“You know what will happen if you tell, right?” Moonflower asked, looking Ric over wearily. 

“I’m quite aware,” Ric answered. “Such a primitive culture those purple berries live in. Who has arranged marriages these days? It seems like such a trite tradition to insist on upholding.”

“Trite or not, you know how the Hanakatoba’s are. Tradition and ‘honor’ are everything,” Moonflower frowned as she spoke, “If words were to get out that she was not being faithful, they would ruin her. I don’t want to be the cause of that.”

“Do you think that I am so heartless?”

“Don’t toy with me, Fir. You and I both know exactly the kind of monster you are.” Moonflower crossed one leg over the other, leaning forward a little. She could feel the dread crawling down her spine as she watch the small shimmer of glee flicker in his eyes. He was just like a cat with a mouse watching her squirm in a feeble attempt to get away.  “I think that you will do anything to get ahead. I’m guessing that the only reason you let Kiku walk away is because she is not the one that you want something from.”

“You’ve always been quite perceptive Moonflower.”

“So what is it?”

“Valerian Nova.”

“He’s a snake,“ Her heart dropped as she spoke. There were some people in life you were worse off just for knowing and Valerian Nova was certainly one of those people.

“A very useful snake, but one that cannot be left unchecked,” Ric replied leaning in so his breath fell upon the smooth curve of her jawline, “and word on the street is that he has his eyes set on a certain senator’s daughter. You wouldn’t want to disappoint him, would you?”

“What do you want, Ric?” Kiku asked, crossing her arms over the front of her. Berry this guy was the biggest tool of them all. She hated the way ever part of his face seemed to be smirking at her, rubbing it in that he had the upper hand in this situation. 

“What makes you think I want something? I will say, it just tickles me to know, that two beautiful girls were able to find each other in this crazy world.”

“No one can find out,” Kiku said pressing her lips together in a firm line. She knew the consequences of her secret getting out all too well. It was a different world for her kind. Not like Moonflower who was free to do whatever she pleased. To be a purple shade meant certain standards needed to be upheld. A shade had to marry a shade. It was how it always was, and she was to marry Sumire. “So I will ask you again. What do you want?”

Ricinus took his time, looking Kiku up and down, the smirk on his face grew wider. Her whole body went cold as he raked his eyes up and down her. “I’m sure you buy my silence somehow.”

Slap.

Even with the full force of Kiku’s hand, Ric was still smiling afterward. “You have some nerve!” she hissed through her teeth. 

“You asked me what I wanted.”

She shivered at the words. “Well, it’s never going to happen,” she snapped, straitening the front of her dress once again in a feeble attempt to regain some of her composure. “I’ll have you know, Ric. I would rather die. So do your worst.”

Kiku gave him a little shove as she walked past, her feet hitting the floor heavily in anger. Moonflower let out a long sigh. It was going to take some work after all this to get Kiku to forgive her. “You just had to go and rile her up, didn’t you?” 

“She’s always so spunky. I like it.”

“You’re such a pig.”

“It’s part of my charm, dear Moonflower.”

It was faint but unmistakable, the soft sounds that Ricinus could hear coming from behind the room. Of course, being the reasonable man that he was, he had to investigate. 

Secrets, he knew, were one of the most valuable things to have in the world that he lived in. The more you knew, the better of you were, and he would be damned if he let this one pass him by. 

The sight that greeted him as he crossed the curtained threshold, well, it certainly didn’t disappoint. He leaned against the stone column, letting out a low, drawn-out whistle. “Now what do we have here?” he asked.

Kiku felt her heart drop straight down into her stomach. She knew it. It was far too risky to attempt anything here. She straightened her dress as she sat up, pushing the strap back up and looking up at their spectator. Great, she thought. Of all the berries in the room, it just had to be Ricinus Fir. 

“Don’t stop on account of me. I don’t mind watching.”

“Ew,” Moonflower said from behind her, sitting against the bench with her legs crossed. Kiku shot her a glare. This was all her fault, to begin with. Couldn’t she at least act a little more concerned that they were caught?

“Oh berry,” Kiku started, putting her hands up nervously, “this isn’t what it looks like.”

“Is that really how you’re going to play this? I’m disappointed in you Kiku. I thought you were better than such washed up cliche.”

These types of gatherings were far from Phlox’s favorite to attend. Everything about them was suffocating. The smell of luxury perfumes and top-shelf scotch filled their air, making his head ache. He always felt so out of place, always having preferred quiet times and simple things to these outlandish soirees. Yet Avarice insisted, and he knew better. When Avarice requested your presence, it was always in your best interest to attend. 

“Phlox my good boy,” Avarice said, taking Phlox’s hand in his, his grip firm, “I was starting to think you weren’t going to show.”

“You made it seems as if I didn’t have a choice.”

Avarice laughed rough and deep, the type of laugh that came from the partaking of one too many cigars over the years “You are a smart man. Come, let’s gets a drink. I’ve acquired a single-malt from Forgotten Honeycomb that is to die for.”

“Isn’t it in poor taste to drink while discussing business?”

“On the contrary,” Avarice smiled wickedly, “a good deal needs a good drink. Remember this: always mix business with pleasure.”

“Isn’t that… the opposite of how the phrase goes?”

He patted the back of Phlox’s back, laughing once again. “You’ll learn in due time, my friend. Now come, we mustn’t keep them waiting too long.”

They had done this dance before. Kiku swore to herself that one day that she would be strong. That she wouldn’t give in to the hot touches and coy smiles that Moonflower sent her way. She wore it again and again yet when the moment came she was weak. All it would take was that knowing curve of a smile tugging at the corner of her lover’s lips and she was lost in it all again.

“You’re going to get us caught,” she hissed under her breath even as she let Moonflower guide her through the crowd and behind the curtained seating in the back of the ballroom. 

Moonflower hummed to herself, a noise that rumbled deep in her throat, and she smiled so patiently at Kiku. She knew this was her way of putting up a fight, to make it seem as if she had tried to resist. They both knew that in the end Moonflower always got her way. “Relax, it will be fine. No one can see us from over here.”

“But it’s right next to the buffet!”