Irhaboggle Pride (2019) Spectrum

Sexuality

AN: Onto the second set of 8: the symbolism behind each color of the Pride flag. Pink is sexuality.

It was a warm summer night in the early 1930s, but all of the natural splendor of the world was totally lost upon June and Cora, who were instead choosing to spend a night out on the town, going to one of New York City's last remaining speakeasies. Uncreatively named "the Forbidden Fruit", boasting a very Eden-esque theme, the old speakeasy was still a good place to go for a great time.

"Are you sure we won't get in trouble for this?" Cora whispered uneasily as June led her by the hand into the speakeasy.

"Trouble? What's that?" June scoffed back with a mischievous grin. Cora gave June an exasperated sigh in response. This was June's favorite catchphrase. Whenever Cora would try to dissuade her from doing something dumb, dangerous or illegal, June would always feign innocence. Trouble? Who was she? June didn't know her!

Besides, tonight was supposed to be reckless, wild and scandalous. They were going to a speakeasy after all! And since this one had rather blasphemous Biblical themes, it made all the more sense that tonight was going to be seductive and sinful. The snake was going to be slithering all around them that night, hissing songs of love and lust in the form of jazz and swing. And alcohol was going to be in every mouth.

Cora knew this, of course, she'd agreed to come along, after all. But she'd always been a bit of a goody-two-shoes, so being here felt... wrong. What if they got caught? But June blazed the trail and all Cora could do was follow after. Soon, they were lost in a crowd of sweaty, thirsty bodies, dancing and drinking the night away. The air stank of spirits and sweat, but to June and Cora both, it was almost... intoxicating.

Here, in the shadows, alongside the other outcasts of society, Cora felt free. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could be herself, and she felt like she could finally breathe.

"That's it! That's it!" June encouraged, watching the change settle over Cora. Her "Enlightening" was happening, a spiritual renaissance would follow soon! And June was more than happy to guide her through it, dragging her all over the speakeasy, shouting over the jazz as she handed Cora drink after drink to sample. Even if it was only a mouthful per drink, at the rate they were going, Cora was going to be slammed in no time.

"Well, who else am I supposed to swing dance with if you chicken out?" June teased.

"Wait, what? I'm still going to dance with you!" Cora cried suddenly.

"Not if you're sober, you're not!" June laughed. She had Cora right where she wanted her! "I wanna do drunk swing dancing!"

"Of course..." Cora rolled her eyes. Classic June.

"So either you get drunk, or I get a new partner," June continued. Cora gave her another exasperated look, but one hour and several drinks later, she was on the dancefloor with June right there by her side.

Before she knew it, she and June were both lost in a sea of drunken revelers. But despite all the discordant, unsynchronized movements and sounds, it felt perfectly rhythmic to Cora, and she got lost in the music. But the best part, by far, was watching June dance. She had the moves! Drunk though she was, she managed to stay upright and all of her moves looked surprisingly good. And almost... sexy...?

Cora was left awed and aroused as June began to perform several very sexual moves. Then suddenly, her pale green eyes were burning into Cora's blue ones. June was seducing Cora. And Cora knew it. But she was helpless to do anything other than let it happen.

"Come on, baby, let me make you feel good," June almost growled as she continued to sway her body suggestively, rubbing up against Cora.

"Mmmm," was Cora's only reply as she tipped her head back and shut her eyes. June gave her a breathy laugh before latching onto her exposed neck. Cora gasped and tensed up with pleasure, but June only gave her another laugh as she continued to kiss her neck.

June trailed down Cora's neck until she was right above the other girl's chest. Any sense of shame in Cora had vanished the moment she felt June's lips on her skin. Now all that remained was her sexuality. And as June continued to dance on her, their bodies still rubbing together as they embraced, Cora's sexuality only seemed to glow even brighter and stronger.

ooo

June and Cora were "best friends" by day, but when the moon and stars came out, so did they. The two had been in a romantic and sexual relationship for a couple of years now, starting at the end of the Roaring 20s, and even though it was now the 30s, they still enjoyed frequenting speakeasies on date night. The sexual, seductive, sinful atmosphere was just too good to resist!

As saintly and angelic as Cora was, she had a devilish side, too. Like every human, she had a dash of Original Sin hidden within her pure, perfect little heart. And just like Eve, the Forbidden Fruit was always her greatest weakness. If the speakeasy's sensual and scandalous atmosphere was the hissing snake in her ear, then the fruit was June. Of course it was. It always was. Cora could never say no to June.

Before long, she was reciprocating all of June's physical affections with just as much (if not even more) vim and vigor. It was as if all the natural and sinful desires that Cora so often suppressed were all coming out in one big blowout tonight, on the darkened dance floor of an old speakeasy. There was music in her ears, alcohol in her stomach, stars in her eyes, and June in her arms.

"This is so wrong," Cora hummed in dark satisfaction as she continued to kiss June fiercely, holding her face tightly.

"Nonsense, Cora," June replied, and just for a second, the jazz music became hushed. June pulled away from Cora with an uncharacteristically serious expression. As sensual and sexual as June was, she was far more than just a pretty body and a fiery spirit. She was also a caring heart and a wise soul. She knew of Cora's troubles, and she knew how long and hard the girl had struggled with her sexuality.

In fact, the very first romantic or sexual thing that June and Cora had ever done was to have sex. Cora had been curious, intruiged by June and her philosophies about sex and sexuality. She had asked, then she had demanded, and June had chosen to give. Before they'd ever even shared their first kiss or first date, they shared a bed. It had not been June's first time (far from it), but it had been Cora's, and she'd cried through part of it, and afterward. Torn between joy and despair, it had been an emotionally tumultuous night for her, but June had comforted her through it all, sexuality intertwined with love.

"I've told you before, Cora, human sexuality is far more complex, complicated, wonderful and nuanced than society gives it credit for. It is perfectly natural to fall in love, no matter who it is with. Sexuality is beautiful, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something we may not understand fully, but we cannot turn away from it! It is a part of our identity and, thusly, deserves to be seen and respected!" June was speaking from the heart now, passionate as she tried to remind Cora that she was perfect just the way she was. There was nothing to fear or hide, especially not here, especially not from June.

"I know, I know," Cora promised, having not meant to upset June. "I promise I was only joking."

"Joking?" June echoed.

"I'm not going through another sexuality crisis, don't worry," Cora laughed gently. "I was trying to get into the Eden vibes, you know?"

She eventually managed to calm June back down, but even if her words had left doubt in June's mind, her actions did not. As soon as she was finished clarifying, she pulled June in for another passionate kiss, and that alone was enough to convince June that Cora was perfectly fine. Even though June was, typically, the more promiscuous of the pair, Cora had her moments, too. And especially in a speakeasy, full of alcohol and high on the music and dancing, Cora's sexuality could easily match her lover's.

Cora kissed June sweet and deep. She moved her hands and body all over June's, rocking to the jazzy swing of the music. June was taken aback, but only for a moment. Then she, too, got right back into the swing of things and continued to rock the dancefloor with Cora in her hands and mouth and heart.

Down, down, down at the old speakeasy,

With giggle juice, frisking under the marquee.

The peacocks are strutting behind velvet rope,

Sipping away on their heavenly dope...

AN: AU on the Devil's Carnival where June and Cora are still alive and visiting one of the few remaining speakeasies in NYC at the cusp of the 1930s. In my headcanon, Cora is lesbian and June is bi.