[Ghouligan]

Sea Day was a massive event for Shellies.

Oh, you don’t know Shellies? That makes sense. It’s not really your average hostess club. And we’re not talking about the tiny, little cakes — there’s more than enough cake to go around. Y’see, Shellies is an A-list restaurant for the richest, most successful businessmen this side of Isshiki Beach. While most of the common folk were here enjoying themselves on the dingy, free side of the sandcastle, Shellies had their own section.

Money’s amazing, isn’t it? Bernard was inclined to agree. For those who don’t know, Bernard owned Bernie’s Burgers. It offered authentic, American cuisine and atmosphere. And this charming son of a bitch was the reason people kept coming back. Whether it was due to advertising, the constant changes in menus, or his literal forked, silver tongue… who’s to say?

While he was a man of art, he was — more importantly — a man of business. With the influx of sea creatures at The Bay, he sought to create a limited edition menu. Bernie’s never served seafood… which meant he needed some inspiration. Cue Shellies.

He walks in. So does the rest of his crew, a few fellow millionaires, and their respective security guards. They’re greeted by other filthy stinking rich millionaires as they step into the restaurant and they all go their own separate ways. The difference between millionaires and high school girls portrayed in the 1990s was nonexistent. There was a single, ubiquitous word that would inform the most socially inept of the dynamics at play.

“Frenemies?” Antoine said. “So, this is a giant fish-waving contest?”

“Precisely!” Bernard sat down at his table with legs spread so wide no one would sit by him. Except, they did. Bernard was surrounded by beautiful women. And not the beautiful women who worked here. There were tons of waitresses dressed in clamshell bras and mermaid-print skirts that were way too short. But these women were guests.

“The person with the most money and the best taste will ‘win’ the support of the crowd.” He gestured to his female companions. “It’s a very heteronormative competition, but I need all the people I can get — we’re taste-testing the entire menu. On me.”

Everyone’s excited. Including a few men who made their way over. Their only intentions were to speak to the congregation of women here. And while other tables were more restrictive with who they allowed, Bernie’s by far was the largest and growing to be the most popular. He wasn’t concerned with ego or winning… unlike the rest, he cared about his own success.

“Now I need you to make sure no one here leaves without giving you a review.” There’s a stack of papers next to Antoine. He’s in charge of handing them out and receiving them. “I’m gonna be out and about shmoozin’. So, you need to be alert.”

“I’m security, not a secretary.”

“You’re really gonna say no to this?” Bernie pushes over a few bands. “This isn’t a normal day. You’re getting commission.”

“But I’m also still security?”

“Sure are!”

“How do I keep people around when you’re gone?”

“You gotta trust the process, Ant.” He snaps his fingers. “Now let’s order!”

---

hikari

[hikari]

[nospaces][googlefont=Abril+Fatface|Inter:100,200,300,400,500,600,700,800,900|Passions+Conflict|Playfair+Display:400,500,600,700,800,900,400italic,500italic,600italic,700italic,800italic,900italic]

[attr="class","hikari1"]

[attr="class","hikari1-topp"]

[attr="class","hikari1-top"]

melodies of life

[attr="class","hikari1-icon"]

[attr="class","hikari1-lyric"]
we're adding up the layers of harmony

[attr="class","hikari1-bulk"]

omgggggggg money for DAYYYYYS.[break][break]

to be clear, hikari genuinely has no want for money. daddy pays for literally everything, and she's never really had to work a day in her life. her side-gig is almost entirely for her own peace of mind—that peace of mind being acting like a piece of ass for the validation of men, something she's so desperately craved since she hit puberty. regardless, she's rich as fuck. manipedis every two weeks, luxury purses every month, lavish vacations, private jets, you get the deal. the only problem is that daddy is such a LOSER. there's really no getting around it. damn, hikari loves him, sure, but he has no status AT ALL. all he really ever wanted to do was live in peace and quiet when the sheer amount of money he has means he could probably just buy an entire village and live as a king for the rest of his damn life. god, hikari just doesn't get it. why bother with all that cash when you aren't even willing to throw it around and pull your weight?[break][break]

shellies, though... yeah, shellies has the kind of people hikari is looking for. just imagine—tabloids going crazy with her picture on the centerfold, proclaiming she's playing with all the movers and shakers in the upper echelons of society. it doesn't matter that most of these dudes are old and crusty as hell, as long as they've got cameras on them for most of their existence, hikari doesn't give even one half of a shit. the real problem with socializing with these guys is that there's some pretty strict security round people like them, and they won't just let in some girl who claims she's got money. she's gotta have the history to back it up and, to be frank, hikari just doesn't have that. what she DOES have, though, is some unscrupulous methods.[break][break]

namely, the waitresses here don't make very good money. a big stack of yen and off a waitress goes, heading home and leaving her uniform for hikari to change into. and... wow. okay. maybe hikari should dress up as a mermaid more often. the shell bra is really making her... assets... look great. one mirror selfie and hikari is good to go, stepping out onto the floor with little to no suspicion on her shoulders.[break][break]

and right for bernie she goes! a congregation this big has to have some big fish at the center of it, so hikari struts towards all of them, flipping her scarlet red hair over her shoulder as she gets closer. and, as she gets closer, yeah, filthy stinking rich, almost all of them. security doesn't look half bad, either. as hikari passes antoine, she runs one finger from his navel up his chest to eventually curl around his shoulder in a passing, but lingering touch, before winking at him and turning her attention to the table. she leans forward over the table and sticks her hips out, where she rests her arms on the table with a notepad and pen in her palm. how short are these skirts again? looooool. "heyyyy," she coos, batting her lashes. "welcome to shellies. what's the occasion? it's so rare to find so many smokin' hot people in one place."[break][break]

she almost gags. only half of them are even passable, barely even meeting her standards for an average looking person, but hey, manipulation is the name of the game in times such as these.

[attr="class","hikari1-tag"]
Ghouligan

[newclass=".hikari1"]border:solid 2px #e3e3e3;background-color:#ededed;border-radius:20px;position:relative;width:500px;margin:0px auto;height:auto;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-topp"]mix-blend-mode:multiply;position:relative;height:125px;margin:-1px -1px 0px -1px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top"]background:linear-gradient(-45deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:200%;height:70px;border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;position:relative;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top h1"]position:absolute;z-index:1;color:#fff;font:900 italic 45px Playfair Display, serif;line-height:45px;left:180px;bottom:-5px;margin:0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div"]position:absolute;right:0px;height:70px;width:100%;mask-image: var(--directInk);border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;mask-size: auto 700%;mask-repeat: no-repeat;mask-position: center;-webkit-mask-image: var(--bannerInk);-webkit-mask-size: auto 700%;-webkit-mask-repeat: no-repeat;-webkit-mask-position: center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div::before"]content:'';display:block;height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#000;background:linear-gradient(-135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon"]height:98px;width:98px;padding: 26px;background-color: #fff;border-radius:100%;position:absolute;margin: -74px 0px 0px 31px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::before"]width: 35px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 100% 0px;box-shadow: 10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 15px 0px 0px -56px;position: absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::after"]width: 40px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 100%;box-shadow: -10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 41px 0px 0px 119px;position: absolute;top: 0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon div"]background-color:#494949;border-radius:100%;width:98px;height:98px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon img"]height:100px;width:100px;border-radius:100%;margin:-1px;mix-blend-mode:lighten;filter:grayscale(100%);position:absolute;z-index:1;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon i"]display:block;margin:1px 0px 0px 1px;color:#494949;font-size:50px;opacity:.5;text-shadow: #d5d5d5 1px 0px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.540302px 0.841471px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.416147px 0.909297px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.989993px 0.14112px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.653644px -0.756803px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.283662px -0.958924px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.96017px -0.279416px 0px;position:absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-lyric"]position:absolute;right:-1px;margin-top:-35px;background-color:#494949;border-radius:5px 0px 0px 5px;padding:10px;font:500 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#d5d5d5;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk"]padding:50px 60px 65px 60px;position:relative;z-index:1;font: 12.5px Inter, sans-serif;line-height: 22px;letter-spacing: .35px;color:#494949;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk b"]font-weight:800!important;background:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-clip:text;-webkit-background-clip:text;color:transparent;filter:brightness(85%);box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk i"]color:#292929;font-weight:500!important;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk u"]background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-position: 0 100%;background-repeat: repeat-x;background-size: 100% 1px;padding:0px 0px 3px 0px;box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;text-decoration:none;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag"]position:absolute;z-index:2;bottom:-10px;right:50px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:110%;background-position:center;border-radius:20px;padding:10px;font:900 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;border:solid 10px #e9e9e9;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;filter:drop-shadow(0px -2px 0px #e3e3e3);box-shadow:inset 0px 40px 0px rgba(30,30,30,.1);display:flex;gap:10px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag a"]text-decoration:none;color:#ededed!important;);text-shadow:0px 0px 5px rgba(30,30,30,.1);[/newclass]

[Ghouligan]

Antoine was put in a difficult position.

Not only was his job to keep the unwanted people out, but to keep the wanted people in.. What made it difficult was reading everyone’s body language. He was surrounded by ulterior motives, but which were a threat to Bernard’s — and his guests’ — wellbeing? It was easy enough to manage while he was here. Benard had a great sense of people and their intentions. Couple that with his ability to deflect and redirect problematic energy and you’d understand why he became such a successful businessman.

It’s not too long before the waitress gets here. Bernie’s surrounded by women still, but the ratio of men had gotten a lot higher, too. Bernie didn’t discriminate. And with that news spreading throughout the restaurant some of his former competition became assets to his endeavor. A few millionaires were hanging off his every word and opting to help with the bill. It wasn’t just about impressing the audience… they were trying to impress Bernie.

The most impressive of the beautiful and rich was the waitress. Now everyone knew the dress code here. And their waitress was one of the many to turn heads whenever they walked — it’s the nature of the gig. But Bernie saw something in her that he didn’t see in anyone else here. Or to be more accurate, he saw a reaction from Antoine he had never seen before… and that piqued his interest!

Y’see, Bernie had made plenty of attempts to find Antoine’s one true love. It was his reality television. Bernie loved pushing buttons but couldn’t find anything on Antoine. Sure, there was his ‘mission’ but he knew better than to fan those flames.

But with a keen eye, he noticed something…

When the waitress waltzed over, she made a move on Antoine. It was a nothing move. A simple, lighthearted attempt at getting his attention for the fun of it. Bernie had sent professionals Antoine’s way who tried much, much harder and hadn’t gotten half of this response.

Because, for whatever reason, Antoine lightly jumped in his seat.

See, what Bernie didn’t know was that Hikari had grazed Antoine’s chain. And what Bernie didn’t know was how uncommon that was. Antoine often hid his chain under layers of clothing to protect his masked identity. It wouldn’t take rocket science to figure out he was Ghouligan — especially with his growing reputation.

And the final thing Bernie didn’t know when Hikari grazed Antoine’s abdominal chain, was that it twitched.

“Waitress is here,” Everyone knew that. Everyone could hear him holding his breath as he spoke. And everyone learned that tan people could blush if their cheeks were hot enough.

“You can breathe, we’re not actually underwater,” Bernie said with a wink of his own. “Sorry about him, he’s got a thing for mermaids.” Seeing Antoine squirm was wonderful. And for once? It was working!

“The event is that I’m here,” Bernard began. “But we’re also celebrating the fact you’re here. Let me take that,” Bernard reaches over and grabs the notepad. Without a beat, he starts scribbling. “I’m gonna take this to the chef and tell your bosses that you’re taking 15.”

Bernard stands up and everyone hesitates.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back! Just grabbing our food.” After calming the crowd, he turns back to Hikari. “You along with everyone here will be taste-testing the entire menu. I just need you to fill out a survey after. You can grab one from him.” He tilts his head toward Antoine. “I’ll be right back.”

---

hikari

[hikari]

[nospaces][googlefont=Abril+Fatface|Inter:100,200,300,400,500,600,700,800,900|Passions+Conflict|Playfair+Display:400,500,600,700,800,900,400italic,500italic,600italic,700italic,800italic,900italic]

[attr="class","hikari1"]

[attr="class","hikari1-topp"]

[attr="class","hikari1-top"]

melodies of life

[attr="class","hikari1-icon"]

[attr="class","hikari1-lyric"]
we're adding up the layers of harmony

[attr="class","hikari1-bulk"]

oh, he liked that, didn't he? blushing like crazy, stammering, he even flinched. it's hard to deny—and even harder to deny that hikari loved that reaction. the truth of the matter is that power has always been the name of the game, whether it be power and control over her own circumstances or power and control over other people, and let's say that antoine is really doing it for her. she glances back at him as he mentions that the "waitress" is here, and a smile finds its way to her lips when she looks back at bernie, who is obviously the whale of this whole operation. "a thing for mermaids, huh?" she purrs, wiggling her hips. "aww, poor guy. i'm surprised he hasn't caught on fire or something yet."[break][break]

good thing it's wet in here. they're all in shellies, after all![break][break]

and there the notepad goes. god, if hikari knew it was gonna be this easy, she wouldn't have even put on the waitress outfit and she would have snuck in herself! she bites her lip to prevent herself from telling bernie that there's no need to tell them that she's taking a break because she doesn't even work here, and she instead nods with a knowing look and a wink. "make it thirty, babes. can't taste-test the entire menu in just 15 minutes!"[break][break]

there is something she wants to take a bite of before the food comes, though. she waves bernie off and turns towards antoine, where she immediately makes herself at home by sitting in his lap, both of her legs draped across his with one arm curled around his shoulders and another gently running a circle into his chest with her finger. he's cute, that's for sure. but what was that she felt earlier? hard, almost metallic, cool to the touch even beneath his shirt. and did it twitch? how intriguing. hikari can't help but want another feel, as her hand drifts further and further down his torso and her face drifts closer to his.[break][break]

"your boss is real cruel to you," she chuckles beneath her breath. "bringing you to shellies on sea day of all days when you've, apparently, got a thing for mermaids."[break][break]

bernie certainly reacted well to her flirtations with this boy. if this is what it took to get inducted into his circle, then what's a little bit more harmless seduction? hikari can't help herself, it's just her nature. what she does know, however, is that antoine probably doesn't have a "thing" for mermaids. the whole place is swarming to the brim with them, but it was hikari that got him to react in such a way. hikari's palm drifts down, down, down, until it's grazing the top of his navel with a feather light touch.[break][break]

"i'm curious, though. you're not a millionaire, are you?" she pries, eyes narrowing. "so what exactly is your deal, hmmm?"

[attr="class","hikari1-tag"]
Ghouligan

[newclass=".hikari1"]border:solid 2px #e3e3e3;background-color:#ededed;border-radius:20px;position:relative;width:500px;margin:0px auto;height:auto;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-topp"]mix-blend-mode:multiply;position:relative;height:125px;margin:-1px -1px 0px -1px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top"]background:linear-gradient(-45deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:200%;height:70px;border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;position:relative;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top h1"]position:absolute;z-index:1;color:#fff;font:900 italic 45px Playfair Display, serif;line-height:45px;left:180px;bottom:-5px;margin:0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div"]position:absolute;right:0px;height:70px;width:100%;mask-image: var(--directInk);border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;mask-size: auto 700%;mask-repeat: no-repeat;mask-position: center;-webkit-mask-image: var(--bannerInk);-webkit-mask-size: auto 700%;-webkit-mask-repeat: no-repeat;-webkit-mask-position: center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div::before"]content:'';display:block;height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#000;background:linear-gradient(-135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon"]height:98px;width:98px;padding: 26px;background-color: #fff;border-radius:100%;position:absolute;margin: -74px 0px 0px 31px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::before"]width: 35px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 100% 0px;box-shadow: 10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 15px 0px 0px -56px;position: absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::after"]width: 40px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 100%;box-shadow: -10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 41px 0px 0px 119px;position: absolute;top: 0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon div"]background-color:#494949;border-radius:100%;width:98px;height:98px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon img"]height:100px;width:100px;border-radius:100%;margin:-1px;mix-blend-mode:lighten;filter:grayscale(100%);position:absolute;z-index:1;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon i"]display:block;margin:1px 0px 0px 1px;color:#494949;font-size:50px;opacity:.5;text-shadow: #d5d5d5 1px 0px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.540302px 0.841471px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.416147px 0.909297px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.989993px 0.14112px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.653644px -0.756803px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.283662px -0.958924px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.96017px -0.279416px 0px;position:absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-lyric"]position:absolute;right:-1px;margin-top:-35px;background-color:#494949;border-radius:5px 0px 0px 5px;padding:10px;font:500 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#d5d5d5;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk"]padding:50px 60px 65px 60px;position:relative;z-index:1;font: 12.5px Inter, sans-serif;line-height: 22px;letter-spacing: .35px;color:#494949;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk b"]font-weight:800!important;background:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-clip:text;-webkit-background-clip:text;color:transparent;filter:brightness(85%);box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk i"]color:#292929;font-weight:500!important;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk u"]background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-position: 0 100%;background-repeat: repeat-x;background-size: 100% 1px;padding:0px 0px 3px 0px;box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;text-decoration:none;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag"]position:absolute;z-index:2;bottom:-10px;right:50px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:110%;background-position:center;border-radius:20px;padding:10px;font:900 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;border:solid 10px #e9e9e9;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;filter:drop-shadow(0px -2px 0px #e3e3e3);box-shadow:inset 0px 40px 0px rgba(30,30,30,.1);display:flex;gap:10px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag a"]text-decoration:none;color:#ededed!important;);text-shadow:0px 0px 5px rgba(30,30,30,.1);[/newclass]

[Ghouligan]

Exactly what I’m looking for. Bernie hides his smile until his back is turned. He licks his lips as he reminisces over the look in her eyes — for a siren of the sea and a silver-tongued serpent, they were birds of a feather. Hikari was eager to provide entertainment. And something about her riled up the unshakable Antoine. Did he really have a thing for mermaids?

“Dirty it is!” Bernie clears his throat. His tone is unmistakably mischievous. “Thirty.”

And then they were alone.

Yes, there were hordes of mingling people gathered around waiting for Bernie’s return but with the way she plops onto his lap, makes herself comfortable, and starts reaching for the forbidden fruit placed firmly at the center of his abdomen — he can only think about her. And while it primarily has to do with compromising his identity, he’d be lying to himself (which he is) if he didn’t acknowledge the less-than-pure thoughts circling the back of his mind.

He hadn’t been this close to someone since he left the island. Both physically and emotionally. Antoine kept his walls up. But she quickly broke down the barrier between him and his alter ego. Truth be told the only time anyone had given his chain any attention was when they identified it as his weakness. More often than not, he associated touch with pain.

But Hikari offered a different perspective.

“Not all mermaids,” Antoine didn’t have a thing for mermaids, but if he didn’t wrestle some control back then he’d be a slave to her whims. And god forbid he gives Bernie sees him squirm like a worm on a hook. “Just Ariel.”

But it’s hard not to fall for the bait. Everything that made him a good security guard betrayed him in these moments. His awareness couldn’t ignore the pressure of her arms around his shoulders or the warmth of her breath on his face. And his keen eye stole glances he shouldn’t have — she very obviously would know. And so would everyone around them.

Her hands reach down.

Closer.

And closer.

And his heart is pounding.

His hand finds hers and takes it for himself. It’s not a move he’d normally make, but it’s better than her finding the secret he hid underneath his layered clothing.

“Security.” He says. “Bernard pays me well.” Antoine glances down. This time he isn’t admiring the design of her clam shell bra or the artistic patterns of her mermaid skirt. His eyes guide her to her object of desire — his chain — before meeting back with an intensity matched only by the grip of his hand on her waist. “But some things are worth more than money.”

---

hikari

[hikari]

[nospaces][googlefont=Abril+Fatface|Inter:100,200,300,400,500,600,700,800,900|Passions+Conflict|Playfair+Display:400,500,600,700,800,900,400italic,500italic,600italic,700italic,800italic,900italic]

[attr="class","hikari1"]

[attr="class","hikari1-topp"]

[attr="class","hikari1-top"]

melodies of life

[attr="class","hikari1-icon"]

[attr="class","hikari1-lyric"]
we're adding up the layers of harmony

[attr="class","hikari1-bulk"]

dirty indeed. bernie obviously knew what he was doing—and given that he apparently paid this boy well, this was definitely looking like at least one route to more prestige than hikari would even know what to do with. and, y'know what, that's just the thing about losers. they're not willing to chase and take what they want. unlike winners, they're willing to wait around lazily for opportunity to come to them without realizing that every day without a chance taken is a day wasted. hikari doesn't care about living life slowly because the fact of the matter is that she's a winner in all senses of the word. she lives life in the fast lane, and sometimes the fast lane includes fondling a man she's just met in a dimly-lit booth with at least ten other people watching, almost certainly aware of exactly what she's doing. hikari's not a voyeurist, but she can't deny that she loves the attention, both from this rugged boy and bernie's entourage. what can she say? she thrives in the limelight![break][break]

not to mention that she also thrives in the presence of hotties. it's not quite true that opposites attract, because hikari only pursues people that are at least very attractive. while the girl is fully of the belief that nobody will ever be as hot as she is, antoine comes somewhat close. and he's a flatterer, too. "ariel, huh?" hikari sighs as she surreptitiously flips her hair over her shoulder, letting her fingers run through each luxurious strand, silky smooth. a wicked smile spreads across her lips. "into mute chicks? like girls who can't talk back?"[break][break]

his hand grabs her wrist right before she can fully touch the strange thing coming from his navel, and hikari responds by grabbing the wrist that's clutching her waist with just as much—if not more—force and adjusting it down so that it's planted firmly on her ass. then, with the rest of her body weight, she leaaaaans in, and shoves him further back into his chair.[break][break]

"worth more than money, hmmm?" hikari would scoff if she were younger, but as she's grown, she's recognized that money is by and far one of the least compelling powers in the world. only losers throw around money and act like that makes them winners. the real sign of an accomplished man or woman is their presence, their dominance in any given situation, the fear and love lauded upon them. what makes a leader? what makes a king? it's how they throw their weight around, not what they use to do so. prominence, truly, is the only thing worth having once a girl's got it all. regardless, hikari feels like picking his brain. not just because she's curious to see how his values align with hers, but also because knowledge is power. information gathered in trust is perfect ammunition to use in vengeance later on...[break][break]

not that a chance encounter with this security guard would lead to that but, hey, a girl's gotta cover all her bases![break][break]

"what's worth more than money, then?" her lips draw closer to his. "knowledge? power?"[break][break]

she tilts her head to the side to let her breath ghost across the ridge of his ear, voice hot on his lobe. "love?" the innuendo isn't lost, but this certainly isn't love, rather lust, but boys are so easy to manipulate into thinking they're in love, especially when she sitting atop him.

[attr="class","hikari1-tag"]
Ghouligan

[newclass=".hikari1"]border:solid 2px #e3e3e3;background-color:#ededed;border-radius:20px;position:relative;width:500px;margin:0px auto;height:auto;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-topp"]mix-blend-mode:multiply;position:relative;height:125px;margin:-1px -1px 0px -1px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top"]background:linear-gradient(-45deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:200%;height:70px;border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;position:relative;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top h1"]position:absolute;z-index:1;color:#fff;font:900 italic 45px Playfair Display, serif;line-height:45px;left:180px;bottom:-5px;margin:0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div"]position:absolute;right:0px;height:70px;width:100%;mask-image: var(--directInk);border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;mask-size: auto 700%;mask-repeat: no-repeat;mask-position: center;-webkit-mask-image: var(--bannerInk);-webkit-mask-size: auto 700%;-webkit-mask-repeat: no-repeat;-webkit-mask-position: center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div::before"]content:'';display:block;height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#000;background:linear-gradient(-135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon"]height:98px;width:98px;padding: 26px;background-color: #fff;border-radius:100%;position:absolute;margin: -74px 0px 0px 31px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::before"]width: 35px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 100% 0px;box-shadow: 10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 15px 0px 0px -56px;position: absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::after"]width: 40px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 100%;box-shadow: -10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 41px 0px 0px 119px;position: absolute;top: 0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon div"]background-color:#494949;border-radius:100%;width:98px;height:98px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon img"]height:100px;width:100px;border-radius:100%;margin:-1px;mix-blend-mode:lighten;filter:grayscale(100%);position:absolute;z-index:1;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon i"]display:block;margin:1px 0px 0px 1px;color:#494949;font-size:50px;opacity:.5;text-shadow: #d5d5d5 1px 0px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.540302px 0.841471px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.416147px 0.909297px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.989993px 0.14112px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.653644px -0.756803px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.283662px -0.958924px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.96017px -0.279416px 0px;position:absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-lyric"]position:absolute;right:-1px;margin-top:-35px;background-color:#494949;border-radius:5px 0px 0px 5px;padding:10px;font:500 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#d5d5d5;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk"]padding:50px 60px 65px 60px;position:relative;z-index:1;font: 12.5px Inter, sans-serif;line-height: 22px;letter-spacing: .35px;color:#494949;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk b"]font-weight:800!important;background:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-clip:text;-webkit-background-clip:text;color:transparent;filter:brightness(85%);box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk i"]color:#292929;font-weight:500!important;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk u"]background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-position: 0 100%;background-repeat: repeat-x;background-size: 100% 1px;padding:0px 0px 3px 0px;box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;text-decoration:none;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag"]position:absolute;z-index:2;bottom:-10px;right:50px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:110%;background-position:center;border-radius:20px;padding:10px;font:900 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;border:solid 10px #e9e9e9;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;filter:drop-shadow(0px -2px 0px #e3e3e3);box-shadow:inset 0px 40px 0px rgba(30,30,30,.1);display:flex;gap:10px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag a"]text-decoration:none;color:#ededed!important;);text-shadow:0px 0px 5px rgba(30,30,30,.1);[/newclass]

[Ghouligan]

Antoine was on his back foot.

Only through luck and divine intervention had he met a seductive redhead in a mermaid-themed restaurant. He was no stranger to flirtatious banter — even if it was a bygone of a lost era — but to muster an iota of creativity in such a compromised position was impossible. What the hell was he supposed to know about Ariel?

“A girl who knows what she wants.” By the skin of his fucking teeth. Antoine thrived under pressure but she had dragged him into the deep end.

Without hesitation, Hikari responded to his call. She grabbed his hand and led it to her sea legs, proving she was a woman in all the right places. Not a scale in sight, not that he had the luxury of looking. Antoine’s view was obstructed by two, ill-fitting clam shells pressed against her person. Someone needs to rip those off.

“All of the above.” His lips graze her jaw in reply. “But more importantly…”

Checkmate.

There was nothing he could do to stop her. More accurately, there was nothing he wanted to do to stop her. Everything and everyone had faded out of his peripheral. The people staring as they escalated, the muffled chattering as they whispered to one another, the smell of freshly served oysters passing by their tables… There was only her hair, her breath, her ass... and a roaming hand that begged to compromise everything he worked for.

“Secrets.”

And his was hers to take.

---

hikari

[hikari]

[nospaces][googlefont=Abril+Fatface|Inter:100,200,300,400,500,600,700,800,900|Passions+Conflict|Playfair+Display:400,500,600,700,800,900,400italic,500italic,600italic,700italic,800italic,900italic]

[attr="class","hikari1"]

[attr="class","hikari1-topp"]

[attr="class","hikari1-top"]

melodies of life

[attr="class","hikari1-icon"]

[attr="class","hikari1-lyric"]
we're adding up the layers of harmony

[attr="class","hikari1-bulk"]

secrets? hah, makes sense. dude's practically dripping with mystery. this whole damn interaction was a big show just to be grabbin' at something he goes to such great lengths to hide. in some way, hikari might even agree with him. knowledge is power, and power is everything, and if you know someone's secrets, well, you've got some real good blackmail material. see where she's going with this? she's got antoine wrapped around her little finger, and even further when she roves her hand down towards his naval, a tiny smile playing along her lips. that's the thing about relationships for hikari. they've always been a powerplay first, and a way to make her feel good second. she's hypersexual, sure, but she's always safe. she never gives her real name, she never lets anybody take her where somebody might know her, and she lies about every personal detail possible, even the mundane ones. hikari's had countless relationships go wrong, and it's always started by letting her quarries get too close to her. even though this whole situation is ploy in a long string of powergrabs, it's still enjoyable, even if antoine reminds her of someone... someone terrible. someone who hurt her badly.[break][break]

hikari's not meant for love. she never was. it's not something she's truly capable of. she is capable of lust, though, and she's capable of taking power in any way she can. as if on cue, she rapidly snakes her left hand under antoine's shirt and takes hold of the chain coming from his naval, bare skin to metal, and she snickers underneath her own voice, nigh breathless in the heat of the moment. so this is what he's hiding? he's hiding that he's a freak? funny.[break][break]

how unfortunate for him, though. he's just made the biggest mistake of his life. they don't even know eachothers names, but hikari somehow left this situation with intimate knowledge of his deepest secret. what a fool. hikari, though? she's swimmin' in the euphoria of victory. she's had the upper hand the entire time, and she can't deny that she's grown drunk off the taste of power. in the disparity of power between two parties, hikari's true colors shine. she's never too afraid to get hot and heavy and put off her perfect illusion for a few moments, but her behavior here... it's almost unhinged. her pupils are dilated, her tongue cutting itself on her own teeth, and her right hand gently clamps into his shoulder with a surprising amount of force. god, she almost forgets what she's here for. maybe she can ask this dude to give her number to his boss if antoine ever needs some eyecandy at a high profile event?[break][break]

regardless, she leans in close to antoine again, and venom floods from her lips.[break][break]

"what happens if i pull?"

[attr="class","hikari1-tag"]
Ghouligan

[newclass=".hikari1"]border:solid 2px #e3e3e3;background-color:#ededed;border-radius:20px;position:relative;width:500px;margin:0px auto;height:auto;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-topp"]mix-blend-mode:multiply;position:relative;height:125px;margin:-1px -1px 0px -1px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top"]background:linear-gradient(-45deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:200%;height:70px;border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;position:relative;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top h1"]position:absolute;z-index:1;color:#fff;font:900 italic 45px Playfair Display, serif;line-height:45px;left:180px;bottom:-5px;margin:0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div"]position:absolute;right:0px;height:70px;width:100%;mask-image: var(--directInk);border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;mask-size: auto 700%;mask-repeat: no-repeat;mask-position: center;-webkit-mask-image: var(--bannerInk);-webkit-mask-size: auto 700%;-webkit-mask-repeat: no-repeat;-webkit-mask-position: center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div::before"]content:'';display:block;height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#000;background:linear-gradient(-135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon"]height:98px;width:98px;padding: 26px;background-color: #fff;border-radius:100%;position:absolute;margin: -74px 0px 0px 31px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::before"]width: 35px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 100% 0px;box-shadow: 10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 15px 0px 0px -56px;position: absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::after"]width: 40px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 100%;box-shadow: -10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 41px 0px 0px 119px;position: absolute;top: 0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon div"]background-color:#494949;border-radius:100%;width:98px;height:98px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon img"]height:100px;width:100px;border-radius:100%;margin:-1px;mix-blend-mode:lighten;filter:grayscale(100%);position:absolute;z-index:1;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon i"]display:block;margin:1px 0px 0px 1px;color:#494949;font-size:50px;opacity:.5;text-shadow: #d5d5d5 1px 0px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.540302px 0.841471px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.416147px 0.909297px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.989993px 0.14112px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.653644px -0.756803px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.283662px -0.958924px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.96017px -0.279416px 0px;position:absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-lyric"]position:absolute;right:-1px;margin-top:-35px;background-color:#494949;border-radius:5px 0px 0px 5px;padding:10px;font:500 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#d5d5d5;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk"]padding:50px 60px 65px 60px;position:relative;z-index:1;font: 12.5px Inter, sans-serif;line-height: 22px;letter-spacing: .35px;color:#494949;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk b"]font-weight:800!important;background:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-clip:text;-webkit-background-clip:text;color:transparent;filter:brightness(85%);box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk i"]color:#292929;font-weight:500!important;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk u"]background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-position: 0 100%;background-repeat: repeat-x;background-size: 100% 1px;padding:0px 0px 3px 0px;box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;text-decoration:none;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag"]position:absolute;z-index:2;bottom:-10px;right:50px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:110%;background-position:center;border-radius:20px;padding:10px;font:900 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;border:solid 10px #e9e9e9;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;filter:drop-shadow(0px -2px 0px #e3e3e3);box-shadow:inset 0px 40px 0px rgba(30,30,30,.1);display:flex;gap:10px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag a"]text-decoration:none;color:#ededed!important;);text-shadow:0px 0px 5px rgba(30,30,30,.1);[/newclass]

[Ghouligan]

Her fingers wrap around his chain and he lets out a deep, shaky breath. Hikari’s in control, and part of Antoine enjoys being broken down — by her specifically. She’s something he’s never had before; a person who knows what they want and, more importantly, takes what they want. He may have stumbled upon the fact through banter, but the sentiment resonated. She putting Bernie of all people to shame.

This is the first time he’s ever felt this way. His back is against the wall. He has something to lose. And his life could come crumbling down around him. But this is also the first time, he might be okay with it. Just for this moment. A chance at indulging one of the few impulses he has left. Even killing is a numb, empty experience. And he imagines death the same way.

Still, he plays the game. Even if it’s what he wants, he’s going down swinging. Let the siren drag him to the depths, but she’ll have to work for it. Really, it’s more than how forward she is. It’s more than the curves of her figure or the warmth of her skin against his. It’s the effort.

“When you pull?” She’s barely scratched the surface. “That’s the secret.”

Sploosh.

Something wet spills onto her hands.

A slug crawls up her forearm.

---

hikari

[hikari]

[nospaces][googlefont=Abril+Fatface|Inter:100,200,300,400,500,600,700,800,900|Passions+Conflict|Playfair+Display:400,500,600,700,800,900,400italic,500italic,600italic,700italic,800italic,900italic]

[attr="class","hikari1"]

[attr="class","hikari1-topp"]

[attr="class","hikari1-top"]

melodies of life

[attr="class","hikari1-icon"]

[attr="class","hikari1-lyric"]
we're adding up the layers of harmony

[attr="class","hikari1-bulk"]

something wet crawls up hikari's forearm. she's not prepared for what she sees when her green eyes slowly crane downward.[break][break]

a slug. on her arm. slimy and wet and ON HER ARM. SLIME. ARM. SLIME. but from WHERE??[break][break]

hikari's horrified eyes crane back upwards, and she locks her gaze with antoine. then back to the slug, then back to antoine, then back to the slug. is it staring back at her? is it MOCKING her???[break][break]

"ew," hikari starts, quiet at first, and then her voice slowly crescendos into disgust laced with acute panic. "ew ew ew ew ew EW EW EWWWWWW EW!!!"[break][break]

all this flirting, all this lobbying, all this lionizing, all to get SLUGGED ON!! if hikari didn't know better, perhaps this very situation would have eventually become her villain origin story, the seminal seed preceding the tall tree of villainy, excess, and evil. at the end of the day however, she's a simple girl. she would prefer to not have men vomit slugs onto her body if she could help it. is that too much to ask for?[break][break]

hikari rapidly flicks the slug from her arm and, though she is whispering something under her breath, something to the effect of 'ew ew ew ew ewww', she says nothing to antoine when she rapidly rises from her seat atop him and leaves shellies entirely without even taking a survey sheet. if she could have her way, hikari would like to forget that this night had ever happened.

[attr="class","hikari1-tag"]
Ghouligan

[newclass=".hikari1"]border:solid 2px #e3e3e3;background-color:#ededed;border-radius:20px;position:relative;width:500px;margin:0px auto;height:auto;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-topp"]mix-blend-mode:multiply;position:relative;height:125px;margin:-1px -1px 0px -1px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top"]background:linear-gradient(-45deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:200%;height:70px;border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;position:relative;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top h1"]position:absolute;z-index:1;color:#fff;font:900 italic 45px Playfair Display, serif;line-height:45px;left:180px;bottom:-5px;margin:0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div"]position:absolute;right:0px;height:70px;width:100%;mask-image: var(--directInk);border-radius:19px 19px 0px 0px;mask-size: auto 700%;mask-repeat: no-repeat;mask-position: center;-webkit-mask-image: var(--bannerInk);-webkit-mask-size: auto 700%;-webkit-mask-repeat: no-repeat;-webkit-mask-position: center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-top div::before"]content:'';display:block;height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#000;background:linear-gradient(-135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon"]height:98px;width:98px;padding: 26px;background-color: #fff;border-radius:100%;position:absolute;margin: -74px 0px 0px 31px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::before"]width: 35px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 100% 0px;box-shadow: 10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 15px 0px 0px -56px;position: absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon::after"]width: 40px;height: 35px;border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 100%;box-shadow: -10px 10px 0px #fff;display: block;content: '';margin: 41px 0px 0px 119px;position: absolute;top: 0px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon div"]background-color:#494949;border-radius:100%;width:98px;height:98px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon img"]height:100px;width:100px;border-radius:100%;margin:-1px;mix-blend-mode:lighten;filter:grayscale(100%);position:absolute;z-index:1;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-icon i"]display:block;margin:1px 0px 0px 1px;color:#494949;font-size:50px;opacity:.5;text-shadow: #d5d5d5 1px 0px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.540302px 0.841471px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.416147px 0.909297px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.989993px 0.14112px 0px, #d5d5d5 -0.653644px -0.756803px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.283662px -0.958924px 0px, #d5d5d5 0.96017px -0.279416px 0px;position:absolute;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-lyric"]position:absolute;right:-1px;margin-top:-35px;background-color:#494949;border-radius:5px 0px 0px 5px;padding:10px;font:500 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#d5d5d5;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk"]padding:50px 60px 65px 60px;position:relative;z-index:1;font: 12.5px Inter, sans-serif;line-height: 22px;letter-spacing: .35px;color:#494949;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk b"]font-weight:800!important;background:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-clip:text;-webkit-background-clip:text;color:transparent;filter:brightness(85%);box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk i"]color:#292929;font-weight:500!important;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-bulk u"]background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#A8B9E5,#DBA9A9);background-position: 0 100%;background-repeat: repeat-x;background-size: 100% 1px;padding:0px 0px 3px 0px;box-decoration-break: clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;text-decoration:none;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag"]position:absolute;z-index:2;bottom:-10px;right:50px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#DBA9A9,#A8B9E5);background-size:110%;background-position:center;border-radius:20px;padding:10px;font:900 10px Inter, sans-serif;line-height:10px;border:solid 10px #e9e9e9;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;filter:drop-shadow(0px -2px 0px #e3e3e3);box-shadow:inset 0px 40px 0px rgba(30,30,30,.1);display:flex;gap:10px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".hikari1-tag a"]text-decoration:none;color:#ededed!important;);text-shadow:0px 0px 5px rgba(30,30,30,.1);[/newclass]

[coffee]

I'M COMMANDER SHEPARD, AND I APPROVE THIS THREAD

Man, Ghoul's stepped in it now. Nice work!

Hikari: 2500XP + 7500XP = 10,000XP

Ghouligan: 12,500XP + 7500XP = 20,000XP

tag: Ghouligan hikari