Complete No More Mistakes

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

"We will... For sure." Ronja smiled, resting her forehead on Nico's for a moment, appreciating the support and care of her girlfriend, after the kiss on her neck brought timid giggles out of her lips. Surely, things couldn't get more lovey-dovey and cheesy, but the sudden interruption of Lena broke everything... Or almost broke, at least.

After the unexpected 'surprise', Ronja continued to lean on Nico, and she shook her head in a mild disapproval regarding the interaction of Nico and Lena. "It will take a while for her to get used to it..." She sighed, peeking at Nico. "And you too, I'm sure..." She then frowned. "That gun part... I will need to talk to her about it... That was way too far."

Sitting down by the edge, Ronja waited patiently as Nico got behind her, ready to spread the sunscrean across her back, with the cold touch of the cream making her purse her lips. "Y-Yeah... It is sure an unique way to exercise, for sure..." She said, then pondering about the question brought up.

"Lena's orders are... A bit unknown to me. She never has really told me, but from her reaction to everything foreign of this house, it is..." Ronja paused for a moment. "... Something that my parents would ask, that's for sure... She never allowed someone to approach me that much... Not that... I ever expressed my desire to have someone approaching either." She explained, pausing for a moment.

"I had... Some friends to visit me in the past. But none of them were... As close as you..."

Ronja paused.

"And the ones... From the past weren't... That much of a good experience either. I suppose." The tone of her voice faintened.

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Nico did her best to comfort her as Ronja leaned against her and poured her frustrations out of her system. Her right hand trailed up and down across her back on a soothing, gentle motion. Her smile faded just as Ronja decided to step down on Lena's actions. "You are right. It's hard to get used to it, and... It's a moodbreaker, yeah." She added. Hardly possible to focus on her lover if a gun was aimed at the back of her head at all times "I am used to getting a gun pointed at me. Philly's quite the crapfest even with people not knowing who I am."

With the sunscreen spread all over, only now she noticed with widening eyes her hug was doing the opposite and smearing it off from her girlfriend in the first place. She went for a second coat of it, and hopefully Ronja wouldn't ask about her tomfoolery.

Nico chuckled instead once bridal carry got called an 'unique' exercise. Unorthodox might have been her own answer. "Hey, it's a fun exercise and it gets your legs moving, I call that a good exercise in my book, but... Just in case, follow a professional's advice." She paused, humming to herself. "I could have been the professional. Well, sort of. I wanted to pick up Psychology at some point." She admitted, giving the finishing touches of sunscreen round two on Ronja, before dragging herself to sit by the edge once again. "Your turn."

Nico went on to listen in silence. Ronja's parents were still a mystery for her, and following her words, no one ever got as close as she did. It casted a shadow over her mind as assumption after assumption begun to pile together and got sweat running down her forehead, a mixture between fear, the shock of realization, and the sun's warmth finally getting to her.

"Or maybe they scared off anyone they didn't like from wanting to make the first step." She replied. Despite having her back turned on Ronja to ease the task of spreading the cream over, her voice alone should tell of the frown across her features right now. "I know I shouldn't judge but, if you say you didn't have a good experience, then they probably weren't worth your time." Nico chose her words carefully, avoiding cussing words despite her want to label them all as the entitled rich kid assholes they are. "But hey, it's hard to get rid of me, i'm like a bad weed."

"You got new friends now. Although..." Nico glanced over her shoulder with concern washing her over. "Ronja, be careful with anyone you meet ingame. People play it for different reasons, but none of the people I met are normal. Everyone hides something, there's always something that drives them." Her frown deepened. "I can't even trust Yugam and Luthien, when I know there are secrets we ain't telling to one another, and all I do is play deaf and blind for their sake." They had history, all of them, and yet there were still black stains no one mentioned or wished to talk about in the first place...

"No one who plays that game is alright or normal in the slightest."

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

Ronja's eyes grew open wide at Nico's words. "Used... To have a gun pointed at you?" Concern crossed her voice and expressions, with her lips pursing as she leaned in. "This... This isn't normal at all." She protested, not realizing the small mistake of Nico on applying the sunscreening, being far more concerned about her girlfriend's well being.

She didn't allow the reveal to dampen the mood, however, picking up Nico's second reveal and blinking surprised at it.

"Psychology? That's... Interesting... I didn't expect it from you." She said, fully honest. Nico sounded rather blunt most of times, which made Ronja ponder if she would actually manage to not just be blunt with her patients.

Ronja too the sunscreen bottle, adjusting herself behind Nico before she started to release the cream out of it, carefully tracing it across Nico's back.

Even if she didn't desire to sour the mood, the topic went through a change, going into something that Ronja couldn't name anything else but 'dangerous'. "... They weren't..." Ronja said, pausing to side glance at Nico. "I find it... Really, really hard to not trust someone that went so far to help you to save me." She admitted, letting out a brief sigh.

"... I do suppose... It is really a game that only attracts people that has a lot to run away from..." Ronja averted her gaze for a moment, finishing to apply the sunscreen on Nico's back, gently and affectionately, despite the heaviness of the topic.

"... Are you keeping a secret from me, Nico?" She asked, with a calm tone. One that didn't seem to demand anything.

In fact, that question sounded more cautious than anything else.

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

"Just once or twice." She replied, knowing it didn't make things any better for Ronja to digest, so she slowed down her tone, if only to make it easier to comprehend. "I'm sure Lena would understand if you asked her about it. It's dangerous out there for people like me, the streets are dangerous too, and I did night shifts before, which you can guess are the absolute worst because of this." She sighed, rubbing a hand at her temples. "Don't take me wrong it's rare for that to happen, but it happens." It's a good thing she never got questioned about the scar around her midriff...

The disbelief was met with a 'mmhm' from her. She couldn't blame Ronja for that, given even she couldn't come to terms with that idea yet. "I wanted people to get over their issues. I know firsthand how much your own head can get inbetween yourself and living your life." She replied without missing a beat. And that hits closer at home now more than ever, despite being on the better end of that situation.

"A-ah crap that's cold." She snickered to herself, her shoulders tensing just a little at the mixture between warm hands and cold cream. The careful touch didn't go unnoticed, a little smile was ready to come with a compliment, but her lips pursed instead, as her lover came to a disagreement.

One she also couldn't blame her for.

"...Do you know what makes someone a good or a bad person, regardless of the action?" Nico played these words with a cool demeanour, yet not once breaking eye contact as she glanced from over her shoulder. "Intent. I know someone who lives a few blocks away from me, who plays the game. I know a lot about them, and I'm sure they fought on that same battle we were in. He is rotten. Manipulator, deceiver, egocentric, sadistic. A liar." She gave it a pause, as too many negative adjectives were used to describe one person, her gaze growing stern at that point. "He fought against the magia several times, but his intent isn't to help others but himself. Just because someone does a good action, it don't mean they are doing it for -good- reasons. And one good doesn't outweigh a person's nature either." Severity couldn't even come to her, not with how gentle her lover had been this far. It would sour the mood any further if she did so...

Nico turned around instead to let them face eachother, her hands stretched out to, holding longingly with Ronja's, just as the brunette averted her eyes. "We all have different reasons. Good or not. I ain't saying not to trust them, i'm saying to be careful, because just like this guy I'm telling you about, there's plenty of them out there. A good deed, and then a lie, and then everything ends upside down." There was bitterness kept behind that sentence. One she couldn't truly hide away, not entirely at least, until...

"... Are you keeping a secret from me, Nico?"
"I am. Unrelated to this all, but well, I ain't about to lie, since you asked." She wouldn't speak of lies only to then lie to her face. It was as straightforward as she's always been. "Something I'm... Not proud of, and still kind of scares me. I shouldn't feel bad about it given the circumstance, but I still do-- I told you I had a gun pointed at me plenty times. Well, one day I got tired of playing victim and getting robbed..." She paused, her grasp on Ronja's hands growing tighter, squeezing them like a stress ball to keep herself steady. "One lanky guy with twitchy hands assaulted me. I managed to disarm them, then I shot them in self defense when they pulled a knife on me."

"Sorry, I kind of switched too fast to that, but I wasn't about to say 'yes' then not tell you about it. I ain't got nothing to hide, but there's a lot I never told you about since it never got brought up. Really!" She sighed off, and curiosity bit her down this time as she turned to look at her in the eye once again. "What about you. Are you keeping any secrets you don't want me to know about?"

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

Ronja's expressions tried to not falter too much at the confirmation that it wasn't some sort of bad joke that Nico had pulled. And even if she did say it was 'rare', it didn't help. "It just need one rare moment... For everything to change..." She said, knowing that it went both ways. After all, they were there, and it was just as of an rare moment as it was to be held at gunpoint.

She paused to ponder for a moment, just as Nico's words continued to reveal she knew even more people that played that game in real life. That detail, however, escaped Ronja's words as Nico finished her example and reasoning. The lingering bitterness in Nico's words made Ronja rest her hand on her girlfriend's shoulder, carefully pulling her closer, not exactly in a hug, but holding her, for sure.

"I am sorry, Nico. But to you... To Val... And to Harper too..." She rubbed her girlfriend's arm gently. "... I trust all of you... Truly, every action has intention behind it... Someone may save another just thinking on the benefits behind it, while others will save them because it is the right thing to do." Ronja looked at Nico's eyes.

"My heart says that all of you did what you did because of me, and not because of some reward... Or whatever other reason." She said. "And honestly, this is what actually matters to me, Nico. If you, or any of them, are doing other things without good deeds in mind... I will admit... I will be sad, and I will want to try to convince you to do something else..." Ronja paused.

"But I will know for sure, that at least to me, you are precious... And that's all that I need..."

It was selfish, and perhaps even slightly amoral. Maybe what she was giving to Nico was something dangerous to have in mind, but at the same time, Ronja knew she was no different... As it was shown when she was brainwashed. As Nico revealed her experience with one of the gunpoint, one that this time she had reacted to... Fiercely, and with survival in her mind.

There was remorse on the actions and words of her girlfriend, and the gentle hold of her in Ronja's arms tightened into an actual hug, while Ronja rested her forehead on Nico's head, muttering.

"It wasn't your fault." She said, soothing. "He made the wrong choice, and yours was forced upon you." Wasn't that pretty much what Nico was trying to tell her a few days ago? "At least... You didn't get any more hurt than that... Any worse than that... And we wouldn't have met" Ronja said, tracing a finger near the scar, but not too near, as to not be disrespectful about it.

When questioned about her own secrets, Ronja pondered.

"... I'm not sure... If it is a secret per se."

Ronja paused.

"It is more of... A feeling."

She closed her eyes.

"... Sometimes I do dream... That maybe... Maybe getting stuck in that game..."

Ronja said impossibly quiet, only for Nico to hear.

"... Maybe... I wouldn't be... Too sad about it."

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Nico nodded as she couldn't deny that fact. One mistake and she would be gone for certain. "We all have our battles to fight, Ronja. If I could get out of that hellhole I would, I'm sure crime ain't as bad around here." She replied. It was a struggle to not bite down into her brutal honesty and simply tell her that's just how miserable life can be at times. Every day fighting for survival.

What came next felt bittersweet. The sweetness of her touch, pulled closer to her lover like that, fondly stroking her arm while speaking what she didn't want to hear. From anyone else she might have felt a lie lurking around the corner of her eyes, but there was honesty in every single word. Nico let her finish despite her own questions, despite how it chilled her bones to know Ronja would think of her as precious.

It warmed her heart, at the same time it tempered her mind to the implications...

"We all did it for you. But that's not what I mean, Ronja. I just..." She sighed off, the words didn't come out, thoughts couldn't formulate themselves into words the same way she envisions them. "Don't assume the best out of people. Not even from me. That game changes people, and usually the ones playing it are already broken to begin with." It was concern, rather than disagreement, what bled out of her mouth, her hands reached out to mimicry the gesture, rubbing gently against Ronja's arms. "Just be cautious with what people say. Take it from someone who got the short end of the stick. You are everything to me, you and our dreams. I ain't about to lower my guard again." She paused, finally giving one last nod.

A nod that she accepted her point of view. Because they were Ronja's. A point they made sure to focalize in days ago.

In her sulking, Nico found comfort on a lover's embrace. Soothing much like her words, it told her everything she already knew. Her face remained like stone at that. Yet, she also told her everything she didn't, not at the time.

"I don't make the best choices at times. In or out of the game. I had to do it, yeah, but... Yeah." She sighed off, instead of fighting with her mind for longer she let her weight rest a little on Ronja instead, her body tilting opposite to where her finger traced, blinking in surprise before letting go of the memory and keeping herself steady once again.

It was unexpected for Ronja to have something to say, and even moreso how hard it seemed for her to put the thought together. The juice Lena left for them looked tempting enough, but her hand kept itself on place, rejecting the idea the closer the brunette got to speak it out. It built tension, suspense, her brow rised high, until a mumble gave her the answer.

An answer that cut deeper than the number the knife had done on her.

But she kept it locked in, keep her reaction as tame as possible, but some of that sadness would eventually drip into her face, disheartened by the revelation, but nonetheless perseverant. It was only a feeling what Ronja had, but it was enough to remind her of a position similar to her own. Her mind, fortunately, leaned for optimism once again. The familiar deep breathing both Nico and Fiora did to ease their thoughts and wash away their doubt followed, like a valve releasing pressure off their heads.

"I'm not stopping you from doing what you wish to do. I used to feel the same, really. I just had no reason to be out of the game. No reason not to risk my life and go out killing monsters and being an epic knight." She paused, figuring the answer would be obvious to Ronja by now. Her hand finally gave in to temptation and picked up a glass of juice, taking a little sip to clear the dry sensation out of her throat.

"Then you showed up and gave me one, and looking back to all I used to do? I'm happy I changed."

The words were heavier than she expected. Her heart still felt at odds with that revelation, and no matter how tasty her beverage was, it was no remedy to her fears.

"Maybe one day I can make you feel different. I just need to try as hard as you did with me." Before Ronja could even talk, the pinkette left down her glass and picked up hers to offer it. She is used to be the opposite of optimistic.

And Ronja's words told her that she's been failing so far.

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

Ronja had no reasons to ignore Nico's warnings, and she did not, nodding understanding and letting some breath escape her nostrils, with another gentle caress as she shook her head. "This game does change people, but we won't allow it to happen... And if it does, somehow, I will be here to make sure you won't wander far from who you truly are, Nico..." She said, perhaps being a bit too presumptuous on thinking she would be able to keep Nico from changing.

The brief sadness on Nico's face, however, was worrying. Expected, but worrying. Ronja could only hope that her girlfriend would take it as well as possible- Especially since it was something mildly in the past by now- Despite being a recent one.

To think Nico used to think the same was what shocked Ronja for a moment, making her gently squeeze her girlfriend in her arms and purse her lips, that only shifted back into a faint smile at the reveal of how much she had changed Nico, in a good way, that was. Giving even more confidence that she could keep Nico safe from whatever ill that game could cause to her mind.

A vague misunderstand did seem to appear, with Ronja looking at Nico for a moment before briefly shaking her head.

"I am... Very glad to know those thoughts are away from your mind now..." Ronja said, with a brief smile, letting an arm go from Nico, and raising it to gently cup her face.

"... It has always worried me... Just how reckless you can be... Even if... Well... This is part of the charm that made you catch my heart in the first place..." Ronja's smile warmed. "... Someone so energetic... So vigorous and with your strength. It is really hard to feel like anything is impossible at all when you are nearby." She caressed Nico's cheek, with her gaze locked on hers.

"... You don't need to wish about making me feel different, my dear." She said. "You already did... Despite these intrusive thoughts... They soon fade..."

Ronja then reminded: "I've told you... Already..." Her forehead gently rested on Nico's. "... For once, I feel like life is worth living..." She repeated.

"I actually wake up... Nowadays... Looking forward something else aside from escaping from this world..." Her forehead unrested from Nico's.

"... And that's because..." A flutter in her chest tickled her once more.

"You are part of it..."

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Her lips pushed themselves up into a smile all of her own accord. It would be a promise, even if Ronja wouldn't have to stand up to the weight of one. Straightening herself, Nico nodded back with determination written over her features. "And I'll be there to make sure you are the person I fell for. Not just the bubbly, cute girl inside the game." The back of her hand gently stroke against Ronja's cheek just then, her voice taking a turn for the cheerful, despite how faint she sounded. "Spoilers: that girl is right infront of me." She whispered.

The worries that painted her lover came with her embrace. Right now, Ronja was the pillar holding her together when all the rest of her own begun to crack. The one in charge to fix them back while holding her world over her shoulders. Would she keep her the same through the diabolical game? Can she even do the same in return?

Questions that fogged her, the worst being the possibility of laying harm upon Ronja, something that twisted her heart like a rug and made her choke on her breath...

But there it was that smile, her eyes recovering focus once the fog of her thoughts cleared out and Nico could see right infront of her once again, if only to hear her worries wrapped in a smile, truths that made her all the more curious with every word muttered.

A quiet giggle broke the monotony on her features, a lite fluster covering her cheeks when given a description that was... Completely accurate, in fact. Her eyes scouted around once embarassment got to her, only to meet them headon with Ronja's yet again, enthralled to listen in their rapport.

Tears begun to roll down her cheeks down both eyes unlike last time. Her smile grew brighter and brighter with the admittance that everything she did had bear fruits. Her lips parted once their foreheads met, and she had to restrain herself from talking if only to let her beloved conclude.

To hear her remind her just how much they meant for one another.

"R-Ronja." Her voice died off with euphoria, yet the tears of joy didn't stop. They only got worse, forcing a hand up to wash them away so she could keep a clear line of sight. So much to say, so much to answer, and yet nothing could come out of her mouth. She wasn't a good talker, easier to express herself through mannerisms.

The old Nico wasn't... So she did just what the old Nico would do.

She leaned closer, letting her intentions be known.

Closed her eyes.

And let her lips transmit her feelings by themselves by meeting with Ronja's. Short, sweet, but the world came to a stop for her at that very moment. It might have felt like a minute, but once it was over she realized how little it had passed, and how much hard her heart beats against her bossom.

"I- I'm so...-" Lost was any fortitude in her voice, despite her best attempts to mask it. "-So happy." She sniffed once, almost ready to fall prey of sobbing, but her head hanged low, her eyes closed once again, and she took a deep breath, and did her best to get herself presentable yet again, despite how much her arms longed to wrap themselves around Ronja.

"I'll find t-the way so we can wake up next to eachother. Everyday."

'Brrrt' her silenced phone went again inside her satchel...

"Until then..." She pulled her closer into a hug. She had to attribute how warmth she felt to the sun, and her own unleashed emotions. "Do you have a piano, Ronja?" She asked, the hope in her eyes betted for a 'yes'. What rich person doesn't have one, afterall? "I want to show you something. Yes, I used to play long long ago. And now I feel like playing for you." Her one outlet for her emotions, her one secret hobby. The one thing that could express her love better than words could.

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

Ronja continued to hold Nico closely, even as her name was weakly called, and tears ran down her lover's cheek. Ronja honestly preferred Fiora's smiles far more than her tears, even if they were of joy- She wanted her to not shed any of those, so she continued to comfort her with affection and care, offering her a small smile as she leaned in, just before closing her own eyes.

She welcomed the brief kiss, caressing Nico as she accepted her girlfriend's silent expression. Her own way to tell what she wished to say, yet her mind couldn't put into words.

Ronja wasn't so different in this regard... Any word she spoke, was just a mere fraction of what she actually wished to tell. It just happened that even a fraction of what she felt was already plent to confess for the one she held so dearly.

"I-I'm happy too, Nico..." Her own eyes became teary as their lips parted.

Her cheeks turned rosy at the statement, letting an arm go as she fidgeted with her hair. "Waking up next to each other... Would be nice..." She admitted. "Even if we already do it sometimes... There." She said, not speaking of the name of that place.

A brief sigh escaped Ronja's mouth when she was pulled closer into the hug, just as a smile tugged her lips.

"Of course... I do have a piano..." She said, tilting her head in curiosity. "You... Truly know how to play it? That's a surprise..! I think-" But before she could continue, the continuous bzzing poked her attention, and her gaze slowly turned to it.

"I think... Someone is calling you..?"

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Nico chose to take it slow and recover her cool. Naturally rather than by hiding everything away like an habit, her eyes never leaving Ronja's until closed, and even past that kiss, all she had in mind was her silken touch, and her eyes, teary at her own confessions.

The joy in her face was enough to make her forget about these tears, positive for once.

"A girl can dream." She replied, two fingers gently tucking a few locks of hair behind her beloved's ear, "But you are right. Besides, I'm bigger in that world, and y'know, good to sleep next to." She smiled, her cheeks not growing any hotter but neither any pale at all, still red like cherries, yet her arms found no rest yet.

No, she needed one last hug for the both of them, her grasp firm but never a notch beyond that. A sigh escaped her lips in tandem with Ronja's, easing her body into their embrace.

With a piano confirmed as part of her possessions, her smile only grew wider, a comical smirk gloating on a silent 'Yes!' at her surprise, only for that to turn neutral once again, her lips pursing as she turned her head over to her satchel. "I don't expect any calls though..." She muttered, stretching her arm out to grasp her satchel, fiddling with her toes until finally her bag ended right next to them.

She shook off her head once her eyes met the screen, rolling them completely unsurprised. "Great, so she probably figured out I'm visiting someone." It wasn't the first time she got in the way of her trips, but before Ronja could ask, she turned the phone over for her to see, and there was a few missed phone calls, with the name...

'Mom'

"She won't care in a few hours I bet." Nico remarked, yet even she was uncertain of that, and after putting her phone in silent mode, she shoved it right back into her pockets and turned to face her once again. "Let's forget about her, it's not like she can do much anyways. Sooo, what do you say if I show you how rusty I am for a piano? Maybe we are in luck and Lena shows up and tell us she will give us a drive downtown or something." Her words a little louder at that last sentence, because she hoped that sneaky maid would be at ear's range just to pick that up. After that, Nico stretched her hands out to Ronja and waited for any sort of permission to lift her back up on a bridal carry, getting accustomed to that feather weight of hers.

"You know, I'm starting to get better at this."

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

"Yes... I am doing it right now..." Ronja returned with cheesy words, that probably made herself more embarrassed than the target of her compliments. "I... Still don't know how exactly it is to sleep... With you in here." She said, rubbing her neck and lowering the tone of her voice. "... We will find out... Anyway..." She added, almost as if it was a secret. Ronja had intentions of having Nico around for as long as her girlfriend could and wanted, and in these plans, she sure didn't want her to stay on a guest room.

The mention of not expecting calls only made Ronja even more curious about the source of the phone's calls, leaning in when Nico showed the long list of missed calls.

"Y-Your mom is sure something..." She blinked a few times.

Clingy mom? Ronja couldn't know, but the calls sure made it look like that. "Does she always do that when she finds out you are travelling?" She questioned, curious.

However, there wasn't much room to question things, with the call back to the piano playing, along with a very loud hinting to Lena to try to bring them back just as it was followed by a bridal carry invitation, something that Ronja didn't reject as she was lifted off the ground.

Her face heated up, being in Nico's arms once again.

"You are... So silly sometimes, Nico!" She giggled, averting her gaze a bit embarrassed, wondering just what Lena would think of Nico's boldness, but pushing those thoughts away just as she locked her gaze to Nico's once again.

"Alright... Show me your piano skills... Maybe we can even try to play something together."

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Cheesy, super cheesy, and yet Nico fell prey of these words like a girl in a novel would.

And she loved every second of that, without a clear answer as to why: her heart just beats harder against her bossom and she gets a little airheaded over it. So instead she settled for calling it 'Love', for her own mind's sake.

"I'm living in one." She fought cheesy with cheesy, her voice perking up once Ronja pondered on a question both of them had in mind. "Still pending on the list, yeah." She called it off, if only to try and be respectful about it, given how little the chances were in her favour.

That little secret shared by the brunette in mumbles, however, changed her mind in an instant and made heat escape out of her ears. "Y-yes." She sheepishly replied back, with the energy of a child about to take their first step into a candy shop.

Their little moment got caught by their mother, without even being present. Ronja's innocent questions made her exhale a sarcastic, short chuckle. "Ha, If only... No, she doesn't care. But I guess the old hag realized something's off because I don't travel at all, and I don't have money to pay for a trip like this on my own. I dunno how she even found out in the first place." She explained, holding her tongue back from outright insulting her own parent, acrimony present in her voice all the same. "Bet she has her own Lena or somethin'" She smirked, but the thought of Lena kicking whatever italian agent her own mother hired put a smile on her face.

"Silly?!" She gasped, looking over to that tomato face Ronja had right now, playing along as a playfully offended pinkette. "Big words from queen tomatoface, to her royal, cheesy guard." She giggled, making her way to the shade cast by the mansion, and finally going right into the fresh indoors. Barefeet stepping over the carpets, silent steps that Nico imagined were akin to the killer maid's.

The piano sits within such a spacious living room (one of many, most likely...), one could consider it meant for an audience, and an audience she had right on her arms, a smile given to Ronja. The distance between the chairs and the piano though was... Understandably large. So instead she hooked her left foot under one of them, dragging it by a leg.

"D-damn. It. Why. Are. You. Chairs. SO. Far. Away" She fought under her breath while holding onto her lover. Her efforts paid off, as now they were both right next to eachother infront of the piano, with a certain distancing from the piano if only to make sure Ronja wouldn't be on the way.

"I know something we can play together. Just let me play one for you. I..." She swallowed, just as her fingers traced over the keys affectionately, fond as if this wasn't the first time she's seen it, despite that being the case. "I kind of need to let it out of my chest."

She pulled out her phone. And after a two minutes search to refresh her memory, she cracked her knuckles and closed her eyes, fingers hovering over the keys. From this angle, it gave Ronja ample sight to notice the harmony within Nico's features. She begun to play.

A classic, one her mother instructed her for, if only to gain the empty praise of strangers and her family alike. What she never expected was to play it this well, despite so many years. Enraptured, but silent all the same. To play a piece from the bottom of her heart for someone she actually cared for to listen to her.

Spoiler:

---

Silence fell once her hands slid away from the piano and down to her lap, the crystalline expression on her face suddently beamed up, the smile growing larger as she turned to look over at Ronja, as it felt like an hour since the last time she did, despite being no more than five minutes in reality.

"So uhm..! What you say? Want to play one with me? I know an easy one for a duet. I'll play the hard part if you'd like." She offered, ready to get Ronja's chair closer, to the right side of the piano exactly, if she were to accept, that is.

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

Ronja looked at Nico with a mix of confusion and curiosity regarding her mother. They didn't seem to be anywhere near good terms, albeit the moment Nico mentioned the possibility of her mother having her own 'Lena', she couldn't help but slip a laugh. "Well, here we have... another Lena to keep her away." Ronja smiled, looking at Nico as she seemed to start over exerting herself to continue the bridal carry.

"Are you... Alright..?" Ronja questioned with a concerned look on her face, staring at Nico even after finally being rest on the piano's seat, making her sigh softly. "You don't need to do that much effort..." She said, "Even... If I do appreciate it." A gentle caress on Nico's arm was enough for Ronja to say she wasn't scolding, but rather caring about her girlfriend's well being.

As she spoke of a music she had to get off her chest, Ronja watched Nico move to the piano, taking a brief glance of her phone before she prepared.

Ronja waited patiently, and eager to listen to what she had to play, and of course rather interested on how skilled she would be. Her fingers fidgeted on her lap, and as soon as Nico began playing, Ronja's expressions softened in a small smile. To see her playing a music so gracefully, and in a way that it felt like it was for her, made her heart melt during it, watching Nico play it until the end, swaying her head faintly as the music went on, and showing a warm smile when Nico ever glanced at her.

When she was done, Ronja applauded, briefly but the smile on her lips showed how much she had enjoyed it.

"You played it... Wonderfully." Ronja said, eyes locking on Nico and nodding as she offered for her to approach, allowing Nico to pull her closer, and giving her girlfriend a gentle kiss on her cheek before giggling and nudging closely.

"I'd love to... but I'm not the greatest at playing... So I may take the easy part, if you won't mind..."

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

"Good to know we both thinkin' the same." Nico chuckled along. Lena vs an italian Lena... Now that would be something, even if it wouldn't be a replica of the original killer maid, it would still be fun to watch.

The pinkette did the closest to a nod as she could once concern begun to boil in her voice. "Y-yup! Just. Trying to... There!" She stopped, exhaling a heavy sigh once they both had a seat right next to eachother infront of the piano. "It's okay... Don't worry... Phew." It took her a moment to catch her breath, giving a little smile back once she felt the caring touch against her bicep, shooking off her head when Ronja mentioned what she didn't 'need' to do. "Yeah you are right, I don't need to. I just do it because I -want- to. I'll be okay, I skipped exercising yesterday, so I'm compensating."

She gonna need another set of lungs at this rate, but fortunately her third wind would make amends with her body and grant her that one last push to freshen her memory and let her hands sing by themselves upon each note until the play concluded, with Ronja being her only spectator to clap and smile. And the only one she needed for her to smile back at.

"I never played it that well." She confessed, only to be met with a kiss on her cheek as a reward, making her eyes spin around for a moment with no clear target other than the 88 keys from the piano itself. "Hey... I can get used to that. One song, one kiss." She nudged her playfully to catch her attention. "Make it two actually, I'm feelin' greedy." She chuckled, listening at how Ronja downplayed her own skills just to act all humble, an 'oh really?' look on Nico's face said enough of what she was thinking.

"I can be your teach, even if I'm not thaaat good at it. Uhh, let's see." She took out her phone yet again, tapping away at the browser, mumbling outloud as she tried to think which one would be easy to play for them, and to have an actual sheet for Ronja to follow. "I'll help you play your part and we'll practice a bit." Placing her phone sideways against the music rack, her hands guided Ronja's over the keys, leaning closer just to get a better angle, both to check on her lover's motions, and the keys themselves.

"Here, let's start..."

---

With enough time under their belts, and after convincing Ronja she would do perfectly, Nico sat down next to her and glanced over, right hand hovering over the center of the keyboard.

"Ready..?" And with her signal out, Nico begun their little play with three rhythmical taps on the keys.

Spoiler: Song

With Nico taking on the missing half of the song, the play would feel complete now, a symphony that made sense now that Ronja could hear it at it's fullest. Her half alone made no sense, and so would Nico's if they were on their own. It's when both were united, when Ronja's own hands reached out for the right keys as if the pinkette was still guiding her over, that one could hear the harmony it created.

Of course her choice wasn't random. What else but Heart and Soul described them better..? The play was simple enough for Fiora to play it casually, but that allowed her mind to wander off a little, for her cheeks to turn red. Given the meaning behind the song, the love letter could just slip past if Ronja didn't knew it.

At least, everyone else in and out of the mansion would get to hear them.

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

"So you've... been training?" Ronja giggled, looking at Nico with a small smile. "Hmmm, I do like these biceps..." She squeezed it with the poke of an index, peering up to Nico with a playful but warm sigh.

The playful retort regarding the kiss made Ronja raise an eyebrow, as if judging the validation of the statement before shrugging and giving Nico a gentle peck on her lips, quick enough to be slightly felt, but not long enough to allow it to be returned. "You will need to do... A bit more... To have more..." She giggled with a teasing wink, soon straightening her back and getting on position to rest her fingers on the keys of the piano.

It took a bit of practice, but the fact Ronja knew the music per se, it made it easier for her to catch the rhythm.

The coordination lacked a bit at first, but Nico soon helped her to work with it.

And when it was the time to play it... "I am ready." She nodded, taking a quick breath of recovery before starting to play it, a bit stiff and mechanical, until Nico finally joined in.

Ronja sideglanced Nico, with the music becoming a bit cheerier, with Ronja swaying her head in harmony with the music. Feeling it not only in her ears, but in her body as well. Their fingers danced on the keyboard like a choreography where the only rehearsal they had was the feelings they were nurturing ever since they met.

Halfway through, Ronja's faint voice hummed under the notes, slowly becoming a singing, even if sheepish and not entirely on tone.

It allowed an uncontrollable grin and giggle to grow on Ronja, with her feelings being clear for anyone that cared to look or listen to it. She was happy, more than she ever showed to anyone else outside of that little wonderful nightmare of a game.

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

"Ever since Hawaii, yep!" She smiled, curiosity biting her when Ronja just giggled and poked about at her arm. "Maybe you'll like to see them in action one day?" She teased, flexing just a little to harden the muscle against her lover's fingers.

Nico awaited for her reward with outmost innocence, ignoring every little bit of judgement Ronja casted on her direction until she gave up and gave her just what she asked for, only on her own terms, as once the brunette's lips pulled back, Nico's slowly followed, only to be met with thin air and nothing more. "Hey now-" A quiet protest out of her that died off at the wake of a wink and a challenge. Unexpected as it is, it hit her harder, making all her senses tingle at once.

"Someone's eager to get in the shower again, I see~" Nico replied in full, salacious in demeanour, akin to the memories she was referencing, letting her eyes linger for a little longer before washing her mind off these thoughts to focus on her lesson.

It took some time to make her come to terms. Slow as her part might be, it still required hand-eye coordination to pull it off, let alone timing: She had to follow a specific tempo, the both of them would need to make it match. Too fast or too slow compared to the other and the whole song would fall like dominoes.

Even these doubts became non-existant. To Nico, it all stopped mattering once she begun to perform. Where Ronja moved in unison with her performance, she remained tranquil but happy all the same, taking glances back to her partner when she begun to humm along with the instrumental, and when humming came to singing...

Nico's voice joined hers in their duet. Untamed, if their tone was off or not she didn't care either, they would be off-tone together. They would smile together. And by the end of their play Nico quickly begun to clap, taking the sudden rush of emotions they both were into to plant a smooch on Ronja's lips. Quick enough to be slightly felt.

But not long enough to allow it to be returned. A knowing grin plastered all over the pinkette's face just as she pulled back to meet her eyes.

"You played before, right? You did real good for just an hour or so of practice." She said, honestly impressed with how much of a quick learner her girlfriend turned out to be. A natural for art, be it with an instrument or a brush to paint with. "Guess I gotta keep practicing or you gonna beat me on the one thing I'm good at." She smirked, only now getting through her mind that same one thing Ronja is very good at...

"Say, maybe tomorrow you could keep doing your thing when I arrived." Her right hand gestured alongside her words. "I'm not much of an art expert, but I mean, fifty or so crayon drawings later as a kid must have paid off somewhere."

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

Ronja's face went red like a beet at Nico's teasing reminder of the their shower, with her heart skipping a beat as she retaliated with a embarrassed, and soft, slap on Nico's arm.

The pure embarrassment was thankfully averted by a different reason for her cheeks warmth. The joy of playing along with her lover, the way they synced without ever playing together before, soon followed by the quick kiss, one that similarly didn't give Ronja time to return-- Perhaps a retaliation for Ronja's own teasing work against Nico.

Her lips pursed, but it soon turned into a wide smile as she saw Nico's grin, scratching the back of her head as she felt the heat growing in her chest and face.

"Thank you..." Ronja said, fidgeting her hands together. "I'm nowhere as good as you, so don't be silly... But... Yes... I played better than my usual self." She admitted.

"Maybe... It is because I had a good company..." And a good reason to play it.

Her eyes then trailed back to Nico's, letting out a brief giggle. "Keep doing my thing?" She asked, taking a quick breath. "If you want to help me out... It is always nice to have someone else's touch on your art." Ronja said, resting a hand over the keys, and brusing it softly with her fingers.

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Payback delivered, these pursed lips turned to a smile that tempted her to go and do it again, but Nico knew better than to strike the wary.

"In my case, the best company." She winked, taking a deep breath as Nico smiled to herself once the answer rounding her mind came out of Ronja's lips, as if they couldn't be more connected at this point. "I've been doing this since I had a butt to sit on a chair. Mom taught me plenty, except how to make something of my own." Was the old hag that butthurt she could surpass her..?

Nico gave her a long, comical nod just as she repeated after her. "Yoour thing." Only to be given a verbal nudge towards trying it out with her, giving it a bit to think it through just as her eyes took notice of the delicate porcelain touch over the piano's keys, her right hand gently reaching out to stop them, if only to hold onto that hand, warm smile upon her lips.

"I'd love to. But first, how about you show me what you've been working on? I never had a proper tour guide on Ronja's Art Museum." She turned her chair to face her, thoughtful once she stretched both arms over to her, "Hey, if you get tired of me carrying you around let me know. My arm's just as good for holding onto." She jested, bringing forth all these little memories they had done like that. Insignificant back then, but to think about all the times they walked together as Fiora and Ronja...

And to imagine them doing so as Nico and Ronja instead.

"Oh, what's for dinner by the way? The food on the plane sucked, like plane food usually does."

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

Ronja giggled faintly at Nico's words, not being able to help but to agree with a nod. She couldn't possibly think of any better company than the one she had now, especially for everything they had been doing. "So you've been working on this... since you were younger? No wonder you've played... so well." Ronja smiled widely, just until her hand was held, after a nudge that made her chuckle.

"Alright, alright... I can show you..." She nodded, allowing herself to be picked up by Nico, though not before giving her a concerned gaze of 'are you sure?', just to be certain that she was in the right shape to do this kind of thing once again.

"I don't mind it... I actually like it... As long as you are still fine..." She said, resting her head on Nico, pondering for a moment at her question. "I'm not sure... But the food here is good... don't worry." Ronja said, being confident on the competence of the maids.

Her eyes then shifted to outside of the room- "My... Gallery isn't too far... It is on this floor too." She said.

@Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Nico flustered once Ronja flinged compliments her way. Adults used to do that all the time when she was at ear's reach but never did they truly meant it, devoid of any reasoning other than to keep their image with her family. "Yeah! It's one of the first plays I learned. It's kinda my passion, but I didn't make any of my own. So... That's something on my list, or was." She explained, given her situation there wasn't time to keep practicing, let alone evolve on her own.

She exhaled a 'aha!' once Ronja caved in to her whims, not giving more than a few seconds for the brunette to be all concerned as per usual before being lifted once more, craddled on Nico's arms with twice the strength, the best way she had to reassure her.

"I'm fine if you are fine." A cheeky tone worded out before her legs started to move once again. Her stomach growled just a little at the promise of a good meal. "Thank god because not only I'm hungry but I'm also a shitty cook. I can work my ass off, but never ask me to cook because you might end up poisoned." She teased.

Following Ronja's indications, and a bit of her own gut feeling from the last time here, Nico carried her all the way on sore arms, taking peeks over to her every once in a while when her lover wasn't looking at her, before coming to a stop at the Gallery's door.

"Uhm. Okay, teamwork time. You twist, I push." Nico leaned closer towards the door, enough so Ronja could open the door if she just stretched her hand, and once done, she would push her back against the door to do just that: push it open.

"So all this in here... When did the art bug bit you? Did it since you were a kid or..?"

@Ronja Bubblyfoot