2017-09-20: The Genuine Article
- Log: The Genuine Article
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline
- Where: Wayside
- Date: 20th September 2017
- Summary: Riesenlied deals with jealous feelings for the first time in her life...
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied is settling down in a bedroom that basically all the children's marked out as hers; it's a larger room than she's used to, but with a nice queen-sized bed with many of her affectations and belongings having been hung up and decorated around the place. She's kind of bashful, but many people agree that she probably deserves it at this point, and thus, the bedroom became hers.
She's dressed in a nicer nightgown that Noeline probably picked out for her at some point, with her leggings still on as she lets her hair down nicely and starts stroking through it with a brush. "... aah, I'm... tired..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Ostensibly, Noeline has her own room within the Wayside orphanage... ... but on the other hand, the children have all pretty much got her number already, and no-one's batted an eyelid at the thought of the Ebony Wings' second sharing a bedroom with Riesenlied on a pretty much permanent basis. (A couple of the girls have insisted on it, in fact, with bright sparkling eyes.)
Her touch on the room is remarkably light compared to Riesenlied's, a hallmark of her time spent flitting through the world without a care; she's got a modest little bookshelf which is only partially used for books, the rest of it papers and collated records, and is probably responsible for their having a decent dresser and a full length mirror - tarnished from the desert wastes, of course, but still mostly usable.
Her own nightgown is flattering and ever so slightly romance-novel dramatic, but not particularly over the top - because she's had to learn the hard way that sometimes orphans may have nightmares, and when they do they sometimes instinctively seek out the nearest mother figure for a cuddle, and she'd rather not have to answer extremely awkward questions about flirting.
Shuffling closer, she insistently plucks at the brush until Riesenlied lets her take care of it, grinning quietly to herself. "... aah... the Riesenlied, in her natural state," she teases brightly. "At least I believe we are done with all the groundwork - we can rest a little easier, I dare say."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied looks just a little red in the face as she lets the brush go, and lets Noeline swan and dote over her as she expresses, "Mostly, yes. A lot of the hard work has paid off... I'm really proud of everyone. They look satisfied and hopeful... I hope to be able to keep those smiles up."
A pause. "... um--" she hesitates, dithering. Her horns wiggle a few times. Oh no, she's got something on her mind! What is it?
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline definitely has her guilty pleasures, at least, and this would be one of them; she takes a lot of care not to hit any snags, and has even become used to working around Riesenlied's scales with remarkable speed. She's quite open about the fact she's worried about the way the growths have spread, but it's not as if they've had a great deal of chances to really look into what might be causing it, or any way in which to retard their growth.
"We have a solid defence, as well - or at least a reasonable defence backed by a great many allies. ... it might be time to approach some of the nearby settlements," she muses to herself, but not in a particularly urgent manner; more like she's just letting thoughts tick around in her head.
After a moment, she catches Riesenlied's uncertainty - and slowly draws forward to rest on her shoulder, free arm loosely around the other demon's waist. "Hmm~?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has a rather quiet flush as she-- holds her hand and presses it against her heart. The Dragon's Tear ebbs with a soft shimmer of colours, but then she remarks a question that is so thoroughly un-Riesenlied it might actually catch Noeline by surprise:
"I-in the two hundred years since we last met, did..." A pause. "Did-- did..."
She swallows harder. "Did you have any... relationships... with anyone...?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The brush lies forgotten as Noeline closes in to embrace the demon from behind; her hum isn't exactly one of triumph at getting to cozy up to Riesenlied, but it's certainly rather close, and as Riesenlied takes her hand she finds herself placing an unfocused kiss at some of the scales on the other woman's neck.
"Hmm~?" she chimes a second time - and then Riese's question actually registers in her brain, and she pauses with an abject noise of surprise. "Wh-- ... I-- whyever on Filgaia would I have?" she grumbles, puffed up into a solid pout even as she sticks close to Riese's back. "I was busy finding /myself/, not anyone else."
It's definitely a truthful answer, Riesenlied can detect that much - but at the same time, it's not precisely the whole story.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied-- dithers as she drapes her arms around herself, and says, "I--I wouldn't know! You're very fond of those romance novels, I would not have thought it strange if you tried to follow its examples. A-are the vampiric maidens not seductive and entrancing, luring those that they prefer to their wiles?"
G-goodness, Riesenlied! That's basically cussing by your standards!
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline has a very practiced glum face, though it's usually used for when Riese is pushing herself too much; she employs it now regardless, even if it loses some of its effectiveness when she's basically curled up against the other demon's back, hands still clasped. "T-the-- the operative words there are 'those that they prefer'. I already knew my preferences /quite/ well back then, thank you very much," she pouts, perhaps completely missing that she's just given away some information in the midst of her grump.
"Besides, I was laying low. The idea was to unsettle people just enough that they'd think I was odd, without going so far as to get myself chased out of cities and towns."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied whimpers just for a moment as she feels Noeline's hands curl closer against her, and she bashfully expresses, "W--what-- um, then what do you... did you not...?" She flushes as she says, "... I've said as much that I regret not expressing my feelings before you left."
She pulls her legs up just a little closer. "... hmm..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's pause is rather telling, especially when taken together with the way she sobers and the way in which her gaze turns soft. With a thoughtful hum, she shifts to glance at the wall ahead of them - or rather, past it, at something in her memory's eye instead. "... would I have even known what you really meant at the time, I wonder?"
It's not a denial of anything, nor does it even sound like her usual brand of evasiveness. If anything it's presented as a serious question, though she sags to rest against Riesenlied's back in the next moment.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied lets out a little sulk as she peers, saying, "... I don't think either of us know what we meant at the time. I certainly didn't. Just that I had unresolved... feelings... that made me feel... incomplete, when you left. And I really wanted to say things... but I didn't understand them at the time."
She sighs quietly and-- stammers, "S-so the answer is 'no', right?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline has the grace to be able to focus back in and look apologetic at Riesenlied's worries, even contrite - and that moment makes her look all the more like the quiet neonate that left Photosphere so long ago, trekking out on a confused and uncertain journey to find herself. After a long moment, her brow furrows further, and she's linked her fingers with Riesenlied's once more to redouble the gesture.
"... I am sorry," she admits in a tiny and private voice. "To-- do that to you. Even unknowingly. I barely even knew what 'admiration' was, back then," she adds with a sigh and a slight shake of her head. "Of course the answer is 'no'."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied-- flushes more as she shuffles herself back in as she leans firmer, against her. "... it's not your fault. It's neither of our faults... we really were both young, and confused back then. ... maybe even now, a little."
She does turn and shuffle a little closer, to cling closer towards the faux Crimson Noble. "... w-were you really not curious at all?" Oh no, Riesenlied, don't keep picking on the scab! But the way she doe-eyedly needs the assurance is cute...
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline huffs more strongly this time, using Riesenlied's turn as an opportunity to slide into her lap; from her newfound position she has a means to lean up and loop her arms around the other demon's neck, sneaking a rather grumpy kiss onto the corner of the other woman's mouth. "Hmph. ... I would at least like to think I've made my feelings quite clear, by now," she grumbles, but not unkindly--
--before she wilts under the doe-eyed stare, her cheeks flaring with colour as she fidgets and glances off to one side. "Honestly-- I-- I was not," she gripes, a little puffed up and ruffled before she continues: "At the time, I-- remember thinking it sounded terribly /messy/, rather than anything else. So there," she adds out of sheer contrariness.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied smiles very quietly as she drapes in closer, shivering softly into the kiss and returning one, as if granting Noeline a bit of a prize for her answer. "... you have," she reassures in turn, just as flushed as the Crimson Noble is. "... e-eh? Messy?" Oh dear, Riesenlied, did you not think about which part of it...?
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's huff is rather self-satisfied this time as she accepts Riesenlied's answering kiss; her hand has strayed to Riese's cheek and finds itself resting there as she lets her eyes slip closed. "... then, I'm glad," she decides, and ever so briefly nips at the other woman's lips as she cannot resist a grin. "It can be difficult to get you to believe something at times, after all," she teases openly, her fangs showing in her honestly amused smile.
--of course, then Riesenlied has to ask-- "W-well-- of course, that view has changed, but more than that--" she stumbles over her words, trying to figure out how to word her complaint without giving Riesenlied the Talk.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied might need to learn of additional bases sometime, but it's perhaps not particularly conducive right now when the mood feels so right. ... or is it, now? Risks, dangers...! "M-mm," she blushes brightly as she says, "I try to take it very seriously and you know it..." with an ever-gentle smile. She swallows faintly. "More than that...?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The spy hesitates for a long moment - but gives in a moment later, just chuckling to herself as she leans against Riesenlied and redoubles the embrace around her shoulders, straddling her lap comfortably in the process. "... it is not terribly important - or rather, I will tell you later," she adds with a teasing grin before she sobers again almost instantly, the better to bury herself in the crook of the slightly taller demon's neck.
"Just-- rest assured. I did not even consider it," Noeline admits quietly, face hidden. "That is a solemn promise."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied cutely and quietly admits, "I--I would've... I think I would've been okay even if you had one... though maybe I would've started trying to compare myself..." The admission is so soft and quiet it's adorable! She does flick her glance directly back onto Noeline, though. "But I know you think the world of me... and I do too." She shifts to better accomodate herself around Noeline, and tilts her head. "I only have eyes on you too."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline risks a peek up from Riesenlied's neck; her cheeks are a vivid sort of colour, and the look is nakedly soft and bashful for a precious little moment. "... I'm glad, then," she mumbles, just as quietly as Riesenlied; her touch fidgets for a moment, then starts to drift down the other woman's shoulders towards the base of her wings.
"A-after all," she grumbles, in an attempt to rebuild her usual facade, "I don't think I would be nearly as forgiving as you. I'd probably start biting," she teases, half a joke and half a serious statement.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied lets out a little pip of surprise and alarm as Noeline starts to touch against her wings, and raises her eyebrows further as she expresses, "U-um-- I know I've complained before, but it isn't as if I don't want you... to do that." She looks like she could just be about steaming at that admission.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"... oh?" Noeline lets her eyebrows hitch upwards in a dangerous sort of grin; she tilts her head, humming to herself to such an extent that a Tales musical note bobs in the air above her. When she next touches Riesenlied's wings, playing along their span, her attention is firmly fixed on watching the other woman's response.
"My... and here I thought it would be a little too forward," she teases, as if she weren't sat right in Riesenlied's lap at this moment, dressed for bed to boot.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's a quiet grump from Riesenlied again, as her wings wiggle in place as she says, "I--I know I whined about it, but it isn't like I've given up on the idea." She tilts her head and kind of exposes her neck a little more, perhaps to make a statement, or at least to tempt Noeline. "... with you, it feels strangely romantic, somehow. Like it's-- our thing."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
This time, at least, Noeline's expression is a priceless sort of thing, an amused and pleased grin mingling with a solid blush. "--well--" she starts to say, but cuts herself off as if she has to think about it somewhat. "... I am a little wary about exacerbating your recent injuries and pains, you realize," she admits after a long moment with a rather rueful chuckle--
--but then she's leaning in regardless, to at least tease with a purposefully light touch of her fang against skin before she pauses: "... you realize it's more the reaction than the action, as far as I'm concerned?" she adds in a drawling, rather rich tone of voice.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied's lips are a bit more firm and flat as she whispers, "I--I know, but-- ..." A pause, as she admits in turn, "While I do still have bare skin on my neck, maybe..." she flushes-- with a little hitch as she feels Noeline's fangs touch a little more intently against her. "... s-should I play it up more, then?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's hesitation is first serious...
"... we will surely find a way to reverse this, or at least prevent further encroachment," she promises quietly. Her voice is held steady, full of certainty - because even if she isn't certain at all, it's surely what Riesenlied needs to hear right at this moment. "Even then, this is part of you. I would not turn away from it for a moment," she adds, letting her touch drift across the scales at the other side of her face.
... and not so much.
"--and-- don't you dare," she grumbles good-naturedly, breaking into a grin. "With the greatest will in the world, I am not sure you were cut out to be an actress, and I would much rather have the genuine article." So saying, she's dipped her head down, trying to be gentle - though with some limited success.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied hesitates in turn, but there's a warm, available smile to Noeline in turn as she nods. "... I know. Whatever is happening to me... well, at the very least, it's helping me achieve my-- our goals too," as incandescent, soft motes of light start to surround her again. "Mm..." and-- she blinks just a few times with a quiet pout, saying, "... then you'll have nothing but honesty, as I always am."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The glampire does pause a little longer, enough for a light frown to flit across her face; she's not really sure how to word her protest, especially as the light around Riesenlied starts to soothe them both, but she does try anyway. "... I would rather you think of your own health and situation, more than your goals... but I know that is simply your nature, after all," she adds with a fond little huff of air.
This time, she pushes slightly - coaxing Riesenlied down towards a more horizontal position - and as her fangs go to the other demon's neck, she fervently hopes she remembered to lock the bedroom door...