I Was Born The Unloved Twin - 139 Too much naked

Imagine this, one moment you’re settled in and comfortable enough to fall asleep. Yes just a nice scheduled nap at home, in your bed, on the couch, whatever is a nice nap spot. It’s not just a children thing, even adults need naps sometimes, though admittedly kids my age really require it. It’s just biology. Now you drift off to sweet sleepy rejuvenating dreamland.

Then wake up entirely elsewhere!

Your parents or guardians seeing it fit to bring you elsewhere. The store. Some errands. A party at another house. Any and all of that.

You as the child, momentarily dead to the world, have no choice or indication of such. You just wake up wide eyes and confused, with various degrees of crying depending on the situation.

I am currently crying. Very hard. Screaming really.

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH my eyes!!!” I blubber and drown, flopping my arms uselessly in the murky water.

“Awww there there pumpkin poo, don’t cry Rosa. Grampapa is here!”

Tanned muscles, hardened and trained under years of sunlight appear before me, rolling and dripping in the same steaming bath water. Nothing but muscles, abs, and pure masculine beef and holyc ow AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

“nAKED GRAMPA!!!” I cry, sobbing wetly as I flop.

“Yes! Very good observation my little sprout, for how else do you take a bath!”

“Naked people everywhere!!?!”

I feel like passing out again in grampa’s hold, the only thing from keeping down plunging straight down this hot tub.

“Rosa no swimmy? Lily teach!” my sister splashes excitedly.

She doggy paddles over from the other side of the tub. Clumsy, but keeping afloat all by herself. Her chubby little arms keeping up with the splish splash of her wet kicking.

How adorable. How remarkable. If only she wasn’t butt naked.

“wait ….Am I naked?!?” I screech, looking down myself.

Oh absolutely. If not for the bear paws that are my grampa’s hands I’d be exposed all to the world. Or well this bath. This very public, plebian and MEN’S bath.

“Your big sister can swim very well duckadoo, I’ve seen it. Now three more laps! Don’t skimp on the dives!” grampa smiles stupidly encouraging Lilyanne to keep paddling.

Oh I feel faint. The holy maiden, the forbidden flower of all, daughter of the house Ventrella, naked and learning how to swim in a public bath. Oh, however shall we live with the shame?!

“Oh what adorable little berries, bright pink, full and fat. Ah, you’re raising them well youngin,” a wrinkly old geezer, a real one- shriveled like a prune under his white beard, turns from another tub to toast his drink at my grampa.

“Ahahaha I remember when I first took my grandson to the baths, ahaha vomited all over the place and banned till he turned at least 6. Then got banned again! Ahaha!” laughs another white prune, getting a massage.

The surrounding bathers give a laugh and chuckle, especially the much much much older men. Most likely relating to their own experiences with kids and grandkids.

Men.

Naked grandfathers everywhere. They far outnumber any young or attractive men, I don’t even have the chance to get embarrassed about that. I’m going to be sick. They’re going to have to ban me from the public baths because I’m going to be sick!!!!

“Awww don’t cry Rosie girl, I know! It’s getting too hot! Off we go my Lily, to the cold pools! We must dunk your sister to cure and wake her!” grampa pats my naked back, holding me far too close to his naked chest.

“Yaaaaay~ Okay grampapa!!!” Lilyanne splashes her way over.

She has great difficulty in hopping over the edge for the hot tub, but manages only by rolling her shiny naked butt, over like a beached whale. A fat slab of baby mozzarella cheese in the making. In a show that she did it, she raised her arms and cheers as if she won an award. All for grampa to pick her up too.

Did I mention naked? Too much naked?!!

No no no grampa don’t get up, don’t! AaaaHHHHHHHH!!!!

“Never fear, we’ll get you to the cold pools in a jiffy!” grampa squishes me.

The man that is my biological grandfather holds no shame. None. He simply picks us both up and walks out of the steaming tub just like that. No towels or robes, just like everyone else. Just like every other naked bather here across these slippery floors and hot spring tubs galore.

I must suffocate myself into grampa’s well endowed pectoral muscles in order not to see anything as he walks. Scoot over Lilyanne, my eyes are burning here!

“Huh! Bad Rosa! Rosa has lots time, now Lily too!” she pouts and fights me for the valley of grampa’s chest.

This is a situation I never thought I would be in. Oh, and did I mention the butt naked part enough yet? I feel like I haven’t.

If I look up instead, maybe by getting my sister’s chubby palm to my face as she claims the prime real estate that is grampa’s chest, then I would see quite an ornately carved ceiling. Stone and marble work up high, housing a magnificently large public bath such as this.

It’s huge, a real community center. After all not everyone can even dream to afford the private resorts and springs that only the wealthy can book out. There are various levels of businesses and baths. The public baths being the most famous of them all. Pay a small fee to get in. Pay another for a closet storage of your clothes and items. Enjoy and get clean.

Add ons like wine, massages, or other treatments available at your charge.

It is of course something that I knew well of but never stepped into in my entire life. Not as Rosalia? How could I?! With my identity? I’m not a mere noble that could fly under the radar as such.

On earth though, I could definitely appreciate a place like this. Hell, I would definitely shell out some bucks to travel and soak it all in. So interesting and pampering.

Everyone equally naked, minding their own business, and not caring at all. After all, it is just a public bath to them. Water rushes out in set fountains and pools, with sturdy Romanesque carvings that the occasional naughty child climbs and plays on before their parents drag them down. Different spots for different services, ranging from saunas to spas. Hot tubs, massages, even herbal clay body masks.

There’s even a great big cold pool to cool down…*SPLASH*

“AAAAAAAAHHHH COLD!!! SHITTY GRAMPA!!! How dare you throw me!!!” I splutter in the water, a human cannonball that somehow ended up on the other side of this pool.

It’s larger than 3 Olympic sized facilities put together! What if I had landed on someone? Or something?! And cracked my head and died!?

“Ohhhh that’s the spirit! Yes, swim like you’re a great predator hunting down your prey! Yes that hunger, the fire!” the little dot in the distance that is my grampa waves. So far away I can’t even see anything shameful even though I know he’s fully bare.

“Put some clothes on you shitty old man!!!” I swim blindly, both in cold shock and the fact that I really must keep my eyes closed.

Too much naked everywhere, even if it’s normal here. Ah, excuse me. Pardon me. Don’t mind me. I am young and innocent, too young. I see nothing! Nothing!!!

“Oooooooh” I can hear Lilyanne ooh and ahh

Perhaps at the falling water fountains. Perhaps at my firey swimming speed to not only get out this water but to go kick gramps right where it hurts.

“That’s it, Rosa! Show all those weaklings how it’s done!”

The foolish crazy grampa is so loud I can locate him from sound alone. Pushing off and kicking with all my strength, I reach the edge and aim using my entire force of weight.

Ouch.

“Oooof! A worthy effort my young little sprout.” grampa bends down to rub at my sore and dizzy head. Oh god, what the hell does he eat to maintain muscles that hard?

“Oh dearie, need a bit of salt for that handsome?” laughs some old women sitting in another pool nearby. When I dare peek my eyes open, they are in fact, female prunes.

Female?

MIXED BATHING?!! OH Lord, there’s a mixed bathing section in this place?!!! The scandal!!! The crime! What horrors!

Oh, my delicate lady’s constitution. I feel faint again.

“Why thank you!” grampa laughs, taking an offering woman’s jar of bath salts. Either stupidly not noticing or absolutely not minding the cougars’ leering.

Grampa no! Your shame! Your honor! Your chastity! I know you don’t think you have any but nooooooo! Back away you saggy beasts! That’s someone’s grandfather! Don’t you dare lick your lips at that, noooooo!

“Aww does it hurt that much Rosa girl? There there.” the defenseless brute continues rubbing wet salt onto the bump on my head.

“Get clothes or get into the darn water grampa!” I squint, trying my best not to look anywhere. Also ow ow ow my head, ow.

“Lily-poo! How are you doing there! Remember left right left and right! And breathe!” he stupidly ignores my warnings to wave to Lilyanne, practicing more than just doggy paddles under a fake waterfall.

Oh my, impressive dolphin dive for a mochi toddler.

“What cute children! Of course with a father like yourself,” one of the scary cougars tries flirting.

“They’re my grandbabies! Awwwww but they look so much like my baby girl when she was small, too bad they’re not as tough. Oh well. At least they’re cute! Ahahah!” grampa laughs stupidly, rubbing the back of his pink neck at the compliment.

No no no you stupid hunk of beef, that’s not where you should be embarrassed about! Cover up, down!

Oh my god, I have to do everything around here. I complain to myself as I tug grampa from getting up any further of revealing himself.

Back you foul hungry beasts! Old ladies, you must have all lived a long and fruitful life to develop into wonderful pickles. Now back away from my cow of a grampa, he’s too young for you all!

“Ohhhh has anyone ever told you how much you resemble the great hero?! Look old dear, doesn’t he?” another wrinkly old woman from nearby hot pool giggles, elbowing her husband.

“Meh, you’d think that of any youngish fit man you blind wife oh mine. ” the equally old geezer leans back in the water, snorting.

“Oh oh oh I see it, it’s in the strong chin. Yes, you do look like a fine statue of him.” one of the cougar pack giggles.

“With twin grandchildren too…” another bather of the cold pools getting a little too warm

“Ahahaha! As if the great hero would take his noble little granddaughters out to a place like this?! The hidden pearls of the land!” someone else laughs out, causing everyone to burst out in collective laughter.

The plebians taking in the low-brow slapstick humor. Ah yes so funny. If the great hero would ever dare do such a thing. Like right now. In front of them all.

I feel so exposed right now, and for once I’m not talking about the naked part.

“Grampapa lookie at what Lily can do!” one of the said treasured pearls spits water from her mouth, imitating one of the fountains along with some other children that happen to be splashing around.

Oh my head. Oh ow.

“Thatta girl, just don’t drink it! Lily-poo? Oh boy, in we go.” grampa sets me aside one of the kinda wet lounge seats to go ‘rescue’ his granddaughter.

Who by the way is certainly not learning bad habits at all, oh no. I facepalm, curling into a naked ball, and take a big breath.

This is fine. Right now no one knows who I am. This isn’t embarrassing at all. Besides, I’ve been to various hot springs and public baths before…..as someone else in another world…this is good and fine. Really now, a great experience for Lilyanne. She can be a little less sheltered and dumb to the world.

Calming down, I brave up another peek at my surroundings. Yes, what a good clean bath….filled with naked old people.

Waaaaaah I don’t want this!

I want to go home. But how can I leave grampa’s side? I’m butt naked here! No clothes, no purse.

A cute little girl like me could be so easily grabbed and sold off! Poof! Gone with no trace. Anyone could? And yet no one here fears such a thing or for their own naked safety at all. It’s not a concern!

Ah, this world, and these times, standards are really something else.

This place really is huge.

Little kids run around playing across the pools of water, much to the occasional shout from a parent or grandparent. It’s mainly men and old people, but dozens of people linger across the open space. All very naked.

I am three and innocent. I am three and innocent. Absolutely innocent!

I do not know how long I sit there, but when I calm down enough swallow down my sense of shame I don’t see a hint of grampa of Lilyanne. It could be because I’m mostly squinting to avoid looking at anyone, ahem, anywhere. But as I turn my head back and forth I don’t see the distinctive shape of my grandfather’s muscular frame, nor can I hear the laughs of cries of my baby sister.

No way. I stay good in one place and grampa’s already lost me? Here!?! Here and naked in a public bath of all places?!

Ahhhhh! I’ve been abandoned due to negligence! Ahhhh! Where’s the lost children center?!!

Eeep! I looked up.

No looking up. My pathetically short height looks up at all the wrong places! Why must everyone be so naked?

In my pathetic search, I scamper and somewhat slip and slide. This place really is too big. Where could grampa go in such a short amount of time? How could he leave me here like this?

Somehow I slip and slide myself to a whole new area, feeling all the more lost.

The thing is though I can open my eyes properly again. Everyone is still very much mostly naked yes, hardly covered anything more than a few wash cloths. But it’s suddenly all fine.

It’s all women around here?

Ahhh. I woke up and started on the men’s side. Then grampa took me to a mixed area. This must be closer to the women’s only quarters! Oh my, how lovely and relaxing. Just my area. Lots of younger and more pretty women lounging around, bathing, beautifying, and chatting. So much nicer on all the senses, especially the eyes.

But there’s no way grampa would be here!

I’m still so lost! Ah what to do, what to do?

“Rosalia? Why are you always crying when I find you?”

“Haha! Crybaby Rosa!”

Two childish overly familiar voices stand out, for they really are not supposed to be here. Perhaps I am hallucinating from the heat? Just like all the lost kids who passed out from heat and panic.

Slowly, I dare to turn my head over at where I’m hearing these auditory hallucinations.

“Aaaaahhh!!!”, I point and scream.

The auditory hallucinations have turned into visual ones! Naked buns! Naked minions floating in a pool like hot pot mochi dumplings. Both number one and two!

“AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” Lukas war cries back at me with a very pink steamed face. As if not only imitating my scream but proving himself superior.

From the steaming hot pot, Amar looks back and forth between us. His little head of wet hair, darkened to the shade of hot chocolate, slightly drips with water as he turns his sight back and forth from Lukas to me.

“Oh. Don’t cry? Did you two get fleas? There there there.” Amar pats Lukas on the head, rubbing the close shave where fluffy fair hair used to be.

“What are you two doing here?! And excuse you? Fleas? How rude, I would never.” I fluster from pointing in accusation, wide open in view, to shamefully hopping into the hot pot pool myself.

Why is everyone so naked?! Ahhhhh I am three and innocent. I am three and innocent. Repeat.

“We’re swimming!” splashes Lukas, knocking his head to rub into Amar’s hand like a puppy dog demanding head pats.

“In the women’s section?!” I sink myself at the underwater seat ledge, blowing bubbles as I fully cover myself up.

“Uh huh. It smells nicer on this side.” Amar answers straightforwardly, one of his little warm hands still going with the head pats and scratches.

“But…” I look around.

Not only admitting that fact is true, the women’s side is nicer smelling, but seeing plenty of kids here as well. After all small children would just accompany whichever guardian takes them, regardless of gender.

I blow more bubbles, sinking from my head to my nose. Ahh forget it, shame just does not exist here. Especially not at this age.

“There there, it’s okay.” Amar floats over, his other hand now patting me on the head. Rubbing my very short fuzz of hair in a very similar manner to how he pets Lukas.

If I didn’t know any better I think this brat is making fun of us. Wait, I do know better, and he is!

“I didn’t get fleas either. It was all Lukas’s fault.” I defend myself.

“Yeah!” Lukas admits, no shame at all. “And then Rosa took a funny knife and bubbly stuff and went chop chop chop at my head when I was sick. It was super scary! I rolled around lots and lots to get away but I was all weak and stuff and she stepped on my tummy went chop chop chop!”

“That’s good, no more fleas.” Amar nods happily, petting us both on the head like good clean little baldies.

Suddenly I am struck with the urge to chop off this brat’s full head of hair, straight and longer when wet. Just to match. If he implies I’m a flea-ridden mongrel one more, I most certainly will. Chop chop.

I angrily swat Amar’s hand away, only to be head bumped by Lukas.

Ow. Bad trade off.

“We never got fleas, Amar! Stop being mean, fleas are so itchy! I don’t ever wanna again.” Lukas rubs his fuzzball of a head against my own, as if in a strange sort of solidarity.

“Uh huh. Okay.” Amar nods, smiling in that big brother like way that says he doesn’t believe us at all. Grrrr.

“How did you two even get in? I don’t even know where this is. I just woke up here already in a tub.” I change topics, smacking the warm flower-infused water in frustration. Memories of my violent wake up call still too fresh.

“I donna know, I followed Amar! He said there were lots of swimmies and there is! Oh and girls are weird. You’re all fat and jiggly and shaped like some monsters. Are you gonna grow stuff like that, Rosa?! Oh yeah like your mama! ” Lukas takes a big breath, diving down into the water before I can hit him.

“Don’t be so rude! You’re fat and jiggly! And you!” I yell at the escaping swimming mochi before turning over to Amar.

“I got caught and was carried in. The wardrobe we came from was that way. There are lots of doors going in.” Amar raises his hand in answer, a little sulky. Like a child forced to bathe when he’d rather be out playing.

“If there are multiple entrances then he probably took me through the men’s entrance area since that’s where I woke up. Stupid grampa. I almost drowned in shock. ” I look around, trying to locate the signs that indicate wardrobe and locker rooms.

“Cap is swimming here too?!” Lukas pops up out of the water, like a wild shark spotting. A fat baby shark.

“Sure was, I lost him and Lilyanne. Stupid grampa, swimming off with Lily like that and leaving me behind. Pffft not like anyone was gonna kidnap me, all defenseless and cute. ” I complain, blowing more bubbles into the water.

Amar pats my head again as Lukas fully screams, dunking his head underwater to muffle the sound as well as blow even more air bubbles.

“No fair! No fair no fair no fair!” the distorted sound waves kinda sorta still travel through the popped bubbles.

How amazing. Lukas is like a singing baby blue whale like that?

“We’ll find him, don’t worry,” Amar starts to say only to be interrupted by the wave that Luka makes.

Soon my vision was not only splashed in the tsunami that is Lukas but blinded by the shining white of his running little butt.

Did I mention the naked part yet?

“Cap! I’m coming to save you from the stinky baby! Caaaaap?! Never fear Lukas is here!” that naked butt goes sliding out of here.

“Lukas! Don’t run, you’re gonna fall again. ” Amar yells out after him.

But alas it is too late, and Lukas’s kiddy mochi butt is gone. Right through a doorway and hall that I thankfully can somewhat recognize passing through. How wonderful, I’m not as lost as I thought.

“We can catch him? I think he’ll find your grampa really fast.” Amar turns to me, pointing.

“Grr, I guess I can’t wait around here forever for gramps. Not like he’s allowed into the women’s section anyways. ” I grumble into the water, swallowing the shame of getting back out there.

I assume little kids get a sort of free pass going back and forth throughout the place. For there are stationed guards along the walls and doorways. They’re only ones in actual uniform clothes, with massage and other bath workers in more of a standard loincloth and headcloth to differentiate them.

“Up up now. Don’t slip? It’s super easy to. ” Amar continues to treat me like a stupid crybaby.

The only minion left pulls me up out of the pool by my armpits. My little legs dangling up in the air useless. It makes me sigh in tired frustration, fully giving up.

“Fine. This is my life now. Follow whatever sounds like Lukas screaming.” I order, finding my footing against the wet stone pool decks.

“Uh huh, or where there’s ice. Lukas doesn’t know when he freezes stuff sometimes. ” Amar pulls himself out, shaking himself of water like a dog.

A dark feminine shadow looms over us threateningly.

“Oh? And where do you think you’re running off to now? Hmmm, why do you always do this at bath time?” a stern voice speaks from it.

“I’m not running. Rosa lost her grampa and I lost Lukas? I’m taking Rosa back to go find them.” Amar pouts in defense, facing fully the very naked grown lady that created the shadow.

Suddenly beside me, Cass stands with her dark silky hair entirely loose. A personal wash basket in her hands supported on her waist. A sort of sarong wrap somewhat covers her legs and bottom half, like many women wear their makeshift towels, but the rest of her is very much boobies-err I mean bare!

Did I mention this naked thing enough times yet?

“The Lord commander’s granddaughter? Again? I have the sense that trouble follows you three exactly.” she offers me a slight bow and a small dry wash towel, to which I gratefully bundle myself in like a blanket.

Huzaah! No more naked Rosalia!

She then drops another small towel on Amar’s head, rubbing his hair a little roughly before rolling in over his shoulders.

I am looking up and not down. I am respecting everyone’s privacy even though it literally does not matter. As evidenced by everyone here. I have looked too far up at Cass’s boobies- ahem!

In the struggle of deciding nowhere is safe to look, I notice something odd.

“Is that a…bite mark?” I point up at Amar’s back shoulder, right where it meets his thin neck. I see an irregular sort of mark, much like the pathetic jaws of a human, before Cass covers it up.

“Yeah?” Amar nods, admitting it with no fuss.

“When did that happen?” I try to hop up to better inspect the slightly gnarled flesh.

It’s already mostly healed over, but the sign of injury was obviously unclean. Like the beast went back and forth chewing at him or it got infected. Ow ew, how gross.

“Damia. It’s okay now. She’s locked up?” the boy tilts his head to allow me a better look.

“Ewwwwww. ” I grimace, thoughts of the bloodthirsty witch polluting my thoughts even worse than waking up in the men’s bath. Especially what position must have taken place for that bite mark to even get there.

I don’t like the implications of that very much. Even if that monster is apparently taken care of and locked up. Stupid kid, what trouble did you get up to?

“We will put another poultice and bandage wrap on, and you will not pick at it. ” Cass warns the boy, covering back up his shoulders.

“But it smells,” Amar whines, oddly childish sounding. More so than his usual voice.

“Yes. The bitter herbs work in many ways. And if you didn’t want to be smothered in it, you don’t go getting those wounds in the first place. ” she sits and pulls the brat down onto her lap, whines and all.

It’s nothing that a bit of Lily’s magic can’t make go away, but the healing process so far isn’t so bad. Especially from such a gross source.

“Is it really okay? What happened?” I snuggle over, very comfy in my towel. It’s big enough on my to make a hood and cape, slightly dragging on the ground if I’m not careful.

“Tis nothing of worth young Miss. Ventrella. ” Cass kindly smiles at me, before switching expressions 180 degrees at a squirming Amar. All to handle his still wet hair and inspect the tiny nails on his hands.

She pins him down in her arms, pulling up a kiddy foot as if to check his toenails were properly cut. Which they oddly were, neat and cute. Like tiny translucent seashells.

“I’m fine?” Amar complains, finally beginning to blush.

Oh ho? What is this? Do I smell…shame!?!

“No. You are far from decent. Do you want fleas like your little friends?” she pulls out cork bottles of oils and something that smells like rose water, as well as a comb, working through this kid’s hair till it shone almost silky as her own.

Wait..am I being accused of fleas again?! Damn it Lukas! This is all his fault everyone is getting the wrong idea!

“Cass,” Amar whines pathetically, sounding increasingly embarrassed.

“You are stubborn but not this stubborn. Not usually….I see. Stay still, or I make it worse.” Cass glances down quickly at me then back to her work.

Oils and combs through the little boy’s hair, straightening through the fluff of drying curls neatly. Little towels clean behind his ears as Cass’s dedicated hands work at massaging oils and herbs into his skin.

“What’s that? It smells sweet. Almond oil?” I sniff at the bottles, resisting the urge to laugh at my minion’s shame and pain.

Oh ho ho, I failed. Oh ho ho ho!!!

With pink cheeks and vengefully teary eyes, Amar takes a deep breath and forces himself still. He looks like a stubborn poodle forced at the groomers. His little fists clenching at his knees, the boy already curled into a tight ball.

Yes! I am sick of your big kid attitude despite being nothing but a tiny little brat with hardly enough mochi on his bones. Fall into adorable uselessness with the rest of us stubby ones. Know your place! Get cuter and cuter in your pathetic helplessness! Bwahaha! Shake and cry in cuteness! Oh hohoho~

“Pffft,” Cass snorts, holding in her laughter. Partly burying her face in the back of Amar’s little head in an overly familiar manner.

I see. The shameful kiddy cuteness was too much. She could not resist. I understand, for my own mother is much worse.

Not to mention the too much nakedness thing, or perhaps because of all the exposed skin I now notice how there’s that exact hard to match undertone similarity. Though Cass is certainly fairer than Amar’s cinnamon warm tan, a certain olive shade matches, as well a bit of feature to the brow. The set of the eyes.

They don’t look believably related or anything. But the overly familiar manner between them, and Amar’s tendencies to keep his mouth shut, make a smart cookie like me suspicious. Hmmmm I’m on to you.

Oh ho ho ho~ No one can escape my sharp eye for detail!

“The little ones are cuter when they’re a bit stupid. Is that right? ” Cass snickers in the boy’s exposed ear, to which Amar slowly nods while still hiding in himself in a ball.

Wait a minute….

I pull and grasp at the exposed earlobes, soft like udon dough.

“Hole.” I squish, much to the cute screams.

“Sorry! Rosa I’m sorry?” he apologies emptily, begging to be released.

“There’s a hole….and another. Your hair is always covering them but how did I not notice? Are they new? No, it’s long healed.” I pull the other side of his head, observing the simple piercings in both his little ears.

I release to feel my own plain ears.

Hmm, ear piercings aren’t all that common around here. Typically only very fashionable nobles and ladies have them since they’re the only ones who can afford the luxury of earrings. There are some veteran sailors too but that’s about it. No one else is stabbing a needle into their flesh for the fun of it.

It’s nowhere as common as in modern times. Even as a noble villainess, Rosalia didn’t get her ears pierced till she was at least 13.

How interesting.

“Not again…ow ow ow,”Amar groans to my poking and proddings, Cass shaking in silent laughter the entire time.

“How come you have piercings? When? Do you have earrings?!” I stretch.

“I don’t know, but no boy wears them here. ” Amar winces as I pull.

So soft and squishy. This is kinda fun.

“Alright, I release you.” Cass pats a patch on his neck and lets the boy go, to which Amar rolls over and hides away. Immediately.

Now that I think about Cass has earrings as well. I recall seeing her with hoops and these big dangly things.

“Go find the other cute stupid one. Come back when you find the girl’s guardian. ” she claps her hands over at me, patting to her now free lap.

As a pampered young miss, served hand and foot for my every whim, as should be, I easily toddle over with my towel cape Plopping down on my rightful seat.

Now then. I allow you to brush and groom me.

“But Cass…” Amar whimpers, keeping a fearfully good distance.

“Go find the little one’s lost parent, she’s safer here with me. Or do you want your ears pulled again?” Cass slightly pulls me up to readjust more comfortably in her lap, maybe using me as a threatening device.

Needless to say, naked mochi butt number two disappears in an instant.

“You two know each other. From before. ” I speak up at the woman as she pulls down the towel enough to work the short tuff’s on my hair

Floral and sweet almond oil comb calmly, much like a relaxing shampoo session at a salon.

“The young mistress is wise and astute.” Cass neither agrees nor disagrees, choosing wisely to praise me instead.

“Of course I am. And I’m very very cute for it, even without being a little stupid. ” I stretch and dangle my legs, hardly reaching her knees.

“That you are.” she agrees, taking my call out serenely.

Since there is not that much hair to work with, even a second time over, she moves on to my little nails.

With a half polished stone, she buffs out the sharp points and applies a wedge of lemon. I graciously allow the pampering, especially when she starts coating my nails with a substance from a tiny tube. Interestingly enough, it has a sponge tip, much like a modern laundry pen or makeup brush, that allows her to quickly apply the shiny oil.

Oooooh polish! It’s drying into a polish! My nails are turning a cute seashell pink from them.

Yes. Very good treatment. Carry on.

“What an interesting thing, where did you buy it?” I remark, getting my other hand done.

“A very long time ago, on the roads, when it runs out, then that is all,” she says politely.

“But not here, there’s nothing like it in our markets. Does it come in other colors?” I inquire.

“Some yes. Some are paints, powders, or other things, but not all are like this. Oils safe for children.” she paints another coat on my tiny fingers with ease.

“Can you ingest poison too? Like Amar?”

“…no. A little bit, anyone can, with tolerance, but not like that. This servant is no kin, if that is what the young mistress is understanding. ”

“I see. Well everyone has their secrets. I won’t pry too much. My papa seems to distrust much about you, keeping you in the dungeons so long. ” I nod, allowing my nails to dry and be blown on.

Ah how pretty. How long has it been since I got my nails done? Not bad at all.

“They say all in the Ventrellas are of a strange force, even the babies. This servent sees what they say do not handle even a candle flame, in the face of your depths. ” Cass vaguely speaks, as if a true child could understand a word of that.

“Hmmpf, no one tells me anything. Ever. I didn’t even know I was coming to the baths today till I awoke naked. I’m left to figure out everything for myself, and find out for myself.” I let out a snort, explaining myself.

More importantly, explaining my stance.

“Amar doesn’t like telling us much of anything. Not like Lukas, that one will never shut up. He says he played in the ocean with Yuna, or found a robber’s cave with cheese in it, but not why he even went or anything with Damia. She and her brother poisoned him badly and drank his blood you know? He was very sick and stupid then, and still very stupid now. It’s not cute at all, or well it’s not related. Now he’s working directly with my papa, isn’t he? And getting poison doses with it. Because he wants it.” I simply state out, feeling the brief but frozen pauses in my pampering.

I wonder if this Cass woman has realized what sits in her lap in not a cute little animal of a child, but something far worse. I wonder if she feels fear yet?

“Such an imagination to make such statements. The eldest young mistress of house Ventrella is as lively as she is fanciful, how wonderful,” she answers a little too professionally.

“You’re a very decent liar. How is life in a harem? As a maid of course?”

“…”

The sharp intake, the hold of her breath, tells me everything I need to know to confirm my suspicions.

I miss a lot of things I admit, but I’m not an idiot to forget that sort of danger signals.

I haven’t forgotten. Every single little clue from my past till now. Collected like fairytale morsels of crumbs on a far too long too dark path. I pick them up. Even if I can’t make heads or tails of them, they go in my baggie. My brain. Till the day I can make use of them comes along.

“Of course you won’t tell me much anything either, nor are you required to. Though any hints would be nice. I’m learning a lot just by watching. Oh, I hope you don’t take offense. Since grampa says you are unmatched, rude as he is, it must be true and I see it. Your hands are rather pretty, despite a bit of callous. You haven’t lead a harsh life of field labor and have a good technical eye. You have a taste for these little luxuries, but you’re not-” I trail off my evaluation, my eyes catching a passing figure.

A mother and her young son, nothing strange or out of place here.

At most one would notice her beauty. Dark straight hair, finely fair skin as is fashionable, delicate feminine features with a slight mix of something. A beautiful smile highlighted by a tastefully placed beauty mark. Her plump breasts are too large to be considered ideal here but let’s be honest, are in no way undesirable.

A beautiful mature woman, but not insanely so nor that out of place.

Not even with her son, a lanky thing about 9. He shares his mother’s fair smooth skin and beautiful face, but not her hair.

Rusty pale copper, like a coin left in the intense setting sun to reflect and shine. Fruit on a tree left to fade.

Carrots.

“…Cosimo.”

I know them. I know them as my eldest uncle’s mistress, hidden away far from the family’s eye but close enough to reach. I know them and that boy. Just as much my blood cousin as any legitimate child on my cursed father’s side. I know who that boy will grow up into, the wealth he will grow.

The only one who can truly give Philippe a fight for his position. One he was so sure he would grow to inherit.

Eldest uncle Domenico has no sons, only daughters. None proved their worth, nor anywhere near qualified. Not that they would care for the outward power struggle, not when their marriages were on the line. Though uncle Domenico is the true and rightful Lord of the Bicchieri estate, the next in line would go Philippe’s father. Then as his one and only child, the only male of the generation, Philippe would stand to inherit everything.

Or so he thought.

Well, it’s not like I was around to witness how that family drama ended. Shame.

Oh my my my cousin Cosimo. To think we would ever run into each other, and like this?

“Where does the young mistress, with her fanciful thoughts and eager legs, want to run off to now?” Cass keeps her stern grip on me, still steady on her lap.

“…you’re not scared of me yet?” I look up to the lying ‘maid’.

“Like those …temporary dungeons, the young mistress will have to try harder than that. Perhaps in a few years?” she smiles with a twitch.

Then bends and practically cracks my leg over my head, buffing and checking at my toenails. Ow ow ow. I know kids are flexible but that came out of nowhere. Eeeep! And that tickles! AHahaha!

“I- ahaha- just saw someone -ahahah I know- ha! Family members oh ho hahaha. ” the tickles do not cease despite Cass merely holding on to buff and trim.

Ahahhaaha my little kid feet are just too ticklish! Oh the pressure, this solid pressure of tickling sensation is too much. What is this torture?! Ahahahahahah!!!

“Very well. I release you now. Do not wander out of sight, and return here for a safe proper return in these baths. ”

I’m let go just like that. Inertia and weakness has my mochi butt rolling over with a plop.

I think I understand my minion a little better now. This lady is scary. My feet at still tingling.

“This…isn’t over.” I huff and puff, trying to recover my breath.

“Of course young mistress, thank you to playing with little kahk….there are no friends for a child to make in a harem.”

Oh weak knees, very weak knees, hahaha standing tickles. Did she hit some tickle specific pressure points on me or what? Wait what did she just say?

When I turn from the floor in shock, Cass acts busy grooming her own hair. As if she didn’t say a thing.

Friends?

Geez everyone getting the wrong idea all the time thanks to those henchmen in training. More trouble than they’re worth, I can just feel it. Meh, oh well. I have my own troubles to deal with now.

Wrapping the towel around me tighter, I hide and hop closer to the targets. Absolutely sure I have the right people in mind, but still observing to check.

Otherwise, it would be a very awkward case of mistaken identity when I do act.

Taking I deep breath, and with no time to go over a game plan again in my head, I finally move. And promptly slip on the wet floor.

“Oh! Oh no, are you alright?” the beautiful boing boing boobie- I mean! The beautiful mistress! She shouts in fright, helping me up off my wet butt.

Ahem, I mean…all according to my evil plan. The target’s guard is completely down now. What a technique.

Also, I think my father and his brother have the same kind of type?

Sure everyone and anyone who gets involved with the Bicchieris must have some level of scheming to them, but who can resist the call of helpless kiddy cuteness? I follow up with tearful blinks, a reasonable level of cuteness attack. Let’s not overdo it now.

“Um, um I’m sowry…” I sniff and blink, looking up at them.

I don’t need to be nervous facing the future rising head of the banking systems or his scheming mother at all. Nor do I need to imagine them naked to ease said nerves, for they already are naked.

Ah, the messed up things I do as a villainess.

“Oh it’s alright dear-!!” the woman, who once was so nice and gentle, freezes her hand when the towel slips off my head.

It’s not like she knows my face. Or who I am. But I suppose it really is hard to mistake this shade of hair. Damn it.

“I- um…I was told to tell you something. But- but… ” I whimper, pulling out the helpless and cute child card.

Cuter when a bit stupid. Act cuter because you’re a bit stupid. Get into character Rosalia girl, you got this!

“Mother! Stand back. ” her son quickly stands between his mother and me, the oh so intimidating threat of a naked three year old in a towel.

But hey I can’t blame him. We kinda sorta have some messed up family.

“..I got a wittle lost, but um…” I flop my towel blanket a bit useless. Not flashing anyone but enough to show how absolutely weak and harmless I am.

That and it’s to think, even a second longer.

What moves can I reasonably make here? What impression can I make to bring them over to my side?

Maybe not now, but later. Another big crumb in the bag, something to save and use in the deck of hand.

“…you’re going to have a girl. ” I blink up, eyeing the slight bump I can now see up close on the woman’s slightly swollen stomach.

Yes, the timeline is right. Right now in that tummy is cousin Violante.

Cosimo fought tooth and nail to climb his ranks. By the time Violante was old enough to be baptized and educated, he had taken his little sister and mother across the main doorways of the Bicchieris. A vicious little girl, with her mother’s dark beauty, and a scheming money-making brother who kept his fangs hidden till the right moment. They fitted right in.

“What…pardon…”

“Mother keep back. Don’t come any closer, it could be dangerous-”

“….You shall have daughter madame, and by the time she turns 6, you will raise her fully as a Bicchieri. You will not stay hidden forever, your son and wealth shall rise till no one is able to ignore you. ”

Ah there we go, that look of over compassing awe and fear. Yet there’s that little tick, a certain insanity.

Of course, anyone who stays gets involved with the Bicchieri, especially to the point of bearing one child, let alone two must be some sort of crazy.

“Who sent you?” Cosimo snarls, the thin arm of a mere child held out to shield his own mother.

Oh ow ow ow my eyes, not looking down at anyone. Especially boys with their extra parts! Not looking…I’m too short! Ahhh this is not how I ever imagined this meeting with my own cousin to go.

“Now now my cosmos, let us hear this fully. No need to shoot the messenger, nor one so small and adorable… If there is a chance for us to rise so…it would not benefit to not hear it out. ”

“But mother-”

“My son, do you foolishly think they would send the child alone?! My apologies, little one. Whatever is it you need to say?” she coos and smiles down at me, already patting her own still small stomach.

“…Take the risks, put in the money, don’t mind the guilds. But don’t take them lightly, you can win them over slowly.” I recite. Speaking as close as I can to a child that’s merely been trained to repeat something rather than something from myself.

They’re nothing but hints. Cosimo is still too young, he may not fully understand yet. But he will. The slight spark in his mother’s eyes says he definitely will.

“Are they orders?” she smiles as lovely as a flower.

“…I don’t know? I was just told that?” I tilt my head, stealing another move of cuteness.

What? It’s useful!

The mother nods and smiles, putting a calming hand on her son’s shoulder, drawing them back. She takes the message as is, long used to strange messages in strange places. It does after all come with the territory of being such a high profile mistress.

“…ah I forgot, one more thing. Pleawse?” I pretend to be nervous, feet already edging away to escape into the crowds of bathers.

“Go on. Please.”

“Um…someone will die. In the family…that person will die, and only after will you come to light. ” I dare not tell them that death is to be her man, Cosimo and Violante’s father, my own uncle.

Quickly, I slip into a passing gaggle of school-aged girls and disappear from their sights.

No one follows me, but I drop and flip the towel none the less. It’s too conspicuous looking, it makes me too recognizable. I change the side, thankfully of a different color pattern, and sneak myself away.

When I look back from a hidden pillar I’ve climbed, they leave themselves. Cosimo, red in the face, searches while his mother pulls him back. I watch until they’re gone for good.

Ahh my heart! What a strange anti-climatic turn of event. Whew!

It’s nothing I can use yet, nor anytime soon. But…hopefully, this isn’t a half-bad investment I made for myself. Oh ho ho ho.

“Your strange laugh is very recognizable they say, and this servent now sees that very clearly. Why do you children all like climbing such things? ” Cass asks, directly below me from the pillar.

“…I…like to feel… tall?” I squeak out, not at all growing to fear this woman with every passing minute. How did she find me like that? Is she a secret guard?!

“Shortie Rosa ahahaha!” Lukas pops out, blinding me once more from nakedness.

“But Lukas? Why are you shorter now? ” Amar asks, hiding behind Cass’s skirts. Hitting right where it hurts with his questions.

“Ack! Am not!…much. It was a really big bad fight and magic and and-it made me less awesome and owies and-” the slightly younger and smaller boy falls short of variety in his words.

He should have shrunk more, for Lukas is still visibly a bit taller than Amar, and definitely much taller than me. But hey, gives us a bit more leverage in catching up. Not so big and tall now huh?!

“Stooooopid, get smaller and smaller to be wittle bruder heee heee. Be smaller!” my little sister pops out last, the smallest of this strange train of hidden naked babies.

“Never! Nooooo!” Lukas screams, pointing angrily.

“Little bruder! Bwahahaha! Little bruder little bruder~” she dances, blinding my eyes as much as she rubs salt in Lukas’s wound.

“Nooooooo!!!! Amar make her stop!” Lukas clings and sobs adorably to the smaller boy.

“…why?” Amar tilts his head, acting cute.

“Little wittle tiny iny little bruder!” Lillyanne continues to shake. Her every movement filling me with more shame than I can handle.

“Waaaah!! No no nooooo!!! I’m not shrinking! Noooooooo!” Lukas chases after her naked baby dancing, pushing her into the water.

Good thing she can swim now.

And everyone’s still naked.

I’ll just look away now.

No time to be a real scheming villainess yet. Still stuck being a useless little kid, and stuck with all this. Time to just, maybe fall asleep and hopefully wake up back home? Yeah good plan me. Towel mode on!

“…Your little friends are a bit stupid,” Cass speaks down to the one child still hiding behind her skirts.

“…Just a little. It’s very cute.” he nods up at her.

“Hmm that it is…Except that Rosalia. She is cute like a hissing tabby kitten yes, much like Yuna, but in the deranged possessed spirit of a ghost child that brings disasters way. ” Cass grimaces, thinking back. Perhaps remembering when said child was looking up at her with the face of an expensive doll, yet the mouth of a demon, maybe hoping to buy your soul at a discount.

“Just a little.” Amar nods again.

Everyone is just so rude!

————————————–

——————

—

Extra Halloween Bonus. The modern world and a bit mundane.

Of course very gross.

Very skippable.

—

—————–

—————————————-

“You can’t be my boss.” Meng said strictly, making those terrible last-minute touches to her makeup in that tiny passenger mirror.

“I am literally your boss. ” stated the driver, turning the block after a red light.

“Ok but Yao, like you can’t act like my boss tonight. At all. That’s not the point and it won’t get you anywhere.” Meng rolled her eyes, forcing them to stay open as she applied an even thicker amount of liner.

It was Halloween. The one time of year to really dress up. That and cosplay conventions. But the one time of year everyone else dresses up too!

And Meng was lazy this year. Blame work.

At least the studio was nice enough to not lock up, and she could nick something that fit.

“What makes you think I’m even trying to get anywhere? Or it even matters?” the older man resisted the urge bang his head onto the steering wheel.

“Because Jung-Soo was totally checking out your ass when you left last time. Good work Yao. ” Meng complimented her manager by slapping his thigh.

Yep, iron-strong. It hurt her hand and got a full pass in her book. No time wasted at the gym there.

“Haha. Very funny. ” Yao groaned out, feeling less and less ready for anything with every light they drove past. Closer and closer to a certain bar.

“Dude. You are like, cute and funny and successful and your body gorgeous for an old man.” Meng listed out.

“….I’m 31. And should I file for harassment?!” Yao shouted over to his assistant.

“You could. But then you lose time, money, and me. Good luck finding my replacement. HR will give you another nice well-meaning intern who can’t do shit on time, follow up, and can’t order Chinese food with you.” she sassed back.

“Ahh you have convinced me by the power of late night dim sum and noodles.” Yao frowned.

“Blessed be 24 hour dim sum! But not tonight. Tonight we party, and you get some! ”

“Very funny Meng….I don’t…okay like I didn’t even know I maybe like guys. In fact, I still don’t know! Maybe my ex was right and I just…fail with women too much that I make up excuses and….and Jung-Soo is just…well…he’s just being nice to someone like me. ”

The young woman felt her eyes roll to the back of her head.

There were many things wrong with that statement, so many.

For one her gay manager was so very gay. Okay, that is not actually correct and anyone was free to question and discover where their sexuality laid on the spectrum. But in this case, and in her tiredness, Meng was still going to say it.

“Yao. You are so very gay. I love you but don’t be so damn dense. Do you know why you fail with women, your petty jealous ex? Because men like Jung-Soo exist and your gay little heart goes hammering.” she gestured, waving a mascara wand into the air.

“Yeah but how do I know? I don’t want to mess up, make a fool or myself waste Jung-Soo’s kindness and-” Yao calmly kept his eyes on the road, despite the sigh at his throat.

“Another thing. Jung-Soo is never nice. Never. You have shitty taste in men, my dude. Good eyes but shitty tastes. He is never “nice”. Fully corrupt black-bellied type behind his glasses and that one pretty mole, but he is nice to you. He flirts, with you. Specifically. Get it? ” Meng pointed out the easiest equation in the world.

Jung-Soo Park was exactly the bad walking stereotype of the good looking glasses character that Meng and Jung-Joon constantly joked about. Efficient yes, charming also yes, when he wanted to be, where it suited him best.

Possibly evil and manipulative? Oh absolutely.

But something about Meng’s manager made the cool figure warm up a little, soften his edge, dare she say it, linger!

Oh, it was just positively too good, if only these fools didn’t keep dancing around each other?!

She’s given up how many coffee runs and breaks with Jung-Joon, making up all sorts of excuses, just to send Yao instead. Specifically, on days she was sure the middle brother was working or loitering.

Jung-Joon had laughed, he was doing practically every day now.

Just setting up his laptop at a corner of the newer Park bakery. The biggest one their eldest sister managed instead of any spying parental eyes. As if constantly making himself ready and available for any cute fit young advertising executive to just stumble in. Thirsty for coffee, a sweet and maybe something more.

Oh god, they were having a coffee shop romance. It was so cute Meng was going to vomit. It was getting annoying how nothing was happening, yet it was all just so cute.

“You’re being too harsh, it’s because he’s like your older brother in law at this point…He is really easy on the eyes… ” Yao sighed in that kind of way that said he was gone, and Meng felt like screaming in frustration.

But alas she was just too used to this. Her manager was oddly dense when it came to looks directed at himself. Even if he was rocking a suit and too tight little dress shirts and dress pants.

“Whatever. Tonight you are not my ‘boss’, you’re the sexy glowing you. We worked too hard, we went to the spa for god’s sake, and you will get SOME.”

“…recognition?”

“…I hate your gay Chinese ass so much. Wait no, I take it back your ass is fine, it’s your damn brain! And that self-esteem thing, don’t worry about it. We’re all fucked up. It’s fine. I promise you’re not the only awkward Asian kid in a middle of nowhere town anymore. You’re a fine mature and wonderful person, who puts work into himself. And you’re just…good.” she pats at his broad shoulder, inspecting his costume for the night.

Yep, very fine. Can’t go wrong with a tight-fitting superhero costume to really define all those features, like those thighs. Meng nodded and patted herself on the back for picking so well.

Personality and character was the most important thing to a relationship, but damn does a good booty help.

“I want to say thank you, because that last part really was sweet and encouraging, but I’m feeling kinda objectified right now by you staring a hole into my thighs. ” he turned to her, tutting.

“You have worked so hard and built yourself up like an underwear model. Jung-Soo will not be able to resist. Did you know his childhood superhero crush is Nightwing? I know he doesn’t seem like the type but-” Meng was spilling out as much help as she could.

“WHAT?!” to which Yao not only did not appreciate, but he even braked the car.

“No no no keep driving, Yao. You are not turning this car around! No chickening!”

“I have to go change Meng. I gotta. ”

“Oh no you’re not. Go go go, you’re holding up traffic.”

“I don’t think you understand. I am in the stupid Nightwing costume that you picked?! This isn’t funny anymore, and it never was.”

“I don’t think you understand blah blah blah, gas it. Or I will.” she threatened, already half climbing over to the seat.

“Sit your little furry red riding hood ass back down, that’s dangerous. Fine. Just fine!”

The poor victim to Meng’s happy matchmaking drove on, finally turning into a certain familiar parking lot. He was about to park just long enough to kick Meng out, then drive off to change himself but a certain thump and crash had them both jumping in their seats.

“Ahhhhhh!!!” Meng screamed the loudest, weak to jump scared. And scares of any kind really. Hated them.

Which was quite ironic given her love of Halloween.

“What the shit? Oh god, what?” Yao started panicking for an entirely different reason, fearing he had just hit a person.

However the figure rolled off the hood a bit too dramatically, the car already barely rolling along at a low speed in the parking lot. There was little to no chance of anyone being hit by that, not unless they ran at the care. It looked like a young male, very well dressed, and he groaned as he dropped to the ground.

“Who the fuck?” Meng went stomping out, her too tall cartoonishly red heels clicking each step.

“Oi you. Get the hell up!” she had little mercy for the supposed victim crouched in the headlights, kicking him lightly.

She would have kept kicking if it were not for the problem of maintaining her balance, especially as a hand swiftly reached out, grabbing her by the ankle.

“You? You hit and ran me over first. Be prepared to pay the consequences. Be my woman.” he looked up, a mischievous smile on a smooth handsome face.

His hand reached up to her leg a little shamelessly, his face placed against her thigh and Meng shuddered from the sudden cold felt through the sheerness of her costume stockings.

“Did you watch too much old shitty Kdramas with your brother again? How old is that kind of out of date line? Do you want to die?” she bent down to smack the younger boy, since kicking wasn’t a feasible option. Not if she didn’t want to fall over her own feet in this parking lot.

“Ah. Firey one. Little red riding hood? With a tail, oh not bad. So violently rough…. Should I show you what rough really is?” Jung-Joon stood up with a smirk, but not without picking up a screaming Meng with him.

“What’s wrong with you tonight?!” she screamed and squirmed with a fight in his arms.

“Oh my pretty lady. I, as a badly written overbearing CEO, am always in the right. I always get what I want. No matter how unreasonable. And right now, I want some compensation. ”

“….you what?”

He dipped her down and she screamed again, then screamed silently as his face paused but a breath away from hers. Too much blood going to her head.

“Com-pen-sa-tion.” his lips ghosted over hers, her eyes long gone wide in shock and something more like drowning. Not with the starry dark night sky and that, that face peering over hers.

So close, too close.

“Bitch I’m broke. ” she barked.

A matching smile formed on her own face as he blinked and pressed their foreheads together. Their messy laughter breaking all characters and whatever they were supposed to be.

“…Hey. Can we not do this in front of my car? ” Yao honked. He sighed back into his seat, recognizing the framed accident for exactly what it really was.

A badly staged drama.

Those two were honestly pretty damn diabetically cute, he thought. If they didn’t keep dancing around each other going nowhere!

“Hnn.” Jung-Joon made an exaggeratingly cold and cruel noise as he righted Meng up.

Looking away, he snapped a hand up in the air and suddenly, two people showed up out of nowhere. Pulling a very surprised Yao out and parking his car like it was their job.

“Did you have to do it like that?” Meng snorted.

“I, as an unbelievably sexy and dominating CEO, can do that. All overbearing CEOs snap and things just happen, it’s CEO magic. As my woman, the sexy perfect viewer living this fantasy, it’s your job to be impressed, ignore the plotholes and get used it.” JJ snapped again, the main door to the bar opening to the fanfare of partygoers this spooky night.

“Stop. I can’t.” she can’t stop laughing with every stupid line out his mouth.

He snaps again, this time bodyguards coming out not only to welcome them in with style but to quite literally escort them all in. All of them. Giving no one time to escape and change clothes.

Not even Nightwing. Especially not Nightwing.

“Oh come on.” Yao complained, being quite literally threatened in.

“No way, you got everyone in on this shit?” Meng marveled, pulling off her hood to reveal the fake animal’s ears.

“I CEO seduced everyone. Isn’t that right Hernandez?” Jung-Joon leaned over slightly to one of the dressed-up bouncers, his arm still escorting the wolfish little red riding hood in like a sleazy mafia boss.

“Oh yeah, I gotta call up my wife kids and tell them Papi’s leaving them for this fine money man here.” the middle-aged bouncer nodded his big head eagerly, batting his little eyelashses in false love and adoration.

“That’s right. I own everything and everyone. Even their hearts. ” Jung-Joon seriously threw a stack of most likely fake money, making it rain on the floor.

Meng was dying, the party hardly started and she was dying in laughter. She was gonna fall off her stupid costume high heels and roll on the floor in laughter. She was not looking cute at all simply wheezing through this.

“Be- ahahaha real with me ahahhaa for a second. Where’s Jung-Soo?” she managed to get out.

Only to be pinned, kabedon style, to the nearest wall. Much to the heated oooos and wolf whistles around them.

“Don’t look at any other man but me.” he lifted her chin, forcing her to look closely into his eyes, leaning in close.

“….pFFFFFTT ahahahahahh!!!! I saiD, ahahah I can’t ahahahahahA! i’M DYING JJ!!!” she was losing it.

“…I accept. Die in my arms tonight? In return, give me the pleasure of dying in between your legs.”

“AAHHHAHAHAHAHH!”

Kabedon failed, overbearing CEO definitely failed.

Or was a success however you looked at it. It was a pretty great joke. Meng doubled over laughing her guts out. Oh that hurt. She thinks she lost or swallowed a fake fang in her painful laughter.

“No no no, bad dog down dog. Bad! Step away!” shouts a chubby Korean Jesus with a lightsaber, separating the two.

“Bossman, hahaha, please,hahahaha control your youngest. ” Meng begged the ‘Lord’.

“As a badly written overbearing CEO with no real personality outside being rich, sexy, and toxic… no one but ‘my woman’ can control me.” Jung-Joon snapped his fingers uselessly, before taking the lightsaber and hitting his own brother with it.

“You sinner, ack, betrayal. Ouch. Jung-Joon stop that ow ack I’m sorry but not at my bar. Ow?!”

Another point over the badly written overbearing CEO. Fake Korean Jesus, even if they were brothers, could do nothing but take it.

“Okay seriously. Guys. Where’s Jung-Soo? I did my part and brought, ahem oh ho ho, Nightwing.” the gut bursting laughter slowly calmed to a giggle, Meng seriously looking for the other part to her matchmaking set up.

Only to find both of them very not at the scene.

“Maybe they already ran into each other? If that’s the case I bet they’re already alone in some dark corner.” Jung-Joon offered voice back to normal.

“No way, Yao’s kind of dense. Even to himself, oh especially about himself.” Meng brought up, hopping a bit a see better and still failing to spy either the handsome middle Park brother or her manager in that meticulously chosen costume.

“Oh no worries, we’re used to that. ” Jung-Joon smiled and steadied the girl, his expression a little in pain from how perfect it was.

“Yeah but like Yao is ‘dense’. So dense we’re talking osmium levels of fluff and dense.” she argued back.

“Yes. Yes we are very used that that.” Jung-Hyuk groaned, stroking his fake beard like a wise old sage.

“So like I honestly think Jung-Soo has to be the one to suck it up and make the first move. Or well moves. It might take a while, but tonight’s tension should speed it up. ” she stated the game plan, giddy with the drama.

Blame the work stress. This was exhilarating!

“Somehow, I don’t think Jung-Soo is having as much trouble?” Jung-Joon sighed, handing back the lightsaber.

“….What are you saying? ” the eldest accepted the plastic sword, tapping it a bit threateningly.

“Oh. Oh my god. What? What’s the tea? Spill? Where are they?” Meng gleefully hung on to Jung-Joon’s side, hoping for a morsel more of this cute drama.

“I don’t know and even if I did I can’t say, may the force be with you.” Jung-Joon pushed off his brother, the only ‘single’ one in his bitter chase to interrupt, block and keep his bar good and clean.

Yeah, good luck with that.

“So? Little red riding hood, maybe I should have gone with a wolf instead.” Jung-Joon jokes, leading Meng away from the wall and back to where the party really was.

“Too bad I’m already a wolf as well, see?” she played with the ears on her head, making them twitch cutely.

“Hmmm with fake vampire fangs?” he pokes at the one sticking out.

“Who cares about the labels, as long as it works. What about you hmm Mr. ‘Badly written overbearing CEO’, where’d you get that idea?” she smacked him away, defending her remaining fang. It was a look.

“You’re just a sucker for me in a suit, admit it.” he modeled for her.

“Correction, I am a sucker for any good looking person in a suit.” Meng offered.

“Oh really now?”

Snap. Snap.

The snapping was once again useless, but he did lead her to the party buffet spread.

“Oh. Yep. Yeah you are the best in a suit or whatever. Yes, whatever you want. Mmmm I swoon. Laugh and swoon. Come on.” her eyes sparkled, already picking out what to eat first, second third and so forth.

Jung-Joon simply took it all in, enjoying this and the cute little red werewolf pulling at his arm. It was in some sense pure torture, just absolutely frustration. It was a bad joke how they were used to it yeah but, really he just wanted to be with the one person he picked. He just wanted to be with her.

That’s all that really mattered. As messy as it was. He wouldn’t suffer with anyone else.

“Okay but how are you going to eat anything with your fake fang?”

“Oh shit.”

Happy Hallow Holidays.

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