Whiteout Ch. 08

The cab ride back to Weiss' place was almost unbearably silent. Val and Weiss sat on opposite sides of the car, the empty seat between them feeling more like a wall. Weiss barely glanced at Val the entire time, instead staring out the window, lost in thought. Every time Val tried to start up a conversation, Weiss would simply shut it down and refuse to engage further, which left Val to stew in her own silence as well.

Is she mad at me? I kinda imposed on her by asking to come stay at her place. But Weiss didn't seem angry or annoyed. She just seemed melancholy in an uncertain, inexpressible sense. Maybe it's Patti? They seemed really close. It must be hitting her pretty hard if they broke up.

Val fiddled with the hem of her skirt. What could have driven them apart? I barely knew Patti, but they seemed like such good friends at the munch. She looked over at Weiss. Yeah... real close. Maybe close enough that Patti knew about this Blanc stuff.

A lightbulb went off in Val's head. Maybe she did know. I mean, Blanc managed to get into all those homes and businesses and stuff; she couldn't have done it without help. But... does that mean Patti knew about me?

She thought back to when she met Patti. She never gave any hints that she knew who I was. She just thought of me as someone Weiss dropped by accident. But Weiss didn't really hint that she knew me either when I met her at her class. Did she? She ran and re-ran her memories over and over; when she met Weiss at the Pink Mansion, she was sure that Weiss knew who Val was. But, now that she looked back, all her evidence seemed less certain. Weiss flirted with her, but was that because she knew Val was Violet Angel? Or did she just think Val was cute? And when Val accidentally called her "Madame," she seemed surprised. Confused, even.

But even as her own mind cast doubts on her certainty, Val still felt absolutely sure that Weiss knew her secret identity. There was something that kept nagging her, some piece of evidence that seemed just out of reach. Somehow, Weiss had revealed beyond a shadow of a doubt that she knew all about Val's secret, but Val couldn't place when or where that had happened. She just felt it, deep in her bones.

Her mind turned to last night. The blank spot in her memory.

A voice in the back of her head kept telling her not to worry about it, that nothing bad could have happened, that everything was fine. The more she struggled to remember, the louder that voice became, until it drowned out everything else. It began to feel artificial, not a self-assurance but instead a barrier holding her back from discovering something she wasn't meant to discover.

Val felt a hand touch her own. She looked down and saw Weiss' hand holding hers, their fingers lightly intertwined.

Val's blood ran cold. There's no way... it couldn't have been her... I just... blacked out. Happens to everyone. But the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. Weiss had already done things to Val without her knowing it; the nude selfie in her camera roll was proof of that. And she knew hypnosis could erase or suppress memories, since none of Blanc's victims could remember anything she did to them. But she wouldn't do that to me, would she? She...

Weiss' hand squeezed Val's. ...does she love me? We've only known each other for a couple weeks. Can you really say whether you love someone from that length of time?

The cab rolled to a stop. "Alright, girls," the driver said, "end of the line."

Val and Weiss got out of the car and stood on the sidewalk. Weiss reached in through the passenger-side window and handed the driver some cash. He looked at it and whistled. "Dunno if I have enough change for this, ma'am."

"Just keep it," Weiss said. "My treat."

"Whatever you say." The driver pulled up the window and drove off.

Val looked at Weiss quizzically. "What did you hand him?"

Weiss shrugged. "Might've been a hundred."

"And you're just fine with handing out Benjamins?"

"Trust me, Val, money's not an issue." Weiss walked over to Val and put her arm around her shoulder.

Val froze. "I, uh..."

"What is it?"

"...It's nothing."

Weiss pulled her arm away. "No, really. Tell me."

"It's kinda stupid, honestly."

"But I want to hear it."

Val sighed. "So what... are we? Like, as a couple?"

Weiss pondered for a moment. "Well, we just went on a date, didn't we? So I believe that would make us girlfriends."

"And... what's Patti to you?"

"She's..." Weiss' breath hitched. "...someone I hope I can patch things up with someday."

"Do you love her?"

"Val, what's gotten into you? I thought you had a good time, I thought you enjoyed what we did back at the theater."

"I did, but... I don't know something about 'us' just feels wrong to me. Like you only hang around me for the kinky stuff."

"What are you talking about?" Weiss looked almost offended. "What would make you think like that?"

"Because barely know each other, and..." Val looked down at the floor. "When we went to the movie, it was like you were just tolerating me. Like you didn't really want to be there, but you were doing it just so I'd stick around. I feel like I'm dragging you into a relationship you don't really want."

"That's not it at all." Weiss reached out and embraced Val. "I do want this, Val. I want to be with you right now."

"Right now?" Val pulled away, staring at Weiss with pain in her eyes. "Would you be saying that if Patti hadn't..."

She trailed off, but Weiss knew exactly what Val was going to say. "I don't know," she sighed. "But I do know that I want you to spend the night, and I want to try and make things work. Because you're cute, and fun to play with, and I like you."

Are those the only reasons? Val sighed. I want to just confront her about all of this Blanc stuff. But what if she doesn't know I'm Violet Angel? I can't risk outing myself unless I'm absolutely positive, and a gut feeling isn't enough. "Okay."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "...'Okay?'"

"I'll stay here tonight. It was my idea anyway, right? Then we'll see how we both feel in the morning."

"Alright." Weiss smiled. "Thank you, Valerie."

* * *

The interior of the bar was exactly as Val remembered it. Same blue walls, same dilapidated booths, same musty old smell. It was barren and run-down now, but Val could imagine how it used to be. The whole room crowded with regulars, all watching a football game. Some fresh-faced guy with a guitar on stage, trying in vain to get people to notice him. It was probably a cozy little hole-in-the-wall at some point.

Now, though, it felt cold. Val had no idea how long Weiss had been living here, but she clearly hadn't done much to make it feel like a home yet. Aside from the fact that the lights were on and the small collection of liquor bottles on the back shelf, the place still looked abandoned. Most of it hadn't even been dusted yet.

"As much as I like this little ruin," Weiss said, as if reading Val's mind, "I think the upstairs is much nicer."

"Upstairs?" Val asked. "You mean..."

"Well, you didn't think we'd sleep on the floor, did you?"

Val smiled mischievously. "Gosh, only our first date and you're already bringing me to the bedroom?"

"Second date. I'm counting that time I made your brains leak out of your cunt."

"Th-That's not a date!" Val blushed.

Weiss chuckled. "Oh, it's so much fun making you squirm." She hooked her arm around Val's waist and walked her behind a door in the back corner of the room, leading to a small hallway and a set of stairs.

Val followed Weiss up the stairs to an attic space. Oh, wow...

Now it made sense why the bar was largely untouched. Weiss' room was positively crammed full of stuff. A massive flat screen on one side, a multi-monitor computer setup on the other, and shelves full of books and movies lining the walls. Bright LED lights were attached to the ceiling beams, illuminating the room in a colorful glow that cycled constantly. And in the center of it all, a massive bed that looked like it cost thousands all on its own. "God, Weiss," Val gasped, "how did you afford all this?"

"I already told you, Valerie, money's not an issue for me. Call it a generous benefactor."

Val side-eyed Weiss. Is she taunting me? She's a goddamn supervillain, there's no way she got all of this legitimately. Does she want me to call her out on this? "What do you do, exactly? Besides the hypnosis?"

"At the moment?" Weiss jumped up on the bed and sighed. "Why don't you tell me? What do you think I do?"

God, are you asking me to confront you? Is this some kind of test? Val looked around the room, tapping her chin. "Well... judging from the décor, and the setup you've got over there, I'd say... Twitch streamer?"

Weiss snorted. "Oh, yeah, definitely. You're right on the money."

"So what do you play? Shooters? Fighting games?"

"I dabbled in Pokkén a while back."

Val squinted. "Is that real, or did you just make that up?"

"It's a Pokémon thing. Kinda Tekken-y, but also not? It's a weird game."

"Were you any good?"

Weiss shrugged. "Turns out Gardevoir is pretty low tier."

Val cocked her head to the side. "Okay, I can't tell if this is a joke or not anymore."

"I used to be in software development," Weiss explained. "One of those fancy startups that never makes any money but everyone's very excited about for about five months. Paid really well, but it burns you out hard. So I quit, and used the cash I saved up to buy all this."

"I see." Something about that felt a little rehearsed... "So, what did you do with the startup?"

"You're awfully curious today."

"Well, I barely know anything about you. Can't blame me for wanting to know the person behind this whole 'mysterious hypnodomme' act."

"Hm. Guess that's fair." Weiss patted the spot next to her on the bed. "Get up here, and you can ask me whatever you want."

Val rolled her eyes. "Well, if you insist." She walked over and got on the bed. When she laid down, she let out a soft, peaceful sigh. "Oh, wow... this is super comfy, Weiss."

"I'm aware. I do sleep in this, you know."

"Mmm..." Val murmured, barely acknowledging Weiss' comment. I don't think I've ever been in a bed this comfy before. Her body sank into the mattress, a wave of relaxation passing over her. A girl could get used to this...

"So, what did you want to ask me?" Weiss smiled, noticing how relaxed Val was becoming.

"Hm?"

Weiss chuckled. "Take your time, darling. I know you're probably not used to this. Being in such a warm, comfortable bed. A pretty girl talking to you, whispering in your ear. Telling you about how relaxed you're becoming. How happy you feel."

Val closed her eyes and made a noncommittal noise.

The more Weiss talked, the lower her voice became, until it was barely a whisper. "You wanted to ask me all those questions. But now you just want to relax. Your curiosity can wait. You'd much rather lie back and feel good, listening to my words and letting your thoughts fade away slowly, effortlessly."

"Mmmrr..." Val stirred, her mind connecting the dots despite the drowsy, lethargic feeling that beckoned her. "You said... you didn't wanna play tonight..."

"I did say that, didn't I?" Weiss giggled, leaning over and kissing Val on the forehead. "Do you want me to stop, then?"

"...I didn't say that..." Val grinned.

"That's what I thought." Weiss cupped Val's cheek and ran her thumb over her lips. "I did mean it. I don't want to do anything too intense right now. But I think you're more than happy to just be blank for me, aren't you?"

"Mmm..." Val purred. "Yes, Madame..."

Weiss' smile faded. She pulled her hand away and swung her legs around, sitting at the edge of the bed. "I know you don't drink, Valerie, but I for one would like a glass of whiskey. Back in a sec." She got up off the bed and went downstairs.

Val sat up, shaking her head to try and clear her thoughts. It didn't help all that much; her mind still felt like it was shrouded in fog. Did I... say something wrong? She looked around the room and noticed a nightstand next to the bed, and a small wooden box on top of it. Curious, she popped open the lid. Inside was a simple collar, with a pink leather band and a shiny silver buckle. "Cool..." Val giggled. She picked it up and held it in her hands, feeling the texture and marveling at the way the rainbow lights in the room played off its surface.

"What are you doing?"

Val looked up and saw Weiss, holding a glass in one hand and a bottle in the other. She did not look happy.

"Found this..." Val murmured, holding up the collar.

Val couldn't tell if Weiss' face was actually getting redder or if it was just the lighting, but she could definitely tell that Weiss was pissed. She stormed up to Val and snatched the collar out of her hand. "Who said you could touch that?" she shouted.

"I-I'm sorry!" The clouds in Val's mind evaporated in an instant; the fury in Weiss' voice caught her so off-guard that she thought she'd fall over. "I just... wasn't thinking!"

"Shouldn't have left it out," Weiss muttered. "God, what was I thinking? I should've known you'd go snooping around my stuff..."

"Look, Weiss, I said I was sorry. I didn't mean to do anything, I just saw it and-"

"And thought what, Val?" Weiss snapped.

"I... didn't. I was all blank, there wasn't really much going on up there."

Weiss stared at Val for a moment, then sighed. "Yeah, that's fair." She put the collar back in the box. "I'm sorry for blowing up like that, Valerie. It's just..."

"What is it, Weiss?"

"...This was Patricia's collar."

"Oh..." Smooth, Val. Real fucking smooth.

Weiss caressed Val's cheek. "You couldn't have known. It was my fault for leaving it out like this." She picked up the box and put it up on a high shelf.

Val got off the bed. "You miss her, don't you?"

"...Yeah."

Val hugged Weiss from behind, resting her head against Weiss' back. When her hand brushed Weiss' chest, Weiss froze and let out a quiet, pained noise.

"Weiss?" Val asked. "You okay?"

"It's... nothing." Weiss clutched Val's hand and pressed her index finger against it.

Val gasped. Fuck, I forgot about that one! She shuddered and moaned as the phantom vibrator buzzed on her clit, pulling away from Weiss and collapsing on the bed.

"Just a second, sweetie." Weiss walked over to a shelf in the far corner of the room. When she returned a moment later, she held a simple black collar in one hand while holding the other behind her back. "Since you like collars so much, I figured you could try one on yourself."

"How..." Val whimpered, still trying to get her composure back. "How many of those things do you have?"

"Well, the guy down at the pet store seems to recognize me whenever I go in. Take that how you will."

"Can't imagine he sees too many punks... goths... uh, whatever your look is down at the pet store."

Weiss chuckled. "You know, you're really adorable when you act all snarky. Especially when your mind's been softened up a bit."

Val squirmed. "I'm not... I-I feel fine!"

"Well," said Weiss, her voice getting low and dripping with arousal, "we can fix that, can't we?"

Before Val could respond, Weiss rushed over and gently touched Val's knuckle. Val's eyes widened and rolled back into her head as a powerful orgasm rocked her body. Her moans echoed off the attic ceiling as she collapsed and convulsed on the bed. While she basked in the afterglow, she felt someone get on the bed behind her, and then felt something attach around her neck with a click. She reached for it instinctively and felt leather and cold metal.

Val turned around and smiled at Weiss. "'Don't want to do anything too intense right now,' huh?"

Weiss smiled back. "Are you complaining, Valerie?"

"Not at all."

"Thought so."

Suddenly, Val felt something yanking her forward. She yelped and struggled, before noticing the leash in Weiss' right hand. "Oh, of course you have one of those too."

Weiss grinned. "What can I say? I like to keep my bitches close by."

Val squirmed nervously. "Feels a weird to think of myself as someone's bitch."

"Then I guess it's better if you don't think at all."

"Fuck..." Val whimpered, unconsciously grinding a bit on the mattress. "How do you keep coming up with these sexy lines?"

"I'm just full of surprises, aren't I?"

Val giggled and wrapped her arms around Weiss. "I think I love you..."

Weiss froze. "I..."

Val kissed Weiss on the cheek.

Weiss sighed. She hugged Val closer.

Her lips brushed against Val's ear.

She whispered, "Meminisse te."

* * *

"G-Good girls... you're such good girls for me..."

Violet opened her eyes slowly. She saw Sky staring back at her, her eyes blank, a dreamy, sleepy smile on her face. Violet knew that her face looked the same as hers.

She leaned forward and kissed Sky passionately. Her own feelings didn't matter in this moment. Sky was beautiful, yes, and Violet wasn't one to turn down the advances of a beautiful woman. But that wasn't why she kissed Sky.

She kissed her because Madame told her to.

She heard Madame off to the side, moaning and gasping, her fingers buried in her pants. Violet was so proud that Madame was enjoying the sight of her and Sky.

"G-Girls... girls, I want you to touch yourselves." Violet's eyes flicked over to Madame. She saw the hunger in her eyes, heard the arousal in her voice.

The two hypnotized girls smiled even wider. "Yes, Madame!" they responded in unison.

Violet rubbed her crotch as she heard Sky's fingers slide into her slick cunt. Violet, however, could only rub through the fabric of her uniform. She whimpered, wanting so desperately to please Madame but being held back from fulfilling her will.

"Hey, purple girl," Madame said, noticing Violet's frustration. "It's ok, you can just-"

But Violet was already tearing at her suit. She grunted in irritation, desperate to please Madame and follow her commands as closely as possible.

Finally, the suit gave way. Violet smiled as she heard the material rip down the seam, feeling the cool air caress her dripping cunt. Her eyes rolled back in her head as her fingers plunged into her mound, shuddering with pleasure that seemed stronger than anything she'd experienced before.

She raised her head and saw Madame staring at her in astonishment. "Wow..." she gasped. "You're an eager little thing, aren't you?"

"Yes, Madame!" Violet beamed, overjoyed that her obedience hadn't gone unnoticed.

Madame chuckled. "That's a good girl..."

* * *

There was a flash.

Not like the ones from before, the ones that made Violet so happily, deliciously blank.

It was later now -- how much later, Violet couldn't tell. But Madame was standing in front of them now, her white pants stained with the arousal that Violet and Sky had given her. She put the camera down, gently pulling the photo out and admiring the two girls in front of her. "I hope you two enjoyed tonight as much as I did."

"Yes, Madame..." By now, both girls' plastic smiles had faded. All that was left within them was blankness and obedience.

Madame knelt down, meeting Violet at eye-level. "So, given how you were able to track me down, I take it this won't be the last time I encounter one of you Rainbow people. But, luckily for me, I can at least give myself an edge." She leaned in close, whispering in Violet's ear. "Whenever I say..." Her lips kept moving, but Violet couldn't hear what she said. "...you'll fall back into this state of trance. Even if you realize or remember that I have given you this command, you won't remember what that special word is. Do you understand?"