While you initially expected Venelana and Rias to tease you mercilessly, as they both liked to do, it was soon evident that both ladies took their work seriously. Sure – a kiss and a hug from both was nice, but they very quickly started focusing the entirety of their attention on the process of running through your new, hideous mansion and turning it into something more photogenic. A horde of contractors, plumbers and electricians descended upon the place to get it into liveable condition. Some of the rooms were never finished before the previous owner went bust. You're here to fix that. The bank that originally handed out the loan must be very happy that some other sucker came along to take on the burden of such a silly project.
Rias is not waiting for the renovations to be complete. She has already compiled an utterly gigantic notepad filled with measurements for every window, fixture and room in the building. Dozens and dozens of empty spaces that need to be filled with something. Money is no object, and perhaps even the laws of physics considering her access to powerful magic. She also has a selection of curtain and carpet samples, which are liberally thrown onto different surfaces and compared with each other.
"I was thinking that these would be best," Rias explains. In her hands is a magazine page displaying a pair of heavy navy-blue curtains that are rather gothic in design. Several other pieces of scrap paper have been compiled into a folder; containing furniture, light fixtures and various other things like rugs and electronics. She put a hell of a lot of effort into her preparation. Venelana must have had a hand in it too.
"We can fit two couches for four here with matching cushions and fabric, and pair it with an armchair right here," she continues – pacing around the back corner of one of the living rooms. "Then a coffee table, bookshelves, and a decorative globe."
"A globe?"
"When you have this much space to play with, you can decorate it with some more eccentric items, don't you agree?"
"I guess I did give you the green light to turn this place into a real manor. Globe it is!"
Rias smiles like a kid on Christmas morning and turns with a flick of her red hair, "This is very exciting. I finally have the chance to do all of the things I wanted to do with the clubhouse."
"Why? Were you restricted?"
"Yes. Mother asked that I restrain my spending – as we had to include the budget for the renovations into the school's books. Smuggling in the leftover furniture was also a significant challenge, and convincing them to reconnect the shower's plumbing took a lot of effort."
"But you don't have to worry about that here."
"That's right. I can finally implement some of those ideas I had back then, and I don't have to compromise on getting matching furniture!" Her eyes glitter with excitement. It reminds you of the first time you met. It's going to take a lot of creative thinking to find a use for all of this room, but in the future if you somehow manage to have several dozen people wandering around freely, the space would be utilised properly.
Mitsuru will be eagerly working on expanding the scope of her technology as you speak. The day may soon come where you can have many, many more than four girls summoned at once. Hopefully it makes juggling all of them easier, though to them much less time passes in their own world versus this one. You're not really sure how that works – it's like the other universe is put on pause while they're away.
The noise coming from the floor above is getting louder by the second as the contractors get to work fixing up the essentials. Seconds after the sound of drilling and hammering starts, Venelana emerges from the top of the stairs and sashays her way down to you and Rias. Today she has decided to wear something a little more functional than her usual dress. Black business slacks that ride all the way up to her stomach and cling to her curves for dear life, topped with a frilly white blouse that strikes a balance between high-class and casual. Her cleavage can be plainly seen through the slit that runs down the middle, parting towards the collar at the top. You swear that she isn't wearing a bra, though you have been proven wrong before.
"You two really do look lovely together," she smiles, "I can just imagine the family portrait hanging in the hall now."
Rias blushes as her mother starts to wax poetic about the future again; "We're not married yet."
"How do devils even get married?" you ponder.
Venelana explains, "Originally, some of the largest families did it as an affront to the forces of heaven; there were practical benefits to a legal union as well. As the number of converted mortals grew versus full-blooded devils, the practice became more accepted as an amusement and sign of dedication."
"Of course, we cannot deliver vows to their… leader," Rias adds, "The couple is free to speak whatever they please and dress how they wish. Some prefer to skip the ceremony and have a large party to celebrate with their families."
Venelana glows with a smug aura, "I already have a collection of ideas in place for ours, Rias."
"Oh? Is that so? I hope you don't mind some of my own input into matters."
"Of course! A day that important cannot simply be left to myself. The ascendance of a new man of the house deserves a great deal of celebration. Every devil in the underworld will surely turn green with envy as both Gremory women are wedded to the same man."
They're screwing with you again. Or not; they have a bad habit of declaring their intentions out loud like this. Venelana is literally two seconds away from summoning a scrapbook and talking about wedding dresses. Venelana's teasing nature really did rub off on Rias. Part of you still finds it hard to believe that they even agree to share you without fighting like a pair of rabid cats.
Rias holds up her hand, "Oh, we should also anticipate that my peerage will join us."
Venelana nods sagely; "Yes, that is a possibility…"
"Ugh," you groan. Venelana is a calm and motherly figure, but she can be prickly when it comes to things she wants. You had to convince her not to extend the mansion any further. She wanted to build a damn skyscraper in the middle of the neighbourhood again. "How are things going upstairs?"
Venelana finally gets to the point; "Fast. I believe that most of the hard work can be done by the end of the week. Rias is already searching for appropriate items to place within. I also wish to consult you on something else, seeing as you are the future head of the Gremory clan – I want to ensure that this manor has the appropriate iconography."
"As in?"
"I have some wonderful banners that we could hang on the walls over here. Additionally, we always install a centrepiece within any of our major projects that bears the clan's symbol. This empty floor would look perfect with some tilework…."
You shrug, "Sure. Go ahead."
"But we must remember to leave space for family portraits," Rias adds, "I suspect there will be many in the future."
Venelana smiles, "Ah, that is a good observation. I will restrain myself from bringing too many of them."
It's nice to see that they're having fun. Rias has a more pensive expression now. "It's a shame that you cannot yet summon all of your lovers at the same time. I would enjoy bringing forth my entire peerage to meet you."
You haven't actually gotten that far with Koneko, Asia, Xenovia or Rossweisse (if she's even included as of this moment.) Though given how easy it was to snag Akeno and Rias – it probably won't take much effort. Xenovia in particular is presumably down bad enough to leap at you without any further input.
"Once Mitsuru is done finishing the form change system, that'll be the next thing on her list of priorities. I think working on it has given her some new ideas on how to further advance and stabilise the process."
"Wonderful! I look forward to spending time together!" Rias says, placing extra emphasis on the dirtiest part. Venelana gives her the stink eye for implying that sort of thing (in public.) You know in your bones that she's happy to do the same thing when her image isn't on the line.
Venelana straightens out her collar, "Shall we head for something to eat together? There is little need of our presence for the time being."
You grimace, "I hope you aren't expecting anything high class on such short notice."
"I am capable of consuming food that has not been prepared by a dozen members of our house staff," she insists. You're not convinced. Living in the lap of luxury has a way of robbing people of their perspective. But if she's really willing to prove it…
"Fine. I know a good place near here. Ten-minute walk."
Off you go to have a family meal.
You round the final corner out of the suburb and onto one of the many commercial streets within the inner city. Call it spiteful, but you decided to pick a place that straddled the line between an acceptable date spot and something intentionally designed to test her patience. Rias hangs off your left arm, separating you from her mother who walks on the far side.
"W-What manner of eatery is this?"
You snicker, "It's just a burger place. They're pretty good."
"I see…"
Rias has already figured out what you're doing, and is eager to join in on the fun. "Come now mother, surely you aren't uncomfortable with such a casual situation?"
You'll never forget the look on her face. Venelana is rattled. You go through the front door and take one of the booths by the window. The entire place is done up like a classic American diner, with black and white squares on the floor and polished metal stools at the bar. Venelana takes in the sights with some interest, "What an interesting floor pattern. When does the waiter take our order?"
"They don't. You have to go to the counter."
Her entire face drops. Venelana looks like you just kicked her dog. Rias is laughing so hard you think she's about to suffocate.
"You're horrible," she concludes with a pout, "Teasing your future wife like this…"