"None of this means anything without a working strategy."
"We could just rope them up."
"You guys are like." Lila scrunched her nose, leaning to the right as Ivy began to unwind her braids. "Missing the point."
"I'm ready to do what needs to be done. No half measures if they escalate," Sonera argued, keeping her hands relaxed in her lap.
Lunae was leaning into the girl with a distinct frown, taking in as much of her partner as she could before it was too late. Ivy had a similar idea, making sure to inspect Lila's health with meticulous fervor.
"We aren't killing anyone." The heiress furrowed her brow. "Not unless we absolutely have to. I don't care if it's a half measure; Yrix can't just goad us so easily."
"Guys," Lila flinched as Ivy pinched her freckled cheeks. "Ow. Guys, come on."
"I don't care what Yrix wants." Sonera pressed her nose into Lunae's neck. "This is our family. I'll protect it."
"Surely we can just tie them up," Lunae blinked with a pleasantly daft expression. "Do a little smothering and-."
"Guys!" Lila exclaimed. "This isn't like a tournament; there's no prize money. For all we know, Rena and Alia might not even fight us for real. We just gotta contain the twins."
Sonera turned to face her. "You mentioned they were brokers, yes?"
"Kinda meant psycho bad girls like you," Lila held off a chuckle. "But yeah. I bet they won't go easy, but that doesn't mean we can just go nuclear on them right off the bat."
Her hair was down by then, prompting Lunae to perk up. She was always delighted to see the Earthling in another style. And truth be told, so did everyone there.
"Fine." Sonera crossed her arms with a huff, partially swayed by Lila's innocent look. "I'll try."
"You better get some rest then," Ivy pecked Lila on her cheek. "No more last-minute practicing for you."
"Hey, you're the one combing my hair," Lila squinted. "Besides, I want a snacky."
"I'll take first watch." Sonera sat up, making sure to give Lunae a peck of her own.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Whoa," Lila sputtered. "Wait-."
She was in her own mindscape again. But this time, it was by invitation, judging by the presence of a certain white-haired Mimic, and all without a scrap of terror.
"Finally." Ivy smiled.
The heiress had been waiting on the bed, kneeling in a prayer-like position with a lap full of Lila's Ginjous.
"I-Ivy?" She took a moment to gather herself. "What are you doing in my room?"
Not in her wildest dreams did Lila expect to receive a beautiful maiden, let alone in her childhood room and cuddling with her favorite plushies. It felt almost a bit indulgent to live in such a fantasy. Yet it was Ivy who believed that all was deserved.
"Mommy! Mommy!" The Ginjous waved at her.
Ivy was accustomed to the idea of the little creatures moving about like live animals. Lila, however, was practically swept off her heels.
"Hi, Ginjou Boy. And Girl. And Bobo," she waved back. "And…I see you're with…uh-."
"Uncle Ivy!"
"Yeah, that."
The personalities of each little ginger were exactly what Lila had imagined them to possess during her childhood. Even their voices were just recreations of her own act.
"Uncle Ivy." Lila smiled awkwardly.
Ivy giggled with a hand raised to her mouth. Lila had never seen her so happy. For a moment, she wondered if the whole dream was some kind of trap.
If it was, she was helpless to resist.
"Come here." Ivy retracted her finger with a seductive smile. "Lila."
Unbeknownst to the innocent minds of the Ginjous, Ivy had sculpted herself into her most revealing look yet. She was practically naked in that white lingerie, with crystal jewels hanging around her waist and neck. Even her hair was neatly oriented into a bun, so as to avoid getting in the way of the passion she desired.
"Uh," Lila gulped.
She wasn't exactly a master of her own mindscape yet. All Lila could make herself wear was the same lazy getup she'd lounge around with at home. Ivy didn't exactly seem to mind, however.
She liked Lila the way she was.
"S-sure," the Earthling gathered her confidence. "It's my bed after all."
"And your girl." Ivy tucked the Ginjous into bed before lying on her back. "Remember?"
Lila didn't know how to respond. She was too busy blushing and gawking.
"Every inch of this is yours. All of it," the heiress's voice ran like a silky stream.
Lila climbed onto the sheets, making sure her plushies were facing away. She felt surreal removing her own shirt, pulling it off with the haste of an excited stag. Ivy was somewhat amused then to see what appeared to be the formation of tiny muscles on Lila's arms.
Nothing too remarkable.
But her efforts in growing stronger had been noticed.
"Come on," Ivy gestured with her legs. "While we still can."
Lila grabbed the heiress by the heels, forcing her into that same old position that had become a source of fondness.
"Gotcha." Lila pushed down on Ivy's hind legs, pushing the limits of her flexibility. "You used to hate this."
Thanks to a few lessons from both Lunae and Rena, Lila had become quite proficient with her Psionic grasp, wielding its delicate power for just the right place.
"Mmmh," Ivy's moan spoke to her present opinion. "I can't…get enough of it."
She felt she deserved it. For all she said and did to her partner. But Lila wasn't interested in anything quite so vengeful.
"I've gotten a bit more flexible." Lila bent down with Ivy, spreading her own legs apart so as to envelop the heiress. "Some might even say my powers have doubled."
"Y-you," Ivy's chuckle was cut short by a sharp grunt. "Ugh."
The jewels on her body created a slight jingle as Lila began to press into her partner with a rhythmic bounce.
"Guh!" Ivy's chin shot towards the sky. "L-guh!"
She was losing her ability to speak.
"That like your signature moan?" Lila quipped, enjoying her confidence. "Say what's down here?"
She tugged at the foremost jewel on Ivy's bra, forcing her breasts to burst out in a fleshy recoil.
"Holy sh-." Lila stumbled over her own words.
Consumed by the revelation of her partner's full beauty, the Earthling shut her mouth and got to work.
Ivy's voice continued to wane until only the most embarrassing squeals could escape her lips. But for all her theatrical bluster, she was happy. The formation of a subtle grin could be seen plastered on her face, even as she gritted her teeth.
But Lila had grown in more than just strength, surprising the heiress with a new position that threatened to undo Ivy's composure.
"H-hey!" Ivy clawed at the bed sheet, feeling her weight shift. "Gah!"
Her voice swelled as she began to tremble like a flower. Lila had managed to spin her into a web of bodily contortion, face down and completely exposed. She could feel the cool air on her belly as it shot forward from an inverted position.
"N-no!" Ivy begged, realizing her predicament. "Lila!"
Of course, she really just wanted the Earthling to proceed. But something about playful denial made the whole scene that much sweeter.
"You're finished," Lila exhaled before planting a kiss on the flesh between Ivy's legs. "Cooked even."
"Aaaah!" Ivy squirmed. "N-uh-ack."
Her entire spine was arched, causing Ivy's pleasurable screams to distort into a stumbling mess of shallow grunts. The heiress had begun choking on her own saliva, losing her grip on the bedsheets as the world around her spun wildly.
"Do ya like it?" Lila taunted, regaining some of her posh. "Lunae showed me. Not even Sonera can take this for long. I wonder if you'll even last a-."
Ivy gave in.
"Wah!" Lila recoiled.
She blinked a few times before relaxing her hold on the heiress.
"I guess that, uh," Lila wiped her mouth. "Answers that question about your biology."
"Uuhhh," Ivy panted, laying face down onto the bed. "Mmmh."
She had never felt so thoroughly conquered before. Yet in her defeat lay a desire to repay the gift Lila had bestowed upon her.
"You good?" The Earthling leaned down to check on her partner.
"Lila," Ivy grunted, picking herself up. "I..."
"Love you too, baby girl," Lila whispered into Ivy's ear with a smile.
Ivy quaked at hearing those words. Lila was the love she never knew she needed, but had always wanted. In a way, her denial had finally come full circle.
"You," Ivy pursed her lips, picking herself up with labored breath. "Thank you."
"Yeah, I-"
"I'll show you how much that means to me."
"Hah?"
Lila's eyes widened as the rest of her clothing disappeared in a flash of Psionic energy. It was only through her newfound success that the Earthling forgot one simple truth.
Ivy was stronger.
Quite a bit stronger.