CotB 47: Time Off

Cult of the Bay

Chapter 47: Time Off

<<<Lamb>>>

“Okay, so… do we have everything?” Lamb asked as she shoved the last of her luggage into her crown.

“I’m good, mom had to talk dad into letting me go but yeah,” Taylor shrugged, “I get he’s overprotective but well… he knows what you can do. He worries too much…”

“That just makes him a good dad, Tay.” Tammi commented, “Honestly, I wish my folk were half as decent as yours. Growing up in the clans wasn’t pleasant…” She added with a faint scowl.

Alina pat her on the side. “You didn’t come out of it too badly?” She said, though it came out as a question. “Uh, I don’t have anything missing. That Lamb didn’t veto me bringing.”

She had wanted to bring an entire amniotic tank. Lamb didn’t ask what it was for, for her own sanity’s sake.

“Well between the whole being racist bullshit, being groomed to join the E88, and freaking out because my juvie cellmate was black to trigger?” Tammi shrugged, “Honestly I’m doing so much better now.”

Alina chuffed, “Racism, I’ve heard many idiotic beliefs but that one is just…” She shook her head, “Judging people on skin color or religious beliefs, truly humans are our own worst enemy.”

“Well, for those that wish to keep our identity secret I’ve designed swimsuits for us all!” Sabah said with a grin, “Honestly, I’m considering selling them. Only they wouldn’t be as… unique as ours, of course.”

“I can’t wait to see them, Sabah!” Lamb said happily.

“Meaning she can’t wait to take them off us,” Lisa snarked, though she did smile gratefully.

Sarah coughed, pulling at her very nice suit. Lamb thought the tinkertech pocket watch was a nice touch. “I am rather obligated to inform you that Italy does have nude beaches,” She noted, “And that I have all of our passports sorted out. If we don’t want the police to get angry, we’ll need to go through an embassy or, much easier to explain, airport security.”

“Wait, does this mean we’re having to take a plane?” Amy asked as she checked her suitcase, “I thought we were just teleporting via Lamb express?” She added.

“We are,” Coven’s de facto lawyer said, “Just into the airport’s receiving section first. We’ll blend in with all of the rest of the people there getting off the plane.”

“... So, what are the chances of Lamb getting into some sort of trouble with an Italian villain? Or maybe a hero from the Vatican?” Emma asked with an amused smile.

“... Is that a dig because I look like Baphomet?” Lamb asked, not insulted but amused because… she could honestly see something happening like that.

Sarah just pinched her nose, “I really hope not.” She said, “You pay me very well, Lamb, but I think international courts would eat me alive. So… please, stay out of trouble?” She didn’t beg… but that’s what she was really doing.

No one was going to mock her for it of course, Lamb herself could admit she attracted trouble on a semi-regular basis. It’s just that most of it didn’t really… register her anymore.

“... I’m not sure anyone could actually convict her,” Lisa noted, “She dealt with the Hero Killer and has her on a leash, literally. They can’t hold her even if they did. What would they do, take away her ice cream?”

“I’m more concerned about the… religious upheaval her recent actions have caused.” Sarah said, dryly, “After all, Hero’s resurrection wasn’t by any means subtle. I’ve been on PHO and there have been dozens of threads debating it.” She paused for a second, her devotion and faith as strong as many of her church members. “I fully believe Selene is a goddess, but most people don’t have my experience with her.”

“Oh, they will,” Selene said, “Soon my Lamb will give the irrefutable proof. And the world will be better for it.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” She said with a nod, “But that’s later. For now, let’s not cause too many crises of faith? Italian riots get… spicy.”

Alena nodded, “Oh! And don’t talk about soccer. They get angry about that.” It sounded like she had personal experience on that.

“And pizza, they’re very serious about their food,” Sarah added, “But, uh, be prepared to see some weird ingredients on them. Like beans. And french fries.”

Lamb’s nose scrunched up at that, “... Okay, not questioning that,” She decided, though honestly she thought Americans had the market on ‘weird food’ cornered? Then she shrugged and, seeing as how everyone had their things, dropped everyone through a portal to Italy.

[hr][/hr]

“Okay, so let’s get this show on the road!” Lamb said with a grin, her empathic senses already stretching out and ‘tasting’ the ambient emotions around her.

Now that they were out of the airport, and wow did that cause a commotion and a half (mostly because of her fluffy ass), the emotions were… about as calm and orderly as they were in Brockton Bay. That being, not very.

Thankfully without the undercurrent of despair and hopelessness, with a dash of nihilism to spice things up. Which had been changing slowly, but it was still very present in the city.

“Where to first?” Taylor asked, “The Parthenon? A beach? A restaurant?” They’d left early enough in the morning that it was still daytime in their vacation location.

“A restaurant sounds good, actually,” Lamb said, “Then we can get a room and get settled.” She added with a nod, “And after that… Well, we’ll figure it out when we get there.”

“... You know,” Lisa started, “While most people wouldn’t view it as a vacation, we, you, could probably deal with the Three Blasphemies while we’re over here. And maybe the Sleeper.”

“... Let’s put that on the maybe list,” Lamb said, “After all, this is supposed to be about relaxing with all my lovelies, innit?” 

“Yes, but it would get you enough bounty money to pay for the entire vacation by itself…” Sarah started, “And a few thousand on top. Euro, so we’d have to convert it at a bank, but…”

“... Fair enough…” Lamb said, “I’ll get to them eventually.”

“I’m thinking pizza,” Amy said, not looking up from a map she’d grabbed, “There’s a pizzeria that has a lot of good reviews in Rome.”

Lamb just nodded, “Anyone have any other suggestions?” She asked.

“... We could pop over to a real Irish pub to get some breakfast,” Alena suggested, “Then back to Italy for some exploration, then pizza for dinner, and finally turn in for the night?”

“Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to an Irish pub,” Lisa said.

“Really?” Tammi asked.

“Yes, just because I’m the definition of a city girl doesn’t mean I don’t have dreams,” Lisa retorted, “Besides I’ve always wanted to taste an authentic Shepherd's pie.”

“What about you Sarah?” Lamb asked, “You want anything specific? Or are you looking forward to the beaches most of all?”

“I,” She started, “Am looking forward to seeing the architecture.” She coughed a bit as a blush expanded on her face. “I was an art student before I was a law student. Dad, uh, thought it was probably for the best that I changed my major.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Lamb said before she reached into her crown and pulled out a camera, “We should probably take some photos for everyone, Emma? Wanna be our designated photographer?” She asked with a smile.

The redhead nodded jerkily, still clearly somewhat overwhelmed and… slightly hiding behind Taylor. Which was fair, if Lamb was honest she’d probably have done the same in her shoes.

“Alright, Navigator Amy, where is the pizza?” Lamb asked in an official voice, her lips only giving away her amusement.

“Eh?” She asked, “I thought we were doing breakfast first?”

“Er, I mean, Irish pub…” Lamb said, “You heard nothing, I didn’t mess up.~”

That earned giggles as Sabah pulled up a pub on her phone. One in Ireland at that (though the search terms she had to use…).

“Huh, I had no idea why I was expecting it to be in Italy…” Lamb mumbled as she scratched the base of her horns, “Well, they’ll still accept euros right?”

“Yes,” Lisa and Saddle said at the same time.

Lamb just did the mature thing- and blew them a raspberry. Something Lisa took full advantage of with a kiss. “Don’t offer if you don’t want it,~” She teased.

[hr][/hr]

The girls were, as a whole, luxuriating on the nude beach they’d chosen. Not that they could do much swimming. The water was fine, perfect even, but with how much they’d just eaten…

“I don’t think I should have eaten that entire burger…” Taylor complained, “But the egg on it was so good…”

Cramps would not be far behind.

Lamb just nodded in agreement as she laid on a beach towel, her fluff nowhere in sight leaving herself completely exposed. And, honestly, if it wasn’t for her own brand of bullshit she’d probably be cooking given that she was solid black without the fluff. She could only imagine how PHO would react if they got some photos of her there.

“I never liked sand much,” Sarah started, “but whatever Selene did to me,” and she’d done a lot, “it doesn’t feel anywhere near as bad now.”

“Agreed,” Sabah said from her position under a beach umbrella, wearing a customized version of her mask, her own skin laid bare for everyone to see, “She does that quite a bit.”

“It wasn’t all me, this time,~” Selene purred as she partially manifested into the world. “It’s mostly from my dear Lamb.~ She’s so protective of all of you, it’s sweet. She’s so much like me.~”

Lamb didn’t comment as she watched Taylor, Emma, and Tammi have a splash fight. Lisa was doing… Lisa things, nothing sexual she knew that much. Probably scamming other turiousts for all she knew. While Alina was alternating between digging a hole and making a sand castle.

Or a sand fortress, it was getting rather large now that she looked at it.

“... Maybe Alena triggered a Tinker power after all?” Lamb commented with an amused smile.

“Nope!” She called over, “I’ve just always wanted to try to build a sand castle that stands up to a tide change!”

“Fair enough,” Lamb said, though she considered but decided against offering any help, she felt Alena would take offense if she just made her creation resist waves.

Emma, in a display of the most bullshit genetic lottery win Lamb had ever heard of, was already getting more tan. A redhead that could tan, it was unfair. Lamb could never tan as a human and she wasn’t even a redhead!

“But, then again, I am going to become an Eldritch goddess, so I guess it evens out,” Lamb thought with a giggle.

Then Beatrice popped up in the middle of Alina’s fortress, surprising her otter (if the yelp was any indication) and offering to help by… turning the sand to glass.

Alina politely declined.

“Beatrice! Glad you could join us.” Lamb called, “Come and get comfortable, you’ve been working hard after all.”

“I have finished cleaning up Three Mile Island,” She stated, “And have been given permission to take a break from my supervisor.”

“Good, now get your cute butt over here and relax,” Lamb said once more.

Beatrice just blushed faintly before carefully exiting the sand castle, and walking over while her clothes disappeared (though her extra appendage wasn’t in sight). And, after a few seconds, she joined and laid beside Lamb.

Her face in Lamb’s neck, the former endbringer felt… contentment. She Loved Lamb, more than anything. And that felt good by itself.

[hr][/hr]

Italian pizzas were a lot different than American pizza, not only in the ingredients but the cheese as well. Though that didn’t mean they weren’t good, admittedly she opted to not… try the more ‘eccentric’ toppings.

Something… most of the group followed, even if Emma and Alena had gotten calzones instead, but Taylor… She’d at least stuck to just french fries on top. And ranch dressing. If her face and emotions were any indication it was very good, but Lamb didn’t want to try it.

She could live with her girlfriend’s eccentric eating habits, as long as she didn’t try to force her to try. She’d try at her own pace, thank you very much. Though seeing how much she enjoyed it, she did consider getting a slice herself. 

Lisa was enjoying a margarita pizza… and a blasphemous coffee that, if the server’s emotions were anything to go by, almost earned her a stabbing (Lamb wouldn’t have intervened… probably), while Sabah and Tammi had rather standard pepperoni pizzas. Sarah had… what Lamb could only figure was an Italian meat lover.

Amy had a vegetarian pizza, much to her surprise, but she wasn’t going to question it. Everyone had their own tastes after all.

“My normal go-to is Hawaiian,” Amy said, “They don’t serve it here, so… I went with this. Not sure I like it too much. Not enough peppers, too much tofu.”

Sabah nodded slowly. “I see we have another blasphemer in our midst. I shall deal with it in the only way appropriate, Mistress Lamb of the Hell’s Gate,” Her voice was as flat as possible, but the undercurrent of amusement, mixed with Amy’s confusion, made Lamb giggle. 

Followed shortly by Amy giggling and laughing as her own clothes attacked her, pinching and tickling her as ‘punishment’ for her culinary crimes.

Then dessert arrived and the hilarity stopped. Not because of anything bad of course, they were all just too busy devouring the mouth watering sweets to do anything else!

[hr][/hr]

“So, like I know I’d said I would do it… but I didn’t expect them to show so soon…” Maybe she was fucked in the head, but seeing them she… honestly didn’t understand why everyone was panicking so much.

Contessa sent a mental apology to Lamb, “I tried to arrange it for a good time. You, being you, triggered it early. I should have anticipated that.”

“It’s no problem.” She thought as she just tilted her head, they’re… robots? At least she thought so… either that or a more extreme version of a Case 53.

“They’re three people that triggered together,” Lisa said, “One of them has a tinker power, I think. It’s hard to say, they’re all mentally linked.”

“Huh,” Lamb just tapped her chin as she… ignored their attempts to harm her, and instead looked in the direction some Italian heroes were coming from, “Well, I suppose I should deal with this…”

Her girls had worked to corral them into the same area and, though the three’s power rose as they came closer… that didn’t mean much when she could deal with Behemoth’s flames with ease (and yes, she’d checked).

Normally she’d want to show off a little, but she simply could feel bothered.

“Sacrifice their souls to yourself, my Lamb. A little snack to do what you wish with,~” Selene purred.

“Die.” She said as she looked at the three.

As the three S-class threats collapsed, she wordlessly yanked their souls before they could go to whatever Hell was awaiting them and sacrificed them to herself. It was rather ironic that, despite being S-classes, they barely reached the same energy level that Time guy with the Teeth gave.

Still as one Italian hero finally appeared on the scene Lamb just waved, “Oh hi!” 

“You just…” He mumbled, “Oh… you’re Lamb, that explains things.” Knowing that she’d been the one to deal with Behemoth had certainly recontextualized things for him, and he calmed down soon after. “Thank you for… dealing with that.”

Lamb just blinked at the response before shrugging, “Do I need to do anything? Give a statement or something?” She asked.

“Uhh…” He trailed off as he looked at the crowd, “I think people want your autograph more than anything.”

“... You know, I think this is the first time I’ve given my autograph…” Lamb commented with some amusement before shrugging, “Might as well.”

[hr][/hr]

There had been so, so many people. If she wasn’t an immortal Lamb goddess in training her hand would have surely fallen off!

“Though now I think I know why doctors' handwriting is so atrocious.” Which earned a snort from Amy, who spent a lot of time around doctors and the like.

Still she massaged her wrist even if there was no pain, it just seemed like a thing to do.

“So, am I the only one that got shivers run down their spine when Lambchop just looked at three S-class threats and told them to ‘Die’ and they collapsed like puppets that got their strings cut?” Tammi asked curiously.

“Oh thank Selene, I thought I was the only one,” Lisa said, jumping into Lamb’s oversized bed. Naked. “I was getting worried there for a second.”

“I’m particularly curious as to the mechanics of the ability,” Alena asked, “I checked their bodies, and there were no exotic effects visible. It’s like their bodies just… stopped. Tell me your secrets Lamb, lest I pry them from you!”

Lamb’s hands raised. “So, I admit I cheated a little bit,” She said, “They weren’t supposed to be alive anyway. Their souls were only barely tethered to their bodies from how many times their bodies died and I just… finished the job.”

“Ah, so some form of metaphysical tomfoolery then,” Alena said scratching her cheek, “Nothing to really study…” Lamb nearly cooed at the pout her otter had on her face.

Taylor’s eyes took a sheen to them that promised… interesting things. “I can think of a few things you can study, Alena,~” She purred.

“Really? What?” Alena asked, and Lamb couldn’t help but bless her science-obsessed heart for missing the very obvious innuendo.

“How much pleasure Lamb can feel before she begs for it to stop,~” Taylor continued, tentacles reaching out and wrapping around Lamb’s limbs.”

“The experiment isn’t feasible. Lamb has more stamina to outlast everyone in the building if not the city!” Alena chattered.

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean her pleasure tolerance is that high too…” Sarah noted, squinting in interest, her arousal spiking to boiling heights.

“Hmm, we will need to test this…” Lamb just wondered how Alena could sound so scientific when talking about sex?

“I’ll set up a rig to time it,” Sarah commented, “Sabah, could you help me get something ready?”

As her lovers got to work, Lamb only felt… mild worry about the look in Taylor’s eyes. “Come to think of it, the last time she ate this way was…” Lamb whimpered lustfully.

“Oh boy…” Lamb mumbled.

“We have all night together,~” Taylor purred into her ear, “And we’re all going to focus on you.”

Honestly, the thought of using her clones didn’t even occur to her. Not that they’d really help.

Which was why Selene ‘helped’ her and created a few… tied up and pre-equipped with toys on them.

It was going to be a very good night!~

[hr][/hr][hr][/hr]