The trio decide to give them some space

Venus, Cass, and Bwen weren't sure if they could reenter the wooded home if they left via one of the long window like openings. What they were sure of was that listening to euphoric moans and the occasional bray was awkward enough to risk sleeping outside. They stumbled out into the cool night air and were grateful to hear nothing aside from the sounds of crickets.

"Much better." Venus said quietly looking over the pond and clearing she had seen when she'd first arrived.

"Agreed." Bwen chimed.

"Mmmm... definitely missing something though." Cass added while shaking three bottles in her arms.

"Wait... When did you take those?" Venus asked, not remembering losing Cass for even a moment. Cass just winked in reply. Handing a full bottle of wine to both Venus and Bwen, then opening her own.

"A full bottle for each of us?" Venus questioned, a little concerned at the amount.

"Ah people from your world can't handle their wine huh?" Cass asked earnestly.

"We can handle our **** just fine, I'll have you know." Venus said opening her own bottle in response and taking a draft.

Bwen chuckled. "Venus, you fell right for that one. Can't blame you, Cass has always been good at provoking."

Venus looked from Bwen to Cass while realizing she'd been easily peer pressured. She got another wink from Cass. They all laughed and drank more of their wine, finding seats on the grass thankfully devoid of anything crawly.

They talked for a long while. Drinking as they went.

~

"So... there's no magic in your world, but people can fly?" Bwen asked incredulously.

"Yep!" Venus beamed, a red glow from the **** painting her cheeks.

"Either... you're a boisterous liar when you drink or there really is magic on your world." Cass said around her own bottle.

"NO!" Venus said a little more emphatically then she would have sober. "ISs different. It's science. Aerodynamics and whatever. Boring."

Cass and Bwen shared a skeptical look and then Bwen dropped back on the grass giggling and groggily trying to keep his eyes open. Cass decided to change the topic, scooting over next to Venus to keep her words quiet.

"It's none of my business," she started. "but I can't help but ask. When you said you have to get intimate to heal... did you and Ray....?"

"Oh thank goodness no, can you imagine having sex in that cave... ugghhhh." Venus said remembering the smell.

"So... it doesn't have to be sex?" Cass asked.

"Kissing earlier worked, right?" Venus asked.

Cass nodded, but then her eyes narrowed. "So you and Bwen didn't..."

Venus' cheeks colored remembering Cass and Bwen's history. "No we didn't have sex."

Something how she said it caught Cass' attention "So you two... kissed, like we did earlier?"

Venus started... "Well..."

Cass waited expectantly with an impatient expression. Bwen had begun snoring softly, punctuating the awkward pause

"Ugh, fine no. We didn't kiss. I gave him a handjob."

Cass' expression brightened. "Oh, gotcha."

"Wait, what?" Venus said startled. "I know you two aren't a thing anymore but there's enough something there to make me surprised with that answer."

"Well..." It was Cass' turn to pause. "I would hardly count that as 'intimate', honestly a kiss could be more so depending on how you went about it. Besides, like you said, Bwen and I are through."

Venus gave Cass a long stare. That wasn't everything, she was sure of it. Cass tried to avoid making eye contact by drinking more of her wine.

"Oh my god." Venus realized.

"What?" Cass asked, trying to sound innocent.

"You're not jealous, because you think you give a better handjob than me! You don't think you need to be jealous anymore, if that's all that's happened."

"That is soo not true." Cass plainly lied.

Without wine Venus might have laughed and left it alone, but with the **** thrumming in her blood she was unusually competitive.

"You are so cocky! You just met me, you have no idea which of us is better!" Venus said with humor.

"First of all," Cass began "Still not true. I'm over Bwen's bullshit. He wants to run off and **** himself on Codran's city whores, that's his fucking business. Literally. Secondly, I don't think I give a better handjob, I know I do." She added while smiling mischievously.

"I can't believe you!" Venus laughed. "You are so incredibly full of it! My handjobs are now, quite literally, magical!"

"Psssh. So yours can make a guy feel better, literally all of them do that. After I give a guy a hand, they prefer it to a bj." Cass responded smugly.

"Oh yeah?" Venus challenged "Ever think maybe your head game could use a little work then?"

Cass was about to retort when they heard Monet's tinkling voice behind them.

"You could always... put it to the test?" Monet said with a lightly wicked grin.