Chapter Text
What was she doing?
She should be using her voice to lure this man under her spell…
She should be using enticing this man to his watery grave…
She should be devouring his flesh and tossing his bones among her many victims…
Instead she was patiently sitting at the table and watching the man move about the kitchen. Despite her strong instinct to seduce, kill, and feed, she couldn’t bring herself to act on it. There was something about this man that both intrigued and confused her.
SIGH!
Hunchback turned to her in concern. “Are you well, lady Riona?”
Black Puddle Queen shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile. “Nothing to worry about dear Hugo, just a bit of woolgathering.
What have you brought today?”
A few moments later, Hunchback had set a tray down on the table before taking a seat across from her.
“Lady Grey tea and salted caramel macarons,” said the man, pouring her a cup of tea. “Lady Grey is a black tea similar to Earl Grey but with lavender. The macarons have salted caramel buttercream sanwhiched between two biscuits.”
Black Puddle Queen picked up a macaron and took a small bite. It was sweet but not too sweet. She licked her lips and took another bite. “Delicious!”
Hunchback smiled and gave her the cup of tea. She lets herself savor the taste of the macaron before taking a sip. The flavor of the tea was much more overwhelming than the macaron but Black Puddle Queen found that she liked it took a longer sip of her tea.
“Truly, you spoil me with such delightful treats!” Black Puddle Queen smiled. Hunchback smiled back and she felt her cheeks warm.
The two continued their previous conversation while enjoying the tea and macarons, unaware of their audience standing in the next room…
“Qu’est-ce que c’est?” Le Quack peered into the kitchen. “Is zis romance I smell in ze air?”
“Aww don’t they look adorable!” Cajun Fox swished his tail in delight. “Ooh wee! I just knew somethin’ was cookin’ between those two!”
Big Toe grunts. “Let’s get out of here!”
“But boss we’re starving!” A second later the Little Toes cried out in pain as they smacked against each other.
“Pipe down you chuckleheads! You’re gonna ruin the mood!”
Cajun Fox raised a single brow. “Ruin the mood?”
Big Toe grumbled uncomfortablly as Cajun Fox and Le Quack stared them down. Suddenly, the two began to laugh hysterically while the giant foot turned red in anger and embarrassment. The next thing Cajun Fox and Le Quack knew they were being crushed under Big Toe. The two tried to squirm their way out but the giant foot gave no room for escape and started to stomp all over them.
“What are you fools doing?”
Big Toe stopped and pivoted in place to face Katz, causing Cajun Fox to squeal and Le Quack to curse. The feline was heading towards the kitchen to prepare for their afternoon tea and was annoyed with the group for blocking the doorway.
“Just teachin’ these fellas a lesson!” Cajun Fox and Le Quack groaned in discomfort as Big Toe dropped their full weight upong them.
Katz narrowed his eyes and made a shooing gesture with their arm. “Move out of the way and teach it someplace else!”
Cajun Fox popped his head out from underneath and smirked.
“Don’t go in the kitchen or you’ll ‘ruin the mood’!”
“AHHHHH!”
Black Puddle Queen and Hunchback were both startled by the unexpected scream coming from the other room and turned towards the doorway. They waited for any other screams to follow but heard none.
“I think that is my cue to depart,” Hunchback began to clean up the table. “Please enjoy the rest of the tea and macarons.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to take anything home?” Black Puddle Queen helped to place the dishes in the sink.
“I’m alright. Please enjoy the rest.”
Black Puddle Queen smiled. “Thank you! I hope you’ll bring more treats the next time.”
She opened the back door for them but Hunchback made no move to leave. Confused, Black Puddle Queen watched as they nervously rubbed their hands together and stared down at the ground.
“What’s wrong?”
Hunchback briefly glanced up at her before avoiding eye contact with her again.
“Lady Riona,” Hunchback mumbled out which forced her to move closer to hear them. “I k-know that…I k-know that we’ve only just recently met, but I do think that you-you are a l-l-lovely woman who could have any man that she…that she wanted and would n-never be interested in an u-ug-ugly man like me, but I…I-I w-wanted to-to know i-if…if-if—”
Hunchback’s stuttering made it very difficult for Black Puddle Queen to process their words; however, when she heard them say how she was a “lovely woman” and how she would “never be interested in an ugly man" like them, it started to become clear to her what he was trying to ask her.
“If-if you’d go on a d-da-date with m-me?”
Black Puddle Queen was stunned into silence. This was the first time any male has ever asked her out on a date. Then again most males were never in their right mind when they were around her. She honestly didn’t know how to respond…
“SAY YES!”
Again, the two were startled by the loud shout coming from the other room. Hunchback face had turned red in embarrassment and turned to leave. Black Puddle Queen quickly made up her mind before they could make it out the door..
“Yes! Yes, I would like to go on a date with you.”
Hunchback was nervous as he waited for Black Puddle Queen to arrive. They had agreed to have dinner with him and they both agreed to meet outside of the restaurant at 7 o'clock.
To say he was surprised was a bit of understatement. Hunchback had expected disgust, ridicule, possibly pity.Yet when Black Puddle Queen said yes he just couldn’t believe it. A door had open to him that he had never thought would be a possibility for him in life, and he truly hoped that everything will go well tonight.
Hunchback was adjusting his bow tie and smoothing his hair for the hundreth time when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked over and became dazed by his date’s appearance. Wearing a dark blue gown with their hair pulled back into an elegant bun, Black Puddle Queen made a lovely vision.
“I hope I’m not late.”
“You’re just in time.” Hunchback smiled which he received in kind. He held out his arm for them to take and escorted them into the restaurant.
The two made their way over to the maitre d’, a brown furred wolf wearing a white vest.
“Welcome to Lovely Aroma!” The wolf gave them a big smile. “Reservations?”
“It should be under B.T. Hugo.”
The wolf looked at their list and nodded. “Right this way please!”
As they made their way through the room, Hunchback took the time to look around. The atmosphere was pleasant and serene with warm red walls, white cloth covered tables, and large white candles placed at the center of each table. Beautifully decorated chandeliers hung above them which added to the glow of the room. As they took their seats, Hunchback was surprised at how intimate the atmosphere became just by sitting at their table. Through the glowing light, Hunchback’s attention focused on the lovely woman sitting across from him.
Not wanting to be caught staring, Hunchback quickly picked up a menu to cover his face. As he looked through the selection, he started to take notice of the whispers surrounding their table.
“What an ugly sight! I think I lost my appetite!”
“Eek! What is that?! It’s so disgusting!”
“It shouldn’t show its face in public! It’s hideous!”
“Gross! Shouldn’t the waiters do something?”
“Who let that horrid thing in here?!”
“Is that woman blind? Her date is revolting!”
More and more patrons began to take notice of him but what could he do? Hunchback couldn’t speak out! It wouldn’t do him any good against a crowd. All he can do is sit in his seat quietly while his face turned red with shame. He was startled out of his thoughts when Black Puddle Queen laid their hand over his.
"Let’s go.” Black Puddle Queen gently squeezed his hand. Before he coul respond, a booming voice interrupted, startling the two to part.
“WELCOME SPECIAL PATRONS TO LOVELY AROMA!” A large, black furred wolf wearing a red vest stood in front of their table. The wolf was facing Black Puddle Queen and giving her a wide smile. “I am Don Juan Suave, owner of this lovely restaurant! And you are?”
“…Riona.”
Hunchback wanted to speak up but he became distressed with the sudden appearance of the owner. The wolf oozed confidence and charm. Hunchback paled in comparison to this male in both looks and personality…
“Actually, we were just leaving–”
The wolf gasped. “BUT WHY?!?”
Don Juan Suave finally turned their attention to Hunchback and he felt small under their gaze. He didn’t know what it was that the wolf was looking for but when they began to laugh it was a cruel echo in his mind. Through the shameful haze, Hunchback barely made out what Don Juan Suave said next.
“…this…this is your date…”
Hunchback stiffened in his seat. Without warning, he leaves the table. He didn’t look back even as Black Puddle Queen and Don Juan Suave call out to him. He walks right out of the restaurant and into the lonely streets of Nowhere…
"Was it something I said?”
Don Juan Suave knew he royally messed up. He had only wanted to greet his patrons considering who made their reservations! Don Juan Suave gave a mental sigh as he thought of how angry his friend would be once they found out he ruined this date—
Don Juan Suave felt his fur stand and tensed on instinct. He quickly jumps to the side and crouches low, growling in warning. His eyes grew wide at the sight of the threat before him.
“Oh for the love of—”
“ROOOOAAAAAAR!”
BOOM…BOOM…BOOM!
Hunchback felt a drop of water hit his head…
Then another…
And another…
Until it began to pour.
Further down the sidewalk he spotted a bus stop shelter and raced towards it; however, by the time he reached it he is completely soaked to the bone. He plopped down on the bench and let out a miserable sigh.
What a way to end the night. Hunchback closed his eyes in exhaustion and sat there in misery…
PITTER-PATTER, PITTER-PATTER, PITTER-PATTER, PITTER-PATTER…
“…Hugo…”
SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH…
“…Hugo…”
PITTER-PATTER, PITTER-PATTER, PITTER-PATTER, PITTER-PATTER…
Was someone calling his name?
He opened his eyes to look around. There was no one else out on the streets so who could be calling him?
"…Hugo…”
Again, he looked up and down the street, but still saw no sign of anyone!
“Hugo!’
In an instant, a figure appeared in the rain, startling him and causing him to fall back. He hit his head against the shelter wall and become dazed.
He couldn’t see who it was reaching out for him…
But for a moment he thought he recognized who it was—
Light blue skin and pink eyes…
Black crown and gown…
Long, purple hair…
But there was something about her mouth…it looked larger…and her teeth…
Was it really Black Puddle Queen standing in front of him?
"Are you alright?”
Surprised to hear the figure speak, Hunchback blinked rapidly to clear his vision. The figure’s appearance shifted back and forth between the monstrous and svelte form until finally settling on the latter.
“Oh!” Hunchback cried out, rubbing his eyes. “Is it really you, lady Riona?”
“Who else would it be?” Black Puddle Queen took a seat next to him. Hunchback stared for a few moments then turned and released another miserable sigh.
“I’m sorry.” Hunchback rubbed his hands together. “I’m sorry for wasting your time tonight. I just…I just want—”
“Would you like to go on a date with me?”
Hunchback whipped his head around and stared in astonishment. This was the first time any woman had ever asked him out on a date. Then again most women would never approach him, let alone talk to him. He honestly couldn’t form a response at the moment they he knew that he wanted to say–
“SAY YES!”
The two were startled by the loud shout coming further down the street. Hunchback could swear he saw an orange tail disappear behind the corner. He chuckled and smiled at Black Puddle Queen.
“Yes, I would like to go out on date with you!”