I Want To Lay the Very Best!

Talking about Dani required a lead-up, which meant retelling the whole boat saga. Brandy had just finished telling Rhona about her brief battle with the Arctovish Arabella. Even thinking about that fossil, Brandy felt a little breathless. Her sheer presence had felt like a weight on Brandy, even worse than Rhona's Curse Body. Hopefully, she was having fun in the city after waking up, and Brandy didn't want to get in trouble for not giving the Rangers a heads-up.

She probably should have done that. Shoot. Well, after she'd finished her deliveries, she'd do that.

Rhona had listened patiently while kicking her legs in Brandy's lap, clearly intrigued. "So you fought your way through the chaos, met a rare fossil Pokémon who sounds like she could snap a steel beam in half, let alone a woman, and you just want to gush over how cool she was?"

Brandy rolled her eyes. "Arabella was absolutely breathtaking. She deserves the praise, I was completely out of my league."

"I don't need to be there to hear the stars in your voice," Rhona smirked, stretching out lazily. "You seem to love being out of your league."

Before Brandy could even think of a reply, Rhona shifted, sliding closer so that the back of her knee pressed up against Brandy's thigh, her arm draping over the back of the couch behind her. The movement was casual and effortless, but the heat from where they touched sent a jolt through Brandy's already overworked nerves.

Rhona let out a pleased sigh, pressing a little closer, her body cool against Brandy's warmth. "Mmm, you run so hot. It's nice."

Brandy exhaled slowly, trying to focus. "You're impossible."

"What's the matter? Don't like old ladies?"

If she'd gone off looks alone, Brandy would have guessed Rhona was that much older than her, maybe ten years or so? It was hard to tell with inheritance how much people had really aged. Some could look youthful their whole life, while others just became hotter in a more mature way. Rhona had that tired weariness to her, the kind that only settled into people who had seen too much. It should have been off-putting, but on Rhona, it wasn't unattractive at all. If anything, it made her even more magnetic.

Brandy shot her a sidelong glance, a slow smirk creeping up her face. She wasn't going to let Rhona have it entirely her own way. "Oh, I love old ladies."

Rhona blinked, then grinned, her fingers tightening just slightly where they rested against Brandy's waist. "Oh?"

"Carrying their shopping, helping them up the stairs." Brandy teased back. "Listening to their long, boring stories."

Rhona gasped dramatically, clutching her chest as if Brandy had just gravely insulted her. "Oh, how cruel! And here I was, thinking you had a thing for distinguished, worldly women. But no, I'm just a frail old lady to you, is that it?"

Brandy laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, please. If you're frail, then I'm made of cotton candy."

Rhona's smirk widened, and before Brandy could react, cool hands ghosted over her waist, fingertips tracing along the defined lines of her stomach. "Cotton candy, huh?" Rhona mused, giving Brandy's side a firm squeeze. "Much as I'd love to Slurpuff you up, it feels a lot more like a steel type under here."

Brandy jolted, barely biting back a yelp, her skin tingling where Rhona had touched her. "H-hey! Hands off, grandma."

Rhona grinned, utterly unrepentant. "I noticed you had a Joltik out there. You've definitely got a bit of the bug about you. If you insist I'm a frail old lady, I just have to agree. You're built like an athlete; your youthful body can support me."

Brandy rolled her eyes, trying to suppress the heat climbing up her neck. It definitely wasn't working. "Yeah, well, your chilly old bones might melt if they get too warm. I don't want to have to take you back to your Froslass in a bucket."

"Trying to escape already? Then I guess I'd better hold on tighter before you slip away," Rhona teased, her hands cupping Brandy's chest. "You wouldn't want me to fall, would you? Old lady and all."

Brandy groaned, torn between amusement and the urge to cover her face. "You'd fall asleep trying to get my dress off."

Rhona smirked, tilting her head as she studied Brandy with a slow, deliberate gaze. "So cruel. I suppose I'll just have to change your mind about me."

Brandy raised a brow. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

Rhona leaned in, her breath cool against Brandy's ear as she murmured, "By showing you just how much energy I still have."

Brandy hesitated for a moment before tilting her head, studying Rhona. "Why are you doing this?"

Rhona blinked, and there was something softer behind her eyes. "What, flirting with you? Teasing you until your face turns as red as a Cheri Berry?" She chuckled, and then her expression grew thoughtful. "I'm an artist, Brandy. I love passion. Fire, ambition, reckless belief, people who live like every moment matters. And you? You've got a huge helping of both. It's hard not to be drawn to that."

Brandy swallowed, feeling her pulse quicken at the way Rhona looked at her. Like she was something worth admiring. A work of art. Brandy wasn't used to having her ego massaged, but it did feel good. "You make it sound so poetic."

Rhona grinned, brushing her fingers lazily along Brandy's forearm. "Maybe it is. Or maybe I just like watching you squirm."

Brandy huffed, trying to shake off the warmth rising in her chest and making her Steam Engine spin. "I have a lot of cheesecake to deliver."

"And yet, you're still here," Rhona murmured, eyes gleaming.

Brandy sighed, tilting up her chin. "We pride ourselves on service, and this job isn't done to your satisfaction quite yet."

Rhona chuckled, tracing small circles on Brandy's arm. "Careful, sweetheart. You keep talking like that, and I might start thinking you actually enjoy this."

Brandy exhaled, feeling the warmth rise in her cheeks but refusing to give Rhona the satisfaction of looking away. "I like seeing you smile. You just looked tired when I first saw you. Now you seem a lot bouncier."

Rhona hesitated, then softened, fingers idly tracing Brandy's wrist. "I was tired. Still am. The city's not what it used to be, but there's always hope for a shake-up."

Brandy considered that for a moment, then offered a small smirk. "Good thing you got an energetic trainer looking into it."

"Oh, sweetheart, I was hoping you'd say that." Rhona grinned, fingers drumming lightly against Brandy's waist. "I knew you were on a mission. Good girl."

Brandy turned red instantly. That was just like Arabella, hitting Brandy with the praise that made her brain fritz out as Rhona leaned in to fill her vision.

"Anyway," Rhona said lightly, their lips barely a breath apart. "let's talk about Reena."

Brandy groaned, eager for any topic that wasn't her own flustered state. "Reena? What about her? Weren't we talking about Dani and her dress?"

"Dani's not here, so I have to learn about her through you. I have to push all your buttons." Before Brandy could process that, Rhona leaned in and stole a quick, teasing kiss, just a soft press of lips before pulling back with a smug grin. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a spark through Brandy's already frayed nerves, leaving her stunned and speechless.

"Reena. Her legs," Rhona said dreamily, eyes half-lidded with appreciation. "Absolutely divine."

Brandy groaned but couldn't deny it. "People praise mine, but I'm outmatched. They are delicious."

Rhona laughed, nudging Brandy's side. "I knew you had good taste. Welcome to the 'Tsareena Legs Appreciation Society.'"

Brandy snorted. "I think Lilith would kill us if she knew about that."

Rhona grinned. "Oh, absolutely. And you know what? That's kind of hot."

Brandy laughed, shaking her head. "You're terrible."

"I am! But you love it, don't you, Brandy Joyce?" Rhona sighed dramatically, stretching her arms over her head. Pressing her cleavage into Brandy's face was a very unfair move that Brandy was going to have to steal. "Reena's got those perfect, goddess-tier legs and a heart of gold, and Lilith is her feisty goth queen who will absolutely tear your throat out if you ask nicely. The balance is just perfection."

Brandy shook her head, laughing despite herself. "There's no way this has to do with Dani's dress. You're just being horny."

Rhona smirked, nudging her again. "Oh, come on. Join in my process Brandy! This is for Dani."

Brandy's face went hot. She absolutely did not believe Rhona's excuse for a second. Still, she'd play along if there was even a tiny chance this was for Dani.

"If you like legs, I got plenty," Brandy said, kicking them up. "I crushed my partner between them out there, and she seemed to love it. You could be next."

Rhona's confident smirk faltered for just a second as a deep blush spread across her face. She opened her mouth, then closed it, clearly caught off guard. "Oh," she started, then let out a breathy chuckle, raking a hand through her hair as if trying to compose herself. "Sweetheart, you can't just say things like that and expect me to function. That's a dangerous invitation."

"Trust in the process, Rhona," Brandy teased. "We're designing a dress here, aren't we?"

Rhona cackled, but the sound was a little shakier than usual, her face still carrying the remnants of a blush. She opened her mouth like she had something witty to throw back, then snapped it shut, pressing her lips together to regain her composure. Brandy grinned, watching the rare moment of Rhona being caught off guard. It was almost worth the chaos she was getting herself into.

"How did a trainer like you end up with a Magikarp?" Rhona asked and then squeaked when Brandy bucked her legs and made Rhona bounce in her lap. Brandy could practically see the thought being implanted in her head. Legs powerful enough to lift her and then pin her down, the effortless control Brandy could have. The squeeze.

Brandy didn't need to say anything, she just gave Rhona one of her best Morgan smiles. The kind she had when she'd been cheating at a game horrendously and not got caught once.

Rhona exhaled, shaking her head with a half-laugh, half-sigh. "Alright, let's talk design then. We need a dress for a Magikarp that probably is spending most of her time as a kind of horny, confused liquid."

Brandy tilted her head, amused. "No more flirting. That sounds like surrender."

"Let's call it a strategic retreat. I don't want to be broken on my own couch." Rhona stretched, shifting just enough to regain some of her usual smug composure. "Now, you put those hands to work making an old lady feel young again, and I'll dream up something that'll make a Magikarp feel like the queen you're clearly going to mold her into being."

"Dani deserves to be as pretty as she can be." Brandy nodded. "But before I leave Spikemuth, I will break you on this couch."

Rhona made a strangled noise, her earlier composure vanishing completely. Brandy smirked, satisfied she'd won this little battle. Sure, she'd also made a promise she had to keep now, but Rhona had worked her up. She deserved to discover why you didn't play with a Joyce's fire.

"Now," Brandy said, linking her hands behind her neck and sitting back casually as if she hadn't just sent Rhona's brain into a tailspin. "Tell me about this dress. You're meant to be an incredible designer. I'm ready to be amazed."

To Rhona's credit, she really came through once she found her tongue again, it was going to be a fantastic maid dress. Brandy couldn't wait to see Dani in it.