You Still Need Breakfast

While both of your familiar's appetites may have been sated in a single act, only one of yours has been taken care of. So you finish cleaning up, dress, and head out for breakfast in the dining room.

When you arrive and get your food, you look for a place to sit. Unfortunately, it looks like you have come right at the peak of when most students have their morning meals so free space is unavailable save for one table with two familiar people... and one of them waving you over as the other is doing their best to pretend they do not see you in this setting.

Victor seems quite pleased as you take the available seat while Harmony's expression makes you wonder if she is tempted to cast a spell that would teleport her anywhere else than where she is at the moment. "So glad you could join us this morning," Victor says with a big, confident smile, "Given what Harmony and I were talking about just now, I was hoping to ask you if she'd challenged you to a rematch."

You give Harmony a surprised look, it seems unlike her that she would talk about her upcoming confrontation with Amelia to... well... anyone. The blonde frowns sourly as she explains, "He claims he can tell I'm preparing for a duel."

"Oh come now, Harmony. We all know you may not be the most sociable woman in the world but when you're preparing for a big match you become positively monosyllabic! You've been that way since you joined your first Dueling Club in middle school and the Dueling Club season HERE doesn't really start for another week yet. The only possibility you would be focusing this intently now is if there is some personal confrontation upcoming. Like your previous duel with... well..."

He waves a hand in your direction. Given the nature of the duel that is being prepped for, it seems best to play dumb. You shrug and say, "If she is looking for a **** match, she hasn't informed me yet."

Harmony grunts before returning her attention to her bowl of yogurt and fruit. She is eating rather fast, trying to stay proper in her table manners but clearly speeding up the process as much as possible.

Victor hums thoughtfully, looking between the two of you before returning his attention to Harmony. "Can you at least tell me if it is another thing where a loss means we're temporarily arranged to be married again?"

Harmony outright growls, angrily slapping her spoon down into her now empty bowl as she turns to face the other rich kid. "Father has nothing to do with it, so no!"

It takes a second for Harmony to realize the fact she has indirectly admitted that she is working towards a duel after all and she winces before looking away from both of you in embarrassment. Victor's face lights up with what you are sure is the most punchable grin you have ever seen on a human being whether they deserved it or not, "So I WAS right!"

Harmony sighs in frustration. "Fine. Yes, I do have a personal duel I am preparing for. No, I do not need you as my witness this time and I do NOT wish to speak about it further with you."

"Honestly," he replies, "I'm just surprised you've been willing to interact with others enough to wind up in a personal dispute that requires a duel. And already TWICE in the same semester at that. Is it possible you're... loosening up? More willing to try new things?"

Victor places his hand to his chest in a pose of mock-surprise. You are fairly sure he noticed Harmony's eyes dart in your direction at the words "loosening up" and, if not, certainly noticed the pink tint that comes to her cheeks afterwards. The blonde haired woman recovers quickly and coughs into her fist before she starts gathering up her bowl, cup, and utensils and standing.

"I'm sure YOU'D like that," she grumbles, "But I STILL wouldn't go to one of your... parties."

Victor's mock-surprise turns into genuine surprise as Harmony walks away and he quickly darts his head back towards you. "Seriously," he says, "What kind of sex magic have you altered her with? And can you teach it to me?"

Fortunately, your coffee has cooled down enough by this point that the snort you let out mid-sip means your nasal pathways only get mildly warm instead of scalded. "Excuse me?!"

"Oh come now," he says, apparently still too surprised to laugh at your misfortune, "Harmony is clever enough that we don't know WHERE she is sneaking out to but some of us other Phoenix students DO know she is sneaking out close to curfew. And Harmony WOULD have needed to... settle the unfulfilled terms of your duel at some point. Even if only for the sake of her pride and honor. So at least one of those excursions HAS to have been to see you for those kinds of purposes."

He takes a sip of his own coffee before continuing. "Frankly, I noticed a change in her behavior the very next day after her first mystery trip. It was very subtle but, given how long I've known that woman, I can see it better than most. She is slightly less prickly about having to help some of the lesser students when paired up with one for assignments, and I've even seen her hiding a smile or two when someone makes a joke in her presence whereas before she would be visibly annoyed at it. It's like some of the weight she has always carried in her chest, metaphorically speaking, has been taken off. Like she found some form of... stress relief."

"Even if we did do it," you say, knowing that might be a low-key admission (but one that could never be upheld in court), "Why are you assuming I would have used some sex magic on her to change her behavior and not let it be some one-and-done thing? With those changes being because of something else in her life?"

"Because she mentioned my parties!"

"... Not following."

"I tried inviting her to one a few times when I was... new to the experience of partying myself and she refused. And proceeded to never mention it again in any capacity, not even as ammunition to insult me with. She only shuts something down so utterly like that if she finds it completely uninteresting to her. But that SHE was the one to bring it up means she's thought about it again! On her own! There is no way that could happen unless something inside of her mind has SEVERELY changed in a VERY short period of time. And the only difference between before and after that change is... you."

You take another bite of your bagel, using the time you take chewing to let all that Victor just said sink in. "Just so I'm sure we're on the same page," you finally say, "I'm guessing these 'parties' are ones you've also invited Parisa to before?"

"Yes," he says with another fist-in-the-face deserving smirk, "And other such friendly acquaintances. Not USUALLY at the same time, mind you."

The frown that forms on your lips is severe enough that Victor raises his hands in another placating gesture. "But let us speak theoretically on this next part as that is, in my own admittedly wordy way, really what I am working towards. IF you had her under some kind of spell... what would you do with her?"

"What business would that be of yours, if it even was a thing?"

"I could play the concerned childhood friend card, but we both know that wouldn't be it. You see, the heart of the matter is that Harmony is an Ashcroft. An heiress to one of the most powerful families in the world of magic. If some powerful, unknown factor came along to only use her pussy for some mutual stress relief or, even more inconceivably, caused her to fall in love with them, it would not be a problem. Sometimes a less advantaged person manages to woo one above their station and good for them. No harm done. HOWEVER, if that unknown factor had intentions of manipulating her for the sake of growing a base of power of their own? Well, that might jostle some of the preexisting bases of power... and those standing upon those bases might feel the need to act in self-preservation."

"Bases like the Kyries?" you flatly ask.

Victor grunts and, to your surprise, actually looks a little pensive. "That... sounded far less threatening in my head. My apologies. I am trying to legitimately warn you that your taste in women may be putting you in more jeopardy than you realize. Especially given the other high-born blondes you have been seen with lately."

"Oh right. Selena was the one who helped Parisa report you, wasn't she? I guess she would be a sore spot to you. Especially if she's getting chummy with your new 'friend'."

His eyes narrow. "I won't deny that IS a factor," he said, "but I do honestly hope you will watch your steps more carefully around her. You must realize by now she is not as empty-headed as she acts. And she IS part of a royal family that wields considerable power of its own. Trust me when I say she is not above using that seeming innocence of hers to manipulate others. Especially if she can make them think it is their own idea to jump in front of an Ice Spear for her."

He stands up, picking up his own tray to clean up as he looks down at you, his smile returning. "Oh and by the way. I have no plans to ever invite Harmony to party with me, so if you were THEORETICALLY working to open her up to new experiences I suggest setting firm boundaries with how far she can go. Because if SHE ever invited ME to party? Well... we ARE childhood friends."

With that, he leaves. This was not a very relaxing breakfast, you muse as you finish your meal. And as much as you would like to process everything that just happened, you do not have the time.

Class awaits.