Two Nights in Paradise

Rarity’s morning was normal, to her surprise.

Their reservation came with free breakfast, which sounded quite convenient. She freshened up, got dressed, and found a spot that wasn’t too crowded. Surprising, considering the commotion from last night. Her food was quick, hot, and looked quite good. That, plus a bit of help from a fresh cup of coffee, made for the perfect start to her day.

“Rarity, come on! It’s no fun if you ignore me.” She looked up at the one calling her name, finding an annoyance trying to get her attention. “Oh? Are you ready to talk?”

“Almost perfect.” Sweetie Belle didn’t seem to hear her murmur, which was fine by her. She put her fork down, wiped her mouth with the cloth near her plate, and then placed it back neatly. “What are you doing here?”

“Wha… my prank,” she explained. “Y’know, the room, the swimsuit… did you not find—”

“No, no, you misunderstand.” Rarity locked her fingers together, then rested her chin against them. “You must know that I’m going to retaliate. Most likely with violence.” She hummed behind her smile. “A smart trickster would be halfway across the world by now.”

“O-Oh, that! Well, you didn’t do anything when I sat down, so…” Sweetie chuckled. Rarity could hear her nervousness. It put a smile on her face. “So… how did that work? Did one of you sleep on the floor or something?”

“Hmm…” Rarity grabbed her cup and took a long sip. Her mind wandered to the moments when the sun first beamed through the windows. The warmth of the coffee reminded her of the tangled embrace. The deep brown color was reminiscent of his wide, unclouded eyes staring down at her. The lipstick stains on the cup like the ones she left on his lips. She closed her eyes and sighed. “How I wonder…”

“Oh, you’re here too, Sweetie.” Rarity put her cup down and looked toward Hondo. Comparing him now to himself just yesterday was night and day. Purpose had returned to his steps. The droopy appearance he lugged around was more defined, and confident. He smirked once he got close enough to touch the table. “Good morning.”

“Hey, Dad…” Sweetie Belle recognized it too, and Rarity noticed. As he took the seat beside Rarity in the booth, she kept a careful eye on him. “You look better.”

“Ah, yes,” he answered. “The beds here are great for your back.” His attention shifted to Rarity’s plate. “Do you have a menu, Rarity?”

“They use QR codes here. Let me see if I can get the website back.” She could feel Sweetie’s gaze on her next. She didn’t even back down when Rarity decided to stare back. “Oh? Does the soon-to-be deceased have something to say?”

“Did you two… fuck?” All smugness dropped from her expression immediately. Her phone slipped from her grasp and crashed into the table.

“Why would you—”

“How did you…” They spoke over each other, but Hondo was just a bit louder. Rarity pursed her lips, feeling the embarrassment creep along her cheeks.

“Oh my god, you super did!” Her jaw hit the floor as she turned back to Rarity. “Is that why you didn’t yell at me before? ‘Cause you let Dad clean your pipes out and it actually worked?”

“S-Sweetie!” said Hondo in a hushed tone. There weren’t many populated tables around them, but he still checked to make sure they weren’t overheard. Once he was sure, he continued, even quieter than before. “Listen… I-I can explain myself.”

“No need!” she said, waving him away. “This whole thing was my idea, remember? I didn’t expect it to actually work, but still... wow.”

“May I suggest that you tone down any future ideas if they must include me, please?” Rarity leaned back in her seat and took a deep breath. “I have enough trouble keeping up with your normal antics.”

“You were definitely the wildcard here. I mean, I thought there was no way you’d fuck Dad…” She looked over at him again. “Not that I’m judging you. Dad’s a real stud once he cleans up right. But he already gives me everything I want, so I don’t need to put on any of the charm.”

“I, uh—”

“Is everything good over here?” In a zip, a fourth member came to the table. A waitress. Hondo’s look of relief was enviable.

“Yes! Well, actually, a paper menu, if you could. Please.”

“Right away!” And like that, she was gone. Hondo took a deep breath as Rarity did. It felt a bit comforting to not be the only one lost when it came to Sweetie Belle.

“Thank you,” he huffed. “So… what exactly have you been up to, Sweetie? We didn't see you at all yesterday.” She smirked, then leaned forward with that same goofy grin.

“You really want to know?”

From then on, the conversation went off in a different direction. Yet, Rarity’s mind was still right where it started. Her father sat next to her, reinvigorated. At least, for the time being. That thought led to another.

How would she keep him this way? Would it have to be through their… nightly activities?

There was a single day left on their reservation. That meant one more night. Her fingers rubbed against the leatherback of her planner as she picked at her food.

Whatever happened today, she knew it’d be a long one.

Reclining under the shade, drink in hand, while the sea breeze brushed across her skin. The crashing waves and chatter from the other beachgoers weren’t bad for the ambiance, either. For Rarity, this was the definition of vacation.

“Pina colada, eh? A Classic.” Rarity looked up from her drink. She spotted Hondo as he stepped into the shade from the top of her sunglasses. “Um… can I take a seat next to you?”

“Of course,” she answered. A few seconds later, the empty chair next to her creaked under Hondo’s weight. “How was the water?”

“Hm? Oh, it was normal, I guess,” he prattled. “Think you’ll hit it? Would be a waste of a good swimsuit not to.”

“Hmm…” She agreed, somewhat. It was a one-piece, dotted yellow and black with a frilly waist. Stylish, but anything would be on her. Worthy of showing off. More importantly, it was on Sweetie Belle’s dollar. The thought put a smile on her face. “Maybe later. It’s a little crowded now.”

“Yeah…” Rarity looked over and met Hondo’s complex expression. She watched him until he looked up from his clasped hands. “I’m awful at beating around the bush, so I’ll just come out and apologize.” Rarity rolled the straw around on her tongue.

“For what?” she asked, even though she had an idea what it might be. Hondo took a deep breath, then began tapping his knuckles with his fingers.

“Last night. All of yesterday, really.” He rubbed the palm of his hand with his other thumb, then continued. “That… we shouldn’t have done what we did. A-And it's my fault! Completely.”

“Not completely.” She lowered her drink into her lap, watching the ice swim around. “You're right. We shouldn’t have. But... we did. I accepted your advances. For that, at least, you bear no fault.”

“I’m your father, Rarity. I shouldn’t have even been making those advances in the first place!” he huffed. “I-I mean, what kind of man am I, to push my daughter to do all that… I wasn’t in my right mind.” Rarity took another deep breath, then looked back to Hondo.

“I am your daughter,” she answered. “But I’m also a grown woman. A grown woman who can make her own decisions. Who can be… attracted to anyone she wishes.” Then, she glanced up at the waves in front of her. “It was a one-time fling. A mistake... but not one I disliked.”

“R-Right… yes,” stammered Hondo. “A one time thing. Nobody’s fault.”

“Yes.” Rarity looked at her drink again. She should have felt relieved. The question of what to do next had an answer: nothing. They’d go about their vacation, return home, and lock this away as a distant memory.

But that all sounded… wrong. She didn’t lie to him. She did like it. Being held by her father filled her heart. She guessed it did the same for him. They were safe, or as safe as they could be. Sweetie didn’t mind. Neither of them had anyone else to worry about. Right then, Rarity realized her situation. The only thing between herself and another experience like last night was her word.

So… what did she want?

“I’ll take you up on that offer.” Rarity got to her feet and placed her cup where she sat. She wrapped her hair up using a band around her wrist, putting it in a high ponytail. “I’ll go take a dip.”

“Oh… alright.” Hondo finally smiled again. A lonely one, though. “Enjoy yourself.”

“Mhm.” Then, without another word, she spun on her heel and headed for the water. When she realized it was cold, she was glad. She definitely needed something to cool herself off.

If she didn’t, she was bound to make a rash decision.

“Wow… they were not subtle at all with this place.”

L03. Thanks to the keycard she managed to slip from her father’s wallet, Sweetie Belle had free access to the room. And with those two enjoying the beach down below, she doubted she’d have much company. Closing and locking the door behind herself made sure of that.

“Hmm…” She took stock of her surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place. Even the bed was well-made with fresh sheets. Room service must have come by before she arrived. Running her fingers along the silky smooth linens, she smiled. “You can’t even tell they were getting it on in here.”

She hopped onto the bed and took another look around. She could barely turn her head without spotting a condom. She plucked one from the nightstand, rubbing it in her thumb. She could only imagine how red Rarity must have turned walking in here. The thought of missing it weighed heavy on her mind.

“Alright then. Time to get some ‘insurance’.” She tossed the condom to the side and slid off the bed. Fishing in the bag she brought along, she pulled out her insurance. A small, almost unnoticeable camera small enough to fit in her palm. Expensive, but If she pulled this off, it’d be worth every penny.

Sweetie Belle had a plan. Rarity had gotten a little too big for her britches recently. Ordering her this way and that for a few harmless jokes. It wasn’t her fault she got dicked down by their dad. But Rarity didn’t see it that way and that’s all it took to get the beatdown of her life.

But that would all change if she could find a good spot for this camera. A simple plan, but an effective one. A couple minutes of Rarity bumping nasties with their dad, and Sweetie got an infinite get-out-of-jail-free card. The only bad news is that she would have to retrieve it. She needed to plug it into a computer to get all the juicy goods.

“Here seems good.” She took a few steps back, making sure that it was well hidden. She doubted that either of them would check the small space above the curtain rod. The corner angle was good to capture the entire room, too. She whipped out her phone and pulled up the app she set up beforehand. Once she confirmed herself coming through, she jumped back onto the bed with a wide grin. “Now I’ll just turn up the charm and get those two hot and bothered.”

She fell back onto the sheets, stretching herself out. The condom she discarded before landed on her side. Again, she picked it up, feeling it over in her fingers.

Then another thought popped into her head. A devious one, perfect for her devious nature. She sat up, smiling wide at the lone condom.

“Nothing wrong with causing a little more mischief, right?” she asked. She hummed in delight as she jumped off the bed. “Not like she’ll be able to do anything about it!” With her mind set, she started on her new goal, ready to stir up some trouble.

The bottom of the glass never gave Hondo much comfort. A good thing, he thought, considering the mess his relationships had become. Taking the edge off with a bit of liquor did occur to him, but he never fell to that temptation. But now, his mind was twice as hectic as ever. Given the opportunity to have a bit of fun, he agreed, wondering if it could do something for him.

“You’re not as clever as you would like to think. I know this was all part of your plan.”

“Oh, shove it. You’ve been going off about day drinking, but you tried out the most. 16! I’ve been counting.”

Hondo swished the small clear liquid at the bottom of his tall glass. Wine was never his drink of choice, but it would get him buzzed all the same. He took a swig, savoring the sharp lime aftertaste sliding down his throat. Quite nice.

“Dunno why you’re getting so prissy. I suggest the exact kind of bougie thing you’d like and I still get snapped at.”

“Boug… Wine tasting is not bougie, darling. It's refined. An experience for the tongue seeking enlightenment. Not for boorish drunks like yourself.”

“Whatever, moooom. Wait, I guess I can call you that now, right Dad? Dad?”

“Hm…?” Hondo looked up from his glass at the two bickering in front of him. Judging by the redness of their cheeks, both were as tipsy as he was. He smiled, which soon turned to a chuckle. “Sorry… what were we talking about again?”

“Ignore her,” said Rarity, quickly. She gave the little bit of red wine in her glass a swirl, then took another small sip. It's what she'd done for the last hour or so. The hum afterward really sold its flavor. “How have your drinks been?”

“Pretty good. Nice and fruity, I’ll say.” Empty glasses returned to their wine’s respective sommeliers who disposed of them. Placing his glass in the disposal section, Hondo glanced around at the full exhibit.

There must have been more than a hundred bottles laid out behind small bars. Each is attended by a sommelier, all experts in their wine of choice. They’d almost reached all the displays, thanks to Rarity pulling in every direction. Despite her bickering with Sweetie Belle, it seemed she was having some fun.

“As good a review as any,” said Rarity, throwing in a small giggle. She downed the last of her glass, then placed it next to Hondo’s. “Right! Before we go, there’s a popular chardonnay I’d like to try that’s a steal for these prices. Come, come!” Rarity slipped out of her seat and beckoned the two to follow. Sweetie finished her glass last, then hopped out of her seat as well.

As they shuffled through the hall, Rarity managed to gain some distance from them. It was no problem, as Hondo could spot her from anywhere she went. Half of that was her dress. High class, and custom-made by herself. Lilac and midnight blue, like some sort of cosmic star arrangement placed in the middle of the earth. The other half… was something deeper itself.

“Hey Dad?” called Sweetie. “Look any harder and you’ll burn a hole right through her.” His heart skipped a beat, but his usual nervousness was nowhere to be found. Instead, he laughed under his breath, careful not to let Rarity notice.

“Was it that obvious?”

“Yup. I’m surprised she hasn’t noticed.” Sweetie pat him on the back, then beckoned him to lean down. “Not that I blame you at all. I mean, have you seen what she’s working with? She’s lugging around a whole bakery back there.”

He laughed again. He couldn’t deny what she was saying, despite it being so crass. The curve of her ass in the dress was noticeable, especially along the waistline. If he stared hard enough, he could imagine the hem of her panties pressed against the fabric. Imagining any more than that would be an issue though.

“Damn, you’re really down bad, huh?” Hondo was confused until he realized the state of his lower half. His poor attempt to conceal it only brought it more attention. “So? Thinking of swinging back to the hotel after this to lay some pipe?” This time, his smile fell away for a pensive frown. He took a deep breath before even responding.

“No… no,” he said firmly. “It was a one-time thing. A mistake. We both agree.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Sweetie, waving his words away. “But... are you really okay giving up an ass like that without a fight?” She patted him on the back a few more times, then left his side. “Couldn’t hurt to ask… right?” Hondo pursed his lips, then looked back up at Rarity. The distance between them had grown, but she still shone brighter than anyone around. He took another deep, shaky breath, then shook his head.

“I need to use the bathroom.” Without waiting for her reply, Hondo turned on his heels and headed in a new direction.

Once inside, he made straight for the sink, washing his face with cold water a few times over. He watched himself in the mirror. Water dripped from his beard hair, and thoughts ran amuck around his head. Again, he splashed himself. Doing something meant he’d have less time to think about anything.

He left the bathroom right after, but the other two had moved on. It took a few seconds to find them, chatting near the next bar. The drink she mentioned was already halfway up Rarity’s glass, while Sweetie sat without it. He rubbed his eyes, then started making his way to them. Slowly.

He watched them talk, though he couldn’t hear a word over his surroundings. Sweetie Belle was talking, more than Rarity, who listened and swirled her glass. She laughed and shook her head through most of Sweetie’s sentences, but something caught his eye soon.

Her eyes turned down, and the slight blush from the alcohol grew. She swirled her drink again before taking a longer sip than normal. Her expression shifted. It mimicked his own a minute ago when he spoke to Sweetie Belle. He was getting close enough to hear bits and pieces of hushed conversation now if he strained his ears.

“... didn’t dislike it. I didn’t! But… it’s dad!”

“It’s who you like. It’s not like anyone’s giving you trouble, right?”

“Right… right, but… well—”

“Oh, you found the drink you wanted!” said Hondo. He wasn’t sure why he cut in, but he was sure he had to. Rarity’s eyes flicked up towards his, then down to her glass, and further down than that. Finally, she met his eyes again, before turning away completely. “H-How is it?”

“F-Fine, I suppose,” she answered. “Nice and… fruity.”

“Nice and fruity,” he repeated with a chuckle. He turned to Sweetie Belle, who had a satisfied look on her face. She fished into her pocket and pulled out a card, then hopped out of her seat.

“I think I’ve had enough to drink for today,” she said, sauntering towards Hondo. She lifted the card and handed it to him. It was his room key. “I think I’m going to enjoy the last day we have here. Tie up some loose ends or something, you know?” Hondo’s eyes widened. He’d lost track of time with all that had gone on. He looked over at Rarity, surprised to see her looking back. “Have fun you two!”

And like that, she was gone, and they were alone again. Hondo’s head was no clearer than it was before he drank. It might have made things worse. Neither of them looked away from the other for a moment. Neither was sure they wanted to.

The seconds turned to minutes. Hondo screamed at himself to come up with something to say and break the tension. Ask about the wine! Talk about their next destination! Compliment her eyes, anything!

“R-Rarity! Uh…” he stammered. “I—”

“Wait,” she whispered. She put her glass down for disposal. She’d barely taken a sip yet. She reached for his hand, which was still out holding the card, and covered it with her own. Her eyelids narrowed, and she gave him a little squeeze. “Not here.”

There could have been a million people around them, buzzing like flies and Hondo wouldn’t hear a peep. She’d captured his attention as fully as anything could. He swallowed down that mounting nervousness. Now was the time to have some confidence. He reached up to her hand with his thumb, brushing over her knuckles, and smiling.

“Okay.”