No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Mar 9, 2021 13:16:19 GMT
Somehow, some way, Zeni was still ever able to read the elfen girl like an open book. It was hard to hide behind a fake smile and laugh it off when the person you were hiding it from was literally programmed to read into behaviors like that. It was hard for her to open up. Even with Zeni insisting that she could talk about any of her problems, especially when right now didn't seem like the most appropriate time for a serious heart-to-heart. It seems the android broke through the ice at least a little...Ayami gave a weak smile - But one that clearly wasn't fake this time."Thanks Zee. I appreciate it, I really do. ... I'll...Talk about it later, alright? We're here to have fun after all!"Ayami scratched the top of her head, listening as Zeni spoke about how Ayami shouldn't try to be what others want. It cut deeply as something the inventor couldn't argue with at all honestly."So you're sayin' there's nothing wrong with just...Being who I wanna be? But that's a little selfish right? The others are out there striving to be Earth's guardians, and here I am just kinda...Turnin' a blind eye to it. N-Not that I'm implying I don't wanna protect my home or everyone living here! I just...I don't want that kinda thing to become my dedication. I feel like there's not always gonna be a need for heroes... Is that wrong?"These were the young mechanic's true thoughts...But she couldn't really tell if they were right. Her thoughts were definitely selfish, but to what degree? That's something Ayami couldn't piece together. It wasn't as simple as "Might makes right" or "I do good things so I must be completely good". Even for as naive as she was, the elfen's mind tugged at moral conundrums she didn't fully comprehend. All she could really think about was her friends who were sacrificing everything to protect Earth against these so called "Assassins"...But here was Ayami, the little blue elfen who just wanted to keep inventing, to keep growing strong for her own sake and not necessarily for others. She struggled with liking the idea of being a hero, but not liking the dedication.Although the moral dilemmas could take a backseat to the way Ayami felt around her android lover. All those complicated thoughts were duly silenced by the feelings in her heart, and she couldn't help but grin when Zeni insisted on coming up with a pet name for the elfen girl. She began to chuckle as the android insisted that "Tall drink of water" wasn't a very good choice."You've got me there! I think people would start lookin' at us funny!"But there it was - The name Zeni decided on. "True Blue"...It had a nice ring to it. The elfen inventor gave a nod as she rolled the name around in her mind, seeing how it "felt" to hear. It was simple, but it held a lot of meaning at the same time. It described the color of her affinity, and it echoed her honesty."Yeah...Not bad. You really know how to call 'em!"Still...For as much doubt as the elfen girl held, it made her heart skip a beat when Zeni gave her own promise - A promise of eternal love. That kind of thing was as valuable as gold...The young mechanic simply gave her lover a bright smile. For all that serious talk she still felt...Happy. Not even her past could tear this joy away that she felt in the depths of her heart. She did worry for the android's sake, but if Zeni really was happy with this...Then of course Ayami would have no complaints.
She just continued to smile as Zeni took a guess at her gift. The water elfen shakes her head."Nope! Well...Close technically! But this is even better than something you eat!"Seeing just how much the android enjoyed her gifts really did make Ayami happy. It was such a simple gift - One that others might have even been offended by, but between these two there was an odd sentimentality in play. These weren't just trinkets that one attached to a cellphone and forgot about. They were culture pieces taken from all over that told their own story without uttering a single word. The elfen's intent in giving these couldn't have been more genuine, and it was clear from Zeni's reaction that she perfectly understood the meaning behind them."Yep! All over Earth! This one's from a bakery in North City, this one is from right here in south city, and the last one was actually passed along by a friend...But they said it's from West city - Your home!"The elfen waved an idle hand as Zeni expressed her gratitude."If you're that grateful then maybe a return gift sounds about right huh~?"... Of course Ayami stated this in a completely joking tone, so when the android mentioned having a gift for her too the elfen girl's eyes widened in surprise."W-Wait I was just joking y'know! I...Ahhh damn, you really are too much Zee..."She smiled as she watched the android begin to root around for the gift. Although the way Zeni worded it was odd..."For us"? As the android girl insisted that it was Ayami's turn to guess, the inventor brought a finger to her chin, tapping it inquisitively. There really were no good guesses."Well, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that it's not a diamond ring!"... That was what she said clearly joking about it, but then Zeni produced a little black box, handing it over as the young mechanic accepted it without hesitation. With a careful finger Ayami flipped the top open, revealing...A ring?! And then Zeni followed it up with a sudden proposal! The elfen went into complete shock as her mind struggled to keep up with her eyes and ears!"Oh."It took some time but Ayami finally came out of her shock as she looked Zeni straight in the eyes...There really was only one answer that she held in her heart, but it was still struggling to come to the surface."Y...You mean me? Us-? Marriage?!"The elfen girl took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment...She finally opened them back up and grinned as she was about to give the android some bold line about how "I guess we're getting hitched then!" ... Yes in any other situation Ayami probably would have done that. Instead here her grin started to fade as her lower lip quivered and her eyes began to tear up. In just a matter of seconds the elfen inventor began crying and sobbing!"Yes...! Yes I'll marry you!! Oh Zeni...I'm so happy you chose me!!!"Ayami really was an emotional girl...
Zeni
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"Salutations!"
Zeni
107
POSTS
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Ageless
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Female
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Bisexual
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Android
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266PL
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24,563z
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114 Dragon Coins
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The Ultimate Companion
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Played by Amord
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Member
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Post by Zeni on Mar 10, 2021 5:51:20 GMT
Ayami agreed to talk about her concerns and hangups later, which made the Android happy. Not because she enjoyed the suffering that the Elfen was going through, but because the person she cared about just agreed to be able to open up about it all and get it off of her chest. Bottling it up inside didn't solve the problem at all. " That's fine! We can pick out a proper time and place to do it. For now... I agree, let's just enjoy ourselves." , Zeni responds with a relieved smile.
Still. One of the things they were talking about now was the prospect of Heroes and whether or not they would always be needed. It was an interesting philosophical debate... That meant it wasn't quite as simple as one thought it was at first glance. " It depends on your definition of 'Hero'." , Zeni points out. " For example. There's a lot of services like Police, Firemen, Ambulance Drivers -- even the people that do general maintenance of things like roads." She pauses for a moment, wondering if Ayami might catch onto the point, but either way... " Each of these are critical services. Losing even one -- or all of them -- causes a detrimental effect to society. Each one can do pretty heroic things because of their work, too. So to answer your question; I think Heroes are always going to be needed. But what role they serve might change." The Android then decides to give an example. " To reference our own history, there was a point where things had gotten so dire and dangerous that a lot of people trained seriously in Martial Arts -- and they saved the Earth many times over.... And maybe, we're coming towards a time where that is necessary again. There is a reason why Kame Town is so famous, after all." Zeni smiles after having gone through a rather long-winded speech. " Even so... I think it's more important to choose to do what makes you happy. Maybe none of those particular careers interest you, even if you don't disagree with the idea of jumping in to help someone in need if it's happening right in front of you. You still have to do what makes you feel fulfilled. Whether that's a passion for training and fighting, or trying to make the next scientific breakthrough -- or anywhere in between!" The Android was also fairly happy to hear that Ayami approved of the nickname 'True Blue' as well... Even if the first couple of nicknames she thought up were a little more silly, that one seemed to have clicked. " True Blue it is!" , she replies with a grin, giving an 'OK' hand symbol.
Hearing about each of the Keychains and the adventures and moments tied to them was pretty nice too. To anyone else they might just be little trinkets, but each of these told a story. They were a memory... The Elfen joked about getting a return gift for the effort, and sure enough there was one! Ayami did elaborate that she was joking, but Zeni didn't mind either way. She was already intending to give this gift even before the keychains had come into the picture." Not a diamond ring, huh? Well..." , Zeni began, and once Ayami opened the box, that pretty much removed all doubt... " That's kind of the wrong guess this time! It really is a diamond ring!" Seeing the Elfen so flustered did make the Android a bit nervous too, but she kept herself from panicking too hard. Instead choosing to listen to Ayami's words. Zeni ends up giving a nod. " Yeah... I heard that this is what people do when they really care about each other -- and I think that pretty much sums up us!" , she ends with a shrug, now giving a sheepish grin.
Finally, the inventor was able to form a more eloquent response; even if a very emotional one. Nonetheless, she accepted... Which caused a whole whirlwind of emotions for Zeni! She was happy, but it also caused her to tear up like Ayami right now. It was such a strange contradicting feeling, but..." I'm glad you accepted! Jeez, I feel so mixed up right now..." , she brings her hands to her own cheeks, only barely hiding the blush she had. Zeni closes her eyes, and takes a few deep breaths as she tried to compose herself.
... They were both pretty emotional, really.
Ayami
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Mar 10, 2021 9:13:47 GMT
It seems both of them were going through so many different emotions...But none of them were necessarily bad. Eventually the elfen girl's joyful sobs eased up until they came to a complete stop. Ayami wiped her tears away, smiling softly, perhaps even in a way that could be described as "meek". She glanced up at her android lover, still feeling such a mixture of emotions, but chief among them was joy."I guess that settles it then...We're engaged! Oh, we'll have to tell my Gramma, and your moms too. It's only proper right? Uh...Careful with my Gramma though...She's a little protective. Besides my bro I'm kinda all she's got so she sometimes goes a bit overboard."The elfen inventor laughed softly, it was a small concern that Aya might be hard on the android for this, but the pair had known each other for a while, it wasn't as if the water elfen's grandmother was completely unaware of who Zeni was. Still...Ayami felt it necessary to add a few small details."Uh...I guess I should mention that marriage is a pretty big deal in my family. ... Well, bigger than usual. It's kinda like "Those who marry in become part of the clan." And our family has a LONG list of traditions that you'll probably have to start recognizing if you wanna get on her good side...B-But I'll help you through them so you can have an easier time adjusting!"It was a simple fact, those who married into the Shimakami clan became part of the countless traditions and duties that tended fell upon those who were related by blood. Recognizing their duty to protect Bean Sprout, learning under the family's school of martial arts, taking on the mantle passed down by the patron goddess herself, attending and assisting with festivals that had been hosted by this clan for centuries... There was quite a lot, but the elfen knew it would probably be overwhelming to go over them all right now when Zeni was already overwhelmed by her emotions in the moment."Yeah...I guess a lot of people think it takes time to come to this level of care, but...If we really feel this way then why wait? Besides we're adults! Gramma says I'm maturing real fast!"She grinned brightly as she looked to her lover, continuing to speak."Although I guess we have a lot of planning to do! My family's gonna want to handle a lot of that themselves, we...Have a lot of wedding traditions too. Oh! My favorite one is the couple getting wed each get a single earring they wear on opposite ears! Supposedly the patron deity herself passed that tradition down, said it signified "Unification" between the two lovers! I don't really know what that means but...I think it's beautiful!"But their plans for the wedding and more importantly, the visits they would need to have with their parents was something that could wait, for now they were discussing the idea of a hero...And Zeni had some really interesting wisdom to impart. It was something Ayami had completely missed after she had gotten entangled in the antics of her friends. Heroes weren't just people who fought tyrants - And while they could certainly be placed above someone who just kept the electricity running, or someone who arrested criminals, the fact was once the tyrants were gone the galaxy needed people to keep civilization running. Those who fought villains didn't tend to have the knowledge to run a country. Zeni concluded by saying that it was better to do what made the elfen girl happy than to simply force herself into a role for the sake of others."What about...Entertainers? Y'know? Can they be considered heroes? I wanna be someone people can look up to for inspiration! Just like the people I used to watch on tv when I was a kid...I want to make a world where everyone can smile."And that was the simple truth. Ayami didn't care about being a "legendary hero" that went down in history, she didn't care about being a powerful leader that sat on top of the world and protected it when it came time to do so. She just wanted to make a world where anyone at all could smile knowing things were okay. A world where people like Tomina or Seria could let go of their traumas, their dark pasts, and simply...Smile. Becoming a world class martial artist, becoming the greatest inventor in the galaxy, joining up with capsule corp. Those were all personal dreams SHE wanted. But at the same time they served a purpose for her greatest desire, that she can help people smile even when things are tough.A pleasant jingle echoed out from the speakers in the booth and a robotic voice chimed in afterwards with information."The time is now 9 PM. Your hour rental has now concluded. Thank you for relying on us for all of your karaoke needs! Please come again soon!""Awww...Well, that was fun though!"Ayami grinned as she stood up from the couch, turning to face Zeni she extended her hand to offer assistance for the android to get up.
ZeniOOC Notes: Swapped the earlier part of the conversation and the proposal parts to make my post flow better.
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"Salutations!"
Zeni
107
POSTS
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Ageless
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Female
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Bisexual
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Android
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266PL
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24,563z
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114 Dragon Coins
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The Ultimate Companion
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Played by Amord
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Member
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Post by Zeni on Mar 11, 2021 2:50:49 GMT
It took a little bit for them both to settle down... But their happiness was undeniable once they finally managed to do so. The inventor was a little more meek; which was something that the Android was reflecting as well. The Elfen manages to point out that they're engaged -- and that means they should be telling their respective families about it. Which made sense! " Of course! We'll let them both know the good news!" Ayami also pointed out that her grandmother might be a little overprotective when it came to all of this. Shortly thereafter, the Elfen began to explain that marriage was pretty significant in her family. The Android listened intently. Eventually, she gives a nod to show that she understands. " Right! I'll treat the matter with all the seriousness that it deserves, and I'll be sure to memorize all of those traditions!" ... The Android did have a bit of a cheat skill in that regard, considering she could build an entire database and reference it as necessary. But it wasn't like Zeni was just going to ignore the importance and significance of the traditions either. " By the time we're all done, your grandmother will be so impressed she won't know what to say!" ... Well that would be partially accurate, at least. The inventor also worked perfectly off of what Zeni said earlier, about them already being at that level of intense care for each other and there was no sense in waiting because of it. " Exactly! We both know what we want. Phew. I feel better about having done all of that now. I wasn't entirely sure how you were going to react." Zeni responds with a relieved smile. The young inventor also started to describe her family's wedding traditions as well. They certainly had some interesting ones; like the earrings! " Wow, that does sound pretty wonderful! I guess we'll get matching rings and earrings, then!" The Android was all for it. Anything that signified the close bond between them was something that she would hold no hesitation towards -- but now, they could also talk about Ayami's perception of Heroes, and what all might qualify. Zeni thought it over for a moment... This really was quite the interesting philosophical debate, but once more the Android already had a clear answer of what she thought about the subject." Bringing happiness to others, trying to make a difference for them, even if it's just through entertainment... I think that qualifies as Heroic. Sometimes what people need is a reminder of how to laugh and smile." , she begins. " So trying to make a world where you can remind so many people at once... I think that's a beautiful dream." But, their conversation had to be cut somewhat short as a pleasant jingle rings out, and a robotic voice lets them know that their booth rental is up -- well, there wasn't as many songs as they might have liked, but they were able to sit down and talk. They were able to connect with each other, and now they were engaged. It was hardly a failure in that regard.
Zeni grins and gives a nod as Ayami mentions how fun it was. She also accepts the assistance in standing up from the couch. " We do still have a bit of time to enjoy for our date! Got any ideas, True Blue?"
Ayami
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Mar 12, 2021 14:36:00 GMT
Ayami couldn't help but grin, something about telling their families the good news made her heart feel a little warmer, she wouldn't have been able to say why if you asked her, but she knew how she felt about it. Maybe it was simply knowing that something like this was special, and being so in love with the android the young mechanic was excited to share it with others, to let everyone know how she felt."I can't wait to see the looks on their faces! Uh...I just hope your moms will approve. I know they like me! But do they like me enough to give their blessing?"She was even more happy when Zeni promised she would take all the traditions seriously, Ayami was definitely relieved knowing that...Gramma wasn't one to do anything cruel, but she also tended to be very cautious about potential suitors. She had witnessed this with Koji too. It simply came with the territory - The Shimakami family was well off, but more than that they held a tightly guarded secret only revealed to family members and the VERY rare few who managed to impress upon whoever the current master was. Aya feared suitors who only wanted the family's power or secrets for themselves and as a result tended to look at anyone trying to marry into the family with scrutiny."I certainly hope so! Gramma's a little hard to impress honestly!"The young mechanic chuckled as she joked about how strict her grandmother was. It was partially true but she was also exaggerating a little for posterity. As long as Zeni could prove her intentions were sincere and that she made the elfen girl happy, that would be enough for Aya. She nodded in agreement with the android's statement. They knew how they felt about each other...Although at Zeni's relief over the elfen girl's reaction Ayami could only give a playful laugh. She placed a hand on the side of her lover's face, a gentle smile crossing her own face."You don't gotta be so worried Z, I'm impressed by bold moves y'know~"Ayami gave her android lover a flirtatious wink...And then followed it up by planting a kiss on Zeni's cheek. ... Of course as a result of the lipstick marking her lips, it left a fairly noticeable pink mark on the android's face. She simply continued to smile as Zeni expressed excitement over all the traditions the pair would be sharing on their wedding day. The elfen mechanic rubbed the back of her neck, averting her gaze for a brief moment."I'm not really one for wearing dresses but...I wanna be the brightest shining star of a bride for you, Z! Just you wait and see. Nobody who attends is ever gonna forget my style!"As the two walked out of the Karaoke place what Zeni had said about Ayami's dream hung heavily in her mind...But it was a positive thought. Every time what the android had said appeared in her mind the elfen girl smiled softly...She turned to Zeni as they stepped out into the crisp night air, the door closing behind them."... You really think it's a beautiful dream?"Honestly, that their time was spent just talking to one another wasn't a disappointment for the young mechanic - Far from it, the android's bold actions had led to this being the best night of her life solely from what happened when they were together in that booth. She held her arm out for the android to take, smiling at her date as Zeni asked what they should do next."I've got just the place! We need to celebrate after all!"Ayami walks through the district with a spring in her step, grinning as she leads the android towards a very special place that had become pretty important to the elfen! Where was it? Well, the inventor wasn't going to say a word until they arrived! It was a surprise after all.
Zeni
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"Salutations!"
Zeni
107
POSTS
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Ageless
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Female
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Bisexual
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Android
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266PL
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24,563z
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114 Dragon Coins
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The Ultimate Companion
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Played by Amord
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Member
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Post by Zeni on Mar 14, 2021 5:36:10 GMT
Ayami expresses a bit of concern, wondering if Gemini and Athena would approve of her. To that, Zeni just smiles. " Well, I asked them for help with setting up this date, and they pulled out all the stops for it, so... I'm pretty sure they approve of you. But I can help you out with them just like you're doing for me with your grandmother!" Speaking of which, Aya had some high standards... Well, the Android had no choice but to exceed them! " Don't worry, I'll show what I'm made of when the time comes!" , Zeni replies, certainly not lacking in confidence at the very least!
Although that confidence was shaken a little as Ayami seems to have found her own. The young inventor began to assert herself by placing a hand gently on the side of the Android's face, and almost straight away Zeni began to blush. The wink and then the following kiss on the cheek served to make Zeni feel rather flustered; yet very much not unhappy with the results. " Gosh... I think that's the most bold you've been so far." The Android couldn't help but say that, but given how she looked and sounded -- it was pretty obvious she enjoyed it. The Elfen also goes on to say that she didn't normally wear dresses, but she would make an exception for their wedding day. Zeni liked the thought that came with that, imagining her wearing something so fancy on the day that they would be bound together... Yeah, her mind was starting to wander now.
She soon regathers her composure, though. " I can't wait! I'm going to look my very best for you too!" , she responds.
Soon enough, the couple exits the Karaoke Joint. It prompts the inventor to ask about Zeni's thoughts on her dream. The Android starts off with a nod. " Of course! Ayami, I'm all about trying to help people, you know! It's not always a matter of making sure they're in no immediate danger -- although that's part of it too." She pauses for a moment, thinking of how to illustrate the point. " See... Some people need emotional support. Sometimes all it takes is one good day. It can be a lot of things that influence it to be a good day too, like an entertainer that puts on a show that wows them, or makes them laugh!" Zeni smiles a little sheepishly. " It might sound silly, but... Humans are heavily social-based. It can be those simple moments that make all the difference." Now, once Ayami offered her arm, Zeni gladly accepted the gesture! The inventor then mentions that she knows the perfect place for a celebration, and that already made the Android excited. " Oh, I can't wait! This sounds like it will be fun!"
Ayami
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Mar 14, 2021 10:07:08 GMT
Ayami was relieved to hear that at the very least even if somehow the android's parents didn't approve, Zeni would be there to help ease things over and explain it all through. Although...Considering how much Gemini and Athena seemed to like the elfen girl, it was a very unlikely scenario. Even still...If it came to that then the young mechanic simply resolved that she would have to show them that she was the perfect suitor! She grinned, happy to see Zeni was just as resolved as she was. Nothing was going to stop this!Ayami couldn't help but giggle playfully as she witnessed the android react with embarrassment. Now that she was adjusting to all of...This, the elfen inventor was slowly becoming more and more comfortable. She still didn't get "flirting", but...Teasing her lover this way made her feel good. She simply continued to grin brightly as she spoke up in regards to her boldness."This is just who I am, Zee~...Y'know that already! But if you like it so much then maybe I should do stuff like that more often huh~?"... Yeah, Ayami was able to see through the bashfulness the android girl displayed and see that Zeni was clearly enjoying it all. Was this simply part of the deeper intricacies of being in love? ... The elfen made a mental note to study this later. There had to be a science to flirting! A "sweet spot" if you will! And speaking of flirting! Hearing Zeni state that she was going to look her best on their wedding day prompted a smile from Ayami as she squeezed the android's arm tight."You're gonna look super cute!!! I know it!"As the pair walked down the street however Zeni explained how she felt about that dream in deeper detail, what she said made sense...And it clung to the young mechanic's mind tightly, serving as stark contrast to what she had been led to believe when it came to "heroics"...So it was really as simple as lifting people up? Ayami rubbed the back of her neck, shaking her head when the android girl mentioned that it might have seemed a bit silly."Not at all! I'd definitely be a lot worse off without people to talk to...I love inventing but it doesn't mean anything if I can't show what I've made to others!"Her words made it clear that she didn't make things for herself - Oh it certainly left no end of excitement in her life, and she obsessed over it day and night, but if it wasn't for someone like Zeni...Some small spark of joy would be lost from the equation. Ayami adds onto what she said in a somewhat quieter tone of voice."...I guess I'd be pretty empty without the people I care about around."Surprisingly serious words, but words that were no less connected to her inner doubts, the things she feared most were losing the people who meant everything to her. - Sure that was a fear most people had. It was far from uncommon to fear losing people one cared deeply about, but for Ayami it was different. She wasn't afraid of heights, or darkness, or even any kind of animal or monster. This was her sole fear. - Being alone. As her only fear it drove a nail into her idle mind. A nail she could only avoid by focusing on the things that sparked joy in her.
... Those idle thoughts prompted her to squeeze the android girl's arm a little bit tighter.But for now it was time to set the more serious mood aside! The lovers strolled up to a place with a flashing neon sign above the door, and Ayami came to a halt, grinning as she glanced over at her date."Surprise! This is my club!"The sign was adorned with the image of a palm tree, and the words declared this dance club to be the "Citrus Sands"...A name that wasn't unheard of. This disco club had seen grand success decades ago under a different owner. It had even been featured in an old film once! But that golden age was long gone. While the place certainly wasn't in disrepair, it wasn't attracting the kind of crowd a night club would typically be host to. There were no large swathes of people waiting to get in, nor exiting with smiles on their faces.
But it was Ayami's now, and her bright grin showed that she was clearly proud of it. She strolled up to the front door, nodding to the imposing bouncer who stood guard."Evening! I'd like to check out how the renovations are going!"The bouncer opened his eyes wide, clearly not expecting her this soon."Uh...Boss! Right this way! Of course come on in!"He stepped aside, pushing the door open for them. Entering this place was like stepping through a portal - The sound proof walls masked the music that boomed inside, and the atmosphere itself had an odd mixture of calmness and nostalgia. Perhaps it was the floors which looked like they were ripped right out of an old arcade. The place certainly wasn't empty despite being less packed than competing clubs, there were many people sitting in booths holding lively conversations, and even more people on the dance floor in the middle of the club enjoying the music.The music was an odd mixture of lively and relaxing, perfect for holding long conversations or dancing the whole night away. It was a little behind the times perhaps, but no one there seemed to be complaining about it, if anything it lent to the club's atmosphere. Ayami held onto Zeni's hand, leading her around the place."Isn't this great?! This place is the best! Oh, lemme show you an area that just finished being renovated!"The elfen inventor led her date straight towards the back of the club to a bar lounge area. A set of steps led up to a slightly raised section, placing the whole bar lounge safely back away from the foot traffic of those entering and exiting the dance floor. The bar itself was all clearly brand new, confirming what the young mechanic had said about this being newly renovated.
Zeni
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"Salutations!"
Zeni
107
POSTS
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Ageless
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Female
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Bisexual
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Android
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266PL
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24,563z
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114 Dragon Coins
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The Ultimate Companion
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Played by Amord
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Member
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Post by Zeni on Mar 17, 2021 13:32:22 GMT
When Ayami suggested that she might act like this more often, Zeni was naturally flustered -- but also excited. It's true that they could be a lot more intimate with each other moving forward... " I think I'd like that a lot~..." , she responds.
The inventor was definitely getting into the groove of things now, whether it was intentional or not, complimenting Zeni by suggesting that she would be super cute was definitely hitting the intended mark! " You really think so? Then I'll do my best to live up to those expectations!" Of course they also began to address the rest of their conversation, Such as the importance of having others around. Zeni gives a nod at that assessment. " It's the same for a lot of people. There are so many things they can be passionate about, but on at least one level they need others in their life too. The absence of any other presence just tells them that something is wrong, and it can be maddening to ignore." That was why Gemini had designed Zeni after all. The blueprints to making a type of Android that could fill the void for others. It all started with one. That being said, it didn't escape her notice that Ayami gripped her arm a little tighter. Perhaps from the conversation or from her wandering thoughts. Maybe even both, but either way... It prompted the Android to move a bit closer to Ayami and rest her head on her shoulder." I'm here for you." , was all that needed to be said.
Fortunately, the heavy atmosphere is lifted away as colorful lights shined down on them. Ayami soon points out that this entire club -- named Citrus Sands -- belongs to her! Zeni is nothing short of amazed! " Whoa! I've heard of this place! It's practically a historical building now!" Still.... Seeing that the place wasn't really attracting customers was a bit concerning. Did something happen to it? Is that why Ayami got involved, to try and save it? There were several questions that ran through her head, but they mostly got put to the side as Ayami said she wanted to see how the renovations were coming along.
Well, if the place was being renovated, that would explain why there was less traffic than usual! Entering the business proper was definitely like stepping through a portal to another world entirely, too. Music filling the atmosphere mixed with the sounds of chatter -- the place wasn't empty, but it wasn't packed to the brim either. It was hard to say that this was a failing business, but it seemed to need more of an oomph to fully spring back to the golden age it was once at." It's amazing, Ayami! I can't believe you own it all now!" , the Android replied. In a way it was like Ayami was becoming a celebrity now. Although maybe the Elfen didn't see it that way.
Either way! She was led along to a recently renovated area; the bar! This had a bit of a different appearance to the rest of the club, but it wasn't a matter of clashing aesthetics either. Soon enough they're at the bar counter and Ayami gets the attention of the barkeep.
Zeni gives a bright smile as she's also complimented for having a cute face, and that she seems 'totally like Ayami's type'. She gladly accepts the handshake. " Nice to meet you too! I'm Zeni!" Soon enough the meeting rolls along with Jack offering a drink for Ayami to try out. It didn't take very long for the situation to go south either, as the Elfen spits it back out into the glass, coughing... Ah, it was alcoholic. That explained a lot.
Now, that second drink certainly seemed a lot more delicious by comparison! Ayami is once more the first to try it out, and her approval of it is pretty evident. So much so, in fact, that she offers for Zeni to try it! The Android accepts and takes a drink! Soon enough her eyes quite literally light up!" Oh my gosh that's delicious!!" , well, that was a glowing review, wasn't it?
Ayami
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Mar 17, 2021 22:44:33 GMT
Ayami's eyes widened in surprise as Zeni commented on just how familiar she was with this place, mentioning that it was "historic". Wait a minute...Historic?! The elfen herself had only heard of it recently! She tilted her head, resting it on a free hand as she watched the android take a drink of the "tropical dream". She blinked in pure surprise."Wait a sec...Historic? How historic are we talking?! I didn't even know!"The bartender chuckles, nodding as he cleans a glass idly."The Citrus Sands was THE night club back when it was owned by its first owner. I'm surprised you've never heard of it kid."It was something she didn't know at all...Ayami believed it was just an average place that happened to come under ownership of Miraculous J by complete coincidence. It became clear there was more to this place than she first believed. But...Then why was it so much worse off than before?"So then why isn't it still the premiere place?"Jack shrugged as he put away the clean glass and started on another one."Who knows? More modern competitors moved in and every owner up to you has refused to change the place. Maybe all the glamor just needs a good polishing so people can see what they're missing. Either way...I'd say you're on the right track. The old club scene aesthetic is bigger with kids like you two than it is with adults."Ayami rubbed her chin deep in thought as she considered what he was saying...And then she snapped her fingers, grinning."If that's the case then...I'm gonna make this club shine like the brightest star!"The elfen inventor smiled brightly at Zeni as she expressed amazement at how Ayami now owned all of this. It was definitely an odd feeling...Especially now that she knew what she really had. Though...She didn't feel like she was more important than she really was. It was more a feeling of "Being part of something bigger" to the young mechanic. But that was by no means a bad feeling. It was simply something that made her feel another sense of joy.
The bartender glanced over to Zeni after the greeting was exchanged."So what's your deal anyway? Everyone's got a past. What's yours?"He definitely lacked a certain charm to his choice of words, but even still it was clear he meant only friendliness from it all. He was used to making small talk with patrons given his career choice. Everyone he spoke to always had a past that made them who they were, but Zeni was...Strange. She seemed like a blank slate to the man. As the two conversed however, the enthusiastic elfen girl leaned over the counter, grinning at the bartender."HEY JACK! What about THAT menu item I requested?"Jack Rose stepped backwards in surprise, but then regained his composure rather quickly, nodding as he rubbed the side of his head."Oh right...THAT. The hell'd you call it again?"The elfen girl stood up on her bar stool, pumping her fist as she looked around at the other patrons. Everyone else immediately stood up and pumped their fists too as she and the rest spoke in unison!"KING OF THE BEACH!!!"The patrons at the bar began to clap as Jack Rose sighed...He nodded and began to prepare an impressive dessert item that had been meticulously designed by the inventor herself! He placed a chilled glass carved with the design of a penguin with a gold base. He placed three large scoops of vanilla ice cream into the chalice, shoved three oranges slices into it, and piled in a handful of red berries. He then began to pour a blue coconut syrup into the ice cream, drizzling it in zigzags. The amazing dessert was then added onto by jamming an ice cream cone into the side and finally? He shaved chocolate onto it, topping the very peak of this treat with a crown made of pure chocolate."We'll take two spoons thanks!"The bartender turns back and nods, sighing as he places two spoons into the dessert, sliding it over to the pair. Ayami smiles, looking over at her date as she takes one of the spoons out and hands it over to Zeni."Well? I know you just enjoyed the drink but how about it? Wanna eat some with me? it's not every day you get to eat the KING OF THE BEACH! right?!"Hopefully Zeni accepted her sweet sugary fate, because it was clear she was gonna eat a lot of sweet stuff tonight...
Zeni
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"Salutations!"
Zeni
107
POSTS
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Ageless
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Female
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Bisexual
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Android
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266PL
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24,563z
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114 Dragon Coins
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The Ultimate Companion
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Played by Amord
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Member
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Post by Zeni on Mar 18, 2021 23:08:20 GMT
Ayami expressed her surprise over not knowing about how popular Citrus Sands was. The Android ends up giving a nod at what Jack had to say about the place back in the day. " Yeah. It was all the rage in the disco era, it was featured in all kinds of promotional material -- even a movie!" Then came the million zenny question. If it was such a famous place, why wasn't it still top dog compared to the competition? The barkeep has his own theories on it, but suggests that the inventor is on the right track nonetheless. " It's also a bit related to trends. Sometimes a thing is popular for awhile, and then it loses that popularity over time. Only to gain it right back for one reason or another -- maybe a thing changed here or there, or... People just needed a little break from it." She shrugs. " Either way. It's still a great place, and all it needs is someone that won't give up on it. That pretty much means you, True Blue." , Zeni adds with a smile.
The bartender then chimes in, asking about Zeni's past. She was all too eager to share! " Oh! I'm an Android! One of the latest models produced by Capsule Corporation, in fact! I'm not just some kind of war machine or a 'helper bot', though. I can learn and adapt to all kinds of things!" She explains with a proud smile now filling her face. " I met Ayami in South City! After that, we hit it off and just kept hanging out with each other!" What followed next was the Elfen asking about a specific menu item... Only for all the patrons to join in the loud proclamation of the item's name; King of the Beach, huh? With that kind of popularity, it must be a really good item! The Android got a front row seat of watching it be prepared too. It was like watching an artist in action; there really was a lot that went into preparation of food and drink in places like this, huh?
This thing looked like it would be a sugary hell for normal people -- fortunate then, that neither Zeni or Ayami could really be described as such. When the Elfen presented one of the two spoons to Zeni, she gladly accepted. " Well, how can I turn down such a popular dish? I have to try it out!" She was pretty eager to dig straight into it, but she would hold some reservation. Mainly because... She wanted to time her first bite with the one that Ayami was going to take.
Just like before, her eyes would start positively glowing after she partakes of the treat.
Ayami
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Mar 21, 2021 17:37:43 GMT
Suddenly Ayami was made aware of just how much deeper the fame of this club went...Even a movie?! The elfen was slowly starting to realize what she had been sitting on this whole time. Was Miraculous J aware of this...? She wanted to say something, but the inventor simply grinned...She also took note of what Zeni said about how trends came and went, changing with the years - But they always came back around. Jack and Ayami both nodded in understanding."Well, I guess that's true about trends! But do you really think I've got what it takes?"The bartender grinned, leaning over the counter."Considering you beat Miraculous in a dancing competition, I'd think you're at least on the right track. Much as I hate to admit it, you're not really tied down to this place's history like the previous owners. Your complete lack of sentimentality here is serving to give the whole place a fresh coat of paint."The young mechanic scratched her head in confusion as she looked at the bartender with an eyebrow raised."Hah? I'm not painting it."Rose shakes his head, grinning."That's not what I meant. I'm talking about the changes. Making it more suitable for all ages by introducing less..Mature menu items, you're building an arcade on the side. But you're also not compromising the aesthetic this place has going for it. You made this bar look less like a sleazy dive and more like a classy lounge for adults - That part I especially approve of."The elfen girl snaps her fingers as what he's saying clicks, finally making sense to her."Oooohh, you mean I'm not just trying to run it as-is, but actually updating the place! Well...Yeah of course! I saw where things were lacking so I decided to change it."Ayami begins to dig into the ice cream treat made for the pair as Zeni explains who she is and what her story is. Although she takes note of the android's intent and waits for a pause before taking a bite. The bartender just...Looks at her with a completely calm expression as if meeting an android wasn't the weirdest thing he had seen. He just nods listening to her describe herself."Boss sure gets around huh..."Ayami glances up at the bartender with her mouth full of ice cream, grinning and nodding as she begins to speak without even waiting to swallow her food."Yup! I luff Cppsule Crrp!"The bartender sighs."At least slow down long enough to swallow it..."The elfen inventor finally swallowed her first bite of the frozen treat."Yum...It's exactly as good as I planned! Coconut and ice cream really IS a good combo after all!"The music playing in the club changed to a track that was much slower than the previous few, clearly meant to be more relaxing and designed for slow dancing. The elfen girl dropped her spoon on the counter and stood up."I love this song!! C'mon, let's dance!"Ayami extended her hand out for the android to take hold of. If Zeni accepted, the elfen would grip it tightly and lead her date out onto the dance floor! The young mechanic wasted no time getting into the rhythms as she began to dance at a pace appropriate for the tempo of the song. Her movements were graceful, it was clear she quite enjoyed dancing - But that should come as no surprise considering she had defeated 7 very skilled dancers in a competition once before. The elfen's deep blue eyes gleamed underneath the glittering lights above the dance floor, making her look surprisingly magical.
The inventor was in her element best when she was able to move to a rhythm, she kept hold of the android's hand, showing Zeni how to move to the beat."It's really fun to dance like this...C'mon I'll show you how!"Perhaps Zeni didn't require any teaching in regards to how to dance, but Ayami was none the less enthusiastic about showing her lover how to move.
Zeni
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"Salutations!"
Zeni
107
POSTS
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Ageless
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Female
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Bisexual
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Android
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266PL
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24,563z
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114 Dragon Coins
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The Ultimate Companion
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Played by Amord
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Member
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Post by Zeni on Mar 22, 2021 19:21:30 GMT
The Android listens to the exchange between Jack and Ayami regarding her having what it takes. Zeni can't help but nod in agreement with the barkeep's words. " Yeah! If anyone's got this, you do!" , she chimed in. Still... If she heard that right -- Ayami proved herself against someone called Miraculous? Could it really be Miraculous J...? Well, this was his place after all...
Zeni is about to query about that, but Ayami's misunderstanding of what a 'new coat of paint' means quickly derails the conversation; or at least her train of thought. " See? You've already got a good business sense! Sometimes changing things up is all it takes to breathe some life back into something that people think doesn't have a shot anymore." , the Android comments with a grin.
Amidst all of this conversation, she was also eating on that KING OF THE BEACH ice cream. It wasn't lost on her that Jack wasn't exactly surprised by the story he just heard about the Android, though. Did that mean there was a wild list of clientele in here after all? Unlike Ayami, Zeni takes a moment to finish the bite she took before speaking. " Huh, I thought you might be more surprised. Does that mean I'm a pretty normal occurrence here?" A club frequented by Androids... Bit of an odd thought, that. Although perhaps she was just misunderstanding. After a little bit more time to enjoy their frozen delicacy, Ayami comments that this really did seem to be the perfect combo after all! " I agree! It's almost too good!" Shortly thereafter, the music begins to shift, and the Elfen already had an idea of what she wanted to do next. The inventor stands up and offers a hand to the Android. Zeni accepted and soon stands up with her! Holding hands once more, the pair is off to the dance floor. The mechanic began to lead in the dance, slow but not lacking in liveliness; matched to the tempo of the music.
The Android starts to follow her lead, smiling happily. Zeni stared back into Ayami's eyes; and it was almost like it was a trick of the light, or the moment itself -- but it looked like Zeni's eyes were constantly shifting in color. A rainbow of colors taking a steady transition.
Ayami kept up on the lead, helping Zeni get more and more into the dance. But after a certain point, she seemed to have grasped it perfectly. Now they were just playing off of each other in a perfect flow. " I can see why you enjoy this so much, True Blue~..."
Ayami
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Mar 22, 2021 21:54:37 GMT
"Well...Maybe you're right Z! We'll just have to make this club shine like a star again, together."The elfen girl offered a grin of her own in response to Zeni's, although when the android expressed surprise that the bartender wasn't the least bit shocked over meeting an android, she asked if someone like her was a normal occurrence. He shook his head, smiling."Nope. Never met an android before. I just know in my line of work it's basically inevitable. I've already seen some crazy things. Sometimes it feels like odd characters are magnetized to bars..."He scratched the side of his face, a sweat drop rolling down his head. One could tell from his expression that he was FAR too aware of his role in storytelling...Regardless! The dance these two were sharing was already heating up! It took Zeni very little time to follow the elfen inventor's example before she was dancing so naturally one would assume she had practiced this for months. The young mechanic looked deep into the android's seemingly color-changing eyes...And became entranced by the view."Wow..."Was all she could really managed as she almost messed up her dance! The near-accident caused her to shake herself back awake, breaking free of the trance of beauty that had captured her. The dance went on for some time with the pair only aware of each other. Ayami matched Zeni's movements, and likewise the android was already moving to match the elfen's. As the song drew to a close the inventor girl took careful hold of Zeni's hand, grinning at her lover as the crowd began to clap and cheer over the impressive display of coordination!"I'm glad you see why Z! I love dancing! I hope you do too. There's just something really fun about moving across the floor like this...It's even better with you, y'know?"Ayami averted her gaze as she stated this, a small blushing forming on her face. It seems she wasn't TOTALLY used to complimenting her date like this, but...It was true, something about dancing with this android was completely different from when she danced by herself."By the way...How'd you do that thing with your eyes? I kinda... uh...Got lost a little bit there!"The fun times were interrupted however. The DJ was stopped dead in their tracks from starting up a new song because the front door of the club was violently thrown open! Two silhouettes appeared under the darkness of the club's outer areas, and one pointed out at the elfen!"AYAMI!!! I'VE COME FOR A REMATCH!"A spotlight moved to aim itself at the door revealing none other than...JIMMY!"Oh my goddess here we go..."However, this time there was a taller girl standing behind him! They seemed to be similar in appearance, and indeed what he said next confirmed what the elfen inventor had already assumed."I want to challenge you to a doubles dance off! HAHA! THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN WIN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A PARTNER OF YOUR OWN! ME AND MY BIG SISTER KONATOTO! WE SHALL DEFEAT YOU AND BECOME THE NEW CHAMPIONS OF DANCE! And I - JIMMY THE DEMON HUMAN LEGEND WILL AVENGE MY WIFE AND UNBORN CHILD!"The young mechanic just...Stared at him with a blank expression on her face as she scratched the top of her head. She didn't even humor his monologue with a response."H...Hey what gives? WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT?! I'LL TAKE THIS WHOLE CLUB AND RUN IT INTO THE GROUND! FOR MY WIFE AND UNBORN-"Ayami interrupted him, making a "mouthing off" hand gesture as she did so."Your wife and unborn child, yeah yeah yeah. And then you went on to slay the Jabberwocky and save Narnia. Listen, I dunno if you noticed? But I have a partner right here. I'll challenge you!"Jimmy just...Blinked in shock."O...Oh come on! That's not fair at all!!!"He says, completely ignoring the fact that he tried to force a forfeit out of her by challenging her to a match he assumed she couldn't even compete in. But Ayami is completely unphased as she simply grins, turning to face Zeni."What do you say, Z? Wanna compete against these absolute clowns?"
Zeni
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"Salutations!"
Zeni
107
POSTS
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Ageless
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Female
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Bisexual
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Android
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266PL
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24,563z
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114 Dragon Coins
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The Ultimate Companion
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Played by Amord
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Member
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Post by Zeni on Apr 9, 2021 5:03:11 GMT
So, this club didn't have any Androids before -- or at least not any that the Bartender had met before. But it DID get an unusual list of clientele, thus explaining why he wasn't surprised in the slightest about Zeni's true nature. It also served to highlight just how much of a heyday this place was at one point. Now it had fallen on the shoulders of Ayami to bring it back front and center. But all of that could be set aside for the moment, because they had a chance to just enjoy themselves.
Their dance continued for a time, and when it did come to a close, Ayami gently grips the Android's hand and reaffirms her love for this; but also admits that it's much better with a partner. Zeni can't help but give a nod in agreement. " I can understand it perfectly! And I agree... It feels much better with us working in tandem with the other." It was then that the Elfen asked how Zeni did that 'trick with her eyes', and the Android was about to give a response to that, but was interrupted by the sounds of the doors slamming open, followed by someone shouting. The spotlights served to point out exactly who it was... No one that the Android had met before! But Ayami clearly knew them, and she wasn't too impressed with the circumstances. " Is this the one you were talking about before?" She queries, because he practically fit the image she had from an earlier conversation this night... But, musing on that would have to wait. Because he follows up with a monologue... All but confirming that he dragged his sister into this, and he was talking about some kind of family he was too young to even have yet. Just like Ayami, she wasn't able to muster up a response, but in her case, it was more in the 'How do you function?' kind of way.
What he had to say next only made matters worse, but he was THANKFULLY interrupted by Ayami, who wasn't having any of his nonsense. She blinked as Jimmy suggested that the outcome of Ayami already having a partner was unfair though. The Android couldn't help but comment on that. " Your entire plan was to challenge her to something she couldn't compete in just so you could win on a technicality... I don't think you can try to say anything about unfairness." Still, when the young Inventor asked if she was willing to have a competition, Zeni didn't even hesitate. " Of course! Let's put him and his sister in their place!" Now, that being said... There were probably more than a few club-goers that were confused at the prospect of someone not only being able to dance with the Champion in one-on-one, but also go on to dance as her partner... Reason being, Zeni was a completely unknown face on the scene. The rookie that Ayami once was.
But most of that was probably replaced with excitement, because they were going to see an expanded form of dance battle take place before their very eyes!" Let's do this!"
Ayami
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