Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

Melisa found herself sitting across from the Queen of Syux in one of the academy's private meeting rooms, trying very hard not to think about what she'd just been doing in the bathroom.

[This is fine. Everything's fine. Just having a casual chat with the fucking queen of Syux right after sucking dick. Totally normal.]

...

In a way, it was kind of hot.

[NO!] Melisa shook her head. [Get that shit out of your mind right now! FOCUS!]

Through the window behind Aria, Melisa could see her girlfriends in the courtyard.

Raven occasionally glanced their way, probably plotting escape routes in the event that somehow, some way, this little talk with Aria went south. Isabella was practically mounting Armia's leg, humping the darian's side in what looked like a very odd mating ritual while Armia looked like she was doing complex mathematical calculations about whether the jail time was worth it.

[At least someone's having fun.]

"So," Aria broke the silence, her grey eyes fixed on Melisa. "How have you been?"

"Oh, you know..." Melisa gestured vaguely. "Learning magic, avoiding death threats, the usual. You?"

"Running a kingdom, avoiding assassination attempts... the usual."

...

Silence.

[Gods, how do you make small talk with someone who once thought you murdered their mother?]

"Listen," Aria leaned forward slightly. "About last year-"

"Huh? O-Oh, that? Water under the bridge!" Melisa said quickly. "Really, who hasn't accused someone of regicide at least once, right?"

Aria's lips twitched.

"I suppose when you put it that way..."

Another silence fell upon them, like an enchanted sheet meant to provide +5 awkwardness to the situation.

Outside, Isabella had progressed to what could only be described as aggressive dry-humping while cackling. Armia was red in the face.

[Isabella, I swear to god...]

"I need your help," Aria said suddenly.

Melisa blinked.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"The nim situation," Aria's voice dropped lower. "I don't know what to do. Obviously, I'm not going to punish all nim for the actions of a few, but..." She sighed. "There's no shortage of people who want exactly that."

"Ah." Melisa shifted in her seat. "Yeah, I... may have run into some of those angry nim recently."

"I heard," Aria's expression turned serious. "Are you alright?"

"Please, they fought like drunk puppies," Melisa waved dismissively. "Though I could've done without being called a traitor to my own kind."

"Well, if it's any consolation, that sounds quite rich coming from people who were, literally, in the middle of attacking their own kind."

"They're scared," Melisa found herself saying. "And angry. And now they have power they never had before, thanks to..." She gestured at herself.

"Thanks to you," Aria nodded. "Which is why I need your help. Aside from being the person who made all this happen, I would say you're proof that change is possible without violence. I believe it's in everyone's best interest to remind society as a whole of that fact."

[Oh hey, speaking of that...]

"Actually," Melisa perked up. "The Headmistress just invited me to speak at this fancy conference thing. You know, talk about how nim can be more than random thugs hiding in alleys."

Aria's eyes lit up.

"That sounds perfect! When is it?"

"Next week. Though fair warning, if you're planning on attending or something, my last bit of public speaking ended in lots of fighting."

"As long as it's not the nobles this time," Aria actually smiled. "I'll be there."

"Wait, wait, I was joking. Are you... Are you serious?"

"Of course. Can't miss my favorite alleged murderer's big speech, can I?"

They both laughed, and this time it felt almost natural. Very, very close to it.

[Maybe we can actually do this whole 'normal acquaintances' thing after all.]

A crash from outside drew their attention. Isabella had finally succeeded in tackling Armia, while Raven watched with her usual deadpan expression.

"Get off me!" Armia's voice carried through the window. "We are in PUBLIC!"

"But you're so hot when you're flustered~" Isabella's voice sang back. "Come on, just a quickie?"

"I will END you-"

"Your... friends seem lively," Aria commented, trying and failing to hide her amusement.

"That's one word for it," Melisa muttered. "I should probably go separate them before Isabella *actually* pulls Armia's clothes off."

"Let them have their fun," Aria stood, then paused. "Though perhaps remind them that public indecency is still technically a crime."

What Melisa said next came to her off pure instinct. It was one of those, "her lips moved faster than her mind" type of moments.

"Bold of you to lecture me about indecency after catching me in the bathroom," Melisa said before she could stop herself.

[Oh fuck, did I really just say that to the QUEEN?]

But Aria just laughed, a real laugh this time. With a hint of a blush.

"I suppose I walked into that one. Though next time, maybe try a silencing spell?"

"I, uh... I'll keep that in mind for my next royal audience."

Through the window, they could hear Isabella's continued attempts at seduction.

"Come onnn, your cock feels so good when you're angry-"

"ISABELLA!"

Aria looked away.

"Goodness."

"Yeah, my friends are horny disasters. Don't pay attention to them."

"I would have said 'unique', but that works too." Aria's smile turned thoughtful. "You know, sometimes I envy you."

"Me?" Melisa blinked. "Why?"

"You're free to be yourself. To love who you want, do what you want..." Aria gestured vaguely. "Must be nice."

[Is... is the Queen of Syux having a moment with me right now?]

"I mean, kind of hard to be myself when half the nim population wants me dead nowdays," Melisa pointed out.

"True. Though at least you can do something about that." Aria sighed. "All I can do is sit on my throne and try to keep people from killing each other."

"Hey, that's important too! And you're doing better than your mom- I mean, the previous... um..."

[Fuck, fuck FUCK.] Melisa paled. [Smooth, Melisa. Real smooth.]

Aria's eyes narrowed a bit, but she didn't seem angry. Just kind of sad.

"You can say it. My mother was terrible at her job. Among other things."

Another crash from outside, followed by:

"HA! Got your belt!"

"ISABELLA I SWEAR TO ALL THE GODS-"

Melisa pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Okay, yeah, I should probably go handle that before Armia commits murder in broad daylight."

"Probably wise," Aria agreed. "I look forward to your speech next week. Try not to start any revolutions before then?"

"No promises!"

As Melisa headed for the door, Aria called out:

"Oh, and Melisa?"

"Yeah?"

"Next time you want private time with your girlfriend, try the third-floor bathrooms. I heard the acoustics are better."

[I'm going to die. Right here. Right now. Of embarrassment.]

"I'll... keep that in mind, Your Majesty."

Melisa practically fled, her face burning as Aria's laughter followed her out. Outside, she found Isabella victoriously holding Armia's belt while Raven had apparently given up and started reading again.

[At least someone's having a good day,] she thought, heading over to prevent what was either about to be public sex or public murder.

Probably both.

---

{Aria}

The carriage wheels clattered against the cobblestones as Aria made her way back to the palace, her mind replaying her conversation with Melisa.

[Who would have thought?] She smiled slightly. [A year ago I was ready to have her executed, and now I'm having to ignore the scent of sex in the air to speak to her.]

Yes, Melisa smelled like sex. Aria had been quite simply pushing that fact aside all this time.

The whole thing was almost absurd enough to be funny.

Lord Caelum sat across from her, reviewing some documents. He hadn't asked about her meeting yet, which meant he was dying to know but too proper to inquire directly.

[Sometimes I think he'd explode if he didn't maintain perfect etiquette for more than five minutes.]

"The conference," she said suddenly, making him jump slightly. "We should promote it. Make it a proper event."

"The academy's conference, Your Majesty?" He looked up from his papers. "The one where the nim girl is speaking?"

"Melisa," Aria corrected automatically. "And yes. Think about it. What better way to show that change is possible than having her speak? She's living proof that nim can rise through proper channels, without violence."

"Assuming others don't do the violence for her."

"I'm choosing to be optimistic about that."

The carriage hit a bump, making them both bounce slightly in their seats. Through the window, Aria could see people going about their daily lives, humans, kitsune, a few darians, and nim alike.

[Some of them probably want to kill each other,] she thought. [But some of them probably just want to live their lives.]

"Have the papers cover it," she decided. "Make it clear that this is about progress, about showing what nim can achieve when given the chance. We need to show people there's another way besides violence."

"And if it backfires?"

"Then at least we tried something besides threatening everyone into compliance." She smiled wryly. "Besides, I have a feeling Melisa will make it interesting, one way or another."

[After all,] she thought, remembering the chaos she'd witnessed at the academy, [that girl certainly knows how to make an impression.]

"Very well, Your Majesty," Lord Caelum made a note. "I'll see to the arrangements."

[Maybe,] Aria thought as the palace came into view, [just maybe, we can write this chapter of history without too much blood on its pages.]