Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 36: The Highest Bidder, Part Eleven

{September 30, 239 2E}

It was time.

Lianna and Enverna were both currently getting ready in their dorm. Lianna had on a red dress she’d rented and was currently finishing her makeup in the bathroom while Enverna waited outside, wearing a blue and black suit that wasn’t all that fancy but allowed her to keep the flexibility she’d need in case a fight broke out.

That was, after all, the main reason they were attending the event.

"You look lovely," Enverna complimented her roommate as the two of them stood out in the living room. It wasn’t a compliment Lianna took lightly, as she could guess it took Enverna quite a lot of effort just now to say such a thing. "I just hope you’ll still be able to fight in that."

"Fight? Come on," Lianna replied with a scoff, walking over to the couch and sitting next to her. "I’m just your cheerleader tonight, babe. If something does end up happening, you’ll be taking all the glory."

"For some reason, that doesn’t quite sit well with me."

Lianna put on the evening news while waiting for their ride. As she predicted, they were covering the gala, keeping a camera fixed in front of the palace-like building where it was set to take place. Here, a few players were already arriving, some dressed in formal, flashy attires like Lianna and Enverna while others chose to show up in their armor. Likely not because they were expecting a fight, but because they wanted to show off.

"Could you tell me the plan, again?" Enverna asked.

"Sure. The main thing we’re looking out for here is Jack. With so many different, powerful Players showing up, he might make some sort of a move. If he does, it will likely be during the auction the Shields of Saren have set up, since all of the Players are going to be stuck in one place. So, here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll arrive together but, while we talk to some of the other Players, I’ll break off and go walk around the building on my own. I’ll look around, trying to see if I can find him, while you do the same from where you are. If I don’t see him, when the time for the auction comes, I’ll stay outside and let you know if I see anything."

"I don’t like that this plan requires us to be apart from one another if I’m being honest. I mean," Enverna quickly added, "missing out on our proximity buff hurts, no?"

"It does. But, don’t worry," Lianna replied. "The instant I see anything shady, I’m running right to-"

Someone knocked on their door.

Lianna got up first as did Enverna soon after.

[Must be our ride.]

When Lianna opened the door, however, she discovered this wasn’t the case.

Mel was standing there, a sheepish expression on her face that quickly gave way to awe as her eyes fell upon Lianna.

Lianna smiled widely, feeling a bit of an ego boost from the starstruck reaction Mel had just given her.

"Hello, hello," Lianna greeted her, tilting her head. Behind her, Enverna saw that it was not the person meant to pick them up and walked back to the couch.

"H-Hi... Um, I-I was wondering if..." Mel spoke quietly, but in a hurry at the same time. So much so, that she ended up having to catch her breath mid-sentence. "I-I was wondering if you wanted to watch a movie or something."

[Aw, she’s so sweet.]

Lianna shook her head.

"I’m sorry, but, I’m actually heading out soon. I’m going to the Player’s Gala."

"... You are?" With a thick sense of disappointment coating those words, Mel’s big, purple eyes looked up at Lianna quite sadly.

"I’d love to hang out with you tomorrow, though. But, yeah, I’m busy tonight."

Mel looked down and Lianna felt the urge to pull her in for a hug. She felt like she’d just kicked a puppy.

At that moment, Lianna recalled something.

{Quest: Give Mel a kiss before the gala}

{Reward: Spell: Through Enverna’s Eyes}

She checked her status to see if the quest was still active and, sure enough, it was.

[Probably because the gala hasn’t started yet.]

That said, Lianna understood that in all likelihood this was probably her one, final chance at doing it.

So, she first threw a look back at Enverna. She’d merely been trying to check if the woman was paying attention, but it seemed that doing so made it so that now Enverna was.

[... Crap,] Lianna thought. [Well, hope she’s not angry or anything. But, I have to do this.]

Thus, Lianna gently took Mel by her cheeks. Mel’s eyes grew wide, her purple irises locked with Lianna’s.

And the crimson-haired girl delivered on what Mel was likely thinking, leaning down and pressing a firm kiss against her lips.

Mel froze, but she did not pull away, nor did she look grossed out by the time Lianna separated.

Lianna smiled warmly at her.

"Enjoy your night, Mel. See you later."

"... Goodnight."

Closing the door, Lianna walked back to the couch with Enverna’s eyes on her the whole time.

Enverna opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but then closed it again, deciding not to.

Lianna sat down...

... Only to have to get up again, as there was another knock on the door immediately after.

This time, however, as Lianna found out as she opened the door a second time, she saw that it actually was the person they’d been waiting for.

"Good evening, Mrs. Velcross. Or... Uh, is it Mrs. Alteri?"

"Enverna," Lianna said, ignoring the question, "he’s here."

---

The streets that flanked the gala’s location were lit up, almost making it look like the world had turned into one big nightclub. The sidewalks were packed with so many spectators that Lianna maybe wouldn’t have been able to see the building were it not so tall and imposing.

"Do you have nothing to say?" Lianna asked, feeling as though Enverna was keeping her mouth plugged.

"About?"

"You know..."

"No," Enverna replied. She had a thoughtful expression, not mad, not uncomfortable, not disgusted, just a thoughtful expression as she said, "that’s simply how you are and... I understand that."

[You’re not wrong, but, this silence... It definitely feels like you have a lot more you want to say.]

Their driver parked the car in the VIP’s parking lot and led them out to a singular path of rocks that sliced through a great field of grass, on the way to the building’s lobby.

"Here you are, ladies." The driver vanished, walking away once his job was done.

Lianna and Enverna were left at the back of a long line. In front of them was a player in some bulky, iron armor who only gave them a fleeting glance before turning back around.

"Keep your eyes peeled, Lianna. We don’t-"

Enverna flinched as Lianna smoothly took hold of her hand. Seeing the question so clearly displayed on her face, Lianna asked:

"What is it, dear? Are you that against holding your wife’s hand?"

She was trying to imply that they needed to act like the lovers the news had painted them as, if only to maintain appearances. Enverna, however, must have taken it as Lianna’s usual attempts at getting her flustered.

After what Lianna had just done with Mel, maybe the attempt had a new edge to it as well.

Regardless, the two of them soon arrived at the lobby, where their night was set to begin.