Downtime 5 - Pretti

As the concert date approaches, Pretti starts tinkering with her AR Fashion, picking out a skirt, or possibly even a maxi dress, to wear on her date.

She asks Marie, “Think a long dress’ll he’ll me blend in?—especially in a crowd where people can’t even see my feet!”


((What I really want out of this RP is to know exactly what AR Fashion does. Is it basically a sleeves of many garments? And who would see past the illusion? Or am I totally mistaken about what this tech does?))

Pretti says to MK, “Are you suggesting I show off the legs rather than cover ’em? I don’t need an app to not wear pants, but maybe a little skirt, just to keep the jealous ones guessing where the metal ends and the flesh begins.”

Pretti looks up at Marie, finding her glistening skin so much shinier than polished metal.

“What they should really envy me for is my date.”

Pretti says with a grin, “I was trying to charm that towel off you with my envy-me-for-my-date line.

“But if you’re gonna cover up your beautiful, freshly-showered bod, how about an AR fashion show? Show me what you’d wear. I won’t twinsie you, but I’ll try to pick something complementary.”

Pretti is just as happy to go down on her girl as she is to try on virtual outfits with her.

Pretti enjoys the reaction, and settles on one of the outfits she prepared while MK was in the shower.

“Cosplay it is, then.”

She dresses as the Gold Solar Scout, transforming her cutoff shirt and bracers into space-valkyrie armor, complete with an armor skirt and winged tiara.

“You look so cute, Marie! I’ve been looking forward to this too! Shall we?”

“That’s what our love child would be if we could make one—an anime girl who dances!”

Pretti’s years in dance prepared her for this day. If the crowd really would envy her metal legs, it wouldn’t just be for looks, but how gracefully she can move on them. When the only thing to do is hold up a glow stick, only one hand is needed for that. The other hand is holding MK’s.

Pretti contemplates looking up the lyrics and translating them to MK on the train ride home, if she wants to know the meanings (and hasn’t looked up a translation already).

Pretti says, “No worries, sweetie. None of my funny ideas’ll knock you up.”

Pretti was able to understand the Desian words, but for the life of her, she can’t remember them. She reads lyrics to Marie in Desian, like reading poetry, then translates. If MK doesn’t ask for a specific song, Pretti’s choices gravitate toward lyrics she appreciates for their meaning.

Once back at home, Pretti wants to shower right away.

Pretti and Marie get home on the last train and stumble exhausted into the door. Marie is wiped and all she bothers to do is gargle, wash her hands, go to the bathroom, then crashes in bed. She doesn't even bother to change. Pretti takes a shower and gets the smell of tobacco smoke out of her hair.

Pretti feels as if the shower steam has the stink of second-hand smoke. And once out of the shower and dried off, she sees MK is already zonked out.

“Ohhhh, you smell like a spent cigarette butt.” Pretti climbs into bed and lovingly adds, “My cigarette butt.”

She spoons MK, embracing her like a mother would cuddle a sleeping child, which is a funny maternal idea—a real mom would insist on the shower.

The night passes and come morning, Marie takes a shower and heads out to work at the local theme park. She announces she is leaving as she quickly runs out the door with a slice of toast clenched in her teeth.

Pretti sees her girl running late. She jumps out of bed herself, throws on a jacket over her pajama shirt and—having showered mere hours ago—she zips along, ready to help MK any way she can.

Marie smirks and says, "I can get to work on my own. Thanks for the thought," as she runs off to catch the bus.

Pretti smiles back. “Y’know how it is. I hate to see ya go, but I love to watch you leave.

“Have fun at work, Cutie!”

Not sure what to do with herself at the moment, Pretti decides to go back inside and wash the cigarette smell out of the bedsheets, and her clothes, and MK’s. Shower after laundry, then…

How far is the Shrine of the Heart?

Pretti skates on over to the train station. I wonder if Kireina will be there.

Pretti gives a friendly and enthusiastic wave. “Hi, Kireina! I see you’re keeping the place beautiful as always!” (If etiquette demands voices be kept to a dull roar, Pretti catches herself and softens her voice mid-sentence.)

Pretti says, “Maybe some of both? All’s well with MK and I, considering that I’m… y’know.” She pats the side of her bare hip, which of course is unclothed because nothing below the waist needs covering for decency’s sake.

“But I’m getting more work that puts my talents to use, and she’s understandably scared. I just don’t want her to worry, even though I know that’s selfish. Like, just this morning, she was running late for work—same as usual, not like her-fired late—and…

“I just wanted to run out and save her. I don’t even know what I could’ve done without causing a scene, really. Scoop her in my arms? Stop traffic? Tell her to call in sick so I can just hold her all day?” Pretti is probably blushing by now. “Sorry,” she says, even though the Temple of the Heart is likely the only place on all of Gilon where such extreme mushiness is tolerable.

There’s an awkward pause. Pretti looks around to see if any more teens are about to snap a picture.

“Well… yeah. I’m afraid there is potential risk. Marie is supportive, and she understands I want to use my physical enhancements to help people. I just… I don’t know how to explain it, really. I guess that’s why I’m here.

“To pray for the one I love.”