TV Multiverse 80 (Patreon)

Ethan waited until Blair was halfway to her recovery when he reached for his phone, acting as if he had just received a call. He ‘answered’ the call, gave a few concommittal answers, and ended it.

“Who was it?” Blair asked.

“It was about work. A friend called to tell me that the idiot who sued me had finally shown himself.

At the mention, he saw Blair look panicked, though she hid it well. “Are you going to leave?” she asked, trying to sound unaffected. He could see that she already assumed he would leave her.

He could see that she was used to never being the priority of others. And, he could see that it hurt her more than she was willing to admit. He decided to surprise her pleasantly. He chuckled. “Really?”

“What’s so funny?” she said, actual anger appearing on her face for the first time as she pulled the covers on, hiding herself.

“Sorry,” he said as he returned to bed, and lay next to her. “I just had a few issues with the question itself. First of all, I’m rich,” he said. Her expression turned to fury, clearly misreading his words. “Why the hell would I abandon a lovely woman like you just to deal with work? I mean, even if I was still poor and someone threatened to fire me, I would have stayed.”

“You would have?” she said, looking shocked at the declaration.

He nodded, not surprised by the intensity of her reaction. It was the dark side of their rich life, with everyone caring more about status and labels, ignoring the person. There was a reason that Caroline, despite losing billions, was happier slumming with Max than in her past life.

For some reason, the rich people treated money as the objective rather than an enabler of happiness.

“I mean, what’s the point of being rich if I work harder than when I was poor,” he said.

She looked into his eyes, lost. He wasn’t surprised. His eyes were captivating. “What’s the second reason?” she asked.

He chuckled even as he tugged the covers, pulling them down. “You claimed that I was done. Sweetie. If you think what we did was anything more than a warmup, I’ll have to teach you about how real passion works.”

Her eyes widened. “A warmup? You’re bragging,” she said.

He smiled. “The last time you didn’t believe me was when I said it was unfair to have a wine tasting as a bet. Are you ready for another?”

She hummed. “Maybe. Depends on the reward,” she said.

He smirked as he leaned down, pressing his lips on her neck, slowly climbing up while he showed his moves were not limited to a furious drilling. When he reached her ears, she was once again half-delirious, desperately moaning. “I think I know what kind of reward I want,” he whispered.

She shivered. “Are you always this direct?”

“Almost always,” he said.

“How?”

“I have a simple trick. I only care about the opinions of the people I care about.”

That made her eyes widen. “That’s social suicide!”

He chuckled. “Oh, yeah. I’m really struggling to make friends, and my life is a hellhole,” he teased her.

“That doesn’t prove anything,” she said. “You just arrived at the Upper East Side. Try to act like that, and they will eat you alive!”

He smiled at her tone. He could hear the genuine worry in her tone in his behalf. “First of all, a fight against me against the so-called Manhattan elite, I would bet on myself.”

“Arrogance,” she whispered.

“Confidence,” he countered. “And, even if I never get accepted by them, so what. I would just leave,” he said.

Blair gasped. She would have reacted less if he had just confessed that he was a serial killer. But then, to her, it was probably a more incomprehensible act. For Blair, retreating from the Upper East Side was like a queen abandoning her kingdom.

“That’s…”

“Only natural,” he said, but as he talked, his hand was dancing on her body, keeping her on the edge. “Why would I stay in a place where I’m not happy, instead spending all my energy trying to dominate a bunch of people I don’t even respect? I mean, you talked about becoming the Queen of NYU, but I don’t understand. What’s the point?”

“Point?” she said, genuinely surprised.

“Yes. You have to have a point, or you’re just a dog chasing a car,” he whispered, enjoying her shiver. He had a feeling, if she wasn’t distracted by pleasure, she would have reacted that metaphor explosively.

And not the fun kind.

Instead, Blair used the other method she used to distract herself from hard truth, and kissed him. He responded in kind, knowing that a night of moralistic talk would suddenly transform Blair.

Only someone like Dan would believe such a stupid tactic would work, somehow believing that his moral superiority would rewrite two decades of societal reinforcement and learned habits.

… and that was assuming that this combined world didn’t include the stupid fact that Dan was the titular Gossip Girl all along. He hoped that it didn’t, not because he was a big fan of Dan, but because it was stupid.

However, as Blair’s tongue invaded his mouth, he turned his attention to the present. Ultimately, he wasn’t on a grand mission to ‘fix’ Blair. He would probably make sure that she was no longer entangled in that stupid, abusive relationship with Chuck, but that didn’t have a grand ethical reason.

He wasn’t in the habit of turning away women who were both sexy and interesting.

Under different circumstances, he would have tempted Blair to show off her skills, but tonight, it was about proving to her that his ‘poor person’ skills had certain benefits. He grabbed the headboard, using it as leverage as he taught her what hard-and-fast meant while she moaned deliriously,

As he moved, the headboard slammed into the wall, creating a small dent, while Blair moaned deliriously, complicit in his attempts to shatter the bed. It was quick, hard, and very much fun.

This time, when she climaxed, he didn’t give her a break, merely flipping her to all fours, grabbing her hair. “Harder,” Blair moaned desperately, losing herself completely in the pleasure.

“Is this what you want, Blair?” he whispered while he tightened his grip. “Because I can go harder.”

That made her eyes widen. “You’re kidding,” she gasped.

“Again, princess. When I say I can do something, believe it. I don’t need to lie about things I can’t do. I’m asking, because it’s an offer. I can go harder,” he whispered, picking up speed, their hips colliding even harder for a moment.

While she thought about giving a response, he flipped her again, but this time, he shifted them to a cowgirl position.

“You’re letting me on top?” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Letting? What an asisine way of looking at a special moment,” he said. “It’s about enjoying the moment, Blair,” he said, though not surprised that her exes had a more toxic approach.

There had to be a reason she didn’t know how a proper orgasm felt.

“Maybe. My boyfriend —“ she started, then paused, her eyes wide. “My boyfriend!” she gasped, finally remembering that she was in a relationship. However, when she tried to shift, he grabbed her hips. Gently, just suggesting that she stay.

“Well, that’s a surprise,” he said, still pushing inside her.

“I … I’m in a relationship. Doesn’t that bother you?”

He shrugged. “Not particularly. I’m not the guardian of other people’s relationships. And, whoever the idiot you’re dating clearly earned his horns, as only a neglected beautiful woman reacts to my touch like you do,” he said.

Her eyes widened. To anyone else, the sudden cruelty to the ‘poor’ boyfriend would have been a turnoff. Not Blair, who used cruel words as a defense mechanism. “Really? I wouldn’t have expected cruelty from you?”

“Just because I called the Upper East Side toxic? I’m not a religious missionary just because I find it an underrated position,” he teased, enjoying her blush, especially since the distraction meant that not only she stayed in place, but she was actively riding him, her hands landing on his chest.

“Yeah,” she said. “It felt like something Dan … a friend of ours who likes moralistic prattling, would say. He would have reacted differently.”

Ethan chuckled. “Let me guess. He would run away, clutching his pearls. Yet, a few days later, you would catch him doing something even worse, but he would claim to have a good for doing so, and it would be different.”

Blair laughed. “More or less. Do you know Dan?”

“I don’t know him, but Los Angeles is filled the people like him. Let me guess, he goes around quoting ancient philosophers and woes about being a misunderstood intellectual.”

That earned a laugh from her. “Finally, a mistake. He doesn’t go around quoting philosophers.”

“Damn,” he said. Her statement was correct only by a very sharp technicality, but he was happy to give her the victory. “That means you have the command,” he said as he playfully gathered.

“Really?” she whispered, immediately jumping in the opportunity, using two pillowcases to tie his hands to the bedpost. He let her, glad that he had the ability to get free easily. He found Blair surprisingly likable once she was approached correctly … but trusting her immediately?

He wasn’t a moron.

“You were close, by the way,” she whispered as she took her place once more, riding him slowly. “He goes around quoting classical novels and New Yorker articles. They are his gospel.”

“Devious trick,” he said, and Blair paused, panicked. “I like it,” he added, putting Blair’s smile back on. Admonishing Blair for being mischievous and fun would ruin the best part of her. Not to mention, those kind qualities were best redirected rather than completely contained.

“You do?” she asked, surprised.

“Yes. It fits you, shows that you’re more than just a pretty face. You’re smart and dangerous as well,” he whispered.

Her blush was beautiful.

[Achievement complete. Seduce Blair Waldorf.

Challenge: Hard]

[+10 Perception

1 Random Gold Skill

1 Random Gold Reward]

[Bonus achievement complete. Netori effect in play]

[+10 Charisma

1 Random Gold Skill

1 Random Gold Reward]

Naturally, he went for stats for both, even though he was amused to only now be receiving the notification about ‘seducing’ her. For a spoiled heiress, she was an interesting woman.

No wonder she managed to rule the Upper East Side.

[Charisma Second Perk unlocked]

[Choose One!]

[Flowing Persuasion: You can convince people of positions they would normally find completely unacceptable as long as you keep talking and they stay in your presence, leaving people in a daze.]

[Unofficial Leadership: While you work in large groups, people gravitate toward your leadership regardless of the official, established leadership, creating fertile ground for political coups.]

[Effective Inspiration: You have a knack for influencing people to change their ingrained habits. It doesn’t change the nature of the impact, but it allows the effect to stay with them even in your absence.]

Finally unlocking the second perk for Charisma was welcome, especially since all three of them looked surprisingly useful. He had no doubt that if offered, Blair would pick the second one without blinking. The first one was also useful if one wanted to be a politician, lawyer, or a con man.

He didn’t want to be any of them. Instead, he picked Effective Inspiration. Others were more practical, but even as he drifted in and out of other people’s lives, he preferred to help them, and the last one was genuinely useful for it.

He liked that it wasn’t something that changed his words into some kind of magical brainwashing, just allowing it to stick with them.

He could have started using it on Blair immediately, but her position was too fascinating to waste. “You have the lead, Princess. Now, show me you know what you are doing…”

Her smile was surprisingly charming; her usual allure was there, but there was an added level of pure enthusiasm. It was cute … well, as cute as one could be while naked, riding a man in bondage.

She lowered herself deep, tightening around him. “Fuck, yes!” Blair moaned, her voice breaking into a cry as she tested her limits, her hips greedy.

She trembled and moaned, but her movements got faster and faster while her walls clenched around him.

“You feel good,” he growled, enjoying her hands dancing on his chest.

“Do I?” she responded, spanking his chest playfully, but she hit harder than she expected. “Oh my god, sorry,” she gasped, her hips slowing down.

“That doesn’t even count as pain, don’t worry,” he teased, confident in giving her full control. Blair was not a sadist, at least not a physical one, and letting her loose a bit was fun.

She danced on his hips, excited and passionate, climbing toward another orgasm … but they were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. It was too furious for it to be hotel staff.

“We didn’t order room service, did we?” he asked. She shook her head. “Then it must be a noise complaint. You were pretty loud during your last orgasm.”

“You’re too smug for a helpless man,” she replied.

“Well, it’s either you untie me, or you answer the door,” he reminded her.

She chuckled. “Good point,” she said as she tugged them. He stood up, putting a robe on, while she lay on her back, angling her body to show off her assets. “Come back quickly.”

He smiled, though as he walked, he wondered who it was. It was not the hotel staff, that was apparent by the furious knock. And, despite what he said, he doubted it was a noise complaint either.

Expensive hotels rarely skimped on noise insulation.

He would have guessed Chuck, but it was not the furious knock of a volatile man who was about to confront his cheating girlfriend. As he approached, the knock rang again. This time he wasn’t distracted by Blair’s tight grip, which allowed him to catch more detail.

It was clearly a woman, but an angry one. He wondered who it was, but always one to impress the ladies, he adjusted his robe just enough to highlight his muscles, to make sure he would deliver an impressive view.

He opened the door, only to come face to face with a notable face from the Upper East Side.

Serena van der Woodsen.

“Can I help you?” he asked, easily ignoring her angry glare.

“Is Blair here?” she asked. He acted surprised at the question, and when she pushed him rudely to enter rather than waiting for an answer, he let her. Mostly because, Blair was already exhausted either way, and Serena’s presence offered far more entertainment than Blair collapsing after another round.

Blair looked good, but obsessive dieting meant her endurance was subpar.

“Hey, lady. You can’t just jump into my room,” he called, closed the door and followed her, acting like he was too surprised by her outrageous invasion to react.

He was just a step behind Serena as she entered the bedroom, watching Blair’s expression turn into shock as she pulled the covers on. “Serena. What the hell are you doing here?” she gasped.

“I was worried about you because you disappeared, and weren’t answering anyone’s calls!” she explained.

“Calls? I received no call,” she said, then looked around.

While she looked around, he walked back and brought her discarded handbag. She took it. “Thanks, Ethan,” she said with a large smile, which made Serena look furious. Yet, she didn’t start talking about Chuck immediately, playing the female solidarity. The friendship between Serena and Blair was … weird. “Oh, I forgot it was silenced,” she said.

“You forgot. I was dying of worry, enough to call in favors to find you before …”

“Chuck. Yeah, don’t worry about it,” Blair said nonchalantly. He could see that she wasn’t as comfortable cheating on Chuck as she implied, but Blair would prefer false outrage over genuine sympathy, so it tracked.

Serena looked at him, expecting him to react, and he shrugged. “Do I look like a priest to you?” he said dismissively. Serena looked at him angrily, but he just shrugged.

“You might care when you realize you have just ended up as the enemy of one of the most powerful families in New York,” she replied, no doubt expecting panic.

“Mob?” he asked.

That made Serena pause. Blair interjected. “Of course not,” Blair intervened.

He smiled. “Then I don’t really care,” he said.

While Serena looked surprised, Blair decided to act playful. “Were you going to abandon me if it was the mob?” she asked.

“No, but if it was the mob, I might have to kidnap you to Los Angeles as well. Malibu is amazing at this time of year.”

Blair smirked while Serena gasped angrily. “Stop flirting,” she gasped. “You’re on a Gossip Girl blast already. There are even pictures!”

That made Blair panic, her grip on the covers tightening. “Pictures?” she asked, her voice tense.

“Relax. Not that bad. Pictures are from the auction, and two of you leaving together. The problem is that the blast also explains how you disappeared from the face of the earth, even your boyfriend not knowing where you are.”

Blair shrugged. “It’s not that bad.”

“Maybe, but Chuck is already going crazy. He’s blowing everyone’s phone, already determined to ruin him.” He didn’t say anything. Serena looked at him. “Aren’t you scared to be fighting with a billionaire? At all? Chuck has full control of his fortune.”

“I mean, not really. I already came here to deal with a spoiled billionaire. One more doesn’t make that much of a difference,” he said.

“Another billionaire, who?” Serena asked.

He hummed, realizing it was a good time for the reveal safely. “Bartholomew Bass,” he said. “At least, that’s what his fancy lawyer called the guy.”

Their matching expression of shock was a thing of beauty.

[Achievement complete. Surprise Serena van der Woodsen.

Challenge: Medium]

[+5 Charisma

1 Random Silver Skill

1 Random Silver Reward]

[Achievement complete. Shock Blair Waldorf.

Challenge: Hard]

[+10 Perception

1 Random Gold Skill

1 Random Gold Reward]

He picked stats, waiting for them to process their shock. “Sorry. Do you know the guy?” he asked, acting obvious.

He had a feeling the upcoming talk would be fun…