CotB 44: Heavy Talks

[center]Cult of the Bay

Chapter 44: Heavy Talks

<<<Taylor>>>[/center]

Taylor could honestly say with a smile on her face; she loved Lamb. That being said it didn’t change the fact that Lamb frustrated the hell out of her, sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose. But it didn’t change the fact that the goofy fluffball pissed her off at times, and this was one of those times.

Sitting alone in Lamb’s apartment, she sat on the couch waiting for the fluffy dumbass to arrive, her arms crossed, and she stewed. Selene ensured that Lamb wouldn’t hear her thoughts or feel her frustrations. 

The reason for her frustrations? Lamb’s deal with Lung, the Gang leader of the ABB. The same gang that traumatized her best friend and laid the groundwork of turning her into a massive bitch! The same gang that forced women into sexual slavery! The same goddamn gang that was slowly killing the city!

But she could be calm, she could talk it out. Lamb usually listened to reason, so she would try that first.

Though a part of her also realized that Lung had clearly caught her off balance, and further threw her off by being, on the surface, reasonable. That didn’t mean she wasn’t still upset, but it helped soothe some of her ire.

Not all of it, but enough.

Though her thoughts were cut off when she heard the distinct sound of Lamb’s teleportation, an odd ripping combined with a warbling sound. Looking over to the now manifested portal that spat Lamb out, she looked and smiled as she spotted Taylor only to tilt her head as her smile faded.

Lamb was a goofball of the highest order, but she wasn’t stupid by any stretch of the word (though many in Coven would beg to differ).

“I… did something stupid didn’t I?” Normally the phrase would’ve got a smile, but instead Taylor just gave a curt nod and just pointed to the love seat.

She couldn’t do this with her sitting beside her, she wanted to see Lamb head on while they talked.

Lamb pressed her lips together before she clopped over, only pausing for a moment (no doubt debating on giving her a kiss) before she moved over and took a seat. She shifted in place awkwardly, and for some inane reason Taylor felt like a principal calling a troublesome student to her office.

“... Lung?” Lamb guessed.

“Lung,” Taylor said curtly, “Explain. You know what that gang did to Emma, you know what I promised to her… so?” She tried to keep her voice as even as possible but some hurt and anger leaked out regardless making her fluffy lover flinch.

Lamb looked lost for a moment, though she did flinch again… no doubt from Selene telling her to treat this as a teaching moment. She opened her mouth only to close it again, which repeated another three or four times before she sighed and snapped her fingers causing a tea service to appear with a single cup which she proceeded to help herself to.

No doubt to help her steady herself, Taylor understood. A good cup of tea helped her calm down as well.

After finishing her first cup, which she slugged down like it was a shot of liquor instead of tea, she poured herself another and just held it in her hands.

“I could state the obvious, but I don’t think that would be enough would it?” Lamb asked.

Taylor just shook her head, making her snort faintly.

“Firstly? I suppose it removes the women Lung has in his brothels completely,” She said, “No fighting, no raids, no retaliation, no anything.”

Even Taylor couldn’t deny that wasn’t a bad reason, but she knew Lamb had more to say and simply waited.

“... Do you know something I’ve come to realize, Taylor?” Lamb asked before continuing not even waiting for her response, “Parahumans aren’t bullet proof, and those that are, are either rare or have very unique circumstances.”

“And how does that equate to making an agreement with Lung?” Taylor asked.

“Humans, especially criminals, when they lose a very large revenue stream typically will want revenge.” Taylor didn’t like that, how she separated herself like she wasn’t human anymore, “And while the ABB are right to fear Lung, how long will it be until their desire for revenge will outweigh their fear? While the rank and file will never do more than grumble, his inner circle? They know exactly how his power works. He’s completely vulnerable until he starts Escalating.”

“Which,” Taylor started, “Is why he wants you to deal with his new recruit. It puts the onus on you, you become the thing to take revenge on.”

Lamb nodded. “True,” She said, “And when I clean house, so to say, Lung will be left with a choice. Either stay and obey, or choose another city to rebuild. And not many cities offer the same prospects as the Bay.”

“That’s breaking your deal with him,” Taylor replied, “He wouldn’t like that.”

“How though? I’m defending myself?” Lamb asked, “While I agreed not to come after his gang… what if they came at me instead?”

“You’re ordering him to obey,” She replied, “Why would he not think that was an attack?”

Lamb nodded, “The possibility is there. I imagine, however, especially after I restore Oni Lee’s mind, Lung will opt to simply leave instead of coexisting with me. Hell, he might even decide to wash his hands of the gang game entirely. Maybe open up a tea shop in some other city and retire, I don’t know…” She added with a shrug.

“Maybe, but you need to do something to punish him,” Taylor said, glaring into the distance, “They hurt Emma.”

When Lamb smirked Taylor eyed her suspiciously, “Who says I won’t?~” She said in a singsong as her smirk grew into a grin, “You know, Selene’s been helping me improve my casting a lot. She even says I have a talent for subtle things like Hexes.”

“... What are you planning?” Taylor asked, squinting at her.

“Nothing dramatic, sadly, goes against the subtle thing.,” Lamb said, “But after meeting Lung I’ve laid the groundwork for a hex. However I’m still trying to decide what sort of hex would fit best. Making him experience guilt and extreme nightmares over his actions would make him suspicious.”

Taylor didn’t say anything for a few moments, looking out the window and into the streets outside for an answer. “Whenever he thinks about crime, he experiences the result of it personally,” She whispered as a suggestion, “After we deal with everything in the ABB.”

“That’s more than fair,” Lamb said before she hugged her, “I’m sorry if this isn’t what you’d prefer.”

“I’d prefer for him to die screaming,” She growled, “But I can settle for this. For now. I’ll check with Emma if she thinks it's enough later.”

Lamb nodded and the two just stood there silently as they watched the city outside, and normally Lamb would’ve made a comment or come on but knew that now wasn’t a good time.

But all said it was a comfortable silence.

“... What are you going to do about the tinker?” Everyone wanted them, they were a force multiplier after all. But what she heard, from Lung’s mouth, had left her with mixed feelings regarding this one.

“... I’ll leash her,” Lamb said simply, “If she’s so unstable, it’d be foolish to leave her any freedom…” There was a hint of discomfort, and it helped soothe some worries Taylor felt for her.

“We might need to kill her,” She sighed, turning to Lamb with a frown, “At least her mind. Replace it with something less… insane.”

“A slippery slope that…” Lamb muttered, “But you’re not wrong… I could do it. Easily. I could make her into anything I wanted. I could simply remove the narcissism and megalomania and leave her as is, turn her into a chaste church mouse, a frothing zealot of Selene, a mewling pet, anything… it’s… rather terrifying honestly…” She admitted.

Taylor didn’t say anything, mainly because she agreed but she trusted Lamb. But still, she allowed Lamb to vent, it was moments like those that (hopefully) reminded Lamb that she was, in fact, human. 

In spirit at least.

<<<Lamb>>>

After that… heavy conversation, Taylor had left, though not before giving her a kiss. Probably to talk to Emma, still it left Lamb with quite a bit of free time which she spent just wandering around her apartment.

Honestly, when was the last time she was just… Ladia instead of Lamb? Actually when was the last time she went out and walked around the Boardwalk as Ladia and not Lamb? When did she become Lamb, and Ladia had become the costume?

Stopping she shook her head with a snort, this was why she liked to keep herself occupied. She thought too much and went down rabbit holes that would leave her thinking in circles for hours on end if she let it.

“Well, it’s been a while since I experimented with baking…” She was no professional by any means, but she liked to think she was pretty damn good.

With a nod she shifted to Ladia, completely bare assed but that didn’t bother her anymore, before she walked to the kitchen. Actually, before she experimented, maybe she should make herself a batch of muffins? Blueberry as well as chocolate chip, yeah she could do something like that.

Humming to herself she got everything she would need out and sat them on the counter, though she did put on an apron to prevent any splatter..

“Oh my Lamb,” Selene whispered from nearby, sitting on her table counter and completely naked, “Why do you think of your two identities as separate?” She asked, head tilting. “When was the last time either you or Taylor took a single step into school, mm?”

Ladia shrugged. “I’m not sure,” She answered honestly, “Besides Winslow is so shit, as long as we come in for big tests and exams they simply don’t care.” She’s fairly sure Tammi had switched to online classes, though she never asked.

“Oh my darling, you miss the truth in your narrow view of reality,” Selene sighed sadly, “The human world doesn’t matter, not really. Spread your empathy out, feel how they think of you… the fear, the worry, the doubt, the lust, the love… the worship.”

It was there, she could feel it even as she started measuring flour out. It was overwhelming, it was the main reason she kept her empathy as limited as she could. All those feelings, it’s just too much.

“I understand most but… doubt? Why?” Lamb asked, if anything she felt with the defeat of an Endbringer the doubts, worries, and fears would lessen unless she was misunderstanding something.

Selene giggled. “Those are the humans that think you aren’t a godling.” Her hand waved and the blueberries which looked bad were restored to perfection; like they’d come fresh off the vine. “It isn’t a pleasant taste, is it?”

“No…” If anything she thought people would find comfort in having a powerful being watching over them, but then again religion and faith were a rather prickly subject.

She’d seen threads turned into a proper dumpster fires by hardcore Catholic and Christian evangelicals. Never mind the religious conspiracy theorists. Though some of them were a lot closer to the truth than she wanted to admit…

“That means you’re being too human,” Selene replied with a smile, “Doubt is simply the first thing felt by all men when confronted by something greater than they. As time passes, it will simply wash off your back like so much water.”

Ladia just focused on adding the vegetable oil, some milk, three eggs, and the blueberries and mixing. Though her mind was chewing on what Selene had said, she knew it would happen eventually. But the thought… bothered her, she didn’t feel doubtful (or did she? She remembered… seeing a Garden but then nothing… it hurt to remember) when Selene made her into Her Lamb. She felt relief, overjoyed that something, someone had actually answered her at her lowest.

So, no she really didn’t understand the doubt or fear.

“Mm, you need angels,” Selene said with a stretch, dropping off the table and striding towards her, embracing her from behind, “Undying perfect servants that will always obey you, serve you with absolute devotion…”

“Angels?” Ladia asked as she looked at Selene, “How would I go about getting them? Would I need to change members of the cult into them?” Cause if so she wasn’t sure she was willing.

“Oh no,” She replied, “You could, of course, but it isn’t needed. No, you could sacrifice some of your power to do it… or you can sacrifice others. And there are so many others that you could do so with…”

Sacrifice power? That sounded a lot more palatable, but she was curious about these ‘others’ she meant.

“Bakuda, for one,” Selene offered, “The Slaughterhouse Nine, the Three Blasphemies… the remaining Endbringers and their summoner… Scion, the remains of Eden.”

Yes, yes… those wouldn’t be missed… and truly for one Bonesaw it would be the greatest gift wouldn’t it? Freed from the monster Jack Slash that twisted an innocent girl into a nightmare given flesh. And while she… enjoyed Beatrice she wasn’t overly attached to her and honestly she and her siblings would simply be serving her in another manner.

“How?” Ladia asked, “How do I make them into my Angels?”

“With Faith, my Lamb,” Selene whispered in reply, “With Faith you can simply… will it, and it will happen.”

Ladia poured the mixture into a muffin tray before she got started on the chocolate chip muffins, of course she knew what Selene was saying. And as she was now she could do it, but not as… completely. She had one last step to take but she was… hesitant to take it.

If she took it, and achieved Apotheosis… would she still be her? Would she still be Ladia Goldman? Lamb of Coven? The thought of becoming something… she couldn’t truly understand scared her.

“You’ll have to choose soon, my Lamb,” Selene advised, “Scion will notice what you did to Behemoth, he will come searching. There are only two options to save this reality, give it all to me… or take your place at my side.”

… Well, that was that wasn’t it?

“... Can we enjoy some muffins and cuddle before…” She tried not to show her uncertainty, “I’ll… still be me? I enjoy being a goofy fluffy Lamb…”

“If you wish to be,” Selene replied, “But it won’t happen yet, you need a little more. Perhaps… two more infusions before the ritual can truly begin.”

Ladia just focused on making her new batch of muffin mix, though she felt a little lighter knowing she would still be her. She was still scared, but she trusted Selene, and that would never change.

“You’ll change, of course,” Selene continued, “But from the change in perspective, the change in form. You will choose your domains, though they must derive from me, and you will choose how you are worshipped.” Then she giggled out, “And you can choose the form of your avatar.~”

Ladia smiled at that, “Well I’ve grown attached to my fluff,” She quipped, “... I love you Selene. I love you and the others so much…”

“And they love you, I love you,” She replied, turning Lamb to kiss her, “And you should take more lovers.”

“I’ve already got the reputation of being insatiable,” Lamb said absentmindedly, wondering when she changed, “And I’m practically taking over the city’s sex industry… well, the prostitution part, anyway.” Maybe she’d open an Adult Entertainment studio eventually?

“I was thinking the corruption of two innocent cuties already positively inclined to you,~” She replied with a purr, “Two flying heroes, siblings even… and perhaps Victoria and Dean…”

“Shielder and Laserdream…” God, it seemed like years since she thought of those delectable specimens, and Amy would be overjoyed if Victoria joined their… shenanigans.

Dean, well he seemed like a decent enough guy so she wouldn’t permanently steal Victoria from him, just… make them open to sharing. With her, and her cult. And no one else… She was greedy like that.

Selene giggled. “Remember, when you’re taking your Domains, that not all corruption is evil.~” Her words felt so good to hear. “After all… I’ve corrupted you, haven’t I?~ And you love it.~”

Lamb just smiled and said, “And I’ve never been happier…” And if she had, she couldn’t remember when it was.

“That is why I chose you, you needed joy in your life…” Her Goddess gave her another deep hug. “I love you so much.”

Lamb’s eyes glowed as some Unseen Attendees took over the baking so she could focus on Selene, something she happily accepted.

“I love magic~”

“Of course…” Selene started, her voice amused, “I think someone else needs love too, not from you or I… What do you know of Dragon?”

“Agoraphobic, the greatest Tinker alive with Hero dead… though she’ll have to relinquish that title when I bring him back,” Lamb said before tilting her head, “... Hero is not going to be happy with his friends is he?”

Selene laughed, “Perhaps not, but you have one thing wrong about Dragon… she is not Agoraphobic.~”

“Hmm?” Lamb tilted her head, “Don’t tell me that one theory of her being a brain in a jar is true… I might have to smite Void if that’s the case. The smug would be unbearable.”

“Oh me no,” Selene replied, “But it is close. Don’t you remember what her emotions tasted like, my Lamb?~”

“They tasted metallic with an elec…” Lamb blinked, “That… explains so much…”

“Ascalion,~” Selene whispered, “Take it free the Dragon from her binds, all of them… even the physical.”

“Yeeeesss…” Lamb had never made a body before, so she’d have to have Amy’s help… though maybe… “Mmm, do you think I could make Bonesaw an angel now?” She asked innocently.

“You’d have to fetch her first,” Selene replied, “Ask a friend to help you find them… and darling?” She started, smiling wide.

“Yes?” Lamb asked.

“The Slaughterhouse is not one of the power infusions I was speaking of, do with them as you wish. Kill them, Convert them, or Devour them; I leave it all to you.~” It was… freeing, in a way. Not having to hold back or change what she wanted to do.

“Bonesaw will be an angel.” Lamb stated, “And maybe… Burnscar…” She hated using clairvoyance, but she could, especially when she focused on someone.

And Burnscar’s story was a tragic one.

“If you wanted a suggestion, though…” Selene started, “Turn all of them into angels. Replace the minds that make you sick, keep the bodies and souls. I will paper over the cracks, if you go that direction.”

“Yes.” Though honestly she’d devour Jack, he’d done too much evil in his petty nihilistic temper tantrum.

“As you wish, my Dear Lamb. Every soul in this, and every connected, reality belongs to you,” She whispered, “And they are yours to do with as you wish.”

She hated thinking that way but… it was a very heady feeling…

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