Stella enjoys Augustus and Layla part 2

from /hhg/ - Helluva Hotel General #812
---------
>back at their table, the Pennas were worried
>perhaps, this party wasn't a good idea, after all - Stella, though she could be coaxed into trying new things, had always been the most conservative among them
>almost neurotically, they recalled, she clung to tradition, and needed a good bit of buttering up to even consider breaking her routines
>they liked her all the same, though often wished she would come out of her shell

>now, it felt like they had just cracked the damn thing open, with no account to her still being inside of it
>however, the fears were soon elated, as she burst out cheering as well, even moreso than the others
>with a sigh of relief, they sat down, and accepted the drinks brought to them... And then frowning, as they realized they've been served with another round of vodka
>seems like someone thought they've acquired a taste for the hard spirit

>the night then went by as a blur, and soon enough, midnight was upon them - the "official" start of the "real" party
>guests were already becoming rather touchy-feely with each other, and many had set their eyes on the significant others of... others
>Layla and August had held back on the merriment slightly, and kept an eye out for Stella
>however, the Goetian didn't really need minders any more
>She had been jumping, rocking and cheering in the first row throughout Queen Lilith's performance, and would even chat with her after the last song
>though, after she was gently reminded that she's hogging all the Queen's attention (by the Queen, no less), she made another beeline towards the drinks table, an downed another bottle of hard liquor
>now slightly staggering, she marched back to where the Penna's were sitting, a third bottle and a glass in hand

>Leyla was glad to see their friend in high spirits again (though, not by the fact that it was fuelled BY spirits), and offered a seat to the now somewhat swaying Stella
>she, however, rejected it, and began to pour a glass for all three of them
-
>relieved that Stella had actually bought them champagne, they readily accepted, as the Goetian nevertheless plopped down on the offered seat, giggling like a schoolgirl
>"This is the best night I've evah had!" she chirped, caring not for volume
>"Glad you're enjoying yourself, dear!" Layla replied, sipping her own glass "I have to admit, seeing how you were beside yourself in the past couple of weeks, we figured you could use some cheering up!"
>Stella snorted into her drink
>"Try months, Layla!" she snickered
>Months?
>she's been in the dumps for MONTHS?!
>guilt began to rise up in the two, as their friend continued to drink, finally spilling the beans
>"Ever since that little red RAT decided to take Stolas in the ARSE, it's been a fking nightmare..." she crowed, drinking an entire glass of champagne like a shot, and quickly pouring again
>"...O-Oh..." was all August could squeeze out
>truth to be told, they haven't really broached the subject of Stolas' affair before, especially after he stopped coming to their get-togethers
>in hindsight, this should've raised some red flags - aloof as he was, Stolas still clearly enjoyed socializing
>they didn't think that the incident would have such a deep effect on--
>"But..." Stella went on, with a frown "Lessnot talk about that MANWHRE of a husband of mine!" and she chuckled, darkly "Don't wanna ruin the mood..."
>this, again, caught the other two off guard, to say the least
>"W-Whatever do you mean, Stella?" Layla muttered, once she found her voice
>"What I mean iz..." the Goetian slurred, after another glass "That pfhuckin' POOF is probably busy gettin' railed up the ASE by that red, horse-dcked little MUTANT of a thief, at this very moment!"

>it took a couple of seconds for August and Leyla to piece things together
>the silence grew awkward
>"...Wait... You mean?"
-
>staring sadly into her empty glass, the swan demoness sobbed
>"Ever since that little sht broke in to steal the book, Stolas has been seeing him every fkin' MONTH so that he and the imp can get their freak on in OUR BED!"
>she practically shrieked that last part, causing the other two to glance around in alarm
>thankfully, no-one else seems to have noticed Stella's outburst...
>...however, the Queen was still there, sitting on the edge of the podium
>as if she was waiting for something

>"Well... Stolas..." mused August, struggling for words "...Who would've thought...?"
>"Never would've imagined he would have such... Proclivities..." Layla muttered
>"Oh, "proclivities" he has, PLENTY..." Stella growled "I swear, if I trip over another dldo again..."
>she kept grumbling to herself, while her friends tried to gather their wits
>all of a sudden, they felt out of their depths
>though it wasn't the worst they've imagined, this was still a rather... awkward situation
>decent as that imp may have been, Stolas clearly fancied him more, if he was willing to start an affair like that
>and in their own bed, too!

>"A-And you know what the SAD part is?" Stella hiccupped "That little red dckhead doesn't even love him, o-or anything! He's just using him so that he can keep using the tome to keep his mortal-murdering business alive!"
>"His what?!" August burst out, before quickly checking his volume "Mortal-murdering business?"
>"Y-Yeah..." the swan sniffed, drinking another glass "Has its own jingle on the telly and everything! They use Stolas' book to get into the world of the living, and butcher whoeever they're hired to!"

>and just like that, the two were thrown into another twist
>so, Stolas was getting sxual services in exchange for offering his ARCANE TOME to some random imp who broke into their home, somehow seduced him, and is now using said tome to illegally murder people on Earth
>this...
>...was a lot more than what they've bargained for
-
>with her glass empty once more, Stella sighed
>"It hurts. It fkin' hurts. I'd get if that feathery pillock wanted some bloody action. Satan knows, I'm not in the mood 24/7... But he's putting every ounce of fking trust into that midget! He actually LOVES the little trd! Takes him on dates and everything!"
>with a shuddering breath, she rapidly gulped down the rest of the champagne, straight from the bottle
>exhaling raggedly (with a belch) she practically collapsed onto the table
>"I can't fking believe he passed me up for the first dck that came his way..." he wept "An affair, I'd understand. If he just came out and told me he's gay, I'd understand. Always suspected it, Hell, I would've been impressed that he held out for so long. But THIS?!"
>she motioned vaguely into the air
>"THIS?! It's like he's deliberately trying to humiliate me! I though that he...! That he really...!"
>she couldn't continue
>head falling upon her arms, she sobbed, quietly

>the Pennas exchanged sad looks
>their friend had really been put through the ringer
>they still struggled to comprehend the whole mess - Stolas' infidelity and elopement with the imp
>but, like Stella said, part of it wasn't surprising - in all honesty, they've all suspected that the Prince was playing for the other team, as it were
>but for him to be such a heartbreaker...
>this wasn't the aloof, cool and calculating academic that August remembered

>while they wondered what could've caused such a turnabout (and while Layla massaged Stella's shoulder, sympathetically), the Princess eventually recovered, lifting her head with the most miserable smile on her face that the two had ever seen
>"But, it's OK!" she croaked, almost breaking down again "I'm here now! I can... I can fk anyone I want! I can get back at him! Hell, I can just find someone to have fun with for the night, pretend that someone actually loves me...!"

>Layla and August flinched at that
>well, at least she was starting to recover
-
>with a deep sigh, Stella fixed her coiffure
>"But really... It's just... Good to get away from home, after everything..."
>she gave a sad smile
>"Even if it doesn't feel like a "home", anymore... God, poor Tavi... She's caught up in the middle of all of this... Fk, as much as I hate that bastard, he's at LEAST a better father than he is a husband..."
>with another sigh, she looked to the side, muttering to herself darkly
>"Better mother than I ever was to her... Probably long burned every bridge I had..."
>she shook her head, smiling at her, once again, deeply concerned friends
>"But hey! At least I'm not just sulking at home, thinking how I'll wrangle his neck the next time I see him..."
>and she gave a low chuckle, turning around to scan the others
>everyone was getting it on GOOD now, completely ignorant of her little spiel just a moment ago
>everyone... Except the Queen

>she maintained eye contact with Stella the moment the avian looked at her, and just offered her a wanton smirk, as she s~l~o~w~l~y uncrossed her legs, leaning back a bit
>the swan demoness gulped, thirsty once more
>blinking, she managed to tear her eyes away from Lilith, and kept scanning the scene
>"Yeah... Not sure if I'd... Get into... All of that..." it took her all her willpower not to snap her gaze back towards the stage "But all the same, it's good to finally break away from--"

>she froze
>beak ajar, she stared across the room
>leaning beside her, the Penna's followed her line of sight, to see what she was looking at...

>...and in an instant, their eyes widened, with Layla gasping, slapping a wing across her mouth, while August just gaped, incredulously

>...No...

>...No, he wouldn't...

>...He couldn't have...!


>but he did
>"Gotta admit, wasn't expecting her to bust out the gothic bars in GERMAN..."
>"Glad to hear you're enjoying your time, Blitzy~..."