Entrepreneurial Spirit - Chapter 10 (Patreon)

Her breath came hot and heavy.

There was sweat on her forehead, her face red and inflamed.

“I-ah,” Maomao gasped, leaning over the table as her chest heaved. “N-no more!”

“Oh really?” I drawled, playful disappointment lacing my tone as I leaned forward. “We haven't even gotten to the good part yet.”

“T-too m-much,” she whispered, smacking her lips desperately. “W-water!”

We'd had nachos, as I'd planned, and Maomao had indeed enjoyed them. Sadly, she'd abstained from alcohol after a moment's thought. Probably wise given her continuing fear that I was going to entrap her more than I'd already been forced to. Still, the nachos had jalapenos on them, and the consumption of those had led to a sampling of various chili peppers after the main course was finished.

I chuckled and pour her a glass, so cold chips of ice were floating in it. As the first drops of condensation began to form, I pushed it forward, still amused as the green-haired girl made a grab for it and began greedily drinking it down. Her throat worked furiously even as she swirled it around her mouth, quenching the fire she'd willingly – enthusiastically – subjected herself to.

Still smiling, I leaned back in my chair and twirled a green pepper between my fingers before taking a bite out of it. Heat and juice blossomed in my mouth, but nothing truly impressive. I'd been... well, not a spice-fiend necessarily, but something close to it, before all this. I just liked things hotter on average. Pepper, a little Tabasco, some specialty blends, a nice salsa... nothing insane like that ghost pepper bullshit my brother loved, but...

“But?” Maomao asked.

I blinked, surprising myself. “Ah, I was rambling, wasn't I?”

“It wasn't awful,” Maomao shook her head, taking a napkin and dabbing at her forehead as she reached for more of the water. “What were you going to say?”

I huffed a laugh and nodded to myself. “Once I found my feet here in the store, got used to everything? I went a little bit crazy experimenting with food. It's one of the easiest things to get for the store. Random people wandering in from other worlds almost always have some kind of food... or, well, they're looking to buy some if they're in a bad way.”

“Everyone has to eat,” Maomao nodded seriously, her eyes still alighting on bits and pieces of the modern kitchen every few moments.

“If you want to know what something is, feel free to ask,” I assured her. “I'm very much used to explaining what the appliances do to newcomers.”

“Hmm...” Maomao muttered, looking around for a moment before choosing to take me up on my offer. “That box. I can intuit that the largest one is a oven with a stove-top, even if it is of a different design... and that one seems like it serves a similar function on a smaller-scale, but...”

I leaned back and ate another piece of my pepper before pouring my own glass of water as I began to explain. “The first one is, indeed, an oven with a stove on top. They use magical stones which produce heat rather than burning wood or other fuel. The other one is called a 'toaster oven.' It produces lesser heat in shorter bursts and is used for meals that require smaller portions.”

Maomao took all that in with an attentive nod before tentatively reaching into the stack of peppers for a red one.

“Feel free,” I assured her, my smile widening slightly. “Though those are a bit hotter.”

She inhaled through her nose, her eyes sparkling as she looked the next pepper over. “I... we did have spices, back home. They came from some distance, though, and were rare and expensive. Nothing quite as hot as this, though.”

“They usually come from a different part of the world than where you lived,” I explained, and her eyes sparkled again, so I pushed forward rather than get lost on another, deeper tangent. “The smaller box you asked about, though, is what is called a 'microwave oven.'”

“So it does cook food, then,” Maomao asserted, absently taking a bite of the red pepper.

She froze, her eyes widening and watering.

I smiled, enjoying the struggle as she fought against immediately grabbing for the water and – instead, allowed the full heat of the pepper to seep into her mouth. Her fingers clenched, knuckles whitening as a fresh sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead. Her breath came in quick pants once again, each fresh breath flowing over the inflamed tissue within her mouth.

She was suffering, but loving it.

It was... interesting, to watch.

Finally, she broke and reached for the water.

“You know...” I smiled slyly. “I could tie your hands behind the chair.”

A geyser erupted from her mouth, glittering in the kitchen light as her eyes widened. I snapped my fingers effortlessly and the water vanished before it could hit the table, the floor, or me.

“Wh-what?” Maomao squeaked, her face red for a different reason.

“That way you wouldn't be able to reach for the water so easily,” I explained, still smiling – though there was doubtless a bit of a predatory edge to it. “If you want to test yourself and truly enjoy the pain.”

Her throat worked even though there wasn't any water in her mouth.

“You do enjoy the pain, correct?” I asked, playfully curious.

“I, um...” Maomao frowned, whetting her lips as she fidgeted. “Would that be... unacceptable?”

I arched an eyebrow. “I did just offer to tie you up, didn't I? That was genuine.”

Another swallow, then she grabbed for the water again. This time, I didn't interrupt her and, instead, finished off my pepper before drinking some of my own. When she put her glass down, she fidgeted again. “That's not the reaction I usually get.”

I hummed, allowing myself a slight frown.

“It's difficult for me to find someone who enjoys being hurt, you know?” I asked, deceptively casual, making Maomao blink in surprise. “Personally, I find that I enjoy inflicting pain more than receiving it.”

“O-oh?” The green-haired girl asked, her eyes widening as conflicting expressions warred on her face. “That's... ah, interesting?”

“May I make an offer, Maomao?” I asked her directly.

“I suppose I can't stop you,” she hummed consideringly, her face as blank as she could make it.

“We've only met recently,” I stated, reaching up to rub at my chin. “But you're curious about the world around you, interested in how things work. I like that. So let me as... what are the common courtship rituals in your culture?”

Maomao stiffened, almost jerking in place as the water in her glass sloshed and came close to spilling. Her face went red again as her mouth opened and closed like a fish. “I, um-ah, I mean...”

I waited patiently for her to gather her wits.

Eventually, she managed to calm enough to take a long breath and respond, her eyes tilting downwards into her glass as she spoke. “I... don't think I would be the best spouse for such an exalted personage.”

“Relationships aren't about optimization,” I shrugged, making her blink and look up. “I don't want 'best.' I want... someone who makes life worth living. Someone fun, but not obnoxious.”

She cupped her cheek, biting at a nail in thought as her eyes flicked to me before sliding away again. “I've never been considered particularly 'fun,' either.”

“You're trying to talk me out of my decision obliquely,” I noted with pursed lips. “I'll be blunt, then. Do you dislike the notion of a courtship with me? If you do, I will drop the matter.”

Maomao's frown grew. “I... don't dislike it. I am concerned at the... obligations such a relationship might entail.”

“Do you have experience in a workplace environment?” I asked, sipping my water.

She nodded absently. “I work – or, rather, worked – at a brothel. The Verdigris House. It's high-class, so the women aren't forced to bed men, but even then I wasn't involved with customers much. My father is an apothecary, so I mainly worked creating remedies and medicine for the other women. Rarely the male customers as well... usually things like hangover cures for them.”

“Then you have experience with stocking inventory. You said you can read and write, correct?” I asked, receiving a nod. “Outside of the specialty training I can give you, those skills are nearly the sum total of what you'll need. To begin with, at least.”

Maomao frowned, “Really? I find that hard to believe. Wouldn't the spouse of someone such as yourself require training to serve guests of... significant supernatural importance?”

I huffed a laugh. “I get those types occasionally, but the bulk of my customers are more... mundane? Well, certainly mortal people. Many of them have some sort of supernatural power or ability, but... they don't come here to be catered to. Not like that. My customers come to buy, sell, and trade. They come for a hot meal and a bath.”

Maomao mulled that over, visibly doubting my explanation but unwilling to outright call me on it. “It's been my experience that... people with power expect certain treatment.”

“I treat anyone who comes through my door with basic common decency, respect, and honesty,” I explained. “If they expect more than that without paying for it, they may take their business elsewhere.”

“And if they protest?” Maomao asked, seeming to lose some of her nervousness as we delved further into the conversation.

“Then I evict them,” I shrugged.

“If they bring guards or soldiers?” She pressed, and I realized where this was going.

“If they try to use force to... well, force the issue,” I snorted, making her roll her eyes slightly. “Then the store eats them.”

Maomao blinked, tensing as what I'd said sank into her mind. “...eats them?”

I gave a nebulous wave to our surroundings. “The store has rules. Very powerful, very important rules. Ones that function like... like the rising of the sun each morning. Or the way a heavy object falls once you drop it. These are rules that everyone in the store – including myself – must abide by. If someone decides they can take without paying or force an unfair bargain on me, then should they not heed the warnings, the store will consume them. Render them down into a base form of value.”

Maomao shivered as she looked around, taking in the kitchen with new eyes. “You said warnings?”

“You'll know it if you're about to break a rule, don't worry,” I assured her, then paused. “It... the feeling is unmistakable. A pressure in the back of your mind. Something watching you, letting you know you're being watched. I can go through the rules in more detail later.”

“Hmm...” Maomao muttered, unconvinced.

“Look, my assistant Izuku has been working here for almost a year and he's fine,” I waved off her concerns. “He's also a little bit... impulsive, so take his continued survival as proof that you're unlikely to put yourself in that position.”

That at least, seemed to reassure her slightly.

The presence of a provably less-competent individual in a hazardous environment usually did.

Though, too be fair to Izuku, he wasn't the stupidest person I'd ever had work for me. Those were all very much dead. Izuku's main issue was his impulsiveness, as I'd said. The kid just didn't think things through properly. He got tunnel-vision and monofocused on the problem in front of him, which was something I'd been trying to beat out of his head... with varying levels of success.

“You make it sound like working in a normal store,” my conversation partner frowned.

“Shelves still need stocking, inventory still needs counting, the store still needs to be swept and cleaned,” I shrugged. “Even if I can teach you magic to do most of that, the chores themselves are as normal as they come. Every now and then we get a really strange one coming through the door, but I'll handle those if you'd rather avoid them.”

“Without substantial training, I'd prefer if you would,” Maomao replied in a low tone, then stopped abruptly and looked at me. “Not that I'm agreeing to anything!”

I snorted in amusement. “No, no... of course not.”

She seemed to bristle, her hair fluffing as she narrowed her gaze at me.

“But you are entertaining it?” I asked, still smiling.

“I'd get free use of all the facilities?” She asked instead of replying directly, though that was an answer in and of itself.

“Within reason,” I nodded. “The exclusions would be those areas, tools, or processors which use materials or resources which the store has in limited supply or are of significant power. Those I would have to charge you something for or the store would take out its displeasure on both of us.”

She grimaced, but nodded. “But water, food, common medicines...”

“If you were my mate, you could eat your fill, drink excellent wine, clothe yourself in fine silks, and amuse yourself with all manner of medicines or poisons during your free time,” I confirmed.

“And... that wouldn't bother you?” She asked, narrowing her gaze.

“When I signed on to the shop, my... signing bonus, as it were, was changing from a human to a kitsune,” I explained. “You're familiar with the legends?”

She blinked, took a long breath in, then nodded slowly. “I... wouldn't want to assume.”

“Admittedly, I don't enjoy drink or other things quite as much as other foxes, but I make up for it with an appreciation for sex,” I chuckled, enjoying the blush on her face. “Though... in the interests of full disclosure, there are a number of customers who I sleep with when they stop by.”

“Hmm... that would mean I'd have less to worry about,” Maomao mused idly.

I chuckled openly, though I cut the laughter off quickly and leveled an intense gaze at her. “Many women would be more bothered by a suitor announcing they do not intend to keep to one woman.”

Maomao grimaced slightly, but shook her head. “Truthfully, it does bother me somewhat, but for more practical reasons than... hmm, how to word it without sounding pointlessly romantic? 'My claim on your heart?' Ugh, I need something to wash my mouth out.”

The sheer disgust in her expression threatened to make me laugh again. “The term is 'emotional exclusivity.' But, in more common language, you're less worried about my affection towards you waning, and more worried about...”

Having taken a long drink of ice water to 'wash her mouth out,' she set the glass down and grunted. “A man growing tired of me and leaving me to my own devices is something I've seen often enough that I wouldn't be affected by it-”

I kept the doubt clear from my face.

“-but my worry rests on your lack of affection – of favor – reducing my access to the agreed-upon medicines, poisons, and other creature comforts that becoming your... mate promises,” Maomao finished.

“Something to keep in mind when we write up an engagement contract,” I stated thoughtfully, not having quite thought of things in those terms.

“Contract?” Maomao asked, her eyes narrowing.

“A magically-binding document such as you've already seen me write that will guarantee you certain rights and privileges in exchange for joining me in my bed,” I explained with a nod. “If either you or I breach the terms, we can be called to account for them by the other party. If there is a dispute, we will hire a neutral third party to arbitrate. If our disagreement is irreconcilable, there would be provisions within the document to ensure that you would be able to leave the union, should you wish it. In such a case, you would be within your rights to demand certain material concessions from me.”

“Material concessions,” Maomao echoed, rubbing at her chin thoughtfully again. “Such as?”

“It would depend on the specific reasons for any separation,” I shrugged. “If – for example – I were to fall in love with another woman and wish to take her as a second wife, but you objected, and I pursued her despite your stance being made clear to me, you would have grounds to demand a significant amount of... goods, services, general wealth... all of it compensation for breaking my part of the agreement.”

“And if I was in breach?” Maomao asked, honest curiosity in her expression. “Not that I plan to, of course, but it would make me more careful if I knew what was at stake.”

“If, let us say...” I hummed and stared up at the ceiling for a moment. “You took a man to your bed who was not me and decided to bear his child out of an act of rebellion or spite against a perceived lack of emotional availability on my part... then I would not leave you with nothing – if only for the sake of the time we spent together happy – but your settlement to leave our union would be much, much smaller.”

Maomao nodded once, firmly, then pursed her lips speculatively. “I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that even powerful beings such as yourself dislike sharing.”

Then stiffened and paled as what she'd said sank in, her eyes widening as she turned to me in no small amount of trepidation and horror.

“Now, now, I'm hardly going to lash out over something as minor as you pointing out the obvious,” I waved her off, smiling as she calmed slightly. “I recognize the hypocrisy in demanding that you see no other men while entitling myself to relationships – even if they're purely business-related – with other women.”

“Th-that is a relief,” Maomao winced, looking downwards. “I'm sorry, I just-”

“If I wanted a woman who would thoughtlessly agree to my every whim, we wouldn't be having this conversation,” I interjected with a single hand held up gently. “While I can't promise that I won't ever take offense to anything you say, I can promise not to ever strike you for it or punish you for simply expressing an opinion I disagree with.”

I blinked, then snapped my fingers.

Maomao twitched as a tablet – digital, not stone – appeared in my hand and I began typing. “One moment, I'm adding notes about what we've just discussed to make sure these points are in the engagement and marriage contracts. They'll have to be worded carefully, though, since I would like you to at least try being flogged or whipped once, to see what you think of it.”

“Ah... because you think I like being hurt,” Maomao muttered, frowning as she rocked slightly in her chair.

“If you're really against it, we don't have to,” I replied, smirking slightly. “But I do think you'll enjoy it.”

“Hmph!” She huffed, turning away with a red face. “I've never thought of it like that. It was always about learning what the things I exposed myself to did to me. What kind of sensation a poison would create when it began acting, what color my skin would turn after a snakebite as opposed to a spider bite.”

Absently, she rubbed at her left forearm.

“It could be both, you know?” I asked, gently. “You could enjoy both the knowledge you gain and the sensation inflicted by the exposure.”

“Hmm...” She frowned and considered the issue.

“Mind if we try a test?” I asked, holding up a pepper. One of the spicier ones that she hadn't tried yet.

“I suppose...” Maomao drawled, eyeing me suspiciously. “What did you have in mind?”

“Would I be correct in assuming you are familiar with the sensation of sexual arousal?” I asked candidly.

Maomao blushed, but nodded. “I am.”

“Then here, would you stand up?” I asked, doing so as well. “Now, for a little exercise like this... if you're uncomfortable at any time and want to stop, say the word 'apple' and I will.”

“Apple?” Maomao blinked. “Why?”

“It's what's generally known as a 'safe word.' It's a code word that we mutually agree means you're not enjoying yourself and whatever little game we're playing should end. It's so that you can set boundaries that are important to you and that you know I'll respect them when asked to,” I explained.

“Can't I just say 'stop?'” Maomao asked with a frown. “Does that mean something else where you're from?”

I chuckled, “If we're playing a game where I'm aggressive and you enjoy it, but don't want to show it? Well, even if you would never do it... someone who would enjoy... they'd like to yell 'stop' and have their partner continue on, wouldn't they?”

Her eyes widened, “Oh! I, um... people do that? I'm familiar with some, ah... 'games' from stories the other girls would tell, but not this particular type.”

“I have some books you could read on the subject, if you like,” I nodded and she perked up. “But, yes, it's usually called a... well, a 'rape fantasy.' I'm told it's quite popular among some women.”

“And we're going to try this-” Maomao began, but I shook my head.

“Oh no, that's much too... advanced, shall we say. And best if we have an actual bed I can throw you upon while I ravish you,” I looked around the kitchen pointedly. “Not that you can't do so here, but hard tile and counter tops are better for partners who are used to each other. It's easier to injure one another – or yourself – if you aren't familiar with how someone is going to react when you do something.”

“That's... actually a good point,” the green-haired girl muttered, looking around as well before tapping the corner of the counter. “That does feel like it would be unpleasant during a moment of intimacy.”

“What we'll be doing is much simpler,” I stated, “if you'll lean with your back against this wall?”

“Okay...” Maomao said slowly, taking the requested place.

“You remember what you say when you want me to stop?” I asked her.

“Apple,” she nodded.

“Good,” I smiled, then snapped my fingers.

The lights dimmed, taking on a red hue as the darkness crept in, blurring the edges of a simple kitchen into something indistinguishable. At the same time, the temperature plummeted and soft clouds of mist began to form from our exhalations. Before the girl could get her bearings, I slid up to her with my right knee leading, pressing it carefully between her legs. Not enough for my thigh to make contact with the apex of her thighs, but enough to make my intentions very, very clear.

Her arms came up to instinctively push at me, but I could them and pushed back, pinning them over her head.

…

She had, perhaps, made the slightest of mistakes.

Maomao swallowed.

Nova Sterling – The Fox – made it frighteningly easy to forget that he was, indeed, some kind of spirit. Regardless of how he bargained and smiled and remained calm even when her tongue slipped. He listened and explained with such patience and clarity-

Her traitorous mind likened that easy smile and relaxed demeanor full of such interesting things to learn...

She thought of her father.

Of Loumen, the smartest man she knew.

Dad might actually like Nova.

The thought was a surprising one. Another surprise in a day which seemed endlessly full of them. But... it was true, as much as the fox was very obviously a creature of the supernatural, he was forthright and had little temper that she'd seen so far. He was easy-going and relaxed and willing to dispense knowledge without relying on silly traditions.

Yes... it was a strange thing to contemplate, but she could entirely see her father and the fox sharing a cup of tea and talking about any random topic that drew their interest.

“So the little girl thinks she's brave?”

The hissed question brought her out of her thoughts, her eyes widening as Nova's luminous orbs loomed large in her vision. In the dim light, with the larger figure holding her hands above her head, her breath caught in her throat as she tried to resist the weight of his presence.

“Br-brave?” She cursed the way her brain stuttered over the word, refusing to allow her the smooth speech she knew she was capable of.

“You speak so casually with a three-tailed fox spirit,” he responded, his voice a low growl she could feel in her bones, the sensation doing... something to her. “Half-hearted insults, demands disguised as questions... if that is not bravery, then it's certainly arrogance.”

I-is this part of the game? Is he faking the anger?

It felt real.

The fear did, too.

She pulled at her wrists, but his grip was iron.

Her heart pounded in her chest, the fear surging as the magical creature loomed over her, his sharp teeth catching the shadowy light and sparkling.

Danger was nothing new in Maomao's life. She had long walked the streets of the slums alone, only confidence and carefully-applied false pockmarks as a shield against those who would attack her. The fact that such a flimsy shield had held until today was – in retrospect – something of a marvel. But still, the threat of being taken or robbed or killed or worse had been omnipresent.

This was different.

This was an intelligent, angry animal that looked like a person holding Maomao at his mercy.

“I think arrogance like that deserves a little punishment...” He hummed, now holding both her wrists in one hand, bringing the spicy pepper to his lips... and biting down on it. Almost immediately her nose began to tingle at the still-foreign smell.

“Do you know why it hurts when you eat these? It's not merely because of the mild poison within them, it's also because of the nature of the skin in your mouth,” Nova explained calmly, holding half the pepper he'd just bitten into in front of her face.

Her eyes began to water. “What?”

“The thinner the skin, the more sensitive it is to things like this,” the fox continued, pressing the pepper to her lips... and moving it like one of the girls at the brothel would when they painted her lips for special occasions.

It was like someone set the skin of her lips on fire, instantly.

Maomao couldn't resist the groan that welled up from deep in her throat.

“You have such goo manners, you probably didn't notice,” Nova chuckled cruelly. “Your lips are even more sensitive than your tongue, because they haven't been in contact with the peppers yet.”

He was right.

He was right!

Maomao twisted and squirmed, her body brushing up against his as her breath came heavier. “Ugh-ahh!”

“Simply placing it on your skin won't do much, sadly,” Nova hummed with amusement, his eyes appearing to glow even brighter as he showed off his teeth with a menacing smile. “But... there are other places on your body with thin skin, did you know?”

Maomao's eyes shot wide.

Oh, oh he means...

She became aware of the heat within the deepest reaches of her body as the thought occurred to her. And, once the thought manifested, it couldn't be disregarded. No, it was as persistent and pervasive as the still-burning heat-pain on her lips.

What would it feel like?

If he put the juices of the pepper on her breasts? On her nipples themselves? Or, worse? Better? What if he put it...

Pleasure burst within her like a firework exploding midair.

The gasp she let out was small, pathetic, and she loved hated it.

“Ah-apple!” She squeaked.

Her wrists were free a split-second later.

Nova caught her as she slipped to the floor, making soothing noises as he held her while she shivered and shook in the aftermath of-

Just the thought of what it would feel like...

“Water,” Nova hummed, pressing a cup of cool liquid to her lips, the cold fluid grounding her and washing away some of the pepper juices. A swipe of her tongue removed most of the rest. The tingling sensation left behind was-

-was-

-pleasantly painful.

The thought refused to leave.

I... might have made a bigger mistake than I thought.

And the worst part? The worst part was how silken-smooth his tales were as they wrapped around her.

No, wait.

The worst part was that she'd never found out how the microwave worked!

~~~

Now this chapter should be partly a conversation with Maomao and party getting back to the stuff with the Owl House crew and Izuku...

Wait, what?

No, it's just... all Maomao? You're sure? All five thousand words?

Huh. Okay, then!

Yeah, that conversation got away from me. So it ended up eating the entire update. Next chapter will start anew with a return to things that aren't... directly related to teasing Maomao. Or flirting with her. Mostly.

I'm sure other stuff will happen!

Sword Art Online update for the end of the month! I hope!