eat your heart out, henry higgens | for ringlette

[fujimaru]

[ Most of the time, life at Chaldea is predictable, in its own way: when there isn't a crisis situation, there's daily missions that need to get completed like any regular set of chores, there's training simulations running 24/7, and by this point, there are regularly scheduled movie and game nights, because it turns out that a surprising number of Chaldea's population can be placated for a couple of hours by boardgames. Certainly that's not something Ritsuka would have ever expected, when she first signed onto this venture, but it's still something she's pretty grateful for.

But once in a rare while, curveball situations come up. Summers usually fall into that category, and this year is no exception. A disturbance has started in a glamorous seaside resort, the sort of thing where very possibly the world might end if left to percolate, weird occurrences, the occasional seaweed-infested skeleton rising out of the deep to claw at the ankles of all the beautiful people gathered. The usual stuff.

Some of these beautiful people include Ritsuka's Servants, and while she's kind of proud of that... she does kind of feel like she stands out like a sore thumb a bit more than usual. Especially when, one way or another, they manage to obtain invitations to a masquerade ball. Not staff passes, to sneak into the back, but actual invitations. Ritsuka is going to die.

But at least she's going to do her best to not be an embarrassment to everyone else!

So it's three days before the ball when she knocks on Marie's door. ]

Marie? Are you in? I need to ask you a favor...

Comments

[fujimaru]

It's true though! If I have to listen to it, then so do you!!

[ She's still riding on the force of sheer nerves at this point. Maybe there's a little bit of reckless pleasure in it, too: Ritsuka is much better at giving compliments than she is at accepting them. And it's rare that she gets to fluster Marie, so her instinct is to push while she still can. ]

I'm not doing it to flatter you-- if I say it, I mean it. I think you're one of the prettiest people I've ever seen in my life, and I've seen a lot of really beautiful people at this point, and if you didn't know that, then I'll need to make sure I say it even more and more! So there!

[ringlette]

That is different! I have a right to speak beautifully of others as a Queen! You little-...

[ There's no sense to be talked here. Marie is so flustered she loses the connection between the words she's saying, and that's bad, really bad, she can't silence Ritsuka in any other manner except if she slapped both hands to the girl's mouth, and who knows if it would even work—

Except... there are still those Drastic Measures she spoke of.

She wastes no time then, feeling that her Master has earned her punishment. With a rapid movement, she quickly interrupts Ritsuka mid-sentence... with a kiss, stamped straight to the lips. ]

[fujimaru]

--?!

[ On some level, she'd sort of suspected (hoped? maybe hoped is the better word) that this might have been the Drastic Measures Marie alluded to.

But that doesn't make her any less surprised when it happens. Her not-quite tirade cuts off in a startled squeak, her eyes wide, her mouth open. Her hands, still clutching Marie's, start to go slack, then grip tighter.

Ritsuka.exe has crashed, please reboot. ]

[ringlette]

[ Good. That's exactly what Marie wanted to achieve by this, even with her hands bound by the other's. She manages to set them free just so she can lace their fingers together, pressing herself against Ritsuka more firmly, establishing the dominance she can easily show through actions.

The kiss itself is half sweet, half intense, only lips being glued together for now, but anything can change and take either one or the other route depending on how her Master reacts - whatever option she's going to select.

Marie, in all honesty, places all her hopes for a specific one. ]

[fujimaru]

[ There's a few long seconds where Ritsuka hesitates. It's a little funny -- she very rarely thinks twice about charging blindly into danger, or even in going along with things that she knows are suspicious. She's never hesitated in stepping up when there's been need (even if she's complained and grumbled a little in the process).

But for nice things? For the things that Ritsuka likes and wants, not as the Master of Chaldea but just as a (slightly tired) girl? That's a lot more difficult. It isn't that she thinks she doesn't deserve nice things or anything like that, just-- being intensely aware of her own inexperience, and her own small self.

She wants this, though. She likes this. And after those few seconds of hesitation, she lifts her hands to settle them lightly on Marie's back, so that it's no longer just a kiss, but a full-fledged embrace. ]

[ringlette]

[ Looking back, she maybe could have been less pushy about it, but fact of the matter is that she did it for a good reason - her own heart was melting... melting! ... under all that praise - and it's just a lip contact imbued with love, nothing more, even though she's kind of worried her Master is going to get mad and push her away. Boundaries are like that after all.

Seconds pass and nothing happens... no, actually something does happen, and it's all about Ritsuka's arms sneaking around Marie and push her closer. It immediately fills the Queen with relief, and she leans in, accepting the embrace so happily while her own hands are free to get up in her Master's face and cup her cheeks, unwilling to stop the kiss.

She has to break away after a bit, for air, but then dips in once again, still hesitating with the idea of deepening it, keeping it sweet and locked away from tongues for now. ]

[fujimaru]

[ Once could have (probably) been written off as a mistake or a joke -- something that had gone a bit too far to shut her up. Ritsuka has done stupider things by far.

Twice, though, has to be on purpose. Twice initiated by the other person and not Ritsuka's own desire means she's allowed to treat this as something she's allowed to have. When Marie kisses her again, Ritsuka lets herself tighten her grip, pulling their bodies even closer together. This is okay. She's allowed.

And having that permission makes her a little bolder, enough that she parts her lips. It's an invitation, and maybe the tiniest bit of a challenge, nipping gently at Marie's lower lip. ]

[ringlette]

[ Marie's now aware that once she took a dip in this risky action, there was no way she would have wanted to get out of it. She knows what's going on. A temptress she would be at times, teasing and then withdrawing like it meant nothing more than a little game. Things have reversed a bit here, with Ritsuka catching her bottom lip, parting her own with a clear invitation to come in, and not for the first time Marie is at the mercy of temptation.

Besides, with how she's meeting clear consent here, there would be no disastrous consequences for what they're about to do. The ball will start much later. They have so much time on their hands.

She slips a hand to the back of Ritsuka's head, keeping in her place while her tongue slips in, quick and hungry, taking what's being offered to her. ]

[fujimaru]

[ This isn't really at all what Ritsuka expected, nor is it something she would have pushed for. She's so bad at that; it's one thing to put herself out there in battle or for the sake of friendship -- something like this still always feels weirdly presumptuous. Who would expect the people who grace Chaldea's halls to ever give Ritsuka a serious second glance?

But even if she's bad at making the first move, even if she is sometimes dense, she's not stupid. She can recognize a cue when it's presented to her.

She fumbles for just a moment, trying to figure out where to put her hands. At this point, there's probably nothing that's strictly off-limits, but she also wants to enjoy this. She wants to take in this moment to its fullest, yielding to Marie's exploration and allowing that freedom without being entirely passive.

In the end, what Ritsuka does is let her hands move up, trying to find and undo the fastenings for Marie's hair. It's always so pretty, and she wants to be able to feel it through her fingers. That feels like a good start. ]

[ringlette]

[ Touching her hair seems to be a luxury considering her history and rank, but it actually is not. Marie would allow people that much freedom if they wanted to, it was no issue to her unless they tugged too much and hurt her in the process. Fact stands that no one really reached for her hair in a long time, and Ritsuka being prompted to, just now, get her hands up and try to undo ribbons tying it up, gives her a rather interesting whiplash.

She ends up snorting a little and smile in the kiss as she can tell her Master is taking a bit long to find what will get her hair loose. After a bit, Marie helps out, placing her hand on top of those ones attacking her and leading them to the right direction.

Silver blonde strands feel extremely silky to the touch when they finally cascade loosely onto her shoulders, running down her back and stopping just below her lower hips. Marie hardly shows herself with her hair untied to others. Although she's not self-conscious about it, seeing this deliberate permission as Ritsuka having gained the right to see her in this state sounds lovely to the Queen.

The kiss ends briefly after, and with a happy sigh, she leans back a little to allow the other girl full view of her now undone hair, which is adorning her warm smile. ]

Please, do not hesitate touching me however you like.

[fujimaru]

That's a lot of freedom to give me.

[ But even as she says that, she's reaching to run her fingers through Marie's hair, slow and careful, trying to avoid any potential snags. She kind of doubts there will be any (Servants and their perfect everything, jeeze), but being gentle like this makes her feel better, too. ]

...I meant what I said, too. You're really beautiful.

[ Marie is in that tier that Ritsuka knows she'll never reach: delicate, graceful, elegant, classically beautiful, a flower in bloom, even before the the advantages of being a Servant. And maybe there's a tiny part of her that envies that, but the greater part, the part she listens to, is only admiring. Once her fingers slip free of Marie's hair, she settles them on her shoulders instead, stroking gently down her arms. Anything bolder than that, she needs to work up to. ]

It's amazing. You're amazing.

[ringlette]

[ It might please Ritsuka to know that Marie's hair is devoid of any snags and, indeed, perfect in any way, especially because she takes care of it every single day. They're going to feel like silk through the fingers, and she closes her eyes in unrestrained bliss. She actually likes having her hair played with, but because of her high ranked status and a pair of overly protective men - a certain musician and executioner - there was pretty much no one who even tried having a go at it.

A little frown settles in as Master resumes her praise, but Marie surrenders to the knowledge that those words won't stop flowing even if she were to kiss the girl multiple times. Actually, she wants to kiss her again now.

Refraining that urge for now, she reopens her eyes, relishing in the affection over her arms. In return, Marie cups Ritsuka's cheeks once again, thumb stroking down the soft cheeks. ]

You are beautiful, too. I say that truly, from the bottom of my heart.

[fujimaru]

...

[ A little laugh bursts out of her, small and shy, and Ritsuka ducks her head. A moment later, she leans into Marie's body, letting her forehead rest against her shoulder. It's not quite a hug, but it has the same sort of needy closeness to it.

And then a beat later, Ritsuka completes the gesture, lifting her arms to wrap them loosely around Marie's waist. ]

I don't think I'd believe it from most people... but when you say it, I kind of do?

[ "Beautiful" still seems like a standard she can't really reach, but it's nice to hear. And it's nice to feel it, if only for a short time. ]

[ringlette]

[ Ritsuka moves in, laughing radiantly, and Marie consequently adjusts her hands so they're tenderly embracing the other's neck instead. Her nose brushes the side of her Master's hair with unbound affection. ]

You should believe it, no matter who says it, because it is true.

[ She kisses Ritsuka's temple, drawn in closer in the embrace because of the arms around her waist that make her feel secure and loved. ]

I love you so much, Master...

[fujimaru]

You love everyone.

[ It's teasing, but Ritsuka leans more heavily into that embrace, her own arms tightening around Marie's slender body. So what if she loves everyone? Ritsuka's the same. She knows so many impressive people; it's hard not to be impressed by all of them. It's harder for her to admit it aloud, but she hopes that the sentiment still comes through in her actions.

But there's also something nice in particular about being held like this. Ritsuka takes another deep breath, letting it puff out against Marie's neck, and relaxes further. ]

...I still feel lucky, though. Hearing that.

[ringlette]

[ The remark makes Marie smile, both because it's true and, in a way, it isn't. There's a lot more to that, and she'd like to show it to her Master if she wills it.

For the moment, though, she hopes Ritsuka will enjoy the kiss she plants on the side of her neck, followed by a warm whisper in her ear. ]

I do, everyone is worth of love, but you are surely on top of that list. My number one.

[ And that's one hundred percent true. ]

[fujimaru]

...I don't know why, but...

[ But. Even if she doesn't understand it, she's not going to argue it. Maybe she isn't a delicate flower, blooming in spite of adversity, but she understands affection. She feels that fondness herself. ]

Thanks.

[ And then, on impulse, and maybe a little for the hell of it, she turns her head enough to drop a quick kiss to the side of Marie's neck. ]

[ringlette]

[ Bold. Marie didn't see it coming, and that fuels the flush blooming over her cheeks when the kiss lands on her neck, however brief it is.

She chuckles, warm all over, a ticklish sensation running over her neck. No one else would make her feel like this except for... ]

Master... what a dangerous move you have just made.

[ Marie loses a bit more of her inhibitions and tilts her head, dipping in, pressing her lips to the side of Ritsuka's neck. She can feel the pulse of blood radiating through her skin as she returns the kiss, a longer time, not yet pulling away. It's careless, but...

She wants to leave a mark on this woman, and the moment she thinks that, Marie starts sucking at the spot. ]

[fujimaru]

Danger--?

[ What could possibly be dangerous about it?

But the whole question dies on her lips, cut off in a strangled little squeak of surprise. Her hands flutter for a moment, unsure of where to go, before they curl against Marie's back, clutching tighter than before. There's a second where she wonders if her legs will just give out, but she manages to keep her balance, only tilting her head to offer more of her throat in offering. With their bodies pressed together, there's no way to hide the way she shivers at that wet pressure.

Her next breath comes in a shaky rush, still slightly confused, but certainly not disapproving. ]

Ah--

[ringlette]

[ Precious... her Master makes it so easy to make Marie want to eat her up.

She's not wasting time, taking advantage of the offer to mark more spots as hers. Lips, tongue and teeth leave trails of red stamped over Ritsuka's flushed skin, and the Queen will carry on to her heart's content, regardless of the consequences. In her rushing lust, she stops her own embrace with a hand so she can travel downwards, finding the girl's chest and squeezing one of her breasts.

It's funny how it took just a kiss on the neck to make her want her beloved to lay in her bed, flushed and sweating and begging for more. ]

Mmm... mon chèr...

[fujimaru]

[ The real secret (which is hardly a secret at all, at this point) is how easy Ritsuka actually is. There's a particular spot on her neck that makes her knees buckle, so that she has to cling harder to Marie just for support. If she wanted to see Ritsuka flushed and flustered, she's going to get her wish.

One of her hands folds over Marie's, holding it loosely in place to her chest. ]

You're sure?

[ It's reflex to ask. Ritsuka is still a little overwhelmed at the idea that this could be happening, and there's that small coherent part of her that wonders what an ordinary girl could offer a queen... but if Marie does want, there's no way she's going to refuse, either. ]

[ringlette]

[ Her lips ghosting over Ritsuka's neck, breath puffing over skin, she murmurs an amused sound. ]

Oui. Absolutely. But, what about you?

[ Seeing as Ritsuka seems to easily submit to her, Marie already knows the answer, but she wants to spoken out of her Master, no actions but solid words. ]

Will you let me love you the way you deserve?

[fujimaru]

I think we maybe have different ideas of that...

[ It's an attempt at a joke, but it's a little more shy than confident. Another little shiver goes through her body again, and she turns her head away so that she can look at Marie sidelong instead. There's something about being asked so sweetly that shakes her confidence, but never so much that there's any other answer but the one.

After a moment, she lifts a hand to touch Marie's face, gentle, like it's something fragile and precious. ]

I'll let you do whatever you want to me. I trust you.

[ringlette]

[ Her eyes meet Ritsuka's again and she sees through them, so deeply, she falls in love for the umpteenth time with the adorable Master she vowed herself to serve and fight for. Her cheek is touched so delicately, she's being trusted, and her feelings leap and shake and swell greater than her heart can handle.

It makes her want to cry a little. ]

Thank you, mon amour. I shall make it so your trust in me will never waver.

[ Marie closes her eyes and lets their lips touch briefly. ]

Would you like to take your dress off?

[fujimaru]

[ Her breath hitches a little, a small embarrassed noise that she'd like to pretend didn't happen. More than anything, she wants to seem cool and composed, if only to satisfy her own pride. There's always that small part of her that is very aware of a thousand little shortcomings that mostly have to do with just being human.

But after a moment, she nods, reaching for Marie's hands and pulling them closer. ]

...Yeah. Will you help me?