Serpent in the Garden of Sweets

## Content Information

Selene was meeting Iva at her favorite place in all of Nightfalls, Sapphos Sweets. A little monster haven wrapped up in a cute little queer bakery. Selene was a bundle of sin so it was always nice to get some gluttony in her life for good measure.

The demon grabbed some sugar cookies today, a huge box of them but she did intend to share these with the other Hellfires. She grabbed a spot further away from the door so they could talk about whatever without worrying about wandering ears. The staff here was cool and the boss was nice but you never know what weirdo might walk in.

Selene fit right in with the store’s with the retro pastel vibe. To her own bright pinks in her outfit for the day. She was excited for this little meeting with Iva, after all she was important to Burgundy, her newest Hellfire and Didi who made her heart sing in weird new ways. Plus Iva herself was very hot and Lavish seemed to get on fine with her which was rare.

Iva asked herself why she arranged this meeting on the way to the bakery. Maybe, it was a combination of the term of events that lead to Burgundy moving out and residing in Hellfire.  Maybe, it was mentioned in conversations with Didi during their many conversations, most of them in good terms...or maybe the question in the picnic had struck her curiosity. Regardless of the answer, the door of the bakery opened with an ironic ding, and Iva strolled inside looking just as chilled about the idea than her confidence in her reason.

The gorgon had dressed in a casual fashion with a light yellow blouse and a patterned cascading skirt that seems kinda suited for the season, but it was actually because she has been wearing pants for too long and her original form was getting irritated by the constraint. It was one of the few things that was frustrating when she became a gorgon.

Iva walked up to the counter, asking about a strawberry torte that she called in. After a few nods it will take a few more minutes, she made a quick order for some coffee and fruit crepes before joining Selene at the booth. “This place has always been a charm. Could I get you anything? ”

“No thank you, I already got my stuff here.”

Selene looked over Iva’s outfit, taking in all the details, an outfit could give a girl a lot about what someone was feeling, their intentions, or what they wanted others to think they were. Selene complemented the fellow monster  “I love your outfit, you look super cute in it.”

She grabbed a cookie from her little box offering it with the gesture “Want any of these, I got a ton for the Hellfires?””

“Thanks, it was just something I threw together.”  Iva stated matter-of-factly. There was a strong sense of difficulty in her mind. She observed Selene almost the same way, and she knew that she was being analyzed in return. It was a natural response to every new person Iva was interested in, but there were times she had wished for an off switch.

“There is no way I could take from those lovely ladies, thanks though.” Iva said politely, “Also, just ordered some fruit and cream crepes with a mild coffee, which I was highly anticipating. ”

“Let’s be honest or at least, I will be.  We really didn’t get a chance to talk during the picnic, and we tried. That was the first time we actually bumped into each other, and that’s been a year and half since I came to this campus.  I heard of you, and Burgundy and Didi think highly of you...so, I was curious.” The lady before Selene was being selective in her words, trying not to make herself unapproachable, but still with some tact, “I’m not the most open of people, so I can imagine why we really never ‘met’.”

Selene took a second to reply, making sure to give herself an equal degree of caution and taking a bite of the previously offered cookie before putting it down on a plate. The queen smiled at Iva, this woman knew how to play the game, it was clear, she had someone on her level here in a way perhaps Lavish wasn’t even at. She wondered if she had the same kind of hurt she had or if she got like this some other way.

Selene’s own calculated but friendly response was “I am not too shocked we haven’t run into each other, we could have if you had been to one of my monster parties and I'd be none the wiser but I am a pretty busy woman.”

She leaned in adding “I am so excited to get to know you better and to help you take over SGA. Didi and Burgundy both have nothing but praise for you. ”

“You are right on the monster parties. Honestly, I wasn’t open enough for parties back then, especially the first year.” Iva paused, “In fact, I kept myself pretty locked down. The impact of opening up is still surprising. The responses of it, I mean. ”

The woman gave pause as someone came between them and set down a plate and cup of coffee. A set of neatly wrapped crepes with various berries and fresh cream cheese confection. Iva politely thanked them, then waited until they left before she continued, “The fun story about all this started when a friend wanted me to help keep a rule-sticker from messing with certain recreational freedoms. It became personal when that same person not only tried to vibe on one of my friend’s projects just to get votes but was attached to a group whose purpose goes along the lines of something I had a rather strong dislike, and you know that dislike is not the honest word.”

Iva was fine with betting Selene’s intuition. This woman knew what word she really meant.

“One reason led to another, and in the end, gave me a purpose. However, if I were to get into that role, I would need to be a bit more open to others.” Iva leaned in, breaking one of the crepes with her fork, “So, I came to you. Maybe because you took great care in caring and protecting for those who are different in the school, and that’s a deed I, personally, can appreciate.”

“Oh yes, I was aware of this person's position on recreation but I was late to the knowledge that she rather disliked a particular group of people I happen to be rather fond of. I had slightly considered running or putting up my own person but when I met you I knew you were more than capable for the job.”

Selene grinned at Iva’s suggestion of getting more open, she had chosen the right place for sure. She took another bite of her cookie letting a moment sit between words before speaking again “Well, I can start by opening up about me, as a show of trust.”

The demon’s eyes shift, the sclera turning pitch black the pupils getting sharper for a moment only lasting as long as the words “I’m a succubus.”

Then they shifted back to normal as she assured the other woman “No need to share what you are if you don’t want, just giving you a show of my own trust as someone I’m working with.”

“No...it’s actually fine. I think it’s only fair. A spade for a spade,” Iva smiled, “Then if you’re a succubus, then I’m a gorgon.” Her eyes blinked, revealing her monstrous golden sclera and narrow slotted pupils for a brief moment before another blink returns them to their normal state.

“Don’t worry, looking at me normally isn’t harmful, despite what mythology states. I have control over that ability.” Iva said in reassuring manner, before her hand quickly caught a particular snake by the head as it emerged on her edge of the table, in an attempt to sneak in on the plate of crepes, “Compared to most things. Sorry about that.” Iva seems rather remorseful, and gently moves the snake back into her dreads, quietly promising to treat it later.

Selene smiled and was actually rather curious how their abilities would mix. Would a shapeshifter be able to shift away being turned to stone or control their stone body due to external master?  This wasn’t something she would ponder out loud, rather it was something she would just hope she wouldn’t need to know the answer to.

The girl giggled at the little snake making a move “No worries, I think it’s cute.”

She asked “Is there anything you want to know about me, anything you want me to do for you, I’m an open book for you and open to request.”

Iva took a bite of crepe finally, “Well, this is my first time meeting a succubus, so I am curious about plenty of things. Like dreams, are you able to? ”

A devious and flirty smile marked Selene’s face “Presumably I can but it’s not my normal deal, I can do everything right here while we’re awake. I can sense desires of everyone I am around, if me and you were to kiss I could tell you all your kinks, maybe even stuff you haven’t accepted as a kink but you’ve been into. A lot more too but I think that probably take up all day.”

Iva kept a neutral chuckle, but she was intrigued by the information, “Interesting. I’ll take your word for it. Any questions for me?”

Selene was curious enough to ask “Your snakes, are they individuals, or an extension of yourself?”

“That’s a tricky question. The best answer I can give you is probably a bit of column A and B. They are influenced by my subconscious emotions, but there are a few unique ones that seem to have a mind of their own. Luci’s here…” Iva’s hand pulls her dreads over her right shoulder and begins stroking the under-chin of the leopard snake from the previous mischief. “Tend to unshift on their own whims, and tend to want to sway towards people...maybe has its own judge of character or they’re causing mischief for its own sake. Hard to say.”

Selene shrugged and said “That makes sense, there are plenty of things I am not sure about myself in being a succubus, I guess that is part of what makes life as a monster exciting, learning about our full potentials and what makes us tick.”

Monsters were studied far less, and while her mothers had lots of information about demons she did not want to be locked up for 100 years to learn about demon stuff and the full extent of her abilities. She learned by action and she proved how skilled she was.

“Yeah, the mysteries tend to grow about our nature just as much as our perks and troubles. I guess that’s part of us growing up.” Iva states with a confident nod, “Learning about others, particularly my roommates, the Hellfires including you, helped in making me feel that I’m not alone.  It’s a nice feeling. A feeling I want to protect.” Iva smiled as she put the coffee to her lips, “I’ll plan on visiting one of the parties at Hellfire next time around. I have put it off for long enough, and I owe it to Burg to visit. Also, with all these preparations I have to make, I wouldn’t mind a brief escape...” Iva paused, trying to find the words. “...from dealing with a fight that might endanger my life.”

Of course, she stopped herself from completing her actual thought. Selene does reminds her of herself. While not in the same flavor, they have been hurt before, and had to set themselves up so they won’t be hurt that way again. It was an emotional shell that was effective, but wears down one's spirit, to the point where one would seek a time without it. At least, this was only Iva’s first assumption. “Who knows, we might learn something interesting along the way. I can’t be a poisonous snake all the time.”

"Consider yourself my personal guest" swooned the succubus with a glimmer of desire in her eyes.

Selene assured Iva "when you come to one of our parties you won't need to worry about anything but fun, I'll make sure of it."

Selene understood that feeling of needing to protect things, she built up this era of Hellfire and wanted even the community outside of it to be safe. There were people she loved, people she was mad at, frenmies and fuck buddies all at risk. Still no one can save the world if all they are is stressed and relaxation was her specialty.

“Looking forward to it,” Iva said with a relaxed smile, most of the tension and alertness had receded during their conversation. She looked at her now cold crepes. The conversation was so engaging that she forgot to eat her brunch. Iva would have to carry it out in a takeout box to eat it later or Burg would never let her hear the end of it,

Selene stood up and gaze at Iva with a confident and flirty smile. "It's been a pleasure, we both probably got things to do but please be in touch. I can't wait to show you a good time."

“The pleasure is mutual.” From the table, Iva glanced briefly at the sound of her name as a white box carrying her berry torte was set on the shop counter then back at Selene, “I think it will be for quite a time.”