OMG VD!

[cavedwellers]

[Gosh you guys, there must be a holiday on! One of the bigger, more well-lit caves has been decked out for a PARTY, with heart-shaped BALLOONS and also red and white STREAMERS decking the stalactites and shit. There are BUCKETS filled with LITTLE CANDY HEARTS, and there is a FOUNTAIN featuring a rosy-cheeked CUPID who is PEEING PINK LEMONADE into a basin. Also ther are CUPS in case you couldn't tell the LEMONADE was for DRINKING.

Also, everything is HEAVILY SPIKED WITH APHRODISIACS. Eating or drinking the party favors will make you want to MAKE OUT with anyone who gets IN STRIKING DISTANCE. Have fun with that!]

Comments

[onlyhonournow]

[holding a hand out on the ground next to her]

I want to believe that everyone wants to act in good faith.

[ice_and_steel]

I think some people intentionally don't, though, and assume that we will think that they are. Acting in good faith, I mean.

[it's kind of hard to be philosophical when I'm restless like this. But i can lean against his hand. I bet the metal is nice and cool. cool is nice. yes.]

[onlyhonournow]

That's their loss.

[scooping her up tenderly SOBOLD]

[ice_and_steel]

[oooooh, this is nice. leaning against one of his fingers, mayyyyyybe rubbing her face against it a little because cold metal feels nice]

Perhaps. A strategic advantage, though, in some circumstances.

[onlyhonournow]

[lifting her slowly up real close to his face DUN DUN DUN]

Those aren't the victories I'm interested in.

[ice_and_steel]

No, you wouldn't be. They aren't honourable.

[is it honourable to kiss a robot? Can robots even kiss? whatever, it seems like a fucking awesome idea right now and she's curious to know how kissing works. so she leans forward and kisses his cheek? do they call it that?]

[onlyhonournow]

[oh. He's not sure about honourable, but something in his motherboard tells him he wants to turn his head a little so she meets his nose instead]

[ice_and_steel]

[mmmm. that's...nice.]

[kisses again]

[onlyhonournow]

[his lips brush over the top of her head ever so slightly, and he makes this sort of tiny mechanical, but happy beeping noise.]

[ice_and_steel]

[breathes a little not-quite-sigh and attempts to kiss him on the lips, even though she can mostly only hit a portion of one.]

[onlyhonournow]

[is totally AOK with this. closes--or rather, the lights in his eyes go off and he's still for a bit]

[ice_and_steel]

[rests one of her hands on his cheek, since she can't really reach his shoulders]

[this is very strange--the inclination for kissing and, well, the practicalities--but she is not complaining]

[onlyhonournow]

[and then, suddenly, when it was getting all nice: setting her down as gently as he picked her up and looking to the side.]

Celes, I... I don't know what came over me. That was inappropriate.

[ice_and_steel]

[well that was....unexpected. Does one get offended at this?]

....As near as I can tell I initiated anything inappropriate. Was it...not enjoyable?

[onlyhonournow]

No--no. That's not it. That's... not it at all.

But I... imposed on you, didn't I?

[ice_and_steel]

[do not roll your eyes. that's pretty rude in any culture.]

If anybody's going to apologize, it's me, because I started it.

But if we were both enjoying it, what's the problem?

[onlyhonournow]

[eyeing the array of treats with a very, very disappointed glare]

... I would, ideally, like for an expression of that sort to be of our own free will.

[ice_and_steel]

[follows his gaze and recognition dawns]

oh. oh. that...that would explain a lot, actually.

[I totally just....well. and I still want to. fuck well this is all kinds of awkward.]

[mumbling so quietly it's almost inaudible] I don't...think it creates something where nothing was.

[looks up] and, well. I wouldn't object. If I wasn't. influenced.

[I did not think interactions got more awkward but THE MORE YOU KNOW.]

[onlyhonournow]

[holding out a hand to her, smiling]

No. But that's not the way I'd want to show it. It's dishonest.

[ice_and_steel]

[she really is contemplating being offended about this, but the smile is pretty charming.]

[leans on his hand] I guess that's fair. Even if I don't like it very much right now.

[onlyhonournow]

[laughs a little, and curls his thumb up against her]

I think this is new territory for everyone involved.

[ice_and_steel]

I could do with a map.

You know, given that part of being a commanding officer is by definition interacting with people, you would think they would have taught me how.

[onlyhonournow]

[scooping her up again and standing up slowly]

... Speaking from experience, some things are harder to learn than others. Even when it's being given to you.

[ice_and_steel]

[this is much less intimidating now that I know he is not going to drop me. Not that I was intimidated before. I was definitely not intimidated before. But yes. Leaning against his thumb. It's kind of cool to be up this high.]

I mean, I know one still must practice--one can hear every theory in the world on swordplay, but until one holds a blade, it's useless. But having to learn everything on the fly that most people assume you know is....challenging.

[onlyhonournow]

Mm. But I know you aren't one to turn down a challenge.

[is that a cheeky grin? that's a cheeky grin.]