Overlady: Attack of the Minions (Thread II)
- Thread starter EarthScorpion
- Start date
- Fantasy
Okay, dial it back hard. You're being really kinda creepy about things right now.
And while we're here, also please dial back the language about Henrietta.
- Pronouns
- Reader
Alrighty then. Sorry for any discomfort or offense given.
Part 15-6
"A mistress or a consort is something of a status accoutrement for a dark tower. Really livens up the place, and brings new options of decor. Although I prefer it when it's not a demon. Infernal decor is so last millennium."
— Gnarl
It was the morning after. Things were more than a little awkward in Izah'belya's tastefully minimalistic kitchen. The clock ticked away in the corner. The lights hummed, reflected in the black marble surfaces. From the window, Louise could see demonic pigeons tearing a lost soul apart. So many teeth.
"Coffee?" Izah'belya asked, swaddled up in a fluffy black dressing gown.
Louise nodded from where she was perched up on one of the high stools. She was wearing one of Izzie's old shirts, and it was too big for her. It served as a shift.
"It's kind of unfair how cute you look in that," Izah'belya observed.
"Hmm?"
"My old shirt. I've been in the same kind of position, around at… ah, someone's house, wearing their clothes in the morning. But, well. I'm tall. I can't really pull off the super cute 'shirt reaching down to mid-thigh' look, unless they're, like, really tall. And. Um. You're cute."
"Oh."
Izzie sighed. "Just trying to make conversation here that isn't about how doomed we are."
"Mmm." Louise swallowed. "We do have to talk about that."
"Must we?"
"Yes."
"Well. Um. Okay, so problem one is your mom is going to kill me. Like, literally kill me. She won't even find it hard. Or think twice. And… um, if she doesn't get me, your dad will. And if he doesn't get me, your big sister will. I'm so screwed… uh… so fucked… um. So dead. I'm so dead." Izzie paused. "Please say something."
"Oh." Louise swallowed and tried to shed her thousand yard stare while Izzie bustled around with some kind of demonic contraption. She settled on staring at her face. "Um. Okay, then. I have a question."
"Oh thank badness; I'm really struggling to keep the conversation going on my own. What is it?"
"Last night. At dinner. You had big horns and a tail and wings and hooves." Louise looked her up and down, from the tip of her head to the toes of her feet. "But… now, you've got normal… um, sorry, that is to say, you have human feet and your horns are just bumps on your forehead. And I don't think you even have wings or a tail. What happened?"
"I do!" Izzie puffed her cheeks up.
"Do what?"
"I do have wings and a tail!" She turned around, unfastening her dressing gown and letting it slip down. Technically she was correct. Her tiny tail was no bigger than a little finger with an undeveloped spade, and her wings were hand-sized and sat nearly flat against her back, but they were there.
"Oh." Louise couldn't help but stare.
Izzie did her dressing gown back up. "But… yeah. It's kind of embarrassing." She hopped up to perch on the counter, while the demonic machinery ground away. "Jez told you she's a half-incubus, didn't she?"
"Well, yes…"
"That's not how it works. Not really. It's kind of a… a helpful explanation, but not really true." She grabbed a brightly coloured box and started to eat indescribable brightly coloured things from it. "A succubus is a succubus," she explained, with her mouth full. "Just like an incubus is an incubus. You're either one, or you're not. Jez is an incubus, I'm a succubus. It's just… well, you know she hates that she has an incubus soul, right?"
"Mmm."
"Yeah. She takes stuff that… well, it does all kinds of stuff, but it dampens the incubus thingie an'," she swallowed, "and what it does to her body. The whole incubus thing gets way stronger at puberty, see, so… well, because her mother's human and also a heroine, she was born with a mostly human body and her human body says she's a woman, but her soul says she's an incubus, but her human body is a girl, and… look I don't understand exactly how the mechanics work, but if you want to know more you could talk to a Baelojist."
"Probably not. Her priests sort of hate me because I defeated her and locked her away forever."
"Sorry, what?"
"I'm fine with not understanding it, but she's my friend," Louise said firmly.
"Yeah." Izah'belya blinked, but decided to continue. "Well, I don't have quite the same issue. Mom's the Succubus Queen and I like the way I am, which probably means my human bloodline says I'm a woman too. But… yeah, that von Zerbst blood? It's a powerful bloodline. Super duper resistant to all kinds of dark magic. I'm a demon at the, like, metaphysical level, but my body is mostly human. Uh. Almost all human, really. Like, more than Jez's even when she's on her meds. This is as demonic as I get. Can't fly, my tail isn't prehensile, can't go full demon, don't have the enthralling eyes, and all the demon magic I've learned I had to work my back off for."
"People said you weren't a real succubus when you were young, didn't they?" Louise said with fellow-feeling. That had been her own experience as a mage.
"Got it in one. I didn't realise I was one of Blitzhart's kids until I met Kirche when she thwarted one of my plans, but with her help I put it together and worked out who I was." She swallowed, and wryly patted the tiny bumps that were her horns. "I mean, there are some advantages to that. I'm so human that I can get through nearly all wards against demons and even cast your elemental magic, though I'm pretty shit at it because I've got basically no training. I'm only what you'd call a line-rank at fire magic. Pathetic, right?"
"Wait, wait… wait. You're a line-rank with basically no training?" Louise managed, boggling. How was she… argh, stupid von Zerbsts and their stupid innate genius for fire magic! "Never mind, sorry, I don't mean to interrupt."
"Yeah, not much use, is it? It seems like half the demons out there are resistant to fire." She shook her head. "Where was I? Yeah, I have some advantages from being nearly entirely human at the body level - well, markay, rather than human, but there's not much difference. But down here in the Abyss… look. You probably think I look like a very human demon."
"I mean, you do," Louise said.
"Yeah. But to them, I look like a slightly demonic human." Izzie grimaced. "Abyssal beauty standards say that a little bit of your dad's appearance makes you 'exotic', but looking as un-demonic as me is unattractive. A succubus who looks too human isn't going to get any important roles in conspiracies and she's going to miss out on so many contracts because of her looks. Mortalism fucking sucks, even though most of the demons out there have got some human blood in them a few generations back.
"So I got very, very good at weaving illusions. And applying makeup. And always being fashionable. Red foundation and yellow contact lenses. Talon extensions. Every day is about fitting in. As long as I walk the right way, talk the right way, and cover up what my real horns, wings and tail are like, I can get away with it without people treating me like I'm some freshly damned soul from the pits." She laughed, suddenly. "Urgh, you're just so understanding about it. I showed my real appearance to a cultist once because I thought I really had a connection with him, and the asshole banished me because he wanted someone 'stronger'. It… really fucking sucked and screwed me up for several months. And most demons would be flinching back in revulsion now I'm revealing all my tricks." She waggled her toes. "And baring my ugly, fleshy feet to you."
"I think they're pretty," Louise said without thinking, then blushed.
That produced a half-grin. "Well, of course. You don't judge me." Izzie stretched. "That was one of the reasons I sort of wanted things to work out with you. You get on with Jez, so… you know. You're already super tolerant of people who don't fit in the neat little boxes the demon princes want us to. And I was hoping you wouldn't have a problem if I let it slip that my horns are these pathetic little things and I can't even fly without using magic." She coughed. "And maybe you could help me get hold of some of Jez's shoes without having to ask her because I can't get a well-fitting pair down here. Everyone expects you to wear horseshoes," she said quickly.
Louise couldn't help but laugh. And laugh and laugh, until Izzie started looking offended. "No, no, no," Louise wheezed out, "it's… it's not you. It's just… just after you gave me your summoning contract and asked me out, I… I had a… I had some problems with accepting that anyone would possibly find me attractive. Because, you know, just look at me!"
"Oh, I am, trust me."
The interruption momentarily knocked all thoughts from Louise's head. Bravely she tried to continue. "And… well, anyway. Founder! It makes me feel so much better that it's not just me. That someone as beautiful as you can worry about all this." She wiped away her laughter-tears on the overlong sleeve of her borrowed shirt. "I'm guessing you got no compliments on your appearance when you were growing up either."
Izah'belya chuckled in relief. "Pretty much. I was always the scrawny half-breed who couldn't fly. Running around with skinned knees and bruised knuckles from getting in fights with other princesses of the Abyss. And their brothers. And their bodyguards. And their brothers' bodyguards. Because they'd made fun of the fact I couldn't fly. I was such a tomboy as a kid, but of course I had to learn the 'proper' way to act. Can't have a succubus who isn't high femme. We're not meant to fight; we're meant to have our enthralled patsies do it for us. And I'm too human to be able to enthral with my native demonic charms. It's why I had to learn how to hire people instead."
That hurt. "I couldn't cast levitation magic. They had to put a ladder up to get to some classrooms."
"Oh my dark gods yes! Those fucking ladders! They're so humiliating! Y'know, I'd tried to forget them."
"But you can't."
"I know! And everyone laughs!"
"And they put things you own up in high places!"
"Exactly!" Izzie sighed. "Having someone who gets it – this is the worst thing. Here we are, just… getting along. Bitching about how things were growing up. Opening up. You're cute, and easy to talk to. I could – and have – done a lot bett… worse with dates."
"Yeah, um. You were my first, uh. Really serious date," Louise said, blushing. "The first time it, uh. Went all the way. And… uh. It went a lot better than the other ones." She wriggled in her seat, tugging her shirt down from where it had been riding up. "Just so you know, I've. Uh. I mean, I never. On a first date."
"Well, yeah, I could see it. And as a disclosure, I have. I'm a succubus," Izzie said. The contraption behind her screamed, and she poured the coffee. "Sugar? Milk? Don't worry, it's from the surface – I'm infernolactose intolerant. Actually, I'm allergic to a lot of abyssal food. First time we met, back at the Cabal Awards that time, I was taking so many antihistamines, and part of the reason I took you to that restaurant is it's somewhere that puts up proper allegery warnings." She rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Dad."
"Both sugar and milk, thank you," Louise said. She accepted her mug, wrapping her hands around it. "So. Uh. I mean, what I'm trying to say is." Drat it, now her tongue decided to tie itself in knots. She gulped her coffee, and immediately sprayed a mouthful down her front. "Ow ow ow hot!"
"Oh, are you alright? Take care!"
"Ow." Louise stared down at the soaked shirt. "Um."
"Don't worry, it'll probably come out in the wash." Izzie inhaled the aroma of her own mug. "You were saying?"
"Oh. Um." Louise put her mug down, firmly aware of how her hands were shaking. "I mean, I… I k-kinda had fun last night. Right until. Um. That bit."
"Mmm hmm." There was an odd look in Izzie's eyes. Louise couldn't read it. Was it fear, or amusement?
"… do you like me?" It came out as a squeak.
Izzie swallowed. "I mean, you're hot. Cute, too. It… it helps a lot that you're still into me, even when I don't have my makeup or illusions on. It's… it's something I haven't really had before. Apart from cultists, but they never want you for who you are. They just want you for your infernal investments. And… and I think we got on well." She scooped some of her reddish blonde hair back from her face. "And you've got a mega cute accent. Seriously. So hot."
Each word was like a little hot pink bubble bursting in Louise's head. No, no she couldn't just go with the flow. She had to think — and that was a terrible idea. Her old fears and worries pawed at her, trying to pull her down into familiar fear and self-hatred. What would her mother do? Kill the succubus. What would her ancestors do? Enslave Izzie with dark magics and keep her as an infernal consort. What would Cattleya do? Uh, well, there would probably be blood-drinking involved and Founder, no, she didn't want to think of anything else in that vein involving her big sister and oh sugar, why did she think 'vein'?
What would she do?
Maybe Louise could try this. Try to push on. Try it out for a bit. Izzie wasn't Henrietta, but… she had enjoyed herself. It felt so much better to be around someone who called her cute and hot instead of spending all her time moping after a dead man. It was relaxing. It made her feel happy, not constantly worried and stressed and sick with concern. Izzie smiled at her. She could do this. Even if it meant getting involved with a von Zerbst illegitimate daughter who was also a succubus.
She liked Izzie and Izzie liked her. And she was beautiful. And did –- amazing, wonderful, sinful –- things in bed. That helped Louise stammer out what she said next.
"Yes. Yes. I mean, I don't… I'm not sure… I don't know if this is love or… or something else, but… I'd like to see you again." She shifted, adjusting the sit of her wet shirt. "Both for the evening. And the n-night." Wait, that had to be one of the world's worst. least romantic confessi—
The succubus smiled, and Louise felt the smile was even more beautiful because of the honest relief in her expression. "I'd like that too. I… I'm kind of glad you're not declaring eternal love or something. I wouldn't know what to do with that. A lot of people have told me they loved me. They never meant it. 'I don't know if this is love' is the most honest that… that anyone's ever been with me about love." She took a deep breath. "But we could be friends. Friends who get together for evenings where we don't have to talk about work or family or things like that. Or maybe we just bitch at each other about them, because I'm up for that too if you are. And then sometimes wind up sharing the same bed. Kissing. And doing other things. Like having sex, just to be clear. If, um, you're up for it. Or down for it."
Louise smiled, trying to force down the distracting images her words brought to mind. "You do have a very comfortable bed."
"Exactly! If my… very close friend happened to be caught out late when visiting me, I'd really have to offer to put her up for the night." She took a breath. "So, uh. What I'm saying is, maybe we could try being friends. In a girlfriend kind of way. And if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, but we try to stay friends regardless. It's hard to make friends when you have to hide so much of what you really are like."
Feeling her shoulders clench up defensively and a pink blush rising, Louise managed to stop her stupid mouth from blurting out anything. "We can g-give it a go," she mumbled into her mug, and felt better. Girlfriends. Gosh. The very idea was… nice. Her parents had been very progressive, in that they'd made it clear that she could turn down any marriage that they were considering for her. But this was leagues beyond this, and the fact that she'd stumbled — blundered, she admitted to herself — into this all on her own was an oddly wonderful feeling. "That is, yes. I accept your prop-proposition!"
"Fuck, you're adorable," Izzie said, saluting her with her mug. "You are definitely the cutest girlfriend I've ever had."
Louise could only let out a squeak, and huddle down, trying to suppress the mortification that… uh, was caused by being honest and open and communicating. Wait, why was that embarrassing? And Izzie — her girlfriend — was calling her adorable and cute and that was making her blush and shouldn't she just be accepting it?
"Okay, looks like compliments are a WMD against you," Izzie said, with a literally devilish grin.
"I think I. Um. I'm not really used to them," Louise mumbled. "St-stop calling me cute, it m-makes it hard to t-talk!"
"I'll save them for when I want to reduce you to a cute little stammering wreck, then. When we're in private." She paused for a few moments to give Louise's embarrassed squirming time to still itself. "But moving on, let's just get a bit more adulting down as we establish a baseline."
"Okay! Yes!" That was so much easier than being complimented!
"I'm a full-time career woman. I'm very busy. We won't be able to see each other much. Maybe once a week. Or once every two weeks. I work long hours and I'm often on call up in the surface world for my job. I'm a succubus, yes, but I have my own life. I'm not at your beck and call."
"No, no, of course. I'm trying to conquer Tristain," Louise agreed. She sipped her drink. "I work nights a lot. You have to, when you're trying to sneak in to blow up a town or steal a magical artefact." She put down her mug and crossed her arms. "You don't own me. We're just… fr-friends. Who are girls. Uh. Girlfriends. What I'm trying to say is, you're not my w-wife and I don't know how long this is going to last, but… um. I'd like to make a try of it."
"Oh, thank badness. We're actually communicating — dark gods it's amazing — and going into this with similar expectations. Some of my previous partners didn't understand that my career came first. They wanted to keep me bound to an amulet so I'd always be there for them." Izzie reached out, and squeezed Louise's free hand. She felt soft and warm. "I… I think we might be able to make this work. As long as our families don't find out. And the way I see it… well, they'd kill us both. Apart from maybe Kirche. She'd probably just kill you."
"Worse," Louise said with a wince. Her gaze tried to settle on the middle distance, but kept on returning to Izzie "I don't think she'd be so kind. I'd probably just be mocked until the stars burn out. You mustn't let her know that I'm still alive."
"She keeps on trying to redeem me," Izzie said with a grin. "Says there's still good in me. She might try to redeem you too."
Louise found herself caught between the knowledge she was trying to be good, and the absolute refusal to let Kirche win by 'redeeming' her. "Let's hope it never comes to that," she said instead. Her soaked shirt was clinging to her body and getting sticky. "Um. Sorry, but do you have a bath or something? Maybe a shower? I kind of need to clean up."
"Oh, mmm." Izzie looked her up and down. "Yeah. You could do with one. She ran her hands through her hair. "So could I."
Oh. Louise thought she understood what she was getting at, but wasn't sure. Just to be sure, she started unbuttoning the top of her borrowed shirt and watched Izzie's gaze drop. Good. There was a power there. Not the power of magic –- well, probably not, she might need some books to study further –- but power nonetheless. And Izzie deserved some counter-bullying for all the mean, mean compliments she had been making. "Well, l-lead on," she said, as archly as she could manage, only stammering a little bit. "Show me where it is. And s-since I don't understand your hellish contraptions, I… I insist you help me with it!"
Izah'belya spluttered, her foolish decision to not lower her mug working against her. "S-sorry, what?" she managed, dripping coffee.
"I'm saying," Louise took a breath. "You. Me. The shower. Leave your dressing gown. You won't need it."
And for once, absolutely nothing at all went wrong with Louise's plans.
— Gnarl
It was the morning after. Things were more than a little awkward in Izah'belya's tastefully minimalistic kitchen. The clock ticked away in the corner. The lights hummed, reflected in the black marble surfaces. From the window, Louise could see demonic pigeons tearing a lost soul apart. So many teeth.
"Coffee?" Izah'belya asked, swaddled up in a fluffy black dressing gown.
Louise nodded from where she was perched up on one of the high stools. She was wearing one of Izzie's old shirts, and it was too big for her. It served as a shift.
"It's kind of unfair how cute you look in that," Izah'belya observed.
"Hmm?"
"My old shirt. I've been in the same kind of position, around at… ah, someone's house, wearing their clothes in the morning. But, well. I'm tall. I can't really pull off the super cute 'shirt reaching down to mid-thigh' look, unless they're, like, really tall. And. Um. You're cute."
"Oh."
Izzie sighed. "Just trying to make conversation here that isn't about how doomed we are."
"Mmm." Louise swallowed. "We do have to talk about that."
"Must we?"
"Yes."
"Well. Um. Okay, so problem one is your mom is going to kill me. Like, literally kill me. She won't even find it hard. Or think twice. And… um, if she doesn't get me, your dad will. And if he doesn't get me, your big sister will. I'm so screwed… uh… so fucked… um. So dead. I'm so dead." Izzie paused. "Please say something."
"Oh." Louise swallowed and tried to shed her thousand yard stare while Izzie bustled around with some kind of demonic contraption. She settled on staring at her face. "Um. Okay, then. I have a question."
"Oh thank badness; I'm really struggling to keep the conversation going on my own. What is it?"
"Last night. At dinner. You had big horns and a tail and wings and hooves." Louise looked her up and down, from the tip of her head to the toes of her feet. "But… now, you've got normal… um, sorry, that is to say, you have human feet and your horns are just bumps on your forehead. And I don't think you even have wings or a tail. What happened?"
"I do!" Izzie puffed her cheeks up.
"Do what?"
"I do have wings and a tail!" She turned around, unfastening her dressing gown and letting it slip down. Technically she was correct. Her tiny tail was no bigger than a little finger with an undeveloped spade, and her wings were hand-sized and sat nearly flat against her back, but they were there.
"Oh." Louise couldn't help but stare.
Izzie did her dressing gown back up. "But… yeah. It's kind of embarrassing." She hopped up to perch on the counter, while the demonic machinery ground away. "Jez told you she's a half-incubus, didn't she?"
"Well, yes…"
"That's not how it works. Not really. It's kind of a… a helpful explanation, but not really true." She grabbed a brightly coloured box and started to eat indescribable brightly coloured things from it. "A succubus is a succubus," she explained, with her mouth full. "Just like an incubus is an incubus. You're either one, or you're not. Jez is an incubus, I'm a succubus. It's just… well, you know she hates that she has an incubus soul, right?"
"Mmm."
"Yeah. She takes stuff that… well, it does all kinds of stuff, but it dampens the incubus thingie an'," she swallowed, "and what it does to her body. The whole incubus thing gets way stronger at puberty, see, so… well, because her mother's human and also a heroine, she was born with a mostly human body and her human body says she's a woman, but her soul says she's an incubus, but her human body is a girl, and… look I don't understand exactly how the mechanics work, but if you want to know more you could talk to a Baelojist."
"Probably not. Her priests sort of hate me because I defeated her and locked her away forever."
"Sorry, what?"
"I'm fine with not understanding it, but she's my friend," Louise said firmly.
"Yeah." Izah'belya blinked, but decided to continue. "Well, I don't have quite the same issue. Mom's the Succubus Queen and I like the way I am, which probably means my human bloodline says I'm a woman too. But… yeah, that von Zerbst blood? It's a powerful bloodline. Super duper resistant to all kinds of dark magic. I'm a demon at the, like, metaphysical level, but my body is mostly human. Uh. Almost all human, really. Like, more than Jez's even when she's on her meds. This is as demonic as I get. Can't fly, my tail isn't prehensile, can't go full demon, don't have the enthralling eyes, and all the demon magic I've learned I had to work my back off for."
"People said you weren't a real succubus when you were young, didn't they?" Louise said with fellow-feeling. That had been her own experience as a mage.
"Got it in one. I didn't realise I was one of Blitzhart's kids until I met Kirche when she thwarted one of my plans, but with her help I put it together and worked out who I was." She swallowed, and wryly patted the tiny bumps that were her horns. "I mean, there are some advantages to that. I'm so human that I can get through nearly all wards against demons and even cast your elemental magic, though I'm pretty shit at it because I've got basically no training. I'm only what you'd call a line-rank at fire magic. Pathetic, right?"
"Wait, wait… wait. You're a line-rank with basically no training?" Louise managed, boggling. How was she… argh, stupid von Zerbsts and their stupid innate genius for fire magic! "Never mind, sorry, I don't mean to interrupt."
"Yeah, not much use, is it? It seems like half the demons out there are resistant to fire." She shook her head. "Where was I? Yeah, I have some advantages from being nearly entirely human at the body level - well, markay, rather than human, but there's not much difference. But down here in the Abyss… look. You probably think I look like a very human demon."
"I mean, you do," Louise said.
"Yeah. But to them, I look like a slightly demonic human." Izzie grimaced. "Abyssal beauty standards say that a little bit of your dad's appearance makes you 'exotic', but looking as un-demonic as me is unattractive. A succubus who looks too human isn't going to get any important roles in conspiracies and she's going to miss out on so many contracts because of her looks. Mortalism fucking sucks, even though most of the demons out there have got some human blood in them a few generations back.
"So I got very, very good at weaving illusions. And applying makeup. And always being fashionable. Red foundation and yellow contact lenses. Talon extensions. Every day is about fitting in. As long as I walk the right way, talk the right way, and cover up what my real horns, wings and tail are like, I can get away with it without people treating me like I'm some freshly damned soul from the pits." She laughed, suddenly. "Urgh, you're just so understanding about it. I showed my real appearance to a cultist once because I thought I really had a connection with him, and the asshole banished me because he wanted someone 'stronger'. It… really fucking sucked and screwed me up for several months. And most demons would be flinching back in revulsion now I'm revealing all my tricks." She waggled her toes. "And baring my ugly, fleshy feet to you."
"I think they're pretty," Louise said without thinking, then blushed.
That produced a half-grin. "Well, of course. You don't judge me." Izzie stretched. "That was one of the reasons I sort of wanted things to work out with you. You get on with Jez, so… you know. You're already super tolerant of people who don't fit in the neat little boxes the demon princes want us to. And I was hoping you wouldn't have a problem if I let it slip that my horns are these pathetic little things and I can't even fly without using magic." She coughed. "And maybe you could help me get hold of some of Jez's shoes without having to ask her because I can't get a well-fitting pair down here. Everyone expects you to wear horseshoes," she said quickly.
Louise couldn't help but laugh. And laugh and laugh, until Izzie started looking offended. "No, no, no," Louise wheezed out, "it's… it's not you. It's just… just after you gave me your summoning contract and asked me out, I… I had a… I had some problems with accepting that anyone would possibly find me attractive. Because, you know, just look at me!"
"Oh, I am, trust me."
The interruption momentarily knocked all thoughts from Louise's head. Bravely she tried to continue. "And… well, anyway. Founder! It makes me feel so much better that it's not just me. That someone as beautiful as you can worry about all this." She wiped away her laughter-tears on the overlong sleeve of her borrowed shirt. "I'm guessing you got no compliments on your appearance when you were growing up either."
Izah'belya chuckled in relief. "Pretty much. I was always the scrawny half-breed who couldn't fly. Running around with skinned knees and bruised knuckles from getting in fights with other princesses of the Abyss. And their brothers. And their bodyguards. And their brothers' bodyguards. Because they'd made fun of the fact I couldn't fly. I was such a tomboy as a kid, but of course I had to learn the 'proper' way to act. Can't have a succubus who isn't high femme. We're not meant to fight; we're meant to have our enthralled patsies do it for us. And I'm too human to be able to enthral with my native demonic charms. It's why I had to learn how to hire people instead."
That hurt. "I couldn't cast levitation magic. They had to put a ladder up to get to some classrooms."
"Oh my dark gods yes! Those fucking ladders! They're so humiliating! Y'know, I'd tried to forget them."
"But you can't."
"I know! And everyone laughs!"
"And they put things you own up in high places!"
"Exactly!" Izzie sighed. "Having someone who gets it – this is the worst thing. Here we are, just… getting along. Bitching about how things were growing up. Opening up. You're cute, and easy to talk to. I could – and have – done a lot bett… worse with dates."
"Yeah, um. You were my first, uh. Really serious date," Louise said, blushing. "The first time it, uh. Went all the way. And… uh. It went a lot better than the other ones." She wriggled in her seat, tugging her shirt down from where it had been riding up. "Just so you know, I've. Uh. I mean, I never. On a first date."
"Well, yeah, I could see it. And as a disclosure, I have. I'm a succubus," Izzie said. The contraption behind her screamed, and she poured the coffee. "Sugar? Milk? Don't worry, it's from the surface – I'm infernolactose intolerant. Actually, I'm allergic to a lot of abyssal food. First time we met, back at the Cabal Awards that time, I was taking so many antihistamines, and part of the reason I took you to that restaurant is it's somewhere that puts up proper allegery warnings." She rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Dad."
"Both sugar and milk, thank you," Louise said. She accepted her mug, wrapping her hands around it. "So. Uh. I mean, what I'm trying to say is." Drat it, now her tongue decided to tie itself in knots. She gulped her coffee, and immediately sprayed a mouthful down her front. "Ow ow ow hot!"
"Oh, are you alright? Take care!"
"Ow." Louise stared down at the soaked shirt. "Um."
"Don't worry, it'll probably come out in the wash." Izzie inhaled the aroma of her own mug. "You were saying?"
"Oh. Um." Louise put her mug down, firmly aware of how her hands were shaking. "I mean, I… I k-kinda had fun last night. Right until. Um. That bit."
"Mmm hmm." There was an odd look in Izzie's eyes. Louise couldn't read it. Was it fear, or amusement?
"… do you like me?" It came out as a squeak.
Izzie swallowed. "I mean, you're hot. Cute, too. It… it helps a lot that you're still into me, even when I don't have my makeup or illusions on. It's… it's something I haven't really had before. Apart from cultists, but they never want you for who you are. They just want you for your infernal investments. And… and I think we got on well." She scooped some of her reddish blonde hair back from her face. "And you've got a mega cute accent. Seriously. So hot."
Each word was like a little hot pink bubble bursting in Louise's head. No, no she couldn't just go with the flow. She had to think — and that was a terrible idea. Her old fears and worries pawed at her, trying to pull her down into familiar fear and self-hatred. What would her mother do? Kill the succubus. What would her ancestors do? Enslave Izzie with dark magics and keep her as an infernal consort. What would Cattleya do? Uh, well, there would probably be blood-drinking involved and Founder, no, she didn't want to think of anything else in that vein involving her big sister and oh sugar, why did she think 'vein'?
What would she do?
Maybe Louise could try this. Try to push on. Try it out for a bit. Izzie wasn't Henrietta, but… she had enjoyed herself. It felt so much better to be around someone who called her cute and hot instead of spending all her time moping after a dead man. It was relaxing. It made her feel happy, not constantly worried and stressed and sick with concern. Izzie smiled at her. She could do this. Even if it meant getting involved with a von Zerbst illegitimate daughter who was also a succubus.
She liked Izzie and Izzie liked her. And she was beautiful. And did –- amazing, wonderful, sinful –- things in bed. That helped Louise stammer out what she said next.
"Yes. Yes. I mean, I don't… I'm not sure… I don't know if this is love or… or something else, but… I'd like to see you again." She shifted, adjusting the sit of her wet shirt. "Both for the evening. And the n-night." Wait, that had to be one of the world's worst. least romantic confessi—
The succubus smiled, and Louise felt the smile was even more beautiful because of the honest relief in her expression. "I'd like that too. I… I'm kind of glad you're not declaring eternal love or something. I wouldn't know what to do with that. A lot of people have told me they loved me. They never meant it. 'I don't know if this is love' is the most honest that… that anyone's ever been with me about love." She took a deep breath. "But we could be friends. Friends who get together for evenings where we don't have to talk about work or family or things like that. Or maybe we just bitch at each other about them, because I'm up for that too if you are. And then sometimes wind up sharing the same bed. Kissing. And doing other things. Like having sex, just to be clear. If, um, you're up for it. Or down for it."
Louise smiled, trying to force down the distracting images her words brought to mind. "You do have a very comfortable bed."
"Exactly! If my… very close friend happened to be caught out late when visiting me, I'd really have to offer to put her up for the night." She took a breath. "So, uh. What I'm saying is, maybe we could try being friends. In a girlfriend kind of way. And if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, but we try to stay friends regardless. It's hard to make friends when you have to hide so much of what you really are like."
Feeling her shoulders clench up defensively and a pink blush rising, Louise managed to stop her stupid mouth from blurting out anything. "We can g-give it a go," she mumbled into her mug, and felt better. Girlfriends. Gosh. The very idea was… nice. Her parents had been very progressive, in that they'd made it clear that she could turn down any marriage that they were considering for her. But this was leagues beyond this, and the fact that she'd stumbled — blundered, she admitted to herself — into this all on her own was an oddly wonderful feeling. "That is, yes. I accept your prop-proposition!"
"Fuck, you're adorable," Izzie said, saluting her with her mug. "You are definitely the cutest girlfriend I've ever had."
Louise could only let out a squeak, and huddle down, trying to suppress the mortification that… uh, was caused by being honest and open and communicating. Wait, why was that embarrassing? And Izzie — her girlfriend — was calling her adorable and cute and that was making her blush and shouldn't she just be accepting it?
"Okay, looks like compliments are a WMD against you," Izzie said, with a literally devilish grin.
"I think I. Um. I'm not really used to them," Louise mumbled. "St-stop calling me cute, it m-makes it hard to t-talk!"
"I'll save them for when I want to reduce you to a cute little stammering wreck, then. When we're in private." She paused for a few moments to give Louise's embarrassed squirming time to still itself. "But moving on, let's just get a bit more adulting down as we establish a baseline."
"Okay! Yes!" That was so much easier than being complimented!
"I'm a full-time career woman. I'm very busy. We won't be able to see each other much. Maybe once a week. Or once every two weeks. I work long hours and I'm often on call up in the surface world for my job. I'm a succubus, yes, but I have my own life. I'm not at your beck and call."
"No, no, of course. I'm trying to conquer Tristain," Louise agreed. She sipped her drink. "I work nights a lot. You have to, when you're trying to sneak in to blow up a town or steal a magical artefact." She put down her mug and crossed her arms. "You don't own me. We're just… fr-friends. Who are girls. Uh. Girlfriends. What I'm trying to say is, you're not my w-wife and I don't know how long this is going to last, but… um. I'd like to make a try of it."
"Oh, thank badness. We're actually communicating — dark gods it's amazing — and going into this with similar expectations. Some of my previous partners didn't understand that my career came first. They wanted to keep me bound to an amulet so I'd always be there for them." Izzie reached out, and squeezed Louise's free hand. She felt soft and warm. "I… I think we might be able to make this work. As long as our families don't find out. And the way I see it… well, they'd kill us both. Apart from maybe Kirche. She'd probably just kill you."
"Worse," Louise said with a wince. Her gaze tried to settle on the middle distance, but kept on returning to Izzie "I don't think she'd be so kind. I'd probably just be mocked until the stars burn out. You mustn't let her know that I'm still alive."
"She keeps on trying to redeem me," Izzie said with a grin. "Says there's still good in me. She might try to redeem you too."
Louise found herself caught between the knowledge she was trying to be good, and the absolute refusal to let Kirche win by 'redeeming' her. "Let's hope it never comes to that," she said instead. Her soaked shirt was clinging to her body and getting sticky. "Um. Sorry, but do you have a bath or something? Maybe a shower? I kind of need to clean up."
"Oh, mmm." Izzie looked her up and down. "Yeah. You could do with one. She ran her hands through her hair. "So could I."
Oh. Louise thought she understood what she was getting at, but wasn't sure. Just to be sure, she started unbuttoning the top of her borrowed shirt and watched Izzie's gaze drop. Good. There was a power there. Not the power of magic –- well, probably not, she might need some books to study further –- but power nonetheless. And Izzie deserved some counter-bullying for all the mean, mean compliments she had been making. "Well, l-lead on," she said, as archly as she could manage, only stammering a little bit. "Show me where it is. And s-since I don't understand your hellish contraptions, I… I insist you help me with it!"
Izah'belya spluttered, her foolish decision to not lower her mug working against her. "S-sorry, what?" she managed, dripping coffee.
"I'm saying," Louise took a breath. "You. Me. The shower. Leave your dressing gown. You won't need it."
And for once, absolutely nothing at all went wrong with Louise's plans.
- Location
- The Holiest of Cities
Awwww, this chapter. It was so wholesome, so cute, so perfect. I can'tttttttt.
Just to reiterate, I love this chapter so much. I love seeing Louise all flustered and cute and commanding and sexy. I love the reminder that beneath the armor and rule of steel, Louise is a young woman, barely out of her teenager years, who is entering her first real relationship, having her first sexual encounter, and discovering herself as she does so. That Izah'belya isn't just a succubus but a person beneath that, with feelings and emotions, and that this might be a first for her too. And that they're talking about it, communicating, and are aware of it and grateful for it.
Sir, I see what you are doing here, just as I saw what you did for Jessica and her Incubus nature, and I applaud you for it. This is why Overlady is more than just a good fic, it's a great fic. Beneath the interesting plot and detailed character work, there's a message, and it matters.
I mean, have to say, the middle one doesn't sound too bad if you drop the 'enslave' part. And as for the last one, no kinkshaming, Louise!
Wait. Waitwaitwait. Is Louise... Izah'belya's European girlfriend? Whose identity she can't tell anyone, but totally exists? They're in a long distance relationship? They can't meet often because they're very busy with work?
Just to reiterate, I love this chapter so much. I love seeing Louise all flustered and cute and commanding and sexy. I love the reminder that beneath the armor and rule of steel, Louise is a young woman, barely out of her teenager years, who is entering her first real relationship, having her first sexual encounter, and discovering herself as she does so. That Izah'belya isn't just a succubus but a person beneath that, with feelings and emotions, and that this might be a first for her too. And that they're talking about it, communicating, and are aware of it and grateful for it.
- Location
- The sixth circle of Hell (second on weekends)
- Pronouns
- She/Her
UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
Aww yeah get some Louise
meianmaru
The Devourer of Fiction
I love this fic. This chapter in particular is like a glass of sappy sugary happiness that warms you up as it goes down your throat.
Anyway, I'm really liking the shape their relationship is taking. Not one borne from burning and undying passion, but as lovers who are comfortable with each and as friend as well due to their shared interests, experiences and opinions. Add to that understanding and being okay with each other not being the priority number one to each other, with their careers involving demanding and time-consuming nefarious plotting? It seems to produce some pretty damn comfy interactions to read.
The looming threat of their respective families is a slight wrinkle for them of course, but just adds some delicious drama and hilarity to the mix for us readers. All and all, I'm really hyped to see how things will turn out with them in the long-term.
Anyway, I'm really liking the shape their relationship is taking. Not one borne from burning and undying passion, but as lovers who are comfortable with each and as friend as well due to their shared interests, experiences and opinions. Add to that understanding and being okay with each other not being the priority number one to each other, with their careers involving demanding and time-consuming nefarious plotting? It seems to produce some pretty damn comfy interactions to read.
The looming threat of their respective families is a slight wrinkle for them of course, but just adds some delicious drama and hilarity to the mix for us readers. All and all, I'm really hyped to see how things will turn out with them in the long-term.
- Pronouns
- Reader
Well this was an adorable and productive bonding session, with an excellent side of honest boundary establishment, even if it started a bit doomy.
This is truly the cutest little diversion, though I'm fairly certain the minions are doing good horrific things to Izzie's neighborhood. The property values are definitely going down.
Keep up the good work, and have a nice day.
This is truly the cutest little diversion, though I'm fairly certain the minions are doing good horrific things to Izzie's neighborhood. The property values are definitely going down.
Keep up the good work, and have a nice day.
- Location
- Italy
I love this. I don't care if the two of them are not the Endgame: this interaction is good for them. A meaningful character break between story quests. A bond that will inevitably show up either at the most embarassing moment or the most heartwarming.
This chapter was all dialogue, no action and is still one of the best in the entire story. Thank you.
This chapter was all dialogue, no action and is still one of the best in the entire story. Thank you.
- Location
- in the trash
First the Hades/GoW cross, and now this...
- Pronouns
- Reader
Also...
Jester: She who layeth with Kirche's sister.
Catt: oh! Louise! I'm so happy for you! When are you bringing this lucky girl over?
Louise: -frozen with indecision over whether to throttle the jester or hug Catt-
Jester: She who layeth with Kirche's sister.
Catt: oh! Louise! I'm so happy for you! When are you bringing this lucky girl over?
Louise: -frozen with indecision over whether to throttle the jester or hug Catt-
This is probably the best relationship development I've seen in a long time. These two are supremely comfortable, especially Louise as she's willing to initiate sex with little prompting, in what they're setting up and I'm very curious to see how this affects the both of them in the long term.
Of course not. She's Izah'belya's Halkeginian girlfriend.
- Location
- Germany
So Louise has "Luck in Love"?
When she is acting in her Romance her Luck won't interfere?
That Succubus is doomed, she will marry that pink-haired overlady and they will raise a hyper-efficient, very low-profile mega-corp while making out so much even Izzie's mom will be shocked.
Now they only need a plan for Karin.
Temes1066
To Defy Gravity you must Let It Go
- Location
- Coleraine
Yes, that is a bit of an issue.
- Pronouns
- Reader
Drown her in adopted grand children so she's too tired to notice Izzie using illusions to come off as fully human?
- Location
- Victoria, BC
Gosh, I wonder if this is some kind of metaphor or something...?
I'm glad that Izah'belya is a nice girl and that her and Louise have an open and respectful conversation about each other and what they want. The last thing Louise needed is relationship drama.
Temes1066
To Defy Gravity you must Let It Go
- Location
- Coleraine
Okay, what are the chances of Kirche working out it is Louise from the small details Izzie let's slip during their next meeting?
Eh, low I think. Isabella is a clever girl and any general descriptions of Louise that Izzy could don't include particularly damning identifiers. Hair, height, and accent are the most I could see being given away and that's got to fight Louise's years presumed death, her known prudishness/repressedness, and her tsun temperament which Izzy hasn't seen as Louise is rather dere with her.
- Pronouns
- Reader
Low. Honestly just "Amazing with magic", which the Lady of the north is known to be, probably probably makes it especially hard for any of Louise's former schoolmates besides Charlotte to figure out her identity.
- Location
- Russia
Is she gay of european? The answer could take weeks.
Revlid
blob of bugs
- Location
- England
Of their respective family members:
- Cattleya should be the first to learn, and will by all precedent be very happy for Louise, not to mention grateful she no longer has to be so subtle about her maids. Which admittedly wasn't very subtle to begin with. At most there may be some sisterly protectiveness, awakened at last after a decade of being buried under pity for Eleanor's suitors.
- Ditto Jessica, though she'll presumably learn from Louise rather than her cousin. Again, probably pleased for Louise, though more in abstract than practicals, considering her own relationship with Izah'belya.
- Magdalene is probably third in line. She has contact with Louise and the Abyss - as well as Kirche, though that's more incidental here - and has previously taken on the burden of revoltingly sentimental talks about love and romance with her young cousin/shadowy liege. "Date ideas for my demon girlfriend" probably isn't what she thought her next debriefing would focus on, but there you go.
- Kirche will probably find out relatively quickly despite Louise's pleas, because she's one of the few people Izah'belya can talk to about stuff. However, if she does, she'll learn that her half-sister is dating the Steel Maiden, rather than Louise specifically - which considering Guiche's interest in the topic and her own interest in "redeeming" Izah'belya is likely to set some sparks to the powder fuse.
- Eleanor is unlikely to learn from Louise, because Louise doesn't like or trust her enough to tell her, and her sister's love life isn't likely to come up around Magdalene. Instead, she seems most likely to find out through her investigations into the Abyssal threat; she's aware of Louise's true identity as the Steel Maiden, so if it gets out that an up-and-coming demon like Izah'belya is courting the latest contender for this year's Most Dramatic Geographical Remodelling award, she'll put two and two together quite quickly. And, on a bad day, probably conclude that Louise is a reckless little fool who's being manipulated by anyone willing to say a kind word, or being blackmailed by a demon who found out her identity, or stupidly trying to infiltrate the circles of the Queen of Hell. And perhaps try to eliminate her indirectly through her heroic contacts... like, say, Guiche's party. Which would be awkward, to say the least.
- Karin is unlikely to learn at all except by pure coincidence, which admittedly remains a firm possibility in a world that runs on narrative. She has no contact with her daughter or her daughter's paramour or either of their current social circles, and is certainly unlikely to encounter them together. I'd place my bets on her only learning during a tear-jerking confrontation in which Louise lays out how much she's grown since vanishing. Her reaction in that context is likely to be somewhat delayed, to say the least, but still volcanic.
- who fucking knows what blitzhart is up to, by all indications he's not consistently aware either of these people even exist
- Izah'belya's mother... could be a problem.
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