On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“How do I keep losing?” Aliyah was shouting. “I’m even trick-shuffling on my turns… are you out-cheating me?”

“Hardly. I am simply blessed be the moon, my Fortune is great-great.” Shaeula answered. “You have little left to lose, so how about we try this. Oh and master…” she shouted out to me as I made to open the door. “No running away-away, else it will be the worse for this girl here.”

Letting go of the doorknob with a regretful sigh I mourned my chances of getting out of this unscathed. Eri was pouting sourly, but in a great act of willpower didn’t say anything.

“Maldita suerte! I am deeply sorry about this. Aliyah is very good at her job normally, but she.. she cannot hold her liquor. Captain Treyvon often scolds her, but she is not big on listening. I pray you forgive her for this…”

“Hey, it’s hardly her fault alone. Shaeula is definitely egging her on. She’s always ready to leap on anything that seems fun. But I’m happy, and aren’t you too Eri?” as Eri looked at her puzzled my sis continued. “After all, isn’t every day fun and full of joy now? Compared to just a week ago? It feels like we’ve had a lifetime’s worth in just this short week, right?”

Eri looked down at her engagement ring, and she smiled. “Yes, compared to how I felt when I had given up… I’m so happy I could just die. Even so… it made me realise I’m a greedy woman. I’m so frustrated that all these other women are hanging around you Akio. I don’t like it!”

“Well, I’m sorry about Shaeula, but…” I glanced over at Luciana, not willing to give much away. “As she is helping me out on a few projects, she has to be in my care…”

“I get that.” Eri agreed, though she still pouted cutely. “But what about Rika-san and Yae-san? You are way too nice to a couple of girls you don’t even know, just because they are young and a tiny bit cute.”

“There’s nothing to that.” I promised. “I am just happy that you are making more friends, and I want to thank them for looking out for you and my sis.”

“Hmph, if that’s all it is, I don’t need them. Wipe them from your mind. I’ll do the same.”

Aiko burst out laughing and even Luciana joined in the merriment. “Oh my, you have my condolences, Akio. Your fiancée, she is a … I think heavy woman? Is that how it is said?”

“I am not… I just…” Eri floundered, Aiko pounding her on the back heartly.

“Oh you are, you are.” She grinned. “But my bro loves you anyway, so relax!”

“WHY CAN’T I WIN?” Aliyah was cursing. “I had a full house and you still beat me. I thought I’d get to see you take off that dress…”

“I fear only those worthy can see-see my beautiful naked body.” I could hear the smirk in Shaeula’s voice from here, she was definitely enjoying messing with the drunk Aliyah. I just hope she doesn’t go too far. “I am as merciful as I am beautiful though, so I shall give you one final chance to overturn my blessing-blessing. If you win I shall discard my clothing to match yours, but if I win…” her voice quietened, and we couldn’t hear what she said, but Aliyah agreed, sure she would win sooner or later.

“I thought she was quite a good gambler when I saw her at the tournament.” I said to Luciana. “Maybe I was wrong and it was all luck?”

“As I said, it is the drink… as well as her weakness for pretty girls. Please do not let it dismay you. We would like to be amistosa… amicable, moving forwards. Her brother hopes that we can be on good terms, should our paths cross again.”

“I like this one. She’s very polite.” My sis said.

“I’ve got you now…. Read the cards and weep!” Aliyah shouted, only for Shaeula to immediately deliver her defeat.

“It is you who should be weeping indeed-indeed.” Shaeula taunted her. “Though they should be tears of joy, for I am giving you an opportunity to repent your insults to my-my master.”

“I… do I really have to… come on, have a heart! A beauty like you shouldn’t be so petty. God I need more booze, give me that…”

“Given words should not be broken, it corrupts the soul.” Shaeula was unrelenting. “Now honour your wager!”

“I… ugh, fine. I’m a woman of my word. Maybe when you see how brave I am you’ll fall for me…”

I don’t even have the blessing of fortunate winds at the moment and I can still tell that trouble is coming…

I was proved right moments later when… Oh god… why me? I tried to look away from the oncoming spectacle, but I felt wind brush my cheek, Shaeula signalling to me not to look away. As the rest of us looked in in slack-jawed amazement Aliyah came barrelling towards me naked as the day she was born, covering nothing, arms outstretched, ready for a hug.

Okay, yeah, her boobs and ass are huge… she’s a big girl all around, but seeing her like this, she’s perfectly proportioned. She’s got a real warrior’s grace…

“Oh Akio, I have to… apologise… for my earlier… disrespect.” She choked out, shaking in shame or anger. “Please allow me to give you a hug so you’ll forgive me!”

Behind her Shaeula was giggling, clearly pleased by her mischief. My sis was finding it funny too, but two others weren’t. Eri was grinding her teeth, shooting daggers at Shaeula with her glare, while poor Luciana…

“Santa Madre de Dios… This is a disaster. Now they will think we are a hopeless operation, not worth any of their time. If only captain Treyvon was the one to infiltrate… Mierda, then we would just have a different problem… why was I available for this… this…” her Spanish became too fast and aggrieved for me to hear, not that I was able to spare much thought for it, with the… juggernaut… barrelling towards me.

“Hug time! Here we fucking go!” I could have dodged, but Shaeula’s gaze was telling me not to, so I was frozen like a deer in the headlights as Aliyah wrapped her arms around me and pulled me against her impressive chest. My arms went out reflexively, and she, still smiling scarily, advised me politely not to touch her.

“You touch me and I’ll crush your bones to powder, get it?” she eyed me, shaking as her naked body was pressed against my clothed one. “In fact, maybe I should just do it anyway… ouch.”

Shaeula had smacked her bottom with one small hand, her blow surprisingly powerful, the sound echoing around the room. As she winced from the sudden shock her muscles tightened, and my face slammed against hers, our lips meeting by accident. Our teeth clashed, and her lip split. Opening her mouth in pain her tongue accidentally tangled with mine. How could this even happen, the odds of it are miniscule… oh god, surely not my Fortune at play. This doesn’t feel lucky. She’s going to kill me, snap me like a twig.

Everyone in the room went silent, expecting an explosion. I merely stood there, pressed in her trembling embrace. She looked at me, I looked at her… and then suddenly she started crying.

Uh, what? No way… she’s so big and tough…

“Uhh, I think you can let go now…” I tried to console her, my arms wide, making sure not to touch her. Still, she cried and cried, her arms locked around me.

“Now look what you’ve done.” Eri snapped at Shaeula. “You’ve traumatised the poor girl. I hope you are happy now!”

“I admit…” Shaeula said, observing with bemusement. “… I just wanted to tease her since she was disrespectful to master and was ogling me most unpleasantly… still, I feel some-some remorse, indeed.”

“This trip has taught me you need some rules to follow!” Eri said, arms folded sternly. “I get that… that you like to tease, but this is too far. My Akio should not be kissing another woman or seeing her naked, nor should she be forced to shame herself so. You could just have ignored her like we did.”

As Eri started using her position as my fiancée to browbeat Shaeula, I considered what to do. Making up my mind I very carefully brought my arms in against Aliyah, incredibly careful to keep them away from any dangerous areas. Rubbing her back soothingly I concentrated hard, desperate to not… well, get aroused. Thank god for my stats, I guess they can be used for this too…

“There, there. It was just an accident, and it was a mere touch of our lips and tongue. It wasn’t anything meaningful, so we can just forget it.” I consoled her.

She looked at me, eyes bright with tears and sniffled. Ugh, she’s getting snot on me. “Forget it, I wish I could… shit, my lips are for kissing cute girls, not … not you.” she looked down, realising how tightly she was clutching me and her arms released me finally. As she stepped back she angrily scrubbed away her tears. “Still, I must be drunk off my tits right now… to cry in front of a man, to let him… ugh.” She slapped herself across the face a couple of times. “Fuck, I won’t feel satisfied unless I get a good hit on you, but you are too damn slippery…”

Well, I guess… if that would do it… “Okay then, one blow.” I said, and she paused in surprise. You seem really upset, but you have still forgot to cover yourself. I can still see everything you know…

“What, seriously?” Aliyah looked at me, surprised.

“Yeah, I feel bad for you. if it’ll help you forget this… well I can take a hit.”

“I… I won’t hold back. I’m super pissed right now.” She said hesitantly.

“Do what you need to. Shaeula went too far in her playing, and since I’m… well, kinda like her boss I guess, then that means I should take responsibility for her.”

“No takebacks then, all right?” Aliyah began winding up a punch, swinging her arm (and other things too, I couldn’t help but notice).

“No, wait, you maldita tonto! I know you are upset, but the mission…” Luciana tried to stop her, but It was too late.

“Take this, the cost of a free show from me! Stupid pretty boy, I hope you like a broken face!” her fist struck out, cannoning into me with great force. Quite the punch, she sure is something, still, it hurts way less than when I was impaled by those tentacles in that antiques shop…

“Wow, you actually took it, I was sure you wouldn’t…” Aliyah said smugly, before pausing, seeing me still standing. “No way… even Trey can’t take one of my punches head on…”

Sorry, but I’m a bit beyond losing a fistfight now. I turned my head to the side, feeling a bit of an ache in my cheek and nose where she had hit me, and I spat a few droplets of blood, before rubbing at my face to soothe it. “Yeah, that was a good punch. You are quite the fighter.” I said. “So, could you please forgive Shaeula? I think if she didn’t like you she wouldn’t tease you so.”

“Well, this female is entertaining indeed-indeed.” Shaeula grinned, having forgotten her scolding from Eri already. “And while there are many of the Seelie who find those of the same gender enchanting, and I do not disparage it-it, those who do not find Akio alluring are foolish, and should be helped to see the error of their ways.”

“Shaeula!” Eri growled. “It only matters that we know how wonderful Akio is. I don’t want more rivals, I have enough. Sure, I hate it that she was looking down on him, but there’s no cause to go this far just to prove a point… huh?”

Aliyah had burst out laughing, howling until tears were streaming down her face once more, this time from laughter.

Wow, drunks sure are changeable.

“All right, all right…” Aliyah said when she could finally breathe again. “Fuck, I get it. I lose. I’m the idiot for letting that little cutie Shaeula cheat me, and you did let me hit you, which you took like a boss… fine. We’ll call this a draw and pretend it never happened, right?”

“Oh yes, please, gracias a Dios por eso.” Luciana rejoiced. “Let us end this madness here.”

“You should probably get dressed now.” Eri said, going to scoop up Aliyah’s discarded clothes. “Akio can still see you…”

“Eh, fuck it. Done is done.” she shrugged, bouncing spectacularly. “You should count yourself lucky, I take pride in my body. Make the most of it, as you’ll never see it again.” She turned then, following Eri to the back room, her ass swaying as she walked, showing me everything. I swallowed, feeling warm, but with supreme will my body stayed calm. Thank god that’s over… what a shitshow. But… man, she sure was stacked…

********

Once Aliyah was decent and drinking water now (as Luciana was insistent no more trouble happened) I went out to fetch back Buck. He laughed uproariously when he heard a version of the tale, nearly earning himself a punch from Aliyah. We made more small talk, and in the end I caved in and gave Aliyah and Luciana my phone number. It was risky in a way, but they already had such a good lead on my identity that having theirs in exchange might be worth it. I don’t really say anything I shouldn’t on the phone in any case, I’ll just have to remember to be extra careful.

Now that her attitude towards me had thawed, Eri and Aiko weren’t so standoffish with her, so the girls had some fun chatting for a while, until Aliyah and Luciano had to leave. I had caved in a dropped a few… loaded words… to them, in exchange for finding out they had taken the casino owner to a location a few hundred kilometres away. Which meant… yeah, he shouldn’t be able to reach his Territory, even if he enters the Boundary. Which I don’t know if he even can. They’ve let slip enough to me to guess they are definitely some sort of military unit, so I expect they will be keeping the guy up to interrogate him… so this is an opportunity…

After that I had a couple of drinks with Buck, before asking for a small favour. “I’d like to borrow the back room for an hour or so. Can I ask that no-one bothers us for a bit?”

“Sure thing, but keep it clean, okay?” Buck joked and I nodded. “Will do. Thanks for the favour again, and the … interesting… night.”

“Yeah, never a dull moment with you is there Akio? Anyway, I’ll go see the band for a bit, let me know when you are done and I’ll see you and your ladies out.”

All right then. Time for the final task of this trip…