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The Big Oof! Volume 2 Chapter 66: Mass Charm
🕑 Added 2023-10-24 12:34:30 +0000 UTCThe morning sun spilled through the gaps of the window's curtains, casting an amber glow over Laza's room. The events of last night played in her mind like a dream as she stirred in her bed causing a curvy pale leg to teasingly slip out from the warmth of the sheets. Her memory of the night prior seemed more of something more akin to that of the smut novels she would read in her youth, but more surreal. Was her night of passion actually just a dream? Or did she really feel the lingering throb of Elijah’s touch within her belly?
Laza's hand reached out, searching for his presence, and brushed against a firm abdomen before he eased out of bed. Slowly awakening, Laza became more aware of her surroundings. The gentle caress of the linen sheets against her skin reminded her of the night's intimacy. Gradually, she propped herself up on one arm, still dazed from slumber.
Turning her gaze, she caught sight of Elijah as he moved to a bundle of clothes with a quiet grace and started slowly dressing himself. She seemed more confused as time passed as she watched Eliijah slide into his pants and tighten his belt. The soft morning light painted him in a gentle glow, highlighting the contours of his muscles and causing his exotic and intricate body painting to almost shimmer and glow.
Laza's emotions swirled within her—excitement, fear, and a touch of regret. The weight of her choices pressed down on her. She had allowed herself a night of vulnerability, a night of passion she would normally think impossible. As a merchant who always maintained a strong facade, this was uncharted territory.
Laza pushed herself up further, adjusting the blanket to cover herself. "Eli-jah?" Her voice came out soft, almost hesitant.
He paused, turning to meet her gaze. Those deep-set amber eyes held a touch of gentleness that Laza had never seen before, and for a moment, it seemed to dissolve the uncertainty that had settled in her chest. She watched as he looked at her, his expression full of a complexity she had never noticed before. It was a mix of tenderness, understanding, and dependability.
"Good morning," Elijah responded as he threw his long sleeve shirt over his head. His deep yet voice made Laza’s heart flutter as she clutched at her sheets.
She gulped, trying to find the right words. "About last night…" Laza began, her voice trembling slightly.
Elijah raised a hand, signaling her to pause. Walking over, he sat down beside her on the bed. The proximity made her hyper-aware of every little detail: the warmth emanating from him, the scent of his skin, the rhythm of his breathing.
"Last night," he murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "was amazing, but I understand if you want it to make it a one time thing.” Elijah said with an understanding smile. “I understand your profession and position, and we don’t need to make things complicated if you want to keep things simple."
Laza looked into his eyes, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. She appreciated his understanding, his willingness to give her space to decide, but she also wasn't accustomed to such consideration. Especially after moments of intimacy. She wasn’t terribly experienced with love, but from what she knew, men from her own past or her associates' experiences often demanded more or left without a word.
"I..." She began, her voice faltering. She was unsure of her own feelings, unsure of what she wanted. Last night had been… incredible. And yet, she was torn between her responsibilities, her reputation, and the undeniable attraction she felt towards the man in front of her.
She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Elijah, last night was unlike anything I've ever experienced, and…. And I can't deny the connection we shared." She paused, looking down and playing with the sheets. "But my life, my work, it's complicated… I…" Laza clutched her bedsheet tighter.
Elijah hand gently grasped her own and gave her another reassuring smile. "I understand. If you want to keep this between us, it will remain our secret." He brought a finger to his lips and winked.
A look of surprise lingered on Laza’s face, and after a brief moment of stunned silence, she broke into soft laughter. "In all my travels across the realms," she began, smoothing her hair back and meeting his gaze with an earnest look, "I've never come across a man quite like you, Elijah. My fanciful novels never painted a portrait of someone willing to keep such an encounter both secret and uncomplicated." As she spoke, she reclined, her eyes never leaving his.
"Most men I've known tend to view women as possessions or as trophies to boast about," she mused, her voice taking on a contemplative note. “But you... you’re different. Why is that?”
Elijah paused for a moment, seeming to ponder on her words deeply as his gaze drifted off, lost in thought. “Perhaps it's because I see you as a person and not an object," he began. "Bragging about conquests or treating someone as just another notch is something you do with an inanimate object, not a person.” He said, laying down beside her. “Maybe it’s because I’m not from here, but I operate on mutual respect.”
Laza's cheeks reddened and her eyes shimmered as her gaze bore into Elijah’s with a mix of curiosity and desire. The intensity of her stare momentarily caught the man off-guard as the tension between them thickened.
Before he could utter a word, Laza's hands snaked once again, but this time they rested gently on his waist as her fingers teased the edges of his belt. Her movements were deliberate and slow, silently beckoning him closer. "The morning is still young…" she whispered sultrily as hunger filled her eyes.
Elijah's breathing quickened, the weight of her words and the closeness of her body overwhelming him. Laza tilted her head, lips parting slightly, as she leaned in, capturing his mouth with her own. The world around them faded as they once again became lost in each other.
-
“WHERE THE HELL IS HE!?” Yana yelled, slamming her tiny hands on the table. All of the food and drinks rattled from the surprisingly long blow as everyone casually gazed at the little fairy before returning to their meal. “Ben, where is he!?” She snapped, zipping in front of the engineer’s face as he was about to take a drink of his milk.
Bennett shot her an annoyed look before setting his cup down, his fingers brushing away the few droplets that had spilled. “Why the hell would I know?” He responded, looking around for anything he could use as a napkin. “He said he was going to spend time with that merchant woman or whatever, so maybe he got lucky or some shit.” Bennett waved his hand dismissively as he opted to just use his sleeve.
“Lucky…?” Auri questioned, narrowing her eyes at the man. “What are you implying… with ‘lucky…’?” A dangerous edge filled her tone as her nails started to dig into the table.
Both Bennett and Azeline shared a knowing look upon seeing the barely concealed fury in Auri's eyes. "Ben," Azeline began, her voice tinged with mischief as she tilted her head towards Auri, "do I sense a hint of jealousy?" A teasing smirk slowly stretched across the blonde's face.
Huffing in outrage, Auri's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as a furious look took hold of her face. "I'm. not. jealous." she snarled, leaning forward with each word. "I'm just... curious, that's all. And concerned for his well-being, given the company he keeps."
Azeline laughed softly, fluttering her eyelashes dramatically. "Oh, come now, Auri. It's rare to see you so... ruffled. Do you perhaps have feelings for our dear philanderer?
Auri’s glare intensified, though it was aimed more at the tabletop than anyone in particular. "NO. I simply want to know where my student is," she responded, trying to keep her voice steady. "We are supposed to have a study session everyday, and I expect him to honor that commitment."
“Uh-huh, sure.” Yana interjected this time, rolling her eyes. "This sudden protective streak isn't just about some missed study sessions, is it?" She then floated in front of the blushing red head and pointed at her aghast face. “Admit it, witch! You want in his loins as much as he wants to be in everyones!”
“Okay, okay! This is cool and all, but I really don’t give a shit about who wants to fuck who.” Bennett decided he had enough of the bickering and stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "We got paid today and I plan on fully enjoying myself for once, so can we just move on?" He added, trying to change the subject and divert the group's attention.
Azeline slammed her fist on the table before chugging the rest of her drink. "Bennett, for once, you might be the smartest person at this table!” She shouted standing up as well.
Auri, still clearly flustered, tried to compose herself, adjusting her hair and avoiding Yana's knowing gaze. "Hmph! Fine," she snapped and turned her head to the side as she motioned for them to shoo. "Go and do whatever it is that you infuriating people do and I shall remain here! Where it’s nice and quiet!"
Yana giggled incessantly as she floated over to Azeline’s shoulder and sat down. But before they left the tavern, the mischievously turned her head and looked over at the growing crowd of patrons and snapped her fingers.
An unusually loud crack echoed throughout the room as a gentle shimmer of violet erupted from her fingertips, filling the air of the tavern with magic. The essence danced in iridescent waves, and the atmosphere shifted palpably. The once quiet hum of the sleepy tavern transformed into an ambient, melodious tune, as though the very air had become imbued with music.
Another giggle left the Fairy’s mouth as she raised her voice, melodically ringing out like a bell across the bustling establishment, "Hear ye, hear ye, mortals of this fine tavern! Today, by the decree of the Fae, is a day of festivity! Today, we celebrate the steady approach of Winter! Let your worries be cast aside, and indulge in joy, laughter, and merriment!"
Bennett came to an abrupt stop as he looked over towards Yana with a shocked and confused expression. The voice that usually came out of the little menace’s mouth was usually petulant and annoying, but now… Now it was truly breathtaking…
“Let music fill the air, and dance take your feet!” Yana continued, her beautiful singsong voice causing the lanterns to shimmer brighter, casting a mesmerizing glow over the entire tavern. "Raise your cups high, for tonight, unite under your patron, The Great Yanaiyániuoa! Goddess of Winter! First Judge of the Verdoran Court!”
At this point Yana was standing on Azeline’s shoulder on her tiptoes, acting as a masterful conductor with an invisible orchestra. She moved her delicate hands gracefully, guiding the ebb and flow of the energy in the room, accentuating every rise and fall of the rhythm.
The room seemed to react to her motions. As she gestured upward, notes rose, and lights in the room twinkled brighter. When she swung her arms in a downward arc, the beat of the drums echoed more profoundly, and a cooler draft swept through, making patrons shiver with anticipation.
Out of nowhere, a hint of winter chill started to seep in the usually hot tavern while Yana twirled her fingers, beautiful crystalline patterns of frost formed on the windows and glasses, reminding all of the cold beauty of winter. Yet, with every sweep of her other hand, warmth would spread, ensuring that the chill remained just a playful touch and not a biting cold.
A roar echoed out as each and every patron slammed their drink together, creating a harmonious clink that reverberated throughout the tavern. The music that had been playing in the background grew louder and more festive, with instruments that no one recalled being present: lilting flutes that mimicked the wintry breeze, deep drums resembling the heartbeat of the earth, and delicate chimes that seemed to dance in tune with Yana's conjured snowflakes.
Yana’s gaze then turned to Auri as a wicked smile stretched across the little Fairy’s face. “Enjoy your quiet time, little witch.” A devious whisper, softer than the gentlest breeze, yet unmistakably clear, found its way to Auri's ears. The dense cacophony of the tavern's revelries should have made it impossible to hear, but Yana's magic ensured her words reached their intended target.
Auri herself couldn’t quite narrow down what she was feeling at the current moment in time as she gawked at the Vanir that was staring dead at her. It was a neck to neck race between unimaginable annoyance knowing that the entire day was most likely going to be ruined or unimaginable fear, knowing that the being in the doorway charmed the entire room with a mere snap of her fingers.
A chill ran down her spine as an insidious giggle rang in her head even after the door was closed and the group was good and gone. The room seemed to sway, a subtle distortion in reality, as the residual magic from Yana's entrance continued to linger. Patrons laughed louder, danced wilder, and overwhelmed the tavern's staff with requests and coin.
All save for Auri, who felt a peculiar heaviness press down on her shoulders.
“Argh…” Azeline groaned, squinting her eyes and rubbing her head. “Yana, I don’t know what in the hells you just did, but you made my head feel like it was going to pop!” She grumbled as they walked away from the loud tavern, following the only path leading to the shopping district.
Yana floated beside Azeline, her wings shimmering in the moonlight. "Oh, please, I barely did anything," she responded with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It’s just a sprinkle of Magic and along with a few words that lead towards… intense merriment."
Azeline shot her a side-eyed glare. "Well, a 'sprinkle' to you, feels like a boulder to me."
The Fairy just laughed, her airy voice echoing throughout the narrow street. "It’s not my fault you mortal’s are so stupid and fragile!" She replied, floating backwards. “You should have seen me at the HEIGHT of my power, before those treacherous tree lovers stole nearly all of my magic and those two stupid, stupid heads-” Yana pointed at Bennett “Took the rest!”
“I didn’t take shit.” Bennett replied nonchalantly, continuing to stroll ahead, seemingly uninterested in rehashing old arguments.
In turn, Yana’s fiery hair flared in anger as she pointed at the man “LIAR!” She shouted. “LIAR, LIAR, LIAR!! Thief! Scoundrel! Heretic! Blasphemer! Oaf! Thick-headed… Ogre!” Yana continued her barrage of insults, her voice hitting higher and higher pitches with each one.
Bennett, unbothered by the insults, just continued to walk down, "You've got quite the vocabulary there, Tinkerbell."
With a nose scrunching in anger, Yana buzzed in front of Bennett. "Tinkerbell!? You dare mock a goddess!?"
“You don’t even know who or what Tinkerbell is.” Bennett responded with a smirk. "And if you were really a goddess, then shouldn’t you be able to do goddess things? Like I dunno, smite me or something?”
Yana huffed, her cheeks flushed with indignation. "Whether you believe it or not, I was once revered and worshipped, ya know! I had temples in my name, ya know! Offerings made to appease me, ya know!"
“Key word, ‘WAS’.” Bennett replied, taking a moment to playfully mimic Yana’s voice, "Ya know?"
It was at this moment that Yana felt something in her snap, her tiny maw, lined with razor sharp teeth slowly opened, revealing a terrifying depth that was impossible for a creature of her size. A low growl emanated from her throat, the air around her turned icy, and her eyes, which were usually a soft shade of violet, flared as if they were a burning vortex.
Bennett, sensing a genuine threat for the first time, took a step back, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Woooaahh, let’s relax a little." he said cautiously, his casual smirk now replaced with a look of genuine apprehension. “I was just joking.”
Azeline, eyes widened in fear as she moved further away from the Fairy. And she couldn’t thank her stars enough as Yana’s voice, usually playful and teasing, was now a distorted, echoing whisper that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of reality. "You know nothing of what was taken from me. Of the sacrifices I made. Or the prices I’ve paid. Mock me again, and you shall see that even with only a sliver of my power, I'm still a force to be reckoned with."
Silence settled over the group. The playfulness from moments ago felt like a distant memory.
“Noted.” Bennett uttered cautiously as his hand rested on his pistol as he focused on visibly agitated Fae. His usual lazy and dismissive swagger was now replaced with a wary posture as he considered the best exit strategy if the situation deteriorated further.
“I think,” Azeline began, her voice trembling slightly, “I think he got the message, Yana.” She murmured soothingly, extending a hand. The gesture was both an attempt to calm Yana down and a subtle barrier between the two.
Just as those words left Azeline’s mouth, Yana’s demeanor changed in a second as she went back to her usually playful self. "He started it!" Yana protested, fluttering around Bennett's head like an irate hummingbird.
Bennett, his heart rate was still slightly elevated as he slowly moved his hand away from his weapon. “Right… Let’s just go and find Eli or something.” The engineer turned and started walking away at a brisk pace.
Noticing Bennett was spooked by the encounter, Azeline tried her best to try and diffuse the lingering tension. “Ah… You know, maybe you should tone down the teasing a bit? Yana is uh'...” she paused, searching for the right word, “...Complex. Centuries of imprisonment gives you layers, you know?” She explained.
However, Azeline received a grunt in reply and decided to turn her attention to Yana instead. “Ah… I apologize for Ben’s behavior, but It's just... the boys aren’t from around here. They don't understand your kind and... they’re not used to dealing with the Fae let alone dealing with a Vanir.” Azeline lowered her head, sensing Yana was still agitated. “Remember how they reacted when they first saw you?"
“Hmph, I’m perfectly fine!” Yana retorted, circling around Bennett, her tiny wings buzzing incessantly. “It’s his thick skull that’s the problem!”
Azeline stopped for a moment and pinched the bridge of her nose. It was just her luck to be stuck with two of the most stubborn beings to ever exist. "Ugh, I give up!" she exclaimed, bringing her hands up in a gesture of exasperation. “Let’s just go look for Eli, okay!?”
“What? We’ve already found him, you idiot! ” Yana looked almost offended as she pointed towards a nearby alley. “Do you think I don’t know where my mortals are at all times or something?”
Snapping her head towards where Yana was pointing, Azeline spotted the man in question and squinted her eyes. Standing smack dab in the middle of an Alleyway, Elijah’s signature bored yet irritated face was clearly visible even from a distance.
However, Azeline's heart skipped a beat as she realized he wasn't alone. Beside him was a distinct Beastkin woman with her arm intimately wrapped around his own. Her feline-like ears twitched and rotated curiously while her tail swished about in an agitated manner.
But then she noticed the shadowy and menacing silhouettes of thugs that surrounded them, leaving Azeline to wonder: Just what in the world had Eli gotten himself into?
Comments
David Ellis
Eli: *record scratch* *freeze frame* Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here.
