Begin as You Mean to Go On (Lay the Very Best - Chapter 441)

"We should get maid dresses."

Brandy had been dreading her parents finally having this realization.

Fenny and Scoria had fussed over Brandy and her teammates for far too long when they'd gotten into their dresses. It wasn't just compliments; they were just excited to see their daughter wear a dress after being such a dedicated pants wearer for so long. They'd gotten her to show off the skirt flick, then had Sparky, Dani, and Calcine repeat it.

Brandy was pretty sure her parents didn't do this purely to make her blush, but if that had been their plan, they'd succeeded admirably. Watching her partners throw their hips about and make their dresses fan out had been a nice treat. Calcine's fiery cloak added a lot of flair to her otherwise more functional dress, while Sparky had hips made for throwing.

Dani was still spinning; she hadn't really stopped, the bows on her dress bouncing as she twirled along the steps of the Casino. Shay and Maple had sent Dex messages saying they'd be along in a bit and to get started, which just meant they had Morgan to wait for.

"We do know a good dressmaker in the city," Calcine said, "But she's very expensive, I'm afraid."

"I'm sure Scoria could negotiate a discount," Fenny smiled. "I'm excited to find out who the rest of our team is going to be."

Knowing Morgan, Rhona was on it. She had invited basically everyone they'd met.

"You two lovely ladies would look gorgeous in anything," Hustle said, tipping up her cowgirl hat. Heatstroke was coiled around her like a living scarf, planting fiery kisses all along their neck. The two of them had barely separated all night; Calcine and Morgan had really reignited their relationship. "I'm sure dressing you up will be an honour for any seamstress."

"Oooh," Sparky gasped, "That's good. Heatstroke, do you want to flirt with Brandy's moms?"

Heatstroke looked up from Hustle's neck and then puffed out a small jet of purple flame. "Hustle, and I would be happy to make you both feel like old ladies with sore muscles and aching bones."

Scoria's smile shifted, and Brandy felt her spine straighten on instinct. That wasn't a proud mom smile. That was the smile a pretty lady got before she was melted like wax.

"Oh?" Scoria purred, striding over to Hustle and Heatstroke with the effortless confidence of a woman who'd spent decades being devastating for fun. "You'll make us feel old, will you?"

Heatstroke blinked, eyes widening just a touch. Her tail twitched, and she started to detach herself from Hustle, but she was too slow. Scoria reached out, lifting Heatstroke's chin with two fingers.

"Listen up, young one," she murmured, a whipcrack of flame in her voice, "if you think a little heat and a few kisses will put my Fenny to bed, let me tell you what happened to the last fiery upstart."

Scoria leaned closer, lips brushing Heatstroke's ear frill, and she whispered softly.

Heatstroke's flame sputtered in her throat, and like Scoria had thrown a water bucket on it, the purple glow guttered then died out entirely.

Fenny covered her mouth with both hands, eyes sparkling. "Oh no," she whispered gleefully. "Was that story with the Litten?"

Scoria's thumb stroked Heatstroke's jaw tenderly. "I do love watching a pussy get pounded."

"Scoria always exaggerates!" Fenny blushed. "She didn't choke that hard."

"Don't worry, I'm sure our horse lady here has made sure Heatstroke has plenty of practice choking," Scoria said, giving the cowgirl Musdale a wink that made Hustle's cheeks turn redder than Dani's scales. "Take care of your girlfriend for us."

Heatstroke opened her mouth. No sound came out. Her tail drooped and her crest flushed a deep, stunned violet. "We should stay in our lane", she mumbled to Hustle.

Scoria let her chin go with a pat to the cheek that was more promising than dismissive.

"Brandy, your moms are the best," Sparky grinned, "We should invite them to more things."

"Calcine," Brandy said wearily, "Hush the bug for me."

Calcine gave Sparky a slap on the ass that rang out across the entire plaza outside the Casino. Sparky yelped so loud everyone turned to see what was the matter, and while they were all watching, Calcine pulled Sparky in for a long kiss that left the bug draped all over her.

Dani was the only anchor of sense Brandy had left, and she pulled the Magikarp into her, closing her eyes so she at least didn't have to see her parents making a scene.

"Sorry about all this."

"Oh, I'm liking it!" Dani said, "Am I not meant to? Everyone at sea was really affectionate. It's nice to see more of that."

Right. As innocent as Dani looked, it was easy to forget that the Magikarp had spent most of her life happily servicing the needs of an ocean full of affection-starved Pokémon. She probably had some stories that could make even Brandy's parents blush.

Well. Maybe. It'd be close.

Brandy had just buried her face in Dani's hair, quietly contemplating how calm things had been just a day ago, when a sudden shadow passed overhead.

A big shadow.

A Morgan-shaped shadow.

Sparky, still hanging off Calcine like she wanted to be her second cloak, perked up.

"Divebomb incoming! Finally, she's here."

Calcine didn't look up. "Bet you she's going to make an entrance."

"Sexy bet?" Sparky said hopefully.

"Just a regular one."

"No deal then, it's Morgan. Of course, she'll make an entrance."

A rush of displaced air blasted over the plaza, sending skirts flying up as Morgan flitted past. Morgan streaked downward and just before she power slammed herself into the ground, she broke apart into a wave of black feathers, drifting around the group and tickling at their skin before recoalescing at the head of the group.

Several onlookers applauded, and Morgan took a bow. Brandy gently moved Dani to the side so she could maintain a clear line for the next part.

"Glad you're all here!" Morgan smirked, "Are you ready to rob a Casin-"

Before she could finish that sentence, Brandy tackled her.

They tumbled down in a tangle of feathers and maid skirts. Morgan squawked as Brandy pinned her down by the shoulders.

"You left me," Brandy hissed, "with my parents, all morning."

Morgan blinked up, dazed from the sudden ambush.

"I thought you could get some quality family time?" she said hopefully.

"You owe me." Brandy growled, "They've been terrors."

Her parents waved cheerfully at the downed pair.

"We’ve just been enjoying seeing Brandy thrive." Fenny said helpfully, "It’s so cute how she dotes on all of you, and I can see why! Your wings look lovely in that dress."

"See Brandy? Lovely wings." Morgan said, "They have good taste. You could learn a lot from them."

"You owe me."

"One badge?" Morgan said, "I could do that."

"More than that, we'll work it out."

Brandy stood, dusting off her dress and then offering Morgan a hand up.

Morgan remained on the ground for a moment, wings half-spread around her, looking up at her girlfriend with a dazed, lovestruck smile.

"… you're hot when you're furious," she murmured.

"I could step on you instead."

"Tempting." Morgan clicked her tongue, then hopped up under her own power, brushing her feathers back into shape. Morgan snapped her wings outward once they were fluffed to her satisfaction, the Casino framed behind her.

"The heist is officially on. Fenny, Scoria, it's good to meet you, but the rest of your team is waiting for you inside."

"Who are they?"

"You won't be able to miss them, they're your sort of crowd," Morgan said. "Mature ladies ready for a bit of fun."

"Ughhhhh-" Sparky groaned in Calcine's arms. "I want to see that so bad."

"No," Calcine said, "You'll distract them."

"You would!" Fenny nodded, "That yellow fur looks so soft, we'd be petting you the whole time you were squashed between us."

"Oh, please, yes."

Fenny cheerfully continued, "We'd be honoured, Sparky dear, you look so cuddly. I bet you're an excellent pillow."

Sparky preened. "I am an excellent pillow."

Calcine physically covered Sparky's mouth with her whole hand.

"No," Calcine said firmly, "Bad bug. Down, bug. Stop volunteering."

Scoria laughed, low and warm. "Oh, she wouldn't have to volunteer. We'd happily-"

"Nope!" Brandy barked, nearly jumping between the groups like she was intercepting an attack. "No finishing that sentence. No expanding on it. No mental images. Nothing."

"Just robbing a Casino then?" Morgan said, sweeping her wings forward.

If it were a choice between robbing a Casino and any more family time, Brandy was ready to do mostly legal crimes.