CHAPTER 21: LOSING FOCUS - R

SERICA

I dug the list out from the bottom of my pack, unfolding it onto the table before Deneel. Only a few minutes had passed since Illia made her exit, leaving me to sort through the situation on my own.

Deneel leaned forward in her chair, ribbon stretching tight across her frame. Tracing a finger over the names and columns, she said "Oh my..."

Yeah, ’Oh my’ is right. If you think memorizing this is hard...

It still boggled me that she applied to major tacticienne. She wasn’t bookish, intense thought was her least favorite pastime. Beside the social stigma, the sheer lack of concern served as my main objection to her practice of Mûrie. On a fundamental level, it gave up agency.

"Ser- I think I’m lost," she said, trailing a fingernail down the page, "Why do some have multiple numbers assigned?"

"Those are contingent picks. Let’s start at the basics though," I resolved myself, preparing to repeat it as many times as necessary, "If you forget everything else, or make your own picks... Please, a few of these mean a lot to me..."

I checked her eyes, made sure she was following, "Sure," she said, "I appreciate the advice Ser. Looking forward to being on your team..."

Honestly?

Her expression was forthright and her voice carried no venom. That was unexpected. I thought she’d be livid, given the way I broke things off. I still felt shitty about it. Deneel was giftwrapped, trying to be helpful.

Alright.

I forged on, "There are a good number of high value grabs in the first round, numbered here, my plan was to take the lowest number still available when my turn came."

"Cool, got that." she beamed, adjusting the ribbons across her breasts. She still didn’t notice the slippage at her crotch. Her left outer-lip curled exposed to the air. I refused to glance back at it, didn’t need the distraction. Ainset showed less restraint, lounging with her cheek against Deneel’s thigh.

"Then," I said, "Round two, Cora Tulk." Throughout the proceeding weeks I went back and forth on that decision. As much as I wanted to, taking her round one was a bad play. The chances of someone else grabbing her were miniscule, and it would widely be seen as a mark against me. I even considered placing her lower, but she was École de Combatante, and those tended to run out quickly, "Can you please do that for me?"

"Yeah, I like Cora!", she said, playing with Ainset’s hair. The Esprit spilled a bell-like sigh, rubbing at her own peaked nipples.

Traitor.

"You think she’ll make us cinnamon rolls?"

"Ye- yeah probably."

That’s not the point.

"Can I call you Hibiscus?" Ainset interrupted.

Deneel nodded, "Of course."

"Seriously?" I said. rising from my seat, I slapped a hand to the table, "Both of you. Focus."

Ainset rolled her eyes and replied drolly, "That’s kind of difficult." She ran a palm across Deneel’s thigh and added "She’s in full bloom, can’t you tell?"

Deneel’s stifled a giggle, eyes scrunched, and wiggled her hips.

"I-" How do I even answer that?

Yes I noticed. Her scent crashed over me the second we walked in here. That didn’t matter; I rounded the table and sat down before them on its ledge, nudging Ainset with my foot, "Do I need to remove you?"

"No!" she stepped brass fingers up Deneel’s leg, reaching for one of the ribbon’s tassels.

"Oh," Deneel said and slid her hips forward, "Did you want to?". Sugar coated her words, and I couldn’t help but imagine gripping that orange side-pony and bending her over the arm of a chair.

"Ains, please," I said, "This isn’t helping... Can you go frolic with your Fuefoyer friend or something?"

"And leave you two alone to rut? I’m under strict orders, Ser," The esprit thumbed the loose tassels idly before looking over her shoulder at me, "and I’ll enjoy every minute of seeing them through."

She rolled up on her hands and knees, presenting her ass to me as contour lines formed within its crevice. Her slick was right there, fingertips peeking through and slipping between her folds. "Mmmmh- just a quick break..."

You’re going to play me like this huh?

"Ains, this is important and It’s getting harder to focus with you..." I gestured at the two of them, obviously attempting to waste my time, "with you, doing this."

The brass temptress raised her chin and mouthed something at Deneel, who replied "Yes!", biting her lip, "I would like a study break."

She stood up and crossed the room, walking slowly, swaying her hips just so. A criss-cross of lines cupping her tight butt. Ains drifted in the other direction. "You sound like you’re having a hard day." Deneel cooed as she approached.

Ains’ hands settled on my shoulders, and before I could lean beyond her grasp she sagged into it, dragging me back into my chair as her lips brushing my ears, "We want to ease your burden Ser."

It was plainly obvious nothing of value would get done until this was resolved. I shivered at her voice, "Just relax, we’ll take good care of you."

Deneel looked apprehensive, a little unsure. We’d left things off on shaky ground, I’d basically abandoned our friendship. It dawned on me she might need some reassurance. She straddled my leg and held out the ends of her ribbon. "If you give these to Ains..."

The skin of our thighs grazed, she was running hot, eyes half-lidded behind her mask.

"You’re going to pay attention when we’re done?" I smiled

"Mmhmm, I promise," her hips set into a roll that traveled up her core and into her neck.

"There we go," Ains chimed and took a nip at my earlobe, " Time for team-building activities."

I grabbed her tassels. Mûrie channeled and played host to Esprit, allowing them the experience of flesh. I’d seen it happen once and the experience haunted me, watching someone hand over their autonomy.

Ains’ hands trailed down my back and wrapped around to my torso, pulling me into a tight hug. I stiffened at the attention. "If it’ll help you two stay on task..." I relented.

Deneel met my gaze and gave me an assuring expression, splitting the wet ribbons that crossed her mons to reveal her dewy pink petals.

"I can’t wait to feel that cock with real skin," Ainslet said, reaching up to my breasts.

Deneel ran her fingers through my hair, positioning my head back and meeting my lips with her own. Ainset massaged my chest as I opened my mouth, granting Deneel access and mingling our spit.

"Mmm!" my body responded in a series of jitters as Ains pinched my nipples between her hard knuckles. Deneel’s tongue moved cautiously, mapping space in my mouth. I kissed back, letting her know that, despite my initial reluctance, I was eager. Encouraged, she rocked her teeth against mine, sliding her tongue deeper.

Caught between an insistent, skilled tongue and wandering cool brass. Cramped in ladies’ smalls, my length pressed into and past their hem, suddenly springing free as Ains’ cold hand meandered south.

"Now, Serica?" Ains said, sliding fingers up the back of my palm.

I broke free of Deneel and said "Yes.", pressing the tassels into Ainset’s grip. Eyes closed from the kiss, the press of Ainset’s form left, and the taste of Deneel’s mouth sharpened. I stole a peek to see the Esprit’s brass eyes, closed, lids fluttering, framed in the porcelain circles of Deneel’s mask.

"Hehe," Ains’ rasp broke from Deneel’s lips as she broke our seal and trailed a fingertip down my cheek, "You softie."

She rose in a twirling dance, slapping Deneel’s sandaled feet against the solid floor. The ribbons had gone metallic, her whole body jolted as she reached down and tweaked her clit.

"There we go... mmh, feels so conflicted in here..." she stretched, rubbed a thigh against the tables edge, "Oh!" her lip curled, "Ser, were you being mean to this one?"

Great.

"Haa-" another jolt rocked though her, "Okay, I planned to treat you, but this is inexcusable."

I didn’t know this was part of a Mûrie’s claim, but it made sense if they were sharing everything else. I had no retort, it was true, I’d been a bad friend.

"Show me." Deneel’s body said with a grimace, speaking to herself. "Yep. Right- Terrible," she leaned over the table, dotting her finger down the list, "Seriously, where the hell is her name Ser?"

I hadn’t included her. I thought it would be too awkward. They turned back to me, adjusting their metal straps toward a more modest presentation. "No Hibiscus for you, not til you learn to play nice with others."

"Ains, I am sorry..." I said, getting out of my seat. I meant that. I’d never been good at apologies, preferring avoidance to admitting my faults.

She huffed, snatching up the list and Deneel’s pack, "I’m not the one you should be apologizing to."

You’re the same person right now.

She went on, making her way to the door, "I thought you were sweet... We’ll talk later, don’t break any rules while I’m out."