Author's Warning: Prominently featuring consensual tentacle sex. And thorns.
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Bubbles had a stomach bloated full of fish when she came shuffling into Eliza's Botanica, unsteady on her feet and with a hand to her uncomfortable belly. Technically speaking, the shop was an alchemist, not a tavern.
She had a dreamy kind if expression on her face, remembering the succubus who had overfed her. Kaia had been crushed when Bubbles had insisted the woman needed to stop or she'd explode. Because it meant the end of their date.
She spotted Veron, no longer in his crossdressing outfit. Looking every part as if he was a sword for hire, sitting at the edge of the bar and sipping at a green liquid. The orange halforc was such a prick.
He'd set her up, for a surprise facial, and still expected her to give him, her first kiss?
Bubbles stalked up to him, trying to look intimidating. He grinned as he saw her, "Bubbly!"
Her hand stung and her wrist hurt right the way down to her elbow when she slapped him.
The neko hissed in pain and held her forearm, "Godsdamned bastard!"
"Ow." He muttered, rubbing at his jaw, "I don't think I really deserved that. You got your... What did you want? Right?"
"Fish." She seethed, "The Kaia also said he fucking bastard."
He smiled tiredly, "Fine. I'll accept my punishment. Just for you, Bubbly. So how is Kaia?"
"Fucked." Bubbles sneered and glared at him, "He can't have Bubbles' first kiss anymore. She gave it to someone who was nice... Nicer... To her."
"Oh, you lose your v-tile?" He asked, with the tiniest hint of disappointment.
"... No." She muttered, and then raised her voice, "But that's no business of his! She hates him and hopes he gets the plague and dick fall off!"
Bubbles turned to storm away, when she spotted something new out the back of the store. In the gardens, she could see a new shed, but this one was reinforced with an extra big lock on it.
The catgirl blinked curiously, and then finished storming out because all the eyes were on her. As soon as she was outside, however, she scampered up a wall and over where she could look at the new shed.
There was already another street cat on the roof. One with long black hair that was matted badly. They were staring at it as well, but paused to glare at Bubbles and growl at her, "Mine."
"Doesn't look like yours." Bubbles stuck her nose up, before cocking her head, "What is it? Never seen Eliza lock up like that. Even her sugarcane has smaller lock. Though, Bubbles can't get through that one, anymore."
The other neko gave a warning growl, and then muttered, "The Ninaein can. She made herself a master key. But she doesn't know if she can get by this lock. Enchanted. Bubbles has any useful magic?"
"Ninaein not street kitty." Bubbles said apprehensively, "Coiner Guild?"
The neko nodded, admitting that they were part of one of the city's larger thief outfits. Which probably meant that breaking into the shed was less of a curiosity and more a professional contract.
The blonde's tail dropped, "Oh. Uh... Bubbles will get out of her hair..."
"You're not going nowhere." Ninaein's claws came out and she idly scratched the roof, "I need someone to trigger the trap. Won't hurt... Too much."
Bubbles whined but knew she didn't stand a chance. "What's inside? That Coiner needs?"
"Ninaein is stealing special flower." The neko said slowly, "Has to be the Ninaein. Humans can't steal it. Flower only blooms for catgirl in heat. So... The Ninaein is... Testy. Don't annoy her."
"Bubbles in heat, too." She whispered, ears going flat. She took a deep breath and looked at the shed, "She doesn't have choice. Even though she's awful thief. What is she s'posed to do?"
The other catgirl glared at her, "Awful thief?"
"Bubbles is... Clumsy. She fell off roof an hour ago." She shrugged.
Ninaein grinned sadistically, "That suits her just fuckin' fine. The Bubbles is just going to walk up to the door and pull on the lock. Now."
"Now?"
A claw touched the bottom of her throat, "Now."
She whined, ears going flat, but it had no affect on the other neko. With the possibility of the Coiner Guild coming after her, or Ninaein plain attacking her, Bubbles jumped down from the roof and glumly walked over to the mysterious shed.
Her tail was between her legs as she reached out and poked the lock hesitantly.
"ENTER IF DESIRE BE YOUR HEART. FLEE IF DEATH UNPREPARED." A voice rolled into Bubbles and knocked her off her feet. She whined and rubbed at her temples, still feeling some kind of echo inside her skull. It hadn't spoken out loud, and it had almost hurt as it screamed inside her.
Not that she really had a clue what the words meant. The second phrasing was easy - she might die if she went inside the shed, and usually that would be enough for her to scarper. Unfortunately, it wasn't really an option right now.
The first phrase though... Made no sense. Not with a death threat.
She was in heat, so it was unquestionable that she had a lot of desire, right now. She'd even given her first kiss to a random stranger just because they were slightly nice to her.
Her body really wanted for her to let somebody take her v-tile. Turn this kitten into a lioness. Make the other she-cats stop sniffing in derision every time they caught her scent and realised she hadn't had a good fucking yet.
Why did all nekos have that particular hang up about virginity? Bubbles hadn't found a master, so she shouldn't have the expectation to have let someone use her like a plaything. It was stupid.
"You're a klutz." Ninaein purred, stepping by her and to the lock. The catgirl hesitated, "Huh. Touching the lock didn't break the ward. What happened when she touched it?"
"Big voice. Loud." Bubbles stood up, "Said desire inside, but might die."
"Makes sense."
She crossed her arms and stamped her foot, "Explain! If she's fucking Bubbles' life over, the least she can do is let her choose how she's going to get killed."
"Oh, nothing like that." The neko smirked, "Inside is a plant. It really likes us in heat. Blooms for us. I'm here to steal the pollen. You... You might get addicted to the thing. That's the dangerous part. You won't want to stop playing with it. Ever."
"The Ninaein is a bitch."