Audience: Harrowhark Nonagesimus

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

I'm still deciding, but I was thinking pancakes? And maybe some boba.

[give them a moment to hit more buttons before the machine spits out a nice short stack of pancakes with butter and syrup, and also what looks like taro-flavored boba tea.]

Like that! But if you want something else I'm sure we can fix it for you.

[bonetiddies]

[She's. Never had either of those things. But she can try them?]

I'll have the same.

[probe]

[a second set of pancakes and boba come down the conveyor belt. ]

Tada! [thanks lust.] We can eat here or we can go to the common room if you want. We should get comfortable anyway.

[bonetiddies]

The common room is fine, if you're more comfortable there.

[She'll take her tray of food and start walking in that direction, then.]

Have you been busy answering requests?

[probe]

[off they go! lust seems to have a little hop in their step as they walk, walking side by side with harrow until they enter the common room and have a seat on one of the couches.]

I've had a few people text, but it's not bad. I'm used to being busier than this so it's kind of a nice break.

[bonetiddies]

You're usually busier? With what?

[probe]

Work. I used to work with people a lot and have a lot of people asking things of me. A group this small is way more manageable.

[bonetiddies]

What sort of work did you do?

[probe]

Entertainment mostly. People used to watch me all the time...and I had a lot of fans that wanted to see me and know everything about me. Maybe that's why I don't think Lust is totally off-base.

[bonetiddies]

. . . This was before you came to be "Lust."

[probe]

Nya...[and there's a shrug as they sip their boba.] It's both? I've been the embodiment of Lust for a while.

[bonetiddies]

What's 'nya'?

[Like, nya?]

[probe]

You know, like nya! [they lift their hand and go through the hand motions. you know the ones.] It's the sound a cute little kitty cat makes. Nyaaa.

[bonetiddies]

Why. . . do you make cute kitty cat sounds?

[probe]

[they're half-tempted to respond with another nya, but....harrow's cool....and they want harrow to like them....so hm. dilemma.]

Doesn't everybody like cats? It's just a part of me.

[bonetiddies]

[Is she cool. Is she.]

I. . . haven't ever seen one. I suppose they seem fine?

[probe]

[let lust believe.]

...you've never seen a cat before? What about a dog?

[bonetiddies]

I'm afraid not. We don't have many animals, where I'm from.

[probe]

...[this is a tragedy and for a moment they go quiet.]

Stay here, I'll be right back. [and before harrow can blink lust is dashing out of the room. like. very quickly, in a blur.

about thirty seconds later, they come back as casual as can be cradling a black cat in their arms.]

Cat. [they hold up the cat like simba. the cat accepts their fate for now.]

[bonetiddies]

Oh. Um.

[She has no idea what to do with cat? She reaches out really gingerly and pats it on the head?]

Hello.

[probe]

[the cat is a mischievous little bean which means it reaches up to gently boop harrow in the nose. a pat for a pat.]

I guess I could've just shown you a picture or something, but this seemed way easier.

[bonetiddies]

It's. Very nice.

[She has no idea how to compliment a cat. She flinches when it boops her like it was trying to scratch her. It's so sad.]

[probe]

[harrow...lust will sit down with the cat in their lap, and next to harrow, and holding their pancakes, and also their boba. it's a balancing act.]

...don't worry, it's not gonna hurt you. They're actually pretty mellow. I don't think I've met someone who's never seen one before.

[it's absolutely not important but it's fascinating.]

[bonetiddies]

[Okay. She'll, um, gently reach out and pet the cat on the head.]

The planets we live on are dead. It's difficult to sustain life on them, and most organisms gradually become sterile.

It's not unheard of for the wealthier houses to keep pets, but it isn't common, and we lead a more austere life on the Ninth.

[probe]

[the cat bats again, but it seems to be more interested in playing and nuzzling into her hand while lust takes another sip of their boba.]

Has it always been like that? Is there a way to make things better?