Dangerous Seduction:

Simone’s Notes:

Seduction is a popular motif in history and fiction, both as a warning of the social consequences of engaging in the behaviour or becoming its victim, and as a salute to a powerful skill. In the Bible, Eve offers the forbidden fruit to Adam. Eve is not explicitly depicted as a seductress but some extra-Biblical commentary and art promote this viewpoint. Eve herself was verbally seduced by the serpent, understood in Christianity to be Satan; the Sirens of Greek mythology lured sailors to their death by singing them to shipwreck; Cleopatra beguiled both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, Dionysus was the Greek God of Seduction and wine, and Persian queen Scheherazade saved herself from execution by story-telling. Famous male seducers, their names synonymous with sexual allure, range from Genji to James Bond. In biblical times, because unmarried females who lost their virginity had also lost much of their value as marriage prospects, the Old Testament Book of Exodus specifies that the seducer must marry his victim or pay her father to compensate him for his loss of the marriage price: "And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins." English common law defined the crime of seduction as a felony committed "when a male person induced an unmarried female of previously chaste character to engage in an act of sexual intercourse on a promise of marriage." A father had the right to maintain an action for the seduction of his daughter or the enticement of a son who left home, since this deprived him of services or earnings. In more modern times, Frank Sinatra was charged in New Jersey in 1938 with seduction, having enticed a woman "of good repute to engage in sexual intercourse with him upon his promise of marriage. The charges were dropped when it was discovered that the woman was already married." The Internet has lately given rise to more open discussion on seduction and how to achieve it, symptomatic of this is the popularity of published books like The Rules for women and The Game for men.

Tina and Edward are playing a dangerous game this spring. Tina is Team Angel and Edward is Team Devil. The object is to woo Susan to their side. Round One began on the second day of counseling.

Round One:

Tina and Edward sat in the open room, early and alone. They sat next to each other, not making eye contact. The incubus alchemist sneered to himself.

You’re here early!

Tina smiled to herself. I could say the same thing to you.

You won’t get in my way.

Whatever. You won’t have her.

We will see about that.

The doors opened up wide. Susan walked in and looked around.

“Uh… where is everyone else?” she asked.

“Oh, we’re a bit early,” Tina replied. The sex addict blinked.

“Why?” she asked.

“We figured that we would all start an independent therapy,” Edward lied. Tina glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Lying bastard!, she thought.

“Is… this okay with Dr. Howard?” Susan asked.

“I’ve already called her,” Tina cut in. “She approved this morning.” The alchemist clinched his automail fist.

Nice try, bitch.

Tina smirked at him quickly before turning back to the target.

“Of course,” she said. “If you’re not comfortable with this set-up, you can just wait for the others to arrive.” Susan looked at Edward and then Tina and Edward again. She slowly dropped her shoulders. The poor woman walked forward to them and pulled up a chair. They both gave her calm smiles.

“So nice of you to join us,” Tina replied. Susan felt herself trembling in her seat. She had not been used to having the spotlight focused on her in a judgmental way. This feels like high school all over again, she thought.

“Alright,” she said. “So, let’s start.” Edward saw the look on her face.

“What’s the matter?” he asked. Susan forced herself to smile.

“Nothing,” she lied. “I feel fine.” The emerald green balls of her earrings bounced against her cheeks as she shook her head.

“Susan,” Edward said. “In order to get better, you have to be honest with yourself and everyone around you.” Tina touched her on the knee.

“It’s okay Susan,” she said. “Just take your time with it.” Painful memories flooded the sex addict’s mind. The heart-tearing twenty-three secret that had stayed buried between her and her father. The endless quest to fill the hole in her heart with many men. The disgusted looks some of those men’s wives gave her after their affairs had been busted up. The scars on her wrists from the cuts that she gave herself as a teenager. The failed suicide attempt that landed her in counseling in the first place. The guilt. The misery. The emptiness.

Susan broke down into tears. Edward patted her on the shoulder. He jumped into the crack and rooted in his poison.

“Shhh, it’s okay,” he whispered. “You and I can talk about this later, okay?” Susan whimpered as she nodded with her make-up buried face equally buried in her hands. Edward cradled her in his arms. He glanced at Tina with a smirk. The deity’s eyes just burned.

I will not let you take advantage of her through her past!, she thought. Time to get tougher and sink her nails in deep to drag Susan back into the light.

Round One Winner: Edward Elric

Score: Edward: 1 Tina: 0

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