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Vanessa wasn't really sure what she was doing.

That was the point.

Destiny City was her hometown. She had lived, and breathed, and bled there for longer than she could remember. Vanessa liked to think that she was as familiar with the bustling metropolis as she was the back of her hand. But there were some parts of the city that she was not intimate with, and the wealthier neighbourhoods happened to be one of them. As Super Van and Sailor Vulcan she had spent most of her time patrolling downtown.

Rich people were worth stealing from, sure, but everybody knew that real crime never happened in places like this. That was the point of being privileged.

How she'd ended up at a party in this area was anybody's guess. But she was there, and more than a willing participant in Ricky's little adventure. She had never been skinny dipping before, but the idea had always excited her. And, while Vanessa was inherently a good girl, she wasn't really willing to pass up this opportunity.

Especially not when Ricky was so funny, and so kind.

"Yeah," she laughed at her companion's nakedness. Not because it was funny, but because she was drunk. "Yeah, I'm coming, Ricky."

Smiling brightly with anticipation, eyes shining on the pool that stretched out before them, Vanessa peeled off her t-shirt. It landed on the concrete with a soft wsh, and was quickly followed by her jeans. Her underthings were simple, and black. She did not remove them. This wasn't skinny dipping, but-- well.

It was no longer summer time. The night air was slightly brisk with cold, and goosebumps peppered up and down all over her lightly tanned skin. But steam wafted off of the pool, and Vanessa understood that it would be warm.

She raced past Ricky, shouted something nondescript, and cannoballed into the deep end.

Vanessa had always been a skinny girl. Growing up, when it came to fighting or defending herself, whatever she lacked in strength was compensated for with sharp angles and gangly limbs. Pointy elbows hurt, when they were shoved into eyeballs.

But she was a woman now, and it showed.

A nearly naked woman in a pool with a very naked man.

Mr. Rae would have been scandalized.

His daughter was a little bit pink in the face. This was the fault of the booze that she'd consumed earlier that night, and Ricky's boldness. Save Gehenna, no man had ever expressed this sort of interest in her before. It was more than a little bit exciting. She licked her lips and, smiling warmly at Ricky, wracked her brain for something intelligent to say.

There was nothing.

So, since Vanessa was never willing to be outdone, she caught Ricky's eye and did away with her top. It floated innocently in the water for a moment before she tossed it onto the deck.

"You said you work here?" Vanessa's golden eyes swept from the pool to the garden, and lingered on the lights of the estate. It glittered impressively in the night, and humbled her.

She hiccupped, and thrilled to the feel of the water.

"What if we get caught?"

Vanessa was wonderfully aware of Ricky's proximity.

She could not keep the soft smile off of her face, when he swam closer, and found the broad plain of his shoulders inviting. It would have been so easy, to just wrap her arms around his neck, and lose herself in a kiss.

But she hesitated.

An image of Kam, unbidden, rippled through her mind's eye and something changed in Vanessa's expression. She looked suddenly determined. Desperate to leave behind these fond thoughts of a man who did not want her, Vanessa closed the distance between their bodies with a little sweep of her arms through the water.

"Very lucky," she murmured, and then pressed her liquor tainted lips to his. It was a sweet gesture, but brief.

Treading water was not ideal for this sort of thing.

It had never really been in Vanessa to play hard to get.

She was not coy or fliratious. She was bold, and passionate, and pursued the things that she wanted with an indestructible steel. Until very recently, this had never applied to men or sex. Saving the world and conquering bad guys always seemed more important.

But then, due to her place within the Blood Moon Court and the role that she had played in Operation ROTA, Vulcan had become one of the bad guys.

And her whole world was turned on its head.

Vanessa was consumed by grief, and overwhelmed by guilt. When she was not actively trying to get herself killed, she had tried to distract herself from…. herself.

Kam refused to give her what she wanted. Still, he had helped.

And so had Gehenna.

Now, apparently, it was Ricky's turn.

She was more than a willing participant in their embrace, and clung to Ricky with a sort of demand. There was something unbelievably exciting about what they were doing, where they were doing it.

It was late. It was night, but not dark. The light of the pool and the stars that glittered overhead made it easy to see absolutely everything.

And Vanessa loved the strength in Ricky's hands.

"Aw, fuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrck," Ricky slurred. It was time to get a move on things. He hastily tapped the girl on the a** twice as a signal to get ready to make a run for it as he rose up the other hand to flick off the mysterious boy on the balcony.

"Screw you, man!" he shouted before he quickly pulled himself out of the pool, turned around and mooned the boy. He was already naked, so it was simple enough. He was dripping wet as he ran around the pool, not in the least bit concerned to cover himself up, making way to his clothes. However, in his light drunkenness and haste, he ended up kicking his clothing...into the pool.

"Dad burn it!" he yelled. He supposed he wouldn't fit into Van's clothes.

"Aw, no way! Big P?" Ricky exclaimed. He couldn't believe it - Prosper! He hadn't seen the bugger since they were roommates in space together - he had no idea what he was doing in that house (he wasn't smart nor sober enough to put two and two together) but he was sure as hell glad to see his friend. He rushed over to the boy - still naked - and wrapped his arms around his younger friend, swinging the boy in a small circle.

The hug lasted longer than it should have, perhaps, and Ricky's body was still soaking wet (and naked). He ended the hug with a giant slap on the back - his signature greet - and grabbed his shoulders.

"What are you doing here, yer little ********?" he asked dopily. Suddenly, his face lit up. There was brain activity in his hard skull! "Don't tell me this is yer house, is it?"

"Just takin' a dip, Big P. You know how it is when yer wit a girl," he started. More brain activity alert! "Oh wait, yer gay. Erm, well with another dude then. This is uh, Van." He honestly didn't forget her name. He was just in a bit of shock of seeing Prosper. "We were at a party not too far from 'ere and..."

He paused. Even more brain activity!

"I'm naked," Ricky changed the topic without segue. "Ya think you can let us in and give us towels, man?"