Even if everything he thought about her now turned out to be false or changes in the future, he could still easily get rid of her. It would be no more difficult than dropping a worn-out sword on the ground and walking away. While he intended to keep her around for now, when his plans came to fruition, and if she showed that she wasn't worthy, then he would have to eliminate her from the equation.
He picked up the book on the table and began to flip through its pages, his fingers fanned across them while doing so. At this point, he was glad that he had brought his own copy of Dracula to reread. Not only did the book speak of immortality in a way that captivated him, one of the main characters shared the name of Jonathan. When that character suffered injuries throughout the story, Dio couldn't help but smirk while imagining Jojo experiencing those pains in the same way.
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Warning: Extremely suggestive stuff!!
Chapter 7: Teatime Turmoil 🍵
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Behold my awesome google slide skills!
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"So then- ha it's too funny! Yes, so then she went up to her father-"
"And then what Elizabeth!?" Interrupted one of the younger, more innocent girls at the table. She wasn't trying to be rude, the twinkle in her eye only showed how truly engrossed in the story she was. But that twinkle quickly dimmed upon seeing that the smile on Elizabeth's mouth faded almost immediately. The storyteller's smile was replaced by a tight-lipped stare.
The poor girl who spoke up lowered her head and mumbled an awkward apology. She lifted her gaze to read Elizabeth's reaction, or perhaps she was expecting her forgiveness, but only got a cold shoulder. All her 'friends' around the table also gave her cold shoulders when she looked to them for support. The girl didn't whine, and she didn't make a scene. Both would have been extremely unladylike and would have been even more damaging to her reputation. So she had to sit quietly, surrounded by people yet left alone to fend for herself.
It happened in a snap of a finger, but this girl who couldn't keep her mouth shut just pushed herself down the food chain. Not simply for interrupting someone at the top of the social ladder, but moreover for instantly backing off like a weakling.
"As I was saying-" Elizabeth continued, clicking her tongue and turning to face another person, "she went up to her father and said..."
You paid no attention to what she had to say next. Rather, thinking about that stupid invitation that arrived in the mail, this time in the hue of a rose petal with a matching wax seal. You should have ripped that thing to shreds before your parents spotted it. Due to that letter, you were brought to this overly-expensive pink-clothed table in the Hughes' backyard, on this breezy day to drink tea with girls who hid behind their high-pitched laughter.
To turn down Elizabeth's first invitation to you meant that you'd be forfeiting your place in her friend group, along with the popularity that came along with it. This left you with little choice but to go. You have to admit though, it only went to show how serious Elizabeth was when she said that she'd invite you to more of her parties. Mother made you dress up, complete with a large bow in your hair, silk gloves, and a pale pink dress. You were only lucky that it wasn't in the same shade as Elizabeth's bright pink outfit (the last thing you needed was to be matching and create unnecessary drama).
So while you were peacefully enjoying a piece of your [favorite sweet], you also watched Elizabeth on the other side of the table not-so-subtly demanding all the attention. Those around her couldn't have been brighter than a lightbulb with the way that they kept giving into her little antics so easily. Or maybe they were like you, putting up with it in order to earn her liking and gain some sort of standing among their peers.
"Oh (Y/n)~" She just so happened to call out in your most compromising moment of having your mouth full of food. It wasn't a coincidence.
Grabbing the cup of tea to your side, you drank it quickly to allow the food in your mouth to go down your throat. Among the already long list of problems in your life, you didn't need to add 'remembered as someone who talks with their mouth full'. Gulping hastily you said, "Yes, Elizabeth?"
The criminal mastermind fledgling folded her hands together and propped her elbows up on the table to allow her chin to rest on her knuckles. "I heard some interesting rumors about you the other day. Oh don't worry, they weren't anything too bad. They were just about your relationship with Dio. After all, you two seemed pretty close at the party. May I ask, how close?" She said with a fully fake smile.
As the girls at the table turned to their sides and started whispering to each other, you tried your best to keep a composed face. It was inevitable that she would hear rumors, there were too many opportunities for them to start. When you played against Dio at that chess game, when you shared a bench at the lake, or even when you left the party together. But to ask about those rumors, even after she already said she wouldn't interfere with your 'relationship' with him? This was all a ruse to get all the other girls, who were all to some degree admirers of Dio, to turn against you.
Not that you were going to let her succeed. "Oh, it's fine to ask. I can see where they're coming from, but you see, our fathers are well acquainted with each other so we see each other often. No mistake about it though, we're just friends. Having said that, can I tell you all a little secret about him?" Speaking as though you two were good old friends.
You leaned forward, subconsciously making all of those paying attention lean forward too. In the same way that these girls can't help but drink this good tea, they also can't resist good gossip, especially if it is straight from the source. Their eyes dangled on you ready to completely hang onto every word you said. In this situation, you could kind of see why Dio found this enjoyable to do. Threading up the perfect lie on the spot is like a special form of storytelling.
"Truthfully, Dio's a bit scared of commitment, something from his past he said. He may appear charming and bold but we all have our fears I suppose." You whispered. The empathy that displayed in their eyes meant that your fake story was working.
They were right where you wanted them, hook, line, and sinker. "But when the subject of our preference for future partners came up in conversation, he told me that he really adores when girls run up and compliment him. That's not the type of thing I would do, just so you know, so obviously I'm not his type. In any case, it makes him feel better about himself and more confident that they won't break his heart in the future."
Between the oh's and aw's, Elizabeth's concentrated stare didn't reveal whether she was interested in your story or pissed off that her attempt at embarrassing you failed.
"Quite strange, isn't it? Doesn't make a lot of sense, but he assured me that those are the things he notices most in a woman. He seems to enjoy the loud, bubbly type of gal. He doesn't even care if they're overbearing! So what about it? If a few of you seem interested in him, why don't I introduce him to all of you at the next gathering?"
The fan-girly screeches filled the air and you couldn't help but feel smug on the inside. If they pressed you to do it, you could convince Dio that this was just all part of the plan to gain their approval. Simply imagining all the girls practically harassing him made you hold back a smile. While it may sound cruel, seeing him suffer would give you a lot of pleasure after all the things he's done to you with a cocky smile on his face.
"I have to be excused," Elizabeth suddenly said, standing up from her seat. In one movement she managed to steal back all the attention that you were receiving. The other girls whined and questioned her. "I just remembered that my mum asked me to do something in the house earlier. I'll be right back!" She walked away and disappeared through the backdoor of her house without another word. Elizabeth alone is the sole person out of anyone here who could abruptly leave her own party without facing any backlash.
Did she storm off because her backhand compliment didn't work? Well, regardless of what she tried to do for revenge, you were always going to be prepared to respond with a witty comeback.
Immediately the effect of Elizabeth's absence could be seen at the table. Having the freedom to be loose while not having to focus all their attention on one person allowed the other girls to talk more naturally. You couldn't hold it back anymore and a soft, satisfied smile slipped through your lips.
Still, no one made an effort to talk to you and you didn't either seeing that everyone else was already in their own very animated conversations. So several sips of tea and spoonfuls of [your favorite sweet] later, you studied your surroundings again. The Hughes' backyard was a huge semicircle with the perimeter created by various sized oak trees. With wild vegetation across the ground- neatly kept behind the perimeter- it seemed like the perfect place for animals to breed and grow to eventually become targets for hunting by the family and their guests.
Other than that there wasn't much to grab your attention- ha. Oh, this was the exact same situation at Elizabeth's party the other day. There was one difference, however: You found the chess game soon after that, and then everything spiraled downward from there. You didn't want to think of that right now. There was no reason to.
So out of boredom, you decided to count the guests again while chewing your food. (1) Trinity Z. (2) Angelica S. (3) Mary T. (4) Peggy S. ... then you gave up naming them. Why should you when you already know every one of them? Some went to your school while the others were from well-known rich families. To save time you just did a headcount. The last number was four so... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9... 10 girls?
Wait, besides you, there were supposed to be twelve people at this party. With Elizabeth gone that number should have been eleven. You even double-checked. Yeah, 4 girls to your left and 6 to your right. Which girl was missing...? You scanned around the area one last time. With varying dresses of different sizes and colors, the one similarity between all of them was that they were all around the same height.
Then it clicked.
Elizabeth's tall right-hand woman, Marie, was missing. The one with the blue dress that helped bully Minnie. Surely she wouldn't have left the party suddenly, not without telling Elizabeth. So then where did she go?
Stop! It's not any of your business, nor does it concern you! That's what you told yourself. Ugh, maybe you should barge into someone's conversation? At least then you would be busy with something. You'd have to start building individual connections with them anyways. Then again, in only twenty minutes or so you'd have to leave to do your babysitting.
"Oh!" "Woah!"
You heard the surprised yelps before you felt the wind blasting on your skin and picking up speed. The table cloth began to flap but was weighted down firmly by the plates, cups, and floral arrangements on it. Some of the girls' dresses were lifted up too, but fortunately not high enough to show off anything scandalous.
A moment later from the choir of voices, one of the girls pointed to something in the air. While firmly holding your dress down you couldn't resist looking up into the sky in the direction where she pointed.
"Shhiiii-" you cursed under your breath. Being carried away and doing loop-de-loops in the air was none other than the pink bow that was in your hair a minute ago.
"That's my bow, I'll go get it." You said aloud. No one seemed to have paid much attention to it, but you said it merely not to attract attention when you abruptly got up and started running in the direction of the howling wind.
During the few minutes you spent chasing it, there were many times where it felt like nature was taunting you. When the wind would begin to die down and the bow would lay flat on the ground it would stay there. Only when you just approached it did the bow fly off again. You tried jumping to grab it while it was in the air, but the bow would be just beyond your reach. Continuing in this cycle for a bit, you looped around Hughe's house then turned again until you ended up near the edge of the forest. Yet the bow continued forward, above, below, and between the branches as if it were some acrobatic. Lucky for you, it was still visible when it stopped and got caught between a branch. Unluckily, it was pretty far into the forest.
After almost pulling yourself into the foliage with your hand on a tree trunk, you caught sight of your gloved hand and remembered what you were wearing. Mother loved this dress. It would drive her mad if you ruined it for such a stupid reason. Grumbling, you took a step back and wiped the bark off your gloves. You'd need to go inside the house and request someone to retrieve it for you. Hopefully, that wouldn't be too much of an issue.
"Uuunnnhhg,"
The heavy breaths you were exhaling from all the running stopped at once. Your ears would have perked up if you were a cat, whereas you kept quiet with the stillness of one. It didn't take long for another sound to be heard.
"Agggh."
It was a whine for sure. Of a human? Along with the ruffling of leaves and bushes, the blowing wind rang inside your ears and made it hard to tell. Looking into the forest, you wondered if you could find anything. Who knows, it could've been an injured animal.
Searching around did help spot a not-so-obvious trail through the forest to your right. A small opening, but one that you would be able to walk through without dirtying your clothes.
As you walked the trail, you crossed it with care in your steps to avoid any plants touching your dress. Again a sound captured your attention, but you were unable to identify it. You kept moving, eventually reaching a spot where you were lined up with where the bow was barely clinging on to the branch of the tree. It looked like it was ready to slip and fly away at any moment. It was just out of reach too- but you'd have to maneuver through the trees to reach it.
The voice in your head that always urged you to push forward wailed at you. Why shouldn't you ruin your dress? Who cares what your mother says?
But those thoughts were immediately suppressed by your conscious. Once everyone at the party sees the soiled dress, they'll immediately know what happened if you couldn't come up with a good excuse. Even then people will talk, and everyone who is anyone will know what happened. Never would anyone take you seriously again. Then you would have failed Dio and he could too easily add fuel to the fire of gossip. Most importantly, this would be your lesson in self-restraint. Yes, you had to be in control of your actions. If not for them, then for yourself!
"Ah, ah, ahhhhhhh,"
The sound was so much closer than before, and this time it was undeniable what it was. The filthy, unique, and vulgar moan of human pleasure. Along with the unpleasant prickles of emotion from suddenly understanding the situation, there was one thought which stood out from the rest invading your mind saying 'that voice was way too familiar'.
You ducked, hoping not to get spotted by whoever that sound was coming from.
"It was just too much to wait, I needed your touch~."
Barf. Awful.
Though it's difficult to admit, your curiosity led you to peek above the bushes and the sight couldn't have been any clearer. Elizabeth's pink dress was lifted up with something- no someone under it. With wide eyes, you clutched your gloved hand over your mouth to stop any sounds from coming out. How could she do something... something so lewd at her own party!? While her guests were waiting for her? Absolutely disgusting. And with who even? If the other girls ever find out-
Threatening her by saying that you would tell the other girls... This could work in your favor, but how could you spin around the situation without making her try to silence you later...?
Well, you didn't have to think too hard about that because as soon as you stepped back from the scene a branch snapped under your foot.
"What? Who's there? Show yourself, you damn pervert!" Elizabeth shouted. Nearby bushes shifted in response to their movement. Your hand was still gloved over your mouth, now covering the smile that formed on your face. Though the initial shock made you flinch and worry, you realized how easy it would be to win this.
So, appearing reluctant and hesitant, you rose from behind the branches.
"I'll get my Daddy to- Oh Y-n deary! Oh, I can explain-" It took her a second, but a manipulative soft smile appeared on Elizabeth's face. She paused whatever she was going to say next when she saw your eyes shift to Marie who was standing next to her, with the poor timing of licking her lip at that exact moment. Marie seemed indifferent to getting caught, just wanting to finish this up.
"N-no need Elizabeth! I was just trying to get my bow that flew over there, see?" you pointed to the pink ribbon that was within their reach. You thus established the fact that all of this was just an accident and that you weren't snooping around.
"Let me get that for you then!" She hardly had to move from where she was standing to reach over and pick it up from the branch. Holding the bow with a gloved hand Elizabeth stepped out from behind the plants and carefully placed it in your hand. Though, you couldn't help but notice that her other hand was bare, meaning she must have used her hand for something... oh you'd rather not think about it!
"Say Y/N- you aren't going to tell anyone-,"
"Trust me, I won't tell a single soul. I mean, what would I benefit from that?" You said. The unspoken fact that you could benefit a lot floated in the air and added to the tension.
After that, Elizabeth dropped her previous anxious face and in the most serious voice said, "How much do you want?"
With your goal so clear in your mind, what she said threw you off track for a minute. "What?"
"Don't make me repeat myself. How much will it be for your silence? I'm not stupid Y/n, that's what you were about to say wasn't it?"
Honestly, you hadn't even thought about that. Yet, this could also work in your favor. "I'm not going to blackmail you Elizabeth, I was never intending to. You're a good friend of mine, right? You even invited me to this party despite us only really getting to know each other a few days ago! Besides, it was my mistake stumbling here... and I'm not going to make a scene or spread rumors about it. But, if it helps you feel more assured, I guess I'll ask for one thing. Someday, and that day may never come, maybe I will call upon you to do a favor for me. But until that day, accept this as a gift of our friendship. We have to look out for each other, right?"
After a moment of looking at Marie, Elizabeth saw an expression on her face that must have been a sort of reply since she only answered after that conformation. "I suppose I'll have to trust you on this. We have an agreement then. Only because you're my friend, okay? I'll fulfill my side of the deal only if you do." She spoke swiftly and to the point, along with an authority that threatened to retaliate if you tried to break your promise.
"Alright, I got what I came here for. The bow, I mean. So uh, sorry, I'll leave and you guys can uh sort this out," as you blushed, you turned to flee as quickly as you could.
It wasn't that deep in the forest and you came out quickly from under the leaf canopy. It took a moment for your eyes to adjust to the sting of the bright sun rays. Even then, you stayed a minute just standing outside of the forest because you had to really think about what had just happened, because man, that was so unexpected. Gosh, Marie and Elizabeth? Who would've thought? Thinking about it... well, maybe they were a bit too close to be just friends.
Across the other side of the grassy green sea, you heard the surprised yelps of the girls. Recalling what happened last time, you immediately held down your dress. This time when the wave of wind blew past you were prepared. You especially made sure that you had clenched your hand that held onto the pink ribbon.
With nothing flying away this time, you marched forward, simultaneously putting the bow back into your hair. Your steps even felt a bit lighter too. Sure, what Elizabeth and Marie were doing severely grossed you out... like in the woods of all places? It didn't matter, since now you were going to have something to tell Dio! He would finally get off your back! And by gaining his trust this way, hopefully, it might make him refrain from making threats like the one at his home's library. You hadn't seen him since that day two weeks ago, but if you had to face him again, you'd rather it be with the guarantee that you had fulfilled your part of the deal. The memory still sent shivers up your spine, greatly because of your own foolishness in the situation by easing up to him so quickly.
To get back to the tea party, you had to turn the corner around the Hughe's house. When you did, you ended up standing two feet away from a redhead, almost bumping into him. All while making direct eye contact with him. You both paused in place for a moment. Normally, the automatic response in this situation would be something like 'sorry' or 'excuse me', but neither of you spoke. His reasons you did not know, but for you, it was because there was a curious feeling of familiarity- something on the tip of your tongue.
"Oh, it's you." The boy said while slightly squinting his eyes as if he were 'annoyed'. "The chess cheater who still managed to lose to Brando."
That's right, it was that boy. The annoying, boastful boy who you had wanted to put in his place at Elizabeth's other party. It looks like it didn't work.
"For the last time, Thomas, I never cheated. We had an honest match of brain versus brain and I ended up winning fair and square, got it?"
"I still doubt that, but I don't have anything to prove it yet."
You petty little... "What exactly are you doing here, Thomas? Do you have nothing better to do?"
"Did you forget that I live here?"
You stayed silent to his question, yet gave him the answer that he had been expecting.
"I should be the one asking what are you doing here? Sneaking around or something?" He looked over your shoulder at the forest that you had just left. Before giving you a chance to explain yourself he simply said, "Huh, so you found out about Elizabeth and her little girlfriend?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Why would you ask such a thing?" You lied.
"Because I see them coming out of the forest behind you," Thomas stated.
Knowing full well that he wouldn't lie about it, you didn't even glance behind you to see if he was telling the truth. "Okay, fine I did. But I'm not a snitch nor someone who gains pleasure from spreading gossip, so take my word that I'm not going to tell anyone."
Wanting to finish the conversation, you brushed past him while declaring, "I can't stay talking to you any longer. I've got to return to the table to collect my belongings so I can leave early for I have an important personal matter I have scheduled after this."
"Wait," he said while grabbing your wrist. You yanked it back and pulled it to your chest. He didn't look apologetic or like he cared and carried on, "Listen, I couldn't care less about what Elizabeth is doing in her free time. She's smart enough to keep her friend in check and to know that one day she'll need to marry a man. But there's something I want to know from you. I want the truth. At the chess game, did you lose to Dio on purpose because of some girly crush or just to embarrass me?"
Your brain took a moment to register what he said, but when it came time to respond you said, "Tch, if only you knew, Thomas. No, I didn't lose on purpose, and please know that I fought with everything I had. So listen to me carefully: if you don't want to lose twice, don't test him. With me, you managed to put up a good fight. The only reason why you are laughed at for losing that time was that you embarrassed yourself by making a scene instead of graciously accepting defeat. With him, he'll defeat you mercilessly and make a public embarrassment of you. And frankly? I didn't think of you once while I was playing against him."
Instead of waiting for his reaction, you turned your back on him. He would have to live with his defeat and learn that the world didn't revolve around him. Along with living with the consequences of whether or not he heeded your warning.
Because of him, your mood got worse when you arrived at the dinner table, but you managed to plaster a fake smile on your face before approaching the girls. Some of them commented on you getting your bow back and you responded to them without much thought. It appeared that while you were gone, the servants started cleaning up the table. You asked the older gentleman that had picked up your plate for the time. He politely responded with, "4:10 in the afternoon miss."
Ah, you'd finally be able to leave. After that interaction with both Elizabeth and Thomas, what you wanted most was to doze off in your carriage. How nice a nap would be with the rocking and the horse's hooves lulling you to sleep...
With that, you collected your belongings and began to excuse yourself from the party to the other girls. With a 'see you next time' here and 'loved your dress' there. You didn't show it, but in the middle of that, your attention was drawn to the end of the table by Marie who was peacefully eating her food as if nothing had happened. How does she do that?
You ignored it as you finished up your goodbyes, Elizabeth coincidentally returning (notably in a different dress) allowing you to say your farewell to the hostess.
"Thank you for a wonderful party and amazing food," You said.
"Thanks! Though, I'm more thankful that you showed up, Y/n. You and I just get along so well, ya know? I can already tell that we're going to be good friends!" Elizabeth exclaimed. That little act you had been expecting from her, but definitely not her going up and giving you a tight hug.
The other girls watched with some unease, disappointed that the new girl had won Elizabeth's favor so easily and how it wasn't them. However, when the occasion arose, they were going to have to follow the popularity ranking and thanks to Elizabeth you were now higher up than before.
Elizabeth was skilled at gently manipulating people. That and being an expert at dancing around in conversation. And honestly? It was kind of nice giving her a little twirl, but it was only enjoyable when you knew what music was playing.
So after one last hug, an extra tight one given to the girl at the beginning that had interrupted Elizabeth's story, you pulled away from the group. It was only after you took some steps backwards away from the table that you began to feel a bit uneasy. One minute, the girls were looking at you with chery smiles, and the next it seemed like they were staring through you. Did you have something on your face?
No, that wasn't it.
All it took was the familiar feel of a hand on your shoulder and the heat of his breath near your eye for you to realize who had shown up behind you. It was the bane of your existence, the boy who couldn't show up without making it a surprise.
"Surprise," Dio practically whispered to you. Your already stiff body shivered.
Again? This is becoming aggravating! No, it already was! You had the upper hand only once, and that was when you showed up at his house! This is the second time where showed up unexpectedly, scaring the (pardon) living shit out of you each time. But here of all places? Why couldn't he just leave you alone...?
Despite your best efforts, you had already given up mentally. But he didn't scare you, especially since this time you had good news to share. Even then, you begrudgingly turned to him. Turned to that annoying idiot with the piercing gaze and that charismatic smile that had the girls behind you holding in their squeals.
In a voice low enough to be heard only by him, you said only one word.
"Again?"
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Haha I love The Godfather references. Did you catch it? I also threw in some Hamiltion ones again, I couldn't resist.
Extra:
"hellllllllllo ladies," he said with an intoxicatingly charming voice. his perfect sparkling teeth blinded some of the girls. literally, they could never see again, his smile the last thing they saw. them still simping over him
All the other girls squealed, you only rolled ur eyes.
"Goddamit not again" you mutter to yourself.