Nightly Courtship

Right outside of Stella's bedroom, on the top floor of her tower, there is a cozy balcony with some wicker chairs, a tiny glass table and a few planters filled with magically enhanced leafery. She likes to take her tea here in the morning, or, as it is currently the case, watch the stars when she's having trouble sleeping.

The reason for her insomnia this night is her earlier conversation with Xena. She can't believe she promised to end a decades-old war, for the sake of another person. Worse yet, she isn't quite sure if she wants to do it for the challenge, or because she truly wants to get closer to Xena.

"Hells and Abyss," she whispers, finding herself a fool. Why should she putting so much effort into seducing this one orc?

Before she finds an answer to her own question, there is a knock at the door. Without thinking, she glides back inside, then reaches her bedroom door. When she opens it, she finds herself facing Xena, who's evidently not sleeping either.

The tall orc is wearing a burgundy robe that Stella had given her a week ago, and the piece of clothing is just short enough to reveal almost all of her thick muscular legs. Seeing her in that outfit prompt the witch to consider her own appearance; Her nightgown is probably not leaving much to the imagination either...

"Hey," her guest utters in a voice that tries to sound nonchalant.

"What are you doing here this late?"

"I, huh... I was in the kitchen getting myself a snack and I saw one of your puppets going up with a platter."

She moves aside, revealing a wooden mannequin holding a tray with cheeses and crackers, which Stella had ordered to be brought to her room.

"And so you came here to try and weasel yourself some more snacks?" Stella says in a tone that she hopes comes out as teasing rather than accusatory.

"Actually, I came here to try and get into your bed."

"Oh, alright." The words enter Stella's ears, but it takes her several seconds to understand and assimilate their meaning. "Wait... What!?"

"Do you want to have sex with me?" The bluntness of that offer confuses the witch even further.

"Woah woah woah... You want to have sex... now?"

"Huh huh."

Stella stares back with her mouth wide open. She is aware that orcs' dating and mating customs are differents than humans', but, still. "What about the wedding and the courtship and the war you want me to end?"

"Fucking's part of the courtship process, ma'am. If we do end up getting married, I'd prefer to know beforehand if we're compatible in bed."

"That... make a lot of sense."

The more she thinks about it, the less Stella is flustered by the proposition. This conversation reminds her of Feathers, an orc that she had kind of dated many decades ago. Feathers had been very loose about pre-marital intercourse.

"If the subject makes you too uncomfortable," the orc softly says, "I can go back to my room and we pretend this conversation never happened."

"No, no. I'm not too uncomfortable... Come in."

Stella goes in to the small table in the corner of her room, followed closely by her wooden construct and its platter of food.

Xena looks around the room as she passes the threshold, taking a moment to analyze every detail within her captor's private quarters. Stella, gorging herself on a big square of dwarven cheese, observes the orc as she scans her room. What is she looking for? Is she searching for secret doors or magical ingredients? Or is she judging my tastes in furniture and decorations?

Eventually, Xena finishes her visual investigation and joins Stella at the table, which looks tiny between her thick green knees. The chair, built for a human butt, creaks loudly underneath her massive muscled body.

"Maybe it'd be better if we ate on the bed," she proposes, taking the platter before giving the witch any occasion to respond.

The chair seems let out a creaking sigh once the orc gets up, and Stella watches her midnight snack being carried away towards her bed.

Xena lays down on the large mattress, putting the platter beside her and looking at the selection of dairy products.

Stella is stunned by the insolence, as she watch the other woman lounging on her bed, eating her cheese. She eventually gets up, and then briskly steps towards her bed, laying on it with the snacks between the orc and her. Xena gazes at her while eating some creamy white cheese with her hands.

"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying my tower's kitchen." Stella tries to look casual, laying on her side while propping up her head with her hand.

Xena licks her fingers, and then Stella notices the quick peak towards her cleavage. Her assets are well on display in her current position. The faint hint of a blush on the orc's cheeks brings her much joy.

"So..." Stella utters, "about that courtship process..."

She cringes internally at her words when she realizes how she must've sounded. Courtship process? Come on, girl, get a hold of yourself. You've made kings and queens bow to you in love and admiration, you know you can flirt better than this!

Then again, Stella hasn't courted anyone seriously in decades. It's not her fault she's a little rusty.

But luckily for her, the gorgeous green-skinned warrior licking cheese off her fingers doesn't seem to mind the witch's... cheesy banter.

"Yeah," Xena responds. "About that courtship process..." She pushes the platter away, not taking her gaze off the witch.

The enchantress holds her breath as she watches the other woman move unto her, bringing her wide frame on top of her. Xena doesn't even have to push her; Stella turns onto her back by herself as the orc places her hands on either sides.

She feels her pulse racing, watching the enormous warrior. Their mouths are so close, she can smell her warm breath. But Xena silently stands there on top of her, her eye fixated on hers.

It's as if both women are waiting for the other to make the first move towards a kiss.