"Thank you, Cheshire. I wouldn't want Phillip to think I was dead. He'd be terribly shocked," Phero replied, crossing her arms across her chest in imitation of her friend. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to, but it seemed safe to keep mimicking Cheshire's etiquette. "Phillip is one of the lead researchers who worked both on creating me and readying many of the compounds that I'm designed to distribute. He's paid well by Heart-Payne Pharmaceuticals, I hear, but Dharma still talks as though she could replace him at any time..."
She walked over to where she'd dropped her armor and suit earlier, folding the latter over the former and picking up the newly covered shell with both arms. "Phillip was sort of like a father figure to me, since he's one of the first humans I interacted with. To this date, I've probably still interacted more with him than I have with Dharma, even though I'm her navi. He's reliable, but at the same time, he's easily kept at arm's length by the president; she doesn't like him or any of the other researchers growing attached to me," the pink-haired navi further explained. "I guess I'm lucky to still have him around, even if we don't get to talk that often."
"Oh, and he's got a compulsive cough that arises when he's surprised or excited. Dharma often tricks me into making him cough," she sighed. "That can't be good for his health..."
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"He sounds..." Cheshire fought for the right word, absently brushing her still-damp hair out of her eyes. "Well, he sounds nice, at least. Really reliable people are kind of tough to come by. If your op really wants to replace someone like that, she'd better be ready to go hunting!" While this was, all things considered, a pretty grim view of human nature, the navi didn't seem any less high-spirited for it.
"Must be nice, having something like a father. Me, I just..." She trailed off, suddenly looking very thoughtful about something. It didn't last for too long; the woman gave a short shrug and met Phero's eyes again with whatever internal dialogue she had been having resolved for the time being. "As far as I can remember, I just kind of happened. Until I met my sister, I didn't really know anybody for very long. Mostly viruses, even then." If there was one thing you could say of Cheshire, it was that she wasn't one to dwell on things -- this, too, was delivered in a merry conversational tone. Honestly, she was finding it tough to be in a bad mood with Phero around.
Her bare feet sank into the thick shag of a particularly colourful round rug as she crossed toward the door. Beneath the yukata her tail coiled around her left thigh with a practiced sort of dexterity, getting it out of the way of the skirt and keeping the cloth from tenting at her back. "D'you think you have time to eat? They should have everything sorted out down there now."
"Must be nice, having something like a father. Me, I just..." She trailed off, suddenly looking very thoughtful about something. It didn't last for too long; the woman gave a short shrug and met Phero's eyes again with whatever internal dialogue she had been having resolved for the time being. "As far as I can remember, I just kind of happened. Until I met my sister, I didn't really know anybody for very long. Mostly viruses, even then." If there was one thing you could say of Cheshire, it was that she wasn't one to dwell on things -- this, too, was delivered in a merry conversational tone. Honestly, she was finding it tough to be in a bad mood with Phero around.
Her bare feet sank into the thick shag of a particularly colourful round rug as she crossed toward the door. Beneath the yukata her tail coiled around her left thigh with a practiced sort of dexterity, getting it out of the way of the skirt and keeping the cloth from tenting at her back. "D'you think you have time to eat? They should have everything sorted out down there now."
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"That's a shame, Cheshire. Although, I guess there's no reason it has to be family that one surrounds oneself with. After all, all of my favorite people are new friends I've met, right here on the net!" Phero proclaimed, keeping her own smile painted on. "And yes, food ought to be interesting. Much like bathing, eating is something I've never had the pleasure to experience," she affirmed.
Phero followed Cheshire back to the dining hall, giving little thought to her manner of dress, which occasionally fluttered to allow a glimpse of her bare shins. Hanging around Cheshire was beginning to make her wonder why navis bothered to dress at all, with how comfortable nudity seemed. "I'll call Phillip over, just to let him know how we're doing. Let's see... this ought to set off the PET's alarm," she murmured as she walked alongside her partner.
Back at Beach Street, aboard Dharma's yacht, a terrible theft alarm went off rather than the waking alarm the navi had been trying to activate. Busting into a terrible cough, Phillip scampered across the deck to see who was stealing the president's PET, only to find it untouched. He deactivated the alarm, then checked Phero's status; as he did, he found the navi in question waving to him. "Phero, you seem to be doing well. Why did you activate the alarm?" he asked, speaking through the handkerchief he was using to cover his mouth in case of another cough.
"I just wanted to let you know that everything's going fine. Cheshire and I are about to eat together," she informed him with an apologetic smile.
"I see. So you already bathed, then?" he asked, wiping his mouth and then putting away the cloth.
"Yes! Cheshire and I hugged some more in the bath and learned a lot about each other. We found out new things about me that I myself didn't know... and I'm gaining a deep understanding of her as well. I'd like to try to be friends with the president just like I am with Cheshire," Phero commented, keeping the same smile but blushing slightly as she discussed her friendship. Another coughing fit broke out on the other side of the PET, this one stronger than the last. "Are you okay? Lead researcher?" Something happened on the other side of the PET to alleviate her worry, so she closed the link. "Phillip's fine."
Phero followed Cheshire back to the dining hall, giving little thought to her manner of dress, which occasionally fluttered to allow a glimpse of her bare shins. Hanging around Cheshire was beginning to make her wonder why navis bothered to dress at all, with how comfortable nudity seemed. "I'll call Phillip over, just to let him know how we're doing. Let's see... this ought to set off the PET's alarm," she murmured as she walked alongside her partner.
Back at Beach Street, aboard Dharma's yacht, a terrible theft alarm went off rather than the waking alarm the navi had been trying to activate. Busting into a terrible cough, Phillip scampered across the deck to see who was stealing the president's PET, only to find it untouched. He deactivated the alarm, then checked Phero's status; as he did, he found the navi in question waving to him. "Phero, you seem to be doing well. Why did you activate the alarm?" he asked, speaking through the handkerchief he was using to cover his mouth in case of another cough.
"I just wanted to let you know that everything's going fine. Cheshire and I are about to eat together," she informed him with an apologetic smile.
"I see. So you already bathed, then?" he asked, wiping his mouth and then putting away the cloth.
"Yes! Cheshire and I hugged some more in the bath and learned a lot about each other. We found out new things about me that I myself didn't know... and I'm gaining a deep understanding of her as well. I'd like to try to be friends with the president just like I am with Cheshire," Phero commented, keeping the same smile but blushing slightly as she discussed her friendship. Another coughing fit broke out on the other side of the PET, this one stronger than the last. "Are you okay? Lead researcher?" Something happened on the other side of the PET to alleviate her worry, so she closed the link. "Phillip's fine."
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"See, that's the spirit!" Cheshire cheered, unaware that the girl was trying to make contact until the elevator started its descent. She folded her hands behind her back, trying at least to appear patient. It was far from one of her strong suits -- besides, this Philip sounded like he'd be pretty fun to mess with. The temptation to interrupt Phero just for the sake of causing this stranger grief was definitely there -- but as the girl's account of things went on, Cheshire found herself admitting that her input probably wasn't required. Her cheeks flushed slightly just listening to it; she didn't envy this other person if he was so prone to overexcitement as Phero had made it seem.
The doors slid open once more to admit the low, warm echo of friendly conversation. "Is he? I feel kind of bad for him, sitting around doing nothing while his boss is havin' a bath..." She led on down the hallway, the murmur growing louder until the two made their way into the restaurant proper where it sounded as if it were reverberating from the walls themselves. "Then again, only the one bath was still open. Him and your op aren't that close, are they?" The vast room was laid out much the same as it had been when they passed through earlier, but the addition of so many dining guests had transformed the atmosphere of the place entirely. The red-skinned navi from earlier had taken his position at the great flat grill in the center of the hall, and gave the two a curt nod as they caught his eye. Cheshire waved back brightly on her way to an unoccupied booth in the corner.
"That's Tenzo!" She scooted onto the richly upholstered seat, her elbows immediately finding the polished wooden surface of the table with blatant disregard for proper manners. "Doesn't talk much, but he's alright. Damn good cook!" Two austere leather-bound menus were all that decorated the table in terms of place settings. Cheshire, naturally, didn't need hers -- if Phero decided to have a look, though, she'd find it absolutely stuffed with various kinds of Japanese and Indian cuisine.
The doors slid open once more to admit the low, warm echo of friendly conversation. "Is he? I feel kind of bad for him, sitting around doing nothing while his boss is havin' a bath..." She led on down the hallway, the murmur growing louder until the two made their way into the restaurant proper where it sounded as if it were reverberating from the walls themselves. "Then again, only the one bath was still open. Him and your op aren't that close, are they?" The vast room was laid out much the same as it had been when they passed through earlier, but the addition of so many dining guests had transformed the atmosphere of the place entirely. The red-skinned navi from earlier had taken his position at the great flat grill in the center of the hall, and gave the two a curt nod as they caught his eye. Cheshire waved back brightly on her way to an unoccupied booth in the corner.
"That's Tenzo!" She scooted onto the richly upholstered seat, her elbows immediately finding the polished wooden surface of the table with blatant disregard for proper manners. "Doesn't talk much, but he's alright. Damn good cook!" Two austere leather-bound menus were all that decorated the table in terms of place settings. Cheshire, naturally, didn't need hers -- if Phero decided to have a look, though, she'd find it absolutely stuffed with various kinds of Japanese and Indian cuisine.
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Phero couldn't help laughing, covering her mouth so as not to draw too much attention on top of her already standout appearance, attributable to her tourist-like, constant stare and vibrantly pink hair. "Phillip and the president? Imagining them in the tub together like we were is quite an image," she giggled, trying to decide which side of the equation seemed less likely to her. "Ah, but maybe they should! With how nice our bath was, I can't see why they wouldn't both enjoy it. Maybe I should recommend it to them whenever they're together?"
With a funny feeling of excitement, Phero realized that the place she was in was probably the first time she'd ever been in a gathering quite so large. She couldn't help waving back at Tenzo, even though she didn't know him. Smiling, she followed Cheshire... she was interested in the food, but more interested in learning as much as she could about all of the people around as possible. She didn't really understand the concept of a menu, so she simply continued to think about all of the people around her while she ought to be deciding her order.
"Tell me about Tenzo! Have you ever taken a bath with him before?" she asked, peeking back at their subject of discussion over her shoulder. "Is there anyone else you know in here?"
With a funny feeling of excitement, Phero realized that the place she was in was probably the first time she'd ever been in a gathering quite so large. She couldn't help waving back at Tenzo, even though she didn't know him. Smiling, she followed Cheshire... she was interested in the food, but more interested in learning as much as she could about all of the people around as possible. She didn't really understand the concept of a menu, so she simply continued to think about all of the people around her while she ought to be deciding her order.
"Tell me about Tenzo! Have you ever taken a bath with him before?" she asked, peeking back at their subject of discussion over her shoulder. "Is there anyone else you know in here?"
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"Oh? Phero, what kind of girl do you take me for?" she teased, her lips curling into a lurid smile. "I don't share a bath with just anyone... Only the really cute ones." Her hand slipped innocuously onto the girl's lap, fingers flexing for just a second against the smooth cotton. She held this rather intimate position even as her eyes scanned the hall for familiar faces, the woman once again demonstrating her lack of concern for personal space. "'sides, that's not his thing. Lessee..." Tenzo's was the only one who she could really remember, despite her keen eye -- she didn't make a habit of chatting with the staff.
All the same, it wasn't long before a waiter in something close to feudal-era formalwear caught the woman's eye and, misinterpreting things entirely, rushed over to take the pair's orders. "Good evening, madames! Are you ready to order?"
"Oh! Uh." Cheshire surreptitiously slipped her hand from Phero's thigh. Something like a shade of embarrassment could be seen on her face, although it quickly vanished beneath a practiced easy grin. "Think my friend still needs some time. In the meantime, though, could you bring us some -- "
"Hm? Cheshire. I thought the staff had been looking a little on edge tonight." A smooth, deep voice cut off her words with little difficulty, despite how gently they had been spoken. A slender man with skin so dark it was nearly blue stepped toward the table, the waiter stepping away with a polite (if somewhat hasty) bow. His own robes could scarcely still be called a kimono for all the ornamentation that covered them -- a gold-painted pattern of interlocking snakes nearly obscured by hanging golden chains and bands. Nearly hidden beneath the clinking opulence was a short, wide scabbard tucked into his belt.
"Bheru-ji. A pleasure." Cheshire's smile didn't falter, but the woman seemed to bristle anyway. "I thought you'd be somewhere else."
"Naturally. I am a busy man. I've simply come to check in on a precious employee in the wake of a troubling security breach." His eyes seemed to flash dangerously for just a second. "I hadn't expected to find you with a guest..." His eyes darted over Phero's face with a gentle curiosity. Oh so quietly, Cheshire drew a sharp breath, seeming less and less at ease with the situation. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure, Miss..."
All the same, it wasn't long before a waiter in something close to feudal-era formalwear caught the woman's eye and, misinterpreting things entirely, rushed over to take the pair's orders. "Good evening, madames! Are you ready to order?"
"Oh! Uh." Cheshire surreptitiously slipped her hand from Phero's thigh. Something like a shade of embarrassment could be seen on her face, although it quickly vanished beneath a practiced easy grin. "Think my friend still needs some time. In the meantime, though, could you bring us some -- "
"Hm? Cheshire. I thought the staff had been looking a little on edge tonight." A smooth, deep voice cut off her words with little difficulty, despite how gently they had been spoken. A slender man with skin so dark it was nearly blue stepped toward the table, the waiter stepping away with a polite (if somewhat hasty) bow. His own robes could scarcely still be called a kimono for all the ornamentation that covered them -- a gold-painted pattern of interlocking snakes nearly obscured by hanging golden chains and bands. Nearly hidden beneath the clinking opulence was a short, wide scabbard tucked into his belt.
"Bheru-ji. A pleasure." Cheshire's smile didn't falter, but the woman seemed to bristle anyway. "I thought you'd be somewhere else."
"Naturally. I am a busy man. I've simply come to check in on a precious employee in the wake of a troubling security breach." His eyes seemed to flash dangerously for just a second. "I hadn't expected to find you with a guest..." His eyes darted over Phero's face with a gentle curiosity. Oh so quietly, Cheshire drew a sharp breath, seeming less and less at ease with the situation. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure, Miss..."
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"Really? Well, I'm happy for the compliment, but that upsets my new perspective regarding baths as a tool to foster friendships. Should I also be certain to take baths only with those I find cute? Because I have to say, I don't have terribly developed preferences yet," Phero rambled on, completely failing to notice when their waiter arrived. "At any rate, it sounds like maybe it isn't such a good idea for Phillip and Dharma to have a bath together. I am almost certain that neither of them find each other cute," she sighed, turning to notice the new man who had replaced the servant she'd never managed to acknowledge.
Unfortunately, Phero seemed to be treating him the way Phero treated someone who she wanted out of the room quickly: with mock politeness, unsuccessfully veiling actual animosity. "My name is Phero. Your name is Bheru-ji?" she asked, feeling curious despite the warning undertone in Cheshire's voice. "It's a little difficult to pronounce," she commented; while it was true that the name was more difficult to pronounce than those of some of the other navis she'd met on the net, her words didn't add up, seeing as she'd spoken it perfectly on her first try.
She wanted to ask the newcomer, "so, do you have any advice on bathing?" to continue the train of her thoughts, but realized that he and Cheshire seemed to have some kind of business. Phero reasoned that if the relationship was anything like that of Dharma and her business associates, she'd rather keep out of it altogether.
Unfortunately, Phero seemed to be treating him the way Phero treated someone who she wanted out of the room quickly: with mock politeness, unsuccessfully veiling actual animosity. "My name is Phero. Your name is Bheru-ji?" she asked, feeling curious despite the warning undertone in Cheshire's voice. "It's a little difficult to pronounce," she commented; while it was true that the name was more difficult to pronounce than those of some of the other navis she'd met on the net, her words didn't add up, seeing as she'd spoken it perfectly on her first try.
She wanted to ask the newcomer, "so, do you have any advice on bathing?" to continue the train of her thoughts, but realized that he and Cheshire seemed to have some kind of business. Phero reasoned that if the relationship was anything like that of Dharma and her business associates, she'd rather keep out of it altogether.
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The man's lips curled in a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. Laugh lines were plain on his face now, although guessing at his age was still impossible. "Charmed, Miss Phero." He gave a short, ducking bow before he continued, although his eyes remained on Phero and Cheshire all the while. Cheshire mimicked the motion herself, although her heart clearly wasn't in it. A small muscle worked in her jaw as the man continued.
"I won't keep you two from each other's company any longer -- but, Cheshire, do stop by later. You've impressed Lady Rangan, but not me." He leaned in closer over the table, his sincere-looking smile not so much as faltering. "Miss Phero, Tonglen appreciates your patronage. Enjoy your evening, and see that you get home safely." As he withdrew, his eyes locked to Cheshire's, the cheer fading from his face. "You've chosen odd company. Cheshire normally prefers her food raw."
Turning elegantly, his various ornaments tinkling about him gently, Bheru-ji disappeared into the busy restaurant without another word. Cheshire cleared her throat loudly as if trying to make up for her long silence. "Sorry about that..." She heaved a sigh, seeming to loosen up a bit at last. "Guy runs the place. Thinks he's my boss. Let's eat, yeah?" She hurriedly caught the eye of another waiter, impatient to clear the prior conversation out of the air.
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After dinner, Cheshire led to the gates of the bathhouse, grinning with satisfaction. At the threshold she stopped, the two of them caught between the warm air of the bathhouse and the crisp air of the forest. "Hey. Come back anytime, yeah? It's been fun." She wrapped her arms around her friend, giving her a tight squeeze.
"I won't keep you two from each other's company any longer -- but, Cheshire, do stop by later. You've impressed Lady Rangan, but not me." He leaned in closer over the table, his sincere-looking smile not so much as faltering. "Miss Phero, Tonglen appreciates your patronage. Enjoy your evening, and see that you get home safely." As he withdrew, his eyes locked to Cheshire's, the cheer fading from his face. "You've chosen odd company. Cheshire normally prefers her food raw."
Turning elegantly, his various ornaments tinkling about him gently, Bheru-ji disappeared into the busy restaurant without another word. Cheshire cleared her throat loudly as if trying to make up for her long silence. "Sorry about that..." She heaved a sigh, seeming to loosen up a bit at last. "Guy runs the place. Thinks he's my boss. Let's eat, yeah?" She hurriedly caught the eye of another waiter, impatient to clear the prior conversation out of the air.
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After dinner, Cheshire led to the gates of the bathhouse, grinning with satisfaction. At the threshold she stopped, the two of them caught between the warm air of the bathhouse and the crisp air of the forest. "Hey. Come back anytime, yeah? It's been fun." She wrapped her arms around her friend, giving her a tight squeeze.
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Maybe Bheru-Ji was a bit more like Dharma than Phero had originally realized, at least in the sense of being a cold businessman. Well, on the other hand, he couldn't be totally like Dharma... no one could be, right? At least not in public.
Luckily, Phero didn't have a lot of questions to ask about a guy that Cheshire was so obviously adverse to bathing with, so she kept quiet and waited for her meal. Once it came, she barely knew what to do with it, since eating was such a new concept. With Cheshire's help, she managed to figure it all out, as her friend was a rather experienced consumer of food.
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Phero returned her partner's hug gratefully, beaming cheerfully. "This has been the greatest experience of my entire life! Thank you for teaching me about food and baths. I'd like to see if my operator will allow me to indulge in some of these things more often," she concluded. Although she still carried her armor and skinsuit in a wrapped bundle over one shoulder, she apparently had no intention of putting them back on and giving Cheshire her yukata, since that sort of information was far in the back of her mind, along with many general principles of ownership.
"Hugs and kisses... they're simple gestures that have created a great level of intimacy between Cheshire and myself," Phero mused as she returned to Dharma's PET. "The way to forging better relationships is certainly through warm and expressive gestures!"
((Jacking out))
Luckily, Phero didn't have a lot of questions to ask about a guy that Cheshire was so obviously adverse to bathing with, so she kept quiet and waited for her meal. Once it came, she barely knew what to do with it, since eating was such a new concept. With Cheshire's help, she managed to figure it all out, as her friend was a rather experienced consumer of food.
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Phero returned her partner's hug gratefully, beaming cheerfully. "This has been the greatest experience of my entire life! Thank you for teaching me about food and baths. I'd like to see if my operator will allow me to indulge in some of these things more often," she concluded. Although she still carried her armor and skinsuit in a wrapped bundle over one shoulder, she apparently had no intention of putting them back on and giving Cheshire her yukata, since that sort of information was far in the back of her mind, along with many general principles of ownership.
"Hugs and kisses... they're simple gestures that have created a great level of intimacy between Cheshire and myself," Phero mused as she returned to Dharma's PET. "The way to forging better relationships is certainly through warm and expressive gestures!"
((Jacking out))
