I think the smartest pairing in Monomyth (apart from Hanakio because that was gold from the get-go) is Taro and Miki. In terms of opposites attracting, you can't get a more diametrically opposed pair but because their disabilities and underlying protectiveness mirror each other, it works pretty effectively. At least in my mind.Asoko_Desu wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:09 am I really like what you did to bring out the chemistry between two characters who aren't often in the spotlight together (Ever together? I keep finding gems hidden in posts from years ago so who knows what I'll read next ..)
Thank you so much, Asoko!Asoko_Desu wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:09 amAlso, you've got a deft hand at bringing out characters' nature - nice combination of inner dialog, exposition, and spoken dialog - hope you don't mind, I'm taking notes.
If you can learn anything from my silly bollocks then I'm happy you did so, I'm just glad when folks like my stories. 
Author's notes: So, hey, I had another idea for a crack-ship like the HanakoxRin one-shot I did so I wrote over 6k words of banter and smut (which is my brand, as you know) about a pairing I don't think anyone's done before? Anyway, slight retcon for the Cordially Invited Finale so whether or not you consider it canon is up to you, I just wanted to write it. Enjoy!
“What? Fuck no! I don’t dance, and neither does he! Why-why would I do that anyway?” She asks, almost looking for a reason to be given.
“Because it’d be sweet, you guys being such good friends and all…” I tease.
“Oh, fuck off with that reverse-psychology voodoo!” Miki bops me in the arm. I sway as I laugh at her, which only makes her eyes narrow at me more intensely. “I’m gonna ask him to dance but only because I think it’ll cheer him up, not because of what you think. Which is stupid. And wrong.”
As more couples congregate within the dance floor area with the happy bride and groom, those without soon became very apparent by their isolation but one in particular definitely puzzles me; Lilly Satou. How is that woman without a dance partner? She’s bloody gorgeous! But she looks so sad, sat all on her tod…
I look over at Suzu and Toshi as the former is looking a little fatigued and is being lead off the dance floor as a faster paced song kicks in. There’s always time for a dance with Suzu later… I weave through the tables and sidle up to the solitary Satou sister, taking up a seat next to her.
“Taking a break, Lilly?” I attempt to break the ice with tongue-in-cheek joke but all it accomplishes is to startle her. Off to a great start.
“Oh, Molly… Sorry, I wasn’t expecting anyone to come over to me.” She smiles but the droop in her brow makes her look a little sad. Everyone at Yamaku would talk about Lilly like she was this goddess teeming with serene grace, but if you spent any amount of time with her you’d quickly know that she is terrible at hiding her emotions. I guess she never really learned to control her facial expressions like the rest of us.
“Why’s that? No one asked you to dance?” I ask, leaning in a little more so she can hear me over the music, so-much-so that our shoulders touch. The physical contact lightens her expression and I can tell she appreciates the gesture as she leans toward me to speak.
“I’m afraid not. I get the distinct impression that I may intimidate some of Akio’s cousins. Akira was telling me how they seemed to be asking every single girl from Hanako’s side of the aisle to dance — Shortly before she, herself, was asked.” Lilly’s warm smile falters again and I look around. Sure enough, all the boys I know to be from Akio’s family seemed to be dancing with Yamaku survivors. Which begs the question…
“And what about yourself?” Lilly enquires and I go with a little self-deprecating humour.
“Ah, the only person I’d really like to dance with is otherwise occupied and I’m guessing the Hayashi boys don’t go for brown girls.”
“Hm.” Lilly’s nose crinkles at my insinuation but she manages to flip a compliment out of it. “Then they’d be missing out, Molly. I hear you look quite lovely this evening in your sari.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Lilly.” I press against her shoulder, nudging her softly which brings her smile back. It’s not quite a cheongsam but it’s definitely in that ‘vaguely-East Asian’ ballpark.
“Thank you. Akira described the colours and patterning of your sari but I lack the imagination to really contextualise it. If I may…?” She proffers her hand and I turn in my seat to drape my sleeve into her hand. She tilts her head curiously as her fingers delicately trace the ornate navy blue and purple stitching and detailing, all along the pallu draped down my arm.
“This is lovely… It’s a very nice pattern and this material is so smooth.” She muses as her touch extends further than my sleeve. Goosebumps erupt up my arm as her fingers slide along the back of my hand. I’m about to say something when her fingers reach my knuckles and her cheeks become flush.
“Oh my, I’m sorry!” She quickly retracts her hands and I can’t help but smirk at the flustered woman in front of me. I think back to our playful flirtation at Hanako’s hen party and decide I just have to tease her some more.
“Don’t worry about it, Lilly. I know you prefer a hands-on approach.” I giggle as her face becomes even more pink, her eyes ‘looking’ anywhere other than the direction of me.
“Yes, um, well…”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you, Lills. All flustered and… cute.” I smirk as I tease the supposedly unflappable Lilly Satou.
“It’s not a side I often get to show to others. I’m sure you’re aware of my reputation.” She admits reaching for her wine glass.
“Yeah but you have to let your hair down sometime!” I chuckle but she doesn’t join me. “So, why so glum, chum?”
“I confess that I’ve been feeling a little out of sorts recently.” She gulps down a large mouthful of wine and nods.
“How so?” I raise an eyebrow.
“I… feel like a proverbial stranger in a strange land.” She turns to face me but her eyes drift downwards. She’s not looking at my chest but still… It’s kind of a funny thought. “The woman I once called as close to a sister as my own flesh and blood, is now marrying a man — and is surrounded by friends — that I barely know… I feel adrift amongst her new family. Like I’m an outsider, intruding.”
For as bad a liar as she can be, Lilly’s truth was always something to be heard. It’s tragically poetic.
“Like you’re an ex coming to town to see the person you love has moved on?” I say rhetorically. I understand how she feels and I see from her face that Lilly gets where I’m coming from too.
“So much has changed while I’ve been gone. It’s selfish of me, I know, but I find myself craving connection.” Lilly reaches for her wine again and sips at it.
“I get what you mean… I’m at a bit of a loss myself. Sure, I have a new job in a place that I love but all I want to do is share it with…” I admit with a heavy sigh and Lilly looks up towards my face as I trail off. “Honestly, I’m craving a little… connection, as well.”
Our eyes meet — and I know she’s not doing it on purpose, she can’t be — but I can’t help but feel a connection right there. Those deep pools of sapphire blue…
“Molly?” Lilly’s voice shakes me out of my reverie.
“Huh? Sorry, I… kinda got lost in your eyes for a second.” I admit quietly with a crooked grin and Lilly laughs, her hand covering her mouth in that haughty way she often does. The embarrassment is worth it to cheer her up a little.
“As come-ons go; that’s one of the oldest in the book!”
“Aw, don’t take the piss, I wasn’t coming on to you!” I chuckle as Lilly finishes her wine. I actually didn't intend that but hey — if it works, it works!
“With lines like that, my dear doctor, you’ll need to get me something a little stronger if you intend to.” Her ruby lips curl into a sultry smile as she offers her wine glass.
“I think that can be arranged. Whiskey?” I ask, half-joking.
“It’s awful to stereotype, Molly! And, yes, on the rocks please.”
I take Lilly’s glass from her, tracing my index finger along hers. She blushes as I turn away from her. I get maybe five feet away before the panic sets in.
Ohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuck, is this happening? I think this is happening.
I place the wine glasses on the bar and order three whiskeys from the bartender, one on the rocks. My heart is beating a mile a minute. The bartender lays out the tumblers and fills each with the warm amber liquid before plopping a couple ice cubes into the third. I take one of the glasses and bring it to my lips.
“Having a good time, Molls?”
I peek over my shoulder to find Miki standing there, looking a little sweaty from dancing. I look around to see if anyone else is within earshot - thankfully, everyone else is having too good a time. With the coast clear, I hook my arm around Miki’s shoulders and bring her into a huddle as I neck the whiskey in my hand.
“Whoa, I guess you are!” Miki laughs but when I look at her in panic, she changes tone quickly. “What’s wrong?”
“I am about to do something either stupid or spectacular and I’m not sure if I need you to either talk me out of it or to tell me I deserve nice things.” I ramble, trying to say so much but not enough. If I’m gonna take my shot, I’d prefer it without all my friends watching.
“Of course, you deserve nice things, Molls.” She looks at me incredulously before smiling in that way that tells me everything will be okay, a skill she shares with Taro. “Is this about Suzu?”
“No… this is… Well, I guess we’ll find out what this is, shan’t we?” I huff in amusement as I let go of Miki and pick up the glass tumblers. I try to steady my breathing as make my way back to Lilly’s table. Be chill, Molls. You’ve flirted before, this is no different.
“Here y-you g-go, Lilly.” I stammer, placing the glass in front of Lilly. I circle around her to my seat, glancing back at Miki at the bar as she quite clearly mouths the words ‘You’re fucking kidding me!’ I can only offer an exaggerated shrug and an excited ‘I know!’ before putting on a more smooth demeanour, taking my seat beside Lilly once more.
“Is everything alright, Molly?” Lilly asks as lifts her drink to her ear, listening to the soft cracking of cold ice in warm liquid.
“Just Miki acting silly. Here’s… to finding new connections.” I clink my glass against hers.
“And to being open to new things.” She says, leaning in conspiratorially with a wicked smile on her lips.
“And to being hands-on.” I lean in a little closer, whispering into her ear. She smells amazing. Like classy perfume and even classier whiskey.
“My, you’re bold.” She titters, taking a sip. Okay, Molls, time to pour on the ol’ Kapur charm.
“Why shouldn’t I be? Unlike these boys, I don’t find you intimidating. In fact, I find you rather enchanting.” I smirk confidently.
“Then I guess it’s appropriate to tell you that I don’t care what colour your skin is. In fact, I think it feels rather nice.” She blushes like crazy and, honestly, so do I. It’s kind of refreshing to not have to worry about that.
We sit a little too close for a little too long and I feel like I should ask to kiss her but Lilly leans back, as if she instinctively heard the body stepping towards us over the music before I did. I look up to see it’s Lilly’s sister, Akira, and my heart sinks. Don’t vag-block me, Akira, c’mon!
“Hey, Lills, Molls! How’re your nights going?”
“It was certainly getting more interesting, Akira.” Lilly is far from subtle with her slight annoyance but her sister seems oblivious. “Is everything alright?”
Akira scratches the back of her neck nervously and then leans into to whisper on the Lilly’s far side. Lilly’s eyes bulge a little before a wicked smile plays across her lips.
“I understand. I’m sure Dr Kapur will be more than happy to help me back to the hotel.” She announces, and Akira laughs, looking towards me. If that means what I think it does then yes, I volunteer!
“I’ll leave my sister in your capable hands, then!” Akira smiles as she returns to the man she’s been dancing with all night. I don’t quite recall which Hayashi cousin it is but he looks chuffed as anything. I quietly thank that brave man before I turn my attention back to my own Satou sister and place my hand on hers.
“I take it your hotel room just got a little emptier for the night?” I ask and Lilly nods.
“You would be correct, yes.”
“Then what do you say to continuing our drinks there?” I slip my hand into hers and pull her to her feet, the sudden shock of becoming vertical makes her giggle.
“I’d say ‘lead on, Molly’.” She slips her arm into the crook of mine as I do just that.
The party is still heaving and it’s no effort at all for us to slip out of the side doors of the hall into the corridors leading to the front exit of the building. We near the row of toilets when the accessible bathroom door opens out into the hall and two bodies stumble out giggling. I halt in my tracks, as does Emi Ibarazaki. In that split second, words are exchanged in looks alone.
‘Really, Emi? In the disableds?’
‘You can’t judge me. You’re hooking up with Lilly!’
I close my eyes and offer up a smile and a hand to her and she gladly gives me five as she drags her partner back to the dance floor. Lilly turns her head at the sound of the slap but I urge her forward.
“Who was that?” She asks, a little concerned we might have been discovered.
“Emi Ibarazaki and one of the cousins. Coming out of the accessible toilet.”
“That girl has no class, I swear!” Lilly laughs and I feel I need to counter that on Emi‘s behalf.
“You’re taking me back to your hotel, Lills.”
“I think you’ll find you’re taking me. I’m entirely innocent in this endeavour.” She smirks but I can’t let her lay me up like that and not capitalise.
“Oh, I’ll be taking you, alright…” My explicit intentions known, Lilly’s face turns a lot more pink and she can only purse her lips as we leave the building.
An absolute eternity of sexually-charged silence and playful hand-fumbling in the back of a taxi later, we stand in front of Lilly’s room. She retrieves her key card from her handbag but she hesitates as she goes to open the door. It’s only for a second but enough for me to clock it. The door opens inwards and Lilly turns to me.
“I, well, this is…” I’ve never her seen her so flustered, it’s positively adorable. “This is me, then.”
“Nothing has to happen if you’re having second thoughts, Lilly.” I reach out and take her hand in mine. It’s so dainty and warm. She pulls me into the room, slowly, manoeuvring me so she can close the door. She rests her head upon it for a moment before turning around and leaning back, her arms folded along the small of her back.
“I know I said I was open to a lot of things but I… I’ve never been with a woman before, Molly.” Her voice is quiet, nowhere near as confidant as she usually portrays herself.
“You’re in safe hands, I promise, but only if this is something you really want.” This all feels very familiar though it’s strange that I’m taking the lead. Suzu was usually the one in control. It suited our dynamic but this is definitely different.
“I want you to kiss me, we’ll see what happens from there.” A sly smile spreads across her lips and I step into her personal space. She nuzzles into my palm as I reach for her face.
“That I can do.”
I lean in and kiss her lips just a little, just to gauge her reaction. Then another, longer. I check again and Lilly nods enthusiastically. Her arms snake around my back and ensnare me as she kisses back more passionately. The sharp inhale through her nose tells me she’s intent on playing with my tongue for a while.
My hands, meanwhile, slide between her body and the door as I reach for her ample bottom. She moans into my mouth and her right leg lifts slightly, giving me enough space to press my luck and press the hard plastic plate of my knee between her inner thighs forcefully.
Her lips escape mine as she gasps for air and I kiss her cheek and neck as her fingers run through my hair. I ease off a little to check how’s she’s doing, knowing full well she is grinding against my leg slowly.
“How was that?” I ask in a suggestive tone. She gasps and swallows before nodding.
“I’m still forming an opinion but…” She breathes a husky laugh into my face, her fingers sliding from my hair to my neck and then my face. “I want you to take me to the bed, Molly.”
Now, I’m usually more than happy to take an order like that from a beautiful woman but I’m probably only going to get one chance to top Lilly Satou; I’d be a bloody idiot not to make the most of it.
“And what if I want to take you right here, you little minx?” I playfully growl into her ear as I press myself hard against her in all the right places, the door behind her shuddering a little from the pressure of two bodies against it. Lilly sinks a little, adding more pressure to her own grinding. She bites her lower lip and whimpers.
“Molly, please.”
I grab her waist and pull her backwards, pecking at her lips and neck all the way to the bed. I turn and push her backwards onto the centre of the relatively low bed, landing with a giggling yelp. I finally take in the room I was fantasising about not a few days before as I remove the pallu from my shoulders and drop it, along with the border of my sari, to the floor at the foot of the bed.
When Lilly pulls the red ribbon from her hair and shakes it out, she is the only thing I want to focus on. She looks so bloody hot with messy hair and I just want to mess it up more. I crawl onto the bed and kneel above her, my knee taking it’s place once more between her thighs. She squirms against it and holds my biceps as I lean in to kiss her more.
Our tongues dance, our bodies writhe, and our heavy breathing fills the room. Soft moans, tender kisses on flesh, and lots of desperate clawing. I think she’s ready for the next part…
“As hot as you look in that dress, Lilly; it needs to come off.”
“Only if you join me.” She grins, sitting up. Her hands find the clasp of my petticoat while I slide the straps of her dress from her shoulders. It takes a little bit of clumsy fumbling but we’re soon down to our underwear. I’m kinda glad she can’t see how plain my underwear is compared to her silky black number.
“Molly, I want a better sense of you…”
I kneel in between her open legs as her hands reach for me. I oblige and gladly enter her embrace. She closes her eyes and begins running her hands all across my torso, pressing and squeezing my fleshy parts to get a better understanding of my form. She leans in, her forehead pressing against my abdomen and inhales deeply through her nose.
“Are you sniffing me?” I giggle, stroking her messy blonde locks.
“Let me indulge in some new sensations, okay?” She responds defensively, before I feel her tongue pressed against my stomach. A tiny lick in a very ticklish spot.
“Li-hi-ly! I’m ti-hi-klish!” I giggle, squirming in her grasp. Her face turns upwards and flashes me a mischievous grin.
“If I’m going to experience something like this, I want every sense to have a memory of it. That’s a good one.” She kisses the spot she licked as her hands slide down to my hips. They slide further still but stop at my mid-thigh. “Is it alright to…”
“Here. Lemme get comfy.” I move over and plant myself parallel to her, my prosthetic legs across her fleshy ones. Her hands continue along my thighs and reach the boundary between flesh and plastic. Her fingers run along the flesh of my skin, to the hem of my stockings, and finally to the sockets.
“Do you want me to take them off?” I ask, unsure if the smooth plastic would bother her or not. I know it can chafe bare skin from experience.
“These are exquisite… Do you want to take them off?” She asks, still running her hands along them, edging every panel line and plate with a curious tilt of her head.
“I’ve been wearing them for the past seven hours so I’d appreciate the break.” I ruefully smile with a lilt in my voice. She nods and removes her hands.
“Then by all means…”
I swing my legs off the side of the bed and begin detaching them while Lilly kneels behind me and explores my body more. She plants kisses along my shoulders as her hands find my chest.
“That’s very distracting…” I mutter, trying to focus on peeling the silicon liner from my thighs.
“Is it really?” She muses in an airy tone, her larger chest pressed against my back. She’s teasing me now? Can’t have that!
“Ah’m Lilleh Sat-Oh! Ah’m hot as fook an’ ah cannae leave the gull wit’ noh legs alohne!” I mock her in a truly awful broad Scottish brogue to buy me just a couple more seconds. She laughs raucously and pulls me backwards.
“C’mere, ye daft wee bampot!” She growls in her much sexier accent. Sans legs, I’m much lighter than she expected and we spill backwards onto the bed. We laugh as I clamber between her legs, my hips pressed against hers.
“Having fun?” I whisper as I lean in to kiss her and she nods. Her hands smoothly slip onto the small of my back as we get hot and heavy once more. I grip her shoulders while her fingers tease the hem of my underwear and I moan a little into her mouth as her fingers dig into the flesh of my bum. I feel her mouth curve into a smile as we kiss.
I kiss her neck and begin to grind against her, a little gasp of delight only encouraging me to go slower and longer with each stroke. “That’s… different.” She smiles with a hint of confusion.
Her hands explore my body more and eventually unclasps my bra for me and tosses it off the side of the bed. Her greedy hands find their way to my chest and start pressing and kneading in all the ways I like.
“You’re a natural.” I encourage with a moan as the combination of her hands and my grinding really get me going.
“I’ve had a lot of practice…” She sighs, her hips starting to grind in counter rhythm to me. I lay myself flat against her body and pull Lilly’s bra up over her magnificent mammaries.
“With boobs like these, I’d be playing with them all the time too!” I tease as I massage them from the side, planting kisses into the soft flesh around her areolas. Her moans are all the go-ahead I need to take her nipples into my mouth. Her hips writhe more intensely and her legs bend, her feet slide up the bed until they almost meet my thighs.
I sit up and run my hands down her torso, the woman beneath me squirming a little more as my hands slip into the hem of her underwear and slip them off her legs in one smooth motion.
“M-Molly?” She calls out quietly. I lean into her face and give her a reassuring peck on the lips.
“Don’t worry, you’re going to love this next part.” I trace my tongue down her body, kiss each of her breasts in turn and then continue sliding down her body and the bed until I’m staring at the cutest little bush of blonde pubic hair. I giggle, scritching the curly little mound.
“Is… Is it okay that I’ve got…?” Lilly quietly asks above me and I plant my chin on her pelvis.
“It’s perfectly okay, just adds an extra garnish!”
“That’s so corny…” She groans with an obvious amused look on her face. I smirk and begin kissing around her pubic hair. I move to her plush inner thighs and plants kisses on both. She wiggles at my touch and her hands slide down her body to feel for mine. I interlock the fingers of my left hand with her right as I breathe hotly onto the glistening folds not an inch from my face. Her body shivers and Lilly herself releases a shuddering sigh into the air.
“Oh god…” She quietly utters as the fingers of my right hand press against her soft outer folds and reveal the shiny pink flesh beneath. I instinctively take a lungful of her scent in through my nose. That's the good stuff.
“Who’s sniffing who, now?” She shakily titters, gripping my hand a little harder. Rather than banter, I’d rather get to work, starting with the lightest kiss of her perky clitoris, resulting in a sharp gasp. A gentle lick of it earns me a hiss of air sucked in through gritted teeth. A probe of a solitary finger elicits a closed mouth moan. Oh, Lilly, I could play the sweetest symphony with you.
I surge forward and bury my nose into her wispy blonde curls as my mouth suckles on her sensitive spot and Lilly cries out above me. “Oh, God!”
I close my eyes and savour her taste, deploying my tongue to explore every nook and crease, each action producing a wonderful new sound. I hold her hand firm as her body twists at every lick and suck. My fingers dig and search at the roof of her insides until I find the exact spot I’m aiming for. The judder of Lilly’s hips and an audible shriek makes me smile as much as I can with my face buried in her. With my two-pronged attack now underway, the symphony of Lilly’s ecstasy begins in earnest.
“M-Molly! That’s! Gooood!” Her vocal encouragement gives me leave to mix things up a little as I release her hand and hold her thigh tightly, lifting her lower half to allow me a better vantage. My arm hooks over the top of her thigh from beneath, my thumb rubbing her clit in circles as my tongue laps at the delicious nectar she’s produced so far.
Her gasps and moans steady as I slow to a teasing pace. She’s frustrated, good, that’s what I want. I moan a little into her and that makes her respond in kind, her hands reaching desperately for my head, her fingers tangling in my hair as she fidgets uncontrollably.
“Molly… I’m so close…” The quiet yet urgent whimper makes me switch back to my two-pronged attack on her outer and inner clusters of nerves. I relentlessly suck and lick while my fingers vibrate violently on her spot, building her vocal throes to their inevitable crescendo.
Lilly’s hands clench my hair tightly, her thighs becoming a vice around my neck as her whole body bucks and tenses up erratically. She lets out a drawn-out guttural squeal. There we go… That’s what I wanted. I continue my work until her whole body convulsions stop and she releases me, her limbs collapsing uselessly onto the bed. With a satisfied sigh and a contented smile, Lilly manages to huff out a “Thank… You… Molly…”
“I wouldn’t thank me just yet,” I grin down at the sweaty woman. My fingers wipe away the errant wetness around my lips and jaw, each being sucked clean with a satisfyingly audible ‘pop’. “I’m nowhere near done with you.”
Lilly can only offer a crooked smile and a nervous, unsure giggle at my suggestion. Okay, not right now. I hop off the bed and scuttle my way to the table near the window and pour her a glass of water. I amble my way back to the bed and offer it to her as she sits up, resting against the headboard.
“You’d didn’t need to, I could have…” She accepts the glass with a little quake and I shake my head.
“Can you even move your legs right now?” I ask, rhetorically. I already saw her struggle to shuffle up the bed using only her shaking arms.
“Good point.” She quietly admits as I clamber onto the bed again, rolling a little then crawling up the bed to Lilly’s side. She offers the glass to me and I sip only a little, depositing the glass on the bedside table. I open my arms and Lilly is more than happy to nestle into my embrace. I brush the damp bangs from her face, running my fingers across her face a little.
“How’re you feeling now?”
“Feeling like I should have taken you up on your offer at Hanako’s hen party…” She huffs with a look of astonishment, nuzzling her head against mine affectionately. “This has been fun. And if you say there’s more to come, well…”
“I’ll let you rest a little before I do more unspeakable things to you. I’m glad you enjoyed that though.”
She lets out a little ‘Mm-hm!’ as I idly play with Lilly’s hair, she tilts her head awkwardly. Her eyes move in the vague direction of where my hands are.
“Are you braiding my hair again, Molly?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry…” I sheepishly reply, withdrawing my hands.
“You did that on the plane over here too; why?”
“I dunno, I just like to braid cute girls’ hair. Mine, yours, Suzu’s…”
“You care a lot about Suzu, don’t you?” Lilly sits up, leaving my arms empty. She ‘looks’ back at me, curling her legs sideways up to her and leaning on one hand.
“Yeah… But I can’t have her right now and that’s fine.” I answer honestly, even if a little sadly.
“Then she’s a very lucky woman, indeed.” She looks down, smiling bittersweetly. Ugh, I don’t want this evening to turn into an introspective downer… I came here to forget about that whole mess. I place my hand on Lilly’s face and rub her cheek with my thumb.
“Hey, can we not talk about my ex while our tits are out? I’d very much like to keep my attention on the beautiful woman right in front of me.” My joke hits the mark, making Lilly laugh airily.
“Then, please, show this beautiful woman what else you have in mind…” She smiles and closes the distance between us, kissing my neck and chest. How can I refuse?
I wake as the bright morning sun slices through the crack in the curtains and beams directly into my face. I sit up and find myself alone, amongst dishevelled sheets and the funk of a hot night of torrid sex that still lingers in the air. I crawl to the edge of the bed, my flesh sticky and my lower back muscles aching, to find my legs where I left them along with my liner and stockings but my underwear and sari are nowhere to be seen.
“Lilly?! You still here?” I call out and hear shuffling behind the twin bifold doors that separate the bedroom and the living room. One of the doors folds and slides open to reveal Lilly; dressed and showered and looking the complete opposite to me.
“Good morning, Molly! Oh my, I really should have opened a window before I closed the door…” She titters as she hurries toward the windows, opening them as much as they will allow. “How’re you feeling this morning?”
She’s so cheery and gorgeous and I’m sitting here like sweaty rubbish.
“I’ll feel a little more human once I have a shower but where are my clothes?” I ask and she laughs.
“Oh, I’m having the staff dry clean your sari and underwear. I’d feel just awful if you had to do a ‘walk of shame’ in… less-than-fresh clothes.” She smirks knowingly in the direction of the bed but not at me. I’ll take it. “I’ve also took the liberty of ordering breakfast so why don’t you hop into the shower and I’ll find something you can wear in the meantime.” Wow. She really thought of everything.
Cleaner, preened, and wearing a baggy tank-top and shorts that Lilly lent to me; I sit across from the woman whose bed I shared last night. Her hair is neatly combed and in a high ponytail but is much more casual that I’m used to. She dressed rather modestly compared to that slinky dress from last night; now in a burgundy turtleneck and slacks.
“Mm. The tea is wonderful, are you sure you won’t have some?” She comments with a smile.
“I don’t want to ruin the mood with another argument about tea, I’m happy with coffee for now, thanks.” I chuckle, sipping the dark nectar.
“Very true. Why ruin the mood with you being wrong?” She pokes as she takes another sip. Playing games again. She’s more like her cousin than she’d probably admit. She’s lucky she’s got a fantastic body.
“I’d rise to that blatant bait but, in all honesty; you are, by far, the most pleasant and politest one night stand I’ve ever had.” I laugh, crossing my legs. No one has ever got me a coffee the morning after, let alone offered to dry clean my clothes.
“Thank you, I wanted to show my appreciation for such a wonderful night.” She beams, her cheeks glowing just a little.
“I’m glad you enjoyed your first taste of being a bisexual disaster.” I snicker, the wordplay not lost on Lilly who closes her eyes and stifles her laughter, blowing the amusement out of her nose.
“While I doubt this is something I will indulge in full-time, it was certainly a… palatable experience.” She acknowledges with a cute tilt of her head. Oh, it was definitely palatable. A knock at the door draws both our attentions and I hop to my feet before Lilly can.
“I’ll get it.” I trot over to the door and peek through the peephole to see a concierge with a dry cleaning bag draped over one arm. I open the door and the man looks a little shocked.
“Um, Ms Satou?” He raises a quizzical eyebrow at me and I have to make a conscious effort to speak in Japanese after a whole night of English.
“Yeah, I can take that for her. It’s technically mine anyway.” I laugh, plucking the bag from his arm. He gives a bemused smile before bowing and walking away. I slip back into English as I thank him and close the door. “Cheers, mate! Have a good’un!”
“Everything in order?” Lilly asks as I unzip the bag to find not only my sari freshly cleaned but my underwear too. Finally!
“Yup, looks good! Just gonna slip my bra and knickers on and I’ll get out of your hair. I know you need to start packing and I don’t want your sister giving you grief for my staying over.” I say, quickly slipping out of the clothes given to me. I half-expect Lilly to turn away as I disrobe but she doesn’t. Whether because she doesn’t really need to or because the thought of me being naked doesn’t really shock her anymore.
“It’s a shame I have to leave tonight…” Lilly laments as I’m wearing nothing but my legs, she has such uncanny timing sometimes.
“I knoooow! This was really fun.” I hop back into the jeans I fully intend to return later before the gang see her off at the airport. “But you’ll be back in Japan soon enough, right? Can’t be long until Shizune and Hisao tie the knot!”
She smirks. “Is that the only time we’ll get to meet again? For wedding hook-ups?”
“Or whenever you’re in town on business. Y’know. Circumstances permitting.” I shrug, pulling the tank top down over my torso.
“I’m not very experienced with such a… casual arrangement.” She admits, her face contorted a little in frustration. “Though this trip has been one for firsts, admittedly.”
“Don’t worry so much, Lills. I wouldn’t want to see that pretty face get crows feet.” I take a step towards her and place a hand on her cheek. “You did have fun, right?” I ask, hopefully. Her eyes drift to the sudden contact and then close with a contented smile.
“Very much so.” She nods and I go in for a hug, one which she reciprocates in earnest. I break out of the hug only for her hand to catch my chin and her lips to find mine. She kisses me one last time before stepping back.
“I hope we can do this again soon, Dr Kapur.” She smiles demurely at me and I really hope she means that. I sling the dry cleaning bag over my shoulder and purse my lips as I step backwards out of Lilly’s room.
“I’ll be seeing you, Ms Satou. Count on it.” The door closes and I puff out my chest with a mix of pride and satisfaction as I head for the elevator. I step inside and rock giddily back and forth with a huge grin as the doors close. I couldn’t be more pleased with myself as I strut through the reception, earning a few curious glances.
‘Walk of shame’? Nah, mate. I just shagged Lilly Satou! This is a walk of triumph.
is this slang? If so, it's from a part of the world I haven't been to.sat all on her tod…
It's British slang (since every Molly I write is British), meaning "on her own".Asoko_Desu wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 8:05 pmis this slang? If so, it's from a part of the world I haven't been to.sat all on her tod…
Reminds me of some proofreading edits I had back from Lap recently where he kept asking what 'Room for a little one?' meant.Asoko_Desu wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 8:05 pm Nice one - fun and unexpected; fertile ground for future stories I'm sure! Also - seems I'm not the only one with dancing on the mind
is this slang? If so, it's from a part of the world I haven't been to.sat all on her tod…
--
- CraftyAtomI hate when people ruin perfectly good literature with literary terminology.
Thank you, man! That's exactly what I was going for. Strip away the veneer of fairy tale romance from Cordially Invited and it'd be full of the messiest, horniest hook-ups you could imagine (Looking at you, Emi) and it's why I chose this timeframe/event for the basis. I could see Lilly going for it in a moment of emotional weakness and then copping some feelings, hence her dialogue choices near the end. Hell, I think Lilly has a total demisexual vibe.Feurox wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 5:29 am Great story Sharp-O. I don't tend to enjoy Smut, but I did quite enjoy the rather messy setting more than anything. I've been to two weddings in the last year, (the first of my friends to get married really) and I can see the setting just as you have there ha! It's a fairly... messy concoction. Great work, very vivid.
OK, fine - I'll bite; what does "Room for a little one?" mean? (no - Urban Dictionary was no help, I checked)
Reminds me of some proofreading edits I had back from Lap recently where he kept asking what 'Room for a little one?' meant.
Essentially "room for one more?" but can be ironic if it's a large person.Asoko_Desu wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 10:26 pmOK, fine - I'll bite; what does "Room for a little one?" mean? (no - Urban Dictionary was no help, I checked)
Reminds me of some proofreading edits I had back from Lap recently where he kept asking what 'Room for a little one?' meant.
Great story, thought not one I personally engaged with. (Me, not you!). As always I ended up really liking your Shizune, but Rin just felt off to me... Regardless, I did really enjoy the use of the whiteboard motif and the extra work you put into making it develop as we go was really appreciated, it really helps to show readers what's happening. - CraftyAtomI hate when people ruin perfectly good literature with literary terminology.
Thanks, Frankyo! I'm glad you enjoyed Monomyth and hope you enjoyed the new side-stories. I primarily came back after 6 years to finish Flutter but, just like when I used to write back in the day, I just can't help but write one-shots.
Tender & Wild (SS23 for Lap)
‘Twas the night before winter break, as we approached the girls’ dorm
We were all there to partake, Of camaraderie most warm
“I’m just saying; the math doesn’t add up!” Takashi protested as the four of us made our way across the snowy quad towards the girls’ dorms. My clubmate was being his usual ornery self but that was understandable. While we each have our burdens to bear, those of us with chronic conditions have it the worst so I don’t begrudge his griping.
“Not all of us are looking to hook-up tonight, Maeda…” Hisao rolled his eyes, holding his arms out in protest, his hands firmly in his jacket pockets. The wind caught his splayed open jacket and pushed him back slightly. He quickly closed his jacket and shivered a little. “I’m just thankful I’m not gonna spend winter break alone here.”
“I hear that. Not all of us have happy home lives to go back to and I, for one, would rather spend it with people I actually care for!” Akio huffed, trailing slightly behind us and navigating the freshly falling snow with a little more care than those of us without hollow bird bones.
True to form; our class joker had gone the extra mile and worn a set of foam antlers and light-up red nose. I stop and wait a little for our red-headed reindeer to catch up, the other two stopping once they notice my bulk absent from our line-up. Akio shoots me a smile and I pat his back gently, encouraging him forward.
“Come on, Rudolph.” I smile warmly before addressing the group as a whole. “Now, remember; best behaviour in there. The girls didn’t have to invite us over but we’re going to be gracious guests and we’re not going to be fucking weirdoes, right?”
An assortment of mutterings came from the boys so I cleared my throat and repeated myself for emphasis. “Right?”
“Yes, Taro…” The reply came in unison as we entered the girls’ dorms.
“Hey guys! Glad you could make it!” The cheery Chiharu Kumamoto called out from the near-empty girls’ dorm common room. Chi is also one of my clubmates and was gracious enough to extend an invite when she heard that the four of us would be the only ones from the boys’ dorms left over winter break.
Chi was one of only three, however; Natsume and Hanako from my class were also going to be staying through winter break for their own obvious reasons but I think this little get-together will alleviate all our yuletime blues somewhat.
The area around the TV had been claimed by the trio of girls. The two sofas pulled to form something of a semi-circle, or maybe even a triangle with the TV and the two sofas as its points. With all the assorted blankets, duvets, and scattered pillows; you’d be forgiven in thinking the girls were either having a sleepover or building forts.
Honestly; those both sound like fun but I doubt my rep would survive such an admission. In the centre of the chaos sat a large round table, catered with an assortment of drinks and snacks with a large bowl of liquid in the centre.
“We didn’t know you’d be putting on a spread!” Akio offers the grocery bag of large soda bottles and snacks, placing it delicately amongst the goodies provided by our distaff hosts.
“We th-thought it’d be a n-nice surprise…” Hanako meekly offered from one of the comfier bean bags, just off to the side of the sofa to my left. Hanako’s eyes locked onto Akio as he sat down on the sofa opposite her.
As I called my seat on the sofa next to Hanako, I watched Akio’s face figuratively light-up when he noticed her looking and quickly pressed a button on his plastic nose, which literally lit up with a flashing red light.
Hanako’s child-like mirth warmed my heart. Christmas was always pretty lonely at my home even with my loving step-mother, so to see my school family embrace the silliness of the season really put me in the mood to party, even if partying for this bunch was watching terrible holiday movies.
“Hi, Chi! How’s things?” Takashi asked, making a bee-line for Chiharu and putting on a much more friendly attitude than he had outside. Seems he’s marking his territory early doors but, luckily for him, I know Chi has had her own designs on him for a while.
“Things are good, Takashi! Even better now you guys are here. Nattie’s been itching to get started.” Chi smiles coyly over to the Newspaper Chief, whose ears prick up at the mention of her name after making small-talk with Hisao.
“Seriously; I have some utter dreck to show you guys; it’s going to be great!” Natsume beams, bouncing up and off the sofa. With the opposite sofa occupied by Akio, Takashi, and Chiharu and ours hosting Natsume, Hisao, and myself, with a Hanako hanger-on; we await the first awful holiday movie that Nattie has in mind.
We were invited thus, we were nary prepared
For what would await us, for what would be shared
As Hanako scoops another cupful of punch into a plastic tumbler, the taste reminds me of something… There’s a familiar warm sensation to the fruity concoction that reminds me of the misspent summer of my second year. I taste apple, orange, cranberry, hints of spices…
And bourbon!
My realisation sends my eyes wide as I glance over to Taro on the sofa opposite, who is thoughtfully swirling the punch around in his mouth. He seemingly connects the dots and looks over to me, our shared acknowledgement unspoken to the rest of the group.
One of the girls spiked the punch!
I mean, it would have to be one of them! None of us guys were here when it was made and none of us made a move for it until Hanako started serving it up. It couldn’t have been Hanako, surely… She’s too… Innocent?
“Is something wrong, Akio?” Natsume asks as she gladly accepts the tumbler from Hanako and I freeze. What the hell do I do? Do I say something? Do I accuse them? Think quicker, Akio!
“Nuh-no! Just, ah, trying to figure out where I know that actress from!” I laugh awkwardly, gesturing towards the movie.
“I know what you mean! She’s one of those you see in a bunch of stuff but can never place.” Taro adds like the bro he is, saving my ass once again.
“This is delicious, guys! What is it?” Hisao asks and again, I look at Taro. Is it okay for Hisao to be drinking? Granted, he only fell into my orbit after I found him drinking whiskey on the roof but still…
“It’s called Wassail; Molly taught me how to make it last year!” Natsume offered with a grin. An almost knowing grin. If she made it, it had to be her… “It’s like apple cider but with a bunch of citrus, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.”
“It’s super yummy!” Takashi says with a grin before double-guessing what just came out of his mouth by repeating it quietly with a frown; much to Chiharu’s amusement.
“It super is.” She smirks, clonking her plastic tumbler against his. Seems she likes his dorky side. Back on topic, maybe Natsume made it but Chi put in the bourbon? Warm cider with spices would generally hide the bourbon for the uninitiated and only me and Taro seemingly know it’s there.
“I th-think it’s very f-festive. Makes me feel m-merry, anyway.” Hanako beams, her cheeks a little flush but I’m not sure if that’s from her inherent shyness or the booze. I definitely don’t think Hanako should be drinking either.
“It’s very festive. Cheers.” Taro smiles down at our classmate and toasts with her. Argh, am I have to be the responsible one here? I hate being the responsible one…
“Akio! Do the nose again! Hanako thinks it’s funny.” Taro calls over to me and, after seeing Hanako’s expectant gaze, I realise I can’t be the responsible one. At least not while I’m dressed like a reindeer. I push the button on the nose that sets off the light, garnering cheers from both Taro and Hanako. I chuckle and shake my head. If you can’t beat them; out-drink them.
The movie comes to a finish and I observe how everyone is holding up. Taro and I have a higher tolerance than most of the others though Hanako seems to be keeping pace which is fascinating to me. She’s a little less stammer-y which is neat and she’s been actively talking to Taro a whole bunch.
Natsume and Hisao have slunk down into the couch a little, fully relaxing as they add their own little jokes to the movie.
Chi and Takashi, though… Well, they might think they’re being subtle by wrapping a blanket around them but I know they’re probably doing a little more than holding hands.
I get up from my spot and find the punch bowl looking a very empty. Shame, I was getting a nice buzz going.
“Damn, looks like I’m switching to the soda!” I announce, rustling open the bag that we brought with us. A chorus of Aww’s comes from several of the group but Natsume sits up excitedly.
“Hold your horses, Red! We’re out of punch but we’re not out of drink!” She grins as she stands. It was her. Shoulda known… She gets up and slinks around the back of the couch, making her way towards a suddenly frightened Hanako. “I need to tell you all something but I want you to promise not to be mad…”
“Natsume, y-you s-said we wouldn’t go overboard!” She quietly protests but Natsume leans behind Hanako, reaching towards a pile of pillows.
“Sorry, Hanako, but I think they ought to thank the person responsible for such a cheery atmosphere…” Natsume says in a weirdly husky tone, a little too close to Hanako. “Everyone; I need to tell you all that the punch was made with more than just my love, it was made with…!”
She stands to her full height, revealing a half-empty bottle of amber liquid with a flourish. “The best whiskey Taro’s money can buy!”
“You son of a bitch! You’ve been holding out on me!” I wheel on Taro immediately with an accusatory finger. “You said you didn’t have any money!”
“I don’t! Not now, at least.” Taro chuckles before throwing an exasperated look toward Natsume. “For a Newsie, you’re real bad at hiding your sources, Nattie… And I thought the punch was going to be the extent of it.”
“C’mooon, Taro! What’s the point in getting the good stuff and not drinking it all?” Natsume hops over Hanako’s legs and stumbles a little, clearly feeling the effects. She rights herself, laughing as she holds her free hand out for balance. “I’m okay, I’m okay!”
She sidles up to me and bumps me out of the way with her hip. She fills my tumbler with a shots-worth of bourbon then the rest with soda. She then fixes a similar drink for herself. She picks both up and hands one to me.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” She winks at me before jostling the bottle. “Who else wants one?”
While Natsume plays host, I glance back at my seat and decide I’d rather not be sitting next to the lovebirds. I’m halfway to taking Natsume’s seat when she calls out to me.
“Oi! I’m sitting there!” She protests as Hanako holds both hers and Taro’s tumblers steady.
“Not anymore!” I jeer as I plop down next to Hisao, who looks at me then snorts with laughter.
“Hisao! Tell him to move!” Natsume whines, pouting, but I swing my legs up and fold them across Hisao’s lap.
“On your feet lose your seat, loser.” I stick my tongue out at her. I glance sideways at Hisao, curious to see how he’s reacting to me being so familiar with him and he seems chill about my legs being on him. Not that I’d expect anything less. Outside of Taro, Hisao is one of my best friends and I’m so glad he accepts all of me.
“Fine, guess I’ll put on the next movie and sit with Chi and Taka!” Natsume pouts at me before taking up my former spot.
“That’s not only a great idea; it might just be the greatest idea you’ve ever had!” I point across Hisao’s face at Taro, who is a god damn genius.
“I was kidding, Akio!” Taro laughs, holding the now empty bourbon bottle but as Hanako clears the table of it’s contents, it’s clear she agrees with me. I always knew I liked her for a reason. She’s game for shenanigans and what’s more shenana-nanigan-y than spin the bottle!? Nothing!
“I dunno, that sounds like fun, doesn’t it?” Chi adds, mostly looking at Takashi. I swing my pointing arm around to the other couch, my legs rolling over Hisao’s.
“Yes, Chi! Takashi’s in too!” I adjust my point and the boy in the beret shakes his head with a smirk.
“I’m not gonna poop on the party. Wait…” Takashi realises what he’s said and frowns. My point next goes to Natsume, who is soundly asleep.
“Lightweight! Hisao!” My attention snaps to the boy whose lap I’m mostly in. “You’re in!”
“I guess so.” He purses his lips through a smirk. Good boy.
Hanako, in the meantime, has been a busy little beaver and cleared the table and sat near the TV with cheekiest, expectant smile. I’m happy she’s joining in. The rest of us slide off the couches and position ourselves around the table. Without Natsume, Chi offers to sit opposite Hanako so the spread of girls and boys is a little more even.
“Since it was my idea; I guess I’ll go first.” Taro places the bottle in the centre of the table, hand ready to spin. “If the bottle points to you; you have a choice of truth or dare. If you choose and then decide not to do it, you have to do the other. Everyone cool with that?”
We let the bottle decide, all slaves to fate
We gambled with our pride, for an evening less sedate
The bottle span and span and eventually settled on me. The excitement to play with friends suddenly overwhelmed me as Taro said my name.
“Hanako.”
I let out an ‘eep’ which makes the others laugh but Taro looked at me with a soft smile. He’s going to take it easy on me because I’m the first. He’s nice like that.
“Truth.” I nod, firm in my decision.
“What’s your favourite colour?” He asked, looking down his nose a little at me with an expectant look. Okay, I was expecting a soft ball question but that’s softer than his belly.
“Boo! Lame!” Akio jeers and I can’t help but smile.
“I… Like y-yellow.” I offer and Taro seems satisfied but Akio doesn’t as I take my turn.
“Hope you’ve got something better, Hana. That was weak sauce, Taro!”
“This is my first time playing; I didn’t wanna push anyone too far!”
“T-Takashi.” I interrupt, the bottle settling on the beret-wearing boy from our class.
“Truth.” He sits bolt upright, looking very nervous. He ought to be as I glance over at Chiharu.
“Do you h-have a crush on Chiharu?” I smirk, much to everyone’s shock.
“Um, I, uh…” Takashi squirms in his seat, nervously looking at a very interested Chiharu. Her seductive eyes seem to calm him as he takes a breath and looks to me. “Yeah… I do.”
“That’s sweet, th-thank you.” I smile, blushing almost as much he is. He shares another cute gaze with Chiharu and spins.
“Alright, Hisao… You’re up.” Takashi asks and Hisao stops to think for a second.
“Tru-No, dare.” Hisao folds him arms, locking eyes with Takashi.
“Fuck, uhhhh…” Takashi looks around, as if to find an answer to his predicament. “I dare you to… Uhh… wear Akio’s antlers!”
Both Akio and Hisao look to each other, and then Takashi, with disappointment before Akio takes his antlers off and passes them to Hisao.
“You want the nose too?” Akio asks and Hisao laughs.
“Nah, you look like a clown; it suits you.”
“Fuck you too, buddy.”
“You wish.” Hisao spins and the bottle points my way again. Hisao’s nice but he has spent a lot of time with Akio this year so I’m a little anxious about what he’ll do when I say…
“D-Dare.”
“Ooooh, tough one.” Hisao strokes his chin, looking utterly ridiculous with reindeer antlers. “I dare you to tie your hair up. Like in a bun.”
“O-okay.” I accept, and begin to wind my hair up. Everyone’s eyes are on me and I silently thank Taro for providing such strong alcohol. I don’t think I’d have the courage to show my scars otherwise. I flare my hands out to show my hair is staying where it is for the time being.
“Ta-daaah~!” I smile nervously and Hisao grins.
“You’re so pretty, Hanako!” Chiharu says but it’s Akio’s follow-up that sends me into a shyness spiral. A shyral, even.
“That looks so hot.” He says with eyes I’ve never had on me before, almost… lustful? I try not to look at him as I spin the bottle again.
“T-T-Taro!”
“Sure, I’ll go for a dare too.”
“I d-d-dare you to…” I know what I want to say; if for no other reason than to take attention away from me… “T-t-take your shirt off.”
“Whooooa, Hana! You horny little-” Akio’s excited cheering is cut-off by Takashi cuffing the back of his head. I wince a little, hoping that didn’t hurt him too bad.
When I look back over at Taro, he’s already undressed. His body is pink but he looks comfortable showing off. Maybe he doesn’t have body issues like I thought. Good for him.
“Satisfied, Hanako?” Taro throws me a smirk and I nod, giggling. Glad he’s taking it in stride.
Taro spins and it lands on Chiharu.
“Dare me, big boy.” She says, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.
“I know what you want me to do… And since you helped me with that project; I’mma give it to you.” Taro laughs before gesturing to Takashi. “I dare you to kiss Takashi.”
Chiharu practically pushes Akio out of the way to get to Takashi and lock lips with him. We mostly look away as they noisily make-out. Almost a minute goes by before she releases him. Looking very satisfied, she spins.
“And you were worried about the math…” Akio nudges Takashi.
“Akio! Aki-Aki-Akio!” Chiharu cheers.
“Truth me.”
“Do you have a cruuuush… On anyone in this room?” Now that’s what I wanted to hear! I try to watch his eyes intently as the make their way around the table but I’m starting to feel a bit fuzzier. He looks back over to Chiharu after circling the table.
“Yeah. A pretty big one.”
“Who?” I ask but Akio wags a finger at me.
“Uh-uh. That’s a different truth!” Daaaamn it!
The spins continue and we each take our turns. Hisao gets dared to swap shirts with Akio, Takashi admits that he’s never had sex, Akio admits he’s had sex with three boys and two girls, Taro asks me if I have a crush and I answer honestly; I have more than one. That got some interesting reactions.
Each spin reveals more and more of ourselves and I feel more connected to my classmates than I have in almost three years.
“Okay, Akio…” Hisao chews his lip as he looks around the room curiously before a devilish smirk tugs at his lips. “I dare you to kiss your crush.”
Akio smirks back as he rises, taking careful steps around Takashi… And then past me. Damn it… Past Taro… And then kneels next to Hisao, whose eyes go wide.
“C’mon dude. You had to see this coming.” Akio whispers as he leans in and plants a gentle peck on Hisao’s lips. Okay, that was so cute, I can’t even be mad! Don’t spurn his feelings, Hisao!
“Wow, I…” Hisao blinks a couple times before smiling. “I’m guess I don’t have to make a big deal about telling everyone, I guess.”
Hisao cups Akio’s face and kisses him back, a little more deeply. Yesssss… I beam at Taro who nods knowingly.
The game kind of disolved after that as the two couples began to make-out more and more… Leaving only me and Taro to play.
As the night wore on, the pairings alighted
The drinking was fun, but now passions ignited
The thump from the back of my head hitting my door doesn’t quite match the clonk of Takashi and mine’s foreheads meeting on the rebound but the pain is dulled enough that we only need to share a small laugh before the tongue-wrestling continues. I somehow manage to fumble my key into the lock and get the door open without untangling with his grip.
We slip inside and I close the door. I’d worry about locking it but I know damn well that Natsume and Hanako live on another floor so I don’t have to worry about my neighbours. Not tonight, anyway.
“I can’t… Believe… Taro…” Takashi gasps as he takes breaths inbetween sloppy kisses.
“I can.” I giggle, tossing his beret to the other side of the room and running my hands through his sandy hair and breathing lustfully into his face. “He’s got a knack for getting things in motion.”
“Huh?” Takashi leans back a little, an incredulous eyebrow darting up his forehead.
“He can clock our attraction and put us in a room with enough social lubricant to get us here, in my room, with your hands on my butt…”
Takashi’s hands quickly leave my behind but a stern look makes him rethink that. My smile returning is his reward as I feel his hands press against my denim-clad rear once more.
“Attaboy… It’s just a shame that Taro can’t see when people are interested in him. You had to have seen it.”
Takashi furrows his brow a little. “No, I don’t think I have…”
“I guess all boys are clueless then.” I laugh as Takashi’s frown of confusion soon becomes focused on me. “That was your cue to kiss me more, ‘Kashi.”
He does as he’s told and I silently thank my clubmate for arranging this. Sure I liked Takashi but he’s always seemed stand-offish most of the time. Weirdly, I find his resting bitch-face kind of cute. Whether confused, annoyed, or just plain clueless; I find the way his nose scrunches to be hella cute.
“Chi, I f-feel I should ask…” Takashi stops suddenly, moving to arms-length while still maintaining a hold on my hips. “Wh-what is g-going to happen tonight?”
And then there’s the other side of Maeda. The one who isn’t sure of himself. He might know his gouache from his goulash but isn’t so good with people. I plant my hands on his shoulders and give the most reassuring smile I can.
“I’m not going to devour you like a praying mantis; if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Heh, n-no… But like I said earlier… I don’t… I’ve never…”
“Neither have I…” I blush, pressing my body against his and feeling that his protests may ring a little more hollow than even he knows. “But I have done some other stuff before. If that’s what you want.”
“I’d like to try… Stuff.” He smirks a little crookedly but no less earnestly.
“Then kiss me some more and let’s see what… stuff happens.” I wink and pull him towards my bed, kissing him just as passionately. We clamber onto my bed and I ease him into a sitting position against my wall as I rub my hands across his shoulders, kneeling next to him.
The bourbon is making my head spin but not in the familiar way my condition does. It’s an odd sensation; like when I have an episode and my vision distorts but not quite. I break away from our kiss and rub Takashi’s face. My hand seems normal; right shape, right size, but the fuzzy pins-and-needles-esque sensation is new. Must be the booze.
I flex my fingers a little, feeling the new sensation fully. Tingly. Takashi brings his hand up to hold mine, causing my attention to snap to his face.
“Everything okay, Chi? Is it your AIWS?” He asks, a wash of concern comes over him but I simply shake my head.
“No, just never been drunk before. Feels weird. And nice.”
“You’re nice.” Takashi mutters, not quite confident in how cute that compliment was.
“Awww! So are you!” I drape myself over him and continue to make out with… My boyfriend? Friend with benefits? Oh, who cares right now…?
My hand slides down his torso as we kiss more; a slight moan into my mouth tells me I’m doing something right. I palm the noticeable bulge in his slacks and smile a little as my fingernails scrape up and down the length of it.
“Chi…”
“Does that feel good?” I whisper into his ear, receiving an enthusiastic nod. “Do you want to go further?”
“I…” Takashi’s eyes open to meet mine. “I wanna do you, too.”
I look down at his slacks and then my jeans. “Let’s get out of these then, shall we?”
From girls’ dorms to boys’ own, hands and mouths were occupied
Whilst a sleepy Newsie was prone, listening to friends as they imbibed
My eyes squint open and find the common room much darker than I remember. Quieter, too. Thank god. The fluorescent lights would kill my good eye. The only the light in the room emanating from the TV and the only sound coming from the two silhouetted people sitting either side of the table.
From their shapes, I’d guess Taro and Hanako… Both are hunched over the table and turning something between them… A bottle? I can’t tell. Even the low light hurts my eyes so I clamp them shut and try to attune my ears to their conversation.
“…Ward of the state. Once I graduate; I’m on m-my own a-again, Taro. After Lilly… left… I wanted, n-needed, to be with people. Build up m-my circle. Make the most of th-the time I h-have left. So h-here I am. Getting d-drunk o-off my ass with a classmate.” Hanako punctuating her heartfelt sentence not only with a curse word but with a happy laugh warms my weary bones. I’m proud to be a part of that.
“Gettin’ drunk off your ass wit’ a friend!” Taro interrupts with an amazing follow-up. Glad it’s him and not someone like Takashi. Taro at least knows how to talk to people.
“Yeah. A friend. Y-yoooour t-tuuuurn~.” The soft sound of hollow glass sliding on wood as Hanako slurs her words slightly. “Why not go to bed as shoon as the others left?”
“Cos I wanted to spend time with you too! We’ve never really talked! Always thought you were scared-a me, honestly.”
“Honestly? K-Kinda was. You’re big and you were a r-reeeeeal sourpuss when you first g-got here…”
“Fair.”
“B-but watching you, and Akio, and Miki, and the others… You’re all so f-funny and c-caring. I know I’ve never s-said it before but I’m thankful for being in class with you all.”
“Awww. I wish I’d tried a little harder now…”
“I appreciate you trying at all. God knows I d-didn’t make it easy.”
“You’ve met Miki, right? The first act of our friendship resulted in me getting a black eye.” They both laugh and I have a distinct memory of Miki decking Taro early into the first year.
“I’m pretty s-sure she m-made it up to you…” So am I. The walls can be awfully thin here.
“Yeah, well… I’m sure being friends with you will involve a lot less arm-wrestling matches and bruising.”
“You s-sure about that, Taro?” The glass bottle turns again. “I d-dare you to arm-wrestle me!”
“Come on, Hana, don’t do this! You’re like eighty pounds soaking wet!”
“Pfft. I can t-take you.”
“Yeah… Miki said the same thing.”
I can’t help but smile to myself as I hear faint grunting and cursing before the soft sound of flesh meeting wood.
“Oh noooo, looks like you beat me!” Taro says in a sarcastically defeated tone. I can practically hear the smile on his face as Hanako celebrates. I groan to announce my presence and pull myself up from the couch.
“You missed show-and-tell, Nattie!” Taro chuckles but is quickly corrected by Hanako.
“Truth-or-dare. But you did miss the fun, Natsume.”
“You’ll have to tell me all about it, Hana. But first, I think I need some coffee.”
As the morning arose, the night before was a haze
Wearing festive antlers and nose, he wondered if this was a phase
Waking with Akio’s breath on my neck causes goosebumps to erupt over my skin. The fact that Akio is in my bed at all makes my heartbeat match the pounding in my head. I lightly pull his arm off of me and get out of bed, gingerly stretching. Okay, we’re wearing underwear, that’s something, but I remember…
Kissing. Lots of kissing. Kissing a boy. Kissing my friend. I pull the red nose and antlers from my head and also remember… Ugh, Akio’s awful holiday puns.
Something about riding me like a reindeer… Wanting to sleigh with me… Oh god, the North Pole! I wince and look back at the sleeping Akio, snoring softly in red-and-white striped boxers. If nothing else; I have to admire his commitment to a bit.
I also admire his scars. Much different to mine. His were inflicted upon him out of malice, not necessity. I don’t understand how so much violence and abuse made someone so funny and kind. He played it off, not wanting to spoil the mood, but I really want to know.
Especially if this… If ‘us’… Is now going to be a thing. Out of everything I expected when I came to Yamaku, this was definitely not on the list. Have I always been attracted to guys and just didn’t know? Is it just Akio? How am I going to tell my parents? What is the rest of the school going to think?
“Hisao… You’re thinking too loud…” Akio groans as he sits up and rubs his eyes, looking at me standing at my desk. “Though for this view, I think I can forgive yo-ow, yeah, nope, too hung-over to be suave.”
“First time for everything, I suppose.” I offer a light chuckle, turning and resting against my desk. “What did you mean ‘thinking too loud’?”
“You mumble, dude. You’re a mumbler. Like you’re giving a mumblelogue.” Akio rests at the edge of my bed, running his hands through his hair and untangling the shaggy mess of red. Once finished, it looks like a wild mane that is quickly brushed and patted down with his palms.
“So… What do you wanna do for breakfast?” He beams up at me, like a heavy night of drinking and making out hasn’t left him dehydrated and groggy. Like me.
“What was the stuff you gave me after the school festival?” I ask, rubbing my own eyes while the memory of Akio nursing me after I drank almost all of a bottle of whiskey. Never forgiving Kenji for leaving me up there alone. Or maybe I should thank him; because that’s how I met Akio.
“Ah, the Hayashi Special. Think I have some of that stuff left but we’ll probably have to make a run to the Aura Mart for the rest. Which mean...” He slaps his knees and rises. “Unfortunately, we’re gonna have to get dressed.”
His eyes linger on my mostly naked form and I reflexively cover my crotch. He laughs as he reaches for my trousers and tosses them to me.
“I’ve already seen your goods, Nakai. No need to be shy now.”
“Y-yeah, well… This is still… Weird.” I admit sheepishly but seeing Akio’s face contort with concern, I stumble to word myself better. “Not weird-weird! Just awkward-weird, y’know?”
“You don’t regret kissing and whatnot, do you?” Akio asks cautiously as he slips on his jeans. Do I? I don’t think I do but I have a lot of questions and I’m not sure what the answers are.
“I don’t know, Akio. Sorry… This is… I don’t know if I’m…” I try to find the words but fail, my shoulders slumping. Akio smiles sympathetically and offers out my t-shirt that he had been wearing for the better part of the night.
“I get it. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to find my groove. Maybe you’re like me, maybe you’re not - but I’m here for you regardless, okay?” As Akio talks, I notice his scent still lingers on my shirt. That, and his sagely words, are oddly comforting.
“Thanks, Akio. You’re a good friend.”
“A good friend doesn’t spoon their drunken crushes, Hisao. I’m an excellent friend!” He winks at me and I burst out laughing.
“For what it’s worth… Headache aside… That’s, uh… That’s the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time.” My cheeks burn crimson as I watch Akio open my door.
“And that is the best thing I’ve heard all year, sweetheart.” Akio looks over his shoulder with a debonair smile and my heart skips a beat. It’s not until I hear his voice from the hall that I realise I’d spaced out for a second thinking about it.
“It’s a brand new day, Hisao! Move your ass! We need to make sure the others are suitably hung-over!”
A brand new day, huh? Sounds good to me.
