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

[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.]

[ice_and_steel]

[oh he did not just throw a gauntlet at her feet. Well fine. Two can play that game.]

Of course not. I'm still here, aren't I?

[onlyhonournow]

[rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand and has a look like he knows he just walked himself into mischief]

Will you go for a ride with me?

[ice_and_steel]

[they have Chocobos here?]

Sure. Where to?

[onlyhonournow]

[chuckling and setting her down again, backing up a few paces...]

Who knows?

[onlyhonournow]

[and suddenly--chkka chkka chkkk--he's s car.]

[ice_and_steel]

[eyes. like. saucers]

Wh--how did you--where did Drift go?!

[onlyhonournow]

[. . . his headlights flash, and a voice that sounds suspiciously like Drift--well, since it is Drift, laughs heartily]

Celes, it's all right. I suppose I should have offered some sort of warning.

[ice_and_steel]

[slow blink]

That--wow. How did you do that?

[if Cid were still alive he might keel over in sheer glee at the kinds of things that are here! robot legs! robots that turn into cars. I'm so sorry, Grandpa.]

[onlyhonournow]

[the passenger door clicks open]

... you could say I was born with it, in a way. This is what my species does: we adapt for the situation. I suppose we have yet another commonality of sorts.

[ice_and_steel]

[she leans forward curiously and looks; that seat looks much more comfortable than the one built into the Magi-Tek armour. However, it is also lower and requires an interesting sideways angle. She manages not to hit her head, though mostly through luck, and settles down cautiously.]

This is a much more interesting adaptation than mine, I think.

[onlyhonournow]

Perhaps, but I'll argue that the principle is the same.

[why does that voice sound displaced? and more concentrated, somehow? If she turns her head she'll find that the voice that was speaking just now is coming from a male figure with bright blue eyes and silver-white hair done up in a topknot in his mid-twenties, wearing what appears to be way too many layers of folded cloth, seated in the car seat with both hands draped over the steering wheel. The grin he has on his face, if nothing, should give away his identity.]

[ice_and_steel]

[huge eyes]

...h-have you been in here all this time?

[there are still drugs in her system from the lemonade. she reaches out to put a hand on his arm]

[onlyhonournow]

[unfortunately, her hand goes right through him, and he tosses her a resigned, lopsided smile.]

Sort of. It's only an illusion. It's something I picked up when... well, let's just say there are some places where an unmanned vehicle isn't exactly welcome.

[so clearly a holographic samurai driver was less suspicious? Yes.]

[ice_and_steel]

[she is a soldier and she will not show disappointment at this. but she's not as good at it as she thinks she is.]

I...see. The illusion looks so real, though.

[her hand stays where it is, even though she can't touch him really]

[onlyhonournow]

[well, he's sharper than that, at least]

Forgive me, I did not consider... the situation.

If it makes you uncomfortable...

[HOLOGRAM FLICKERS?]

[ice_and_steel]

[oh fuck this is what happens when you leave the army and drink drugged punch.]

it...doesn't bother me. [she tilts her head and is silent for a moment, then almost smiles] It's sort of strange to have two faces for you.

[onlyhonournow]

[well, the projection of the human face looks concerned, still, which is probably a remarkable throw-back to his usual metallic one.]

... Strange is something I'm good at, I've been told.

[turning and smiling again, nodding at the seatbelt above her] Shall we get going?