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Where Your Heart May Blossom
Audrey's third day in the Rose Bowers
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The timer beeps. It's officially her third day.

She closes her coloring book and puts her colored pencils away.

She orders some Aphrodia juice and slurps it through a straw. 

... mmmmm. Alright, time to take on the day.

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Call someone, eat some food, or what...?

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Her phone rings!

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"Uh, hello?"

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"Hey, it's Lazrian. From the cuddlepile. You remember me and Sunshine? We have a proposal we'd like to make you over some breakfast, if you'd be interested in hearing us out?"

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"... sure, I'll come listen. I need to eat breakfast anyway."

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"Great! I'll see you there. And make sure to bring your hourglass."

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"Um, okay."

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Click.

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She... doesn't know where exactly she's going, but she only knows one breakfast place. She'll trust the Bowers and try the Brunch Munch again and hope Lazrian shows.

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They are, in fact, there before her, all snuggled up on one side of a booth with Sunshine right beside them.

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Sunshine waves a dark-skinned hand and smiles. "Come sit down," they say.

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Audrey slides into the other side of the booth with them and smiles back. "Hi you two. I think I can guess what you want to ask me, but go ahead and tell me anyway."

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"Let's have food first. Sunshine is shy."

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"I'm not, Laz just wants to get at the pancakes."

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"Why don't you explain it then while I order?"

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"Alright. So, Audrey."

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"Mhm?"

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"Excuse me if I miss my guess, but... You're something close to genderqueer. Parts don't matter much to you as long as people respect your pronouns and you have a face and body you like."

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"I'm pretty firmly a girl, that's not in question, but yes, I seem to enjoy having a cock or a pussy about equally."

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"That plus being cool about nonbinary things is surprisingly rare. We've been here a week and a half and you're only the second person like that we've met."

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"There's Kumi, don't forget her."

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"I don't count the escorts, they're supposed to be super flexible."

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"Hey, escorts are people too, they count."

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"Alright, I concede the point. Anyway, as I was about to say..."

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"... you two have been looking for a versatile third?"

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"Yes. Exactly."

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"Obviously it's a bit of a tall ask to start things off with a threesome, but we're kind of a package deal."

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"Heh, 'package.'"

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Lazrian swats Sunshine lightly with the back of their hand.

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Sunshine just grins. 

"So, what do you think?"

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"Well, um. It's a bit complicated by the fact that I've never done a threesome before, much less with strangers. So why don't you let me eat my waffles and I'll get a verdict to you at the end of them."

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"Sounds fair."

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She takes her five minutes and really thinks hard about it while she eats her waffle.

When the last of her berries is gone, she puts down her knife and fork and gathers herself. 

"... no," she says. "Because, and sorry if this is blunt, I'm not attracted to you, Sunshine. Lazrian is my type but I'm afraid I'd spend all my time on them; I don't want to treat you as just an acessory to getting to have sex with them."

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"Drat."

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"And when you put that together with the inexperience..."

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"Yeah, it feels like a bad mix. It probably wouldn't be fun for anyone if we tried it."

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"... Sunshine?"

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"... Oh, go ahead and have your fun. We tried."

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"Would you be interested in me alone?"

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"... Yes, I would be. But not right now."

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"A little stressed from the negotiation? That's perfectly fine."

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"Yeah basically."

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"I'll call you later."

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Some heat rises to her cheeks. "Later. And I'll see you around."

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"Bye!"

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Audrey steps out and goes back to her rooms. 

Well, that was interesting. She can't believe she turned down her first threesome. When is another opportunity like that going to happen?

... well, she could always make it happen...

She goes and sits on a beanbag she conjures and sips at some juice.

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... She could always try the Blackberry Gardens.

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But...

What if it forces something on her? What if she doesn't like it? What if it puts her in an awkward position in front of Rose, or Lily? What if...?

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... It wouldn't force something on her. She can always say no. She'd like it, just like she's liked everything the Bowers has given her so far. It wouldn't embarrass her, just like it hasn't had her happen on someone else while nude here in the hotel. 

... but it might give her her little kink.

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... she needs therapy. She can't even admit to what she wants, much less accept it being given to her. That's... not healthy. 

It's not what Sunaira would want for her, says a voice in the back of her head. 

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Getting therapy may be humiliating and ridiculous, but it's probably her best bet at this point, sad to say. 

She runs a hand through her hair. What is her life.

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Alright let's get serious about this. Can she do this? Should she do this?

Yes, she can. She's a big girl and she's had awkwarder conversations in the service of her transition. 

And yes, she should. This is the time. She's unlikely to get better help than here. 

So...

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Let's do it, then. 

She picks up her phone and places a call to Tasha.

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"Sorry, I'm unavailable!", chirps the recording on the other end of the line. "If you want to set up an appointment, call the central bookings service at 555-0619, not my personal number. Thank you!"

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Alright, she'll try that then.

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"Hello? You've reached the Bowers Sex Therapy Centre, Dr. Clematis speaking. Can I help you?"

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That's not who she was expecting to get but she'll roll with it. 

"I was looking into doing some therapy for a... kink I'm having difficulty accomodating or accepting."

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"You're in luck," says Clematis. "That's my exact line of work. Would you like to come in in person or would you prefer to speak over the phone? I have an hour open, so..."

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"... Over the phone would be better for me." She flops into bed. 

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"Alright. And you'd like your appointment to start...?"

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"Now, please. Or as close to that as you have."

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"I have 'now', as it turns out. So... shall I just get right to it?"

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"Please."

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"So, what's the kink you're having trouble accomodating?"

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"... I'm a little," she says. Her voice wavers.

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"Ah. And you're having trouble with it because?"

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"Because it's... taboo and wrong. And embarassing and I worry that it'll hurt how others see me."

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"What's taboo about it? Pretend for a moment that I'm a starfish."

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"That you're a starfish? Uh, okay, I get your point. ... it's taboo because I'm pretending to be a category of person for whom it's morally and legally wrong to have sex. Children aren't supposed to have sex, when it happens it's violence towards them."

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"Why?"

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"Because children can't consent."

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"Why not?"

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"Because... there's such a dramatic power imbalance between them and adults that it's essentially never not coerced."

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"But it's fine for children to have sex with each other?"

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"That never happens because children are too young to have sexual urges."

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"So if you can have sexual urges you're by definition an adult?"

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"No, of course not -"

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"I'm on your side here. We have to examine the things that 'everybody knows' here in order to make progress. I promise I am not attempting to seduce you into something awful."

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"Okay, yeah. People start being able to consent when they turn eighteen."

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"Why 18?"

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"... because a hard line had to be drawn somewhere, right -" 

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"It's not arbitrary that it's at the cutoff for adulthood, adulthood is a complex concept and it matters, right - but it's at the center of some fuzzy distribution, and could and has been drawn lower at some times. So let's set aside for the moment the category of "always children", say twelve and below, and look at the "sometimes children" in the six years between. Why can't you fuck a fourteen year old?"

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"... Because fourteen-year-olds are really stupid."

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"And six year olds are even dumber?"

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"Yeah that tracks."

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"So what's wrong with an adult woman in full control of her faculties deciding to roleplay like she's fourteen?"

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Audrey winces, then thinks. 

"It... erodes the protections on children?"

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"How so?"

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"Someone might confuse the two."

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"How tall are you?"

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"Five foot ten."

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"Ever seen a six year old who was five foot ten?"

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"... no."

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"So you're not concerned about the 'always children' category here, you're concerned about the 'sometimes children'."

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"Yeah, that sounds about right."

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"Do you ever intend to do little roleplay somewhere with actual teenagers present?"

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"Fuck no."

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"So what's the harm?"

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"There... doesn't seem to be one."

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"Do you still feel like it's taboo?"

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"Yes."

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"Why?"

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"Because other people aren't going to have a sit-down with their therapist and calmly decide it's fine, now are they."

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"Audrey, I have it in my client files here that you're trans. Is that right?"

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"Yes?"

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"And you've transitioned?"

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"Yeah."

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"Did transphobia stop you?"

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"Fuck no."

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"So why are you letting what other people think get to you on your little kink?"

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"Because, um... I wasn't sure myself it was okay."

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"Are you more confident now?"

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"Yeah, I guess so..."

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"That's probably the best we can do for you this session without magic, I'm afraid. Let's move on to the next issue - you said you were embarrassed by it?"

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"Yeah."

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"Is that part of the kink for you?"

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Squeak!

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"Did I touch a nerve, there?"

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"Yes."

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"So for you, the little kink has a humiliation aspect?"

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"Yes."

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"Is there anything wrong with that?"

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"...no?"

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"Does it get in the way for you, the embarrassment?"

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"Yes, definitely."

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"It sounds like you could benefit from some practice asking for embarrassing things." 

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"... yeah."

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"Okay, so. What do you want to be able to do?"

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"I want to be able to... ask someone to treat me like a child during sex."

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"Be more specific than that. How?"

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"I want... to make a pillow fort with someone and then have sex in it. To color with someone. To drink aphrodia juiceboxes during aftercare and turn it into middlecare. For someone to brush my hair again. To cuddle someone as the little spoon. To... be in a smaller body..." 

She stumbles. 

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"It's not unusual for people to put on roleplay bodies here in the Bowers, don't think that you're weird for that."

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"... okay."

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"I think that makes a very natural one hundred on our exposure scale. Of what you've listed so far, what's easiest?"

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"Probably being the little spoon."

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"And above that?"

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"Having my hair brushed."

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"Keep going."

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"Then coloring, then sex in a pillow fort, then... probably something with namecalling... then trying a roleplay body at the extreme high end."

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"That sounds like a good exposure therapy plan to me. What are you so far comfortable with?"

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"... I can handle hairbrushing and cuddling."

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"Okay. I'm going to give you an assignment, and that is to go to your assigned therapeutic escort - I believe Tasha's working with me this week - and ask them to color with you. Can you do that? Does it seem like too much of a stretch?"

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"No, I think I can do that. It helps that I know Tasha."

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"Well, the Bowers organizes things like that for us sometimes. Is there anything else you'd like me to cover?"

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"No, I, um... I think I'm good!"

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"Well thank you for calling. Please try to finish your assignment and get back to me promptly, okay?"

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"Okay!"

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"It's been a pleasure serving you." Click.

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She puts down the phone. 

... that could've gone much worse.

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Her phone rings.

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"Hello?"

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"Hi, this is Tasha. I'm just calling to confirm our appointment three hours from now?

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"Yeah, that'll work for me."

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"Okay thanks bye!"

There's a giggle on the other end of the phone line before it cuts out.

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Well, at least somebody is having a good time. 

... What to do for three hours?

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There's Lily, and Hannah, and Kelp if she's feeling brave... She's not feeling brave. Hannah would be nice... but really right now she's looking for some nonsexual cuddles. 

Kumi? She could... 

Ugh, having to make choices.

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Her phone rings.

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"Hello?"

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"Hi, it's Lily!"

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"Oh, Lily! Wonderful to hear from you, I was just wondering what to do for three hours until an appointment. Would you like to come over to my room for a date in? I could use some cuddles."

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"I'm... not really in a cuddly mood, Audrey."

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"Are you saying you wanted something more than cuddles or something less than cuddles?"

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"... oh, I don't know. I just... I wanted to see you, I don't know what for."

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"Alright. Maybe come over and we can talk in person?"

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"Yeah, I think I will."

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"Room 30. See you soon."

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"See you."

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She cuddles up in bed to wait.

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And soon there is a knock at the door!

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She flops out of bed and goes and pulls the door open.

"Hey Lily!"

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Lily looks back over her shoulder before coming in. She's wearing her black dress and picking at a thread on the hem. 

"Hello, Audrey." She sounds relieved.

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Audrey closes the door behind her.

"You seem... distracted. Is something wrong?"

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"Just my own nerves getting to me. You remember how we had that talk about bottoming?"

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"Yeah, of course I do."

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"I've been doing some therapy work since I saw you last on... control issues. It's... are we..." 

She trails off and sighs.

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Audrey takes Lily's hand. "I was just at therapy a few minutes ago, myself. I know it's not easy. And if you want to talk about it, I'm here for you."

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"... Are we girlfriends?"

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"I'm not sure. I don't really... know you well enough, to be sure. But we're dating pretty seriously. And we're sexually compatible. So..."

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"Would you like to be?"

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"... I think I could try it."

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"Okay. Can I dump some stuff on you? From my therapy?"

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"Are you going to expect me to share my therapy back?"

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"No, of course not."

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"Okay, cool. You can, if you want to."

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"Alright. 

So, my dad was kind of an asshole. Controlling, violent. Strict and demanding. Always wanted my time. So I built a fortress of my studies and I didn't come out. Learned to be controlling like him just to survive. And... I'm terrified of being like him, and at the same time I love it and it gets me off. So, like... I've got issues."

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"Damn, that sounds rough." She squeezes Lily's hand.

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"Tell me about it.

Anyway, I've been given an assignment to explore more options. To let down my guard a little. And they assigned me an escort for it but - I needed somebody I could trust. So I called you. And then I waffled like the - positive self-talk." She takes a breath. "Like the troubled young woman I am."

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"... I'm sorry, but I can't help you with that," says Audrey. "It's above my pay grade. What if it goes wrong? I don't want to - let my inexperience get in the way of your growth."

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"... I guess that's wise."

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"Do you want to snuggle?"

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"That's one of the things I have trouble with, actually. It's been fine with you so far, but - usually I'm a lot more touch-averse."

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"But it's fine with me."

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"... but it's fine with you."

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"Lily, please hug me."

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... she steps in, and hugs Audrey.

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Audrey lets her arms settle around Lily in a losse embrace.

"This isn't so bad, is it?"

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Lily nuzzles in. 

"No. No it's not at all."

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Audrey gently pats and strokes Lily's back.

"Shhh," she says. "It'll be alright."

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"Mhm." Nuzzle.

"... You're good for me."

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Blush. "Thank you."

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"... I shouldn't take up any more of your time."

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"You stay safe out there, alright?"

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"Alright."

She unhugs.

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Audrey unhugs as well. 

"... See you."

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"See you."

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Audrey gets the door for Lily.

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And she's gone.

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No sooner than she's out the door, Audrey's phone rings again.

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Convenient timing, there. She picks up.

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"Hey, it's Hannah. I was wondering if you were up for something?"

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"... Cuddles and maybe soft sex?"

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"Sure, whatever you want."

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"Your room or mine?"

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"Mine, I think."

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"Alright. I'll be over in just a minute."

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"See you soon!"

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Is she going to bother with clothes? No, she's not going to bother with clothes. It'll be a nice surprise for Hannah.

She walks over to Hannah's room nude and knocks on the door.

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Hannah opens the door and grins. "Hey. Nice to see all of you."

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Audrey blushes and ducks her head. "You like it?"

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"I like you, and that spluttering bravery of yours is really endearing. I like the new necklace too. Come inside." She steps back.

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Audrey's hand goes to her sex-swap pendant. "Oh. Yeah, you can see that when I'm not wearing clothes..."

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Hannah giggles. "More concerned about your jewellery than your modesty, hm?~"

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"This is the Rose Bowers. It's not so weird. Anyway I should stop standing in the hallway..."

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Hannah's room has shifted since last she saw it. Now there's no bed, just a wide pit full of pillows in the center of the room. A gold chandelier hangs overhead, and an aquarium has been set up along one of the room's walls. The VR console from before is no longer in evidence. 

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"You've really changed the place up, haven't you?"

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"Yeah, I was hosting an orgy and haven't changed it back yet."

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"You know, I was offered a threesome earlier today and I turned it down..."

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"Why?"

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"Wasn't attracted to one of the participants."

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"That's a shame. But... it got you thinking?"

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"Yeah. It's... kind of a big step... but you organize things like that all the time. So maybe do you have any advice?"

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"It helps for everyone to know each other beforehand. If hypothetically I wanted to have a threesome with you I'd probably bring on one of the Bower escorts that I know, like Cheri or Ansuz, because they're experienced, used to being shared, and would make for a good first threesome for you."

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"... Do you know Kumi or Ishaza?"

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"Ishaza I've heard of but never booked, she's very exclusive. Kumi I know! Would you like to maybe...?"

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"Um... It's a little much for me all at once, but... maybe?"

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"Would you mind if I called her over so we could all talk about it in person?"

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"No, not at all!"

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Hannah opens up her phone. 

"Hey Kumi! Yeah, I was looking for a consult for a potential threesome for you and me and Audrey, you know her? Great. Are you free? Fantastic. Alright, see you in ten? Okay, see you soon."

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Audrey smiles nervously and takes a seat in the...  orgy pit, apparently. 

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"Want anything while you wait? A pop, a root beer? Some snuggles?"

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"Root beer and snuggles sounds nice."

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"Alright." Hannah takes a few strides over to the console, punches in her order. Comes back with two chilled bottles of root beer and a bottle opener. She sits down next to Audrey, pops off the top of a bottle for her, and passes it over. Then she undoes her own bottle and takes a swig. 

She shimmies her shoulders a bit, getting comfy, and lays her head atop Audrey's shoulder. 

"This is nice," she says.

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Audrey blushes a little at the skin-to-skin contact. (Hannah, as ever, is only wearing a bikini bottom.) 

She takes a swig of her own bottle of root beer, and shifts her legs over so they're in Hannah's lap.

"Yeah," she says. "This is pretty cool."

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Hannah holds up her bottle of root beer. "Cheers."

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Clink. "Cheers."

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"So, any good new stories? Aside from the threesome thing?"

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"I got dicked down by a siren girl underwater."

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"Oh cool. Do they really have two, or...?"

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"Yes, they really have two!"

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"Nice. Could you maybe put us in touch...?"

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"I'll mention you to her the next time I'm with her."

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"Cool."

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There's a knock at the door.

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"Come in!" calls Hannah, and the door unlocks.

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Kumi comes in and sits down in the orgy pit across from Hannah and Audrey.

"So," she says. "I see you haven't cleaned the place up since I was here last."

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"And a lucky thing that's turned out to be, hasn't it?"

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Audrey just blushes.

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"So, you wanted to talk about a potential threesome?"

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"Yeah, um... I'm kind of the sticking point, because I've never had a threesome before and I'm kind of nervous. But I'd like to? It's just intimidating."

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"... There's nothing super complicated about a threesome other than that it's got a third person in it."

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"Yes, well. That is the hard part."

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"Fortunately you called in an expert. Tell me, Audrey. Assuming you still want this... have you ever been touched in front of somebody else before?"

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Bluuuuuuuush. "No, no I haven't."

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"Would you be willing to try?"

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"Um. Maybe."

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"You're doing well at the nudity thing. That says you can manage some more showing off, right?"

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She nods hesitantly.

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"Are we being pressurey?"

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"A little, but it's a good kind of pressure, I think. I do want to... get out there and be more sexually adventurous, and a threesome is, like, the classic thing..."

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"It's a kink like any other. I personally enjoy it, but then, I'm an escort."

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Blushhhhhh. "Am I the only person in the room who hasn't had a threesome? - scratch that stupid question."

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"As you can see, threesomes are not actually all that weird. Less weird than your scene with the siren."

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"... You know what, that's true. That's just completely true. 

Okay, I want to actually do this. Kumi, can you... ease me in?"

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"Why don't we start with the two of you exploring a bit while I watch."

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"... ok."

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"Or we could start with just you masturbating."

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"No, I, um..." 

She turns her face and kisses Hannah's cheek. "I like this."

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"Alright." 

Hannah turns to meet Audrey's lips with hers.

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Mmm. 

She glances back at Kumi.

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Kumi meets her gaze and smiles.

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Okay so she's being watched. 

... She fiddles with her pendant and sets it back to flower, and her cock returns.

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"More comfortable this way?"

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"More obvious, now that we have the classic arrangement."

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The side of Hannah's mouth quirks. "You or me on top?"

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"You, please."

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"Feeling a bit lazy, are we? I suppose I can indulge you." 

She rolls over atop Audrey, straddling her with her long brown hair hanging down into her face. Hannah's pussy presses in firmly against Audrey's cock. 

Hannah's hand falls to Audrey's shaft, and starts to stroke it softly.

"Everything you wanted?~" She teases.

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"Mmm, pretty good."

Her hands go to Hannah's breasts, stroking and squeezing, and she presses up to steal another kiss.

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Kumi disrobes and sits back to watch with her cock in her hand.

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She can feel Kumi's gaze on her. 

It feels good

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Hannah sighs and pulls a bottle of lube down from the rim of the orgy pit. Squeezing it into her fingers, she smears it all over Audrey's rock-hard cock, then tosses her head back and grins down at her. 

"Ready, cutie?"

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"Oh definitely."

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Hannah lowers herself down onto Audrey's shaft, and lets out a little moan.

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"You two seem like you're getting along well."

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Audrey meets Kumi's gaze and blushes. 

"... yeah, we are."

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"Mind if I take her ass?"

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"Uhm, go ahead!"

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Hannah leans forwards and kisses Audrey -

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- and Kumi's lubed-up cock slides right into place.

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"Ooh. I felt that!"

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"Fuck I'm so full."

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Audrey grins and nibbles at Hannah's shoulder.

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Kumi starts thrusting slowly.

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Audrey takes the hint and joins in.

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Hannah moans and moves back and starts finding a rhythm for her own hips against both Kumi and Audrey's.

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Kumi leans in and kisses Audrey over Hannah's shoulder.

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Mmmmmmm. 

This is actually really nice.

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Hannah squirms against Audrey and Kumi, the meat in a girlcock sandwich, and moans prettily for the both of them. 

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Audrey spends herself inside Hannah pretty quickly, overcome by everything. She pants raggedly.

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Kumi finishes inside Hannah's ass and the three of them flop over sideways in a tangle of limbs.

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"That was great."

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Hannah kisses her with tongue.

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Mmmmnf. 

"... Another round?"

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"This time you get to be the middle of the sandwich." Kumi pulls out with a little pop of suction as her knot comes free, and she passes an aftercare potion to Audrey. "If you're up for that, I mean."

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"Sounds good to me."

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"You know what, sure."

She flips her pendant to the hourglass side.

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Hannah pets Audrey's new pussy, stroking her as she kisses her. Her fingers slide in a V just to either side of Audrey's clit, teasing but not quite touching the oversensitive nub.

"Enjoying the attention, huh? I saw you looking at Kumi earlier; don't lie to me, you like others' eyes on you while you're enjoying yourself." She grins and kisses Audrey's cheek. 

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Kumi slides in to Audrey's side and wraps her tails firmly around her waist. One of her tails slips in next to Hannah's teasing hand and adds little flicking touches directly on Audrey's clitoris. 

"I think you're right, Hannah. We've found ourselves a regular ex-hi-bitionist. I wonder how much convincing it'd take to get you up on a stage. Probably not much.~" She giggles and kisses Audrey's other cheek. 

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Hannah's rubbing fingers produce a thankful sigh, while Kumi's added tail-flicks pry a moan from Audrey's lips. She flushes terribly red at the pair's teasing words, but snuggles in closer to Kumi anyway. 

"Alright, you got me, I like being watched. But you're not, ah, getting me up on a, mmm, stage, anytime soon."

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Hannah shifts back, still stroking at Audrey's sex. Her free hand goes to Audrey's right breast, thumb caressing in little figure-eights over her nipple. 

"Enough space for you?", she asks Kumi.

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Kumi wraps an arm around Audrey's back, and with a heavy tug from her tails and a bit of a lift, she pulls Audrey onto her. 

"Looks like it," she says, her hard cock flopping against Audrey's pussy. "Oil of malleability, if you would?~"

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"Wait, you're not going to try and fit two cocks into my pussy, are you?"

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Hannah shakes her head. "No, we're just going to try to fit one cock and a strap into your pussy. Much different. And with the oil it'll be easy, trust us."

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"... okay. Go ahead."

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"... Yellow, sorry. I'm hearing stress from Audrey there, and I'm not really comfortable with that. Audrey, are you really okay with this?"

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"Nonotreally."

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"Red. Scene's over, folks, my mistake."

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Hannah sighs. "I don't know wether to be ticked off at you, Kumi, or apologetic to Audrey for going along with it. You should know better, you're an escort -"

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"Sunaira doesn't make us infallible. Can you give Audrey some space?"

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"Oh, yes." She rolls over sideways into the pit so she's sitting next to Kumi and Audrey. "This okay?"

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Audrey flops off Kumi in the other direction. "Yeah, this is okay. I... don't feel satisfied, but I think it's worth talking through what happened."

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"What happened is I got a brilliant idea in the middle of sex and just went and tried it. Some amount of that is necessary for good sex, but I should have been more cautious around you, Audrey, since it was your first time and all. If I'd just asked none of this would have happened."

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"Okay. Ask now, now that we're not in a scene."

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"Audrey, may I double-penetrate your pussy along with Hannah?"

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"No, I'm not cool with that. I'm barely cool with my pussy as it is, let alone stretching its limits. It's great, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I feel... complicated gender feelings there."

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"I don't doubt it. And alright. Are you okay with being in the middle?"

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"Oh yeah, for sure."

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"Then were you expecting us to use both your pussy and your ass?"

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Blushhhhh. "Yes. And I was okay with that. Better than okay."

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"Do you want to try again?"

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"I'm not sure I'm okay with that, it feels like pressuring her -"

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"I'm a big girl and I can make my own decisions. I want you in my ass and Hannah in my cunt. Is that okay?"

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"s'okay with me!"

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Kumi pauses, looking searchingly at Audrey.

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Audrey holds her gaze.

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"Alright, let's do it."

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"Yes!"

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Hannah giggles. 

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"So, which of us do you want on top? Or - really that's not a simple question here. What position would you like?"

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"I would like to ride Hannah's cock cowgirl and have you come up from behind me to put it in my ass, like you were doing me doggy."

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Kumi grins. "I can do that. Hannah?"

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"No objections from me!"

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Audrey gets up and comes around Kumi, then sits down on Hannah's lap.

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Hannah smiles. Her hands roam across Audrey's body; they stroke at her breasts, underneath her arms, and finally settle firmly on her thighs. One of her thumbs slides across Audrey's clit. 

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Kumi, meanwhile, comes up behind Audrey and lets her knotted cock fall against her ass. Her left hand rests in the curve just above Audrey's hip; her right grabs a fistful of Audrey's pink hair. She presses her lips against Audrey's nape in a firm kiss. 

"Still good?" She whispers. 

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Audrey nods just slightly; she's busy kissing Hannah. Her hands brace her as she leans forwards and sways her ass a little from side to side.

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Hannah reaches out to the side, still kissing Audrey, and finds a strapless and a bottle of lube. She reaches down between her legs to pop the strapless' bulb into her cunt; it's a little awkward with Audrey atop her, but she manages.

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Kumi steals the lube; she smears a generous dollop onto her cock and reaches around to get Hannah's strapless. With patient effort and more lube, she works two fingers into Audrey's backdoor.

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Audrey moans into Hannah's mouth; her sex clenches around nothing as her head pulls against the fist in her hair. 

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Hannah strokes Audrey's back and pulls away from the kiss. She presses her faux cock against Audrey's cunt. 

"Last chance to back out.~"

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Kumi kisses the back of Audrey's ear, and lines up her knotted cock with her backdoor. 

"After this there's no going back."

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"Do you really want it?"

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"Yes," says Audrey breathlessly. "Give it to me."

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"You heard the lady."

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"Mmmhm."

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Kumi and Hannah both push into Audrey at once, slow and controlled until both cock and strapless hilt inside her.

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"Oh, fuck -" 

Audrey wriggles a little, but between the cocks inside her and the hands all over her she doesn't have much of a range of motion. She only succeeds at bouncing a little bit.

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Kumi lets out a pant of hot breath directly in her ear - 

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- and Hannah kisses at her collarbone - 

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- and together they thrust - 

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- and Audrey cries out and clings to Hannah, clenching hard around both cocks inside her -

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- and Kumi rakes her hands through Audrey's hair - 

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- and Hannah moans, low and liquid -

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- and that sets Audrey off, shivering and jerking as much as she can pinned between Hannah and Kumi, her knuckles going white on the rim of the orgy pit. 

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"Did somebody come?~"

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"I think she did.~"

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An affirmative moan slips from Audrey's lips.

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"Now now dear, use your words." Kumi's cock twitches inside Audrey's backdoor.

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"FuckIcame."

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"Color?~"

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"Green. Definitely green."

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Kumi thrusts again, starting to build a rhythm.

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Hannah thrusts as well, her strap forming a back-and-forth twin piston motion with Kumi's cock: when she's withdrawing, Kumi's thrusting in, and vice versa.

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Kumi coos and smiles appreciatively at Hannah, feeling her strap grind against her cock through Audrey's inner walls. After a few thrusts, she darts forwards and kisses her.

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Hannah mmms into Kumi's mouth and keeps up the pace.

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Audrey just tries to hang on through the incredible sensations of being double fucked. The hands all over her, the cocks inside her - it's amazing she hasn't come again. 

Oh wait, she's cumming again. 

She doesn't manage more than a particularly lusty moan and a hard clench around the cocks inside her.

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Hannah moans in response, her synthcock's feedback washing over her like lightning; she buries her face in Audrey's shoulder and thrusts, one, two, three, four more times as she rides the ragged edge of orgasm and finally tips over.

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Kumi keeps up a slow, firm pace, her knot a little swollen but nowhere near hilting. She keeps going until Hannah stops, then slows to a halt deep inside Audrey.

"... You two enjoy yourselves?~"

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"Yes."

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"Mhmmmmm."

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"Color?"

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"Oh, green."

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"Yellow."

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"More details, Audrey?"

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"Need to get my cock out, feels wrong to have a pussy this long."

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"We can do that." She pulls out of Audrey's ass, her knot deflating, and flops into the pillow-lined orgy pit.

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"You were wonderful."

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Audrey blushes. "Aww, thanks." She pushes herself back, off of Hannah's strap, and reverses her pendant back to the flower. When she flops down into a pillow drift she has her cock back, with no trace of the pussy Hannah so recently filled.

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"That was fun," says Kumi. "Do you two want to go again or would you prefer to leave it at that?"

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"Ask me once I've gotten an aftercare potion in me." She reaches up to the rim of the orgy pit to grab a bottle.

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"Fair, fair. And you, Hannah?"

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"I need a potion and a little break would be nice but I'm cool with continuing."

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"Don't let me stop you, go ahead." Kumi grabs a potion for herself as well, cracks the seal and glugs it down.

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Audrey drinks her own potion a little more slowly, but it goes all the same.

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Hannah is more in the "chug it" category.

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Kumi produces a cleansing wand and zaps everybody for good measure.

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"I... think I want to sit this one out. But I'd like to watch you two go at it. Is that cool?"

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"Sure, I'm cool with putting on a show."

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"Works for me."

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"Okay!~"

Audrey hops up onto the edge of the orgy pit and dangles her legs in. 

"Go on and get to it, then."

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Hannah shares a look with Kumi.

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Kumi smiles and beckons.

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Hannah comes over and straddles Kumi's lap, running a hand through her hair to get it out of her face.

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Kumi squeezes her thighs appreciatively, and nuzzles in against her shoulder with a kiss.

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"Ready? Think I'm plenty slick enough..."

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"Let's." 

Kumi adjusts her cock carefully with one hand and then slips inside. 

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Hannah turns her head and kisses her. 

She moves slowly, gently.

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Kumi prrrrrrrrrrrrrrs, like a real cat. She kisses back softly, and keeps her hands on Hannah's thighs, bracing her through the subtle movements. 

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(Audrey, meanwhile, has started touching herself gently, her thumb against the head of her cock making sharp, precise movements.)

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Kumi hugs Hannah close to her, and keeps thrusting.

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Hannah sighs and keeps grinding on her cock, pressing her head into Kumi's shoulder. 

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Kumi strokes Hannah's back softly as she keeps up the slow rhythm.

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Hannah kisses Kumi's cheek and follows along like a good girl.

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Audrey watches with a soft smile on her face. 

She'd expected something more... more. But this is good too. It feels... kind of incredible, to see something this intimate happening right in front of her.

She keeps touching gently. She's in no rush.

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Kumi keeps her gentle pace up, bringing Hannah by inches closer to orgasm.

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Hannah drapes herself over Kumi and languorously kisses her and moans quietly. 

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Kumi sighs back and wraps her tails around Hannah's hips and lets her hands go explore her breasts.

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"You two? Hurry it up a little."

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Hannah glances over at Audrey, grins, and hastens her pace.

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Kumi speeds up to match her, still preoccupied with her breasts.

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"That's better." 

Audrey takes her cock more firmly in hand, and starts stroking in earnest. 

"Hannah, lean back a little more, I want to see those tits of yours bouncing."

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She obliges with a little hairflip and a smile. 

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Kumi drops her hands to let Hannah's breasts bounce freely, instead stroking at her clit.

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"Everybody still good?~"

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"Better than." Hannah moans.

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Kumi's knot is swelling. She winks. "What she said."

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"Kumi? Pin her down and pound your seed into her."

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Kumi shifts, and the pair of them fall over in an undignified heap, her cock still inside Hannah.

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Hannah moans and kisses at Kumi's muzzle and wiggles her hips invitingly.

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As promised, Kumi starts to thrust her hips. Hard. 

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... which reduces Hannah to a whimpering mess in about five seconds.

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Audrey watches appreciatively.

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It's not long before Hannah cums - 

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- which sets off Kumi, her knot sticking inside Hannah. 

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"My turn."

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Kumi pulls out and flops over with a satisfied mmm.

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Audrey takes her place and starts pumping away.

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Hannah comes quickly, overstimulated from the previous round -

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- and Audrey sighs as she finally relases what she'd been holding back while watching.

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Kumi wraps the pair of them up in her tails and smiles. 

"Another round?"

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Audrey's phone rings.

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"Mhhhmmmmm I should get that."

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Kumi lets her go.

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She pulls out and goes to pick up her phone, which is apparently on the edge of the orgy pit for some reason. It's a little weird that it's here, but... She supposes the Bowers teleports all other sorts of things...

"Hello?"

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"Hey, it's Tasha. I'm just calling to inform you that your therapy appointment is in fifteen minutes; would you like to meet me at my office or in your own room?"

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"My own room please. And thank you for the call."

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"Something come up?" asks Hannah.

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"Therapy appointment. I'll have to bow out, sorry all. That was lovely."

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"Don't mention it."

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"We'd be glad to have you back."

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Audrey beams. "Thank you! And now for the cleanup..." 

The Bowers provides a cleaning wand and an aftercare potion for her; she takes a slug and casually flicks away her mess, and then she's out the door and on her way back to her own room.

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She spends her remaining ten minutes before Tasha arrives having a calming shower, and she's just towelling off when there's a knock at the door. 

She answers the door topless with a towel around her waist and her hair still dripping. "Hello?"

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"Hello! You seem to have gotten much more casual since I last saw you. Nice work! What's on our agenda today, and may I come in?"

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Audrey flushes a little as she steps back and opens the door. "Yeah, it's nice. And... our assignment for right now is for us to color together."

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Tasha steps inside. "I'm guessing that's as part of accepting your little kink?"

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"Er um yes."

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"Don't worry, I've seen plenty stranger things. And I like playing with littles from time to time. They can be... charming, if not exactly innocent."

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Audrey laughs. "Yeah, we can be a handful sometimes, huh?"

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Tasha smiles. "Just so."

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Audrey spreads out her art supplies on a large desk she's picked out for the occasion. "I have a couple artbooks, stuff that's from my personal collection, not so much from the Bower collection..."

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Tasha steps in and sits down at the desk. She reaches for one of the books and flips through it. 

"You like fantasy, huh? And less risque ones."

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"Yeah. Could you... put that down for a second? I wanted to show you how to color first."

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"Oh, yes. Go ahead."

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Audrey picks up her box of pencil crayons and opens it, exposing the worn-down tips of her current set. She lays it out flat between the two of them. Her hands tremble a little. 

She takes a deep breath. "Okay, so. Firstly, you want to select a color palette that complements your subject. I like working with warm colors, so I'm going to do this witch in pink and gold and brown..." 

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"Is brown a warm color?"

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"Actually brown and even gold can be seen as neutral, along with silver and grey. They don't interact with the other colors much." Her hands settle down onto the page and start coloring.

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"Coloring is really quite delicate work, isn't it? You have all these tiny little shapes to fill in..."

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"Mmmmhm. It takes focus."

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"I use coloring as a therapy sometimes, doing abstract designs like mandaluxes."

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"What's a mandalux?"

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"It's like a mandala, but personalized to the person coloring it. So symbols they like are in it, or colors they prefer... well that part is obvious if you color it."

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"I see!"

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"Is coloring meditative for you?"

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Skritch skritch, look up. "Yeah, it can be."

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"How long does one of these pages usually take?"

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"An hour or two for a first pass, another two hours for blending and burnishing. If you're fast like me."

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"How long would you expect it to take for me?"

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"Mmmmm... eight hours."

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"Wow. That's not going to fit into our time."

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"Not if you do a full page, no. You can practice with something smaller."

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"Alright! Do you have something like that for me?"

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"Yep!" Audrey flips through her books and comes to a small inset of a flower. "Do this, it has enough detail to be real."

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"Okay! I'm going to need you to teach me blending and burnishing."

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"Yeah, I can do that!"

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Tasha picks out a pencil crayon and starts laying color onto her flower.

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Audrey settles in to color her witch's hat.

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Eventually, Tasha finishes her flower. "There!"

She drops her pencil and massages her hand. "Ow."

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"Yeah, pressing too hard can do that. It's especially bad when burnishing."

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"Look at what I've done though!" She holds up her flower.

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Audrey shows her witch. She's dark-skinned with pink raiment with gold edging.

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"Very nice!"

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"She's dark-skinned after this girl I've been crushing on at work. Maybe after this I'll get up the nerve to ask her out, hm?"

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"The Rose Bowers does do that to people. Can you show me how to blend now?"

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"Certainly. You just take the blending agent and smear it onto once of these smudge sticks, and then rub that over the paper in the little areas of the same color to blend it and get the color down into the kerf..."

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Tasha smiles as she goes through the motions. She's a quick learner.

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Audrey's settled in to her rhythm now, and teaches burnishing equally well.

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Tasha finishes her rose beautifully.

"And that's almost our time. How was it?"

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"Surprisingly easy, actually? It went okay."

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"Just a mental block you had, is all. Coloring doesn't have to be scary. You can share it with others."

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"I guess so. We did that here, at least..."

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"You're a brave girl. I'm sure you can manage. Do you want to book another appointment now?"

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"No thank you, this was quite enough for right now."

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"Enjoy your stay at the Rose Bowers." She curtseys, and sweeps out.

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Well that was surprisingly tolerable.

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... she had better call Hannah. 

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"Hey, is this Audrey?"

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"Yeah! I'm out of therapy now."

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"Get back here, would you? You totally skipped out on aftercare."

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Wince. "Yeah I did, didn't I. Sorry."

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"We were fine together, but ask. And budget your time more sensibly."

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"Okay. I'll keep it in mind."

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"Don't 'keep it in mind', do it. You could really hurt someone, skipping out like that."

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"I said I'm sorry, okay?"

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Sigh. "Okay. But really, don't do it again."

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"I'll do my best."

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"I've got Kumi for you."

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"Okay."

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"Darling, this was completely avoidable. You knew your appointment was coming up and yet you didn't even set a one hour buffer alarm. I'm not impressed. Get back here already, okay? I want to snuggle you."

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"You're... not mad?"

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"Darling I am livid, I just don't see how it'll help at all to go off on you. Come snuggle, we'll work things out."

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"That honestly feels like a threat." 

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"That's because it is, darling. You are being threatened. With snuggles. The horror."

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That startles a laugh out of Audrey. "Alright, I get your point. I'll be right over."

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"Please don't keep us waiting any longer."

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"I won't. See you soon."

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"See you soonest." Click.

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Well that certainly wasn't ominous. 

She comes over.

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Kumi is sitting at the edge of the orgy pit in a kimono. Hannah's sitting across from her. They appear to be sharing tea from a low table. There's a vial of silvery Aphrodia Essence on the table with the tea, half-full.

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Hannah looks up. "Ah, Audrey! Come here and lie down on our laps. Kumi has dibs on your head end. Careful of the tea, mind you."

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She lies down as bid. 

It's actually really comfortable.

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Kumi settles her hands in Audrey's hair and starts stroking.

"So. What have we learned?"

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"Always leave time for aftercare. Pay attention to your scheduling. Um..."

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"Some things are better taught by gentleness. Notice how I am not raising my voice."

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Wince. Nod.

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"So, how was your first threesome?"

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"We're really dying to hear your review."

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"Well, aside from it being interrupted it was wonderful."

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"Glad to hear it." Kumi digs her claws into Audrey's hair and drags them across her scalp, not quite hard enough to scratch.

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"Any thoughts on being watched?"

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She blushes. "It was definitely good."

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"And what have we learned from the interruption?"

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"Always leave time for aftercare."

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"Good girl." Skritch skritch. "Now what would you like to do?"

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"This is some kind of test, isn't it?"

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"I guess I'd like to do the aftercare I skipped out on."

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"Good girl."

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"But we've aftercared without you. That ship has sailed."

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"Then, um... I'd like to go back to my room."

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Kumi's nails dig into Audrey's hair and hold her. "Not when you're not done aftercaring yourself. You're feeling all messed up about this, aren't you?"

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"... yeah."

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"Hurting about it doesn't help anything. You still deserve pets and comfort even though you messed up, and neither of us are really taking this personally. Sure, I'm annoyed, Hannah is annoyed, but this kind of thing happens, especially with inexperienced people like yourself. It's just cost of doing business, honestly."

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"...okay."

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"And that's why we're going to snuggle and skritch you mercilessly until you feel better." She snuggles in closer to Audrey.

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Soft coo. 

"... thank you."

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"Pay it forward."

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"I promise I will."

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"Good girl." Skritch skritch.

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Soft coo snuggle in.

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Hannah just holds Audrey for a little while.

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Kumi rakes her claws gently across her scalp, skritch skritch skritch. 

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A while passes, and eventually the gentle warmth of being held and tended to melts the hard cold lump in Audrey's heart. 

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"... I think that's enough."

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"Alright." Hannah shifts away a little, but leaves a parting kiss on Audrey's ear.

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Kumi stills her claws in Audrey's hair. "You're sure?"

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"Mhm!"

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Kumi disentangles her tails from around Audrey (they seem to have crept in while nobody was paying attention) and slips her claws free of her hair. 

"You're free to go if you want to."

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"Thanks for the permission."

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"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way..."

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"Okay."

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"See you around, I guess?"

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"Yeah, I think I want to take a little more time to relax alone."

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"Needing space is valid too."

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"See you two around?"

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"Definitely."

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"Call me anytime."

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Audrey peels herself out of the orgy pit and leaves, throwing a wave over her shoulder as she goes out the door.

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Back to her room to flop into bed and hug a pillow. 

There's still stress running through her, subtler after the cuddling but present enough to make her want to just curl up and do nothing for a while. 

So she does that.

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Eventually her stomach grumbles. 

"mmmmmmrrrrgh..."

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There's nothing for it, she's going to have to get out of bed.

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She gets up, shuffles over to the console in the center of the room, and picks up the remote. 

... suddenly, an idea strikes her. 

"Room? I'd like a kitchenette please."

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A section of wall recedes backwards, leaving behind a two-burner stove/oven combination, some counter space and a minifridge. There's a utensil drawer above the minifridge, a large overhead cupboard and a microwave set in next to it. A loaf of bread and a package of bagels are sitting on the counter, along with a toaster and a knife block full of knives.

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Audrey opens the overhead cupboard.

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It's full of nice earthenware plates and mugs with a pink rose pattern on all of them. The top shelf has a small pot and a medium frying pan.

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She pulls out the drawer. 

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Three neat compartments on the left, holding table knives, forks and spoons, metal with a rose pattern on the handles. Then on the right, a larger compartment with large wooden spoons, kitchen scissors, a bic stove lighter, tongs, spatulas, and other kitchen oddments. 

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Audrey looks in the fridge. 

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There's a two-liter of 1% milk and a bottle of vanilla creamer and two glass bottles of root beer and a five-pack of apple juice cartons and a half-dozen eggs and a block of mild cheddar and small bottles of ketchup and mustard and relish. There's a freezer section in the bottom, crammed full with bags of perogies and dumplings and a six-pack of beef and bean burritos and a half-dozen fat weiners and a matching six-pack of hot dog buns. 

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She takes out one of the glass bottles of root beer and fishes through the utensil drawer for a bottle opener.

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Here it is, hiding behind the tongs. It's a classic church key design.

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She pops the top off with the bottle opener and takes a deep slug of the root beer.

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It's good. Obviously craft, not mass-produced at all. It's hard to place the subtleties of the taste but it's definitely delicious.

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Mmmm. 

This is really nice. Reminds her of her first apartment. 

What to make, what to make... 

Perogies would be nice. She gets down the small pot and puts it on the stove.

She looks around for a sink, and doesn't find one. "Room, water?" she asks. 

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There's a sloshing sound from the pot on the stove.

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When she looks, it's full of water. 

Alright then. She gets out the small bag of perogies and the kitchen scissors and snips off a corner and dumps the perogies into the water. Then she turns on the stove fan and lights it. A gasflame whumphs to life, and she leaves the pot heating. (Whoops, wrong order, but oh well. So the perogies will be a little soggy.) 

She hums to herself softly, and goes to throw out the perogie bag only to realize it vanished as soon as she set it down empty.

She's still not really used to that. 

What to go with her perogies... 

How about french toast? Does she have syrup?

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Here it is at the back of the fridge!

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Real maple syrup too, none of that fake stuff. Nice. 

She pulls the milk and eggs out of the fridge along with the syrup, then gets down a small plate, a large plate, and two cups. Pouring some syrup into the cup, she sticks it in the microwave; then she opens the egg carton and cracks an egg onto the smaller plate. 

What to do with the eggshell - 

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The Bowers vanishes it right out of her fingertips.

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She startles - 

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- then laughs at herself a little, and goes on to pour herself a glass of milk and add some milk to the egg mixture. 

She gets down the frying pan, puts it on the other burner, and turns it on. 

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Now then. Open the bread, take out a slice, dip it in the egg mixture, plop it into the frying pan. Take a slug of the root beer, nuke the syrup, get out a spatula, flip the slice. And then it's just a little more waiting...

"Room, I'd like an espresso machine." 

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One appears in the open counterspace, already filled with water.

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Put the slice on the plate and dip another slice and put it in the pan, grind the coffee, put the filter in place to pump hot water through it, put the glass of milk under the coffee spout, start the machine, flip the toast...

She hums a little while she works, enjoying the slight rush to get everything done at once. 

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Better check on the perogies. Not quite done, but close. They're starting to float. 

 

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Get the syrup from the microwave, flop the second slice of French toast from the pan to the plate, get the coffee (slurp it a little to keep it from being overfull, mmm), pour the syrup over the French toast, get out a slotted spoon, spoon out the done perogies from the boiling water onto the plate with the French toast and turn off the heat, plate in one hand coffee in the other turn - 

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The Bowers appears a small table and a chair for her to sit and eat at. 

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She puts down her plate and cup and goes back for a fork and her root beer. Setting them at her place too, she sits down in the chair and starts her meal, stabbing a pierogi with her fork and popping it into her mouth.

Of course there's a mess left in the kitchen, but the Bowers will handle that for her. 

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Mmm. The perogies are a little waterlogged. But the french toast is good, and the syrup is real, and the coffee is too... 

It's relaxing, making food for herself again. Sure, she could just stuff herself the whole time with luxury foods, the Bowers isn't going to run out of hot meals anytime soon, but - 

It makes her feel comfortable to do something that's part of her everyday routine. Grounding. Steadying. 

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... She wants to cook this way for Lily. 

Gosh, where'd that thought come from? It's warm and soft and nice. She's blushing a little just thinking about it. 

Isn't it a little early to be having domestic fantasies about this girl she only met two days ago? 

... Yep, she is definitely crushing.

She distractedly finishes her french toast, turning the thoughts over in her head. 

... Lily... shows signs of that too, doesn't she? 

And they are, like, girlfriends, right...? 

So isn't this normal?

...

She should call Lily.

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For some reason it's kind of hard to pick up her phone. Tension coils in her chest at the thought of - admitting it. Saying she's sweet on Lily. Maybe even... 

No, it's still way too early for the L-word, snap out of it woman - 

She chews thoughtfully on the last of her perogies. 

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... She should still really call Lily.

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She picks up her phone and bonks on Lily's portrait.

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"Hello?"

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"Yeah hi! Um, it's Audrey. I was just... thinking of you. Would you like to go on another date?"

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"Perhaps. What would you like to do?"

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"I was, um..."

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"Thinking of me, like you said, and your thoughts turned to... the obvious thing?"

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"No, not actually. Not that you're not hot or anything, but..."

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"I'll take that as the compliment it was intended to be." There's a little warmth in Lily's voice, a stark contrast to her clipped british tones. "So? Go on."

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"I, um. This is going to sound silly, but... I would really like to cook something for you. Maybe a dinner date?"

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"Oh," says Lily. There's a pause. "Oh. And this just occurred to you on its own, did it?" 

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"Um yes."

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"I'm not sure how to feel about that."

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"Can you... talk it through, with me?"

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"... Yeah. Yeah, I can. I trust you."

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"Take your time, it's okay..."

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"Oh, don't you start. I got enough of that from my therapist." But there's a smile in her voice.

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"Okay. Shutting up now."

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There's a little pause, and then -

"... On one hand, hearing you want to make food for me is... well, there's no point in that unless the making of it is the point, right? So you're saying that... you want to be of service to me. You value me. You want to be a part of my life. And it just... occurring to you... says that you're probably crushing on me. Am I right?"

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"... yes." The word is a relief. 

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"You see, the trouble is... I'm still not sure that..."

She pauses.

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"That you like me back?"

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"No, that's stupid, I do like you, you're smart and cute and fun to play with and I feel like I can trust you with anything but-"

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"But it's only been two days."

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"Yeah."

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"Yeah, that's - totally reasonable."

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"I'm glad you see it that way. But, um..."

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Audrey's eyebrows rise. "Um?"

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"I would really like to eat food you cooked for me. That would be... special. I don't know if I'm ready to accept... all the things that come with it... but when I look at myself, really honestly look at myself, well..."

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"You like acts of service?"

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"Yes, but it's more than that. My mind keeps... floating back to our walk in the garden. When you came upon me picking lilies. And to kissing you, and to... the feeling of you underneath me..."

Is that a blush that Audrey can hear in her voice?

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"Oh." 

Audrey goes pink too. 

"So it's... happening to you too then."

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"Yes. It's rather distracting."

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"But you're still sorting out... wether to listen?"

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"Yeah."

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"I want to tell you to follow your heart, but..."

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"It's not that simple."

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"Mhm."

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"Still. Dinner tonight at your room?"

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"Yes please!"

"- um, just so you know, my actual cooking skills aren't really that great, so don't, like, get your hopes up -"

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"The point is that it's made by you, Audrey. Don't strain yourself."

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"Alright. So..."

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"What time is it anyway, let me check my phone here -"

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"7:57, just coming up to eight AM."

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"So let's say an early dinner date at, say, four PM?"

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"That would be wonderful!"

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"Alright, I'll see you then!"

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"See you then!"

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Click.

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Still as abrupt as ever, huh. 

She should set a one hour alarm for her dinner date, just in case. After the incident with her therapy, well - best to be sure.

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While she's doing that, her phone rings. She fumbles it a bit and then raises it to her ear.

"Hello?"

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"Hi, Tabs."

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"Aurica."

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"I know, we kind of left things in a bad place last time..."

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"We? You got all up in my business then stormed off in a huff when you didn't get your way. What's this about?"

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"Actually, I, um. I wanted to apologize."

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"Oh. Well, go on, let's hear it."

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"I got overinvested in your problems because I see my own flaws in you. I totally shouldn't've presumed to keep pushing like that, even if you did ask for my advice. We're different people, even if we are alts, and my storming off like that was - a bad look."

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"You could say that, yes."

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"Okay, it more than looked bad, it was bad. I was petulant and childish. Can you forgive me, as someone who shares our... particular kinks?"

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"Being a little isn't a liscence to be immature, but I appreciate you reaching out. It's rare to get to know someone so like yourself - I feel a little like you're my sister in some ways, you know? So if you're willing to try again, I can look past what happened. Just don't do it again."

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"Done. Now, um..."

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"You say that so easily. Now what?"

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"What, like I would want to be a jerk? Give me a little credit. I was about to ask if you'd like to... meet up in person again."

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"If that means sex then no."

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"It doesn't, there's just someone I'd like you to meet. My, um... I guess she's my girlfriend?"

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"I know how that is. In any case, congratulations!"

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"Thank you! There's a lot I want to talk about with you, actually, it's been a busy couple days since you - unstuck me."

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Tabs smiles. "Alright, alright. Where would you like to meet me?"

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"Club Coze?"

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"Works for me!"

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"Great, I'll see you there!" 

Click.

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Tabs considers for a moment what to wear. Probably... her casual clothes, though they seem a little overformal now somehow. Heh. 

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And she's off!

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Club Coze is quiet, as always. There's a handful of people here and there, eating breakfast and lounging about. 

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There's Eva, off in a corner on her beanbag chair reading a book.

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Kelp is having waffles with a huge pile of blackberries on them, and talking to...

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... Cocoa, who's gesturing broadly with an bit of fried egg on the end of his fork. Whoops, there it goes onto the - nope, saved by the Bowers. He scoops it back up off his plate and into his mouth.

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Aurica's sitting in one of the booths. She waves.

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Sitting next to her is a lavender-gowned girl with very fluffy wings. One of them is wrapped snugly around Aurica's back. She raises a hand and waves minutely to Tabs with a little half smile.

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Tabs comes over and sits down. "Hey, Aurica. And this is...?"

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"Tabs, Pigeon, Pigeon, Tabs."

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"Hi," says Pigeon. Her voice is so quiet it's a little hard to hear her, even in the half-empty café. "Audrey - sorry, I mean Aurica - has told me about meeting you, and about... how you were her first... and how you inspired her to start looking for people she had shared interests with." She squeezes Aurica's hand under the table and smiles that little half smile again. "And it's been a real blessing, having her, so... I wanted to thank you."

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"Oh. Well, gosh, I'm not so wonderful as that..."

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Pigeon gathers Aurica a little closer to her with her wing. "Well, if Aurica is any example, you must be wonderful too."

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Aurica smiles and leans her head on Pigeon's shoulder. She doesn't say anything.

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Why does it feel like Aurica is gloating. 

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...well, she's not going to do anything stupid and ruin Pigeon's first impression of her. 

"You said you met over a shared interest?"

 

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Aurica flushes a little. "Yes, well, ah..."

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"... you could say that."

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Tabs pauses for a moment, and takes in Pigeon's dress. Purple, simple, cozy, kind of shapeless... 

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"Do you mean we all share the same shared interest?"

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Aurica reaches for the console in the center of the table, and a semitransparent screen flickers into place across the open side of the booth. 

She looks at Pigeon.

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Pigeon nods.

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"... I met Pigeon at a discussion group for littles, actually."

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"So I guessed right!"

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"Keep your voice down!"

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Pigeon squeezes Aurica's hand again. "It's okay, you can trust the privacy screen."

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She relaxes a little. "Yeah, I... guess I can..." 

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"What was the meeting like?"

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"It was weird. Really really weird. Um. Can I ask you a kind of sensitive question?"

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"... Go ahead."

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"When you're being a little, what age are you?"

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"That... doesn't feel super coherent to me."

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"But if you had to guess."

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"I don't know, twelve or fourteen?"

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Pigeon nods. "It's the same with us."

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"... it turns out that that's a little unusually old, for ageplayers."

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"I mean, if you look at the things I like - apple juice boxes, coloring books, having a favorite blanket - a lot of it feels younger? But I never really think of myself as being the age that those things would be, um, "age-appropriate" for."

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"Yeah, me neither. But... not so with the people at the meeting."

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"I could have told you it would be like that."

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"It was definitely weird. There was a lot of stuff discussed that was... definitely not my kink. But..."

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"I was there."

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"You were!"

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"And... seeing Aurica talk about her way of being a little, that gave me enough courage to say "me too, I'm like that too.""

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"It turns out there's a couple of words that can be used to describe people like us, who aren't typical littles - who like to play a bit older, be a little more aggressive, be a bit bratty. Middle - for someone who plays older than twelve but younger than eighteen - and babygirl - for ageplayers who use it as a way to dominate from the bottom with rediculous demands on their caregivers."

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"The stereotype goes that... Aurica, you say it."

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"The stereotype is that middles are more sexually aggressive and forward and that babygirls are spoilt and exhausting and only in it for short flings."

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"... Not exactly flattering."

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"But there's nothing saying we have to be like that. People aren't stereotypes."

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"... I don't really like babygirl as a term, it feels kind of condescending. But middle I'll take."

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"Glad I could be helpful."

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Pigeon smiles and settles back in the booth.

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"But enough about us. What have you been doing, Tabs?"

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"Oh gosh, there's a lot. Let me get my thoughts in order..."

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"I met a siren who likes to spoil littles and had sex with her underwater. I had my first threesome. I went to therapy about the little thing. I'm slowly growing closer to Lily..."

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"Have you told her you're a little yet?"

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"... no."

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"It's a big step, isn't it."

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"It really is."

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"Well, good luck with that."

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"Thank you."

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Aurica drums her fingers on the table. "Is there anything else you wanted to talk about, or...?"

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"Nothing really comes to mind, no..."

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"It's okay, you don't have to share if you don't want to."

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"I... would rather not get into the details now, no."

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"That's fine by me. See you around?"

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"See you two around." 

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Aurica gets up from the booth and offers a hand to Pigeon to help her up as well.

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She accepts, and the pair of them walk off arm in arm, Pigeon's wing still wrapped around Aurica's back.

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Tabs balls her hands into fists beneath the table, but when Aurica looks back at her, she smiles. 

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So. Her alt wants to invite her over to see her new girlfriend and sling mud at her progress with Lily. Two can play that game. She'll just have to - 

Come out as a little to Lily?

Ugh.

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She unfolds her hands, and rubs at the red marks her nails left on her palms. 

Maybe she should just give up now. 

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Her phone's dingely-dingely-beep rouses her from her reverie, and on reflex she raises it to her ear. 

"Hello?"

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"Hey Audrey!"

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"Hi, Hannah." She sighs.

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"Hey. You doing okay?"

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"It's nothing. Nothing important anyway."

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"I won't pry. But I will ask if you'd like to come to Club Farseek with me."

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"Isn't that for extroverts?"

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"Says the girl who arranged a threesome on her third day in the Bowers."

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"Um." She passes her phone to her other ear, crossing one arm across her body.

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"I'll be right there with you the entire time. You can't tell me you're scared of a bar after all the stuff you've shared with me."

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"Just so we're clear, I don't drink."

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"Have you tried it?"

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"Well, no, but..."

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"You don't know what you're missing out on."

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"Drunk people are only entertaining to other drunk people."

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"Who said anything about getting drunk? I usually just have a shot or two of something fruity to ease things along a bit."

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"I don't need any "easing", thank you very much."

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"Alright, maybe alcohol just isn't your thing. What about Aphrodia?"

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... she's got a point, there. 

"I don't have to go to a bar to have Aphrodia."

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"Nor do you have to go to a bar to have alcohol, what's the bar got to do with it?"

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"Bars are full of drunk people."

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"... Have you ever actually been to a bar?"

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"Well, no..."

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"So how do you know what they're like?"

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"I guess I don't know."

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"I think you'll be surprised by Club Farseek. It's busy, sure, but it's not a bad place. It's very fun and worth trying. We could go at a quiet time? Now would be good."

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"Now is a little fast for me -"

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"Just for fifteen minutes. I just want you to see what it's like, if you don't like it you can leave. Okay?"

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"... Okay. If you insist."

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"I think I do. I'll come to your room and we'll walk over together, okay?"

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"Okay."

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"I'll be right over. See you soon!" 

Click.

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Audrey sighs. 

This is a bad idea. She's probably going to get groped or something - 

Well, hold on a second, this is the Bowers, the wards would catch that. Okay, hit on by someone obviously drunk. Or forced into a drinking contest or something, Hannah is already pushing a lot - 

Fortunately she's already wearing her casual clothes, so she doesn't have to figure out what to wear, this is fine. And it'll only be for fifteen minutes and then she can leave. She can deal with - loud music, and boorish patrons, and the rest of it, for fifteen minutes. She'll be okay. Hannah will be there. 

If she would just hurry up and get here. 

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There's a knock at the door.

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Audrey jumps, and hastens over to fumble open the door. She looks up at Hannah with a slight flush on her cheeks, her fingers tangled in the chain of her gender-change pendant.

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"Hey. You ready?" Hannah is wearing her usual bikini bottom and nothing else.

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"No, but I'm willing to try."

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Hannah steps in. "You can take my hand if it'll help." 

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She reaches out, finds Hannah's firm grip, squeezes. The ground feels a little steadier beneath her.

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"Alright, let's go. I'll lead." 

And she turns and steps down the hall, pulling gently at Audrey's hand.

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Audrey trails after her, keeping her gaze fixed on the back of Hannah's head.

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After a few turns through the hallways, they come to a wide open arch with rose-vines clinging to it, and beyond there's a space full of tables and chairs, with at least twenty or so people scattered around the room at the bar and around the various booths. There are big televisions set up in the corners; a couple are showing sports, while another one is being used to play Super Smash Bros by a group of four girls with neon-dyed hair. Between the hubbub of people chatting and eating, the sports and Smash playing from their respective corners, and the background rock music, it's a little hard for Audrey to catch what Hannah says. 

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"Oh hey," 

Whatever the rest of her sentence was, it's lost.

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Audrey follows Hannah's pulling hand over to the bar. When Hannah takes a seat next to a horned woman in a t-shirt and jeans, she takes the empty chair on her other side, and rests her face in one hand, trying not to look over at the barkeep.

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Hannah says something to the horned woman, and she drops down from her stool and walks up to Audrey.

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"Hey." Now that she's up in Audrey's face, Audrey can see that she's apparently sucking on a blue slurpee. "I'm Mia. You know Hannah?"

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"Uh, yeah." Audrey crosses her arms between her and Mia. "She dragged me out here, something about seeing Club Farseek for the first time."

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"Hannah has a thing about firsts, you might've noticed. How's the place so far?"

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"Loud. Crowded. She says I can leave after fifteen minutes."

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"Is it as bad as you expected?"

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"Well, nobody's groped me yet, but..."

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Hannah laughs. "Nobody's going to grope you here unless you want to be groped, darling. The Rose Bowers are good with consent. But I get it, honestly I do. I wasn't always the social butterfly you know now."

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"Oh really?"

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"What, you think I started out on my first day wearing almost nothing and knowing everybody? I had a learning curve same as you. I liked bars already, but that's just luck." 

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"Or talent, maybe."

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"So what do you want me to do, just talk with Mia or something...?"

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"I'll buy you a drink."

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"She doesn't drink. And all the drinks are free, anyway."

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"She can get a slurpee. You know what I meant."

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"... Do I need to talk to the barkeep, or is there a console somewhere -" 

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"Just say what you want aloud."

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"Two bottles of craft root beer and a bottle opener, please."

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Two bottles of her favorite root beer and a church key bottle opener appear on the bar next to her.

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"So this is your first time at Farseek, huh?"

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"First time in a bar, actually."

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"What? Get out."

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Audrey just nods, a flush coming to her cheeks. 

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"That's a big first. Glad you're trying. Want a couple introductions?"

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"Um..."

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"How about smash? Or DDR? There's a whole arcade section down by the dance floor."

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"Smash could be fun I guess."

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"Mia, can you go find a couple people for smash and meet us down by the arcade?"

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"You got it boss." She salutes with a grin and darts off into the bar.

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Hannah picks up one of Audrey's root beers and gets up from her seat. "The dance floor and the arcade are down a level from here, just follow me."

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Audrey cracks her remaining root beer and takes a big gulp. 

"Alright, I'm coming."

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Hannah leads the way past the bar and over to a spiral staircase down onto a dancefloor and stage. There are tables set up on the dancefloor with people chatting and hanging around, and the stage is empty for the moment. 

"There's music and strip acts in the evenings, but in the morning it's just extra space for the bar. The arcade's off to the side here by the stairs..." 

There's two dozen or so arcade machines with attached controllers, pistols and steering wheels and dance pads. A whole bank is just various consoles on start menus. Hannah picks out a console that's not being used and boots Smash on it. 

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"Strip acts, huh." The familiar controller fits perfectly in her hands, a memory of a simpler time. She flicks through the menus and selects Robin as her character. 

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"Mhm. It's the Rose Bowers, they get all the best talent. Most of it goes to the Stages in the Blackberry Gardens, but some of the softer acts get slots in Farseek."

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"I see."

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Mia comes through the arcade trailing a couple of guys. "Hey, found us a fourth and fifth."

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One of them wears a long robe that bares most of his chest, and a cocky smile.

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The other's eyes are hidden behind a small round pair of glasses. He's wearing a long dress shirt and a pair of slacks. 

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"Hi, uh, nice to meet you two. I'm Audrey."

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"Luar."

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"Gianno. Mia tells me it's your first time in a bar?"

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"You must have been so horribly deprived!"

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"I never really... missed it much..." 

Audrey's gaze flicks back over to Smash. "Do you guys want to play or not?"

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"Now, around here that's a dangerous question..."

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"Save the teasing for later, Luar. Right now your job is to help this lovely young lady relax a bit."

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"I could think of a few ways to do that..."

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"Luar."

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"Well enough. We can chat after a round or two of Smash." He picks up a controller and picks out Marth from the roster.

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Gianno takes a controller as well and picks out Ganondorf.

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Hannah takes Pikachu.

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Mia takes Ike.

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Audrey starts the game, and picks out hyrule temple as the stage. 

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It turns out that Luar is a really skilled Marth...

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... But Gianno is totally just in this game to troll Luar. So between the two of them, it evens out.

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Audrey spaces and tosses in lightning whenever her books are charged.

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Mia, meanwhile, is just whacking things with her big sword. 

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And Hannah is spamming electricity too.

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Gianno's first out after ganonciding Luar off the stage.

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Hannah gets knocked out by Mia's Ike, and stretches and grins as she sets down her controller.

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At which point Audrey's Robin gets hunted down by the pair of swordsmen and summarily dunked.

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While Mia and Luar duel it out for king of the stage, Audrey drains her root beer and looks over at Hannah.

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Hannah lays a hand on Audrey's arm and offers Audrey her second bottle of root beer. 

"I spiked it with a weak dose of Aphrodia, do you mind?"

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Audrey rolls her eyes, pops off the top with the bottle opener she'd stuffed in her pocket, and takes a big slug.

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The gentle warmth of low-dosage aphrodia spreads out from her stomach to her extremities and leaves her tingling all over.

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"Aphrodia is a real blessing, isn't it?"

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"... yeah, it is."

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"It's better than alcohol in my opinion. Most of the loosening up without the loss of faculties. And if you drink too much, well. I'd much rather have Aphrodia's high-dose effects than alcohol's."

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"Aphrodia doesn't have effects other than pleasure, right -"

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"I mean, feeling good helps with tension and so on but it doesn't have any other direct effects."

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"Ohgood." Sip.

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"I mean, I'd rather have an orgasm than a hangover any day of the week."

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"Quite. Not that the Bowers' wards would let you have a hangover while you're here, but why get into bad habits?"

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"If you don't like alcohol, why are you hanging out in a bar?"

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"For the people, of course. And I like a glass of wine or two now and again."

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"Most people don't drink to get drunk, Audrey."

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"I see..." 

She taps her fingers on her controller's handles, and looks back to the game.

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... Where Mia has just KO'd Luar.

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"Good match, good match! I'd've beaten you if not for Gianno of course, but still, well done."

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"Oh really? Want to do a deathmatch?"

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"Sure, if the others are fine with it."

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"Your fifteen minutes are up," says Hannah to Audrey. "You can leave now if you want to."

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"... I guess I could stay a little bit longer." Her gaze flickers over to Gianno.

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"Do you want in on the next round of smash?"

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"Actually, I'd like to grab a table, I think. You seem interesting and I'd like to get to know you a little better."

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"Huh. I didn't know you went for boys."

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"I don't, generally the penis is a dealbreaker."

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"For you or for them?"

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"For them."

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"I've been with trans women before." He rubs two fingers across his lips.

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"... also I'm generally not interested in men..."

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"No reason you can't be friends, though, hm?"

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"Yeah! Let's get that table."

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"Mind if I tag along?"

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"I mean, I guess you could..."

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Luar and Gianno share a look.

"... No, I think I'll pass actually. There's this lovely horned girl I hardly know and ought to take a shot with." He bows in Mia's direction.

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"Oh, you're up for a challenge are you? Beat me at smash and we'll talk."

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"See you around, Audrey."

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"See you around, Luar."

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Gianno steps around Hannah and walks out onto the table-strewn dance floor. He pulls out a chair and beckons to Audrey.

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... Well that's nice of him. She walks over and plops herself down in the proffered chair.

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He takes a seat across from her. 

"So, where are you from?"

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"Trade world. Arcbright. I was with the local government doing... bureaucratic stuff."

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"I'm an architect for OTC. I design buildings and so on. Move around a lot to wherever an expansion is being built."

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"Do you two want anything more from the bar?"

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"I could use another spiked root beer."

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"A glass of - coke, actually."

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"Done and done. I'll be back in a jiffy!"

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As Hannah steps away, Gianno looks back at Audrey. 

"Your first time at the Bowers?", he asks.

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She nods.

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"How's it been so far?"

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"Scary. Exciting. Fun. Very busy. I keep having to pace myself, it's such a ride."

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"And here you are doing another scary exciting thing. Your friend put you up to it?"

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"Yeah, she has a thing about firsts. Though I have to say, the company's already a lot better than I expected."

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"I'm glad I can be of service. What were you expecting?"

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"Drunks. People pushing me to drink. General boorish behaviour."

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"I mean, you'll meet people like Luar who are mostly interested in making a pass at you, but most of them are reasonably polite and will take no for an answer. The ones who don't, well, that's what the wards are for."

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"Are they really that fine tuned?"

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"If you're worried you can always get a consent button as a charm or necklace."

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"I got a standard one from the catalog a while back but it turns out I never really needed to use it."

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"Yeah, along with the Goddess' Grace it's more of a peace of mind thing than a real security measure. The wards are already good enough."

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Audrey nods. 

"So if you're not making a pass at me, what exactly are you doing here?"

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"I can't just want to learn your fascinating history?"

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"I'm afraid not, no."

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Gianno shrugs. "I won't deny that I think you're attractive, but attractive people are a dime a dozen in the Bowers. I'd much rather get to know your personality and see if we click."

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"And if we click...?"

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"If we click, then perhaps I'll introduce you to some of my friends in the writer's circle."

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"No less than innocent intentions?"

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"I assure you my intention to have sex with attractive women is entirely innocent."

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Audrey laughs. "Alright, alright, I guess I deserved that one."

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"I think the philosophical point is an important one. If you've talked to any of the Bower escorts, you know that they want sex to be something simple and joyful, like food. The whole idea of the Bowers is to take away the shame and worry from sexuality."

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"Yeah, Ishaza said that Sunaira thinks we're all metaphorically starving for more pleasure and enjoyment in our lives, especially for sexuality. "A critical breakfast shortage," she called it."

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"Wait a second, you know Ishaza? Purple, tall, horns?"

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"Yep!"

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"I've been trying to get a booking with her for weeks! We talk sometimes at the Vine Court - she's always struck me as articulate and dignified. Ah, do you know the game played at the Vine Court?"

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"I don't. Is that in the Blackberry Gardens?"

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"It is. The game is to soberly and reasonably discuss love, sexuality and kink while drinking straight Aphrodia. If you're too out of it to carry on discussion, the other members of the discussion group are free to use you as a party favour. It's a game I enjoy losing."

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"Oh! You're a submissive, then?"

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"Mhm."

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"It's strange, I somehow never really put it together that if there are subs, dommes and switches among women the same must be true for men too. Like, obviously they must exist, but it's different to be sitting across from one."

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"Earth culture has a lot to answer for."

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"Yeah, I guess so." 

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Hannah comes up to the table and plops down a coke with a straw in front of Gianno and another bottle of spiked craft root beer in front of Audrey.

"You two getting along alright?", she asks. 

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Audrey ducks her head and smiles at Hannah. "Yeah, I think so." 

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"I'm certainly intrigued."

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"Would you like me to join you or should I buzz off?"

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Audrey rubs the back of her head, then makes a little waving-away motion. "I think I'm good on my own for now."

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"Whatever the lady says is fine with me."

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"Alright, I'll give you two space. Audrey, I'll be at the bar upstairs if you need me, okay?"

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Audrey nods. "Thank you." 

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"De nada." And off she goes.

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Gianno takes a sip of his coke and watches Hannah go as she climbs the stairs. 

"You have a good friend in her," he comments.

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"Yeah, she's really taught me a lot."

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"Forgive me if I'm overstepping, but was she your first?"

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"... My second. And there were special circumstances with the first."

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"I see. Did you know her from outside the bowers, or...?"

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"No, I met her here. She's apparently a dimensional engineer, she puts in folded housing complexes and spends half her time in the Bowers."

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"So you were practically a virgin before you came here?"

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"I was a virgin! But that's been very much addressed by now."

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"How many days has it been?"

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"This is my third day."

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"My. That's fast progress."

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"Thank you."

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"My first few days were pretty tumultuous too. I didn't expect to be popular. You expect - men like Luar - to get the majority, but it turns out that the women who don't like him generally like me, and vice versa. Suddenly I was spoiled for partners who would -" He takes another sip of his coke. "... appreciate my service. At first I was just happy to have sex, but after I was no longer starving..."

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"... you started getting picky."

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"Revolution of rising expectations."

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Audrey nods, and leans back in her seat with a gulp of her spiked root beer.

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"Are you getting picky yet?"

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"I turned down a threesome this morning because I wasn't attracted to one of the participants."

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"Oh my. That must have been hard for you."

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"I had to really think about it, for sure. But the thing that broke it for me was, well - I could do the same thing with people I actually liked."

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"And did you?"

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"I did!"

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"Congratulations!" He raises his glass.

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Audrey clinks her root beer bottle against Gianno's glass and takes another gulp, mmmmmming as the wave of warmth hits her. "Yeah, having experienced friends is great."

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"Let me guess, your scantily clad friend there?"

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"Mmmmmmmhm."

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"Who was the third?"

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"A Bower Escort by the name of Kumi. Intersex kitsune, black fur."

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"If you're ever looking for a third again..."

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Audrey tilts her head. "So you've come to a decision about me, then?"

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"Perhaps. Maybe I just like threesomes."

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"Like I said, I don't generally go for men..."

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He smiles. "I hear a but."

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"Perhaps you do." She takes another sip of her root beer.

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"I'll put my cards on the table if you do."

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"Alright. I like you. I'm intrigued by the possibilities of having a pretty boy in my service. I don't really believe you when you say that you're okay with my having a cock. I think you've noticed this - " she taps the transforming necklace around her neck " - and you think you'll be able to fuck me while I happen to have a pussy. You talk a good game but actually you're hard up for partners, so much so that you're willing to try inexperienced girls like me."

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"Audrey. You're selling yourself massively short. You're hot, articulate, and I would love to suck your cock."

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"You what." 

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"I would love to suck your cock." He carefully pronounces every syllable.

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"That's what I thought you said. Really?"

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"Yes, really. Is it so hard to believe?"

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Are you gay or something - 

Wait a fucking second, hold up. That's transphobia. And homophobia. 

"Uh," she bites her lip, "Yes, apparently." 

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"Do you want me to prove it?"

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"Not in the club, please."

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He smiles. "Where, then?"

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"... Later. When I'm more in the mood. I'll call you, okay?"

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Gianno nods. "Alright then. I won't push."

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"It's been nice talking to you, but I feel like I should explore more while I'm here. See you around?"

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"See you around, Audrey."

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Audrey gets up and climbs the stairs back up to the bar area.

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Hannah spots her coming up the stairs, and excuses herself from her conversation with a redheaded woman.

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"Hey."

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"Things didn't go so well?"

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"I chickened out."

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"Wanna talk about it?"

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"There's not much to say. I've never... been with a boy before."

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"Ah. And Gianno has you questioning your sexuality, is that it?"

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"I sort of already knew I was bi, but - it's different to be seriously presented with the option, you know?" 

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"Yeah, I can understand that. Want to try again, or leave?"

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"I'd like to try again on my own. Maybe with more familiar territory. You don't have to stick around."

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"I don't have anything else to do that's more important. I'll hang out."

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"... Thank you."

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Hannah smiles slightly. "What are friends for?"

 

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"Any thoughts on who I should try next?"

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"You could try Mia if you wanted, but I think she's a bit preoccupied with Luar. I don't see anybody else I know around, but..." 

She walks over to the railing and surveys the crowd. 

"I'm not going to point, but that woman downstairs in the white dress shirt and the black lingerie drinking her coffee alone, in the corner opposite the games? I think she's a good bet."

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"Thanks. Well, here I go..."

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"Break a leg." 

Hannah walks back to the bar and sits down next to her redheaded companion again.

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She stands for a moment, fidgeting with the smooth wood of the balcony under her fingers, then walks along to the stairs down again, feeling the grain slide past. Down the spiral staircase and across the floor to the stranger, that's not so hard. 

"H-hi," she asks. "Is this seat taken?"

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"I'm sorry, what was that?"

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"Is this seat taken?"

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"Oh! No, not at all. And who might you be?"

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"I'm Audrey, I - saw you across the room and thought you looked..."

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"Hot?"

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"Lonely, actually."

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"... It's both, really. I'm Aisha, by the way. How's your vacation going?"

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"Um." A slight blush rises to her cheeks. "Well enough, I'd say."

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"Oh, do you have a story to tell?"

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"Well, um, I was a virgin two days ago, so... yes."

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"Oh, I see! That must have been a fun time for you." She fidgets with a ring on her finger. 

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Audrey glances down at the ring. It's on her left ring finger, inset with a diamond - 

"Are you married?" The question pops out of Audrey's mouth before she can stop it.

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"Yes! My husband and I have an arrangement, you see - what happens in the Bowers, stays in the Bowers. I hope that's not - a problem?"

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"Oh, not at all! I'm just surprised, is all. You think of the Bowers as a place for - singles, you know -"

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"I guess I'm an exception to the rule!"

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"We both are, I guess."

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"Oh, how so? The virgin thing?"

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"... That and my being trans."

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"- wait, you - huh. I wouldn't have guessed."

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"Assume True Persona is worth the money."

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"I guess so! I don't want to be indelicate, but, uh..."

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Audrey rolls her eyes and makes a "get on with it" motion with one hand.

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"Do you have a penis."

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"Yes."

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"So you... decided to keep it, even though you'd rather be a girl...?"

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"Well, actually..." 

She fishes out her hourglass pendant. 

"I go back and forth."

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"More options is always better, huh?"

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"Mhm! But having a cock feels more natural to me, to be honest."

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"That's really cute. You're living your life the way you want to live it, and damn anyone who says otherwise. I can relate."

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"I'm not certain it's really a strength thing, so much as just... I am the way I am, you know?"

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"Learning that can take a while, though. I know me and my husband took a long few decades to come up with our arrangement."

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"Yeah, I guess so."

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"I've never been with a trans girl before, but I guess there's a first time for everything, huh?"

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Audrey folds her hands together on the table in front of her. "Well, that assumes a lot..."

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"You're the one who approached me, though?"

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"I don't have to fuck every pretty girl I come across! I have some self-control!" 

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Aisha laughs. "Fair, fair. So... How could I make it worth your while?"

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"Hmmmm. Good question. I wonder..."

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Aisha stretches and smiles.

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"Hmmm... Honestly nothing comes to mind right now. Do you have any suggestions?"

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"I have a thought. How recently did you acquire that new body of yours?"

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"About a year ago, why?"

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"It's very pretty and cute. I feel like praising you on your good taste."

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Audrey blushes a little. "Thank you, I guess?"

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"I'm assuming the hair is naturally pink?"

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"Yeah! No reason to go for half measures, I mean."

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"That's super cute."

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"I don't know if you know this about Assume True Persona, but it gives you your ideal biologically possible body. So this is what I'm really like, in my heart of hearts. I'm just the kind of person who naturally comes with pink hair!" 

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"Awwwwwww."

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Audrey blushes. "I guess it is kind of cute..."

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"You're the kind of person who, when asked what their ideal body is, goes for something cute and snuggleable and soft rather than turning into a supermodel or an athlete. And - does Assume True Persona do species?" 

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"Yes it does, but I was human before."

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"So in a way, you're honoring your roots by staying human."

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"I guess I am. I never really thought of it that way. I considered a couple things - cat ears, wings, a tail - but none of them really felt right as something to have for always, you know?"

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"It's your body, you get to decide! But, hmmmm. Would you maybe like to try on some cosplay semblances while you're here?"

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"Cosplay semblances? I think I saw that in the catalog once but I don't remember what they do."

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"They're costumes with sensory integration and so on. Real cat ears, angel wings, fox tails - you get the idea."

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"It could be fun to experiment..."

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"No pressure. I think it'd be fun to help you try on things, though!"

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"That does sound like it could be fun, but right now I'm kind of having a look around the club and seeing what's happening. Are you still going to be here in an hour or so?"

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"Oh, sure. I hang out here most of the time, I like talking to the locals. I mean, I can't promise I won't go off with somebody if you really leave me alone for an hour, but you can always call me, the Bowers will no doubt have put me in your contacts at this point."

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"Okay, it's a date! Maybe. Well, we'll see. Anyway it was really nice chatting with you!"

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"Likewise. You meet the most interesting people at the Bowers."

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"You really do. Anyway I'm going to go check back in with my friend at the bar."

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"See you!"

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Audrey climbs the spiral stairs to the bar and waves to Hannah again.

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Hannah doesn't see her; she's too engrossed in her conversation with the redhead.

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Audrey sighs to herself and comes over to the pair. 

"Hey, Hannah. I hope I'm not interrupting?"

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"Oh! Audrey! I'm sorry I missed you, Liath here has been telling me all about herself. Audrey, Liath, Liath, Audrey."

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The redheaded woman nods to Audrey. "Pleased to meet you."

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"Liath here is a high-ranking member of the House of Pride in Cthonia, and does BDSM on the side. It's her second month in the Bowers. And... Liath, do you mind if I explain to Audrey the problem you've been having with your kinks?"

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"It's kind of embarrassing, but if you really trust her..."

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"Trust me, everyone here has embarrassing kinks. Though your definition of embarrassing is a little unusual, I think."

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"... I confided in you because I thought you'd have good advice to give, I'm less certain about your inexperienced friend here."

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"I think you two are more similar than you might know, but it's your choice to share or not to share."

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"I think I'd prefer to keep it to myself for now."

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"That's alright. Audrey, can I ask you to buzz off for a bit?"

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"I wanted to talk about what's happened so far, but..."

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"We can always catch up later; right now Liath needs my counsel. You're doing brilliantly and I'm proud of you. Try again without my help. I'll still be here at the bar if you really really need me."

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"A-Alright!" Audrey takes a step back. "If I'm interrupting, then, well, I'll go find something else to do."

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"Thanks a lot. It'll be okay, alright? I believe in you."

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"Okay."

She turns and leaves, walking out into the center of the room. 

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Well, then, what now? She casts her gaze around, looking for an empty table - 

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A red-furred foxgirl waves from a nearby table; she's wearing precisely nothing. "Hey beautiful, you lost?"

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Audrey's gaze flicks down momentarily, then returns to the foxgirl's face with an accompanying blush. "Um. Hi. I guess I am?"

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"Come sit down and chat, then. I'm sure we can think of something to do together." She grins.

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Okay, so:

1. She's being absolutely blatantly hit on; 

2. By a hot girl; 

3. In a bar. 

4. In the Rose Bowers. 

The question is not if she can have sex with this woman but does she want to. 

... Honestly she kind of respects the brazenness. It's at least worth checking her out.

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"Alright!" And she comes over and sits.

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The foxgirl offers a hand. "Anna."

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She shakes. "Audrey. I take it you're here looking for a good time?"

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"Got it in one. I'm told I'm very enthusiastic."

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Audrey laughs. "I can see it. So what precisely were you thinking...?"

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"Oh, nothing kinky. Just sex. I'd like to ride someone cowgirl at the moment, but I can be flexible."

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She holds up her hourglass pendant. "And this isn't a dealbreaker?"

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"Love, it's why I called out to you in the first place."

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"Ah. I see."

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"So are you in or should I keep looking?"

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... Honestly she is kind of horny. And something tells her that Anna's enthusiasm is very real. But does she really want this?

- what the hell, it'll make a good story.

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"I'm in!"

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"Your room or mine?"

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"Yours."

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"Deal." She gets up from the table and offers a hand to Audrey to help her up. "Follow me."

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Audrey accepts the hand up, and follows Anna out of the club and into the halls of the Bowers.

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It's a short walk over, and then Anna opens a door in the hallway to reveal a room decorated in rich red tones. There's a curtained bed, easily big enough for four people, and drifts of scarlet pillows with black roses stamped on them, and a mahogany nightstand with lube and aftercare potions already sitting on it ready to use. 

Anna sashays over to the bed and flops over on her back, stretching her arms above her head as if she were making a snow angel.

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Audrey comes in and closes the door behind her. One two three strides across the floor and then her walk turns into a crawl as she climbs atop Anna.

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Anna sits up a little, and presses in to french Audrey.

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Audrey kisses back, eager and willing.

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Anna props herself up with her left hand, and starts pulling at Audrey's t-shirt with her right.

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Audrey takes the hint and strips off, tossing her shirt aside and giving Anna an eyeful of her breasts.

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Anna grabs a big handful of Audrey's right breast and kisses her again as she squeezes, her whole body grinding up against her partner's weight. 

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Audrey meets Anna's lips in the kiss, and reciprocates, trailing her hand across Anna's chest from one breast to the other.

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"Let's get you out of that skirt," Anna breathes in Audrey's ear, hot and husky. 

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Audrey leans back onto her knees and pushes down her skirt along with her panties, then steps off the bed for a moment to kick them off completely.

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Anna sits up on the side of the bed and watches, her gaze following Audrey's panties as they fall off then flicking back up to her cock, her breasts, and finally her face. 

"Come sit," she says, and pats the bed next to her. 

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Audrey comes over and sits. 

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Anna shifts to straddle her, and pushes her down onto the bed, nipping and biting at her neck and shoulder.

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And Audrey abruptly comes face to face with herself.

There's an inset mirror above the bed, hidden from the outside by the enshrouding curtains - but now that Audrey's flat on her back, it's very, very obvious.

She squeaks, and hides her face behind her arm.

 

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"- what is it, what's wrong?"

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Audrey points. "Mirror!"

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"Oh, yeah, I guess I forgot to warn you. You've never seen that before?"

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"No."

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"Well, don't be shy, it's just a piece of glass."

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"... It's embarrassing to see myself like this."

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"If you really hate it I can take it out temporarily..."

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She glances up at her reflection, still half-straddled by Anna, her hair spilling out across her body, the hickeys Anna's already given her standing out darkly against her skin.

... It's kind of hot, actually.

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"... No, we can keep it."

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"Alright. Now, we were in the middle of something..."

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Audrey giggles. "Yeah. Uhhhh..."

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Anna just cuts her off with a kiss.

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She stiffens a little, but then kisses back. 

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Anna sits up, her hands falling to rest on Audrey's midsection, and smiles down at Audrey. 

"Take a good look."

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Audrey looks up at Anna and at the mirror. 

Okay, I knew Anna was hot, but this is something else. It feels like I'm being watched, even though it's just us again...

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Anna leans back and looks up into the mirror, meeting Audrey's gaze in reflection.

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... which incidentally gives her an absolutely stunning view of her breasts from two different angles.

Okay, she's starting to see the appeal a little.

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"There's an old joke of a pickup line I like to use sometimes. 'Wanna come over to my place and watch porn on my flatscreen mirror?'"

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That startles a laugh out of Audrey. 

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... but then her expression goes serious. 

"Yes."

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"Lovely." 

Anna leans forwards again, and reaches down to grasp Audrey's soft cock and start stroking it.

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This time it's Audrey who leans up to kiss Anna. And grope her too, there's no reason not to.

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She kisses back, and guides Audrey's cock in against her sex, and settles down with a sigh and a little wiggle of her hips.

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Audrey sighs in return as her cock earths itself deep inside Anna, and thrusts up into her instinctively, and kisses her again, gathering her in close against her with a hand near the base of her tail - 

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And Anna rides her, smooth and steady, grinning the whole time as she grinds against Audrey's cock -

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And before too long, things come to their natural conclusion.

Audrey grins and hugs Anna and whispers in her ear. "You were beautiful," she says.

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She smiles and kisses Audrey and pulls away. "You're no slouch yourself. See you around?"

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"Yeah. It was fun. I might get a mirror like that for my own room, we'll see."

She reaches over to the bedside table and grabs her aftercare potion.

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Anna gets off of Audrey and cleans her up with a cleansing wand from the side drawer and winks. "Come back anytime, alright?~"

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"I'll keep in touch. See you."

She tosses back her potion on her way out of the room, and from there it's not too far to Club Coze again.

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Hannah is standing and waiting for her at the bar.

"Congratulations!", she says, raising a shot glass in Audrey's direction. "How'd it feel to pick up a girl at a bar?"

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"Not that much different from when I met up with Lily, originally. And I didn't have to drink anything!"

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"You could totally drink something if you wanted, though. Just saying."

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"I mean, I guess I could... But why would I want to?"

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"Seems a fitting way to celebrate your victory over the bar, that's all."

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"I guess..."

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"If I'm making you uncomfortable you absolutely don't have to do it, I'm just offering you the option."

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Audrey comes in closer to Hannah and sits next to her at the bar. 

"... Okay, give me a second to get my thoughts straight here."

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"Gladly."

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"Bars aren't like how I imagined."

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"I mean, I know a bar that's like what you imagined, this is the Rose Bowers, if you want to drink to get drunk there are places. But most places aren't like that."

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"I talked with people, I went out with a girl who hit on me, things were pretty cool. I didn't need alcohol to do any of it though."

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"Why are you concerned about needing alcohol? Can't it just be a nice-to-have? I don't need chocolate either, but I still like having it in my life."

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"I guess that makes sense."

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"And you said you had never tried it before."

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"This is about your firsts thing, isn't it?"

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"Damn, you caught me. Whatever shall I do."

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Audrey smiles. "Alright, let's say I do want to try a drink, hypothetically. Since I was so wrong about what bars are like maybe I'm wrong about what alcohol is like too. What would you recommend?"

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"Hot or cold drink?"

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"There's such a thing as hot alcohol?"

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"There is definitely such a thing as hot alcohol. Irish coffee, sake, mulled mead, hot cider..."

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"Huh. Somehow I'd never really put that together."

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"... Let's say I just want your top recommendation for me specifically, as someone who's never had alcohol before."

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"You like apple juice, right?"

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She blushes. "Um, yes..."

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"Then I'd recommend a hard apple cider for your first drink. It's sweet and rich and hardly tastes of alcohol at all."

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"Yeah, I've heard it... bites, they say?"

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"It does, a little. It's kind of a hot sensation, more obvious if you're drinking something harder like whiskey. There are a good few drinks that you'd barely notice they're alcoholic."

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"And I wouldn't get drunk from just one drink, right?"

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"You're a pretty slim girl, so you might be something of a lightweight; still, even then a single drink isn't likely to get you drunk. You'd probably feel some light effects though."

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"That "easing" you mentioned."

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"Exactly."

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"... You know what, I think I'll try it. What the hell."

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"One mug of hot apple cider, please."

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A white mug with a red rose pattern on it appears on the bar next to Audrey.

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Hannah raises her shot glass. "To trying new things."

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Audrey picks up her cider and carefully clinks it against Hannah's glass. "Trying new things."

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Hannah tosses back her shot.

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Audrey takes a cautious sip of her cider.

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It tastes... sweet, and apple-y, and there's a complex undertaste she can't quite place, with a little of an unfamiliar harshness beneath it all. 

It's not bad.

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"How is it?"

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"... Better than I expected." She takes a little bit deeper of a drink, then sets the mug back on the bar. "I'm not sure what to think, now."

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"Keep sipping at it slowly while we talk, and I'll tell you if you start getting maudlin on me, alright?"

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"... alright."

She cups the hot mug close to her and looks down into it.

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"... Penny for your thoughts?"

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"I wonder what I've missed out on by not being able to drink."

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"You were always able to drink, Audrey. You just chose not to. That's different."

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"Did I? Or was I just all wrapped up in my own fear?"

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"I can't decide that for you, you know that. All I can do is help you to ask the question."

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... Audrey nods, and takes another sip of her cider.

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"How was your time with that girl you left with? Did you get her name?"

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"It was good. Her name was Anna. It was a little..." She waggles her hand. "I feel like I get more than that out of sex with you and Lily, at this point. It was fun and all but the connection wasn't really there, for all that she was gorgeous and enthusiastic."

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"Funny how your perspective can change so quickly, isn't it?"

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"The Rose Bowers just keeps doing this to me. I swear it's laughing at me behind my back."

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"Yeah, the Bowers is like that. Can I ask you a personal question?"

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"Sure, fire away."

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"How many times does your Bowers app say you've had sex since you came here?"

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"That's a good question! Let me check."

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You have had 20 unique encounters since entering the Rose Bowers, totalling eleven and a half hours of partnered sexual activity.

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"... twenty times."

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"Now, how often does the average couple have sex, do you figure?"

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"... maybe once or twice a week?"

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"Let's say it's twice a week. So twenty encounters, even for someone with a dedicated partner, would usually take...?"

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Audrey takes another sip of her cider while she does the calculation in her head.

"Two and a half months."

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"And you've just crammed all of that into three days."

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"Yeah. Gosh."

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"And that was with how many different partners?"

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"Uh... you, Lily, Kelp, Aurica... The escorts... a couple others... Why am I saying this I should just check my phone."

She looks.

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You have spent time on sexual activity with the following seven people:

Aurica, Hannah, Kumi, Lily, Ishaza, Kelp, Anna

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"Huh. Only seven, and two of those are escorts. I guess I'm less of a slut than I thought."

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"If you want to change that you've come to the right place."

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"I mean, yeah, I've got at least three offers outstanding right now. But..."

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"But?"

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"I'm really not sure if I want to take any of them. Honestly, right now I feel like I'm just trying to pass the time before my date with Lily this afternoon."

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"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, huh?"

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"I guess?"

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"It's just a saying. If you don't want to have sex, what do you want to do?"

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"I'm not sure! I haven't really - explored the Bowers much. Maybe I should have a look around? Surely there'll be events and things, right?"

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"Yeah, definitely. What kinds of things are you interested in?"

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"Hmmmmm. I feel like... I'd like to learn more about the Bowers itself, a bit. Is there like a museum or something?"

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"I have no idea. Maybe order a program? Or just go walking, the Bowers will know how to direct you."

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She sets down her cider on the bar. 

"Program, please."

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A booklet the size of both of Audrey's hands together appears on the bar. 

Rose Bowers Program of Events is written on the front in gold decorative font, with the Bowers' rose logo behind it. The rest of the cover is taken up by a picture of the Bower Gardens from a high terrace, hedge maze stretching off into the distance. 

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She flips it open to the first page.

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The inside cover just has a few ornamental roses on it.

The inside front page is titled "A Letter From Sunaira." 

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Oh, so it's like a letter from the founder kind of thing. Might as well read it...

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Dear Audrey Ingram, it begins.

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She doubletakes -

Oh, wait, they know it's her who ordered this, of course they can address it to her. It's just a form fill. 

She reads on.

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Dear Audrey Ingram,

Congratulations on your growing experience and confidence from your time in the Bowers. Within these pages you will find the knowledge you seek. These things are always best experienced firsthand, aren't they? 

I recommend the Borderlands and Hotel Backstage walking tours, the production of Threefold at 5:00 PM, and remembering to rebook your next therapy appointment with Tasha. Do with my recommendations what you wish; I've provided you with the whole program for a reason. 

Whatever you do, know that I'm proud of your progress and happy for any measure of satisfaction I've given you. It's an honor to know you, even briefly.

- Sunaira

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Audrey carefully sets down the program.

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"What is it?"

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"I just got a letter from Sunaira."

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"Oh yeah, there's always one on the inside front cover. Took me by surprise the first time I read mine too. Don't worry too much about it, she always says the same general things - it's practically a form letter, just personalized a little bit using your data. Want to see mine?"

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Oho, now that sounds interesting. "Yes, definitely."

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"Program, please."

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A matching program appears on the bar.

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Hannah hands it over to Audrey. "Go ahead, read it."

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She clears her throat and opens it to the front page. 

"Dear Hannah Ashford, 

You should know by now that I 'path all of these myself. You never were a very curious one, though, now were you? Still, that's neither here nor there. I recommend for you to hie thee to the nearest Gate of Night - but then, you never listened to my advice either. I'm still pleased to take your dimension-mangling money and give you free reign of my Bowers; if that's what makes you happiest then I'm not going to stop you. You may be interested to know that Scythe is performing again tonight; if you want a less serious suggestion, I suggest you take Rose to the front row of that and tease her silly about her girlfriend performing without her.

I'm glad to bring joy to your life, and remain as always, 

Your Humble And Obedient Servant,

Sunaira"

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Hannah actually blushes. 

"I, uh, ah..."

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Audrey cracks up.

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"Does it actually say that or did you improvise that - No, you couldn't have - show me."

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Audrey manages to hand over the brochure without dropping it on the floor. 

Indeed, Sunaira's message is just as she read.

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"Huh. Serves me right for skimming, I guess. Gods."

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"I would say you had that coming, yeah. I wasn't really expecting Sunaira to have a sense of humor like that, though."

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"It really does make her seem a little more human, doesn't it?"

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"Are you suggesting it's... a strategy of some kind, on her part?"

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"You can never be sure, with gods."

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Audrey hums softly under her breath. 

"... Are you really sure? The picture I've gotten of Sunaira so far has been pretty good..."

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"I just said I'm not sure. I find it kind of hard to speculate on the - stratagems - of the kind of people who hang out with the Directorate leadership. They don't think like you and I do."

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Audrey reaches out to the bar. 

"Program, please." 

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She gets a small card. 

It reads, 

"You can just text me, you know. No need to conjure a whole stack of programs."

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Hannah blinks at the card. "What...?"

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Audrey hands it over.

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"Huh. Let me see... a terminal for the pair of us, please."

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A section of the bar folds up into a wide monitor and a mechanical keyboard. It's open to a simple chat program, just text. 

The header at the top reads "Direct message to Sunaria."

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Do you chat with people like this often?, types Hannah.

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The ones who want to chat with me. If you think a Split-Stream Method is impressive, you should see what I've done to my attentional capacity.

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Why not show up in person?

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Bodies aren't cheap, darling. I try not to be wasteful like that. Also, this is much more discreet.

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Why are you worried about discretion in your own Bowers?

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Would you feel comfortable knowing you were in the same room with a goddess? I'm famous, and going incognito would be dishonest.

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Hannah turns the keyboard towards Audrey.

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How much of my information do you actually have? I'm kind of spooked by your recommendations being so on point.

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Four things: 

1: I have access to your basic client profile, the same one the Escorts have. That tells me you're a civil servant, lived on Arcbright, and the fact you were a virgin when you came to the Bowers. It doesn't include your logging or scheduling data. 

2: I know your query to the system for a program - "I want to learn more about the history and culture of the Bowers", more or less.

3: I have access to the scheduling information for the Bowers therapists to know you haven't followed up, though I do not know how what specific issues you've been dealing with. Your therapist's session notes are sealed to me and I cannot open them without your explicit consent. 

4: I know that the automated recommendation system thinks Threefold at 5 PM would be lovely for you. I don't know why. The raw data going into that recommendation is not technically sealed, I can get at it if need be since I'm the final system administrator, but in practice I have much better things to spend attention on. 

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How did you respond so neatly to Hannah's assumption that you don't personally write the letters?

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It was part of the query the system captured. It would hardly be an appropriate response to her to ignore the obvious question she was asking, even if it was only implied, would it?

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That's a really impressive degree of automation!

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The Bowers has the best.

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Hannah takes the keyboard back. 

What about Scythe performing and advising me to go tease Rose in the front row of that?

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You signed up to be surprised, as did Rose and Scythe. The privacy rules are less strict once you have a berry on your wrist.

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What information of ours specifically did you use?

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I have selective access to your time tracker, so I know you're fucking Rose. Rose came together with Scythe on a couple's discount package. Scythe has a stage booked already. Rose has shared a stage with Scythe in the past but isn't going to tonight. Therefore...

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How's the access to the time tracker controlled?

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The automated system flags things to my attention. I can technically just read it all if I want to, but again, I have more important things to be doing.

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I see...

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Audrey takes the keyboard. 

Do you talk with your priestesses often like this?

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It depends on the priestess. Or priest, I don't discriminate. They're welcome to whatever degree of support from me they wish - well, short of expecting me to come by in person all the time. 

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Are you... in relationships with your clergy? 

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I'm a love goddess. Take a wild guess.

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How does that... work?

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Generally I domme them and they worship me.

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But most of them are effectively long-distance relationships? Because you can't spare bodies?

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No, not actually. My priestesses are very dear to me. I maintain 1,750 bodies in the Bowers primarily for the purpose of having regular in-person sex with all my priestesses who want personal relationships with me.

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That's a lot of sex!!

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Hannah grabs the keyboard.

Don't you get bored? 

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No, I don't get bored. My attention works very differently from yours, and I love to use it on the people who love me. It's deeply affirming to me to always be deeply involved in making so many people happy and satisfied.

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Audrey takes the keyboard back.

Do you, like, go on dates...?

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I do, though I generally reserve my actual bodies for when things get physical.

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How exactly does that work, that you're there but without a body...?

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Illusion magic, primarily. Sometimes a hidden holoprojector. It's not good enough for physical things, but it's enough to give a sense of my presence. 

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So it is kind of long distance, except not.

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Well, there is a certain amount of that, yes. Alas, I have around five hundred thousand partners of various seriousness, even with almost two thousand bodies I'm spread thin.

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One thousand seven hundred and fifty bodies for five hundred thousand people - That's around one body for every two hundred and fifty priestesses?

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Fortunately they don't all try to have sex with me simultaneously! Though that would be fun to organize, actually, it'd be a hell of a play party...

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Pffft.

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What, is a goddess not allowed to swear?~

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Somehow it's different when you do it!

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Any other questions?

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How to put this delicately... Do your priestesses often share your bodies?

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Yes, they do. I make a point of physically attending any play party that's primarily made up of my lovers, and I have threesomes and moresomes often. I prefer them, actually, both because of the higher intensity and because they let me save on bodies.

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So how does that work out, then? What's it like to be in a relationship with you?

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Oh, are you interested?~ 

In an average month, I'd have private in person sex with one of my lovers once, maybe twice. We'd cuddle for maybe an hour, or they'd feed me, or we'd skip stones, or otherwise do something physical but not sexual. We'd probably also have a threesome. If they were the kind of priestess who goes to play parties, we'd go to a play party together. We'd walk the gardens with me as an illusion, tell each other stories, watch movies together. I'd give them little gifts using the same system that supplies the consoles. If they wanted more sex from me, I'd inhabit a tenta-pet or remote-control a sex machine to give them what they need. Naturally I don't need reciprocation given all the other sex I'm having all the time. 

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That's surprisingly normal given that the other person in the relationship is a goddess. 

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Service is one of my core drives. If it were bizarre and difficult, few people would find satisfaction in being my lover.

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But that can't possibly be satisfying for you, now can it? Isn't authenticity worth something as well?

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It's authentic for me to give generously in my relationships; that's just what I'm like as a person, and I have so much that I can't help but share. None of this is a chore to me; I do it because I love them all and want them all to be happy. 

But just between you, me, and Hannah, I maintain a special set of twenty-five extremely enhanced bodies specifically for pursuing full-time relationships with the priestesses who impress me

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Hannah grabs the keyboard. 

And if I went and told Tasha that right now?

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She already knows. It's part of the liturgy. Something for people to aspire to, you know.

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I think I'll call your bluff on that. 

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Shall I call her for you?

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I'd rather do it in person.

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Her next hole in her schedule is in, oops, now.

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A very startled Tasha drops out of the air next to the bar! 

"Eep!", she says. From the disarray of her hair, it would seem like she was just with a client, though she is at least dressed.

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Hannah is on her feet and grabbing her by the shoulder to steady her. 

"Sorry, Tasha, apparently your boss is slightly capricious -"

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Sorry not sorry. Tasha, Hannah here has something to tell you...

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"Uh, we've just been discussing how your boss apparently has twenty-five special bodies reserved for her favorite priestesses?"

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Tasha shrugs off Hannah's hand on her arm and starts fixing her hair. "Yes, yes, what about the Twenty-Five?"

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"Uh. They exist?"

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"Wow, you interrupted my shift just to tell me something I already knew, huh?"

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"I wasn't going to interrupt your shift, but your boss here - "

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"Thought you needed to be stopped from going off with your wild fantasies, I can see how it is. For the record Sunaira has always been very open, honest and upfront about my relationship with her."

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"... Including the fact that she's dating like five hundred thousand other priestesses?"

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"About one in every five priestesses has some form of intimate relationship with Sunaira, it was pretty obvious."

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Hannah looks over at Audrey.

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"... Hannah might have been a little over-enthusiastic, but I'd like to hear more about your relationship with Sunaria from your end."

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"Well, Sunaira clearly thinks it's important, so I'll indulge you two. Ask away."

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"What do you usually do with her, what's it like from your end?"

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"You already said that. Uh, give me a second..."

She rubs her forehead and sighs. "Knocked me right out of my zone, you two. Anyway. Mostly it's like she's a busy high-powered executive and we don't really get to spend as much time together alone as we'd like? I spend my physical hours with her each month cuddling her usually, I get enough sex from my clients and need the relaxation. She likes to teleport little cookies into my open mouth when she can't directly handfeed me, and whisper in my ear when I'm, um, enjoying alone time, and when I miss her physically I go the priestesses' cuddlepuddle party and she pets everyone and always makes sure to skritch behind my horns. Generally we save actual sex for my birthday, when I get a four hour private block with her."

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"Is that standard, or...?"

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"It's standard, everybody gets four hours on their birthday."

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"No, I mean, that kind of mostly-platonic relationship."

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"Heck no, most priestesses are far hornier than me. But Sunaira meets you on your own terms, every time."

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"- What's going through a Gate of Night like?"

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Tasha laughs, and raises a finger to her lips. 

"That I'm actually not supposed to tell you. But good on you for asking the smart questions."

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"Drat. Um, what about threesomes, do you often have them with Sunaira?"

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"Sometimes she cuddles me and another priestess simultaneously. That's always an extra cuddle-session, though, to make up for it being shared."

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"Awwwwwww."

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"She's good to me." Tasha smiles.

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"If Sunaira doesn't like to go in person in the Bowers, what do you two do for dates?"

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"There are backstage areas just for the Bower Escorts, where Sunaira can appear freely and be left in peace. Everyone backstage knows not to disturb Sunaira with business when she's on a date."

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"I see..."

She looks over at the computer screen. 

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It's really quite nice, if I do say so myself. I've put some effort into providing nice date locations for my priestesses.

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"Tasha, what's your favorite date location?"

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"I assume staying in doesn't count?"

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"'fraid not."

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"There's a particular place in the gardens that overlooks a river and has soft pillows and there's a particular other girl I like - you wouldn't know her - who comes there often too, so often what happens is she serves me food while I chat with Sunaira and relax. Usually sushi. Often it turns into a three-way date since there's usually no reason not to include her."

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"Is she usually who you have threesomes with?"

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Tasha nods. "Mhm."

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"What's she like?"

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"Respectfully, that's private. I understand the urge to inquire, but..."

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"... sorry. I didn't mean to be nosey."

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Tasha waves it off. "It's fine, it's fine, we were already talking about my private life, it's natural that you'd slip."

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"Um, so..."

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"If that's all, I think I'll take my leave. I have clients waiting."

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"See you, Tasha."

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"Yeah, I won't keep you."

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"Sunaira?"

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Tasha vanishes.

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"... well, that could have gone better." 

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"It's not your fault Sunaira interrupted her in the middle of things."

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"Yeah, I guess." 

She looks back at the computer.

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Anything else you'd like to ask me?

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No, I think we're good, thanks.

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"Yeah, I think we're done."

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It was fun to answer your questions. Enjoy your stay.

The computer folds back down into the bar. 

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Audrey looks back at her program. 

"Now, what to do about these recommendations..."

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"The program probably has more information in it on them all."

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"Yeah, lemme check."

She flips through quickly, and the first thing she comes to is a description of Threefold. 

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Club Farseek Dance and Pole Routines

Threefold

Cheri is caught in a love triangle between the devoted Tasha and the fearsome Liath. As the three of them dance and intertwine, who will be the one to claim Cheri's heart and body? Sex on stage, seduction, classical dance.

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"- huh, sex on stage? With Tasha? She didn't seem the type." 

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"I'm surprised too! Liath didn't say she was an escort -"

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"Different Liath maybe? An alt?"

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"It's possible. Intriguing either way."

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"Yeah. I wish the description were longer, but I guess they're trying not to spoil it. What time is it, anyway?" 

She checks her phone. "Just coming up to noon. Maybe I should get some food..."

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"Do you still need me here?"

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Audrey considers for a moment, looking over at the remaining half of her mug of cider. 

"... I think I'm good now, thanks."

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"Alright. See you around, Audrey. And good luck."

Hannah gets down from her barstool and heads for the exit.

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Audrey sits alone with the hubbub of the bar all around her, and takes a deep breath. 

She pushes away the cider slightly.

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The Bowers vanishes it for her.

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Alright. She can do this. 

Food would be a welcome distraction. 

"... Tacos, please."

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A plate with two small tacos loaded with beef and cheese and salsa appears in front of her, along with a couple napkins.

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"And a bottle of root beer spiked with aphrodia, please."

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A bottle of Audrey's favorite craft root beer appears, along with a church-key bottle opener. 

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She picks up one of the tacos and takes a big messy bite out of it. 

... Then she sighs, sets down the rest of the taco, wipes her mouth with a napkin, and pushes the plate away. 

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The plate vanishes.

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... after a moment's consideration, she pushes away the bottle of root beer too.

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It vanishes as well.

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There's no use in fucking pretending. She doesn't belong here. 

She gets up and slouches towards the entrance, leaving behind her program on the bar.

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Her rooms are as she left them, except for the center console. Atop it sits a mandarin orange, and a plastic tray with little sections full of beads and elastic and superglue. There's a little pad of paper in the side as well. 

The room seems to have decided to be full of the sound of waves on a beach for some reason. 

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"Turn that off," Audrey snaps.

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The waves fall silent.

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... She doesn't like the quiet either. 

"Give me something else."

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Quiet, bouncy synthpop?

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"Too happy."

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Rock with distorted guitar shredding?

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"Too aggressive."

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Beethoven's Fifth Symphony?

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"Better, but I want something darker and less energetic."

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How about cello with layered, whisper-singing voices across it?

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"Better! That'll do for now."

She picks up the orange and starts peeling it, looking down at the beading kit as she does. 

Gosh, it's been ages since she last beaded. 

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She gets the peel off (the bowers vanishes it) and removes the pith from the center (likewise) and takes a segment of the orange and pops it in her mouth and chews thoughtfully.

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She sits down at the console and opens the plastic beading kit with her free hand.

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Rows and rows of semitransparent beads sparkle up at her, each about the size of a fingernail. 

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She carefully extracts one and holds it up to the light.

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Its facets sparkle with inner fire.

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Thhhhhaaaaaaat's not glass. 

None of this is glass. 

These are all precious stones. 

It's a good thing she's already sitting down.

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She could make some very nice jewelry for herself. It's almost a shame to use elastic with this...

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... But then, it's the Bowers. She can be a little ridiculous.

She unspools a little of the elastic, and carefully starts threading pink beads onto it. What is this, pink topaz? Pink sapphire? It has a deep rose color that accents her hair nicely. 

She intersperses it with black onyx, two beads pink one bead black, on like that around the whole length of the bracelet. It's 24 beads around her wrist, right? Well, worry about that when she's done enough groups to reach the end. 

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Time passes as the beads click together. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. The process is very fiddly and requires almost all her concentration.

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... but eventually, twenty-four beads are strung onto the piece of black elastic.

She tests it against her wrist for fit, carefully holding together the disparate ends. Yeah, twenty-four is still right. 

She snips off the spool end of the elastic, and ties a reef knot between the two ends of the strung bracelet. Then she sets it down on the pad of paper. 

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Now the worst part, dealing with the superglue. The little disposable tubes you screw down the top on to pierce are worse than jar lids, she swears. 

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Wait, this is the Bowers.

 

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She holds up one of the little disposable tubes. "Start this for me, please?" 

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The top twists sharply.

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"Thank you!" 

And she presses the applicator tip to the knot, and carefully superglues it closed.

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Then she carefully closes the kit, packs away all the pieces - 

What to do about the little disposable tube. Hm. 

She pushes it away slightly. 

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The Bowers takes the hint and vanishes it.

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No superglue on the table? That's what the pad is for but she checks just in case. She's never superglued a bracelet to a table yet but there's always a first time. 

Yeah, nothing. 

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The superglue should be mostly dry now. Just to be sure she waits a minute or so. 

Then she slips on her new bracelet with a smile. 

It's a shame she'll have to give it back at the end of her stay... Ah well. For now, it's beautiful and hers and so good. 

She kind of wants to show it off to someone...

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Hmmmmmmmm.

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Who to show it off to... There's Rose, maybe. Hannah is out. Lily is presumably busy. Kelp?

Hmmmmmm. It might be fun to meet Kelp again...

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Might as well try!

She goes to her contacts list and bonks on Kelp's portrait.

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"Hello?" Kelp's warm, melodious voice spills out of the phone.

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"Um, hi Kelp! It's Audrey, remember me? From, um, that time you fucked me underwater the trans and intersex cuddlepile?"

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"Oh, Audrey! Lovely to hear from you again. Do you need your hair brushed again?~"

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"Um." She flushes. "Yeah, maybe. But I thought..  Maybe we could chat a little? Learn a little more about each other? And sex would be nice too but I'm getting a little tight on time, I have a date at four."

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"Why, what time is it now?"

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"Twelve thirty, and I want to prepare for the date staring at three so we have two and a half hours."

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"That sounds like plenty of time."

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"If we don't dawdle, mhm."

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"My place or yours?"

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"Honestly, while your place was fun and all, I'd feel more comfortable at mine."

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"Alright then." She smiles softly. 

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"I'll see you in a few minutes."

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"Alright!" And soon there's a knock on her door. 

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Audrey opens the door, takes Kelp by the hand with a smile, and guides her in to sit on the bed.

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Kelp follows, sitting down on the bed next to Audrey with a small smile.

"You have a kitchen?" She inclines her head towards the kitchen nook.

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"Yeah. I like to cook. Especially if it's for people I care about."

Gosh, where did that come from? But it's true.

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"Would you like to cook for me sometime? Back in Sirensong there was mostly just fish and fruit, so... You could say I have a lot to catch up on."

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"Um. Maybe? It uh. Are you asking me on a date?"

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"Hmmmm. I hadn't really thought about it, I just thought it would be fun to have with you. Would you like it to be a date?"

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"Ummmmm, maybe, but it doesn't really feel... first-date-y, to me. I mean... being yours, being all... you know, that thing with the song and the hairbrushing, that was such a good thing. But it's... A little fast, asking me to make food for you."

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"Oh. Sorry."

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"Oh, no, don't be sorry! I still like you and everything, it's just - fast - I'm sorry -"

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Kelp lays a hand on Audrey's shoulder. "Breathe. It's okay, I understand what you're saying. I'm not hurt or anything." 

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"You sounded hurt."

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"A little disappointed, maybe. I'd like to be special to you. But I can't force it, now can I?"

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"You are special to me! Just, not that way. Yet."

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"Well, I can always hope. Would you like to maybe do something else? And, well. I do think we were supposed to have sex or something at some point."

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"Yeah. But... it's different, if you want a relationship... I don't know if I... am I leading you on?" 

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"Not if you talk to me clearly about what you expect and hope for, I would think."

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"Um, well... I expect that... We'll have a fun time, here together, and we'll be... intimate... and I'll learn some things about being a little from you, and you'll learn some things about being a caregiver from me, and - you know, it would be, like, good. But I don't know if it'll last. I do know I'll remember you. I, um, I already have some very nice memories about you. But making you part of my life? That's... That's a tall order."

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"We're play partners and perhaps friends, but you're not interested in me romantically?"

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"I don't know that. I could still... catch feelings. But it's hard to build on a... kink relationship, I guess... for me. I'm... Oh, I don't know what I'm scared of. But thinking about you being my caregiver and my girlfriend and my - you know, all those things - makes me really, really anxious. I feel... exposed."

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"... because you never really considered that you might be able to have a relationship with those things in it?"

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"No. I mean, yes, I mean, maybe. It's different when it's something real, not just - an imagination. And it's one thing to have sex with you, and another thing to... have that."

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"Yeah, I just bet your imagination did not cast a snake-woman with two cocks."

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That startles a laugh out of Audrey. "Yeah, it really didn't. Not that that's a bad thing, but... yeah. Takes some adjustment."

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"It's alright, I'm used to it. Perils of the OTC. May I hug you?"

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"Um... Sure, I guess."

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Kelp snuggles up against Audrey's side and wraps her arms around her, though her coils stay off to the side rather than wrapping themselves around Audrey.

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Audrey rolls over so they're face-to-face, and - 

Kissing Kelp just seems like the thing to do, so she does. It's gentle. Her eyes flutter closed, and she leans her forehead against Kelp's for a long moment.

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She kisses back softly, and just holds Audrey close, giving her time.

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"Could you... sing to me a little more? I felt... so much better, not having to worry -"

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"If you want that, yes."

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She lays her head on Kelp's shoulder. "I do."

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Kelp shifts in, close to Audrey's ear, and starts to hum quietly. Even in this low register, her voice carries ease, comfort, safety. 

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Audrey sighs, and settles herself in a little closer.

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Kelp draws her hands through Audrey's hair, in time with the wordless ebb and flow of her humming.

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Audrey closes her eyes, and listens, and drifts.