FIC: MIssissippi Straddle 5a/6
Title: Mississippi Straddle 5a/6
Author: docwho2100
Fandom and Pairing: Nikki/Nora - F/F
Timing: Takes place after the TV pilot and after the stories "I Want Them" , "Dark Lady", "Firsts" , "Seconds" and "Delaney C.O.D. or D.O.A."
Rating: HEAVY R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are the property of Nancylee Myatt and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement intended.
Authors' notes:
I could not, it seems, resist having at least one cliffhanger in this story >;-)
Character thoughts appear between ~ ~ symbols
Chapter 5a
Nora looked at the gray door they were standing in front of as she finished her drink. She found having a nice heady buzz made things easier; easier to not think about the restricted spaces, easier to go along on this mad-capped journey Nikki was intent to take. Yes, the trip thus far had been fun, the blonde begrudgingly admitting that she was glad Nikki had forced her to come. She'd seen sides of her lover in the last few days she'd never been privy to before. However, Nikki's laissez faire approach was keeping Nora a bit on the leery side as she was certain trouble was only a heartbeat away.
"So this is part of the do anything tour?" Nora's face wrinkled into a wry frown as she made the comment.
"This is main event Darlin'," Nikki teased, wrapping an arm around Nora, relieved when Nora responded, pressing in to kiss her back.
"You taste like mint," Nora declared as she pulled back.
"And you have a very tangy taste."
"So I've been told."
Both laughed, the general banter something each had missed the last few weeks; last night's activity helping them to reconnect.
"Alright, this is a private game, only an elite few are invited to. This is a tradition behind the tradition and all that, yeah?"
Nikki nodded. "According to others, my mother attended a number of these games. I couldn't get more about the specifics, or my mother, but I was hoping..."
"I know. I'm here aren't I?" Nora laid a hand along Nikki's cheek. "I didn't find out much myself, other than Mrs. DuBoise was all gung-ho for you to play. Of course she has been gung-ho about a lot of things on this cruise. I swear I feel like a piece of meat in a butcher's shop with her."
"Nora honey, she has been chasing you all weekend. It's just some curious infatuation."
Nora pouted, her lips pressing outwards. "You realize my butt is sore from all her curiosity. That woman has claws when she pinches. I'm going to need a cushion to sit down if she keeps this up."
"I am smelling drama queen territory. But aww, my poor baby. I'll just have to take care of you when we get back."
"You better. I expect loads of making it better; I have suffered greatly." Nora attempted to bat her eyelashes to emphasize her suffering state, even as a smirk was beginning to cross her face. She went for the home run, placing the back of her hand across her forehead, issuing a dramatic sigh.
"I shall be happy to oblige my distressed maiden." Chuckling, Nikki knocked on the door. As the door was opened, Nikki reached down, goosing Nora's butt, laughing as she heard Nora yelp.
"Ah Nikki, Nora, welcome." Ulysses Carver greeted the women, kissing the back of each of their hands. "If you'll step over to the bank and gather your chips, your place is waiting at the table."
Nora looked around as she followed Nikki. She could see the main table, a dealer and a few of the other players already sitting. She counted seven chairs total, her mind looking at the room's occupants to try and see who had been invited.
"Ah Ms. Beaumont, welcome. I believe you decided on $250, is that correct?" Jacobs DuBoise smiled at the detectives as they approached where he was sitting.
"You're only playing $250 bucks?" Nora asked, drawn away from her assessment of the room.
Jacobs and Nikki chuckled a little, Nikki leaning over to whisper in Nora's ear, "Add three more zeros to that Nora."
As Nikki drew away, she bit her lip, catching the rabbit in the headlights stare Nora was giving her.
"That's..." Nora took in a breath, leaving the rest of her words unspoken.
"A fair amount actually." Jacobs interjected. "We enjoy a high stakes game. Of course it just adds to the edgy competition of who will win whom."
He pushed a chip holder out to Nikki, the brunette distracted as she began to count, verifying the color and amounts.
"You mean who will win over whom," Nora corrected, her gaze on the set of chips.
Jacobs chuckled, "If you prefer that, and oh, yes, the five thousand not in the stack, sorry." He took a striped chip and a marker and wrote Nora's name on the chip. "I spelled this correctly?"
Puzzled, Nora just nodded.
"Good, and here, this is the missing $5,000."
About to ask about the special chip, a bell sounded, preventing the brunette from asking.
"Ah, all call, time to begin. The bar is well stocked, I'll send someone over to find out what you want Nikki. You can go to the bar anytime you wish Nora. I'll join you in the peanut gallery as we wives call it as soon as I secure the money."
"We wives?" Nora was confused.
The older man chuckled, "I find it easier to just lump me in with the others considering I am the only male. That was one nice benefit when your mother played, Arthur helped give the peanut gallery a shot of testosterone. I guess you don't quite have that Nora dear or maybe you do, one does read things about your type. Although your presence is just as invigorating as Arthur's was, so all is good." He waved at the two women, ignoring, or missing, their bemused looks. "Alright now, off, don't want to hold up the cards. Lady Luck can get fickle when she becomes impatient."
He moved off, taking a small box to the bar area.
"Ok, that was major Twilight Zone. I'll have six of what ever he's having as he seems to be soaring already."
Nikki smacked Nora's shoulder, "Nora, behave, at least for now, later..." She winked and leaned close to Nora. "May I have a kiss for good luck, or are too many people watching."
"They all seem to know anyway," Nora replied, keeping to herself her mixed feelings about how Nikki's circle knew more about them than Nora's friends and family.
Nikki's eyes narrowed briefly as she thought she caught a trace of something in Nora's reply, but another bell sounding and the brush of lips against hers tore that thought away, burying it under the building rush of the game.
"Good luck, break a leg or what ever it is you say to a poker player."
"Good luck works, besides I have a lucky chip," she held up the one with Nora's name, "how can I possibly lose?"
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"Alright, we like to keep the play fast, fun and everyone on their toes. So we have a few rules to guide our play. Starting with player to left, each hand we have a blind. The player contributing to the blind also gets to pick the game. Anything goes ladies and gentlemen, from draw, to stud, to community, the blind lays out the rules for the hand. In addition, we have the striped chips, each turn the dice is rolled by the dealer. If an even number appears, the blind must put in a striped chip, or if in possession of none, than $5,000. You may also use the striped chips at any time, again as $5,000."
"I lay odds Teddy will put me right in first chance he gets, blind or not."
Nora's brows drew down as she noticed Lois seemed proud of the fact her husband would immediately put in that much money. Of course Nora was still puzzled why there was a special chip at all, as well as trying not to appear surprised at how casual everyone seemed to be over such a large amount of money. But she was seeing this game was fine example of the exact weird quirks she always thought people of this stature had and how stupid they could be with their money. While Nikki had proven her wrong, some in this room seemed happy to oblige and prove her views right.
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"Can you believe what Candice selected? I mean really, going with last year's designs. Does she think she can get away with that?"
"Apparently. Thank goodness I was not invited to her upcoming teas. I don't think I could hold my tongue. To be surrounded by that, Lordy." All of the women shuddered; Nora taking the small break to escape to the bar.
"What would you like?"
"Something strong."
The bartender chuckled. "I've been here for the last 35 runs and they always seem to sound the same."
"35? How do you stand it?"
"I enjoy laughing. It cleanses the soul. Plus, I learn quite a bit. I can tell you are one who tends to keep her ear to the ground. You police, yeah?"
"Yes. You know everyone here, don't you?"
"Probably better than they know them selves. Though there are some more reserved such as present company."
Nora held out her hand, "Nora Delaney."
The bartender wiped his hands and returned the shake, using a strong grip. "Xavier McLellen. It is nice to have a Beaumont back in the room. The game always breathes and dances when a Beaumont plays." He waved at the table, Nora following the gesture, seeing Nikki begin to laugh. The woman's head tilted back, eyes crinkled in merriment. She leaned over to whisper in her neighbor's ear, the man blushing as the rest of the table joined in the laughter.
"She always pumps life into a room." Nora said.
"Talkers and listeners; you and me are kin. We listeners form the support for the talkers. Never forget, without us, they'd have nothing to say as there'd be no one to hear."
"If a tree falls in a forest..." Nora joked as she accepted the drink he handed her. "You know, I've been listening a lot." Her gaze wandered back to Nikki. "I've learned a lot about her world."
The bartender nodded, "And the most important lesson learned?"
"That I still have a lot to learn."
"Good, there is hope for you yet. Now go and don't let them get to you. Just remember, when it boils down to the stew, they need you."
"Yeah, so stiff upper lip?"
"Now you got the melody."
She lifted her glass to the man before heading back to the other ladies.
"Ah, Nora, we were just talking about you and Nikki. Were your ears burning?" Lois greeted the detective.
~~Oh God~~ Nora thought, managing to keep a smile on her face. "All good I hope."
"We were just talking about preferences. Your addition this year is very unique. You are the first lesbians to join us, well first couple. Everyone experiments now and then, it is how we keep our lives fresh."
Nora's smile grew large, the expression inverse to how she was feeling inside, the direction of this conversation causing her nerves to jump.
"While at first we all were opposed, subsequent discussions led us all to admit we have harbored curiosity."
~~Double damn, please do not let them ask me about what we do in the bedroom.~~
"So we were hoping you could give us some bedroom tips. We all know what our husbands want, which we will be happy to share with you depending on where you land."
"Um, excuse me?" Nora took no effort to contain her shocked expression. She took a large drink, wishing she hadn't as the next question caused her to gulp and choke on the drink.
"Yes, so tell us detective, would Nikki prefer who she wins for the night to use just fingers or does she favor oral stimulation?"