"And in the end, we're all just humans..."

[Basil Benson]

For his part, the 'squeeing' confused Basil. He leant back up to sit seiza style again and looked at the pair of them, Jezabelle holding Colette by her arms from behind.

He tilted his head to the side, the curtain of his curls covering one of his eyes.

"Well... at least someone in this room is excited." He commented, looking away from the ladies.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Oh Mister Benson, don't be embarrassed. I am proud of you for being so brave! Not just for sharing this side of you with Colette, but for just putting it all out there for me. I promise, your secret is safe with me." She let go of Colette before sitting on the bed, reaching into her pile of clothing for some socks.

"Every relationship is different, and they all have their special spark. If I can give Colette a few pointers or help her think about things different so that she better understands all of this, I'm happy to help. And if you'd prefer I didn't, then I won't interfere."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette brushed her fingertips against Basil's cheek, trying to coax him to look up at her. She was standing a little straighter, head not tilted down as much as she had before.

[Basil Benson]

Basil did not look at her, but he did lean into her touch.

He actually wasn't looking at either of them.

"I don't mind you helping her. That isn't the problem.

It's...." He hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to put this that wouldn't hurt her.

"I appreciate that you can sympathize with me because of our similarities... I truly do."
His tone seemed genuine enough, even though he was avoiding looking at either of them.

"But if people found out about me, it could damage the reputation of the school.

And even if it didn't, she'll find out that everyone else knows. "

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle tugged her socks on, crossing her legs as she listened.

"Then we will have to keep it a secret. Are you worried that I'm going to push Colette to be loud and obvious about it?" Jez shook her head a little bit.

"There is this... idea, in the Pride community, that you have to be out, and open, and declare what you are. And you've got kids in high school having to deal with getting beat up and bullied for being openly gay, or lesbian, or whatever. Or having to deal with their parents treating them horribly because they came out to them because they felt that they were expected to put themselves in harm's way instead of waiting until they were at a point in their lives when they're safe and self-sufficient. The thing is, it's okay to keep it to yourself. You're not obligated to let the world know who you like to fuck, or how you like to do it, it's okay to keep things private.

"I would never, ever, intentionally put another student in harm's way. Miss Rosenhof and I will be meeting solely for French tutoring, that's all anyone needs to know."

[Basil Benson]

Basil sighed, and rolled his face into Colette's palm, finally looking up at her. He smiled gently at Colette.

"If it's what you want Madame."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"There is no use trying to put the cat back in the bag, so we might as well get some use out this, no? If she can offer even one piece of advice, what is the harm in it? If it is bad advice, you will let me know, and I will know to avoid it. If it is good advice, we will both benefit."

[Basil Benson]

"As you wish." Basil replied and said no more. Instead, he leant his head into her lap, wrapping his arms around her waist to bring themselves closer together.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette gently combed her fingers through Basil's hair, smiling softly. She really couldn't think of a better alternative at this point, either way Jez knew about their relationship.

[Basil Benson]

Basil had a strange realisation then.

"Jezabelle... did you meet your other self during that... extradimensional business?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez uncrossed her legs, leaning a little closer. "Hmm? Oh yes. Actually, that's kind of why I wasn't around for most of it. Like... we both panicked and made copies, but then the copies were getting mixed signals from both of us, and I was getting signals for her copies and her mine and... it was a real headache for a long time."

[Basil Benson]

"I see.

Learn anything interesting?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Well... I learned that all we really needed to so was have one of us not wear our glasses and then we could keep things mostly straight. And... I dunno. I guess it was interesting for me to have a me that I couldn't predict or control. I'm used to being surrounded by myself, seeing myself right there in front of me and not knowing how she'd move, or what she'd say, not being in control of her, it was kind of eerie and exciting."

[Basil Benson]

"Exciting how?" He asked.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle said nothing, but her face flushed.

[Basil Benson]

"I see." Basil didn't ask her anymore questions.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Well come on, if you made copies of yourself all the time, and there was a copy of yourself you couldn't control, wouldn't you try it?"

[Basil Benson]

"Nnnnnnope." He chuckled. "But please, dont take that as shaming.

I'm just... not as exciting as this morning would have you believe."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"I dunno, you Basils seem to be pretty popular. My other self had a lot of nice things to say about a Basil she knew. Don't worry Colette, it wasn't your Basil, that guy had a different last name."

[Basil Benson]

Basil tensed up a bit at the mention of it, but he tried to play it off.

"I let Miriam Bell feed off me so she could locate Madame.

We found an adult entertainer Colette who merged with Madame. Then Miriam Bell cut them apart and the other Colette was so adorably tiny I thought I might die.

We also discovered Miriam Bell is kind of an asshole?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Oh wow, you had quite the adventure! Imagine, an adult entertainer? Gosh, I had no idea you had it in you ~Madame." Jez grinned. She was teasing Colette, not Basil. Though if he didn't like her using that word she'd refrain in the future.

[Colette Rosenhof]

The girl blushed, more content to listen to the conversation than contribute to it, still stroking Basil's head. "She... had to work a little harder to pay for her schooling, zat is all."

[Basil Benson]

"Nothing wrong with it." Basil commented, standing from his position on the floor to work his way behind her and put his arms around her.

" I'd take you to a private room. " He didn't seem bothered by Jezabelle borrowing his word.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez managed to get enough of her clothes together to look passable for the early morning. "Alright, I think that's my cue to go get some breakfast or something. You two have fun in the champagne room."

[Basil Benson]

"Enjoy your breakfast Jezabelle." He replied.

Once she was fine he let go of Colette.

"Thank Christ I thought she wasn't going to leave!" Basil exclaimed, darting for the bed.

"Do you two still have the ice pack in your first aid kit in your lavatory? I need it."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette almost spun around in a circle like something out of a cartoon as Basil went for the bed.

"I... I zink zo. Why do you ask? Is your back sore?" She asked, already on her way to retrieve it.

[Basil Benson]

"Well, I can't just keep drinking the poor little bastard away." He says, hiding under the covers.

"Don't think her Electric Ladyship would much approve of me just wandering around day drunk because some bloody magic weirdos decided targeting the school with sex voodoo was a great idea.

I'll just get this temporarily handled and go back to my room to finish it off."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette tilted her head. "Surely zey are gone by now. Now zat ze school knows about zem I am certain zat ze spooky students and staff have ze campus on lockdown." She sashayed toward the bed. "Zough you are right, we cannot have you wandering around day-drunk. But... it would be a shame to waste zis... eagerness, would it not?"

[Basil Benson]

"Honestly?

I'm not sure you'll like it love.... I... feel a bit... too eager.

It's kind of frightening...."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Are you suggesting zat I must tie you down, for my own safety?"

[Basil Benson]

"Well now.... there's an idea."

((FTB))