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]

[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?

[ice_and_steel]

[she looks up, confused as to what he's looking for] I...that seems up to you?

[onlyhonournow]

[the hologram reaches over after a moment of recognition, brushing slightly through her and grabs a hold of the seatbelt, pulling it snugly over here]

It's a safety precaution.

[ice_and_steel]

[oh gosh that is weird watching his hand go through her.]

A safety precaution? What does it accomplish?

[onlyhonournow]

I don't intend to endanger you, but motion tends to displace objects moving at a high speed unless countered by some sort of force.

[ice_and_steel]

[very wide eyes]

H-how fast can you go? I mean with MagiTek armour the most you risk is getting crushed if you fall out and leave the levers stuck...

[onlyhonournow]

[oh wait I was trying to be reassuring oops, time to furrow that convenient forehead I have right now]

... Only as fast as you'd like me to.

[ice_and_steel]

[there is a very irresponsible part of her, that the army tried very hard to quash, that wants to say "as fast as possible." she remembers just in time that that would be a very bad idea without knowledge of the potential parameters.]

I don't know. This is new territory. [the corners of her lips curl up just a little, impishly] Perhaps reconnaissance is in order.

[onlyhonournow]

[grinning back and starting his engine then, and eases off slowly, rolling out of the cave into open space]

That sounds like a plan.

[ice_and_steel]

[this is so much better than riding in MagiTek armour. it doesn't lurch!]

[she would deny, completely, that she has a delighted grin on her face. but she does.]

This--this is amazing.

[onlyhonournow]

[he doesn't even have to look over to notice that, you know. Actually being the car himself, and all that.]

So. Faster?

[ice_and_steel]

oh, yes. Please.

[she is still totally not grinning.]

[onlyhonournow]

[slowly works up to full speed, rushing straight into the Plains of Spite™ ]

What exactly did you have in mind, when I asked you to ride with me?

[ice_and_steel]

[oh gosh this is so fast! Faster than the airship! And Drift is a better driver than Setzer.]

well, I wasn't sure what you meant. [very quietly, almost mumbling] but I like spending time with you.

[onlyhonournow]

[one last rush before he drifts into a stop at an angle--his hologram looks over at her, beaming]

I'm glad. I would feel like I was imposing otherwise.

[ice_and_steel]

You're not imposing. Thank you. That was....fun.

[such a strange word. such a strange concept.]

[onlyhonournow]

[auto-rolling down the window for her, so she can GAZE UPON THE SUNSET]

It's getting rather late. We should head back.

[ice_and_steel]

[it is a MAGNIFICENT SUNSET. it is also the first time she has ever watched one for reasons other than "is an army attempting to sneak out of the setting sun at me?"]

I suppose we should.

Thank you. For this. For...well. [gesturing sort of helplessly]

[onlyhonournow]

[his hologram is smiling his best smile.]

It was my pleasure. I... hope that I haven't offended you in any way that I cannot make up for.

[ice_and_steel]

[confused blink] No, you haven't offended me at all.

...Did I offend you?

[onlyhonournow]

... No. Not at all. [a silence, as he tries to figure out what the right thing to say in this situation is. Then, super awkwardly:]

Where should I take you?

[ice_and_steel]

[another awkward pause. how unusual--oh wait opposite of that thing.]

I...don't know.

[onlyhonournow]

...

Considering our... the... environmental options, would you like to stay here?