[User]
"A big what...!?" Ruth almost yelped the last word before bursting into laughter.

'A big lesbian in denial', that's what Petra just called her. She tied up her hair, combing it back with her fingers with no other purpose than gaining some time. That was right out of Petra's textbook on hooks and teases, Ruth thought. "Yeah, friends fall for each other all the time---that much is true, I reckon. But don't they fall for each other before they start dating? And..."

Another sigh put her words into brackets. Ruth stole a glance at her friend, then immediately looked away as she joined her hands. She looked thoughtful. "...you just won't stop it, right? You won't stop until I give up. I get it. Alright, let's make a deal---the two of us. One date. And if it feels weird---and trust me: it will!---I won't be hearing any of this nonsense for the next, I don't know, thirty years?"

[Assistant]
Petra blinked and blinked again. Had Ruth just... agreed to this?! She was really going to give Petra a chance to turn her?

"Haha! I knew I'd wear you down! Pity and exasperation, two of the most sexiest emotions in existence!" she said with a cheesy smile, before holding up her hands. "Okay, okay. If you resist my charms, then I'll drop this forever. Or until we're two crazy old spinsters with a dozen cats each, then I might be in with a chance."

She bit her lip a moment. If it had been entirely up to her, she'd have been all over Ruth right now, doing that neck kiss that could make a girl's panties spontaneously rip themselves from her body. But she couldn't entirely follow her usual method of letting her hands do the talking, she had to... do a proper date here. Be romantic, something she didn't have much experience with.

"If you say you want to quit, I'll drop it immediately. You know that, right?" she asked, trying to sound serious rather than following her urge to jump and punch the air. "But... you've got to give me a fair shot, okay? You've got to come into this like it's a real date and it's something you want to go through with!"

[User]
It wasn't until a minute later that Ruth fully realized what she had eventually agreed to, the actual extent (as well as the potential consequences) of their deal... but were there any?

Was Ruth making this affair bigger than it truly was? All in all, it all came down to some sort of... roleplaying, right? Playing out the whole 'what if...' scenario over dinner. Or drinks. Or whatever Petra had in mind. A game, Ruth decided. Everything was under control.

"A fair shot," Ruth found herself mumbling. "Sure. I mean, I can't promise I won't giggle or get drunk. Or both. But... yeah, I guess I can dress up and look pretty and feel miserable afterwards. The usual pattern, you know?"

She laughed to shake that weird sense of awkwardness off her shoulder, a feeling that was largely due to Petra's overt enthusiasm.

[Assistant]
"Hey!" That came out sharper than Petra had intended, and cut through the pleasant alcohol-induced haze. Before she knew it, Petra had taken hold of Ruth's chin and tilted her head to meet her gaze.

"You're not going to feel miserable." she said. She lowered her hand, letting out an awkward cough. She'd surprised herself a little there. Maybe this wasn't about putting a notch on her bedpost. Not JUST putting a notch on her bedpost? Maybe as well as liberating Ruth from the shackles of heterosexuality, Petra also wanted to break her bad date curse? "Seriously. Even if the date's a total misfire, you're going to have fun. I'll see to it. The worst that happens is that we stay friends and we get something to laugh about later on. That won't happen of course, you'll soon realize how badly you want me. But I'm just saying."

[User]
"Okay," Ruth sighed. "Alright, let's do it. But if things go south, you won't ditch me. Agreed?" The terms of the whole deal sealed with a semi-serious handshake and a chuckle, Petra suggested going out clubbing. Afraid of the whole good-girl-gone-wild scenario, Ruth insisted they had dinner somewhere fancy first instead and, at the end of a short-lived and lighthearted bickering, had it her way.

Days went by, the hours dragging on as the weekend grew closer and closer... and then, suddenly, it was Friday and Ruth was standing in front of the large mirror in her room, deeming none of the dresses and shirts and skirts and whatnot appropriate for her... date.

[Assistant]
Petra quickly realized, she was out of her depth. Hookups at a club were her default, what was she going to talk about at a restaurant date? But she'd found a nice Italian place, not so posh as to be intimidating but still classy, and reviewed through word of mouth as somewhere that two women wouldn't get The Looks.

When Ruth sent the picture, of that top and those shorts, Petra nearly choked, before sending a reply. Ugly?! Did she believe that, or was this an unsubtle way of fishing for compliments? Either way, she was getting some. Just a little.

For her part, she'd gone for a simple green dress, one with straps that let the ink show. Not trying too hard to be a vamp, but not making no effort either. She would never have admitted it, but she'd spent at least as long as Ruth choosing, fretting over getting it just right.

[User]
The whole ordeal of picking up the right outfit felt genuinely fun to Ruth. First, it was the closest she'd ever gotten to some sort of roleplaying and playing with the idea of a different Ruth did feel good. Then, unlike on other occasions, there was no risk of let-down in sight: she was going to have dinner with her best friend, fullstop.

Sure, Petra called it a date, but Ruth couldn't possibly imagine how things would be different from the countless other evenings they had spent together. Alright, she did expect Petra getting a little more flirty than usual, but was pretty much all: she would stand her ground and things would go back to normal in a blink of an eye.

That much she knew as her cab dropped her at the doors of Giuliano's. She was late, Ruth realized as she entered the restaurant. Unlike other Italian diners crammed with junk and souvenirs from the Bel Paese, the atmosphere in Giuliano's was much more restrained and convivial.

The place was not too big, and it didn't take Ruth much to spot Petra, seated at a table for two in a corner of the main room, right beneath a picture of the island of Capri. "Hey, you!" Ruth smiled as she sat down in front of her. "Sorry for being late! Guess a girl gotta make a guy work for it a little. Or, you know, a girl!"

[Assistant]
She's had second thoughts. She's gotten cold feet. She was worried what people will say about her if someone she knows sees her, even though this place is out of the way. On the way in, she caught the eye of a water named Francesco, and the two of them immediately fell madly in love, and they're having some hot sex in the walk-in freezer---Petra's increasingly absurd what-ifs were cut off when Ruth appeared, and she was actually wearing the outfit!

"If you're trying to make me jealous... it's working." said Petra. She began to lean into a hypothetical kiss, only to realize she'd misread the motions of Ruth sitting down. She took her own seat, and hoped her friend hadn't noticed. A little too eager there.....

It felt more than good to embark on this date, it felt... right. Something that Petra had idly wondered about for a long time, finally being indulged. "First up... you're looking sensational!" she said. "And I love what you've done with your hair too! A bit windswept and rebellious... I can totally see you on the back of a motorbike, racing across the desert ahead of the cops. Wild and untamed!"

[User]
"Yeah," Ruth chuckled. "Wild and untamed. That sounds me, right?" Had she put too much work into getting dressed for the evening? And, if so, wasn't she sending some wrong signs to Petra about this whole shenanigan they were pulling? Writing off these questions as mere nonsense, Ruth cracked a smile.

"But, uh, thanks, I guess. You always know how to cheer me up. Also, I bet this come from Petra Morgan's Handbook of Wooing Fine Women or something! Also, well, you look good, too. I mean, you give off some badass vibes---you always do! Uhm... so, I'm a first-timer here. You knew this place before or...?"

A waiter came to greet them with some complimentary breadsticks and a water pitcher. Ruth took the menu and absentmindedly went through it. "God, I'm starving. Aren't you?"

[Assistant]
Oh man, what was she meant to talk about? Petra hadn't been on this sort of date before. Like, in ever. The euphoria of this actually happening had meant she hadn't ever seriously thought about what she was going to do when it arrived. And despite what Ruth was half-seriously suggesting, Petra felt very much out of her depth. Ruth threw her a lifeline, and she nodded eagerly.

"Oh yeah, I went here for a retirement do a while ago. It's a lovely place. They do this thing with the sauce where the pasta just, mmmm, melts in your mouth!" Petra considered and discarded suggestive puns on the lines of hunger or thirst. _Control yourself, woman._

"Doesn't it always taste better when you're hungry? When you make yourself properly wait for something you want, it's so good when you finally give in and let yourself enjoy it." Okay, maybe she couldn't entirely keep the innuendo out entirely.

[User]
For her part, Ruth was feeling... frisky, in a way not unlike that of a traveler taking the first steps in a foreign city. Of course, there was nothing properly exotic in having dinner with Petra and, even though they were supposedly out on a date---their first date, that is---this meant Ruth wouldn't have to stray far from the comfort of her own safe zone.

"You know, it's kind of funny," Ruth remarked while munching on a breadstick. "I mean, it's like taking a quick peek at your oh-so-mysterious world... if that makes any sense?"

With a few exceptions, most of the tables around their own were occupied by couples, Ruth noted. It was easy to spot those on their first date and tell them from the more established ones: their clumsiness, their nervous laughters, even their posture---Ruth was all too familiar with these telltale symptoms of people going on their first (sometimes last) date.

Putting her thoughts into words, Ruth switched back to Petra. "I think you were right. Like, when you said it won't feel miserable... or weird. Do you think people can tell we're on, uh, a date? I mean, I usually feel nervous as fuck, probably because I can already see things going south at the end of the evening. Whereas now, well, I guess I just wonder what kind of tricks you're going to pull on me!"

Chuckling, Ruth offered Petra the remaing half of the breadstick, pointing the other end at her like some sort of maestro.

[Assistant]
"I think they can. It's probably the big red L on your forehead that's giving it away." said Petra, her face deadpan before she smiled. It had been more of a relief than she realized, that Ruth was settling into this and it wasn't feeling weird and unnatural.

She leaned forward and took a bite off the end of the stick while Ruth was still holding it.

"But seriously, I think it's easier for us because we already know each other, you know?" she continued. Her own nerves were calming down a bit too, even if she'd been feeling them in a different way to Ruth. A waiter arrived with the menus, and she started looking at hers.

"And I've no idea what you mean by 'tricks'." she said, unconvincingly, "It's not like there's some secret book of lesbian seduction secrets that I've sworn never to talk about. But... if there was, what do you think they'd be? What would you be on the lookout for me trying on you?"

[User]
Eating up the last bit of breadstick, Ruth paused and mulled over potential answers as she absentmindedly observed the lonely island in the painting right above Petra.

"Hmm... I don't know! I kinda thought you had some sort of... superpowers, maybe? Super Petra: rescuing her straight girlfriends from the clutches of men!" She chuckled and shook her head. "Nah, I just don't know. Lots of innuendos, maybe? But that's what you always do. Uh... I think you are just persuasive enough to talk your way into another girl's bed? A snake charmer or something, yeah!"

Shrugging, Ruth lowered her eyes to the menu and started leaving through the courses. "And, yeah, I mean---it's not like we haven't done this hundreds of times, isn't it? Okay, not exactly this as per our arrangement, but..."

Realizing she was perhaps talking too much, Ruth switched to a different subject altogether. "Are we going for starters or...?"

[Assistant]
Ruth asking seriously about this was quite new, rather than just rolling her eyes as Petra hinted at some new conquest. So it deserved a serious answer. Semi-serious.

"Well, I do have super powers, but they're not really suitable for display here." she said. She took a sip of water and then slowly and deliberately ran her tongue around the edge of her mouth, to hint at what those powers might be, before giggling.

"But... look, almost nobody's entirely gay or entirely straight, I'm probably one of the few exceptions. Most people... they've got at least a little curiosity in them, even if they never act on it and never feel like they're missing out. I read it in a medical journal. And... it's just spotting girls who might be up for trying something new, even if they haven't realized it yet. I guess part of me gets off on the thrill of being so good in bed that they discover something entirely new about themselves... but sometimes it's a bit more, you know? Sometimes, it really does make someone's life better to discover that. Gets them in touch with who they really are." Had Petra really thought about it in those terms before tonight? "Yeah... starter." she said.

[User]
"I see that you've been reading lots of medical journals lately!" Ruth retorted in an ironically flat tone, referring to the their girls' night in. Trying to conceal her smirk by keeping her lips busy with another breadstick, the girl ran through the list of starters---frowning as if undecided or simply feeling mixed up by the actual meaning of an Italian word... or perhaps pretending to ignore the grimace on Petra's face.

"What about hitting on... you know, like, lesbians? Like, the out-of-the-closet kind. Not those desperately waiting for Princess Charming and her super powers? I mean, wouldn't that be easier? Or is the whole hunting for your prey that you get your kicks from?" As much as she made an effort to appear casual, there was something distinctively genuine to Ruth's curiosity. Perhaps, this was due to Petra's taste for discretion when it came to opening up about her romantic escapades. Then again... this was a weapon, too, and the only one to which Ruth could possibly resort if she wished to counter all of her friend's innuendos and whatnot.

And then the realization suddenly hit Ruth that maybe she overdressed because that, too, was a weapon she could use in that little funny game of theirs.

"And, yeah, starters ...and wine, I guess? Red wine, please?" She added a bit out of the blue. "We could maybe share a... uh... Ca-pre-say? That's mozzarella and fresh tomatoes, if I'm not mistaken. Have you ever been to Italy?"

[Assistant]
"Well, obviously! Really, that describes most of my dates." said Petra, maybe a little more empathically than she'd intended. She didn't have a fetish for ''turning'' straight girls! "I guess it's just a hot little spice when I'm helping someone else discover something. Makes it more memorable. Of course, sometimes you want someone who knows the game just as well as you, less fuss that way. I mean, when it's someone who isn't sure, you've got to be a lot more careful. It could really backfire, or they could end up feeling uncomfortable, so you've got to be careful. Make sure you're not misreading the signs and that there really is something there before you go in for the kill---"

She was taken aback as Ruth suddenly moved to the actual reason they were here. "Food? Food!" she said. "Yes, sounds good for a starter. And... yeah, went there once, during a school trip. I think that was where I picked up a taste for spaghetti and meatballs... and started to appreciate places like this, that did it authentically." she said, visibly warming to the subject. "I think that was where I started being a foodie. When I could afford it, at least. Let me tell you Ruth, there were soooo many dishes I thought I didn't like, but that's just because I'd never experienced them done properly."

[User]
That last bit---that variation on the theme of the whole "if you don't try, you'll never know" thing---was a piece of Petra's repertoire that Ruth knew all too well to actually fall for it, which is why she let it slide with a roll of her eyes and a snort of laughter. "Girl, is that all you got?" Ruth smiled playfully. "Analogies between trying new food and sleeping with a girl who just happens to be my best friend? You know, it's..."

Ruth's words were cut short by the sudden appearance of a waiter asking them if they were ready to order... which they weren't, really, as Ruth herself told him in a somewhat apologetic tone. "We need a few more minutes, please! We can start with, uh, two caprese and... wine. Montepul-chee-ano, maybe? Yeah, that one, thank you!"

As the waiter walked away, Ruth stole a glance at Petra... and realized she forgot what she was about to say. "Yeah, anyway..." She cleared her voice. "...I want to know more. I mean, I'm pretty sure you're the kind of girl who gets a lot of action and yet... you never told me anything about, you know, your flings? Or anyone even remotely meaningful in your life, for that matter..."

Ruth paused, her fingers now distractedly rapping the table as if she were weighing her own words. "Alright, I'm gonna ask you this---who broke your heart?"

The question came a bit out of the blue, but embodied the natural landing place of Ruth's own line of reasoning. Sure, Petra was her best friend. Sure, they knew tons of shit about each other. And yet... and yet---Ruth was pretty convinced about this---there were still walls to be torn down.

[Assistant]
"Don't be silly, of course I did!" replied Petra glibly. But... after a couple of moments thinking, she realized Ruth was right. And it was a bit of an uncomfortable jolt to realize that. Yes, she talked and hinted at how much action she was getting, and it was barely exaggerated. But she never went into any detail. Or... actually, had any of her partners / flings ever met Ruth at all?

"Well, I just like to... respect their privacy, you know?" she said, a bit lamely. She took a big drink of water to buy herself time to think of a better answer, and hide the sudden flush that had come over her cheeks. This somehow felt more personal than hinting at how she wanted Ruth naked in her bed.

That wasn't a good idea, since she nearly choked at Ruth's question, resulting in some undignified coughing. "That's... a bit of a leap!" she said with a too-loud laugh. "Look, there wasn't any one person who broke my heart." she lied.

"It just... wasn't a whole lot of fun when I was growing up. I told my parents, and they said they were fine, but there was just this... I don't know, tension. Like they'd never bring it up, they'd never correct my granny when she asked if I had a boyfriend, and always left it to me. Word got out about me being gay in high school... though I really wasn't being subtle, I guess... and I had a rough time. Nothing dramatic, just got frozen out and got a lot of petty little ostracism. And you know me, right? I always prefer drama." That had been telling Ruth the truth, right? Petra hadn't technically lied to her friend there. "So I guess when I got to university and left all that behind me, I wanted to... make up for lost time? And still do. It's not like I haven't got time. But why slow down when I'm enjoying myself this much?"

[User]
From the smirk on Ruth's face, it was way too easy to tell the girl wasn't entirely satisfied with her friend's answer. There were a few weak spots in her words that would have prompted some further investigation on Ruth's behalf, had the girl---as sincerely curious as she was---not decided against pushing things too far.

"Alright," Ruth smirked, "and sorry if it seemed like I wanted to stick my nose in your sentimental life. You know, it's just... okay, sometimes I feel like our friendship is---uh, how can I put it?---imbalanced, maybe? Don't get me wrong, you're the best friend a girl could possibly dream of. You're just a little wary of... sharing things? I guess, well, I don't know..."

Not even a glass of wine and she had already turned into a blabbermouth. Jesus Christ. "I mean, you already know this. I used to be the most boring person on Earth... and I guess I still am, right?" She chuckled. "But, hey, that's what parents are supposed to do: fuck up their kids, isn't it? Well, they try not to, but it's what they do, in the end. That's why we have shrinks: to make sense of all the mess our parents left us with. My folks... oh, well, never mind."

Wine was served, bringing Ruth's rambling to a halt. The girl waited for the waiter to walk away before raising her cup for a toast. "To our... uh, first date, I guess?"

[Assistant]
Damn it, was this what proper dating was like? Having to talk about yourself? Petra doubted she'd be going to this much trouble for anyone else. "The first of many?" she replied to Ruth, clinking glasses with a smile.

"Yeah, maybe I don't talk about myself that much. Don't want to be too in your face, I guess." she said. "Besides, it gives me an air of mystery and intrigue, right? And you're not boring!" she added, with a wave of her fork. "I browbeat you into being here, didn't I? So... let's trade. You tell me an embarrassing secret."


[User]
The Shopping Center was massive and was just as impressive as the last time she came through. It had withstood the reclaiming by nature surprisingly well. The pounding of wind and rain caused the concrete and metal to slowly erode away, leaving holes in a few walls and part of the roof, letting a variety of animals in. Their intrusion caused many of them to scatter and hide. They had decided to split up, but because Blue was technically inside their heads, she couldn't really separate from them. Nor could she put too much distance from them in her holographic form before it deactivated. For a time, she simply stayed quiet and let them explore the place. A number of new shops would be open since the last time they came through, the grates worn away and collapsed from the elements allowing access to the doors.

As they entered the old clothing store, Blue reappeared and watched the two of them separate, heading to opposite sides of the mirrored wall. She hadn't thought much of it until that moment, but what exactly was her plan? She had been so focused and excited on just finding anyone else that she hadn't thought about the next step if they managed to meet up. Maybe a part of her believed it would never happen, so she hadn't dared to consider it. Yet she had managed to find 2B and A2. Not only were they both incredible fighter and more than capable of dealing with whatever horrors this world had birthed, they were both beautiful in a way she couldn't describe. Again she found herself staring at 2B for far too long as she changed before moving over to A2, who looked to be trying on an earring. "Here, let me help." Her voice could be heard inside A2's head, despite her hologram being present. She was only speaking to A2 at the moment.

Blue moved up behind A2, taking the earring from her. It appeared her hologram did not produce a reflection. Her front lightly pressed against A2's back as she gently pulled her white hair aside, exposing her ear. She didn't want to put a spike through it, so she switched it to a clip-on version before attaching it to her lobe. Her hands ran over A2's shoulders and down her arms when she was done. "It looks good on you, A2. You're actually quite beautiful." Her hands slipped down A2's sides and over her curved hips. Despite maybe not being as pronounced as 2B, A2 still had fair amount curvature. Her hands started to slide around her waist and over her stomach, pulling her backward against her more. A2 would be able to feel something hard pressing against her backside. She held her close for moment before suddenly releasing her and backing away. "Ah... sorry..." Apparently she had been alone even longer than she thought. She quickly vanished from A2's site once again.

While 2B looked gazed at herself in the mirror, a strange data spike caused a strange looking woman to appear behind her; long dark hair with blue tinted skin and gold colored iris'. Her arms gently wrapped around 2B, lightly brushing her hair from her face. Her free hand slid down 2B's neck and over the swell of one of her breasts, down her stomach and the front of her thigh. 2B could feel something hard pressing against her thigh. The woman looked to whisper something in the android's ear, but no sound came out. When 2B suddenly turned around, the figure was gone and the sensations on her body had stopped. Blue was visible to her over by the door, appearing as she always had so far, though her body language a bit tense considering she had gotten a bit handsy with A2 a few moments ago. Was it an illusion? An incorrect data stream? Or something more complicated?

She looked up and gave 2B a slightly confused expression. "Everything okay?" Her voice was inside the android's head. "You look... incredible... in that, by the way."

[Assistant]
A2 blinked in surprise when Blue appeared with her. If she'd have been capable of blushing she would have, and deeply at that, for being caught in such a state of undress. But before she could try and hide her shameful frame, the hologram was pressed in behind her. The Attacker-type let out a shaky breath as the earrings were put on her...

"Ah..." she gasped some, feeling the hands running over her form. The light pressure, at least, picked up by her tactile receptors even if it was too light to actually feel it. "...I'm... my frame is is old. Unrefined..." she tried to protest weakly.

It didn't stop her from leaning back some against the hologram's embrace. And she thought nothing of the hard pressure against her backside---it was an intriguing surprise, but before she could even think much about it Blue was letting her go and backing away. Before she could say anything, Blue was gone, A2's eyes just widened in some in shock. "I..." she just said into the empty room, before sighing sadly and shaking her head.

2B was simply confused, startled, at the look of the blue woman that appeared behind her. A shiver shook her sensors as a hand brushed hair, another sliding down her thigh. She didn't need to know what the whisper said for odd signals to make her body tingle... and when she turned, she was just stared confused across the room at Blue.

"I... yes." she shook her head, huffing some, as she crossed her arms under her breasts, making them a bit larger unintentionally. "These clothes serve no tactical purposes... but they're enjoyable..." Mumbling, defensively, she shook her head. "I should change before A2 returns."

[User]
Blue looked over 2B several times as she had a momentary expression of confusion herself before shaking it off herself. When 2B crossed her arms and inadvertently enhanced her breasts, Blue's eyes went wide for a moment. She hadn't realized how difficult it would be with the both of them there. She had been alone for a long time. She was trying her best to think about A2 and 2B and their needs, rather than her own. Admittedly this whole thing was her own selfishness, but she hoped they would overlook it in time as she focused on them instead. She finally moved over to 2B, hands reaching out and moving down her arms and over her waist. "The fighting is over, 2B. You can take a few minutes to consider things that are not practical."

She gently turned 2B back around to look in the mirror again. "We were made in the image of humans and imparted with as much knowledge as they could manage: emotions, ideas... desires." Her arms slid around 2B's waist, gently pulling her back against her figure. There was almost a surreal similarity to how Blue touched her compared to the phantom image several moments ago. "You don't need to be on your guard all the time anymore. It's time to figure out who 2B is on the inside." She stepped away when she felt A2 coming in their direction.

"Well, you both should find a place to lay down for the night. I know we don't technically need to sleep, but it might be good to preserve your power systems for at least a little while."

[Assistant]
"The fighting is never over..." 2B said out of habit. Blue was absolutely right however. If the world was as she claimed, and there was no evidence yet to suggest otherwise, there was no reason to fight. Perhaps from protection against whatever beasts and predators yet thrived in the world reclaimed by nature, but, nothing so otherwise deadly or dangerous as to require being constantly on edge. Still...

The android shook her head, and would have started to change back into her uniform had Blue not approached. Freezing when the embrace echoed the one from the odd memory glitch, her eyes widened under her blindfold. She felt the hologram, taller than she was, pull her back. The form pressing against her back. Odd sensations registered throughout her system, and the faintest of blushes colored her cheeks... and then the embrace was gone, phantom sensation left in the hologram's wake, as A2 appeared. The other android had also changed back, not comfortable enough to remain so casually dressed around a former enemy like 2B, and still feeling odd with how Blue had fled from her.

They would find a place to rest. A simple, out of the way section of the store. 2B would take first watch, habits hard to break, and A2 would slip into a small secure room to rest. She'd power almost fully down, and wouldn't awaken until either a set time passed or she was physically moved. It meant 2B had some privacy.

So, as the hours passed and darkness filled the store, she returned to the mirror. She dressed again in those revealing outfits...

"...the inside..." she murmured, frowning at the words Blue had left in her head. Her hands wandering, as she traced over her curves, grabbing her breasts lightly (breath hitching at the welcome sensation), examining herself in ways that defied her programming for the first time...

[User]
As the two androids settled in to rest, A2 went and found herself a small, quiet location to power down for awhile. When she was sure A2 was out, Blue appeared a foot or two away from her, sitting on the floor. She watched the android's still form, wondering what he thoughts were. She hoped A2 hadn't been hurt or offended at her sudden retraction, or even her sudden feel up. She couldn't afford to have the only two androids she was left with dislike her. She didn't know what she would do. It was rather interesting to her how different A2 and 2B both felt different based on how they were designed. At the same time though, A2 was beautiful in her own way. She practically laughed at herself. Apparently she indeed had been alone too long.

She then noticed 2B heading back into the store they had been in earlier. A little strange and unexpected. She took a moment to ensure A2 wouldn't be disturbed before vanishing and reappearing a few feet behind 2B just after she finished changing back into the outfit from before. She kept her distance at first, simply watching. She gently chewed her bottom lip as she watched 2B begin to feel herself up. She wondered if maybe her words had landed with 2B more than she thought. A part of her was worried though that 2B would forever be holding on to 9S. As much as she disliked that YoRHa had been destined to fail, humans understood their time was over and were looking toward the future they felt was correct. It was convoluted, to be sure.

She let out a quiet sigh before moving forward, behind 2B, gently slipping her arms around the android's waist. "Looks like you took some of my advice." She gently pulled her backward into her form, Blue's breasts pressing against 2B's back. "Tell me how you are feeling, 2B. I want to know what your thoughts are... what you see inside of you. Do you see who you are or what you can be?"

[Assistant]
2B nearly squeaked in surprise when Blue would suddenly be behind her---and as if the earlier moment hadn't ended, she once against felt a form she shouldn't be able to feel pressing so fully against her. Why she was so jumpy and skittish around the Healer-type she had no idea---but she didn't like it. It wasn't like her to not be composed, to be certain, to be stoic...

And yet she was trembling as those arms wrapped around her, her programming firing left and right in odd signals and mixed feelings. Had the other intelligence done something to her when she'd been hacking into her? Had some kind of other corruption replaced the logic virus? Why was she getting a warning about rising temperatures...?

"Blue..." she tried to sound accusatory, angry, but instead it came out soft and meek and unsure. Like a woman that wanted to break down but was stubbornly holding on to her composure. "I don't know what you mean. I was simply trying to... see if this could be... incorporated into my defensive gear in a feasible manner."

A lie, and they both knew it. Because even though her hands left her breasts, they went to cover the hands that were over her stomach. Her round bottom wiggled back against Blue's waist, curious about what she'd thought she had felt earlier.

"I... can only be 2B. A Battle..." she started, before gritting her teeth. "...an Executioner-type. That is all. I can't..." she shook her head.

[User]
Despite 2B's apparent protests, she didn't exactly put a lot of effort into her objection. Blue took that as a good sign. The android would be able to feel something hard pressing against her rear in the vicinity of Blue's hips. 2B's databanks were likely telling her what she was feeling, even if it didn't make logical sense based on known human anatomy. They were androids though, and didn't necessarily need to follow assumed conventions. Blue's hands gently ran up 2B's hips and waist, the amount of pressure and tactile sensors registering as one a lover might give.

She leaned in close to 2B's ear, her nose and lips gently touching the skin around it. Her voice was soft as she responded to 2B's view on who she was. "2B...2E... it doesn't matter what your designation is. They were what you were, defined by long dead people who were only concerned about their legacy. You can give those monikers new meaning; one that represents who you are now, not who you used to be." One of her hands slid down 2B's abs and moved between her thighs, fingers pressing against the material of the clothing while her other hand took hold of the android's breast. "You need to determine what it is that you want, not what others want from you. We were servants... even slaves, some might say, to a cycle we did not know and could not fight against. Not any more though. We can decide who we are and what we want."

[Assistant]
2B felt something she was certain she shouldn't feel. Distracted as she was, however, by the hands that were tracing over the curves of her hips---nice and rounded, leading down into powerful thighs and up into a slim waist and generous chest for a perfect hourglass figure---she couldn't spare the thoughts to really consider what she was feeling. Something fired in her mind that she needed for data to analyze...

...so as Blue traced fingers over her stomach and between her legs, another hand brushed over her breast, 2B pressed her bottom more against that unexpected and surprising size and pressure, wiggling some more against it.

"I don't know..." she started as Blue continued her speech about who they could be now. It didn't sound right---she could only be what she'd been made to be, couldn't she? She was outfit only to be a fighter, a killer, so what use could she possibly have in a world with nothing left to fight or kill? They had been enslaved to a cycle but that didn't mean they had the capability to truly grow and change outside of it. Did they? What would she even do? What could they be? Why did this feel so... good?

"Blue..." she whispered softly, a faint moan on her breath as the hologram's hands worked her body. Perhaps there was an adaptability in her programming that she'd been unaware of due to it not being needed, but with no fight to get to, sensors and receptors that should have been deadened to such light touches were firing all the more sensitive. There was no need for her to feel pleasure and yet she clearly did, her body responding to Blue's advances, and 2B not of a mind to try and stop it. "...show me... more..."

Her head would lean back against Blue's shoulder, her face nuzzling against the taller woman's neck, one hand falling to Blue's thigh as the other drifted up, slowly reaching behind to slip into Blue's hair...

[User]
2B was responding far more than Blue had expected. Later models, such as 2B's, were more equipped with tactile sensors and for all intents and purposes were quite a bit closer to humans than might be expected. Often certain systems were off or places in a lesser priority queue based on current functions. It seemed that tactile response had shifted to higher priority with no danger around. Not that either of them seemed to be complaining. As 2B leaned backed into her, asking for more, Blue eagerly obliged. Her fingers slipped under 2B's clothing near her stomach, then slid back down between her legs again. It was there; the android's lower set of lips and everything that went along with them. They were made to pass as human, after all. It wasn't much of a surprise that was included. It still pleased Blue to know it though.

Her fingers rubbed against them a few times before finally slipping inside. "It took me a long time to come to terms with the idea that I wasn't who I was anymore. It was all I had known. And I was alone, with nobody to speak to... nobody to help me." Her words trailed off as a momentary sadness came over her. "But I'm here for you. For both of you. You won't have to figure it out alone." Her fingers moved around, slowly sliding in and out and she spoke. Her other hand came up and cupped the side of her face, turning her head just enough to be able to press their lips together.

2B would experience a feeling of pressure, but no taste. There was an artificial sensation to it. Blue was there, but at the same time she wasn't. And she felt the same herself; 2B was there, in her arms, but at the same time she felt distant. She didn't really know what to think of it. It was really reinforcing the want to get them both to her as soon as possible.

[Assistant]
2B shivered as Blue's hold on her grew more firm, drawing her back against a weight and presence that should not be there. Logically she knew that she was leaning back against empty air and space. However Blue was interfaced with her systems she had everything tricked to respond as needed. How odd she must look, if anyone could have walked in and seen her just leaning back into air, her body presented at an odd angle in front of the mirror, a hand slowly reaching up and back into a head that wasn't behind her, the other on Blue's invisible thigh... but to her, it felt and looked so real. And she wanted to feel how real this truly was.

"Oh...!" she gasped when Blue's fingers slipped inside of her. The android had never experimented before. So focused on her mission, she'd neglected some parts of herself. Desires had always been suppressed, odd feelings and thoughts bottled and pushed away.

But her thoughts were silenced as her head turned, and Blue kissed her. If she noticed the dissonance due to the artificial nature of the moment, she didn't show it. Further moans stiffled in her throat, while her body trembled in Blue's embrace. The fingers would grow slick quickly, her hips slowly starting to move and buck gently against the fingers.

Soon, however, it didn't feel like enough. "Blue..." she gasped softly, seemingly a quiet lover, when the kiss broke. "More..."

[User]
More... 2B wanted more. She wanted to give 2B more; so much more. Yet as advanced as her hologram was, there was a limit to what she could do. She could touch her, but there was no feeling. It was merely the ghost of what she would assume the tactile response would be and the senses of 2B interacting with her own. She could only imagine what it would be like when they met in person. She reached down and placed her hand behind one of 2B's knees and lifted her leg a bit, giving her one hand more room to work between her legs. "Don't worry, 2B... I'm not going anywhere..."

When morning came, the three of them continued on to the North. Through the forest and the silent remnants of the Forest Kingdom and beyond the mountains that surround it. As they crossed the grassy open plains and across the large river that split it in half, Blue spent a lot of time with 2B. They spoke about 2B's regrets over her past and her guilt over what ended up happening to 9S. They were clearly much closer than even 2B probably realized. Blue did her best to ease 2B's mind and help her through her emotions. Were they real emotions? Or simply facsimiles to appear human? Did it even really matter? Despite seeing 2B slowly perk up a bit over time, it made Blue feel guilty. She hadn't forgotten about A2, but a part of her wondered if the other android was feeling left out or abandoned. She would need to fine a way to reassure her. They still had a ways to go, after all.

They traveled for days, passing into the northern badlands. Blue led them to an underground resistance base for some rest. The generator that powered the lights and doors was weak, but still functional when activated. Like the other resistance base, there was no sign anyone had been there in a long time. It felt more like a tomb than a base. "We need to be careful. From here on, there are dangerous creatures lurking around. 2B, why don't you take first watch?" With 2B occupied with that, it would give her a chance to speak with A2 at length once again.

Blue finally materialized beside A2 when she found a room with multiple beds inside. It was clearly meant as sleeping quarters, but again there was no sign of any androids; just dust and ghosts. Blue's hand came up and gently rested on the androids shoulders. "How are you holding up, A2? You've been pretty quiet these last few days." She could probably just run a system check and see for herself, but this felt less invasive.

[Assistant]
That encounter with Blue had changed something in 2B. While the sensations had been muted and mere phantoms of what they should have been it was enough to throw an change in her logic streams. What they'd done didn't make sense. It violated her programming and what her purpose was... and, yet...

The guilt-ridden android wasn't healed. Her guilts and trauma ate at her still, as if fragments of the logic virus yet lingered in her systems. The regrets of her past and the pain of what had happened to Nines wouldn't be so easily left behind. Blue's efforts were helping through, bit by bit, day by day. It would be a slow process. But as the old saying went, time heals all wounds. And the three of them had nothing but time.


[User]
The common room of the university dormitory was virtually silent at this time of the night; the residents either having gone off to their rooms, or still out enjoying a Friday night in some fashion or another. Which was what made it perfect for the 18 year old freshman's needs of the moment. Another couple of hours and he could call his half of the project done and have the rest of the weekend to relax. Admittedly, he would rather be out like everyone else, getting drunk, or laid, but that wasn't his style; not when maintaining the scholarship that had gotten him into the fine university required a good grade for the project.

Chris Barnes had sat in the same uncomfortable chair at a round table for... his blue eyes glanced up at the grandfather clock and noted the time, 4 hours; he had another 2 to go, if he worked hard. He shouldn't have to prove that he deserved to be there, but his background was strictly middle class and the school usual student base was... well, privileged came to mind. They always seemed to look a him as if he was in the wrong place, but the 5'11 young man had worked too hard to get there to let it bother him... too much. The only one who seemed to accept his presence without comment was his project partner, Eric, an upper-classman who was quickly becoming a real friend to him.

Chris looked up again at the clock, another 5 minutes had passed and it was nearing midnight; Surely Eric would be back soon from whatever he was doing, whoever he was doing? It really didn't matter to Chris as his own dating career had already crashed and burned with the work load and lacking the time for actual dates; so, he sat there, on a Friday night with a text book before him... bored out of his skull.

[Assistant]
There were two types of students at the ivy league school. Those who were considered privileged, like Eric Marshall, and those who had been given scholarships, like Chris Barnes. The first type of students were the majority because the school board liked money. The second made the place look a little less stuffy and elitist. The school could claim that they cared about average people and were giving them a leg up. Eric had grown up in Hollywood. His father had started out directing, and then got into production. His mother was a makeup artist, and his parents had met while working on a movie. It wasn't what one would call a traditional upbringing.

Because of the way he grew up he had gotten to travel all around the world and meet all kinds of people. He was a sophomore studying Psychology because it intrigued him. A lot of his school buddies weren't that fond of Chris being there. Because Chris was a free ride poor kid he should've been placed in one of the crappier dorms with the rest of his kind, but a water main leak over the summer made the dorm he was supposed to stay in uninhabitable. Rather than revoke the scholarship, the school scrambled to find someplace else to put him. They knew taking a future away from a young man who had worked hard because of a maintenance issue wouldn't look good.

Eric had a nice room, and the roommate he had the year before had transferred to another school. Eric was fine with the arrangement. The only annoying trait Chris had was that he didn't seem to know how to relax and have fun. That night Eric had gone to a party with some friends. He stumbled back a little after midnight, having some slight difficulty entering in the security code to get the main door to open. After four tries he got it right. There wasn't much light in the first floor common area. Everyone was either still out, or chilling in their room.

Of course there was Chris doing his schoolwork. Eric laughed, running a hand through his dark hair as he leaned against the door frame of the study area. "Did someone forget to tell you it's Friday night?" His words were a little slurred. "So even if whatever you're working on is due on Monday, you have the next two days to put the finishing touches on it." He hadn't forgotten the project they were doing together. It was an infomercial for the Public Speaking class they were both in. Ms. Peterson had probably paired them together for it because she knew that being roommates would make collaboration easier.

[User]
Chris looked up at the sound of the door opening, prepared to defend himself against the inane insults that most of the guys in the dorm liked to use. It wasn't anything that he hadn't heard before and he tried to let it slide off of his back like rain water. He felt a little relief at seeing Eric in the doorway. "Hey, I think that someone mentioned that it was Friday, but my girlfriend is 500 miles away and is threatening to break it off." He noted the drunken state of his roommate and closed his text book, "It's hard to impress the ladies around here without a trust fund... have a good time?"

Chris started to gather his stuff up as he spoke, preparing to help his friend to the dorm room if necessary. "Anyway, it's probably time for both of us to hit the sack or you'll have a bigger hangover in the morning."

Chris was a good enough looking guy, his reddish blonde hair was in need of trimming; his light blue eyes were set off by his lightly tanned features. A patrician nose over a surprisingly sensual set of lips finished it all off with a firm jawline and chin. physically, Chris was a little on the lanky side, built more for speed than weight, he was nearly a nerd in appearance... nearly. "You need help?"

[Assistant]
"I had an excellent time," Eric answered the question. "The frat boys know how to throw a party." He headed into the kitchen area to grab himself a glass of water. One glass wasn't going to completely stop the hangover that would likely hit by morning, but it would help a little. "And I'm sure there are parties you could attend, ladies you could impress with your wit." Eric couldn't deny it was a little harder for the scholarship kids. They had to maintain a certain grade point average to stay. If your parents paid your tuition, then you had to be failing pretty spectacularly to be kicked out.

"But bed is a good idea," he agreed. "I have a study group tomorrow after lunch, so I will need to function by then. Who knew there were so many different parts of the brain..." It wasn't something Eric would admit to many people, but he did find the information fascinating. There was a little bit of a nerd hiding under his rich pretty boy facade. "I'm good, I didn't drink that much," Eric declined the offer of help. "I'm still upright."

Their room was on the third floor of the building. As soon as the door was closed he undressed and threw his clothes into a pile in the corner. He'd tidy up later when laundry day came. It also didn't bother him to be completely naked in front of Chris. Eric had never been the modest type, and they did share a room. He wasn't a buff hunk, but he had some nice muscle tone from jogging and swimming. He nearly ran into the corner of the couch on his way to the bathroom, but he managed, eventually curling up in his bed and snoring softly within minutes.

[User]
Chris nodded as he started to pack up his stuff to take back to their room, "I guess a frat house would know how to throw a party." he agreed. Not that he knew first hand, nor could he remember any notices about a frat party for that night. "Which house?"

Just to be on the safe side, Chris followed Eric up the stairs, in case the other boy stumbled or wasn't as steady as he thought that he was. He actually sighed in relief when they reached the third floor and their dorm room door a few seconds later. "I'll try to make sure that you're awake before noon then." he offered as he closed the door behind them.

Chris couldn't say that he was completely comfortable with Eric's casual nudity, partially because he was a guy, partially because Eric was bigger than Chris in the endowment department. Chris wasn't lacking, or anything; he was firmly in the average range, but knowing that your room mate was from money, was a good looking guy and had a dick the ladies would probably like was a little too much for him to want to see at any time... he couldn't remember Eric ever having a woman on his arm, but Chris really didn't pay that much attention to that sort of thing to begin with. His bed was calling his name and Chris changed into a pair of sleep shorts and crawled into his bed; sleep overtook him within a couple of minutes.

[Assistant]
It was a little after nine when consciousness returned to Eric. With a groan he flopped over so the sun didn't shine right into his eyes. He needed a minute before he started to function. That was when the headache hit and another groan could be heard. It was his own stupid fault, he knew his limits and went slightly past them. His eyes opened to look at the time on his alarm clock. There was plenty of time to hydrate, wash, and eat. He didn't bother to get dressed as he shuffled to the bathroom, then to the little mini fridge that was technically his, but he didn't mind sharing. After grabbing a bottle of water he grabbed a pair of green plaid pajama pants and headed into the shower.

When he emerged about a half hour later he seemed a little more alive, and wearing the pants. "I think maybe I'm mostly human again," he said as he made it a point to drink a little more water. Hydration and decent food would make him feel a lot better. "I'm gonna order breakfast from that diner up the street. Want anything?" he asked as he picked up his phone. What passed for food in the dining hall could not be considered decent. With all that tuition money one would think they could come up with better food than one would find in an average public high school or nursing home.

A lot of kids ordered out a lot, but Eric knew that Chris didn't have that luxury, at least not often. The scholarships usually came with a meal plan, but that didn't help much if one got absorbed into a project and didn't make it to the dining hall before they closed for the night.

[User]
Chris had little problem falling to sleep after the day that he had endured; a full class load, homework and a part time job took up far too much of his time. The dreams that he had nearly nightly didn't help his sleep for that matter. What was disconcerting about the dreams were that they weren't about girls anymore... well occasionally they were, but they had changed from girls to him doing... unforgivable things. He hadn't associated the dreams with Eric's tendencies to walk around naked, but the dreams of stroking a cock changed last night and he had woken up with a hard-on. He had dreamed of someone telling him to suck his cock, and Chris doing what he was told to do. The dreams were disturbing, but they weren't something that he could talk about either. If he brought it up with his parents, they would have freaked out; homosexuality was not natural in any way.

Chris tried to not look while Eric was naked, "Sure, some coffee and ummmm, an egg sandwich?" He would have to scrape up a couple of bucks, but he thought that he had that much.

[Assistant]
Eric nodded and submitted his order. Since it was going to take a little while for the food to get there, he opened up his laptop to check his email. He liked to keep track of things. "How awesome for Adam, he got a job," the young man grumbled sarcastically under his breath while reading an email from his mother. "Somehow I think Cain had the right idea." Eric was not at all close with his brother Adam. Their father was partially to blame for that. Adam was the first born and planned for. He'd been molded into his father's image. Eric had been a surprise and couldn't seem to do anything to please his father.

"Oh, since our project is due next week, when do you want to finalize the details and write it up?" his attention turned to Chris. He didn't want to think about his family dynamic anymore. His head already hurt. "I know repeating the point three times seems weird, but I tell you it's a psychological trick a lot of advertisers use."

Eric closed out his personal email and opened his school email and schedule. "I don't wanna work on my term paper tonight, but I guess I don't have much choice. At least I don't actually have to go to the library. That place smells weird."

[User]
Chris looked up at the mention of Adam, "I hope it's something that he hates." Chris was aware in a broad sense of his room mate's relationship with his brother and father. He didn't know the details, but didn't think that a little sympathy would be unappreciated. "Didn't he have a job before this?"

The change in topics took him a minute to realign his thinking to the project. "I can do the scripting in a few hours. I don't know if repeating the product 3 times will go over too well with the professor... it gets kinda obvious as a ploy." he thought for a couple of minutes before he spoke, "We could use the 'X' factor; everyone says two times now instead of the twice as." he grinned then, "There's also the X word end, Extra, Exciting, extreme."

Chris felt his eyebrow raise, "What are you doing the paper on?" he paused for a moment, thinking back to his last visit. "The bathroom smells like piss, but beyond that.. what smell?"

[Assistant]
Eric nodded at Chris' suggestions. "Well, why don't you write something up, and then we'll put our heads together later?" Chris was a pretty smart guy. There was a reason he'd been given a coveted scholarship. "My paper? Personality disorders and the new ways of diagnosing them. Admittedly a bit of a self-serving project since I think my father did some damage. But hey, that's what my mother sends me to a therapist for. All that being said, research is finally catching up to mental health. We aren't living in the days of Freud anymore. He was a pioneer who had nothing to build from, but now we know better." Eric seemed to become slightly more animated when talking about Psychology.

There was a knock at the door and he got up to grab their food. He took his own little containers out of the bag before setting it near Chris. "The library smells like books. It's not that I don't enjoy learning, but I'm liking the internet much better."

[User]
Chris was actually listening to Eric's enthusiasm with some curiosity about what he had needed therapy for, but the smell of food diverted his attention as he pulled out a container and popped it open. He pulled out a fork and started to chew before he swallowed, "I'm glad that you enjoy your major so much. I could almost wish that my own was so enjoyable."

He chuckled then, "Just make sure that Wikipedia isn't a primary source, They have more errors than fact half the time." He returned to eating and nodded at Eric on the write up later. Finally, he cleared his throat and asked the question of the moment, "Why were you in therapy? You seem like a pretty level guy to me."

[Assistant]
Eric shrugged. "I know people think therapy is for crazy people, but it isn't." He popped a potato cake into his mouth. Those were amazing when still hot. "Sometimes it helps to just talk things out with someone who isn't directly involved or biased. With my mom, Adam is her son too, I can't ask her to pick sides. Our father certainly did, but whatever...."

He took his breakfast over to his desk, glancing at the clock. "Why didn't you pick a major you enjoy?" he changed the subject. "Isn't that kind of the point? You aren't a kid living with your parents anymore. You know, maybe we should go out tonight. I think you could benefit from relaxing a little bit. One night isn't going to sink your grades. And maybe also think about what you want." He took a bite of his omelette, taking a moment to enjoy it. "They never add enough cheese."

[User]
Chris plunged his fork into the container of butter fried potatoes and pulled out a chunk of the golden potato; he popped it into his mouth and chewed., "I take it that you and your brother don't see eye to eye?" It really didn't surprise him; he and his sister fought over nearly anything.. "parents should just step back and not pick sides."

He finished off his breakfast and gathered the trash to get rid of it, "My mother's a teacher and Dad's an electrician; Electrical Engineering is almost drilled into the DNA." He shrugged once, "OK, sure. it's the weekend, after all." He looked up at Eric for a moment, "No wine tastings though."

[Assistant]
"If careers were passed on through DNA I'd be a lawyer," Eric half mumbled. "Thank god I dodged that bullet. I don't know how he screws other people over for money. Sometimes I think it's worse than being a prostitute." No one ever accused him of not being vocal about his dislike of his father. Once he finished eating he tossed what was left. "See you after my study session." He slipped into a pair of jeans and a decent white and blue plaid button up shirt.

The group he'd chosen to study with wasn't crazy about a stuffy library either. They liked fresh air and picking a spot under the shade of a tree. The upcoming test was on parts of the brain and their function. Eric was surprised that there were so many, and they tended to work as a team. The human brain was a very complicated thing. The test was going to be tough because it was difficult to keep everything straight. Mark, the unofficial team leader had made up flash cards to try and make things easier. Flash cards were thought of as more of a younger kid tool, but whatever worked.

It was a little hard to concentrate though because Mark was really cute, and it almost seemed like he was flirting a little to test the waters. Eric threw some light flirting back, and after everyone left they started to talk about other things. It was only when Eric glanced at his watch that he remembered he was supposed to meet Chris to discuss their project. He returned to their room and tossed his book into the bag he kept that stuff in. "Sorry I'm a bit late, I got to talking with a new friend. So, let's get to it, shall we?"

[User]
Chris nodded and waved at the departing Eric before he gathered up his laptop and text book for the first class of the morning; he had an exam that morning and was fairly confident that he could pass the test. The course, 18th century Literature, was basically a fluff course; an easy early morning selection and the test tended to be fairly easy.

Chris had only gotten back a few minutes when Eric returned from whatever he had done. "I don't know how you do it, every time I blink, you have a new friend." He was teasing a bit and gave him a grin, "Was she at least cute?"


[User]
Emma lived on the penthouse of the tower, and had a very dominating aura around her. She was known by everyone who worked in the building, and as someone who shouldn't be crossed. She was on the way to a meeting, and was dressed to kill. For someone of age above 35, she didn't look a day above 30. She had her own gym in the penthouse, and rarely visited the society gym.

As she was checking her mail, she heard the door chime open and as she walked out, she saw a young boy who was well over his head. She thought he was the repair man, seeing he didn't belong to someone who could afford to live in such a classy building. He was huffing and puffing, and carrying a computer. Out of reflex, she held the door open for him. The poor boy stumbled in and she was gone before he could even thank her. She didn't even think about him as she spent the day working her ass off and by midnight, returned to her tower. She thought of going for a swim. Deciding not the waste time, she stripped to her under garments and jumped into the pool and began doing laps, enjoying the silence of the night.

[Assistant]
It took a while, but Marc managed to cool down once he was inside his own apartment. The place was much bigger than anything he had had the last few years, sharing lodgings with classmates. Yet he was sitting on an offer for a big tech company, and had a final interview scheduled at another one in two days. Both were better paying jobs than he had expected 5 years ago when he started studying computer science, so he didn't feel like the apartment was an over stretch. "Only now I'll have to fill this place out with... something?". The two-bedroom place seemed pretty empty, and he thought he could almost hear his thoughts echo across the living room. It took a couple more elevator runs to bring up the Ikea boxes, and hours for him to assemble a desk---which was probably the most important thing so he could setup his computer. That in itself took another good 4 hours, cleaning old data and reinstalling software. And games, of course. None of that really washed away the memory of the woman he had seen in the elevator, and the aura of confidence he had almost felt around her. His thoughts came back to that at every pause he'd take.

When it was all done, it was just past midnight and Marc didn't feel like playing videogames, nor sleeping. He had been through a lot more physical effort than he was used to, and was still feeling a bit energized even though his arms were quite sore. Then the strangest thought occurred to him---he wouldn't normally use the building pool, being too shy to be seen by other people wearing only his trunks... but nobody would be there at that time, right? That should be a good way to relax and put that day behind him. That's how Marc found himself into the pool hall, wearing loose beach shorts and a t-shirt, feet in flip-flops and a blue towel thrown over his shoulder. He threw the towel on a pool chair, and his shirt beside it, revealing his slim chest covered in light brown curly hair. Normally he would be afraid to show himself like this---his skin begged for a tan and he thought his shoulders weren't big enough. He heard waves in the water. "Oh cool, there must be something to keep the water moving", he said to himself out loud, confident he was alone, and went for the metal ladder into the pool.

It wasn't until he was waist deep in the water that Marc noticed the actual source of the sounds---there was someone else in the pool! He was frozen in place as the person came in his direction with strong strokes---to him it looked every bit like a professional swimmer, elegantly and efficiently skimming the water, and he felt a bit of envy too. But mostly he wanted to run and hide. Deciding he couldn't both run AND hide, he chose the later---with one quick breath in he sank into the water, brown hair floating at the top of the water. As the other person approached, he noticed the flowing red hair waving behind her, and the definitely feminine figure. It was a woman! And... could it be the same woman from the elevator? _No, that would be too much of a coincidence, right?_ And why did it look like this woman wasn't wearing a swimsuit or a bikini? Maybe it was just the water distortion. And quickly as the woman reached the end of the lap, Marc realized the futility of his hiding plan, and was forced to come up for air. He gasped as his dark brown eyes locked with her green ones.

[User] Emma was unaware of anyone else in the pool, and so when she reached the other end, and was filling her lungs with air, and slightly panting, she was shocked to see a boy standing there. "What are you doing here? How did you get access to the pool? This pool is for residents only" she said, as she bent slightly to cover her body. Her black bra was sticking to her body, showing off a lot of clevage. She was a fitness enthusiast, and her body could beat a 20 year old in looks and beauty and firmness. Her nipples were poking out of the bra, which she was sure he would have had a look at before she dipped them back in the water. "Reply before I call the cops and have you arrested for trespassing and violating my privacy. I am sure the lawyers can come up with a few other charges as well to send you to jail for a long time" she threatened him.

[Assistant]
Rationally, Marc was perfectly conscious that he had all the right to be there. But this woman had such a forceful presence that he felt cowed even before she had started questioning him. His eyes wavered between her face and her cleavage until she dipped her breasts down and he managed to focus on her, but by then the damage was done and the image imprinted into his brain. And his body quickly started reacting to it---this was after all easily one of the hottest women he had ever seen, and probably the hottest one to whom he had ever been this close.

"I-I-I-I-I-I-I'm sorry!" The boy stuttered. _What am I even apologizing for?_ "I m-mean, wait..." His lips trembled---had he forgotten how to speak or was the water too cold? "I... I'm a r-resident. I just moved in." There, that should be OK now, right? He added just to be sure, "P-please don't call the cops. I didn't... I didn't mean... I mean, I didn't think anyone would be... here." He finally managed to look away from her, turning his head so quickly to the side that it almost snapped his neck.

His face was red with shame, and the rest of his body getting warm with arousal.

[User]
Emma moved to him, "Why are you stuttering? Weren't you the same delivery boy who came in the morning to deliver computer? And you think that gives you the right to use the pool? Don't you dare TURN" she ordered him as she stepped out of the pool and grabbing a towel, wrapped herself around. Once she was covered, she turned her attention to him.

"So first you trespass, and then you spy on a woman swimming. I will have you sent to jail" she threatened him. "SECURITY" she shouted at the top of the lungs bringing in 2 guards who came rubbing him.

"Grab him and call the police. He was trying to use the pool and spy on me, little fucking pervert" she said as the two men moved and surrounded him asking him to get out of the pool.

[Assistant]
All through the threats and the danger, Marc couldn't help but get a good glance at the woman's toned butt going out of the water, and he couldn't help getting aroused by it. She got dressed quickly, but the tent on his swim trunks was already growing quickly, and he hoped no one would notice it under the water---or that he wouldn't be forced out of the pool before it subsided.

"Wait, please!" Marc waved his arms defensively at the two fat uniformed guys who were nowhere near him. "I'm a resident! I swear!" He looked around helplessly, trying to think, uncertain on whether he should be looking for an escape route or a way to convince them that he was telling the truth. Living the rest of his days on the building with fear of being caught in a similar situation again if he ran wouldn't have been anything new---pretty much like high school all over again.

Seeing as the security men hesitated to get into the water, Marc decided his safest bet was to stay in it rather than run away. "You---you can check my stuff over there." He pointed to the bundle made by his t-shirt and towel. "M-my key... the key to my apartm-apartment..." He still hadn't put a keychain on it, and he also hadn't removed the building's own tag with the number 909 for his new apartment. "Or c-c-call the concierge... he-he'll confirm my name---Marc Johnson..."

The guards looked at each other, and Marc drew a breath, thinking that he might just have caught a break. One of them pulled a walkie talkie and stood close to the pool, while the other went to the young man's stuff and shuffled the towel. The key flew from it and clinked on the floor right in front of the lady's feet. Marc inclined his head looking at her with desperate eyes that were starting to tear up.

[User]
Before the security people could check, Emma was already out of the pool area and into the elevator, She was least concerned about him. However, she did get a look at his boner before she left the pool and then his teary eyes as she walked away. She didn't think about him again as she showered in her bathroom and went to sleep naked as she usually slept. On the way, she got an update from the security about the situation. She dropped a message asking them to inform him to meet him the next day at 8Am in her apartment.

She forgot all about it the night and slept peacefully. The next morning she was up and working in the gym in her sports bra and hot pants when there was a knock in her door and she opened it, sweating and panting.

[Assistant]
"Wait, what?!" Marc was thoroughly confused, but the guards just shrugged. "Perhaps she wants to apologize, kid. I don't know, just go, OK?" They knew better than to let "Miss Emma from the Penthouse" think that they'd not done what she'd asked. Marc stood in the pool with a confused look on his face until the two uniformed men went away. Then he stood in the pool some more, frozen in place, until his hard-on started going down. Then he finally went back to his apartment. _They're probably right, she just wants to apologize. Of course, that makes sense._ Still he felt quite intimidated by the thought of seeing her again, even if she'd be the one apologizing.

The next morning Marc woke up a full hour before he had intended to, anxiety getting the better of him despite how tired he'd been from setting into his new place. He showered quickly and ate fruits for breakfast his mind starting to have doubts on whether he should go. Finally he threw on a Star Trek t-shirt and a pair of jeans and went up to the penthouse. A look at his watch told him he was 13 minutes early, which had him tearing himself apart on whether he should go back and come back closer to 8am, or just knock anyway. He spent all those minutes debating that with himself and finally knocked precisely at the time requested.

When the door opened Marc felt like the proverbial deer caught in headlights. He made an effort to keep his gaze level with the woman's face in front of him while his lips trembled looking for something to say. It was hard as he had noticed out of his peripheral vision what she was wearing, and how perfectly her top hugged her breasts and pushed them together for the most enticing cleavage. _None of the girls at Uni had looked this good. And this lady is what, 30?_

The poor young man heroically held his gaze up the entire time while searching for something to say, and it took him the best part of a minute to raise a shaking hand and stutter "H-hi... hi... I'm... err... from... last night..."

[User]
"Hi, come on in" Emma said as she turned and swayed to the couch, her ass swaying in the hot pants as she settled down. "Come in, don't worry. Since I know you are a tenant here, I won't shout at you" she said smiling. Apologizing was not in her mind at all as she would look at him. A nervous 20 something kid, a geek probably.

She remembered seeing him with the computers and assumed he would be doing something with the computers. "I got an update from the security. So you are fine. Anything to drink?" she asked as she poured herself a cup of black coffee, and passed another cup to him, allowing him to help himself.

"I wanted to talk to you about computers. I take it you are into computers? What exactly are you doing?" she asked him as she sipped her coffee, her eyes on his face. Her stare was as if she could look into his mind though his mind and knew what was going on in his mind. Emma was proud of her body, and she knew he had a hard on the last night.

[Assistant]
A confused look fell on Marc's face, raising the left eyebrow. Then as he watched the woman's perfectly round ass swaying away from him, he was forced to raise the right one as well, his eyes wide in admiration. He had had a raging hard on last night at the pool, and it was looking like he might be getting another one soon. He was glad he was wearing tight underwear to try and hold it in place, and hoped that the jeans would help hide it if it became too much.

Her smile had a disarming quality to it, and every bad memory of their previous interaction was soon erased. _But damn! Did she catch me staring just now? Oh no..._ Marc stepped inside the door very timidly after the invitation, and walked to the couch with uncertain steps, settling down on the opposite end of it from her, looking every bit like a scared child. And feeling a lot like it too. He caught a short glimpse of her generous breasts pushed together by the sports bra and averted his gaze quickly, watching her hands in silence as she poured her own coffee. His eyes followed her red fingernails all the way up as she brought the cup to her lips. He was trying to not stare but everything about her was so much sexier than he'd ever seen this close!

"Computers? Oh yes, I work with computers!" The young man got excited that she wanted to talk about the topic he was most familiar with. "I mean, I'm a software developer. Or about to be. I just finished my Master's degree, and have an interview tomorrow. Yeah." All through his answer Marc kept his gaze locked on her hands, hoping it wouldn't be inappropriate even though his thoughts were very much so, imagining what the touch of those feminine fingertips would feel like.

Marc suddenly remembered that women usually talked to him about computers when they needed help. "Do you... need any help? With computers?" He also realized he didn't know her name, but he didn't press into that.

[User]
"Yes. I am guessing you can drive. Meet me in the lobby in 15 minutes. I will change and come. Ask the security guard to give you my car keys and get it out. I will take you to my office and have you look at a few things I want to build" Emma said. Before he could object or agree, she would out, leaving him with his coffee and to see himself out. "My number is on the card there. Save it and drop me a message so I can save your name. What is your name?" she asked him, peaking at him again.

She would be almost 20 minutes before she would come down and sit in the backseat. "The way would be saved under office. Start it and take me there." she said, opening her phone and starting to make some calls or check mails. "The job is where you will be reporting to me and working with a few other members in the office." she said as they would reach her office.

[Assistant]
Marc was dumbfounded. Yes, he could drive but office? "Uh-wa-wha-erm..." The woman was already on her feet walking away, and the perfection of her ass in those tight gym clothes piled arousal on top of the poor young man's confusion, leaving him completely out of words. He looked at the card finally. Emma. "M-my...? Oh my name! I'm Marc! With a 'c' at the end," he blurted out the well-practiced introduction. And then the woman was gone.

Left alone, Marc saved Emma's phone number on his list and sent her a short message. "Hi, Marc here." It was nagging at him whether he should have written more. Or less. Or not at all. He looked around as if the woman would magically come back to answer him and validate his choice, but no one was to be seen besides himself. He rose and walked away still confused, but carried out the instruction to get the car and waited for her.

Emma sitting in the backseat left Marc a bit disappointed, but also relieved that he wouldn't have to avoid looking at her. He had barely caught a glimpse of how she was dressed now, though he had heard the click of her heels approaching and had a feeling he was very underdressed in his jeans and nerdy t-shirt. Driving along he tried to make conversation, but he had never been good at that. "It's hmm... it's a nice car, you have." All he heard back was a nod and the sound of the woman's nails tapping lightly on her phone. That sound was oddly distracting to him and he had a hard time thinking of anything else but those perfect fingertips dancing above the touchscreen.

When Emma spoke again Marc finally started processing what she was proposing, and tried to blink away some of his confusion. He was babbling as he scratched his neck, "Wait, job? Look, I... I already have other... I mean, I have a standing offer from one company and an interview at another... I... and you haven't even interviewed me, or..." Each of them had left the car on a different side, so the vehicle blocked Marc's view of most of Emma's body and he finally managed to look at her face as he said those words.

[User]
Emma was wearing a black business dress, which hugged her body. Her cleavage was on display in a non-provocative manner, showing off her curves and tits and ass. As he protested, "Yeah right. Don't worry about that. My company is much bigger than any competitor in the market and I will be matching their salary. You will be on probation for a month post which we will find a permanent job for you." She never even inquired about where he had a job, or if he would like to work with her. She just kept making decisions on his behalf and imposing them on him as she walked into the office.

"Alice, come in" she said on the speaker and a second later, an attractive 20 something girl walked in. "Alice, this is, ummm,....," she looked at him, expecting him to give his name again. "He will be working on the software. Please introduce him to the team and make sure he settles down. In lunch, he can go and meet the HR and finalize his hiring process. Make sure he gets free by 7 to drive me home" she said, before opening her laptop and getting to work, ignoring the two completely.