Did you think you were in control?

Chapter III: Vixen

The side effects of drinking include a blurred sense of reality, nausea, and impaired judgment. Adagio knows this all too well… However, there is one side effect of life that she is trying to avoid more than any other. Boredom… In Equestria, there was no shortage of interesting things to do, but here? Adagio’s magic is nerfed to all hell and everything is so… bland. Drinking helps her avoid this side effect to some extent. Recently, there have only been three things that have helped her escape boredom. Alcohol, using her magic on others, and of course… Sunset Shimmer.

For the past two weeks, Adagio hasn’t been able to get her off her mind. Sunset’s alluring personality makes Adagio want to spend more time with her… Or, more specifically, spend more time trying to dominate that seemingly indomitable spirit of hers. She tends to make everything a fight for power with Adagio. Admittedly, this is something that Adagio isn’t used to. It has been so long since someone has even tried to match wits with her and give her a power struggle. Despite the fact that it’s just one big game for her, Adagio can’t help but find it intriguing beyond measure.

Not to mention the fact that Shimmer is somehow resistant to her magic…

The sound of thunder cracks the sky outside Adagio’s apartment, breaking Adagio from her train of thought. The cup of coffee in her hands is far warmer than the weather currently going on outside. A part of her can’t help but wonder if the weather is going to cause a problem for the night’s plans. Once again, Sunset is coming over for a night of fun, but she is much more cautious than Adagio is. If the weather gets much worse, she might end up canceling their plans. To Adagio, this might as well be a damnation to boredom. Lord knows she can’t exactly get Sonata and Aria to come over this late at night.

Taking a sip of her coffee, Adagio lets out a low sigh, thinking to herself. In a way, the sound of rain is calming and inspires creative thought. Usually, Adagio would use this time to think about what she would do if her magic was back to its full potential, but tonight is slightly different. Instead of daydreaming about power, Adagio’s eyes look into the void, thinking about her life currently. Yes, there is a lot to be bitter about, but… she would be lying if she said she didn’t have some fun here. She has some hobbies and people to keep her interested. It’s not an absolute hell at least… She still wants to go back to Equestria, but this world is beginning to be… tolerable.

Adagio’s phone buzzes, making her look to her right. The screen flashes with the icon of a text message. Adagio picks it up, unlocking her phone to see this mysterious message.

“Hey, Adagio. I don’t know if I’m going to come over. It’s pretty bad weather,” Sunset’s text tells her, a nervous emoji accompanying the message. A sour expression paints Adagio’s face, clearly annoyed that her worries came true.

“Are you sure? You can stay the night, you know~” Adagio texts her back, using a winking emoji to try and flirt with Sunset. No matter how she looks at it, she finds it incredibly enjoyable to catch Sunset off guard.

“I don’t really feel like having sex tonight, Adagio,” Sunset texts plainly. These sorts of bland statements always make it sound like the sender is annoyed. While Adagio may not care who she annoys, she does care when it comes to select people. Sunset is one of them…

Taking a deep breath, Adagio can’t believe what she’s about to say. She never thought she would send something like this to someone she considers a plaything, but… Adagio genuinely wants to spend time with her tonight. Anything would be better than being left alone tonight. Even if all they do is hang out. It’s weird. She didn’t think she would ever be in this situation.

“We don’t have to fuck,” Adagio types into the text box, hitting the send button before she can rethink her words. Adagio hesitates to text anything else, not wanting to seem too desperate. She doesn’t need Sunset to come by. She doesn’t need that at all… However, the typing bubble that shows Sunset forming a response only serves to make Adagio a little more excited.

“Really?” Only one word is texted back as a response. There isn’t even an emoji to accompany it. Instead, the one word stares Adagio down. Adagio can’t help but wonder why it is hard to respond to messages like these. Perhaps it is due to how easy it is to give off the wrong impression.

“We don’t have to. We can just hang out,” Adagio hesitantly types in, finally sending it with a shake of her head. Why is she doing this? Even she doesn’t have an answer for that.

“Alright. I can come by. I won’t be able to leave until the morning when the rain slacks off.” Sunset follows up her message with a thumbs up emoji, making Adagio somewhat glad. At least she’s coming here. The only question is how long she needs to wait for her to get here.

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“I have to say. I’m surprised you weren’t more pushy about banging tonight. I thought that was the only thing that interested you about me,” Sunset states as she sits down on the couch. Adagio walks into the living room with a bottle in her hand and two glasses in the other.

“Many things about you interest me, Shimmer,” Adagio answers in a teasing tone, yet remaining serious about what she said. “Such as your personality among other things.” Sitting down next to Sunset on the couch, Adagio sets the glasses down before opening the bottle. The liquid pours into the glass, the only sound accompanying the rain. The warm light of the lamp next to the couch is just enough to make anyone forget about the storm for a while. Tonight has been a night of many firsts. It is the first time she has actually hung out with someone without the intention of scamming them out of something. It is also the first time she genuinely wants to talk with someone. Maybe it is due to her urge to learn more about Sunset’s will… Whatever it is, it makes Adagio feel a little confused.

“Thank you,” Sunset whispers after taking the glass from Adagio, taking a sip of the drink. “You never told me your story, you know. When we met, you told me you’d talk about your story if we went to your apartment. Instead, we just spent the night as if we were rabbits. Come to think of it, that describes every night we’ve spent together.” Sunset shrugs slightly, leaning back against the couch.

“Do you regret how we spent that night?” Adagio asks her with a chuckle, pouring her own drink.

“Obviously not. I just can’t help but wonder about your story. Where are you from?” Sunset’s eyes are focused on Adagio, making sure to let her know that Sunset is interested in hearing whatever she may say. Is she really willing to listen to tales of madness? That’s what they are these days… Any word Adagio mutters about her past is usually seen as virtual insanity. This woman clearly doesn’t know what she is asking. To her, Adagio is just another woman, same as her. In a way, it always amuses the siren whenever someone asks her about her past. It’s fun for her to see the reactions people give her. However, she might lose her play partner if she tells Sunset her actual story. However, she could always play it off as a joke…

It can be fun…

“Truth is… I’m a siren from a place called Equestria, a world filled with talking ponies.” Chuckling to herself, Adagio turns her gaze to Sunset, suddenly feeling surprised. Instead of a look of shock or confusion, Sunset looks at her with a mix of surprise and understanding. Her mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out for a couple of minutes.

“You’re… You’re from Equestria too…?”

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The cold dark room only adds to the mysterious atmosphere of the rain. Fortunately, Adagio has someone to keep her warm. The TV has long since been turned off, leaving only the light of the moon to illuminate Sunset’s face. Her eyes are closed and she has been asleep for a couple hours now, but Adagio can’t find the will to fall asleep. Instead, her thoughts race in her mind, thinking about what happened tonight. Sunset’s head rests on her chest without a care in the world, but Adagio can only think about what she said earlier. Something that surprising is surely to stir a reaction out of any individual. But why is it occupying her own thoughts so much? It turns out that she’s from Equestria too, making Adagio wonder exactly how she got here and how many other people in this god forsaken world could be from their home.

“Honestly, I would be lying if I said I’m not interested in returning to Equestria,” Adagio whispers to Sunset, despite knowing the latter is fast asleep. Running her fingers through Sunset’s hair, Adagio takes a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. “My power was essentially taken away from me by that wizard… I was sent here as some sort of eternal damnation. Funny. You’re apparently here because you lost faith in your princess.” Adagio briefly visualizes Equestria once more, trying to remember the appearance of the princess Sunset served. That princess was so young and inexperienced when Adagio was banished, but now she is a seasoned ruler. Who knew? “And from what you said tonight, the portal is broken. I guess it was too much to hope for a way back.”

Not a single reply escapes Sunset’s lips. Only the sound of her breathing and the feeling of her body reminds Adagio of her presence. Nights like these are usually full of interesting thoughts, but… not like this. Not thoughts that make Adagio question where she needs to go.

“You’re so… interesting. You’re just a plaything in my eyes, but… at the same time, you’re something more. Something that I can’t help but investigate,” Adagio whispers, looking back down at Sunset’s sleeping face. “You’re so interesting that I want to understand everything about you. You’re something I want to understand…” Pressing her lips against Sunset’s forehead, she can’t help but smirk, thinking of the future. “You’re something I want to own…”