Work Text:
“Are you in the mood for some fun?” Musse asked as she pushed some of the cafeteria’s food around on her plate with her fork.
Claiming the seat next to her, Ash sighed. “Depends what you have in mind, because the last time I tried to have some fun with you, we both ended up in big trouble.”
“Ah,” she said. “That. Well, I do believe Instructor Rean is quite over our little prank at this point and so is Alisa. Just last week she met him at the train station and off they went. I still wish he’d trade up.”
“Keep dreaming,” Ash snorted. “And the rest of them still have that photo of your panties.”
“I’m sure Machias makes good use of it every night, despite claiming to have ‘seen better.’”
“Yeah, that’s not something I wanted to think about, thanks.”
Musse gave a wink. “My pleasure. Now, are you going to worry about the punishment or just join in the, shall we say, crime? Your bad boy persona dictates you enjoy something like this.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t know since I still can’t believe Schwarzer made us run til we both puked.”
“I’ll agree that was troublesome and cleaning the Panzer Soldats as well as the baths seemed a bit excessive.” Musse twirled a strand of her bright green hair around her finger. “Granted, I was expecting a dressing down, but certainly not all of that. Who knew he had a sadistic side. It’s kind of sexy, actually.”
Ash made a face at her. “Yeah, no that was not sexy. That was pissed off.”
“Anyway,” she beamed. “I have an idea. A wager, if you will, and it does not involve Instructor Rean at all, so the odds of us finding our free time wasted on chores or marathon training would be close to zero.”
“As long as it doesn’t involve Orlando either.”
“Oh, and here I thought you didn’t fear any of our esteemed faculty.”
Ash finished his soda and coughed before admitting something he certainly didn’t want to. “Yeah, all of ‘em are scary as hell when you get right down to it.”
“Oh, no,” Musse grinned. “I was thinking of our always uptight and consistently boring classmate--Kurt.”
“Messing with the pretty boy,” Ash smirked. “Whatcha got in mind?”
“Well, as I said it would be a wager. Who can corrupt Kurt first.”
Ash frowned. “You’ve got the advantage. I don’t think he plays for my team, not that I go that way anyway, but–”
“You misunderstand,” Musse interrupted with a far too innocent smile. “We are not trying to get him laid, as you would say, but to find out what he prefers and what he knows about more, shall we say, adult subjects. I’d venture to guess he’s never even looked at magazines like the ones you pretend not to keep under your mattress.”
Ash shrugged at the statement. No point arguing with the truth. “So, I just need to what, get him to blush?”
“I suppose if you want to do the bare minimum, but the true victor will also learn who or what type he’s into. Bonus points will be awarded for learning if there’s any, shall we say, positions, preferences, or even kinks that he’s into.”
“I don’t really want to know if he has any kinks,” Ash said, the food on his plate looking suddenly very unappetizing. “There’s some shit you don’t need to know about people.”
Musse folded her hands ever so delicately into her lap. “Oh, but I guess you don’t want to win the prize, then.”
“And what’s that?”
“Well, if you manage to best me, I won’t tell Instructor Rean that you have some interesting ‘connections’ that are providing you with false identifications as well as alcohol.”
“That’s not a prize, that’s blackmail.” Ash frowned. “Besides I think he already knows.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Also I'm not sure of the extent of his knowledge…”
“Fine," Ash said, taking the last bite of his food. "But I also want a nice dinner at a decent restaurant in Heimdallr.”
“Very well, that’s easy.”
“Now, and I’m probably going to regret asking…if you win, what ridiculous thing will I have to do for you?
“Help me further alienate the ladies of the Old Class VII from our beloved instructor. We did such a fine job before, I think the ripples of distrust still flutter. At least with Alisa, who is apparently my biggest competition.”
Ash smirked. “Shit I’d do it just for that reason, but the wager makes everything even better. You’re on.”
Ash found Kurt in the student union building, staring at a chess board and greeted him with “Yo, Pretty Boy!”
Kurt did not even look up.
“I said, ‘Yo Pretty Boy!’”
Kurt again did not look up.
Ash took the seat across from Kurt and moved a piece.
“It’s not your turn,” Kurt said.
“Yeah, I don’t really care. Look, I got something you’d appreciate.”
“Peace and quiet? Those don’t tend to follow you.”
“You’re funny,” Ash said, rolling his eyes before throwing one of his magazines onto the table. The scantily clad woman on the cover was holding a sword and smiling seductively. “Found this. Figured you’d want it.”
“No, thank you.”
“Seriously? Hot chicks and swords? Wait, are you into dudes? I don’t have a problem with that, I’m just asking.”
“The answer to that question is none of your business.”
“Still, there’s gotta be something that gets you going. If you tell me I’ll make sure to get you the right mag next time.”
“Ash, find someone else to bother with this nonsense. We have a tournament coming up.” And with that, Kurt stood and walked away.
Ash opened the magazine and began enjoying it. By reading the articles, of course.
Musse encountered Kurt as he made his retreat from Ash’s assault. Upon seeing him approaching, she took a carefully calculated fall, her books lying beside her, and her skirt twisted just so.
Kurt trotted over and offered his hand. “Are you all right?”
“I am now, thank you,” she said, grasping onto his hand and pulling herself up. Once back on her feet, she made a generous show of bending over to collect one of her books, her backside quite close to Kurt’s face as he retrieved another wayward tome.
“Excuse me,” he said, suddenly realizing how close she was to him.
“Oh, nothing to be ashamed of, Kurt.” She said as she took the book from his grasp. “I trust you. And I thank you for your help.”
“Well, if you’re okay, I’ll see you later.”
“Oh, wait. Could I ask you a question?” Musse said, turning up the corners of her smile with as much innocence as she could muster.
“Sure.”
“Is there perhaps a young lady or gentleman you’re interested in here at Thors?”
Kurt frowned.
Musse touched his shoulder. “I don’t mean to pry. I’m just a concerned friend.”
“Right. Anyway, I see Ash hiding over there behind the building and not twenty minutes ago he was trying to elicit similar information from me. So I can only guess you two are engaging in some kind of ridiculous bet.”
Musse’s face fell for an instant as she attempted to concoct an excuse.
“He made us,” Ash said, stepping around the corner.
“You must understand it was out of a place of concern and genuine care,” Musse tried to explain.
“Of course it was,” Kurt said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Let me guess, the one to get me to tell my sexual preferences would win some idiotic prize. I’m sure there were bonus points for learning my kinks as well.
Musse raised a brow at the miraculous accuracy and Ash just scratched the back of his neck.
“Nailed it,” Ash finally admitted. “Gotta say I’m impressed.”
“You do realize I was raised around my brother--Mueller, right? The guardian of The Debaucherous Prince himself? This game you’re playing is one I’m quite familiar with–it was one of Prince Olivert’s favorites! Sometimes he’d even get Prince Cedric and Princess Alfin in on the joke. The Prince tried so hard to win, but my brother taught me there’s only one winning move.”
“What’s that?” Musse asked, genuinely humbled for the moment.
Kurt smiled. “Not to play.”