead to witness. Heat flooded her cheeks - and less savory places - as she watched what awaited her. Long limbs, skin smoother and paler than any pearl, hair as dark as a tumultuous sea, and eyes unable to decide if they wanted to drown their target in madness or lust. It was enough to make Jaffe Testua cry. For perhaps the first time in her life, she was speechless.
“Go on. I’m waitin', temptress."
Gabi's words reached Jaffe's ears like a spell and the water claimant was happily bewitched from then on. She collapsed onto her prey, as she had decided she absolutely could not wait anymore. Her tongue trailed blue across a stark white canvas as she left her mark; the blue and black eventually being underlined by delicious, soft red. It was an exciting dance to determine what motions left which marks. A bruise here, bite marks there... To call it erotic would be an understatement. To call it seductive would be an injustice. Jaffe couldn't put her finger on the words, her mind briefly traversing the dictionary of the ancient tongue to see if they had better words.
The media mogul was taller than her, yes, but Jaffe was tall herself and used both to her advantage. As she left a trail down her conquest's body in the form of bloody, bruised flowers, she made sure not to waste a moment memorizing the finest parts of the mighty claimant who lay beneath her, open and vulnerable for all the world to see. How fitting it was that they were the only ones in their world.
"For the next act," Jaffe began, voice low and sultry and still tinged with lingering moonshine, "I will give you your cues." Jaffe briefly abandoned her post between Gabi's thighs to be able to look her in the eye. Their eyes almost mirrored each other: blue, ringed with the blood of madness. The left hand that had been so busy caressing lower finally made its way up to Gabi's throat, then further when it clasped her chin, and further still when two fingers disappeared into the pale angel's mouth. "So shut up." A grin broke her serious demeanor. "Pay attention. I'm going to teach you something new about yourself, little bird. Know what it is?" She smiled again as she broke their impossibly tense eye contact to push Gabi's head to the side, ever so gently, and expose her ear. Jaffe could barely contain herself to finish speaking before acting. "That you can listen. That you love to follow commands. Think of it as a reward for your cute little efforts."
It was done. As far as Jaffe Testua was concerned, she had sold her soul to the devil and would not be looking for it back.
🇦🇳🇩 🇨🇱🇮🇵 🇹🇭🇪🇮🇷 🇹🇮🇳🇾 🇼🇮🇳🇬🇸
The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. The sky lit up ever so slowly but the montage of watching it rise was not half as beautiful as the view of Gahbriogyva flustered and confused. Jaffe couldn't tell at what point the outside world began seeping into their dreamscape. It almost felt like a betrayal to be interrupted in such a way. There was still more she wanted from Gabi... but she supposed it had to end sometime. After all, she had originally come to the house with intentions other than to literally roll in the hay, though she could hardly remember what they were after the night she'd had. Her mind felt scrambled though it was unknown if that was from the darkness claimant or her father's moonshine.
Back to work.
The caramel-skinned woman rolled her eyes to herself. Laying on Gabi's wings felt oddly intimate for some reason in comparison to their night together. Jaffe half wondered if it hurt her... she had noticed the yelp when two of the feathers were pulled out the night previous. Nevertheless, she propped herself up on one of her elbows so that she could gaze upon the fallen angel once more. One last look... She wished there was a way to take a picture that could capture the moment exactly as it was in her eyes.
A long arm reached over to capture ribbons of dark locks, gently twisting them around lithe fingers. "I guess the fun has to end sometime... I have a business proposition for you." She untangled her fingers from the black hair they had been enveloped in to place them over Gabi's mouth in a shushing motion. "And before you say no, you're going to say yes, because I'm going to get you Ballafex."
quoted song: just one yesterday by fall out boy
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No Pleasure Without Pain
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Non-Ship 1x1s 22 posts · started by Doburesu
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Doburesu
played by Doburesu
· Oct 2, 2024
With the ending of the night came a breaking dawn she absolutely hated to see. A part of her found this as a good distraction. Being capable of completing her mother’s request of visiting in the first place, but also having taken this random visitor as an opportunity to slip away without a single question asked. It gave her the chance she needed to make the space between herself and her father she so desperately wanted… but there were so many holes and gaps. From drinking Gahbreal’s mostly illegal alcohol to spending the night with this woman, Gabi’s entire plan had become full of so many unexpected turns, and what had to be the worst part about it all was how this woman had managed to actually have her enjoy herself. And as she pursed her lips, with each memory poking and prodding at the back of her mind, it disturbed her more and more to realize just how much she did enjoy herself.
She did not lift herself from the ground. Not even enough to check whether or not they had even managed to get back into their clothes at any point, but that was a different matter. Her eyes squinted, a slight groan as her chest rose and fell with each measured breath. She could still taste that foul stain of moonshine on her tongue, and yet it was also accompanied by something sweeter. She pouted to herself, questioning whether or not she she take this woman and scatter her bones across the farm for coyotes and varmints to feed on. Then she remembered the taste of blood and the sensation of the night. Her muscles relaxed and her heart slowed to a moderate thrum. Perhaps it would be best to get rid of her, but what a terrible waste of such cute bones that would be…
What the hell is wrong with me? Who cares about the quality of bones now? Bones beneath such soft skin... What does matter is how much she is obviously going to be trouble.
She could not put aside the thought that their initial meeting started with her attempting to do… whatever she was trying to do outside of her parent’s home. And while she doubted her father would be caught in a state of unawares, her mother was an entirely different story. Several things had to be considered. Among those things being this woman's true intentions for coming here specifically.
She could feel the weight of Jaffe’s body shift on her wing, an action she had to consider carefully as there was already a price to be paid for being allowed such a luxury as to use her feathers for a bed. A part of her felt that it would outright be the best option to splatter her body on the nearest stone and call Mist to have her clean it up. Then she considered torture. For that it would probably be best to get her uncle. Hellfire was many things, but always very reliable as a quality torturer. There was also the option of tying her up and questioning the woman herself, but dealing with water claimants was always a hassle. Especially when she had no idea how she’d utilize her element to somehow escape through the smallest hole or crack in some way.
This was all too much to think about so early in the morning, and her head was doing her no services in that regard. She thought for a moment to just lift her fist and bring it down on her with every ounce of her might, but that would both alert her parents to their presence out there and likely break her wing in the process. She should have just used madness and turned her brain into a paste of scrambled and malformed memories, but now that would take time to even set up. However, most troubling of all was how a part of her did not want this woman to forget. She wanted the blonde to remember. To have the images stuck in her mind as if, by some twisted fate, lasting as an ever present reminder of how nothing would ever truly measure up to what she had been allowed to experience again. Allowed. Such a funny word, as if she herself were fully in control of her actions. Guided by lust and alcohol. But beyond lust there was a terrifying word which continued to bring itself up... Desire.
“I guess the fun has to end sometime… I have a business proposition for you.” Jaffe’s words caused her eyes to turn downward from the sky. Clearly she was more hungover than expected, having just noticed her hair between brown sugar fingers. That or she had undersold the Testua's skills in some way. However, they only lasted there for a moment before moving to place themselves over her lips. Not in a way she’d call sensual, but rather as if giving her some form of order to remain silent?!
You may be pretty, and I mean very pretty, but that doesn’t mean I won’t break your fucking neck… But damn you’re nice to look at, even though you smell terrible… But I suppose that’s okay when you’re this cute… what the fuck am I thinking?!
Her thoughts were well and clearly scrambled. The night had certainly done a number on her, but that didn’t mean a damn thing at the end of the day. Only a select few people were ever going to have the right or courtesy of telling her what to do without eventually facing the most deadly demise she could imagine. And for this one, in this very moment, she could only imagine crushing her skull between her fingers. It didn’t matter if they were claimants or ancients, it was all the same. If you weren’t invincible it meant every action against her was a lasting mistake spelling your eventual demise by her hands, measured only by her own willingness to forgo causing too much damage to her surroundings or her family’s reputation. Two things this woman’s life wouldn’t impact at all.
Perhaps it was fate, or maybe even Echowix doing her best to interfere in some way she could not comprehend, but just as she had managed to sneak her hand close enough to Jaffe’s neck to crush her jaw into shards of bone… “And before you say no, you’re going to say yes, because I’m going to get you Ballafex.”
“Wait. What?” Fingers moments away from hostility instead just gripped her jaw as she would a misbehaving child. By now she was confused. Interested! But confused nonetheless. She lifted herself to a sitting position and brought Jaffe with her, just for the sake of having a face to look directly into as she spoke. “I may have been intoxicated before, but that doesn't make me oblivious. You come out of nowhere, but claim to have the means to get me to someone I’ve been looking for? Flori doesn’t tell anyone where Ballafex is. So how would you have found him?”
She looked at her for a moment. Close enough to almost touch as if making sure the slightest discrepancy couldn’t be spotted in her eyes, but that proved to be a mistake. All that did was flood her mind with memories of the night prior. Then she looked at Jaffe before looking at herself and, of course, both of them were still as underdressed as they had been the night prior. As if to simply add insult to injury. That was the moment she chose to release her. Instead using the fingers as a means to cover her own mouth as her wings did a proper job of covering herself up. Her eyes looked away, taking the etiquette her mother and grandmother forced on her into account. Perhaps it would be best to refrain from drinking around Jaffe, or at least that was what she thought. It was far too distracting to look directly at her now.
“Maybe… it would be best if we get situated first. Go to the house, get a new set of clothing, and bathe. Besides, you smell like chickens and we were nowhere near the chickens.” Why does she smell like that? Like she’s been skulking around the farm all day? “Then we can talk about this somewhere else over breakfast. For now I can say I’m interested, but there are many ears around this house and I will need to know more before I make any agreements. We can go to a restaurant and talk through this like adults.”
So she said, but that would be just about the only adult thing about any of this. At the end of the day this had managed to become a job, which could be seen as good or bad depending on who was asking. Either way, the last thing she needed was Gahbreal overhearing them at all. While she had a sense of smell rivaling that of the most bloodthirsty creatures, it was her father who always seemed to hear every conversation which took place anywhere near his property.
"And that knife better have been clean. I'll tear your arms off if I find out that knife was some dingy fucking kitchen knife."
She did not lift herself from the ground. Not even enough to check whether or not they had even managed to get back into their clothes at any point, but that was a different matter. Her eyes squinted, a slight groan as her chest rose and fell with each measured breath. She could still taste that foul stain of moonshine on her tongue, and yet it was also accompanied by something sweeter. She pouted to herself, questioning whether or not she she take this woman and scatter her bones across the farm for coyotes and varmints to feed on. Then she remembered the taste of blood and the sensation of the night. Her muscles relaxed and her heart slowed to a moderate thrum. Perhaps it would be best to get rid of her, but what a terrible waste of such cute bones that would be…
What the hell is wrong with me? Who cares about the quality of bones now? Bones beneath such soft skin... What does matter is how much she is obviously going to be trouble.
She could not put aside the thought that their initial meeting started with her attempting to do… whatever she was trying to do outside of her parent’s home. And while she doubted her father would be caught in a state of unawares, her mother was an entirely different story. Several things had to be considered. Among those things being this woman's true intentions for coming here specifically.
She could feel the weight of Jaffe’s body shift on her wing, an action she had to consider carefully as there was already a price to be paid for being allowed such a luxury as to use her feathers for a bed. A part of her felt that it would outright be the best option to splatter her body on the nearest stone and call Mist to have her clean it up. Then she considered torture. For that it would probably be best to get her uncle. Hellfire was many things, but always very reliable as a quality torturer. There was also the option of tying her up and questioning the woman herself, but dealing with water claimants was always a hassle. Especially when she had no idea how she’d utilize her element to somehow escape through the smallest hole or crack in some way.
This was all too much to think about so early in the morning, and her head was doing her no services in that regard. She thought for a moment to just lift her fist and bring it down on her with every ounce of her might, but that would both alert her parents to their presence out there and likely break her wing in the process. She should have just used madness and turned her brain into a paste of scrambled and malformed memories, but now that would take time to even set up. However, most troubling of all was how a part of her did not want this woman to forget. She wanted the blonde to remember. To have the images stuck in her mind as if, by some twisted fate, lasting as an ever present reminder of how nothing would ever truly measure up to what she had been allowed to experience again. Allowed. Such a funny word, as if she herself were fully in control of her actions. Guided by lust and alcohol. But beyond lust there was a terrifying word which continued to bring itself up... Desire.
“I guess the fun has to end sometime… I have a business proposition for you.” Jaffe’s words caused her eyes to turn downward from the sky. Clearly she was more hungover than expected, having just noticed her hair between brown sugar fingers. That or she had undersold the Testua's skills in some way. However, they only lasted there for a moment before moving to place themselves over her lips. Not in a way she’d call sensual, but rather as if giving her some form of order to remain silent?!
You may be pretty, and I mean very pretty, but that doesn’t mean I won’t break your fucking neck… But damn you’re nice to look at, even though you smell terrible… But I suppose that’s okay when you’re this cute… what the fuck am I thinking?!
Her thoughts were well and clearly scrambled. The night had certainly done a number on her, but that didn’t mean a damn thing at the end of the day. Only a select few people were ever going to have the right or courtesy of telling her what to do without eventually facing the most deadly demise she could imagine. And for this one, in this very moment, she could only imagine crushing her skull between her fingers. It didn’t matter if they were claimants or ancients, it was all the same. If you weren’t invincible it meant every action against her was a lasting mistake spelling your eventual demise by her hands, measured only by her own willingness to forgo causing too much damage to her surroundings or her family’s reputation. Two things this woman’s life wouldn’t impact at all.
Perhaps it was fate, or maybe even Echowix doing her best to interfere in some way she could not comprehend, but just as she had managed to sneak her hand close enough to Jaffe’s neck to crush her jaw into shards of bone… “And before you say no, you’re going to say yes, because I’m going to get you Ballafex.”
“Wait. What?” Fingers moments away from hostility instead just gripped her jaw as she would a misbehaving child. By now she was confused. Interested! But confused nonetheless. She lifted herself to a sitting position and brought Jaffe with her, just for the sake of having a face to look directly into as she spoke. “I may have been intoxicated before, but that doesn't make me oblivious. You come out of nowhere, but claim to have the means to get me to someone I’ve been looking for? Flori doesn’t tell anyone where Ballafex is. So how would you have found him?”
She looked at her for a moment. Close enough to almost touch as if making sure the slightest discrepancy couldn’t be spotted in her eyes, but that proved to be a mistake. All that did was flood her mind with memories of the night prior. Then she looked at Jaffe before looking at herself and, of course, both of them were still as underdressed as they had been the night prior. As if to simply add insult to injury. That was the moment she chose to release her. Instead using the fingers as a means to cover her own mouth as her wings did a proper job of covering herself up. Her eyes looked away, taking the etiquette her mother and grandmother forced on her into account. Perhaps it would be best to refrain from drinking around Jaffe, or at least that was what she thought. It was far too distracting to look directly at her now.
“Maybe… it would be best if we get situated first. Go to the house, get a new set of clothing, and bathe. Besides, you smell like chickens and we were nowhere near the chickens.” Why does she smell like that? Like she’s been skulking around the farm all day? “Then we can talk about this somewhere else over breakfast. For now I can say I’m interested, but there are many ears around this house and I will need to know more before I make any agreements. We can go to a restaurant and talk through this like adults.”
So she said, but that would be just about the only adult thing about any of this. At the end of the day this had managed to become a job, which could be seen as good or bad depending on who was asking. Either way, the last thing she needed was Gahbreal overhearing them at all. While she had a sense of smell rivaling that of the most bloodthirsty creatures, it was her father who always seemed to hear every conversation which took place anywhere near his property.
"And that knife better have been clean. I'll tear your arms off if I find out that knife was some dingy fucking kitchen knife."
🇮❜🇲 🇸🇴 🇬🇴🇴🇩 🇦🇹 🇨🇷🇦🇸🇭🇮🇳🇬 🇮🇳
It was almost poetic, how Gahbriogyva Dimea was unknowingly wrapped around a no-name water claimant's finger. The winged beast didn't even know it - but that was the best part. This was Jaffe's favorite part about gambling: the payoff. The adrenaline rush achieved when it all finally came together rivaled sex. She could feel the intensity radiating off of Gabi's person in waves, could see the cogs whirring in the machine in a desperate attempt to try to figure out what the right move was. It was the most interesting movie on earth.
"Wait. What?" Gabi's hand at her jaw suddenly gripped the water claimant tightly, Jaffe's brows shooting up in light surprise. It was a little harder than she had anticipated. Pain set in as a dull ache where Gabi's fingers dug into the skin. Jaffe didn't bother to pull at the pale hands controlling her or otherwise fight - now was not the time to fight. Now was the time to make Gabi feel strong, make her feel needed... And not get killed along the way. There were oh, so many ways Gabi could kill her. To make matters more interesting, even if the woman of darkness's family didn't help her, the house staff certainly would. "I may have been intoxicated before, but that doesn't make me oblivious. You come out of nowhere, but claim to have the means to get me to someone I’ve been looking for? Flori doesn’t tell anyone where Ballafex is. So how would you have found him?"
Despite the strong hand pulling her about, Jaffe Testua managed to crack half a grin through it. She had piqued Gabi's interest. This deal was as good as done. Gabi's eyes searched her own, obviously trying to discern if she was being lied to. There would be nothing in Jaffe's eyes to indicate anything of the sort. In fact, the only thing Gabi would be able to see was a burning lust and perhaps a tinge of recklessness. The unmistakable look of someone whose existence was driven by desire and want and nothing more substantial.
Finally, the black-haired beauty released her. Jaffe took a moment to massage her jaw but could not keep the self-satisfied smirk away from her lips. "What kind of business partner would I be if I didn't come bearing gifts?" No, that was more of a Gideon thing to do. That idiot would have already been slaughtered and scattered to the four corners of the mortal realm if he were in her position. "It doesn't really matter how I found him, does it? Don't make me bore you with the details."
It was as if something clicked in Gabi's head. The pale woman suddenly gathered her wings around herself as if embarrassed to be in the situation she was in. Jaffe couldn't help but pout a little - she had enjoyed being able to see everything Gabi had to offer with sober eyes. If she were honest with herself, she was trying to burn the image into her mind because she wasn't sure when she'd get such an opportunity again.
"Maybe…" the embarrassed archon of darkness began, "it would be best if we get situated first. Go to the house, get a new set of clothing, and bathe. Besides, you smell like chickens and we were nowhere near the chickens." Jaffe decided not to respond to that, instead slightly raising an eyebrow to convey confusion as to why Gabi would mention such a thing. Now would not be the time to reveal exactly how she had gotten here. "Then we can talk about this somewhere else over breakfast. For now I can say I’m interested, but there are many ears around this house and I will need to know more before I make any agreements. We can go to a restaurant and talk through this like adults."
"Aw, are you hungry and hungover after a long night, little bird?" Jaffe cooed softly, approaching the red-tinged darkness claimant and touching her cheek lightly. "Let's go get you a Danish or something."
"And that knife better have been clean. I'll tear your arms off if I find out that knife was some dingy fucking kitchen knife."
"Maybe two Danishes for that attitude."
🇲🇦🇰🇮🇳🇬 🇸🇵🇦🇷🇰🇸 🇦🇳🇩 🇸🇭🇮🇹 🇧🇺🇹 🇹🇭🇪🇳
Jaffe's clothes were in tatters. There was nothing to even use to gather about herself to make herself more presentable... Gabi could cover herself with her wings; there was no such luxury for the water claimant.
The caramel-skinned woman stood outside the farmhouse for a moment to try to decide what to do. She didn't want Gahbreal to see her so disheveled - he seemed a much more conservative man than his freak of a wife. He was liable to never make eye contact with her again if he saw her in such a state. She quite liked seeing the slightly restrained look of bloodlust he carried. It was obvious that was where Gabi got it from.
Speaking of, the superstar had left Jaffe to her own devices as to how to get into the house. Jaffe couldn't figure out if Gabi had flown up to her room or had one of her servants sneak her in, but it didn't matter. Jaffe already knew what she was going to do. As she made the determination, her form burst into a plume of mist and was seemingly swept away with the light morning breeze; however, that was not the case. Jaffe redirected herself through the small space between the farmhouse's front door and the threshold. Getting to Gahbriogyva's room was easy but the water claimant still wanted to explore more of the house first. The servants were already awake despite the sun pretty much just waking up. There was no sign of Gahbreal and Cyva. Jaffe considered going to search for them, finally getting a peek into that master bedroom... Oh, the very thought could've made her salivate. But she didn't want to risk giving herself away just yet. Instead, Jaffe opted for the safer route. She disappeared into the drain of a kitchen sink one of the more familiar servants - perhaps it was Mist? - was running. From there was easy. Gabi was running the shower in her room with enough steam and hot water for it to be mistaken for a sauna. It felt like a perfect opportunity.
Jaffe came into form made out of wisps of steam at the outset before the water pooled at the shower drain reversed its course out of the drain and came to join in making her whole. A wave of black rushed down the drain as Gabi washed the blood off of herself. It brought flashbacks to the stalker. Last night had been... well, more than a dream. It was a true fantasy come true. There was no daydream that would ever be better or even begin to compare. She had never had the opportunity to see Gabi shower before. This almost made her nervous but the nerves could do nothing to dampen her insatiable lust.
"My, my, are you putting on a show for me?" The voice of the Testua woman bounced off of the walls despite her body not being fully formed yet. When she was complete, long caramel arms wrapped around Gahbriogyva's midsection from behind. To be honest, there was a part of the malevolent stalker that wished this could just be a normal moment of intimacy. She knew that would never be the case with Gabi, though. "What's there to talk about? You know you want Ballafex. I know you want Ballafex. Let's just settle on one more round before we have to put on our work hats, huh, angel? I find morning sex always leads to more favorable business deals. Then I'll take you for a Danish from Butter Doll's."
🇮❜🇲 🇦 🇧🇦🇩, 🇮❜🇲 🇦 🇧🇦🇩, 🇮❜🇲 🇦 🇧🇦🇩 🇫🇷🇮🇪🇳🇩
quoted song: bad friend by rina sawayama
It was almost poetic, how Gahbriogyva Dimea was unknowingly wrapped around a no-name water claimant's finger. The winged beast didn't even know it - but that was the best part. This was Jaffe's favorite part about gambling: the payoff. The adrenaline rush achieved when it all finally came together rivaled sex. She could feel the intensity radiating off of Gabi's person in waves, could see the cogs whirring in the machine in a desperate attempt to try to figure out what the right move was. It was the most interesting movie on earth.
"Wait. What?" Gabi's hand at her jaw suddenly gripped the water claimant tightly, Jaffe's brows shooting up in light surprise. It was a little harder than she had anticipated. Pain set in as a dull ache where Gabi's fingers dug into the skin. Jaffe didn't bother to pull at the pale hands controlling her or otherwise fight - now was not the time to fight. Now was the time to make Gabi feel strong, make her feel needed... And not get killed along the way. There were oh, so many ways Gabi could kill her. To make matters more interesting, even if the woman of darkness's family didn't help her, the house staff certainly would. "I may have been intoxicated before, but that doesn't make me oblivious. You come out of nowhere, but claim to have the means to get me to someone I’ve been looking for? Flori doesn’t tell anyone where Ballafex is. So how would you have found him?"
Despite the strong hand pulling her about, Jaffe Testua managed to crack half a grin through it. She had piqued Gabi's interest. This deal was as good as done. Gabi's eyes searched her own, obviously trying to discern if she was being lied to. There would be nothing in Jaffe's eyes to indicate anything of the sort. In fact, the only thing Gabi would be able to see was a burning lust and perhaps a tinge of recklessness. The unmistakable look of someone whose existence was driven by desire and want and nothing more substantial.
Finally, the black-haired beauty released her. Jaffe took a moment to massage her jaw but could not keep the self-satisfied smirk away from her lips. "What kind of business partner would I be if I didn't come bearing gifts?" No, that was more of a Gideon thing to do. That idiot would have already been slaughtered and scattered to the four corners of the mortal realm if he were in her position. "It doesn't really matter how I found him, does it? Don't make me bore you with the details."
It was as if something clicked in Gabi's head. The pale woman suddenly gathered her wings around herself as if embarrassed to be in the situation she was in. Jaffe couldn't help but pout a little - she had enjoyed being able to see everything Gabi had to offer with sober eyes. If she were honest with herself, she was trying to burn the image into her mind because she wasn't sure when she'd get such an opportunity again.
"Maybe…" the embarrassed archon of darkness began, "it would be best if we get situated first. Go to the house, get a new set of clothing, and bathe. Besides, you smell like chickens and we were nowhere near the chickens." Jaffe decided not to respond to that, instead slightly raising an eyebrow to convey confusion as to why Gabi would mention such a thing. Now would not be the time to reveal exactly how she had gotten here. "Then we can talk about this somewhere else over breakfast. For now I can say I’m interested, but there are many ears around this house and I will need to know more before I make any agreements. We can go to a restaurant and talk through this like adults."
"Aw, are you hungry and hungover after a long night, little bird?" Jaffe cooed softly, approaching the red-tinged darkness claimant and touching her cheek lightly. "Let's go get you a Danish or something."
"And that knife better have been clean. I'll tear your arms off if I find out that knife was some dingy fucking kitchen knife."
"Maybe two Danishes for that attitude."
🇲🇦🇰🇮🇳🇬 🇸🇵🇦🇷🇰🇸 🇦🇳🇩 🇸🇭🇮🇹 🇧🇺🇹 🇹🇭🇪🇳
Jaffe's clothes were in tatters. There was nothing to even use to gather about herself to make herself more presentable... Gabi could cover herself with her wings; there was no such luxury for the water claimant.
The caramel-skinned woman stood outside the farmhouse for a moment to try to decide what to do. She didn't want Gahbreal to see her so disheveled - he seemed a much more conservative man than his freak of a wife. He was liable to never make eye contact with her again if he saw her in such a state. She quite liked seeing the slightly restrained look of bloodlust he carried. It was obvious that was where Gabi got it from.
Speaking of, the superstar had left Jaffe to her own devices as to how to get into the house. Jaffe couldn't figure out if Gabi had flown up to her room or had one of her servants sneak her in, but it didn't matter. Jaffe already knew what she was going to do. As she made the determination, her form burst into a plume of mist and was seemingly swept away with the light morning breeze; however, that was not the case. Jaffe redirected herself through the small space between the farmhouse's front door and the threshold. Getting to Gahbriogyva's room was easy but the water claimant still wanted to explore more of the house first. The servants were already awake despite the sun pretty much just waking up. There was no sign of Gahbreal and Cyva. Jaffe considered going to search for them, finally getting a peek into that master bedroom... Oh, the very thought could've made her salivate. But she didn't want to risk giving herself away just yet. Instead, Jaffe opted for the safer route. She disappeared into the drain of a kitchen sink one of the more familiar servants - perhaps it was Mist? - was running. From there was easy. Gabi was running the shower in her room with enough steam and hot water for it to be mistaken for a sauna. It felt like a perfect opportunity.
Jaffe came into form made out of wisps of steam at the outset before the water pooled at the shower drain reversed its course out of the drain and came to join in making her whole. A wave of black rushed down the drain as Gabi washed the blood off of herself. It brought flashbacks to the stalker. Last night had been... well, more than a dream. It was a true fantasy come true. There was no daydream that would ever be better or even begin to compare. She had never had the opportunity to see Gabi shower before. This almost made her nervous but the nerves could do nothing to dampen her insatiable lust.
"My, my, are you putting on a show for me?" The voice of the Testua woman bounced off of the walls despite her body not being fully formed yet. When she was complete, long caramel arms wrapped around Gahbriogyva's midsection from behind. To be honest, there was a part of the malevolent stalker that wished this could just be a normal moment of intimacy. She knew that would never be the case with Gabi, though. "What's there to talk about? You know you want Ballafex. I know you want Ballafex. Let's just settle on one more round before we have to put on our work hats, huh, angel? I find morning sex always leads to more favorable business deals. Then I'll take you for a Danish from Butter Doll's."
🇮❜🇲 🇦 🇧🇦🇩, 🇮❜🇲 🇦 🇧🇦🇩, 🇮❜🇲 🇦 🇧🇦🇩 🇫🇷🇮🇪🇳🇩
quoted song: bad friend by rina sawayama
Doburesu
played by Doburesu
· Oct 11, 2024
“Mist.” Her voice made the woman jump as her eyes lifted from her book. Or less than a book and more like a series of files.
“Gabi. You were gone all night,” she responded as she placed the book down and stood to straighten her clothes. “I would have quit if you left me here without notice.”
“Oh please. As if I’d let you quit… Where are my mother and father?”
“They were up late watching movies, but when the sun started rising they disappeared into their room. It has been quiet ever since.”
“Well, either mother has dad ensnared or they left without saying anything. Come on, I’m going to take a shower. You will prepare an outfit for when I’m done. Something comfortable, not flashy.”
“Casual wear?” Mist asked while following Gabi up the stairs. A part of her felt she was far too comfortable around her employer while she was nude, but another more vast part of her could not be bothered to question it or care. Her focus was entirely on wondering what else would be asked of her before she could just do her job in peace. “I’ll skim through your wardrobe and find something worthwhile.”
“Good. And call Lizbett. We’ll be leaving soon.”
“Heading back home?”
“No. Going out for breakfast. She’ll bring you home. I’ll be going somewhere else.”
“You’re going to drive?!” Mist’s question gained her a sharp glare. Gabi was more than aware that many of her employees questioned her driving capabilities, but that was mainly due to none of them having seen her drive other than Lizbett.
“Shut up and call her, unless you want to act as my driver for the day.”
“Fine. And what vehicle would you like me to have her bring for you?”
“None. She’s only coming to get you.” She started while stepping into the bathroom and turning to give her final orders. “There’s a gray truck around the back; I’m sure you noticed. It’s mine. I’ll be using that.”
“That dirty thing? I can wash it if you want.” She looked disgusted to even recall it.
“Look, I don’t care. That thing carried me back and forth through high-school. Not to mention how I had to use it to pick up feed and take the farm animals to the vet. I cleaned it after the last time I used it, but that doesn’t mean my mother hasn’t used it herself, although she prefers dad's motorcycle.”
“Well, I’ll clean it after I choose an outfit for you and before I leave. The last thing we need is anyone seeing you riding around in filth.”
“Do what you want. Now leave me be. I need a shower.”
The familiar squeak which accompanied the twisting of the ceramic handle only managed to fill her mind with memories. How clear she could see her mother and father struggling to make her sit still in the bath when she was smaller; how vividly she could recall the endless energy and constant excitement at the cost of her father’s peace and the blessing of her mother’s smile. Sometimes she hated how well she could remember it. The feeling of the cold water from the shower head pouring over her body and soaking her wings acting as a means to distract her, while the steady transition to scorching heat and steam acting as a means to wash away both the dark blood just as it did her will to remember.
Her focus now was entirely on herself. Her fingers searched her body for any standout wounds, but there wasn’t anything lasting or making an impact. Still, she could recall the fuzzy memories from the night before even clearer now that her mind was well awake. Her wings swaying slowly before she turned and positioned them to be directly under the water. Despite what other might know, the sensitivity of the black limbs were well warranted. She could feel each feather separately, and because of that it was especially easy to remember when one was removed from its place. Perhaps that was why Jaffe was suddenly on her mind… or perhaps the caramel claimant had simply never left it.
She closed her eyes, attempting to imagine the moment she snaps the woman in half for doing something so undeniably dreadful as lucking her feathers. Every finger broken, all vertebrae collected, her skull displayed within her room of trophies… and yet within the darkness behind her eyelids, she could see nothing more than the blonde’s devious smile. So few existences could be so bold, and yet this one found her. She pressed her fingers against her lips. Traced them from one side to the other. Now she found herself once again recalling the night yet with less fluster. She was calm, she was relaxed, and now her mind was in a different place entirely.
She has potential, although she’s clearly shady. Very light, exceptionally fragile, like freshly baked bread. In the right dress she’d be a proper ornament… but she clearly wants to be more. A desire to dominate. A cute desire, but a desire nonetheless. Or perhaps I'm mistaken.
Her thoughts paused for a moment, her brow furrowing as the scent of her favorite soap and shampoo was now mixed with something else. On any other day she’d have written it off and continued with her shower. However, it was recently familiar. The scent of Testua. A split second of anger, her hands almost preparing to do as they had been trained to do all her life, but she consciously held herself back.
Just how often do people do this? I mean, Lizbett tries to sneak up on me even when she knows it’s not possible, but we’ve been close for years. How often do people I’ve just met make moves on me like this? I could kill her. Maybe I will if she tries to attack, but I’d like to see where this goes.
“My, my, are you putting on a show for me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. That would cost you more than you’re worth.” Although she’d never admit it, a small smile formed on her face upon feeling the woman’s touch.
A part of her was irritated after having spent what time she did getting the woman’s scent off of her. Yet in that same respect it was drawing her in so casually. Experiences like these never presented themselves, and she wanted to see just how far Jaffe was willing to take this aggressive approach. A flawless invasion of privacy, a direct touch as if there was no need to fear. So few had the nerves. It was interesting to say the very least. Were these not the types of things people only did when they knew one another? Yet here they were, and she knew nothing about this woman... but it felt so natural. Frighteningly so. Her instincts were crying out with violence and devastation, but another part of her was more than welcoming. A part she did not understand.
“What’s there to talk about? You know you want Ballafex. I know you want Ballafex. Let’s just settle on one more round before we have to put on our work hats, huh, angel? I find morning sex always leads to more favorable deals. Then I’ll take you for a Danish from Butter Doll’s.”
“Oh? You seem very sure of yourself. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you believe you own me.”
At times like this she was pleased with her mother’s foresight. Both the shower and bath were large. Large enough to accommodate multiple people, but that was mainly due to compensating for her wingspan. It gave her more than enough space to turn around without struggle and face Jaffe directly. Somehow it was even better in comparison to the night before. The way the water on her brown skin glistened beneath the dim light, her eyes like icicles in contrast to her own red gems.
Gabi raised her head slightly, moving the unruly black strands of hair behind her ears before placing a hand on Jaffe’s chest and pushing her back against the wall. It wasn’t anything too forceful, not when she didn’t want to cause a commotion this early in the morning, but it was enough to move her where she wanted her to be. Her hand reversed, palm up as it slid up her neck and to her chin to raise Jaffe's own head. If she was going to look at her she’d look directly at her. Her eyes examined her for several seconds before she filled the woman’s hair with her favorite shampoo and quickly scrubbed the honey and vanilla scented mixture into a fine lather.
“Clean yourself up first before you ask me for anything. Besides, I won’t tolerate anything so undignified when my nosy parents could easily be right around the corner. Have at least a shred of class.” Her words were sharp, decisive and without concern for Jaffe’s opinion… and yet she followed them up with the oddest of actions. Leaning forward for a kiss. Nothing forceful or aggressive. Just a typical exchange, no longer than three seconds. “And if you want a reward, earn it first.”
That should be more than enough to quell these thoughts… hopefully. I’d rather not be distracted all day.
The justification for her actions as she exited the shower and dried herself off as best she could. To her surprise, however, Mist was still standing around with the same distinctly unpleased look on her face. “You’re still here?”
“What do you mean you’re still here? You just took a fucking shower, and I’m considerate enough to remember how difficult it is for you try dry your own wings when you aren’t at home.”
“Well, how… thoughtful of you?”
“Just turn around and let me do this so I can go. I have to give everyone their new schedules today, so I’ll be working late. Not to mention no one with a functioning brain was left at the mansion, and Sharoleen was left in charge. I’m sure it’s been chaos.” She spoke as she retrieved the towel and began carefully drying the pale claimant’s wings. Anyone could tell she was experienced at the task, her movements quickly yet accurately gentle. As if a single mistake could cost her several lives. “So, the Testua.”
“The Testua?”
“You like her, don’t you?”
“She might have some interesting information for me regarding my favorite hobby. Other than that I know nothing about her. She seems fragile, but reminds me of Nier… or maybe auntie.”
“She reminds you of assassins and murderers?”
“When you say it like that it almost sounds like a bad thing.”
“Well I enjoy living a normal life, so for me it is a bad thing. It only means the likelihood of me working with them in the future increases,” she paused as she folded the towel and placed it down. “Done. Try not to get into trouble. There’s only so much Eva can do for you.”
“You talk like I plan to kill someone.”
The Testua maid looked at her for a moment, eyes almost entirely dead as her expression remained stagnant for several seconds. Then she merely turned away and exited the room, leaving her with a simple, “you’ll have to do something with your wings. None of your jackets would compensate, so you’re on your own for that.”
Gabi sighed, remembering the difference between her clothes at home and the ones remaining in her room. It was easy to just make feathers a part of her expensive outfits, but with outfits like the ones she had at home it would mean she’d need to hide her wings like her mother forced her to as a child as a child. A lesson in self-control she'd call it. It took several seconds of focus as the wings themselves rustled and the feathers seemed strained, but moments later they all seemed to transition from physical flesh to mist and shadows before slowly retracting into her back. The process was uncomfortable, and the feeling of them being present yet absent was even more uncomfortable, but at least she could move around freely.
The outfit was simple enough, Mist having decided for sporty underwear. No doubt believing she’d be doing something along the lines of fighting. Black denim jeans, tight fitting, and a standard brown leather belt. One of her old favorite t-shirts featuring the title of the band Fallout Boy she was into in high-school, and of course still enjoyed, cut off a few inches above the bellybutton. A black denim baseball cap with a large “G” stitched directly above the brim - courtesy of her mother - and a pair of brown leather fingerless driving gloves. Last but not least was the black leather jacket with several pins and patches from biker gangs to bands, extremely reminiscent of the denim jacket Gahbreal wore, and her brown steel-toed boots which looked as if they had seen enough mileage to cross and entire country while still remaining perfectly clean.
“Well, at least Mist has a good sense of standard fashion. Guess I shouldn’t downplay the girl I met at a rock concert.”
As quickly as she put on the clothes she grabbed all her essentials and descended the stairs. She enjoyed the nostalgia of her family home, but not nearly as much as she enjoyed leaving it. There were far too many things in these walls which pissed her off, and as she reached the main entrances and opened the desk next to the door one of those things made itself know. The sound of crunching filling her ears from across the room as she turned to see her father slowly eating several slices of toast while staring it her with a suspiciously red look. One of the only beings alive who could be so close yet remain undetected by her nose.
“I'm surprised you still can’t handle a drink. At least you didn’t wander into town last night.”
“As if you knew where I was,” she responded while reaching into the desk and retrieving a pair of gold aviators to place over her eyes.
“Leaving already?”
“Do I have a reason to stay?” She asked while retrieving the keys to her truck and shoving them into her jacket pocket.
“I’d say you should wait for your mother to wake up at least, but I doubt she’ll be awake for another few hours. I’ll tell her you said bye. She said you two probably went to look at the baby animals last night, so I’ll assume they’re all well fed.”
“Isn’t that your job? But I suppose assumptions are all you're good for.” She responded while reaching into the desk and pulling out one of the two triple barrel shotguns. A check to make sure each barrel had a shell of its own before grabbing and tucking twelve more into her jacket pockets. Then, while placing the firearm over her shoulder, she slammed the desk shut. “You better be glad I like my pets, or I’d let those fucking things die.”
“Noted… you’re not going to kill the girl are you?”
“What? No I’m not going to kill the girl! The hell! I’m going, tell her to meet me by the truck when she’s done if she even uses the front door or cares to talk to you. I don’t have time for this.”
There wasn’t even a moment to exchange anymore words or give any type of goodbye before she stormed out of the building and slammed the door behind herself. The speed at which her mood could nosedive as spectacular as always; her partial smile now returned to the aggressively straight face she was known for around the world. The very expression of beauty within anger. Cooling her head would normally be as simple as placing the feed within each of the animal’s feeding stations and watching as they approached and munched on their respective favorites. However, this time around they seemed to pick up on her mood and remain a respectable distance until she had chosen to leave… All that did was make her mood worse.
The shotgun resting on her shoulder, her steps quickly making their way across the field and behind the home, she was at least pleasantly surprised to find that Mist had actually cleaned her truck. No doubt it had been put to use in her absence if she found that it needed the care. Gabi quickly opened the door and placed the weapon into the slot on the driver side door before sliding the key into the ignition and turning it to hear the engine start in its normal hefty manner. She could vividly remember all the specifications she wanted for the vehicle after deciding on a Tacoma in the first place, but it was mainly for transporting baby cows at the end of the day. That still didn't mean she wanted anything with less power than what she'd need to drag a large corpse around if she needed to... or run down an unruly claimant. Now she was here waiting for Jaffe; hopefully also getting her hands on a mark she’d been searching for. The thought of having Ballafex's bones in her home was almost enough to brighten her mood.
“Maybe if she does a good job I’ll come up with some reward for her. She could become one of the maids,” Gabi thought aloud as she retrieved a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and placed one between her lips. “Maybe not.”
“Gabi. You were gone all night,” she responded as she placed the book down and stood to straighten her clothes. “I would have quit if you left me here without notice.”
“Oh please. As if I’d let you quit… Where are my mother and father?”
“They were up late watching movies, but when the sun started rising they disappeared into their room. It has been quiet ever since.”
“Well, either mother has dad ensnared or they left without saying anything. Come on, I’m going to take a shower. You will prepare an outfit for when I’m done. Something comfortable, not flashy.”
“Casual wear?” Mist asked while following Gabi up the stairs. A part of her felt she was far too comfortable around her employer while she was nude, but another more vast part of her could not be bothered to question it or care. Her focus was entirely on wondering what else would be asked of her before she could just do her job in peace. “I’ll skim through your wardrobe and find something worthwhile.”
“Good. And call Lizbett. We’ll be leaving soon.”
“Heading back home?”
“No. Going out for breakfast. She’ll bring you home. I’ll be going somewhere else.”
“You’re going to drive?!” Mist’s question gained her a sharp glare. Gabi was more than aware that many of her employees questioned her driving capabilities, but that was mainly due to none of them having seen her drive other than Lizbett.
“Shut up and call her, unless you want to act as my driver for the day.”
“Fine. And what vehicle would you like me to have her bring for you?”
“None. She’s only coming to get you.” She started while stepping into the bathroom and turning to give her final orders. “There’s a gray truck around the back; I’m sure you noticed. It’s mine. I’ll be using that.”
“That dirty thing? I can wash it if you want.” She looked disgusted to even recall it.
“Look, I don’t care. That thing carried me back and forth through high-school. Not to mention how I had to use it to pick up feed and take the farm animals to the vet. I cleaned it after the last time I used it, but that doesn’t mean my mother hasn’t used it herself, although she prefers dad's motorcycle.”
“Well, I’ll clean it after I choose an outfit for you and before I leave. The last thing we need is anyone seeing you riding around in filth.”
“Do what you want. Now leave me be. I need a shower.”
The familiar squeak which accompanied the twisting of the ceramic handle only managed to fill her mind with memories. How clear she could see her mother and father struggling to make her sit still in the bath when she was smaller; how vividly she could recall the endless energy and constant excitement at the cost of her father’s peace and the blessing of her mother’s smile. Sometimes she hated how well she could remember it. The feeling of the cold water from the shower head pouring over her body and soaking her wings acting as a means to distract her, while the steady transition to scorching heat and steam acting as a means to wash away both the dark blood just as it did her will to remember.
Her focus now was entirely on herself. Her fingers searched her body for any standout wounds, but there wasn’t anything lasting or making an impact. Still, she could recall the fuzzy memories from the night before even clearer now that her mind was well awake. Her wings swaying slowly before she turned and positioned them to be directly under the water. Despite what other might know, the sensitivity of the black limbs were well warranted. She could feel each feather separately, and because of that it was especially easy to remember when one was removed from its place. Perhaps that was why Jaffe was suddenly on her mind… or perhaps the caramel claimant had simply never left it.
She closed her eyes, attempting to imagine the moment she snaps the woman in half for doing something so undeniably dreadful as lucking her feathers. Every finger broken, all vertebrae collected, her skull displayed within her room of trophies… and yet within the darkness behind her eyelids, she could see nothing more than the blonde’s devious smile. So few existences could be so bold, and yet this one found her. She pressed her fingers against her lips. Traced them from one side to the other. Now she found herself once again recalling the night yet with less fluster. She was calm, she was relaxed, and now her mind was in a different place entirely.
She has potential, although she’s clearly shady. Very light, exceptionally fragile, like freshly baked bread. In the right dress she’d be a proper ornament… but she clearly wants to be more. A desire to dominate. A cute desire, but a desire nonetheless. Or perhaps I'm mistaken.
Her thoughts paused for a moment, her brow furrowing as the scent of her favorite soap and shampoo was now mixed with something else. On any other day she’d have written it off and continued with her shower. However, it was recently familiar. The scent of Testua. A split second of anger, her hands almost preparing to do as they had been trained to do all her life, but she consciously held herself back.
Just how often do people do this? I mean, Lizbett tries to sneak up on me even when she knows it’s not possible, but we’ve been close for years. How often do people I’ve just met make moves on me like this? I could kill her. Maybe I will if she tries to attack, but I’d like to see where this goes.
“My, my, are you putting on a show for me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. That would cost you more than you’re worth.” Although she’d never admit it, a small smile formed on her face upon feeling the woman’s touch.
A part of her was irritated after having spent what time she did getting the woman’s scent off of her. Yet in that same respect it was drawing her in so casually. Experiences like these never presented themselves, and she wanted to see just how far Jaffe was willing to take this aggressive approach. A flawless invasion of privacy, a direct touch as if there was no need to fear. So few had the nerves. It was interesting to say the very least. Were these not the types of things people only did when they knew one another? Yet here they were, and she knew nothing about this woman... but it felt so natural. Frighteningly so. Her instincts were crying out with violence and devastation, but another part of her was more than welcoming. A part she did not understand.
“What’s there to talk about? You know you want Ballafex. I know you want Ballafex. Let’s just settle on one more round before we have to put on our work hats, huh, angel? I find morning sex always leads to more favorable deals. Then I’ll take you for a Danish from Butter Doll’s.”
“Oh? You seem very sure of yourself. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you believe you own me.”
At times like this she was pleased with her mother’s foresight. Both the shower and bath were large. Large enough to accommodate multiple people, but that was mainly due to compensating for her wingspan. It gave her more than enough space to turn around without struggle and face Jaffe directly. Somehow it was even better in comparison to the night before. The way the water on her brown skin glistened beneath the dim light, her eyes like icicles in contrast to her own red gems.
Gabi raised her head slightly, moving the unruly black strands of hair behind her ears before placing a hand on Jaffe’s chest and pushing her back against the wall. It wasn’t anything too forceful, not when she didn’t want to cause a commotion this early in the morning, but it was enough to move her where she wanted her to be. Her hand reversed, palm up as it slid up her neck and to her chin to raise Jaffe's own head. If she was going to look at her she’d look directly at her. Her eyes examined her for several seconds before she filled the woman’s hair with her favorite shampoo and quickly scrubbed the honey and vanilla scented mixture into a fine lather.
“Clean yourself up first before you ask me for anything. Besides, I won’t tolerate anything so undignified when my nosy parents could easily be right around the corner. Have at least a shred of class.” Her words were sharp, decisive and without concern for Jaffe’s opinion… and yet she followed them up with the oddest of actions. Leaning forward for a kiss. Nothing forceful or aggressive. Just a typical exchange, no longer than three seconds. “And if you want a reward, earn it first.”
That should be more than enough to quell these thoughts… hopefully. I’d rather not be distracted all day.
The justification for her actions as she exited the shower and dried herself off as best she could. To her surprise, however, Mist was still standing around with the same distinctly unpleased look on her face. “You’re still here?”
“What do you mean you’re still here? You just took a fucking shower, and I’m considerate enough to remember how difficult it is for you try dry your own wings when you aren’t at home.”
“Well, how… thoughtful of you?”
“Just turn around and let me do this so I can go. I have to give everyone their new schedules today, so I’ll be working late. Not to mention no one with a functioning brain was left at the mansion, and Sharoleen was left in charge. I’m sure it’s been chaos.” She spoke as she retrieved the towel and began carefully drying the pale claimant’s wings. Anyone could tell she was experienced at the task, her movements quickly yet accurately gentle. As if a single mistake could cost her several lives. “So, the Testua.”
“The Testua?”
“You like her, don’t you?”
“She might have some interesting information for me regarding my favorite hobby. Other than that I know nothing about her. She seems fragile, but reminds me of Nier… or maybe auntie.”
“She reminds you of assassins and murderers?”
“When you say it like that it almost sounds like a bad thing.”
“Well I enjoy living a normal life, so for me it is a bad thing. It only means the likelihood of me working with them in the future increases,” she paused as she folded the towel and placed it down. “Done. Try not to get into trouble. There’s only so much Eva can do for you.”
“You talk like I plan to kill someone.”
The Testua maid looked at her for a moment, eyes almost entirely dead as her expression remained stagnant for several seconds. Then she merely turned away and exited the room, leaving her with a simple, “you’ll have to do something with your wings. None of your jackets would compensate, so you’re on your own for that.”
Gabi sighed, remembering the difference between her clothes at home and the ones remaining in her room. It was easy to just make feathers a part of her expensive outfits, but with outfits like the ones she had at home it would mean she’d need to hide her wings like her mother forced her to as a child as a child. A lesson in self-control she'd call it. It took several seconds of focus as the wings themselves rustled and the feathers seemed strained, but moments later they all seemed to transition from physical flesh to mist and shadows before slowly retracting into her back. The process was uncomfortable, and the feeling of them being present yet absent was even more uncomfortable, but at least she could move around freely.
The outfit was simple enough, Mist having decided for sporty underwear. No doubt believing she’d be doing something along the lines of fighting. Black denim jeans, tight fitting, and a standard brown leather belt. One of her old favorite t-shirts featuring the title of the band Fallout Boy she was into in high-school, and of course still enjoyed, cut off a few inches above the bellybutton. A black denim baseball cap with a large “G” stitched directly above the brim - courtesy of her mother - and a pair of brown leather fingerless driving gloves. Last but not least was the black leather jacket with several pins and patches from biker gangs to bands, extremely reminiscent of the denim jacket Gahbreal wore, and her brown steel-toed boots which looked as if they had seen enough mileage to cross and entire country while still remaining perfectly clean.
“Well, at least Mist has a good sense of standard fashion. Guess I shouldn’t downplay the girl I met at a rock concert.”
As quickly as she put on the clothes she grabbed all her essentials and descended the stairs. She enjoyed the nostalgia of her family home, but not nearly as much as she enjoyed leaving it. There were far too many things in these walls which pissed her off, and as she reached the main entrances and opened the desk next to the door one of those things made itself know. The sound of crunching filling her ears from across the room as she turned to see her father slowly eating several slices of toast while staring it her with a suspiciously red look. One of the only beings alive who could be so close yet remain undetected by her nose.
“I'm surprised you still can’t handle a drink. At least you didn’t wander into town last night.”
“As if you knew where I was,” she responded while reaching into the desk and retrieving a pair of gold aviators to place over her eyes.
“Leaving already?”
“Do I have a reason to stay?” She asked while retrieving the keys to her truck and shoving them into her jacket pocket.
“I’d say you should wait for your mother to wake up at least, but I doubt she’ll be awake for another few hours. I’ll tell her you said bye. She said you two probably went to look at the baby animals last night, so I’ll assume they’re all well fed.”
“Isn’t that your job? But I suppose assumptions are all you're good for.” She responded while reaching into the desk and pulling out one of the two triple barrel shotguns. A check to make sure each barrel had a shell of its own before grabbing and tucking twelve more into her jacket pockets. Then, while placing the firearm over her shoulder, she slammed the desk shut. “You better be glad I like my pets, or I’d let those fucking things die.”
“Noted… you’re not going to kill the girl are you?”
“What? No I’m not going to kill the girl! The hell! I’m going, tell her to meet me by the truck when she’s done if she even uses the front door or cares to talk to you. I don’t have time for this.”
There wasn’t even a moment to exchange anymore words or give any type of goodbye before she stormed out of the building and slammed the door behind herself. The speed at which her mood could nosedive as spectacular as always; her partial smile now returned to the aggressively straight face she was known for around the world. The very expression of beauty within anger. Cooling her head would normally be as simple as placing the feed within each of the animal’s feeding stations and watching as they approached and munched on their respective favorites. However, this time around they seemed to pick up on her mood and remain a respectable distance until she had chosen to leave… All that did was make her mood worse.
The shotgun resting on her shoulder, her steps quickly making their way across the field and behind the home, she was at least pleasantly surprised to find that Mist had actually cleaned her truck. No doubt it had been put to use in her absence if she found that it needed the care. Gabi quickly opened the door and placed the weapon into the slot on the driver side door before sliding the key into the ignition and turning it to hear the engine start in its normal hefty manner. She could vividly remember all the specifications she wanted for the vehicle after deciding on a Tacoma in the first place, but it was mainly for transporting baby cows at the end of the day. That still didn't mean she wanted anything with less power than what she'd need to drag a large corpse around if she needed to... or run down an unruly claimant. Now she was here waiting for Jaffe; hopefully also getting her hands on a mark she’d been searching for. The thought of having Ballafex's bones in her home was almost enough to brighten her mood.
“Maybe if she does a good job I’ll come up with some reward for her. She could become one of the maids,” Gabi thought aloud as she retrieved a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and placed one between her lips. “Maybe not.”
ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ, ɪ'ᴠᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ
She knew it was selfish but still couldn't stop herself from trying. There really wasn't any need or benefit from continuing to goad the Dimea woman. In fact, it was more playing with fire than not. She had seen it with her own two eyes, the way Gahbriogyva could suddenly snap. Though, in her opinion, it wasn't so sudden if you knew what to look for. Jaffe knew the thought of killing her was flush on Gabi's mind. Jaffe did not fear the prospect of death as much she was annoyed by it - too much to do, too much money left to make. She had no room in her schedule or plans for death. She also knew it would be foolishly stupid not to be at least a little afraid of Gabi, though she would never acknowledge or admit it.
Jaffe didn't have to wonder why Gabi pretended to be familiar with her the night prior, unintentionally going along with the ruse. She knew it was pure curiosity. There was something about Jaffe that captivated her, otherwise the Testua would have been instantly slaughtered and everyone would have just gone on with their meal as if it hadn't happened at all. She knew that. She was sure Gabi knew it as well. It was a precarious line that the darker-skinned woman walked. It was also one of her favorite places to be.
"Oh? You seem very sure of yourself. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you believe you own me."
The words brought a self-satisfied grin to Jaffe's lips that she couldn't stop from forming. Gabi had a point. Honestly, Jaffe was arrogantly sure of herself. She had watched Gabi for an inordinate amount of time before the previous night. She had seen her at work, both in the human and claimant world, but kept her distance. There had been no need to approach before finding out where Ballafex (or someone else comparable) was just as there was no reason to approach Ballafex without a heavy hitter like Gabi. It was really a two-for-one that Gabi was strong enough to help. Jaffe had wanted her as soon as she learned of her - way back when the Testua was an Order claimant - for the fact that she had wings alone. There weren't many claimants with a trait like that; much less one with such a storied history. She had to have her. That had been years ago that Gahbriogyva was added to her Wanted List, almost a part of that other life Jaffe led...
As the pale woman pushed her against the wall, water streaming down her body as if trying desperately to accentuate her curves, Jaffe half wondered if this was going to be the last thing she ever saw. But it couldn't be - the signs weren't there. Her heartbeat was deceptively relaxed for someone who could be in mortal danger. Still, something in her gut roared like an eternal flame - she knew Gabi felt it too. This was pure, raw excitement. This was reckless abandon; this was taking stupid, blind chances; this was desire unadulterated and uncut. Both women were slaves to it. Neither seemed to mind too much.
While it was true Jaffe didn't know what to expect, Gabi putting shampoo in her hair was nowhere on the list. Jaffe was pleasantly surprised, almost flinching at the motion. What the hell was this?!
"Clean yourself up first before you ask me for anything," the pale woman was saying. Her words and actions were so casual yet also controlled. She knew she could be doing something else. Jaffe didn't want to admit that the softness behind Gabi massaging her scalp felt ridiculously good. To be honest, there were probably many people who wouldn't believe that Gabi could touch anything besides her wings so softly. "Besides, I won’t tolerate anything so undignified when my nosy parents could easily be right around the corner. Have at least a shred of class." The Testua's jaw dropped slightly at that - quickly amended by Gabi placing a kiss as soft as her hands on the woman's lips. All of the softness in comparison to the night before was so foreign Jaffe felt heat rising to her cheeks as she blushed. The blush was quickly followed up by a confused feeling of weakness at having blushed in the first place. "And if you want a reward, earn it first." That, she understood. That, she could do. It seemed like the interactions were jarring for both women because the idea of true vulnerable intimacy was completely foreign. They were both used to getting their way. Jaffe knew coming into this that she would have to bare her belly to Gahbriogyva, let the winged woman see she was not necessarily a threat despite the fact that she knew she was. Yet she had not expected this. She had not expected to be flustered by something as simple as putting shampoo in her hair. It was a moment that sorely reminded her of Arthur.
When Gabi left the shower, she left Jaffe behind. The water claimant enjoyed the scalding hot water on her skin. It was entertaining to watch the black and blue blood swirl together towards the drain. It could be seen as poetic by some. She couldn't tell how long she spent in there since the water stayed hot the whole time. There was no way to avoid smelling like Gabi now. From the shampoo to the soap, she smelled like Gahbriogyva's little toy. It was especially funny considering she was almost twice Gabi's age in human years.
ɴᴏᴡ ɪ'ᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ɪᴛ, ɪ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ꜱɪᴄᴋ
Arthur was likely still sleeping. The apartment seemed like it was empty, which Jaffe supposed she could not be too surprised by this early in the morning. The sniper, Jillian, was probably getting picked up by Child Services because someone had mistaken her age; and Eric, the loud one, could probably be terrorizing some street food vendors or something. She didn't necessarily know or care what Eric was doing - Jillian was much more of a threat and therefore warranted many more tabs being kept on her. The one bullet of Jillian's that Jaffe had found and stolen was probably the only reason she didn't have to constantly worry about crosshairs on her forehead.
Normally, there wouldn't have been a need to stop by Arthur's. However, he had been sure to tell her the only way she could get the nunchaku he had made for her was in person. Their arrangement was still strange to her - she had tried to kill him and he only way he let her walk away from it was by agreeing to go to a massage he scheduled for her. It had been confusing then and it was confusing now. She tried not to scrutinize it too closely or it would make her head hurt.
The six-foot-tall woman stalked through the apartment like a cat intent on finding prey until she arrived at Arthur's room. The portal she had used to traverse the realms in order to arrive there dissipated into a plume of mist. Arthur's door was locked but that was no barrier for her - normally she could pick the lock or simply slip through a crack in the door, but there was no need for that... Since Arthur had given her a key the very first time she ever came over.
The wooden door swung open easily, though the water claimant was careful in making sure it didn't bounce off of the wall. Arthur's room was organized and clean save for the clothes he had taken off to crawl into bed lying on the floor next to his bed. His comforter hung halfway off his body, his upper torso and back exposed as he slumbered facedown in his pillow. He seemed peaceful though she knew even if he was in a coma she probably wouldn't be able to hurt him.
Jaffe stood beside his bed just listening to him breathe for at least a minute. He seemed peaceful. Then she slapped his shoulder, demanding he "Wake up." The man stirred once, twice - inky black hair swirling across the pillow before he lifted his head up to peek at her.
"Good morning to you too," the man of legend grumbled. He yawned lightly, turning over in the large bed to rub at his eyes. Once he set them on her he involuntarily flinched a little, though he was now fully awake. "You're naked."
She had almost forgotten. Almost. "I am. Do you have the nunchaku?"
"Is that really how you're going to greet me? You're not going to get in bed? I can get naked too." His voice was low and husky with the lingering sleepiness. It really was enticing. She heavily considered taking him up on his offer...
"I'm working," the woman responded, almost flatly so as to discourage him from trying even harder to change her mind.
"Ah, the working woman. What's the target? Or I guess I should ask who." The man stretched lightly before flinging the blanket off and rustling himself out of bed. He was wearing boxers and pajama pants - Jaffe could tell because of the waistband peeking over the top of the blue pants.
"I'll tell you when I get back."
"Must be something big." He padded barefoot over to his closet, throwing the doors open and tossing another yawn over his shoulder. He disappeared into the walk-in closet for almost thirty seconds before the clinking sound of chains indicated he found what he was looking for. "Well, these are still more of a draft than a final product," the dark-haired man was explaining. "I wanted to get better blades added in but I haven't had the chance." He handed them over to her.
Jaffe took the two weapons from him and held them up in the morning light. She couldn't tell the material they were made of but most of them appeared red with a bit of gold detail. Jaffe actually felt a smile tugging at her lips at the sight of them. They were definitely a solid replacement for her current pair.
"These are fine," the Testua finally said. When he noticed her smile it brought a grin to his lips as well.
"Try them out. I'll get you some clothes."
Arthur was more of a gentleman than Jaffe Testua ever deserved and she knew that. She just didn't understand why it seemed like he didn't know it. Or maybe he did and ignored it. Whatever his reasoning was, she simply accepted she did not really understand him.
The water claimant made herself busy with practicing with her new toys as Arthur went to various drawers and back into his closet to pull out clothes he kept for her. She was working, so he decided for something more tactical rather than the casual evening wear he'd like to see her in. He knew making another suggestion for them to have sex would fall on deaf ears since she was working and likely tunnel-visioned, but he couldn't deny that he wanted to. She must've known she was a tease. He distracted himself with the clothes - jeans, t-shirt, socks, bra - what was he missing? He brought the clothes out and set them on the bed for Jaffe to inspect. She dutifully began putting them on with minimal fuss, but stopped when she reached her underwear.
"A thong?" She laughed this time. "Really?"
He grinned bashfully. "Look, it's what I have here, okay?"
"And not because you wanted to see me in it at all?"
"Nope."
She laughed again as she finished putting everything on. The clothes were plain but comfortable. She figured he was living one of his dreams of getting to dress her with all the clothes he was gifting her all the time. If she was being honest with herself, some of these items fit better than what she bought for herself...
"How long will you be gone?" Arthur asked idly as he returned to his bed.
"Think you're gonna miss me?"
"Of course. And I think at least one person should look for you if you don't come back."
Jaffe ran her fingers through blonde hair that stopped just below her armpits as she considered the question. It made sense to tell him where she was going; she just didn't want him trying to stop her.
Once a long moment had passed and Jaffe still didn't seem like she was going to tell him anything, Arthur simply shrugged it off. "Fine, don't tell me. But would it kill whoever's biting you to be a little gentler? You look a bit... beat up. If I'm being honest."
The water claimant couldn't help but laugh again as she tightened the straps on her tactical vest.
ꜱᴏ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ, ɪ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇꜱᴛ
Gahbriogyva was no longer in her bedroom. Jaffe returned to the farmhouse expecting Gabi to be easy to find, but she wasn't. Jaffe took the lack of supervision as a chance to snoop a bit in the darkness claimant's room, but didn't dare touch anything. Gabi had already mentioned Jaffe smelling like chickens but hadn't put two-and-two together - Jaffe didn't need any more complications. Gabi did not need to know everything so soon.
Jaffe decided the best way to find the woman would probably be to ask someone. The land that Gahbreal and Cyva owned was much too big for Jaffe to be bothered combing through every square inch. She recited to herself the itinerary of the morning as she exited Gabi's room: go down to Butter Doll's for a briefing and breakfast and meet up with Nica to exchange details on Ballafex's whereabouts. Not too difficult, surely. They could handle that without anyone dying, right? Right.
The long-legged former soccer player exited Gabi's room quietly and made her way downstairs. The house seemed to be waking up now with servants moving about. Jaffe wondered if they were paid in cash or threats to their lives. She wondered again why any claimant would serve as a maid or butler to another but figured it boiled down to either power levels or something as simple as not wanting to find a different job. Being a servant to this family surely had to have its perks... Room and board were covered, meals were included, they could have lives when not on the clock... Well, everyone, it seemed, but Gabi's personal assistant Mist. Jaffe was convinced the fellow Testua never slept.
Jaffe almost crept out the front door when she heard a throat clear behind her. She turned tentatively, figuring it was for her. Gahbreal sat at the kitchen island looking over a newspaper with a curious look on his handsome features. Jaffe had to keep herself from licking her lips at the sight.
"Good morning," she greeted the man.
Gahbreal's red eyes smoldered. It was amazing how Gabi had inherited one of his best features - outside of his cheekbones. Jaffe could only fantasize what Gabi would look like if she had gotten an ounce of the depth of his delicious chocolate skin. Gahbreal jerked his head toward the east. "She's at her truck."
"Thanks. Hey, does Cyva have any more of that bread?"
"Probably. Y'all enjoy your walk last night?"
"Immensely." She let a smirk pull at her lips. "I think I'll come back for more of that bread later. If that's okay."
He shrugged. "I'm sure Cyva would be fine with that. Just do me one solid?"
"What's that?"
"Just... keep an eye on her. Don't let her kill anyone she's going to regret."
Jaffe threw her left hand up to her temple nonchalantly in a lazy salute. "Yes, sir. I will keep an eye on her and you'll make sure I get more bread. It's a good deal." They both nodded in agreement to each other and Jaffe was off to find the Dimea woman.
The blonde woman made her way to the east side of the house. Despite wearing boots her steps were deceptively and naturally light. The sound of an engine soon met her ears and Jaffe figured that was the truck Gahbreal had mentioned. Jaffe rounded the last corner of the large farmhouse and was finally faced with a truck that was much larger than she would've anticipated. Then again, it didn't make better sense to see Gabi in a sedan. Jaffe wondered why she hadn't seen anyone drive the thing since she'd begun watching the house weeks ago.
Gabi was already sitting expectantly in the front seat smoking a cigarette. Jaffe slid into the unlocked passenger easily, noting there was already at least one cigarette butt lying in an ashtray. Half of her mind tried convincing her to take a pull from Gabi's cigarette - take it from the darkness claimant's lips and put it back. But the look on Gabi's face made it known she was not in the happiest of moods; plus, Jaffe had no business picking up such a bad habit. It was funny - they were both working now and the overwhelmingly sexual energy between them had to be put on the backburner.
"Nice truck," the water claimant observed. "Compensating for something?" She chuckled at her own joke. Taking a closer look at Gabi, Jaffe inquired aloud as she gestured to the pale woman's back, "Is it uncomfortable to hide them like that? Where do they go? I sure hope you aren't hiding them because of me. I thought you were stronger than losing a couple of feathers, little bird."
-- ɪ'ᴍ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ
quoted song: i feel alive by kordhell & scarlxrd
She knew it was selfish but still couldn't stop herself from trying. There really wasn't any need or benefit from continuing to goad the Dimea woman. In fact, it was more playing with fire than not. She had seen it with her own two eyes, the way Gahbriogyva could suddenly snap. Though, in her opinion, it wasn't so sudden if you knew what to look for. Jaffe knew the thought of killing her was flush on Gabi's mind. Jaffe did not fear the prospect of death as much she was annoyed by it - too much to do, too much money left to make. She had no room in her schedule or plans for death. She also knew it would be foolishly stupid not to be at least a little afraid of Gabi, though she would never acknowledge or admit it.
Jaffe didn't have to wonder why Gabi pretended to be familiar with her the night prior, unintentionally going along with the ruse. She knew it was pure curiosity. There was something about Jaffe that captivated her, otherwise the Testua would have been instantly slaughtered and everyone would have just gone on with their meal as if it hadn't happened at all. She knew that. She was sure Gabi knew it as well. It was a precarious line that the darker-skinned woman walked. It was also one of her favorite places to be.
"Oh? You seem very sure of yourself. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you believe you own me."
The words brought a self-satisfied grin to Jaffe's lips that she couldn't stop from forming. Gabi had a point. Honestly, Jaffe was arrogantly sure of herself. She had watched Gabi for an inordinate amount of time before the previous night. She had seen her at work, both in the human and claimant world, but kept her distance. There had been no need to approach before finding out where Ballafex (or someone else comparable) was just as there was no reason to approach Ballafex without a heavy hitter like Gabi. It was really a two-for-one that Gabi was strong enough to help. Jaffe had wanted her as soon as she learned of her - way back when the Testua was an Order claimant - for the fact that she had wings alone. There weren't many claimants with a trait like that; much less one with such a storied history. She had to have her. That had been years ago that Gahbriogyva was added to her Wanted List, almost a part of that other life Jaffe led...
As the pale woman pushed her against the wall, water streaming down her body as if trying desperately to accentuate her curves, Jaffe half wondered if this was going to be the last thing she ever saw. But it couldn't be - the signs weren't there. Her heartbeat was deceptively relaxed for someone who could be in mortal danger. Still, something in her gut roared like an eternal flame - she knew Gabi felt it too. This was pure, raw excitement. This was reckless abandon; this was taking stupid, blind chances; this was desire unadulterated and uncut. Both women were slaves to it. Neither seemed to mind too much.
While it was true Jaffe didn't know what to expect, Gabi putting shampoo in her hair was nowhere on the list. Jaffe was pleasantly surprised, almost flinching at the motion. What the hell was this?!
"Clean yourself up first before you ask me for anything," the pale woman was saying. Her words and actions were so casual yet also controlled. She knew she could be doing something else. Jaffe didn't want to admit that the softness behind Gabi massaging her scalp felt ridiculously good. To be honest, there were probably many people who wouldn't believe that Gabi could touch anything besides her wings so softly. "Besides, I won’t tolerate anything so undignified when my nosy parents could easily be right around the corner. Have at least a shred of class." The Testua's jaw dropped slightly at that - quickly amended by Gabi placing a kiss as soft as her hands on the woman's lips. All of the softness in comparison to the night before was so foreign Jaffe felt heat rising to her cheeks as she blushed. The blush was quickly followed up by a confused feeling of weakness at having blushed in the first place. "And if you want a reward, earn it first." That, she understood. That, she could do. It seemed like the interactions were jarring for both women because the idea of true vulnerable intimacy was completely foreign. They were both used to getting their way. Jaffe knew coming into this that she would have to bare her belly to Gahbriogyva, let the winged woman see she was not necessarily a threat despite the fact that she knew she was. Yet she had not expected this. She had not expected to be flustered by something as simple as putting shampoo in her hair. It was a moment that sorely reminded her of Arthur.
When Gabi left the shower, she left Jaffe behind. The water claimant enjoyed the scalding hot water on her skin. It was entertaining to watch the black and blue blood swirl together towards the drain. It could be seen as poetic by some. She couldn't tell how long she spent in there since the water stayed hot the whole time. There was no way to avoid smelling like Gabi now. From the shampoo to the soap, she smelled like Gahbriogyva's little toy. It was especially funny considering she was almost twice Gabi's age in human years.
ɴᴏᴡ ɪ'ᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ɪᴛ, ɪ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ꜱɪᴄᴋ
Arthur was likely still sleeping. The apartment seemed like it was empty, which Jaffe supposed she could not be too surprised by this early in the morning. The sniper, Jillian, was probably getting picked up by Child Services because someone had mistaken her age; and Eric, the loud one, could probably be terrorizing some street food vendors or something. She didn't necessarily know or care what Eric was doing - Jillian was much more of a threat and therefore warranted many more tabs being kept on her. The one bullet of Jillian's that Jaffe had found and stolen was probably the only reason she didn't have to constantly worry about crosshairs on her forehead.
Normally, there wouldn't have been a need to stop by Arthur's. However, he had been sure to tell her the only way she could get the nunchaku he had made for her was in person. Their arrangement was still strange to her - she had tried to kill him and he only way he let her walk away from it was by agreeing to go to a massage he scheduled for her. It had been confusing then and it was confusing now. She tried not to scrutinize it too closely or it would make her head hurt.
The six-foot-tall woman stalked through the apartment like a cat intent on finding prey until she arrived at Arthur's room. The portal she had used to traverse the realms in order to arrive there dissipated into a plume of mist. Arthur's door was locked but that was no barrier for her - normally she could pick the lock or simply slip through a crack in the door, but there was no need for that... Since Arthur had given her a key the very first time she ever came over.
The wooden door swung open easily, though the water claimant was careful in making sure it didn't bounce off of the wall. Arthur's room was organized and clean save for the clothes he had taken off to crawl into bed lying on the floor next to his bed. His comforter hung halfway off his body, his upper torso and back exposed as he slumbered facedown in his pillow. He seemed peaceful though she knew even if he was in a coma she probably wouldn't be able to hurt him.
Jaffe stood beside his bed just listening to him breathe for at least a minute. He seemed peaceful. Then she slapped his shoulder, demanding he "Wake up." The man stirred once, twice - inky black hair swirling across the pillow before he lifted his head up to peek at her.
"Good morning to you too," the man of legend grumbled. He yawned lightly, turning over in the large bed to rub at his eyes. Once he set them on her he involuntarily flinched a little, though he was now fully awake. "You're naked."
She had almost forgotten. Almost. "I am. Do you have the nunchaku?"
"Is that really how you're going to greet me? You're not going to get in bed? I can get naked too." His voice was low and husky with the lingering sleepiness. It really was enticing. She heavily considered taking him up on his offer...
"I'm working," the woman responded, almost flatly so as to discourage him from trying even harder to change her mind.
"Ah, the working woman. What's the target? Or I guess I should ask who." The man stretched lightly before flinging the blanket off and rustling himself out of bed. He was wearing boxers and pajama pants - Jaffe could tell because of the waistband peeking over the top of the blue pants.
"I'll tell you when I get back."
"Must be something big." He padded barefoot over to his closet, throwing the doors open and tossing another yawn over his shoulder. He disappeared into the walk-in closet for almost thirty seconds before the clinking sound of chains indicated he found what he was looking for. "Well, these are still more of a draft than a final product," the dark-haired man was explaining. "I wanted to get better blades added in but I haven't had the chance." He handed them over to her.
Jaffe took the two weapons from him and held them up in the morning light. She couldn't tell the material they were made of but most of them appeared red with a bit of gold detail. Jaffe actually felt a smile tugging at her lips at the sight of them. They were definitely a solid replacement for her current pair.
"These are fine," the Testua finally said. When he noticed her smile it brought a grin to his lips as well.
"Try them out. I'll get you some clothes."
Arthur was more of a gentleman than Jaffe Testua ever deserved and she knew that. She just didn't understand why it seemed like he didn't know it. Or maybe he did and ignored it. Whatever his reasoning was, she simply accepted she did not really understand him.
The water claimant made herself busy with practicing with her new toys as Arthur went to various drawers and back into his closet to pull out clothes he kept for her. She was working, so he decided for something more tactical rather than the casual evening wear he'd like to see her in. He knew making another suggestion for them to have sex would fall on deaf ears since she was working and likely tunnel-visioned, but he couldn't deny that he wanted to. She must've known she was a tease. He distracted himself with the clothes - jeans, t-shirt, socks, bra - what was he missing? He brought the clothes out and set them on the bed for Jaffe to inspect. She dutifully began putting them on with minimal fuss, but stopped when she reached her underwear.
"A thong?" She laughed this time. "Really?"
He grinned bashfully. "Look, it's what I have here, okay?"
"And not because you wanted to see me in it at all?"
"Nope."
She laughed again as she finished putting everything on. The clothes were plain but comfortable. She figured he was living one of his dreams of getting to dress her with all the clothes he was gifting her all the time. If she was being honest with herself, some of these items fit better than what she bought for herself...
"How long will you be gone?" Arthur asked idly as he returned to his bed.
"Think you're gonna miss me?"
"Of course. And I think at least one person should look for you if you don't come back."
Jaffe ran her fingers through blonde hair that stopped just below her armpits as she considered the question. It made sense to tell him where she was going; she just didn't want him trying to stop her.
Once a long moment had passed and Jaffe still didn't seem like she was going to tell him anything, Arthur simply shrugged it off. "Fine, don't tell me. But would it kill whoever's biting you to be a little gentler? You look a bit... beat up. If I'm being honest."
The water claimant couldn't help but laugh again as she tightened the straps on her tactical vest.
ꜱᴏ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ, ɪ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇꜱᴛ
Gahbriogyva was no longer in her bedroom. Jaffe returned to the farmhouse expecting Gabi to be easy to find, but she wasn't. Jaffe took the lack of supervision as a chance to snoop a bit in the darkness claimant's room, but didn't dare touch anything. Gabi had already mentioned Jaffe smelling like chickens but hadn't put two-and-two together - Jaffe didn't need any more complications. Gabi did not need to know everything so soon.
Jaffe decided the best way to find the woman would probably be to ask someone. The land that Gahbreal and Cyva owned was much too big for Jaffe to be bothered combing through every square inch. She recited to herself the itinerary of the morning as she exited Gabi's room: go down to Butter Doll's for a briefing and breakfast and meet up with Nica to exchange details on Ballafex's whereabouts. Not too difficult, surely. They could handle that without anyone dying, right? Right.
The long-legged former soccer player exited Gabi's room quietly and made her way downstairs. The house seemed to be waking up now with servants moving about. Jaffe wondered if they were paid in cash or threats to their lives. She wondered again why any claimant would serve as a maid or butler to another but figured it boiled down to either power levels or something as simple as not wanting to find a different job. Being a servant to this family surely had to have its perks... Room and board were covered, meals were included, they could have lives when not on the clock... Well, everyone, it seemed, but Gabi's personal assistant Mist. Jaffe was convinced the fellow Testua never slept.
Jaffe almost crept out the front door when she heard a throat clear behind her. She turned tentatively, figuring it was for her. Gahbreal sat at the kitchen island looking over a newspaper with a curious look on his handsome features. Jaffe had to keep herself from licking her lips at the sight.
"Good morning," she greeted the man.
Gahbreal's red eyes smoldered. It was amazing how Gabi had inherited one of his best features - outside of his cheekbones. Jaffe could only fantasize what Gabi would look like if she had gotten an ounce of the depth of his delicious chocolate skin. Gahbreal jerked his head toward the east. "She's at her truck."
"Thanks. Hey, does Cyva have any more of that bread?"
"Probably. Y'all enjoy your walk last night?"
"Immensely." She let a smirk pull at her lips. "I think I'll come back for more of that bread later. If that's okay."
He shrugged. "I'm sure Cyva would be fine with that. Just do me one solid?"
"What's that?"
"Just... keep an eye on her. Don't let her kill anyone she's going to regret."
Jaffe threw her left hand up to her temple nonchalantly in a lazy salute. "Yes, sir. I will keep an eye on her and you'll make sure I get more bread. It's a good deal." They both nodded in agreement to each other and Jaffe was off to find the Dimea woman.
The blonde woman made her way to the east side of the house. Despite wearing boots her steps were deceptively and naturally light. The sound of an engine soon met her ears and Jaffe figured that was the truck Gahbreal had mentioned. Jaffe rounded the last corner of the large farmhouse and was finally faced with a truck that was much larger than she would've anticipated. Then again, it didn't make better sense to see Gabi in a sedan. Jaffe wondered why she hadn't seen anyone drive the thing since she'd begun watching the house weeks ago.
Gabi was already sitting expectantly in the front seat smoking a cigarette. Jaffe slid into the unlocked passenger easily, noting there was already at least one cigarette butt lying in an ashtray. Half of her mind tried convincing her to take a pull from Gabi's cigarette - take it from the darkness claimant's lips and put it back. But the look on Gabi's face made it known she was not in the happiest of moods; plus, Jaffe had no business picking up such a bad habit. It was funny - they were both working now and the overwhelmingly sexual energy between them had to be put on the backburner.
"Nice truck," the water claimant observed. "Compensating for something?" She chuckled at her own joke. Taking a closer look at Gabi, Jaffe inquired aloud as she gestured to the pale woman's back, "Is it uncomfortable to hide them like that? Where do they go? I sure hope you aren't hiding them because of me. I thought you were stronger than losing a couple of feathers, little bird."
-- ɪ'ᴍ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ
quoted song: i feel alive by kordhell & scarlxrd
Her ears perked up as she finished the first cigarette. A part of her had hoped that one would be enough for the caramel-tone Testua to be done and ready to go, but apparently that was hoping for too much. That was when she retrieved the phone from her pocket and eyed the screen for several seconds. Her reflection displaying a pair of glowing red eyes staring directly back at her; an unacceptable compromise in her book of rules for public exposure. The last thing she needed was anyone taking a photo of her with evidence as a claimant and showing it to the world. She’d almost immediately have to no doubt worry about other claimants attempting to approach her in any capacity… and every single one of them would die.
One blink and she’d be staring at black orbs. Another and she’d be met with the vibrant blue her family was known for. She could recall her mother and father arguing for a substantial period of time over whose eyes she inherited, but she could never understand. Both of their eyes were naturally blue so it didn’t really matter, but in the end Gahbreal still folded and let Cyva win the argument. The very thought made her sigh in disappointment. With as often as their opinions differed from one another she could not, for a single moment, recall a moment in which the two of them actually ever physically fought. Meanwhile, she had caused substantial harm to several one night stands in the past. Then again, she could only conclude marriage was a different story.
Maybe I should update grandmother, but if I do that she’ll only worry… Grandpa probably wouldn’t care, but he’d tell grandmother… Who could I inform of this that wouldn’t care enough to get in my way and yet will also keep tabs and give me information?
She placed another cigarette between her lips, the lighter flinging embers onto her lap which were quickly swept away before she lit the the edge and took a deep breathe. A tap on the screen and a scan of her face would allow her to comb through the applications until reaching her messages. There was only one name she was looking for when dealing with Ballafex. That was why she stopped scrolling through her contacts upon reaching Zorelle. She didn’t plan to say much, but she would say enough. A stream of smoke flowing from her lips as her fingers tapped the keyboard.
‘Hey. I may have found a potential doll who can lead me to Ballafex. Don’t be surprised if he dies soon.’
Several seconds passed before a response arrived.
‘Seeing a message from you I thought this would be important. Yet here I am seeing more of your bullshit. I don’t care what you do. In fact, it'll be better for me if you get rid of him. But at least try not to get yourself killed.’
‘You think that bum would kill me?’
‘If you don’t take things seriously like you should. There’s a reason he’s lived as long as he has, and a reason the other claimants want nothing to do with him. Just remember that.’
‘I’ll keep that in mind, if he manages to survive the first hit.’
Gabi turned off the screen before tossing the phone into the center console. With that out of the way all she could do now was think about how she would hang up her newest trophy. Maybe she’d personally have his skull hollowed out and made into a pen holder for her office? But that only made her feel as if it were too normal. She’d much rather have his entire skeleton embedded in the wall of her trophy room with all the other bones she had collected. Bones of such high quality should certainly be displayed in full, after all.
Her pleasurable ideas were interrupted however by the sound of the passenger side door opening and shutting with a casual thud. Her head turning to see Jaffe now sitting in the truck along with her. For a moment she was surprised. Pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless. She couldn’t recall the last time casual clothing looked so good on someone… well, someone other than herself… and her mother… but that was besides the point! What did matter was how she could dive on the woman right now if she wanted, but then she fell into her most prominent habit. Her nose sniffed the air, all it took was one, and she could smell two distinct things. Her showering supplies still fresh on the water claimant, and the scent of another person clinging to her clothes. Another claimant she could not identify.
Interesting. Maybe a roommate? Possibly a romantic partner? I don’t know many other reasons to keep your clothes so close to someone else… As if I fucking care.
“Nice truck. Compensating for something?” She couldn’t place her finger okay why, but hearing her chuckle was pissing her off. Cute… but still pissing her off.
“You say that as if I need to compensate for anything, but I’m already perfect.”
"Is it uncomfortable to hide them like that? Where do they go? I sure hope you aren't hiding them because of me. I thought you were stronger than losing a couple of feathers, little bird."
“Are you always this nosy?” She asked as her brow furrowed. Another sigh as she rolled down her window and shifted the truck into drive. “Yes it’s uncomfortable. The wings are a part of me, but they are still darkness. That’s why they can grow back if damaged. All I’ve done is condense them.” Her eyes were then focused onto the road itself. Leaving the farm was always annoying, and if she didn’t keep her eyes on the road there was always a chance she’d run down some animal that decided the road was a proper place to be. But she still made sure to say, “And don’t get full of yourself. Those feathers are worth a lot, and anymore unnecessary instances of their removal will cost you limbs.”
She grabbed her phone and quickly swiped through the apps before connecting it to the vehicle itself. She hated driving without music, and she wasn’t going to. Before long she settle on what she wanted to hear, Father Said by Red Handed Denial. A band she had only come to know when performing in the same venue. This song was specifically one of her favorites, and one she had once accepted to duet at one of their concerts when she had shown up as an unexpected guest. For now, however, it served as a means to drown out the sounds of the truck navigating the bumpy dirt roads.
“Butter Doll’s isn’t far from here. It should only take us about fifteen minutes once we hit the main road. So, tell me something,” she started while looking at the cows roaming through the vast fields. “Your occupation. What is it?”
The question wasn’t entirely necessary. It wasn’t like she couldn't tell Jaffe was skilled in some capacity. Specifically in the same realm as herself… murder… No matter how hard a lot of people tried, it was difficult to hide the subtle nuances. The way you choose to walk, sit, breathe. The way your fingers navigate the things they touch, the people they touch. Not to mention how well you can hide a weapon on your person. Every single one of them reminded her of one person. Kikana. That woman could hide a weapon on herself even if she were completely naked. Jaffe was no doubt a sneak of some sort.
“There’s no point in trying to hide it. You’ve already proven you know more about me than you truly have any business knowing. Enough to warrant a death in most cases, but I’d rather it not come to that. Or, well… at least not before you give me what I want.”
A part of her spoke entirely playfully with a smirk plastered on her face, but she was also entirely serious with every word. There were a handful of small details which gave away Jaffe knowing personal information about her. Especially how this woman she had only met the night prior knew of her favorite place to eat, and one which was nearby her family home nonetheless. If this were a normal interaction she’d have already taken her to her grandmother’s and promptly had her brought to the Chisuke family estate. There she could be properly interrogated by masters in the craft, but she wanted to solve this without the extra work that would involve.
There was also a part of her which wanted to keep her alive for the most part, although she had no idea why.
It took a few minutes, and her chosen song had come to an end, but they finally hit the main road the farm connected to and the road which would lead them to her favorite bakery. The playlist shuffled to yet another of her favorite songs, and the upbeat melody contrasted the first song entirely. Not The Same by Bodyjar. More of a favorite than the last and one she had been introduced to by none other than her father, as ironic as it had managed to be. He introduced her to the song for the rhythm, she held onto the song for the lyrics in the future. She couldn’t help but bob her head to the beat and sing along as she always had. But she did not smile. The song brought equal parts pleasure that it did displeasure.
ooc
Originally posted by: Dobu
🇸🇴 🇩🇦🇲🇳 🇸🇲🇦🇷🇹 🇦🇳🇩 🇮🇳🇹🇪🇷🇪🇸🇹🇮🇳🇬 - 🇩🇴🇳❜🇹 🇸🇦🇾 🇹🇭🇦🇹 🇾🇴🇺 🇼🇪🇷🇪🇳❜🇹 🇼🇦🇷🇳🇪🇩
“Are you always this nosy?” Gabi's inquiry made Jaffe laugh. If only the pale woman of terror knew just how right she was. Still, she answered the question. “Yes it’s uncomfortable. The wings are a part of me, but they are still darkness. That’s why they can grow back if damaged. All I’ve done is condense them.”
Jaffe nodded slowly as she processed the information, committing it to memory and filing it away in the necessary Gabi-related folder for later use. This was how Gabi managed to seem human when out in the world, then. She idly wondered if the feather she had managed to pluck would dissipate into darkness with time or if it would remain tangible as the moment she took it. But she didn't want to further the idea that she was unduly nosy, so she decided to ask those questions another time. It was as if Gabi could see the lightbulb beginning to brighten above Jaffe's head - just as the glorified mercenary was beginning to think about how much one of those physics-defying feathers would go for, Gabi added, “And don’t get full of yourself. Those feathers are worth a lot, and anymore unnecessary instances of their removal will cost you limbs.”
Jaffe didn't bother hiding her pout. That was an annoying caveat. She would have to work on Gabi with that, appeal to her somehow so she wouldn't literally disarm her if another feather were to be spontaneously pulled. Jaffe could almost feel the money filling her pockets... There had to be at least one freak working for the Program that wanted to get their grubby little paws on Gabi's feathers. She knew the numbers for how much every other limb on Gahbriogyva's body would cost, yet these tiny little things would probably go for more than the entire vessel. Jaffe knew she couldn't strip the darkness claimant of her wings, though... The wings were what made her special in the first place. To Jaffe, without them, Gabi was nothing.
Gabi followed her threat up by putting on music. The darker-skinned claimant trafficker slyly watched Gabi's movements as she unlocked her phone to discern what kind of password it was. It was rather simple, as if Gabi couldn't be bothered with high security on her phone because anyone close enough to touch it could easily be decapitated. Still, Jaffe couldn't tell exactly what it was. She averted her gaze out of the window, watching the landscape pass by idly as she tucked more information in the back of her mind for later. Cows grazed the fields lazily. The water claimant wondered if they knew what the chunk of metal hurtling down the road was, if they had a cow name for it. She wondered how the cows felt about the humans that tended to them. Did they like Cyva and Gahbreal? Did they notice them at all? Was it nice to be a cow?
No, she decided to herself. Can't be that nice when you're broke as fuck.
“Butter Doll’s isn’t far from here. It should only take us about fifteen minutes once we hit the main road. So, tell me something,” Gabi started. Her tone seemed as if she were trying but failing to come off lighthearted. She smiled a bit to mitigate tension, but Jaffe could glance over and see the light lowering of her brow in seriousness. “Your occupation. What is it?” It was a fair question. Really, it was. She hadn't hidden it very well - to be honest, part of it was as a survival tactic so Gabi wouldn't think she was too weak to bother dealing with, and part of it was to assert some kind of dominance. She learned more and more that Gabi would not be dominated so easily. She was an impossible sculpture Jaffe was more than prepared to chip away at. “There’s no point in trying to hide it. You’ve already proven you know more about me than you truly have any business knowing. Enough to warrant a death in most cases, but I’d rather it not come to that. Or, well… at least not before you give me what I want.”
A mischievous grin pulled at Jaffe's lips. This was relatively going to plan. She decided to get comfortable, leaning back in her seat and putting her feet up on the dashboard. Her legs were too long to completely extend to rest her feet on the dashboard, so she settled for just having her feet on the dash and her knees tucked toward her chest. She let out a big sigh, looking over at Gabi to gauge her expression again. It was clearly dawning on the woman that while Jaffe promised something amazing, the darkness claimant knew next to nothing about her.
"What an uninteresting question," the Testua woman yawned. "My occupation is that of a hedonist. I do whatever I want, whatever makes me money." She shrugged, wondering if she should come up with a better explanation. "Hm, how else can I say it? I am... ooh that's a good one, a trader." She chuckled a little at that. Stealing a child in the night to trade him for money to a man that wanted to kill him was hardly what most people would call a traditional 'trader,' but who cared? "It doesn't matter. My occupation doesn't matter because it won't give you the answers you want. What you want to know is how I know about you. Isn't it?"
🇮❜🇲 🇸🇴 🇩🇦🇳🇬🇪🇷🇴🇺🇸
The road to Butter Doll's was bumpy at the start but began to smooth out once the truck reached the main road. There was no one else on the road. Jaffe could imagine another life here. Perhaps in an alternate universe, a version of Gabi was smiling and giggling as they drove, her free hand on Jaffe's thigh to maintain physical contact. In that alternate universe, Jaffe was telling her stories of things she'd seen in the world - perhaps the time she had seen a puppy trip over his legs and go rolling down a small hill - and filling the car with joy. In that alternate universe they were on their way to the grocery store so they could cook for the night and try to see how it felt to have Gabi in the kitchen. In that alternate universe they were happy and normal. In this universe, they were two horrible criminals - nightmares, even, who had done too much to ever deserve to giggle like that.
Jaffe brought herself back to the present by breaking her gaze away from the window. She glanced over at Gabi again, though decided to keep watching rather than just glance. The sun lit up the Dimea's pale skin perfectly. She looked golden in this light. Jaffe couldn't believe she had been able to look away the first time. Gabi's head bobbed along lightly to the song playing, prompting Jaffe to pay closer attention to the lyrics. There was something about the song that resonated with Gabi, then, if she had it playing and was externally enjoying it. She was a woman who kept a lot of her feelings to herself save for a display of anger. Jaffe knew the true way to get to know her was through paying attention to the little things Gabi couldn't think to hide.
"Look," the blue-eyed water claimant began with a slight exhale. She licked her lips and tilted her head as she decided what to say. The nunchaku Arthur had given her poked against her back as if a reminder of her life outside the car, the things she could not say. "You know everything there is to know about me. I am Jaffe Testua, a water claimant. I have ways of getting information in ways that profit me, which is how I found Ballafex. I know about you because I want to." She shrugged after another moment of contemplation. "I think that about covers it. Have we had enough interrogation for now?"
🇸🇴 🇸🇹🇦🇾 🇦🇼🇦🇾 🇫🇷🇴🇲 🇲🇪
-
lyrics: heaven sent by trophy eyes.
ooc
Originally posted by: kaiju
“What an uninteresting question. My occupation is that of a hedonist. I do whatever I want, whatever makes me money.” For a moment Gabi couldn’t tell if she was truly trying to piss her off or just that air headed… but she certainly was no Sharoleen. “Hm, how else can I say it? I am... ooh that's a good one, a trader.” And now she wanted to callously rearrange her organs on the hood of her truck. Gabi certainly saw it as cute, the way Jaffe attempted to play with the words, but it could only go so far before she chose to twist the former athlete in twain. “It doesn't matter. My occupation doesn't matter because it won't give you the answers you want. What you want to know is how I know about you. Isn't it?”
There were only so few people who drew such carnal violence from her. Her coworkers made her want to throw them at the walls, her maids and servants made her want to hit them as hard as she possibly could, but this singular water claimant was the third to make her want to bite out their neck. But that was a thought she could indulge later. Specifically after she had gotten what she wanted from her.
Truly there is nothing more divine than dining on the blood of someone so cute. Maybe I’ll dress her up like a maid when I do… enjoy myself a little.
“Look,” Gabi’s focus was mostly on the road, but she couldn’t ignore what she expected to be something over exaggerated and theatrical. Maybe she’d spent too much time around Mist. “You know everything there is to know about me. I am Jaffe Testua, a water claimant. I have ways of getting information in ways that profit me, which is how I found Ballafex. I know about you because I want to.” Bold. But being bold wasn’t entirely a bad thing. “I think that about covers it. Have we had enough interrogation for now?”
“Oh my! Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair?” Gabi pouted as she swerved across the road and pulled into the parking lot of her favorite aforementioned bakery. She lifted her aviators for a moment after turning the key and shutting off the engine. With the volume of the music lowered to a mere whisper and her keys shoved in her pocket, now her attention was entirely on Jaffe. “If I wanted to interrogate you, and I’m sure you know it if… if you know nearly as much about me as you’d claim, then you’d know I don’t play with my food.”
Interrogation remained, and would always remain, a closely tied word with torture for Gahbriogyva. Asking questions was reserved for people who could be of use physically. If their physical form wasn’t up to standard, then their physical form was capable of being damaged, and damage is a language she definitely understands. Asking questions and expecting the truth was always a waste of time; that was one of the initial rules of interrogation Kikana taught her, one of the many both she and Mayray employed. They’ll instinctively tell you everything that’s important when you carved them to pieces, begging for their life by any means possible. There was only one means to end all things when it came to her work.
“Violence.”
The words left her lips almost as quickly as she realized she had allowed them. A mistake on her part, but not one to truly fret over. It was both a tenet and a lifestyle. What she aspired to become. To embody. Her own personal house… But that was all for later! For now she swung the door open and stepped out before shutting it behind herself and leaning into the open window. She stared at Jaffe with expectant eyes, head leaning in as she shifted back and forth in a blatantly excited manner. Why? Obviously for a single reason.
“Don’t just sit there, hurry up! You said you’d buy me food. Now feed me.” Of all the times, this was when she chose to utilize the one skill both Kikana and Cyva made sure she was most skilled in… seduction. The way she held her lips, the pattern in which she moved her body, even the way her eyes relaxed but her eyelashes fluttered. Anyone with a properly functioning brain would believe she wanted nothing more than to get in the blue eyed claimant’s pants, but in all actuality she wanted nothing more than to get more food out of her. “Come on, don’t make me wait. Take me inside and show me a good time already. Surely you don't plan to make a rare flower like me wait... do you?"
A part of her was certainly excited. The bakery itself was nothing too special, but it had received its own fair share of social exposure due to how often she frequents the place. There's only so much one can do to avoid the public eye when the red eyed actress posted countless pictures of herself in the establishment. Even less that could be done when the man who ran the bakery and his daughter were both close friends of not only Gabi, but Cyva and Gahbreal as well. The father never left the kitchen where he baked orders and the daughter helped in the kitchen mostly, but she was also the one who worked the register and took in store orders. Thankful as the father was for Gabi's considerable aid for their business, he also held a very specific distaste for the girl. Most people would wonder why, but upon learning that she had once dated the daughter when they were both attending the same school would be more than enough reason for that. One plucky and cheerful redhead with freckles and hazel eyes, but when she discovered Gabi was a claimant, that relationship ended. The idea of dying and leaving the winged immortal behind and alone didn't sit right with her... Gahbriogyva respected that decision... and then they became one of her many casual friends-with-benefits. The father disagreed. Cyva made sure he'd never disagree again. Gahbreal was left to apologize.
She reached into the vehicle and grabbed another one of her cigarettes, placing it between her lips before pinching the end with her fingers and releasing it to reveal a purely dark smoke emanating from its tip. Less like it was burning and more like it was being consumed. On her mind she wanted to give her old friend a hug and a kiss, but even she knew there wouldn't be that much indulging while she was on the clock. She'd have to settle with flirting... flirting and gauging Jaffe's reactions... THAT would be entertaining even in the smallest amounts. But, as with all things, it was time to be her normal, mean self. "You should buy me fifteen. And a coffee. I'll get us a discount, so don't be a stingy bitch. I'll kill you if I'm still hungry after this."
Not one to ever truly wait on others, Gabi sauntered toward the bakery. While orders were very common, rarely anyone actually came to visit due to its rather far out location, but that only meant she could come and go as she pleased without the risk of constant badgering from anyone who knew her by occupation. And yet, as she walked through the doors and was subsequently met with the chime of the bell overhead, there was a calming sense of peace along with the sweet scent of bread. Not even a moment of silence and rest before a familiar voice filled the air and attracted her attention from behind the counter. A woman with a long ponytail of red, bouncy curls. A typical white shirt and a deep tan apron, along with a waving hand and a large smile. "Yoo-hoo! If it ain't my high school sweetheart!"
"Pft! It almost sound like you're underselling me, Jenn." Gabi responded as she approached the counter and leaned over it with a casual smile. "Your old man in the back?"
"You know it! Always the busybody. Never slowin' down. But I've noticed you gettin' more attention online! It's been good for business!" The way she placed her apron over a chair behind the counter before stealing Gabi's cigarette for herself was just bold enough to get any other person killed. But Gabi was being considerably docile. That is to say, she didn't immediately break all her fingers. "I'd almost say I'm jealous, but we both know I ain't the jealous type."
"You say that now, but if I ever mentioned the we used to be a couple you'd probably start receiving death threats. Not enough cute girls in the world to get past your standards, and mine are even steeper."
"Says the world's boldest tomboy. Still surprised anyone managed to get you in a dress, but I ain't gonna say it wasn't hot. Mmm, I can see it now. Wings and all." Gabi stared at the woman for a moment before her eyes squinted and a thought came to her.
"I swear, the more I visit the more you start sounding like my mom... Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
Jenn chuckled, steadily witling the cigarette down with each passing moment as the two conversed. However, Gabi could tell she was plotting some sort of question in her head. Perhaps it was because of how long they had known one another, or even maybe due to her own curiosity, but the woman was both quick to catch on and lacked any professional means to mask when she was plotting or planning anything in her head. It was cute, and one of the many reasons she had come to like the woman initially. So it came as no surprised when she leaned over the counter herself to close the distance between the two of them. Enough for whispers to be shared but with enough space for comfort. Or at least as much comfort as Gabi could gain when she was close enough for the Dimea to smell the entirety of her person. Bread and skin, sunflowers and sugar. It made her wish she'd have learned to bake before she learned to cook a steak or craft up a stew, but she knew how to make just about any dish outside of breads.
"So? When are you gonna tell me bout that sweet thang you brought with you?" Ever the observant lady. "She your new girlfriend? Looks pretty damn fit. Bet she could bend you over and-
"She's here for business, nothing more. She promised me food and now she's got to deliver on that promise. Let her use my discount, pleeeeaaase? But only if she buys me a lot! If she doesn't charge her double. No! triple."
"Okay, I gotcha!" She smiled while finishing off what was left of the cigarette and snuffing the rest out on the palm of her hand. She acted almost as if she knew it wouldn't burn, but then again she had just inhaled a healthy dose of Gabi's darkness. Madness on an angel's wings... She knew what she had been doing. "But if you ain't gonna sleep with her I'm gonna shoot my shot. The girl looks like she's got a squeezable butt. I'll be gettin' my hands on that if I can."
"You have an obsession, but it's cute. I'm going to sit down at a table. Try not to take bites out of my food this time," she made sure to remind her and yet it reminded her of something else. "Which reminds me, that siren likes to bite. You've been warned before you try to get in her pants. Don't ever say I'm not a good bed friend."
"Don't spoil the fun! Besides, I put up with your biting. I doubt she'll be any worse." The woman's eyes flickered with faint traces of red. Vestiges of madness desperate to persist, yet lacking the fuel.
"Don't ever compare me to anyone like that again. I'd give you a punishment, but you'd probably like something like that."
A part of her was certainly excited. The bakery itself was nothing too special, but it had received its own fair share of social exposure due to how often she frequents the place. There's only so much one can do to avoid the public eye when the red eyed actress posted countless pictures of herself in the establishment. Even less that could be done when the man who ran the bakery and his daughter were both close friends of not only Gabi, but Cyva and Gahbreal as well. The father never left the kitchen where he baked orders and the daughter helped in the kitchen mostly, but she was also the one who worked the register and took in store orders. Thankful as the father was for Gabi's considerable aid for their business, he also held a very specific distaste for the girl. Most people would wonder why, but upon learning that she had once dated the daughter when they were both attending the same school would be more than enough reason for that. One plucky and cheerful redhead with freckles and hazel eyes, but when she discovered Gabi was a claimant, that relationship ended. The idea of dying and leaving the winged immortal behind and alone didn't sit right with her... Gahbriogyva respected that decision... and then they became one of her many casual friends-with-benefits. The father disagreed. Cyva made sure he'd never disagree again. Gahbreal was left to apologize.
'I'm not gonna sugarcoat it Charles, you've lost this one. I can't change their minds and it's best you don't try. So, instead, we'll just drink those worries away every once in a while. I've lived long enough to see both nations and kingdoms fall... but there ain't been a single thing a solid shot of moonshine and a few beers can't fix.'
She reached into the vehicle and grabbed another one of her cigarettes, placing it between her lips before pinching the end with her fingers and releasing it to reveal a purely dark smoke emanating from its tip. Less like it was burning and more like it was being consumed. On her mind she wanted to give her old friend a hug and a kiss, but even she knew there wouldn't be that much indulging while she was on the clock. She'd have to settle with flirting... flirting and gauging Jaffe's reactions... THAT would be entertaining even in the smallest amounts. But, as with all things, it was time to be her normal, mean self. "You should buy me fifteen. And a coffee. I'll get us a discount, so don't be a stingy bitch. I'll kill you if I'm still hungry after this."
Not one to ever truly wait on others, Gabi sauntered toward the bakery. While orders were very common, rarely anyone actually came to visit due to its rather far out location, but that only meant she could come and go as she pleased without the risk of constant badgering from anyone who knew her by occupation. And yet, as she walked through the doors and was subsequently met with the chime of the bell overhead, there was a calming sense of peace along with the sweet scent of bread. Not even a moment of silence and rest before a familiar voice filled the air and attracted her attention from behind the counter. A woman with a long ponytail of red, bouncy curls. A typical white shirt and a deep tan apron, along with a waving hand and a large smile. "Yoo-hoo! If it ain't my high school sweetheart!"
"Pft! It almost sound like you're underselling me, Jenn." Gabi responded as she approached the counter and leaned over it with a casual smile. "Your old man in the back?"
"You know it! Always the busybody. Never slowin' down. But I've noticed you gettin' more attention online! It's been good for business!" The way she placed her apron over a chair behind the counter before stealing Gabi's cigarette for herself was just bold enough to get any other person killed. But Gabi was being considerably docile. That is to say, she didn't immediately break all her fingers. "I'd almost say I'm jealous, but we both know I ain't the jealous type."
"You say that now, but if I ever mentioned the we used to be a couple you'd probably start receiving death threats. Not enough cute girls in the world to get past your standards, and mine are even steeper."
"Says the world's boldest tomboy. Still surprised anyone managed to get you in a dress, but I ain't gonna say it wasn't hot. Mmm, I can see it now. Wings and all." Gabi stared at the woman for a moment before her eyes squinted and a thought came to her.
"I swear, the more I visit the more you start sounding like my mom... Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
Jenn chuckled, steadily witling the cigarette down with each passing moment as the two conversed. However, Gabi could tell she was plotting some sort of question in her head. Perhaps it was because of how long they had known one another, or even maybe due to her own curiosity, but the woman was both quick to catch on and lacked any professional means to mask when she was plotting or planning anything in her head. It was cute, and one of the many reasons she had come to like the woman initially. So it came as no surprised when she leaned over the counter herself to close the distance between the two of them. Enough for whispers to be shared but with enough space for comfort. Or at least as much comfort as Gabi could gain when she was close enough for the Dimea to smell the entirety of her person. Bread and skin, sunflowers and sugar. It made her wish she'd have learned to bake before she learned to cook a steak or craft up a stew, but she knew how to make just about any dish outside of breads.
"So? When are you gonna tell me bout that sweet thang you brought with you?" Ever the observant lady. "She your new girlfriend? Looks pretty damn fit. Bet she could bend you over and-
"She's here for business, nothing more. She promised me food and now she's got to deliver on that promise. Let her use my discount, pleeeeaaase? But only if she buys me a lot! If she doesn't charge her double. No! triple."
"Okay, I gotcha!" She smiled while finishing off what was left of the cigarette and snuffing the rest out on the palm of her hand. She acted almost as if she knew it wouldn't burn, but then again she had just inhaled a healthy dose of Gabi's darkness. Madness on an angel's wings... She knew what she had been doing. "But if you ain't gonna sleep with her I'm gonna shoot my shot. The girl looks like she's got a squeezable butt. I'll be gettin' my hands on that if I can."
"You have an obsession, but it's cute. I'm going to sit down at a table. Try not to take bites out of my food this time," she made sure to remind her and yet it reminded her of something else. "Which reminds me, that siren likes to bite. You've been warned before you try to get in her pants. Don't ever say I'm not a good bed friend."
"Don't spoil the fun! Besides, I put up with your biting. I doubt she'll be any worse." The woman's eyes flickered with faint traces of red. Vestiges of madness desperate to persist, yet lacking the fuel.
"Don't ever compare me to anyone like that again. I'd give you a punishment, but you'd probably like something like that."
ooc
Originally posted by: Dobu
Gabi had a point, which pulled a wry chuckle from her water companion: if this were an interrogation, there would be more torture. There would be more blood. While she was thankful that was not happening - she was not much of a fan of being flayed - it did have a certain allure to it that turned her on. Perhaps she would have to get herself interrogated once they were finished...
The car stopped. This was one of a few times Jaffe had visited Butter Doll's. She had never gone inside after noticing the staff was just a father-daughter duo and Gabi was an extreme regular since it seemed too close for comfort. The Testua found herself wondering how the bakery had so much damn business in the first place when it was in the middle of nowhere. It almost defied logic. Maybe they did deliveries? Frozen stuff? Did Gabi singlehandedly buy them out?
The blonde woman watched Gabi get out of the car, fully expecting to be stared at and analyzed like an animal in a cage, only to be rushed to feed the insatiable woman. “Come on, don’t make me wait. Take me inside and show me a good time already. Surely you don't plan to make a rare flower like me wait... do you?" Gabi whined, batting her eyelashes and poking out her lip. It made Jaffe roll her eyes but did pull a small chuckle out of her as she exited the truck. Gabi was an enigma. One moment she could talk about ripping the intestines out of a person as easily as she could talk about how badly she needed an oil change.
"You should buy me fifteen. And a coffee. I'll get us a discount, so don't be a stingy bitch. I'll kill you if I'm still hungry after this," the Dimea warned.
"Isn't gluttony a sin?" Jaffe whined in response, wondering what all this indulging was gonna cost her. And who was going to eat fifteen anythings? Gabi?! She hadn't even asked if Jaffe wanted anything!
The two sauntered into the small bakery looking a little less like they were together and a little more like Gabi was leading the way and left her partner behind. Jaffe stalked in behind her, immediately busying herself with a wall display so she could eavesdrop on the conversation Gabi was having. There seemed to be a familiarity. Gabi likely actually really knew this woman rather than it being a facade of familiarity like the one she had put on at her parents' house. Jaffe was curious. Butter Doll's was on her radar, but not a 'Jenn.' Who was... Jenn? Jaffe's ears burned as she listened - she had to keep herself from gawking as soon as she'd heard 'Jenn' announce she was Gahbriogyva's high school sweetheart. That piqued Jaffe's interest. Gabi confirming it was even more interesting. Jaffe was happy her back was to the two; otherwise they'd see the wide grin spreading ear to ear.
Gabi's formative years were a bit difficult to put together. The timeline was all over the place, including a huge hole when Gabi was a girl. It was difficult to put together since no one really wanted to inform on a Dimea - let alone this one. She hoped this romp with Ballafex meant there was some information she could get straight from the source.
Jaffe turned, catching a glimpse of the two whispering and giggling over the counter out of the corner of her eye. They were like kids in love. It felt like the kind of scene someone like Gabi didn't belong in, not truly. Perhaps for the scene of a movie but not in real life. In real life, Gabbi was covered in blood, standing over the corpses of a thousand dead. Did Jenn know that? The train of thought started to make Jaffe feel guilty. She wondered if she was only demonizing Gabi's facade because was jealous of it. Gabi held a duality where Jaffe did not anymore. Were they in love? Under the differences in who they would turn out to be in life? They looked at each other fondly. Jaffe did not often find herself an envious person, and yet...
Had she ever been in love? Had anyone ever loved her? She couldn't remember ever loving anything but money. Even when she was an Order claimant, her one true love had been money. There had been a couple times where a kiss moved something in her, or she wished she could feel the warmth of a hug a little longer - but that wasn't love, was it? And those feelings could be replicated, so they weren't special, were they?
She felt a spike of jealousy course through her. Less jealous of the relationship Jenn had with Gabi, and more jealous of the fact they they could enjoy a relationship at all. Was this baker aware of how close she came to looking the end of all things in the eye?
The trafficker found herself bored with pretending to be a fly on the wall. She made up her mind about what she was going to get and approached the counter Jenn and Gabi were flirting over. Redheads were okay in her book. Jenn was pretty; she could certainly see what had attracted Gabi to her. And with the way she took a pull on the black-lit cigarette showed she was more than a random baker.
"Hey," the blonde Testua said in formal greeting as she finally approached the two whispering schoolgirls. Jenn's smile perked up like a wolf spying sheep. "I saw there's something called a 'crookie' on the menu. Can I get two of those? And whatever she wants. With a cap of fifteen. Ooh, now that I think about it -" she couldn't keep the smirk off of her face "how much for a picture of you and the sweetheart in high school?"
The car stopped. This was one of a few times Jaffe had visited Butter Doll's. She had never gone inside after noticing the staff was just a father-daughter duo and Gabi was an extreme regular since it seemed too close for comfort. The Testua found herself wondering how the bakery had so much damn business in the first place when it was in the middle of nowhere. It almost defied logic. Maybe they did deliveries? Frozen stuff? Did Gabi singlehandedly buy them out?
The blonde woman watched Gabi get out of the car, fully expecting to be stared at and analyzed like an animal in a cage, only to be rushed to feed the insatiable woman. “Come on, don’t make me wait. Take me inside and show me a good time already. Surely you don't plan to make a rare flower like me wait... do you?" Gabi whined, batting her eyelashes and poking out her lip. It made Jaffe roll her eyes but did pull a small chuckle out of her as she exited the truck. Gabi was an enigma. One moment she could talk about ripping the intestines out of a person as easily as she could talk about how badly she needed an oil change.
"You should buy me fifteen. And a coffee. I'll get us a discount, so don't be a stingy bitch. I'll kill you if I'm still hungry after this," the Dimea warned.
"Isn't gluttony a sin?" Jaffe whined in response, wondering what all this indulging was gonna cost her. And who was going to eat fifteen anythings? Gabi?! She hadn't even asked if Jaffe wanted anything!
The two sauntered into the small bakery looking a little less like they were together and a little more like Gabi was leading the way and left her partner behind. Jaffe stalked in behind her, immediately busying herself with a wall display so she could eavesdrop on the conversation Gabi was having. There seemed to be a familiarity. Gabi likely actually really knew this woman rather than it being a facade of familiarity like the one she had put on at her parents' house. Jaffe was curious. Butter Doll's was on her radar, but not a 'Jenn.' Who was... Jenn? Jaffe's ears burned as she listened - she had to keep herself from gawking as soon as she'd heard 'Jenn' announce she was Gahbriogyva's high school sweetheart. That piqued Jaffe's interest. Gabi confirming it was even more interesting. Jaffe was happy her back was to the two; otherwise they'd see the wide grin spreading ear to ear.
Gabi's formative years were a bit difficult to put together. The timeline was all over the place, including a huge hole when Gabi was a girl. It was difficult to put together since no one really wanted to inform on a Dimea - let alone this one. She hoped this romp with Ballafex meant there was some information she could get straight from the source.
Jaffe turned, catching a glimpse of the two whispering and giggling over the counter out of the corner of her eye. They were like kids in love. It felt like the kind of scene someone like Gabi didn't belong in, not truly. Perhaps for the scene of a movie but not in real life. In real life, Gabbi was covered in blood, standing over the corpses of a thousand dead. Did Jenn know that? The train of thought started to make Jaffe feel guilty. She wondered if she was only demonizing Gabi's facade because was jealous of it. Gabi held a duality where Jaffe did not anymore. Were they in love? Under the differences in who they would turn out to be in life? They looked at each other fondly. Jaffe did not often find herself an envious person, and yet...
Had she ever been in love? Had anyone ever loved her? She couldn't remember ever loving anything but money. Even when she was an Order claimant, her one true love had been money. There had been a couple times where a kiss moved something in her, or she wished she could feel the warmth of a hug a little longer - but that wasn't love, was it? And those feelings could be replicated, so they weren't special, were they?
She felt a spike of jealousy course through her. Less jealous of the relationship Jenn had with Gabi, and more jealous of the fact they they could enjoy a relationship at all. Was this baker aware of how close she came to looking the end of all things in the eye?
The trafficker found herself bored with pretending to be a fly on the wall. She made up her mind about what she was going to get and approached the counter Jenn and Gabi were flirting over. Redheads were okay in her book. Jenn was pretty; she could certainly see what had attracted Gabi to her. And with the way she took a pull on the black-lit cigarette showed she was more than a random baker.
"Hey," the blonde Testua said in formal greeting as she finally approached the two whispering schoolgirls. Jenn's smile perked up like a wolf spying sheep. "I saw there's something called a 'crookie' on the menu. Can I get two of those? And whatever she wants. With a cap of fifteen. Ooh, now that I think about it -" she couldn't keep the smirk off of her face "how much for a picture of you and the sweetheart in high school?"
ooc
Originally posted by: kaiju
Gabi’s eyes, like tempestuous storms of blood, locked onto Jaffe. Even devils lacked the passion for violence the Testua could see in her overly dramatic stare, but thankfully there was a single silver lining. Amidst that torrent of obviously growing hostility, the Testua spotted the unquestionably smug smile of the baker. Jenn was no doubt a deviant in her own right, but also doubtlessly calmer and kinder than the black-haired celebrity on the opposite of the counter from her. Perhaps that was why she smiled, winked at her while Gabi wasn’t looking, and immediately began distracting the woman.
“See that, Gabs? You better thank this sweetheart properly for fuelin’ your addiction. You’re gonna have to come over here and grab what you want, big girl.”
“Bite me,” Gabi groaned out before roaming behind the counter and shuffling through everything as if she wasn’t going to simply settle on her favorites.
“Don’t tempt me darlin’. It’s been a while, but I’ve still got it.” Jenn said before turning her attention back to Jaffe. “Now then, about those crookies you’re wantin’. Since those are my favorites, I can grab you a couple. Nice and easy!”
She eyed the woman up and down. Her eyes like two inquisitive tools for gathering as many details as she can, and her intentions were obvious when she tilted her head to the side and bit her lip. Shamelessly ogling the former athlete up close. Several key actions the likes of which would easily pull any unsuspecting individual into her honey-lined trap. The woman was a temptress, and a devout one at that.
“Take a picture. It’ll last longer, I promise you.” Gabi urged as she approached the counter with a kolache stuffed in her mouth.
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, cutie.” Jenn retorted.
“Jealous? You’re kidding.”
“Hmm,” she responded before reaching towards the Dimea’s face and pressing her thumb against her lips. “I ain’t so sure. But, since it’s been a while, I’ll get the family somethin’ special. Give me a hot minute.”
The woman wandered off into the back of the bakery, blowing Jaffe a kiss before disappearing around a corner and into the kitchen. Gabi sighed, lifting her fingers to her head and sifting them through her hair before pulling it over her shoulder and eyeing the ends. On one hand she wasn’t pleased, on the other she was clearly bristling with energy. It might have almost gone entirely unknown as to why she seemed that way, but then she reached her hand over to Jaffe and grabbed the woman by the arm. Her very skin seemed to be bristling with irritation.
Her eyes flickered and pulsed with an overbearing hunger, but she did not do anything at first. Looking at the Testua as if wanting something extremely specific, and it was likely the Jaffe already knew what it was that Gabi wanted. She leaned forward, eyes narrowing, ears twitching, and once she’d finally gotten close enough for every single breath to be felt she’d whisper. Just quiet enough for the two of them, but with the exact type of attitude to be expected.
“If you know where Ballafex is, then tell me. I left you with your limbs and organs intact… for now. I believe I at least deserve what I’m owed.” Such a harsh shift, from playfully mean to violently abrasive. “All things aside, I’d prefer to leave your parts intact, so the faster you explain things the better.”
“What are you two whisperin’ about?” Jenn sung as she emerged from the kitchen with a larger bag. “Gonna eat her right here for me to watch?”
“What? No!” Gabi responded while releasing the Testua’s arm. “It’s nothing you need to know about.”
“Well gee, that’s not nice. And to think I was ready to offer you this bag of goodies for the road. All my favorite little snacks for my favorite little person. Now I wonder what I’ll have to do with it all now.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I don’t really think you mean that, but I’ll accept it because you’re cute.” She responded while placing the bag down on the counter. Gabi quickly snatched it and began rifling through its contents. “And speakin’ of cute. Jaffe, was it? Mm, or maybe just hot. You’re not gonna get any of my pictures of Gabi, that’s my nighttime material, but I’ll gladly send you some of my own, if you’re wantin’ em.” The offer was coupled with the subtle handing over of three crookies in total. One of which had her number written in permanent marker on its lid. “The third is for the bird. She’ll be mad if I don’t give her one. Don’t be a stranger now.”
Gabi was entirely enthralled with her own belongings to even take reasonable notice, but she did watch as her friend returned to her work. Organizing their products and placing money where it should go, not before pocketing some for herself. It pulled a chuckle from the youngest Chisuke, but she quickly returned her attention back to Jaffe. By now her mind had been set and her desires were leading her actions. She wanted to fight, she wanted to kill, and she wanted to do it with all her power. She needed Jaffe to tell her what she wanted to know, and her mind buzzed with the rage which would follow if this all turned out to be some lie. That didn’t stop her from slowly retrieving one of the crookies.
“I won't bite the hand that feeds me, yet. But I expect answers, or I’ll bite off a lot more.” Threats and promises in tandem. Terrible truths spoken with a delicate voice. And yet those same lips that spoke the words took greedy bites from her freshly acquired food. “Don’t make me regret letting you live.”
“You better make sure some of those get to your ma! They ain’t all for you!” Jenn shouted at her from across the shop.
“Shut up. I know, so don’t nag me. And stop trying to distract me! We're talking about business. Do not get in my way.”
A total shift in tone and atmosphere. Jenn, who'd previously been entirely focused on socializing with the two, looked almost as if she completely understood the situation. She continued to smile with a shrug before waving to the two claimants and proceeding to return to her work. Keeping to herself. It begged the question of how many times this very situation had managed to pop up between the two of them, how far back Gabi's absolute thirst for combat and violence went... and how it no doubt likely drove an invisible wedge between the two of them. On one hand Jenn clearly understood the difference between claimants and humans, the priorities between the two and how different their lives truly were as a whole. On the other she was clearly hurt in some sort of way, and Gabi knew that. Her mood tanked and it was clear on her face. As if she herself was displeased with the interaction and had hoped for a much kinder outcome, but things like that weren't for her.
Being Gabi meant being Gabi. The daughter of an aikekunai and, in her own mind, destined to be the strongest no matter what. There were no expectations to live up to. This was the decision she had made for herself and why she could not allow this chance to face Ballafex to escape. She'd claim the validation she'd been denied. She'd stamp out her enemies like ants on scorching concrete. And when she inevitably came out on top she would demand the praise she was owed... That was and would forever be her right. Perhaps that was why she looked at Jaffe with an expression which had grown tired of waiting for answers, and yet there was desperation in those very same eyes. And desperation was always dangerous.
A total shift in tone and atmosphere. Jenn, who'd previously been entirely focused on socializing with the two, looked almost as if she completely understood the situation. She continued to smile with a shrug before waving to the two claimants and proceeding to return to her work. Keeping to herself. It begged the question of how many times this very situation had managed to pop up between the two of them, how far back Gabi's absolute thirst for combat and violence went... and how it no doubt likely drove an invisible wedge between the two of them. On one hand Jenn clearly understood the difference between claimants and humans, the priorities between the two and how different their lives truly were as a whole. On the other she was clearly hurt in some sort of way, and Gabi knew that. Her mood tanked and it was clear on her face. As if she herself was displeased with the interaction and had hoped for a much kinder outcome, but things like that weren't for her.
Being Gabi meant being Gabi. The daughter of an aikekunai and, in her own mind, destined to be the strongest no matter what. There were no expectations to live up to. This was the decision she had made for herself and why she could not allow this chance to face Ballafex to escape. She'd claim the validation she'd been denied. She'd stamp out her enemies like ants on scorching concrete. And when she inevitably came out on top she would demand the praise she was owed... That was and would forever be her right. Perhaps that was why she looked at Jaffe with an expression which had grown tired of waiting for answers, and yet there was desperation in those very same eyes. And desperation was always dangerous.
ooc
Originally posted by: Dobu
Thread OOC
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