(no subject)

[aphroditeredux]

.....hmph.

[Seraphina wheeled her chair away from her desk in a smooth practiced motion. It was well into the evening and she scowled at the clock. It mocked her with the knowledge she'd truly been hunkered down in the office since this morning. Her stomach rumbled, an inelegant sound but it certainly matched her dressed down appearance. She only took calls today, only came face to face with her most trusted prinny staff. Her nightgown that desperately needed to go through the wash, her hair pulled into an unkempt bun. Truly, she was a domestic goddess and no less gorgeous than any other day but some sides of herself were not meant for the public or bureaucratic. Especially her slippers with the butterfly wings. (Many a paparazzi had tried to get a glimpse of the rumored homebody princess overlord but none had survived.)

Scowling at the mess of files on her desk, she gathered them up and slide them into their cabinets without even blinking. It was all second nature to her, every ten days data management and review, e-mail council and report reading. She popped open her portable closet and changed accordingly, donning a cute pair of short shorts and heels to go with her halter top. Adjusting the last clip in her hair she stepped out of her office into the busy workplace of prinnies and ghosts scurrying carts through the halls.

"Patricia!"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I have closed my office hours today."

"Very good, ma'am. First Gentleman Adell has left a message letting you know he is still at the Assembly, dood."

"What?!"

Seraphina felt hypoglycemic rage take her, a violent flash of pink energy expelling around her body before the fuchsia prinny expertly threw three bite size chocolates into her mouth.

"Would you like dinner brought to your corners, ma'am?"

"...ugh. No."

Seraphina chewed and swallowed her candy, the sugar melting her anger into tolerable annoyance. She pointed at some dates on their calendar instead, walking away to the Assembly that was keeping Adell from dinner and her arms.]

The vote should have been over by now! He was eighth in line, hmph, but if those Golems had a new amendment to a bill to introduce Hades knows they take their precious time. You'd think they would be worn away to mineral dust by now!

[Muttering under her breath, various staff avoided her without hesitation as she made her way through the castle, out to the streets that lead to various government buildings. She was tired. She was hungry. That Mothman Overlord's check bounced again and Adell was always volunteering to do something on her behalf. It was as sweet as it was infuriating. Adell, selfishly selfless, always being considerate of her position but... She pushed the door to the assembly with more power than necessary, nearly knocking the block off a puppet passing by.

She was lonely! She was tired of being responsible! This second time should have been easier, she knew what to expect, but there just never seemed to be enough time to just be. Huffy, she rubbed at her face, pushing away numbers flying through her head despite the files locked away, and headed to the auditorium.]

Comments

[vulcanblazer]

[To say that the proceedings had been painfully slow would be an understatement. Almost every party at the Assembly had been causing a stink on every single bill that had crossed their desks before them. And that was before they had spent six hours holding up the bill Adell introduced on Sera's behalf in red-tape proceedings, even debating the font the bill had been typed up in. They knew very well who this bill was really for, but Adell's lack of popularity with most of Gorgeous' elite and senate led them to attempt to haze him in the most legislative way possible, while also making snide and cutting remarks at his expense the whole time. In fact, Adell figured they had held up the bills before his just to get under his skin specifically... and in all honesty, that's what the rumors going around the facility suggested too.

He'd kept himself composed and cool most of the day, knowing very well that his conduct reflected on Seraphina; he was her representative, and he could do no less than try to do his very best. And that meant not jumping ahead of the game and getting belligerent. ...Yet. If it was a test to make him crack in frustration in front of the Assembly, it hadn't worked.

Though frustrated he was, and along one of the secluded side chambers on the way to the auditorium, the demon had finally found a moment's peace to himself. He slouched against the wall; he could feel the dark circles forming under his eyes due to stress and exhaustion. The proceedings had been held up so long he had also missed a meal and his frustration was evident. Even what he packed for a snack had gone missing; doubtlessly the work of a particularly clever, sticky-fingered Thief. That was irritating, but something he could deal with. That was just day-to-day Netherworld nonsense. But the sheer level of pettiness the Senators had been showing... good lord, they were nowhere near this bad on Veldime. Of course, part of that may have been the senators on Veldime knew damn well Adell could kick all of their asses if he really wanted to.

Burbling up frustration made him slam a fist into the wall beside him. Fortunately, the building being constructed with powerful demons in mind, his fist left no mark behind. ...That, and he wasn't really trying to deal damage to it. He pushed himself away from the wall and turned his back on the main causeway before he quietly cursed to himself. His feet hurt from standing on the floor for so long, thanks in part to the nicer shoes he was wearing... along with a nicer suit. Though Adell looked quite strapping in it, he found it much more constricting than his normal clothing. He did it to make a good impression, because he was in fact representing the Overlord, and he didn't need to be told to do it.]

Damn them all. Where do they get off with this bureaucratic BS? Spite? The hell did I do to them? Don't they have better things to do? Like help govern this place? Or did someone pass a bill saying today's National Be a Pain in the Ass Day?

[What followed was another growl as Adell brushed a hand through his hair. He'd tried to get that one hair to sit flat today and it just damn well never cooperated, and it sure wasn't now either, sproinging right back to the way it always did the moment his hand left it.

He rested an arm back against the wall and sighed to himself, and hung his head.]

...Who am I kidding? This is just what they do every day, I'll bet. Sera's put up with this for how long? Come on, Adell. Get your head back in the game. This is nothing she hasn't dealt with a thousand times before. You're here for her. Pull it together and get it done like she would.

[As he stood upright again, a Prinny scurried out of a door further down the hallway.]

There you are, dood! First Gentleman Adell, recess is ending in two minutes, dood! Voting will commence right after, dood, so you better hurry!

Thank you, I'm on my way.

[He sounded grateful, but anyone who knew him could hear some fatigue still in his voice. Still, he hustled down the hallway and disappeared in the same door that the Prinny had come from, to the back corridors leading to the podium in front of the Senate.]

1/3

[aphroditeredux]

[.....]

2/3

[aphroditeredux]

[......]

3/3

[aphroditeredux]

[Ducking back into the public holding area just outside the auditorium doors, Seraphina could see through the window Adell standing at the podium and the Senator standing up from his chair, ready to speak on behalf of the ruling. Adell's back was to her, but the Senator locked eyes with her instantly and she held his eyes, cocked her fingers into an imaginary pistol and mimed firing off a shot.

He coughed in a sudden blustered fit before reading the results.

Seraphina's heels clicked loudly, a countdown to an invisible meltdown the assembly employees were all dripping sweat thinking about. She denied all their inquiries and offers for help.

Any moment now.]

[vulcanblazer]

[Adell raised an eyebrow at the sudden shift in demeanor of the speaker on the floor. He didn't turn around, and didn't immediately figure anything was amiss. ...Nor did he see the Senator in question start sweating bullets after Sera's threat. In fact, some of the senators seemed quite uneasy all of a sudden, but Adell shrugged it off. He opted to remain as impassive as possible, though firm and resolute while he waited to hear the results.

One way or another. This would get done. If he had to throw down to get it done, he would, and he'd make damn sure one of the more powerful senators would pick up his dry cleaning bill afterward. Literal blood money.

Until then, though, he silently waited, his eyes steeled and trained on the proceedings, never leaving.]

And the results of the vote... [The senator quickly glanced back up to where he saw the Overlord, and oh gods, she was still there, take the L!] ...is AYE. Unanimously! Yup! Unanimously, not a single vote against, congratulations, First Gentleman Adell. The motion passes and is official. Now please get out of here. Like right now.

[With that, the Senator quickly sat back down, and dabbed his brow with a handkerchief. The other Senators immediately started making a confused commotion about things, to which Adell again raised an eyebrow. Was this a joke? But whatever, the motion had passed, clearly, so that was good enough for him.]

Uh, thank you, ladies and gentleman of the Assembly.

[Well, that was... weird. To say the least. Either way, he sighed in relief and turned to leave the Assembly hall, so he could leave and go back to the palace.]

[aphroditeredux]

[And no sooner did Adell leave through the doors of the Assembly Hall did a sudden frantic wave part in the packed public quarters, demons and staff alike getting out of the way at the first sight of Adell. But oh, it's not him they're afraid of.

The booming entitled voice flooding the room said more than enough.]

I'LL HAVE THEM HANGED BY THEIR TOENAILS! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME HOURS AGO!

[HEY... BABE...]

1/2

[vulcanblazer]

[So the sea practically parted the moment he walked out the door. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship... what could that---

Oh. Oh.]

[vulcanblazer]

[Oh, that was a shiver going right up his spine. Just. A cold, frozen shiver. Is that what being around the Grim Reaper was like? Because that's what this felt like. And she didn't even sound mad at him.

Still, that wasn't going to stop him or fill him with fear. That was Sera's temper flaring, as it had in the past. They both had tempers and they knew it, so Adell knew very well he had to take this one head on, so he walked over to her.]

They certainly rolled out the red-tape carpet today. Let's... just get out of here.

[He didn't apologize for how long it took, because it clearly looked like she knew it wasn't his fault. And he wasn't going to talk her out of hanging some senators by their toenails either if she really wanted to, but he figured the best way to diffuse this is to just go home.]

[aphroditeredux]

[Despite beginning to radiate a flaring pink aura Seraphina doesn't argue with him, nor make a charge into the room behind him full of an equal swelling of fear in the air. Instead, she tosses her head back into the snootiest hmph she can muster because she's mad, but she's still the Overlord, and goddamit she put on real clothes and did her hair to come out and take Adell home.

She grabs his hand instead, walking him out with a purpose that says any who do stop her will be met with an unpleasant end.

The parting waves of demons continue all throughout the building.]

[vulcanblazer]

[That telling pink aura burning around her would normally scare off most... and clearly was, but he knew very well not to be afraid of it all the time. He also brushed off the toss of her head and just kept quiet, and took her hand in return, walking alongside her with a stride in step. His own expression looked unafraid, perhaps to the surprise of onlookers, who likely took it as a sign of suicidal overconfidence.

What did worry him, though, was Sera's further silence. That's how he knew this wasn't just her just getting pissed about one thing, that it was definitely a mood. A quieter Seraphina was arguably more volatile than a loud one. For now, though, he kept quiet as they walked through the hall, and didn't speak until they were outside and well away from the prying ears of others.

...Of course, how to broach talking to her might be harder, and he was prepared that most of it would wait until they were back home, but... he had something he did want to say.]

...Thanks for coming out here, Sera.

[It was simple, just a sentiment to show his appreciation for her. He wouldn't belabor it more than that.]

[aphroditeredux]

[Seraphina's acknowledgment only comes from the squeeze on his hand, showing enough care to keep her nails from pressing into his skin. Her aura ripples when they enter crowded space after crowded space, back on the streets and inside the main building when it outright spikes after they turn a corner down the hall and she shouts in high pitched fury:]

READ THE GODDAMN ENERGY IN THE ROOM!!

[Squeals and EEEKS flood the halls and adjacent rooms in the face of Sera's fury, staff clearing out a path until they reach the next upper level, clearance restricted only to those Seraphina has handpicked.

They pass by Patricia's desk, the fuschia prinny placing a fin over another prinny's beak when they attempt to speak. The office is eerily silent and then they're on the elevator to the one true residential area of the castle.]

........

[aphroditeredux]

[Seraphina's acknowledgment only comes from the squeeze on his hand, showing enough care to keep her nails from pressing into his skin. Her aura ripples when they enter crowded space after crowded space, back on the streets and inside the main building when it outright spikes after they turn a corner down the hall and she shouts in high pitched fury:]

READ THE GODDAMN ENERGY IN THE ROOM!!

[Squeals and EEEKS flood the halls and adjacent rooms in the face of Sera's fury, staff clearing out a path until they reach the next upper level, clearance restricted only to those Seraphina has handpicked.

They pass by Patricia's desk, the fuschia prinny placing a fin over another prinny's beak when they attempt to speak. The office is eerily silent and then they're on the elevator to the one true residential area of the castle.]

........

[vulcanblazer]

[Adell for his part is quiet. He feels that squeeze on his hand, and that's all the reply he really needed. While Sera still being quiet was of course a little unnerving, it told him exactly enough. He remained dead silent for the rest of the walk home, actually looking stone-faced while crowds peeled away from them like layers off an onion. No fear in his eyes, but he made sure to keep an even pace alongside Seraphina at all times. The terrified look of many of the workers and support staff along their way was a little upsetting, but frankly, there was nothing for it. Really, this stuff was common on any Netherworld, so...

The only less than impassive thing he did on the trip back is shooting Patricia a thankful glance, and the slightest of nods in thanks for her diligence.

Once they stepped into the elevator and started rising up to the more private chambers of Gorgeous' opulent palace, he relaxed more from his upright and proper posture and blinked a little blearily. Fatigue seeped in rather quickly, though he knew it wasn't time to relax just yet. ...That specter of death still hung in the air, after all.

...And of course, as if to break the heavy, pregnant silence, Adell's stomach took that moment to rumble. Loudly. Which just made him feel embarrassed more than anything... and awkward.]

...... What do you say to dinner when we get settled in?

[If nothing else, that'd be a way to unwind. ...Hopefully.]

[aphroditeredux]

[cont. from here..

Seraphina hums, her melodic note full of nothing but mischief. There's nothing sweeter to a succubus, after all, then knowing what's coming next when your prey/loved one doesn't.]

You'll just have to see, won't you~?

Stay put! Princess Overlord's orders are still in effect even if I leave the room!

[And with a familiar pop Seraphina vanishes to her pock Netherworld.

Yep. Definitely mischief.]

[vulcanblazer]

Guess so, but...

[And then she just vanishes with that warp magic, to a completely different place in space and time. Great. She's left him here holding the bag. Naked, at that. It's part of the test, assuredly.

...She really could be cruel, couldn't she?]

Damn, Sera. This is harsh.

[He said, to no one in particular. All he could do was wait. Awkwardly. Sure, he griped to himself, but he just trusted that it'd be worth the wait.

...And be thankful no one dared entered Seraphina's quarters uninvited. He wouldn't have to want to explain this one to the zombie maids. Though they'd probably understand. ...And laugh at him for being a sucker.]

[aphroditeredux]

[The seconds drag out into minutes because Seraphina truly is a cruel Princess Overlord. Of course, Adell is right. She takes her time on purpose. But it's a lie to say it's all going according to plan. She rips apart her impressive wardrobe, flinging clothes into piles on her newly carpeted floors. Her pocket staff looks on from behind, some stopping their responsibilities to huddle together and whisper. Eventually one steps forward and Seraphina turns in a whirl of frantic pink.

MY DRY-CLEANING, WHERE IS IT?

A panic descends upon every part of the pocket Netherworld as Maids and Prinnies alike look frantically, assembling into a tower to walk and assess every inch of the dimensional pocket. Seraphina calls the Dry Cleaner in a fit of cooly poised anger. Her missing nightgown is delivered with a 70% refund.

Twenty minutes have passed.

She pops back into her room, standing behind Adell's back like she didn't just lose her shit ten minutes ago.]

Oho! Still as a golem, excellent, you may turn around and be rewarded by your efforts.

[When Adell turns Seraphina preens, fingers teasing her own hair, let down and falling on her shoulders. Her nightgown is a light purple, material thin, it clings to her curves, her muscles, shows her nipples pressing through the fabric. Sleeveless, with a deep v cut that shows off her cleavage. It's cute, it's comfortable, she couldn't be more pleased with herself.]

Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight? Hmm~?

1/2

[vulcanblazer]

[Okay. Adell can be patient, especially when it comes to Seraphina. But as the seconds tick into the minutes, and then minutes into a score, even he's starting to lose it. He hasn't moved, like Sera asked him to, but he's not far from saying "forget it."

Standing at attention that long was starting to put a cramp in his legs... and he's long since cooled down from any excitement she'd managed to build up in him. Fickle, the libido can be.

When he finally hears that telltale pop of her return, he lets out a sigh of relief. There's a little irritation in it; he'd been excited, after all, and while anticipation was a powerful drug, at some point, it does stop working on its own.]

Thank god. Sera, I know you like to make me sweat and all, but that...

[And then he turns around.]

[vulcanblazer]

[And then he's treated to that sight. As if the curves and toned parts of her body weren't enough, leaving very little to his imagination, that tease of her hair and that smile.

Damn, did Seraphina have game at this. Frustrating as that wait may have been...

...The libido is a fickle thing. And it could be switched back on surprisingly fast in the right circumstances, as it turned out.]

...is incredible.

[He's staring a little dumbly at first. Okay, sure, it was no secret that Sera was sexy, she never made any attempt to hide that, but... yeah. Come on.]

No, I have not. ...And it's only going to get better from here.

[aphroditeredux]

[♥♥♥]

The gape of your mouth, the widening of your eyes, yes, I am an incredible sight! Worthy of such stunned recognition. Hmhm, now!

[She moves with her own natural authority, presenting the front of her hand with no hesitation.]

Show your loyalty, your devotion to me! First Gentleman Adell, take a knee for your Overlord.

[vulcanblazer]

All right....

[Well, good to know she was right back to having fun with all this. He may have been excited again, a few urges actually returning and all... and he knew she was really enjoying this.

But after that twenty minute wait, how much more did she really have planned?

Well, only one way to find out, really.

He'll kneel before her like she asked, and knew what it meant with her hand presented, leaning in to press his lips softly against it.]

1/3

[aphroditeredux]

[She giggles. Her pheromones spice the air like the crushed peppers from their dinner, adding a noticeable heat.]

2/3

[aphroditeredux]

My sweet Adell... Beauty is more than glowing skin and eyes that rival gemstones in color. The beauty in your service, the beauty in your desire pleases me.

3/3

[aphroditeredux]

[And then she grins, eyes alight with heat, darker than she's ever shone.]

I will not be so crude to allow us to go forward without instructing you myself.

[Her hand slides out of his. And she lifts her nightgown up slowly, exposing her mons, hair closer to a dark red than the shocking pink of the hair on her head.]

No touching. Not yet ♥

[vulcanblazer]

[...Yep, there's that warmth in the air, a spicy feeling that crackled through the nerves in his skin. Well, that was a lovely feeling, for sure, and definitely helped him... not quite relax, but feel more ready.

He listened to her first, and then watched as she raised her nightgown. Well. All right, that... marks new territory. And he doesn't do anything untoward either... and wasn't planning on it even with her warning.

Frankly, when she said something about instruction, his brain just immediately went shut up and listen because this was going to be important.]

Okay, I'll do my best to be a good study.

[aphroditeredux]

[She all but titters, the spiced glee she feels inside her body filling the air in the room steadily. She has no doubt he means it, he's serious, in the most annoying of ways, and the also the most fun. She can already tell this is the latter.

She walks around Adell to sit back on the edge of her bed, waving him over with a playful flap of her hand.]

Endure for me, stay on your knees and brace only your hands on the bed.