Hovertext: I think the only reason students get confused by i is because it's the first glimpse of the idea that math is a field where you can discover truth about reality while making shit up.
In this part of the universe, today is known as Family Day. As an aside, this being shortly after Valentine’s Day does bring some bemusement, but that’s not important right now. Call today’s story something of a reflection upon … What Matters By TeraS It was odd, when you thought about it: to mark a date on the calendar for family in the midst of winter, the depths of snow, wind, and cold,; to…
Since the timing for a new Team Cover coincides with an Anniversary Issue, I thought that it was only fitting that I had two STF teams facing off against one another. Combining the 4th appearance of The Light Brigade with the 3rd appearance of Dark Matter seemed like natural choices given their opposite natures and the Cloak & Dagger connection. For the back-up tale, I finally teamed Batman with comics' first character, something I have been meaning to do for years.
Over the past while I’ve been involved with writing a story with my dear Brother called “Succubus Tales,” and I shared a little piece of that series of works some time ago on the Tale. A nudge by my Brother that I should think about writing something of my own about Tera, her dear Sophia, and her adored Bianca pushed my thoughts to this story.
While there’s more to this, many things can’t really be shared quite yet, as there are some secrets not yet told in the “Succubus Tales” universe. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t take a little literary license and borrow both Sophia and Bianca for a little while and have them both have a little …
Visit
By TeraS
Perhaps one of the most certain things in the universe comes to a little silver card. Not any larger than an index card, but it is far more. It doesn’t just look like silver, it’s clearly made of it; the weight in one’s hand would confirm that suspicion. There’s always a message written on the card, in red, which–surprisingly when one realizes who was behind the penmanship—is quite legible.
The ink is a particular shade of red, leaving the one receiving the card absolutely no doubt from whom the card comes. After all, there’s only one Queen of the Succubi with a tail and horns of that particular colour, and those souls who happen to know her intimately are very sure of that colour, even if the handwriting is far better than those souls have come to expect.
Bu this isn’t about the card itself; it’s about a time and place where Tera enjoys watching what happens. Bridgeport is a place where one can find, if one is so inclined, all sorts of interesting souls to encounter. The appearance, or rather the revealing, of those who weren’t quite human was a surprise to many, but over time that surprise turned–very slowly, to be sure–towards acceptance, with the hope, someday, of understanding.
Mixed among the humans were the vampires. It was a place where it wasn’t unheard of to see a vampire socializing with humans as well as other vampires. There were even the occasional succubi or incubi … though most didn’t realize that they were.
There were several social establishments around the small city, a nightclub called Pleasures being one of them. A popular place with the humans, a welcoming haven for vampires to visit as well. It wasn’t that odd to see humans dancing with vampires, or being off in a corner entwined with them. As the owner of the popular club once explained about the name: “Sex is a bit too obvious, isn’t it?”
In one of the more quiet, and, if one was to be honest, rather subdued parts of the club, a pool of light illuminated a single table among many others in the darkness. This table found itself hosting a pair of souls who were intimately aware who the owner of the club was. The women, both stunning beautiful in their own ways, were sitting together, mulling over a silver card lying patiently between them both, awaiting their discussions over it.
An auburn-maned women shifted in her chair, focusing intently at the card: “It’s from her, Bianca.”
The other woman at the table allowed a small smile which revealed a pair of fangs: “Of course it’s from her, Sophia. The damn thing’s just screaming that.”
Sophia rolled her eyes in seeming frustration: “No kidding?”
The vampire’s smirk was telling: “Are you actually jealous?”
A dismissive hand was waved in the direction of Bianca’s cleavage which was held invitingly in a corset. The vampire picked up the silver card between two fingers and tucked the card into her cleavage: “Tera somehow put this right here without me realizing it.”
The younger of the two smiled and produced her own card as Bianca put hers away: “No, I’m not jealous that she put that card there. I found mine …”
The blush told its own story and Bianca stifled a giggle: “Well, you are one of the Succubi, after all, she wanted to make sure you weren’t going to miss it.”
The second card was quickly put away: “Believe me, that wasn’t trying for her. The thought of her actually making an effort to get our attention frightens me.”
They reflected on what Tera had done for them, giving them more than they really thought they deserved by far. There were telling little smiles when they recalled being with her, loved by her, being told, in their own way, how much they meant to her, the secret words shared, the promises made and kept. Tera had done so much for them, not asking for anything in return and, when her message came, it was very hard to say no.
She asked a simple thing on that card: “Be at Pleasures tonight.”
They’d both do anything Tera asked, just because it was Tera. But it was an open ask, a question which didn’t tell anything more. That was completely Tera’s style, of course. She had a thing for being mysterious.
Sophia fingered her card: “Well, we’re here.”
Bianca flicked her raven hair back over her shoulders: “Yes. But I have no idea why we’re …”
The question was interrupted by the sound of heels clicking on the marble floor around them both. The sound came closer until a shadowy figure stopped just outside of the cone of light that illuminated their table and a honey-sweet woman’s voice called out: “I believe this is where I come in.”
Then she stepped into view. The pair at the table found themselves in the presence of a not-quite-so-wild raven-haired seductress. Green eyes of a shade that was familiar and yet wasn’t regarded them inquisitively through silver rimmed oval glasses. While both Bianca and Sophia were dressed for a night on the town, the new arrival to their conversation put them both to shame. Her black dress melted into the darkness of the club, the light not being quite able to gain purchase on her form, only her red heels and tanned skin allowed the light to succeed. The shocked silence lasted for a moment before Sophia blew out a breath as she realized who the newcomer was: “It would have to be you.”
The smile was almost like Tera’s, but not quite, as her green eyes peered towards Bianca, and it made her slightly uncomfortable: “Are you going to introduce me?”
Sophia turned her attention to her friend on the other side of the table: “Bianca Bordeaux, I’d like to introduce you to the Receptionist.”
It was unlikely that Bianca’s eyebrows could have gotten any higher: “The Receptionist?”
The tall raven-haired woman smiled invitingly: “That’s correct.” They both watched as she found a chair and joined the conversation. Her amusement coloured her reply as she continued: “It’s my formal title. Someone does have to keep the bureaucracy running.”
If looks could kill, the one that Sophia shot across the table would have done some damage: “Will you please stop being so mysterious? That’s Tera’s thing.”
The newcomer’s sigh was melodramatic: “The young are so impatient. There is a time and place for everything.”
This was the thing about dealing with the Receptionist. She was as obtuse as Tera at times, sometimes even worse, which was saying something. She was also very protective of their Queen. “As Sophia is impatient, my name is Simone, I am Tera’s aunt.”
There it was, Sophia realized with a start, her eyes meeting with Bianca’s own shocked expression. Tera had set this up and where it went now wasn’t up to them.
Simone tucked a bit of errant hair behind one ear, her sights set on Bianca: “I have wanted to meet the two of you for some time now. You especially, Bianca.”
Sophia’s voice was very small: “Why?”
“Much like my niece, I do like to watch. But watching doesn’t tell you everything.”
Bianca found her voice: “We love her.”
“I know that.”
That admission, though blunt, allowed the two younger women to take a breath and centre themselves as Simone continued: “If you didn’t my niece would know, as I would and that would be disappointing.”
Bianca didn’t miss Sophia flinching, she’d have to ask about that later: “Why are you here?”
Simone’s smile was very familiar: “That … would be telling.” The thump of Sophia’s head on the table took the attention of the others, Simone reached over and tapped a finger against the younger member of the succubi’s arm: “Sit up young lady, that’s no way to act.”
She did so: “Why is there never a straight answer from either of you?”
That bemused smile returned: “Family trait.”
Bianca began to smirk but covered her expression by taking a sip of her drink.
Simone’s expression softened: “The reason I’m here is family. I’m sure Tera has mentioned it in passing, but you really have no idea why.” She looked at her left hand, fingers outstretched: “My niece would do anything for love, she always has. She doesn’t expect anything, never has.”
Bianca looked at her silver card: “It’s frustrating.” Simone seemed bemused as Bianca continued: “We want to give something back, but she’ll always brush it off and tell us not to.”
Sophia interrupted: “What do you give the woman who has everything?”
Brushing fingertips over her lips, Simone explained: “You’ll both have to figure that out on your own.”
Bianca set her card down: “We both know Tera, but don’t really know her.”
The younger member of the succubi wondered out loud: “I think her aunt knows her well.”
Simone tilted her head to the left: “Probably.”
“She might have some stories to tell.”
“She might.”
Bianca had a naughty smile: “She might even know some embarrassing ones.”
Simone’s innocent look was met by laughter from these two souls whom her niece cherished more than they knew. This visit, clearly, was just beginning.
