Crushing On Crackle Cosette

"...Anon, what are you reading?" A hoighty-toighty voice scoffs behind a hoof.

Anon has gotten used to having the curtains pulled tight, with little to no natural light outside of sunbathing on his patio or walking to work. Numerous lamps around the house helped counteract this -- the big, green bug he shared his house with didn't mind any lighting condition, but it was a comfort to not need to worry about snoopy, peeping ponies.

It was a small town. They were all pretty nosy.

"Oh, is it that disgusting barely-disguised smut you've taken to? I don't understand how you can stomach that stuff." The voice continues, chuckling to herself.

Currently, he's trying to enjoy one of the numerous ripoff books he's found, borrowed from Twilight. Like their culture and technology, most of it seems to be an adjacent copy or mimicry of things from earth.

Not that he was complaining. They had a good selection of alcohol thanks to that. Of which, he was currently enjoying at a slow pace, trying to relax during his evening before he had work tomorrow.

"Wait, you're how far into this? Are you trying to tell me something, Anon?" More mocking laughter.

Small problem. Or, big problem with a judgemental pair of big, slitted green eyes. Queen of No-Bugs was curled up on the couch beside him, snooping his pages over his shoulder.

A book he'd grabbed because the cover looked interesting. Which, turns out, was a mare-focused smut book about being swept off ones hooves by a big, muscle-bound alicorn, ruling an Equestria-Adjacent kingdom. Basically a gender bent Celestia with every third sentence mentioning his sheath.

"Would you prefer Big Mac over Maroon? Or are you going to try and ask for Rainbow Dash again? I could give her the... equipment you seem to be searching for." She barely manages to utter, before snorting into teasing laughter.

Yes, he was halfway through the book despite not being it's target audience. Yes, the bug wasn't letting him live it down.

"I can't believe you're still reading that drivel!" She just won't let up, holding her face close, giving him a coy look. She wipes a tear away, clearly enjoying this a little too much.

"Sure am." Anon sighs, trying to flip to the next page. Chrysalis stops him with a hoof, tut-tutting.

"Stem your eagerness, Anon, I wasn't done reading this part yet." She says, barely stifling a chortle.

Anon groans, his head rolling back against the couch, shooing her hoof away with a hand.
"You're free to get your own reading material, you know. There's a whole library of the things, if you cared to get out of the house once in a while."

"Puh-leaz. Like I'd want to go near that annoying Element of Ass-Kissing, even in disguise. I'll settle for what... choice fiction you've chosen to grace our household with. Seriously, though. Trying to tell me something?" She leers, grinning, sharp fangs proudly on display as she enjoys the moment.

"...The Rainbow Dash thing was just out of curiosity. I mean, you offered, and I was asking for clarification --" Anon protests, the bugs face inching closer to an outburst before electing another laugh from the oversized bug-pony.

"Delightful excuse." Chrysalis shakes her head, grinning with those wide fangs.
"I'm sure she'll believe it."

Ignoring her jests, Anon tsks.
"You could also... buy books. From the book store. If you got a job." Anon laments, with a particularly pungent side-eye. It's unfortunately easily deflected by the Queen of Sarcasm, who scoffs at the very notion.

"I've spent the last several centuries caring for my hive, ensuring its success through stout and firm leadership. That they were fed, cared for, safe... strong. Now? Oh, no. I'm enjoying this... recuperation, this... vacation before I commence my ambitious plans again, and start a new hive. In the meantime, I shall drain you dry of your funds, and your love, until I am appeased and ready to resume my machinations." Chrysalis expounds, waving a hoof around as she speaks coldly, and firmly. Yet, the entire time, there's a smile plastered on her face no matter how cruelly it twists into a furrowed grin.

"Not the only thing you drain dry..." Anon snorts, just barely above a whisper.

Loud enough to be heard, apparently, as Chrysalis pauses amidst her devious ramble. She coughs, glancing away.
"...I suppose. It's an unfortunate necessity, as it tends to... increase your output."

"Ah, I'm sure that's the only reason." Anon agrees mockingly, to Chrysalis' distaste.

"W-What are you implying? You're a food source and part of my cover here, Anon, nothing more. Try not to forget that." She retorts, snout tilted up.

"Riiiiight, that's all this is. A meal and a place to stay." Anon rolls his eyes, flipping to a new page of his book, feigning interest in it's words.

"Obviously." She agrees, a small silence falling between the two.

Chrysalis fidgety slightly, glancing at him as he reads.

"...Definitely unrelated to how your mind-control magic doesn't work on me." Anon adds suddenly, forcing a frown from the once-queen bug.

"W-well, that is completely unrelated --" She stammers, but Anon doesn't let up.

"Remember when I found you pulling the curtains in the living room, peeking out of them?" Anon snorts, only further fluttering Chrysalis as she roughly shifts around to face him; it's not a particularly large couch, so she practically ends up half-laid on his lap, knocking his book aside. Not his drink though, thankfully.

"I told you to stop bringing that up!" She growls, fangs barred and jabbing at him with a hoof.
"While I might not be able to drill into that overtly dense dome that you intend to call a skull, you're quick to forget how I could smear the walls with you."

"Mm -- sounds tempting. Does smearing me come before or after you bother me to scratch the spot under your wings?" Anon teases, leaning on the back of the couch.

"It's the least you can do, after forcing me to put up with you all day." She retorts quickly. Ah, her hearts not in it. She's faltering, Anon figures.

"You know what I think, Bug-Butt?" Anon asks aloud, leaning closer.

"I don--" Chrysalis goes to retort, before a finger and a thumb press her snout closed, blinking as she's caught off guard.

"I think... some-bug had to resort to more traditional means of wooing, since your brain-magics didn't quite pan out..." Anon slowly explains, leaning directly beside her. His mouth is inches from hers, speaking softly.

Chrysalis glares, brow furrowed as he continues.

"...And that certain some-bug ended up a little deeper in than they expected to be." Anon continues, slowly letting go of her snout.

Chyrsalis stares at him for a long moment, the glare sat firmly on her face, as Anon's dumb smile stares right back.

"...I've told you I can't feel love, Anon." She says bluntly. Dryly. There's almost a somber acceptance to the words, why she's the only one of her hive still left.

She's the Prime Changeling. She can't accept love like the others could.

"Mmhm... you keep telling yourself that, Sweetheart." Anon whispers, planting a soft kiss against the spongey chitin of her neck.

"Sweetheart?" Chrysalis scoffs, head tilted back to stare down her nose at him.

Anon continues to tenderly press his lips against her ichor-black chitin, moving down to her chest. His hand, once holding her mouth, now traces along her cheek with a thumb.

She's always been strange to touch; her mane has a rougher, denser texture. Her chitin is hard but spongey, giving it an oddly contrasting softness and letting his fingers sink in a little. The squishiest parts of her have this almost gel-like consistency.

Her look of muted annoyance is slowly ramping up to proper, visible irritation as Anon sighs, pressing against her.

Chrysalis quickly covers her mouth with a hoof as she tries to turn away, stifling an unwanted 'urp'.
"Dont you -- heugh -- dare force-feed me! I've warned you of my distaste for this!"

"Oh don't worry, I'm quite fond of dis-taste." Anon jokes, muffled against her.

"...You didn't just actually say that, did you?" She mutters, but no proper response is given. He's too busy tracing a hand against her barrel, now kissing just below her ear. It flickers in displeasure, but the Bug-Queen is having difficulty pulling away.

Ear flicking, she tries to scowl and snarl at him -- but the moment she faces him, his lips graduate from her neck, to hers. Much like her chitin, there's a squishy hardness to them; normally meant to guard wicked fangs, not to be tenderly and gently met with another curious, brash pair of lips. Said fangs gatekeep an almost snake-like tongue that's rather hesitant to show itself at this moment.

Hooves grab Anon's shoulders, as they push him back, separating the two. A panting, wild-eyed Chrysalis is looking him over. Not her usual look.

"Everything alright?" Anon asks, a touch startled.

"Why?" Chrysalis asks simply. It's strained. She's avoiding meeting his eyes.

"You... haven't asked to feed in a while, and I thought I was being playful. Too far?" Anon asks, a touch concerned.

Another small silence hangs over the quiet room, as Chrysalis sighs.

"...Are you stupid?" She finally asks. It doesn't have her usual, playful sting to it.

"With the amount of percentage-based liquids I choose to put in my body over water? Probably. Why?" Anon asks.

"I'm not joking, Anon. I can't feel love. All my body does is process it, and the emotions are exuded as my body handles it. You aren't slowly winning me over, or making me fall for you." She states bluntly, her slit-eyed gaze finally meeting his.

Anon is silent, listening.

"I'm using you. I'm not a cute little stray you rescued. Your foolish desire to continually ignore my warnings, trying to foster... something that isn't there that can never be there. You're a fool, a useful cover, and an abundant food source." She continues, leaning closer.

"Nothing. More. Do you understand? When I'm done with you, you'll be dead. Emptied of your emotions. A withered husk." She states again.

"...Mhm." Anon's lips purse, nodding.

"...Fucking 'Mhm'?" She parrots, scoffing.
"I tell you I'm trying to kill you and that's your response? Are you trying to die? I'm not even in your head, you idiot. This is just..." Chrysalis trails off.

"You think I drink like this to live longer?" Anon laughs, catching Chrysalis off guard.

Suddenly, Anon's hands slowly sliding along the extended hooves of the Bug-Queen, wrapping around her as he falls backwards across the couch, pulling her with him. She can hardly utter a noise before she's already pulled in close against his chest, Anon's hand tracing her back. For the moment, she's still, caught off guard.

"I'm well aware, Chrysalis." He says simply, his words partially muffled as he speaks into her mane.
"I'll not deny you your nature. If you choose to, wring me dry like a wet towel and toss me aside for a fresh one." He continues, surprisingly flatly for the statement. Before Chrysalis can cut in, however, he continues.
"Yet, I can't help but doubt what you say. After all... no mind control, no advantage in doing so... yet here you are, trying to warn me. Asking me why I'd choose to get close to such a dangerous, lonely little bug."

"Little?" She huffs.

A small kiss on her forehead, just below her twisted horn. His hand gently takes her chin, nudging her to look at him.
"You might not believe yourself of anything different. You're quite the unique case, after all... but I'll believe in you, even if you don't. Even if it's the foolish choice that leads me to my grisly, naive end, I'll still believe in you, Chrysi." He says softly, smiling.

She only stares, exhaling quietly.
"...You're a fool."

"Your fool, until you choose to toss me aside." Anon responds simply. The smile never drops.

Her head rests against his chest, listening to the quiet thumping of his heart. She's the Prime Changeling, the Queen. She cannot feel love in ways other creatures so easily can. There's a motherly instinct to protect her hive, a self-interested desire to safeguard her own protection, and the desire to ensure a stable food source.

...Why didn't she protest being Lonely?

Chrysalis feels Anon's hand gently trawl through her mane, fingers idly scratching at her scalp, just the way she likes it.

Why did she explain that? Why did she try to warn him?

Chrysalis felt... unsure. Too many things changed when her hive converted. Nothing made sense anymore.

...But she was fond of the warmth this body tended to put off, and the attention never hurt. Perhaps she should... delay creating a new hive, for the short-term, until things are clearer.

Yes. That was the strategically sound choice for now. She shouldn't make any moves with the Elements still looking for her. That's all.

For now, she'd focus on something else short-term. Like the hand that had been tracing her side, and how it was now trying to grab a handful of her flank.

"You're ridiculous." She states bluntly, leveling her gaze at him.

"Bad time?" Anon grins.

"...No." She rolls her eyes, climbing atop of him, pressing her nose to his. Her mouth slowly widens into a fanged smile, as it presses against his neck, tongue tracing his skin.

"I'm still hungry."