What Happens in Vegas [NSFW]

[Acewing13]

FBI Branch Office, Chicago, American Union

"Alright," Bee said, looking at the gathered Interpol members. "Thanks to your hard work, we have gotten the information we need to get a so called Judge of the Singularity Crusaders. Honestly, it was a bigger catch than we expected, but because we were able to take the information our, newly compliant, source gave us and run with it."

Bark gave a salute in the meeting, his tail giving a small wag or two happy about what they have accomplished with all of this. "If I may ask Captain what information did he reveal about the so called Judge? I hope a location of where he's housed perhaps and any other weapons caches, maybe could catch them all at once?"

"Honestly, our informant doesn't know about the Judge specifically," the Captain said with a smirk. "What our informant gave us is deeper access to their systems. Our main goal was to go up one link in the chain to get a 'manager', the middle managers between the Crusader's individual cells and the Judges. Fortunately for us, their internal security between cells and the managers are relatively poor. So, thanks to the work of our cybersecurity experts and our resident 'tech-witch', we were able to compromise a manager's system to some extent. Namely, we got access to their calendar."

Her smirk widened as she brought up said calendar on the room's screen. "Most of it deals with meetings with lower cells, keeping in contract with their peers, etc. However, one meeting stood out," she said, going to a couple of days in the future, clicking on an event labeled, "Judge - Henderson."

"This took a little bit more work to figure out," Bee said, tabbing over to a plane ticket, "But we found that our manager has a ticket to Las Vegas the day before and a return ticket the next, so we think they'll be meeting in Henderson, Nevada, a quick drive from Las Vegas. So, we'll be staking out the airport and following our target until we can confirm that the meeting is in Henderson. Any questions so far?"

"What is planned for if they are present?" Shade asked, "After we've stalked them sufficiently. Another surprise attack? Or is the confirmation enough?"

"We'll be pulling a snatch and grab if possible," the Captain said with a nod. "We don't know when we'll have another chance to grab one of the highest up members of the Crusaders."

Bark listened to the information and was viewing it as much as he could, after all this wasn't quite his forte exactly but he could dabble enough to ask questions and at least figure out what direction they're going in. "Do we know how many others he will have protecting him or perhaps if there are any prominent cells in Las Vegas? Also do we have any information on Judge Henderson? It might be good to know what weapons he's legally packing or even perhaps what augmentations he might have, assuming some of them were obtained legally and have some kind of trail?"

"We don't have firm numbers, no," Bee said, going to another slide showing several of dots around metro Las Vegas. "Nevada seems like a hot spot for the Crusaders, with eight local cells known, including two in Henderson alone. And we have no information on the Judge themselves. Not even a gender." She sighed, looking over the group. "I admit, it's a rush job. But we will have the support of AU federal agencies, since this is a bigger break than they've seen."

Bark will give a nod and tap a claw onto his muzzle trying to think of anything else that might be relevant. "If I may ask Captain is there any information the AU federal agencies may have on the other local cells? Maybe we can try to get an idea of what they may have based on what the nearby cells have? If not? Well I might be speaking out of line, but we've got your back Captain. Whether through the unknown or backs against the wall. I would like to ask what is the plan concerning this rush job? Stealth and reconnaissance? Search and Detain?"

"All our information on the Nevada cells comes from the AU," the Captain said with a nod. "They don't have as much information on western state cells, they've been focusing on infiltrating southern state cells, which is how we got the opportunity to get our informant in the first place. They'll try to gather some information in the meantime. As for the details of the plan," she continued, going to the next slide, a map of downtown Las Vegas and Henderson. "First phase will be undercover again, but with a lot more people. Enough cars to rotate tailing any vehicle that the manager takes, people to go into casinos and hotels when they stay over night, etc. Second phase will be when the meeting with the judge happens, where a smaller contingent will be keeping an eye out on the meeting place while the rest of the squads converge on the meeting place. Third phase is the make or break moment, trying to grab the Judge and exfiling to Nellis Spaceport, where we'll have a full military base to keep the Crusaders from trying anything."

"Any concerns about the plan?" she asked, looking around the room.

He gave a small nod before responding as one immediate thing came to mind. "I can be wrong, but depending on the time table? This plans leaves much room for error with a number of variables that can take place, but I figure given the situation? This sounds like the best plan, but I suppose I'll ask is our covers from before compromised? Did word get out about who we were? Also if I may ask who will we be working with especially concerning the undercover portion of this mission?" His ears were perked up on alert out of habit, since this plan didn't feel as solid as the previous one at least to him.

"He just doesn't want to have to come up with yet another undercover character," Shade chuckled. "Will I have to do the same? Usually I just get put in a server room where I do my work. I really don't think a dress works with my style, for casino living."

"We'll be sticking to squads throughout," Bee said with a shrug. "We need people in cars and walking around, so it really just depends on who we can get in appropriate clothing for the casino and hotel."

His ears perked up as he pulled out a list of different undercover characters. "Ted was based on someone real, but I have plenty of covers I can do! Look!" He points to an art example of a man with glasses, slouched and clumsy but can get up perfectly fine in secret.

"All he's doing is standing straighter," Shade mused, unimpressed. "With glasses. I feel as though better work can be accomplished."

Bark shook his head at the notion. "No he's clumsy, but big so people can bump into him all the time and no one would suspect him of anything because he seems timid! It's perfect."

"Clothes do make the man," Oaf said with a chuckle. "Worst case, we can always use the work allowance to buy clothes. Not that you'd need to, Captain."

"True," Bee said with a smile. "And it'd probably be better if I was in a place to see the manager without having to rely on others."

"So... I am still unsure of my part of the plan. Where am I supposed to go?" Shade rolled her head against the wall she was leaning against. "Just give me something to do, for the love of technology."

Bark tapped his chin. "I probably should stay with Ted, he was always a people person. Well before I became a people person..." He tapped his muzzle. "I'm good in either position Captain, wherever you want me? I'll do my best."

"Our squad will be one of those that infiltrates wherever the manager stays," Bee said with a nod. "It'll get Shade access to their systems so we can keep more eyes on them and let me keep the good old eyeball on them as well. Unfortunately, I think we can guarentee that whatever place the manager stays will have links to the Crusaders, so you'll have to remain inconspicuious while doing tech-witch stuff. And inconspicuious in a casino is a little different..."

Shade blinked, worry filling her heart. "How different? I... I just wear something... exactly like what I'm wearing right now?"

Bark blinked and looked at Shade since in many of these matters and of knowing things he was essentially the newbie in this. He may not have seen various movies concerning casino culture, Las Vegas most of all, but he did know how things worked there through some experience. That however was on a personal need to know basis. "Well...Really different it's not your version of stealth I believe. Go into the shadows and stay out of sight. Many casinos, Las Vegas especially, most people are in sight. You would stick out like a sore thumb trying to be in a corner on a computer. They might even suspect you're trying to cheat if you wear your usual attire with computer software and cyberwarfare the way it is. You would have to blend in, which at best might be looking like a regular tourist. However if you were to have some tech around? It is possible you might have to appear extravagant to a degree or of upper status, could mean you belong to a company and you're sending messages. Perhaps even some rich lady to waste time at the slots."

With a whine Shade's shoulders slumped. His reasoning was sound, even if she questioned where this knowledge came from. "I... have never been rich before. I would not know how to act. I must... research this. And I suspect my current attire would not be sufficient."

 

[Acewing13]

"Think that calls for a shopping trip," Bee said, smiling as she went back to her notes. "Any other questions?"

Bark blinked for a moment confused for a moment until he thought of the situation. "Oooh so to go undercover we'll need new attire? That could be great! Also awkward depending on the situation." His fashion sense wasn't quite the best.

"I'm sure Captain Moneybags can handle it," Shade said, deflecting her own anxiety via sarcasm. "I'm surprised she hasn't invited us to a grand ball, hosted by a wealthy aristocrat who is actually a villain in disguse. I bet grand balls are just a myth."

Bee bit her lip at the jab, taking a breath before saying, "Alright, everyone else, get with your squads and get a variety of vehicles to tail the target and ferry agents to the meeting spot. My squad, stay here for a minute."

As the rest of the company filed out, the infiltration squad was left by itself.

"We don't all have to be on the floor," Oaf said, looking uncomfortable at the tension. "Zima and Shade could set up somewhere out of sight and do their jobs."

"Finding a good spot would take days and foreknowledge that we don't have," the Russian said, shaking her head.

"Alright," Bee said, looking over at Shade. "I deserved that. However, I did mean my points that it'd be easier to do your job in the hotel or casino if you're there. Unless you think Oaf can do a better job?"

Shade's eyes slid towards the Captain, then Oaf. "Well of course not." She growled. "I would own that casino entirely with an hour and a few foolish server defenders, but I can become their security in a few minutes, which should suffice. I... may need some assistance picking an outfit."

Bark gave a few audible taps on the desk, as an auditory indication he was going to voice either an opinion or perhaps even an idea. "I do agree that it would prove an advantage for them to be in the casino or hotel itself. However I do believe due to the type of security that could frequent the various Las Vegas casinos and even the organization itself? It might be best if we go to the floor as groups if not in pairs perhaps? It leaves more..." He paused for a moment looking for a word that could fit given the social situation of the matter. "Defense or perhaps fall back if there is any suspicion on one us. If not in groups nor pairs, then at the least there should be some check in times just in case."

"So," Oaf said, thinking through possible combinations before falling on the obvious. "Mismatched couple," pointing at himself and Zima, "and ladies man with two rivaling ladies?" he asked, pointing at the other three.

"Barely have to act," Zima said, looking up at the ceiling.

Shade's eyes narrowed then, looking at Zima, the cat seaching her soul for answers. "It would be very hard to imagine, yes," she said with a haughty hiss, "but worst case scenario Bark can pretend to be on his game enough to come to a casino with two women. His persona probably has money or something."

Bark blinked as his ears perked up at the scenario. A disguise based on some truths was far easier to pull off, but on the other hand? It was perhaps an unintentional low blow to say that it was a worst case scenario, which made him wonder for a brief moment was he good enough for this? That implied he was an alpha in the situation, which unfortunately he saw more than enough how that was played out. However he could play it perhaps somehow differently than how he perceived it? He took a deep breathe and gave a sigh. "A casino bigshot? I can do that I think...I'll just have to combine attributes of people I know. Hopefully turn it into our best case scenario and not disappoint everyone. Perhaps I could include Oaf and Zima in an awkward way..." A background, no a story was playing around in his head trying to provide backgrounds and alibi's all over the place.

"As fun as you trying to figure out how to fit me into that," Oaf said with a chuckle, "I do think there's some benefit to having two groups. Easier to rotate being close to them so they don't get as suspicious."

"True," Bee said, frowning as she thought things through. She shook her head before looking to the two Chongwu. "If we're good with this, then we'll need to go shopping ASAP. Going to be a pain trying to find fancy clothes that'll fit Bark."

Bark chuckled a little at his statement. "C'mon now we made a good team. I talk too much and allow you to get right down to business. They don't see you coming at all Oaf." He gave a nod to Bee, but blinked when he realized what she said. "Er why is it going to be hard finding fancy clothes for me? I'm not too big am I..."

"You walk like a behemoth with all the subtlety of a trainwreck," Shade said bluntly.

"If you were any bigger, you wouldn't fit through the doorway," Zima said with equal bluntness.

"I do think the ladies like that though," Oaf said with a shrug.

Bark blinked and his ears which normally had been perked up, decided to swoop down. The ears themselves might have looked like they were trying to do a dance maneuver hitting the metaphorical floor. Unfortunately that wasn't it, but he took their words as more of advice on what to do. "Okay then, I suppose I'll walk more regal I suppose? Some grace in my posture. For the disguise and out of the disguise." He gave a nod, but chuckled at Oaf. "I hope so as I can't really change my size far as I've checked."

"Or you could lean into it," Bee said, tapping her fingers against her leg. "Just swagger in as if you own the place and own the spotlight. Who'd think a government agent would pull something like that?"

Shade had seen his ears droop, and all her comebacks and snide words were halted. She felt like a bitch for suddenly throwing him down like that, in defense of... what? Herself? So she remained leaning against the wall, tail hidden largely behind her.

Bark thought on that matter, which one of his ears perked up seemingly awake and ready to rumble. "That is a good idea and that was the plan, but perhaps not be too blatant about it? After all there are big names that do and can frequent Las Vegas of all places. Maybe seem confident, but not too loud, maybe too loud when it counts. Like personal challenges or leering eyes looking in too deep and too much." He gave a nod to himself at his idea.

"Alright," Bee said with a nod. "I need to find a place where we can get appropriate clothing. Can you two take care of yourselves?"

"I think so," Oaf said, with Zima nodding in reply.

"Good luck," Bee said, before turning to the two Chongwu as the other two left. "So, can you two figure out where to get some lunch after we go shopping?"

Bark tapped on his muzzle now to think of a place to eat. "There is that one fancy place by that one chef who loved to yell alot. I think some chefs have even tried to copy that particular style for various shows and keep his style going after all these years...I forgot his name."

"That's a very old trope," the Captain said, tapping her datapad and adjusting her earpiece. "Hi Mom. No, I'm good. Promise. Hey, do you know any good tailors in Chicago? Yeah, going to a thing and don't want to ship stuff from home. Yeah, going with a guy, he's pretty big so helping him get some clothing. Both actually. Yes, I know I have a type," she said, smiling as she shook her head. "Couple of weeks, yeah."

Bark listened to the Captain speak on her earpiece, which he smiled at seeing her happy to speak with her mother. It was nice to see her on speaking terms with her mother, but it left him curious on where they were going to get clothes from. He stayed silent waiting for the call to finish to be polite all the while leaving his one ear to take in any sounds.

Shade continued her silent vigil as she waited for things to happen. Still scared of saying something mean towards Bark in defense of her... what? Honor? Pride? She couldn't even say anything towards the Captain because that might give clues as to Shade's relationship to anyone, and she couldn't have that. She watched Ngao from the corner of her eye, searching without words any lingering evidence of if she'd actually hurt him.

"Alright," Bee said, tapping on her datapad as she talked. "Uh huh. Yeah, I'll take care of paying it. Thanks. And yes, I'll let him know. Love you, bye."

"Okay, got the tailor picked out, they'll have plenty of stuff for either of us," she said, pointing to Shade. "And also have enough material to get something to cover you, Bark. And they take walk-ins, so let's get going."

Shade stood up from he wall, contemplating herself. They three were alone, but she couldn't trust that at the moment. Her eyes blinked red for a second before resuming their usual unlit existance. Ngao had a text on his phone, that said, very simply, "I'm sorry for making fun of you."

Bark blinked as he realized a little too late what those kind of clothes could imply for his body. "Wait is it those outfits and or suits where it's really tight to move in? That might not be a good idea...I might have ripped those once or twice when trouble happened." He felt his communicator buzz, which he was confused unless it was his neighbor in his apartment trying to give far too much food. He looked at the message and his other ear seemed to rise up almost lazily, but excited.

He typed into the communicator since he figured she wouldn't want a reply, at least not out loud. "It's fine it was just some issues I haven't quite dealt with in my old employment."

"It's a balancing act between showing the physique and being comfortable," the Captain said with a nod, putting her datapad away.

 

[Acewing13]

Bark tapped a finger onto his muzzle as a question came to mind. "Uh I'm curious what did your mother say about me?" He blinked as this was all new territory having to deal with being on speaking terms with someone's parents.

"Hmm? Oh," Bee said, chuckling as she brushed a piece of hair back into place. "She said 'Hope you at least stick around until we can meet in person.'"

This was pressure in just a short amount of time, as he dealt with doubts concerning Shade's retorts of making fun of him and now the worry he wasn't going to be good enough for her mom. However this was a different kind of pressure, but he was used to pressure. He took a deep breath and realized he would have to mentally view it as apart of some mission to go on. Operation names would have to wait. Mommy Approval or Motherly Approval weren't good operation names. "Alright well no pressure but I'll stick around until we meet her and beyond that." He smiled and his tail wagged.

"I have no doubt," Bee replied with a smile. "Had to say it, cause I know she'd follow up on that and give me no end of grief if I hadn't."

Shade, having been forgiven but still did not trusting herself to speak (for instance, her first thought was Operation Mommy Issues) so she stood next to Ngao, far closer than she'd ever stood near him in public before. She was silently showing support, tail drifting to lightly brush alongside him occasionally.

Bark raised an eyebrow at that one. "So she is someone who pays that much attention huh?" He chuckled, but gave a nod. "I'll make sure to remember that." He noticed Shade closed to him, which he smiled at her closeness. On purpose his tail was wagging over to her tail to engage in the light brushness.

Suddenly embarrassed, she nearly pulled away at the reciprocal physical contact, but held herself firm next to him. She was determined to let him remain close to her until such a time that she had repaid for being mean.

"Alright, let's get going," Bee said, turning to walk out of the room.

--------------------

Stitches In Kind, Chicago

"Ms. Simmons and co?" a goat Chongwu asked, walking up to the group as they sat in the lounge, a tape measure around his neck the universal sign of a tailor.

"That's us," Bee said, standing up while keeping the provided water bottle.

"I'm Christopher and will be your tailor today," he replied, looking the three of them over, before settling on Ngao. "I can see why you wanted a professional, not going to find good clothes in his size at Sapient's Warehouse."

Ngao blinked looking at the goat Chongwu, as he was curious about his appearance. However he made certain not to stare and gave a nod to Christopher. "Pleased to meet you sir and I do apologize for any problems my size may cause in your work to get me fitted."

Shade kept close to Ngao as they collectively entered yet another building she was unfamiliar with. Arms crossed as typical, guarding her against this new individual, she remained near Ngao. He was large and safe to be around, and so near him she would stay.

"Nah, I get paid by the hour, so no real problems here," Christopher said, waving away his concerns. "It's just going to cost a pretty penny for the rush job. Luckily, no one comes here without being recommended, so I know that's not a problem.

"Anyway, just follow me," he said, taking the three of them deeper into the Stitches In Kind, until they came to a round booth. "Just hop in there for a second to be scanned."

Bee went first, keeping her arms at her side as the booth hummed for a moment before a beep announced it was completed.

"Sub-millimeter scan, a lot faster than the old tools of the trade," Christopher said.

Ngao tapped his muzzle looking at the machine and was curious about it, but first he would turn to Shade. "I appreciate you being close to me Shade, it makes me feel warm if that makes sense? Good, but also warm. Happy too." His tail was showing his happiness, as it seemed to be wagging a mile a minute. So much so that it had to stop due to exhaustion at some point, but it started back soon enough. "However you can speak Shade, I like your voice."

He turned towardst he direction of the sub-millimeter scan and made his way to it. "I'm ready to be scanned sir, it doesn't make the fur become static does it?"

"Nope, get plenty of Chongu through and no reaction thus far," the tailor said, before the booth finished.

Shade was shocked Ngao would just say what he said in public, but not too shocked. He just... paid her a complement and then moved on! It was alien to her. She didn't even have anything really to say anyway, at the moment.

She entered the booth next, her body very much in a defensive stance as her eyes scanned the machine for hidden weapons. She didn't know what might happen in there, despite the evidence of success, she still wasn't enthused about entering the booth. She'd do it, however. Despite her misgivings, the booth just whirred and beeped when its job was done.

"That done, let's get going," Christopher said, leading them back into another room, this time an entire wall taken up by a screen. "Which of you wants to go first? The man to get his job going first or one of you?"

Ngao checked if Shade was safe, but once he saw no problems? He stepped forward almost seeming to be majestic. A canine who was to receive a medal or perhaps an important mission. "I'll go first sir, but I did have a particular style in mind if you'll indulge me?"

"Feel free," Christopher said, tapping on the wall to wake up the machine, which brought up a menu of different styles.

Ngao started skimming through some of the styles of suits and proper wear, but there was a more professional design he was looking for. One that could be potentially athletic and all the while flexible for the mission needs. It was one with a sleek dress shirt, vest and dress pants, it even had some leather gloves for part of the outfit. "Maybe this one?"

"You want a pimp hat and cane to go with it?" Christopher asked before waving his hand. "I kid, I kid. What colors are you thinking?"

Ngao chuckled a little, but shook his head. "No thanks knew someone who liked that aesthetic and it didn't do him any favors, even though he was good at his job." He tapped his muzzle and looked towards everyone in the room. "Thoughts, opinions on the colors?"

"Could always go with the classic tuxedo colors," Bee said with a shurg. "Or if you're very sure of not spilling anything, go all white."

"Full darkness," Shafe offered quietly, "to ensure all watching that you mean business. Or white, which is similar but harder to get stains out of. Makes a statement, I'm sure."

Ngao was stuck on what to go with, but at times it was better to go along with a consenus or perhaps even meet in the middle. "Hmmm what about white and black? A reverse of the tuxedo colors? You don't see that common type of color combination I think, but then again if the ladies agree with going all white..."

"White tux could work," Bee said with a nod. "Does make me wonder what colors we should go for though."

Even the menu display of the option caught Shade's eye, but she'd have to see it on him to let it affect her in any way. "I'm wearing black," she said, "it is practical and sneaky, should I very rapidly need to leave."

"That would be the typical choice," Christopher said, tapping on the wall some more, before a rendered image of Bark in the white tux popped up. "This look alright?"

"It looks great to say the least, probably divine on anyone else. I think this is the ball park hitter so to speak." He smiled looking at it, as it seemed to be an attire he could have confidence in himself wearing.

"I approve," Bee said, leaning back in her chair as she looked between Ngao and his screen doppleganger.

As soon as the screen showed the potentiality of Ngao in the suit Shade actively turned her head to look at anything else. This was not the place for impure thoughts, which she was shocked had come up so suddenly. "I'm sure you'll do well enough with such an outfit," she said, masking her thoughts.

Ngao looked at them and gave a wide smile. "Thank you both I'll do my best to fit the part. Now I think since I've decided my outfit one of you is next. Although Christopher can you make sure the material is flexible? I'd be scared to tear it by mistake."

"What do you take me for?" the goat Chongwu asked, tapping the screen to send the clothes order off. "Long as you don't go at them with a pair of scissors or something, they'll stand up to any ordeal you put them through."

"I'll go next," Bee said, getting up and walking over to the screen, navigating through menus until she landed on a red seqined halternecked dress, leaving nearly her entire back uncovered, the material only meeting at her neck and just above her ass. "Hmm, skirt or no skirt?" she asked, switching between the options, the skirtless option barely covering her butt.

Ngao looked over at the screen and became flustered for a moment seeing the options, which he was scared of his response. More so they were in public, but at the same time far as he could tell Bee did have an affinity for skirts. Then again that could have just been for him? "You'll look divine in either one. It's a hard choice however..."

 

[Acewing13]

"Wear the skirt," Shade said, having looked at the display once and then swore never to again as a very similar reaction to Ngao's display formed on her face. "Otherwise you look like a very expensive courtesan."

"That's kind of the point though," Bee said, looking back at the pair. "Be inconspicuous by standing out."

"...I suppose another way of looking at it is the more Bee stands out? The less Shade might to the people in the casino. Not to me, but to the people in the casino." He gave a sagely nod, as his instincts of being a romantic made sure to curve around a potential low blow.

Shade considered that point, giving a shrug. "If such is how she'd like to play it, fine. Less eyes on me, which suits me fine."

"The other nice thing about less material is that I don't have to worry about a tight dress keeping me from running if needed," Bee said, picking out a set of matching stilletos and nodding to Christopher as she sat back down.

"The other lady next?" the goat-type asked, gesturing in front of the screen.

With a roll of the eyes Shade stood up, approaching the machine with a grimace. She scanned this too for hidden weapons and possible danger points, but she had little choice but to do as instructed. She began pushing buttons on the screen, looking at the simulated version of herself wearing different outfits.

Finding something she really felt worked was hard, until she saw something somewhat familar. With some amount of embarrassment, she chose that. A low cut dress with a V that travelled down her chest and stopped just past the breasts, hiding them but teasing their existence. The dress was the same color as the rest of her, and fit her form tightly like her usual outfit. It would be vaguely comfortable, though the rest of the dress trailing like a cape would be... mostly just to appear regal. She was a goddess after all.

Ngao now had to stop himself from flustering twice over. First from Bee and then from Shade, worse it was quadrupling as he imagined particular moments. On purpose he placed his hands on his cheeks and smooshed them. Now he could be at least a little more composed. However he turned to Christopher speaking in a fake accent befitting some foreign scholar. "Will you entertain me ol' chap Christopher? When one accompanies two goddesses to heaven in a royal ball of sorts, is that person something similar to Zeus or is he a plebian being bestowed a divine gift of divine company?"

"I think the appropriate legend here is that of the Trojan War," the goat-type said. "The question is if you can turn the goddess' jealousies to another target than yourself. If you can, then you're Zeus. If not, you're Paris."

"And Paris lost his life and country because he picked the hot lady option over the conquest of the world," Bee said, shaking her head. "Hmm, guess we just hope that another girl doesn't show up cause then we'd actually have to figure out which of us is Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite."

"I really should read a textbook or something," Shade sighed, leaving the machine and sitting back down. "I am without compare regardless, for the gods of the past had not my prowess. Comparatively, we all are more powerful than the pantheons of old."

"Which is exactly what Athena would say," Bee said with a sigh. "Which is the best option. I mean, which do you pick? The ditz who started a war to make a meet cute happen or the shrew who Zeus always leaves to fuck other women?"

"Yes, who do you think fits Bee best, Ngao?" Shade said, adding pressure to the question.

Bark was blinking at all of this, he meant to make a very comedic kind of flirt question. Maybe Christopher would leave and say the second one clearly and Shade would add some 'shade' onto that. Now it was a true philosophical question that he was not ready for at all, could even lead to hope and despair---wait. "I feel like I meant this at an attempt to flirting, but somehow I opened a Pandora's Box of a serious question..."

"Indeed brother, indeed," Christopher replied. "Well, I'm off to go get the clothes, so hope you find some hope in that box." And with that he left Ngao to his fate.

The little canine in Bark's brain was running a miles on the road of thinking and was running into dead ends. Which in reality would be potentially hilarious and get owners to cuddle it, but that wasn't reality unfortunately. Aphrodite was a ditz, but the sexuality she could exude fit Bee well. On the other hand Beatrix was a captain and knew how to lead a team to victory towards the end goal. Then he thought of aspects of Shade, which she did fit Athena but at times some of her more cold demeanor could fit Hera except she didn't mean some of those things at least not seriously...What made this hard was he didn't want to make a choice. At all.

"...Do I have to make a choice? I feel as if the Gods were made with a personality in mind. Something similar to many idealic heroes in knight folklore stories, which if memory serves was rarely ever the reality." This was a hard choice and could lead to ramifications of being terrible.

"I mean, Athena's the correct choice," Bee said with a shrug. "God-tier battle tactics so you can't lose a fight is the best take. Next is Hera, cause you get handed all of ancient Asia, though that probably means everything west of India, not all of actual Asia. Aphrodite is the worst, cause all you get is a pretty girl. Plenty of those when you become Ngao the Conquerer a couple of centuries before Alexander even gets a shot. And yes," she said with a chuckle, "I may have gamed this out in boredom."

"So..." Shade blinked in her seat. "Why choose a pretty girl when power and prestige can grant you that and more? Is that the lesson you're trying to teach, Captain?"

"I'm saying that guys too often think with their dick instead of their brains," Bee said with a chuckle. "If Paris took a couple more seconds to realize he could take Helen and Sparta with either of the other two gifts, then we'd be talking about the great Trojan civilization instead of the Greek one."

Ngao decided to take a moment and sink into his chair thinking about all of this. One part of him, perhaps the more tactical part understood the Ngao The Conqueror concept. You take over the land and it's people and everything is practically yours except for those that flee or perhaps choose death by combat. Which also the same thing could be achieved by God-tier battle tactics with more of the possibility of becoming a Man Of The People so to speak, since you would have won the land and it's people by actual tactics and combat and not it being given. Then the Aphrodite option, which in a lame sense was the romantic option and perhaps relying on your own wits and confidence with your lady beside you without the negativity of them being coerced and forced into marriage.

The outside of his mind? His fingers were rubbing into his tepples figuring all of this out. "I'm partially offended that you might be potentially saying I'm thinking with my dick instead of my brain...I mean to technically play devils advocate the other two choices, safely assuming he was focused on the girl in all of this? The other choices would have gotten her potentially, but it could have resulted in her being coerced or forced into it. The romantic concept would be you would want it to be consenual between both of you, the heroic concept you would try to get all of that through your willpower and merit...Of course Greek mythology that wasn't probably going to happen. Athena would be the best choice."

"I mean, there's some versions where it's consensual," Bee said with a shrug. "My favorite are the ones where Helen gets swept off to Egypt and Paris gets an illusion version. Cause it's hilarious."

Shade's eyes glowed red for a brief second, and Bee recieved a message. It said: "Ask him what he would be thinking if he WAS thinking with his penis."

Bee looked at her datapad and snorted, before asking, "Did you do something to Shade earlier? She's suggesting we press you on what your first, dick dominated, thought was."

Shade giggled from her seat, looking away as she shut herself up.

Bark intervened at first as he heard about the Paris illusion version. "That is...Downright depressing and an actual tragedy---" The question entered his mind, but the small canine of his brain seemed to trip and become truly confused. Then he could hear the giggle, but that wasn't a Beatrix giggle at all. It was Shade. "W-W-What? I-I-I don't think I did a-a-anything to Shade."

He revieced a message from Shade. "You didn't answer the question." Her face was a mask of pretending not to find intense humor in this, which by it's nature revealed this was hilarious to her.

Ngao seemed to be confused for a brief moment, but he laced his finger together and placed it in front of his face. He gave the visage of a man with intense thought on his mind. It was almost the look of someone contemplating on whether or not to press the button on releasing an advanced nuclear weapon. "My first dick dominated thought or concerning Ngao The Conqueror?" This could be a joke leading into a trap or perhaps he was taking this seriously, far more seriously than they intended...

"Por que no los dos?" Bee asked, a grin on her face.

"One at a time at least," Shade added between giggles.

 

[Acewing13]

Ngao gave a serious nod, the nod of a soldier receiving an order that could not be refused nor refuted on grounds of rules of technicality. "My first 'dick' dominated thought was Beatrix could use a feet massage of great magnitude. She had been fighting for so long I wondered and I bet no one thought of giving her feet the greatest massage to remove all of the lumps and stress from her job and hopefully daily life." He gave a sagely nod as he moved onto the thoughts of Ngao The Conqueror. "It is an odd thought, but if Chongwu existed then or perhaps some mystical equivalent and I was there and chose Hera's offer or Athena's offer? First off I would have chosen both to make them winners or perhaps even all three. Why settle for one when all could win? Helen and all of those lands and the tactics to defend them all? After that? Probably have baths where women could get the best massages and all feel welcome in my lands. No stress nor lumps in their bodies the first." He gave a sagely answer with the smile of a soldier with a job well done. A true wholesome being of sentients. The Wall Of Caring.

Shade blinked, hiding a certain amount of disappointment. It was silly, but she'd been hoping he'd mention her somewhere in his effortless spew of words. She resumed her typical stance, arms crossed and sitting stiffly in a chair, as she cast her eyes elsewhere. She was just being selfish, she told herself. "Sounds like you just don't know how to choose. You can't please everyone."

"Or at the very least you need to fob off the hard question to someone else," Bee said with a small smile. "Zeus, not Paris."

Ngao unfolded his hands and laid his arms down, but raised his hand up and fanned invisible air. All the while chuckling a little. "I could speak the speeches, but that was a fabricated lie honestly...L-Lets not talk about my first dick dominated thought nor in that situation. I'll probably die from embarrassment and if I faint? I'm not certain if I could be carried..." Also a part of him didn't trust Christopher being left alone in this pandora's box situation.

Should she take this as a challange, Shade thought as she sat there. His first thought was of Bee, and his weird massage kink or whatever it was, and not of Shade. Searching for answers, she was looking to Bee then to Bark, then back to the wall as she tried to figure out what went wrong. Was it selfish to think anything had gone wrong? One can only have one first thought, and it just happened that he thought about Bee first. On the other hand... Shade wasn't sure why, or at least wasn't cognizant of why, but she could practically feel herself internalizing what her ego told her was a slight against her pride.

She had zoned out, staring at the wall as she hyperfocused on this problem.

"Aww, come on," Bee said, hopping over to sit on Ngao's lap. "No equivoquating here, first dick dominated thought. Was it to ravish Shade?"

Ngao froze and stiffened for a brief moment looking over at Shade and saw her staring at the wall? That seemed odd as she was having fun just moments ago. Unless was it something he said? It couldn't have been something he had done exactly not physically at least. He hoped not anyway. Then there was the first dick dominated thought to think of. "O-O-Okay but you can't repeat it. N-N-Not for a month i-if not a year." He took a deep breath and realized he couldn't get out of this unless he seriously lied, but that could be bad. Relationships based on lies were doomed to fail at worst and be distrustful at best.

"My first true dick dominated thought? I suppose more like a dream, but it did show my thoughts. The dream started with Shade trickling with claws on my fur a-and well it escalated with Beatrix...I had to end the dream because w-w-well we all were s-s-sleeping on the couch. T-T-That was my first dick dominated thought. N-N-No question t-t-things happened in that dream and the o-o-others pleasure didn't come to mind."

He kept talking, and as he kept talking Shade realized he was talking about a few nights ago, when they were all sleeping on the couch, as opposed to what she and Bee were asking about when it first came up around five minutes ago. She blinked again, coming out of a daze, and felt the heat behind her cheeks. He'd thought about that... when she was curled up against him? All vulnerable and... A conflicting thought cut across her mind: Well of course he was, look at you. You know in your heart that if he had said that he hadn't felt that way you'd have been offended.

Shade had to agree with herself. "Well, that's understandable," Shade said quietly. "I am perfect, after all."

Ngao took a moment to explain the second question, which of course was the more updated situation. "Well t-t-the thoughts concerning the s-second question were various to say the l-l-least, but I would have tried to simply put gain the f-favor of Athena and Hera. No point to Aphrodite...P-Primarily because I don't love Helen it would be a waste. H-However I think I'd have liked to make a land reign of peace alongside both of you...T-The greek baths with both of you showering me with affection? Shade c-c-changing her claws for different occassions and Beatrix c-choosing outfits for different occassions. W-Why have one ruler when there could be t-three who loved each other? G-Greek baths and a goddesses divinity w-w-would do wonders for the claws, nails feet and k-k-kisses on me."

"Kisses, huh?" Bee asked, turning and sliding closer. "Think we can help with that," she added, before she started kissing his muzzle, leaving a trail to his cheek, where she turned to look at Shade, raising her eyebrows in silent challenge, before returning to kiss his cheek.

Shade narrowed her eyes at Bee, and she saw the challenge. Of course, as a higher being, Shade knew the tailor was bound to return eventually. Thus, all she would have to do is wait for the two to embarrass themselves. But... there was the underlying challenge against her pride. The Captain was daring her to join them, to beat her to Ngao's affections.

Despite Shade's ego, she shivered with unease at the thought of touching the Captain. Not as a slight against her, but because Shade wasn't sure she could handle so much touch so soon. That thought sobered her somewhat, leading to her disappointment. Shade would not rise to the challenge, not here. Shame filling her heart, she looked at the floor, her body instictively tensing just at the thought of touch here.

Ngao froze at feeling the kisses along his muzzle, which his body shivered at the kisses. Many 'normal'' circumstances he would have fallen into the kisses and practically have been enslaved to them by swooning over her kisses and affection. However he did look over to Shade for a brief moment keeping control of his senses. He looked back over at Bee and smiled, but shook his head. "I'm a romantic at my core, which is why this question was embarrassing as it was entertaining however I don't think all of us are into this." His ears perked up with an idea of sorts, as he held onto one of Bee's hands. "S-Shade can I hold your hand?" He held out his other free hand.

"I can... just go," Shade said, not looking over at him. "Seems privacy is paramount at the moment." She held out her hand, but it stopped before it could take his, shaking as it stayed in place. Eventually it landed, settling in his hand as she growled with frustration.

Bee grumbled as well, though mostly at herself. "My instincts are all wrong," she mumbled, squeezing Ngao's hand in apology.

His ears perked although both at different intervals one catching wind of the growling and the other of the grumbling taking place. He shook his head at both of them. "No privacy is not paramount, but what is paramount is my feelings for both of you. You being here is a wonderful thing for me Shade."

He turned to Beatrix and rubbed her hand with his thumb. "Your instincts aren't wrong, just different or else both of you wouldn't have had so much fun before the awkwardness of that question came up." He gave a small cough and smiled at both of them. "Now I know this moment became awkward and strange, but we all make mistakes and I believe we can get through this together. However for that to happen you both have to speak with each other...I'm not Zeus who can simply have sexual appetites the size of Mount Olympus and not care about those who may hurt. Nor do I wish to be, but I care about both of you. We're a...Team I suppose on and off the field. I refuse to love one more than the other, we're different but we care about each other can we focus on that."

Shade's hand in Bark's, she looked over at him with a sadness in her eyes. "Fine..." She looked to Bee, a scowl on her face. "I can't do that sort of thing with you. It's not you," she said with a frustrated sigh, "It's... me. Even holding Bark's hand takes getting used to, once I muster the courage to do it. I just can't logically fight you on the front of physical intimacy."

"Sorry for trying to move you faster than you're comfortable with," Bee replied with a sigh of her own as she got out of Bark's lap. "Guess some of my frustration with that is I see a lot of my past self in you. I was in a very different situation, but physical intimacy took sometime as well. Sorry that some of self-annoyance came out in my behaviour."

 

[Acewing13]

"I will get better, I assume." Shade said, shoulders slumped. "Hopefully. Perhaps the day will come that I will gladly steal your victory from you with relative ease. Besides, we are in public. I was tempted to just let you be caught."

"What? It's not like we're going to see Christopher again," Bee said with a shrug. "Besides, I'm sure he's seen far worse working in retail."

He held their hands rubbing both of them, as he could tell both were getting tense at moments. If not by their hands then definitely by their tones of voice. Unfortunately for them and many who probably desire privacy, that he would always be able to hear. "Listen we go at each others pace, it might look like a race but it isn't one. The first step I suppose is understanding each other. Strange as it may sound, but we understand each other in the field doing our missions. However in a relationship that doesn't quite apply, unless we had mind melds and were roughly about the same person. Believe me I'd know. "

"I am trying," Shade huffed. "I understand that Beatrix is more apt at physical intimacy, and I will need to catch up if I wish to maintain my standing," she said, missing the point entirely. "it is not a race, but I am behind. So... for encouragement, you are allowed to think of me in such compromising positions for your enjoyment. It is strangely encouraging."

"Just put on your dress first and that'll be no problem," Bee said with a chuckle.

Ngao was going to speak about her misunderstanding of the situation, until that was mentioned which he was flustered but shook his head to regain his focus. "Yes she's not wrong about that, but that isn't the point I'm on." He coughed a little to change topics at least for a brief moment. "There is no catching up Shade nor a standing to maintain. I meant what I said when I'd wait for you when you're ready. I'll care about you no matter the physical intimacy, as a relationship is far more than that." A thought did occur to him. "Shade can I kiss your cheek? I've been holding onto your hand for a little awhile..." He hoped it would make her feel better and perhaps reciprocate some of the kisses she saw Bee give him.

Shade gave a little whine, looking back to where the goat had left to so she could confirm they were alone. "You may," she said, looking back at Bark, "Thank you for asking."

Ngao smiled and proceeded to press his lips close to hers in a kiss and trail kisses down along her cheek, until he was done. He smiled still and gave a nod. "I'm always happy to ask Shade. Now please, as I told Beatrix and I'm telling you don't compare yourselves to one another. I love both of you and I do mean it, which is why it's going to be a little odd at the casino...It's like a dream come true, but not in the way I want it."

Shade whimpered as he kissed her, embarassed at the delight she felt in front of someone else. Recovering from a lot of stimulus at once, she blinked a few times until she could respond. "Good thing for us, there's plenty of time to make uncomfortable fashion choices while pretending to gamble that don't involve work."

"Well, some work, but yes," Bee said with a nod.

The door opened and Christopher walked in, three boxes in hand. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said, looking around. "Honestly just glad there's no fluids that need mopping after you three flirting with each other."

Ngao flustered once more and shook his head. "N-N-No maybe a little of debate of sorts? Y-Yes that's it!" He gave a sagely nod clearly trusting in his own words. Yep. "I can hold onto those boxes."

Shade yanked her hand back from Bark's, and took a step back, eyes wide at the sudden intrusion. She resumed her usual position, waiting for Bee to pay what was probably more money than she would ever see for three outfits.

"Here's the card," Bee said, tapping it against the tailor's datapad after he handed off the boxes.

"Thanks for shopping with Stitches In Kind," Christopher said, opening the door to let them out "Have a great time with your event."

Ngao was a little saddened her hand was gone from his, but he understood given the situation. However he made his way to carry the boxes, but for a brief moment it could be noticed he was walking with more regal and straightened posture. "I greatly appreciate your service Christopher. I'll make sure they notice your outfits and drop the name of your store?"

"If you feel like it," the goat-type said with a shrug. "Don't really have an incentive for that."

Ngao gave him a nod, with a small smile. "I'll do so and who knows? Maybe good things could come your way from them. Hopefully." He now made his way out of the store with the boxes.

As they exited the store, Shade breathed a sigh of relief. "That poor man," she mused, "how can some people be so unkind as to just... sex in his place of work? Passion notwithstanding, it's not polite."

"I mean, there are worse fluids," Bee said with a shrug. "Could always be vomit. But yeah, when you deal with higher end clients, there's less shame going on in their heads. And yes, that includes me."

Ngao blinked as he pondered on that question for a little awhile. "Well...It's a high end place so what has most likely happened is they paid extra maybe? Can charge extra due to the situation? Also uh vomit is worse I suppose."

"Worse yes, but not as prevalent as blood," Shade said with a nod. "This place is ripe for a stabbing, with isolated places and an atmosphere of privilege. Perhaps the next place we are going will be better. Or worse. Probably worse."

"Oh, definetly worse," Bee said with a chuckle. "You don't go to a tailor to get drunk and start a fight. Might happen anyway, but not the main reason for the store's existence. Las Vegas? What's the line about never a bigger hive of scum and villany?"

Ngao tapped his muzzle trying to think of memories of Las Vegas, odd to think of it casually when it was mostly mission oriented. "I suppose it depnds on which hive of scum and villainy you frequent? When it comes to high end clients in bloody businesses? It can be a time for sport in a sense...Some handlers treat their Chongwu something akin to showing off weapons or even sport cars. High stake games where many things are on the line and easily written on the fly contracts just in case."

"I am going to despise this place," Shade said gloomily. "All the better to do the mission quickly, efficiently, and without being seen as... high value in any sense of the term."

Ngao smiled and shook his head while looking over at Shade. "Actually to a degree it is the opposite as many groups frequent there. If you're seen as high value it might mean someone has claimed you or perhaps you have money of your own. It's a as the old line goes a 'catch 22'. You can't start anything with another group because it could lead to much chaos depending on the situation. Also it brings new meaning to the line 'The house always wins.' Hence why many fights or particular crimes don't happen at least big ones anyway...I'm not certain about this situation however and it may have changed since I've last been there."

"Information is key then," Shade mused, "and one cannot asume people do not know one's information. It must be understood that carefulness can be circumvented with enough skill or luck, and the last thing I need is more people of influence and riches thinking I am high value and available. After all, the galaxy is big, and despite the prevelance of technology, people still disappear. Though, admittedly, I would be very hard to kidnap for long," she admitted to herself. She was holding herself defensively as she spoke quietly of a fear of hers, partially the fault of her own high opinion of herself. "I miss Hawking."

"Which is why we build up 'Not-Ngao' as a high roller who's not looking to trade his eye-candy," Bee said, putting an arm around one of Bark's.

Ngao smiled and gave a nod at her words. "Yes it is part of the cover so they will not bother going after you or if so it'll most likely be to get under my skin so to speak. Which I'll make sure doesn't happen. I promise you that, for as long as I'm able to keep it."

Shade nodded, standing closer to Ngao than before. "You're lucky I am free. You would not be able to afford me otherwise," she said, a defensive and slightly playful reassurance of her worth to herself. "My mind is literally better than yours."

Ngao smiled at those words, but shook his head. "I'm lucky? That isn't a full analysis, I'm perhaps one of the most luckiest Chongwu in this country if not this planet. I wouldn't change that for the world, unless a goddess gives the world, which by proxy gives you to me then by extension." He chuckled a little, but continued, "Well you do have an advanced mind. I'll have to start using stealth to give those kisses then."

Shade rolled her eyes as she smiled, something she stifled after a few seconds. "You talk so much," she huffed, embarassed, "Let's just get ready to go so you can pretend to be rich for a day."

Ngao gave a nod but looked over at Bee, which his tail could be felt wagging against her from time to time. "That does apply to you as well Bee. If there is one thing you're both allowed to compare is that you both make me feel like the luckiest people alive. I wouldn't change that." Now it was time for him to think of his persona.

"Of course," Bee replied, squeezing his arm.

 

[Acewing13]

Las Vegas Plumb-bob, American Union

"Target's gotten out of their vehicle, can confirm he's entering the complex," one of the other squad leaders said over their comms.

"Roger, getting out to follow," Bee said, sitting in the front passenger seat, looking herself and the skimpy dress one more time. "I'm really not used to showing this much side boob. Oh well, let's go." Hopping out of the van with a handbag containing fake ID and a tiny pistol, she looked up at the structure they were about to enter. "Talk about a edifice to pride."

The Plumb-bob was a unique arcology. Sitting in the land that used to be the 21st century Strip, the kilometer tall three legged pedestal put everything else in the nearby landscape to shame. The prideful bit was a supersized teardrop shaped structure that hung inbetween the three legs, slightly swaying side to side as it hung on a carbon-nanotube string.

Ngao was going to hop out of the van, but well given his cover? He was too rich to have to do that. He stepped out of the van, carefully and slowly which on purpose he held out a hand for Shade to get out of the van. All the while speaking to test out his demeanor and accent since this wasn't supposed to be Ted. "Well this be our stop ladies try not ta stare at the dregs of pride nor poverty. Only me, but I understand if ya'll don't wanna trip and not lookin' around at those surroundings." It was awkward trying out the accent, but for someone new and not real. Hopefully wherever Teddy was? He wasn't scowling at him from afar.

Shade took Ngao's hand, taking a deep breath as she put on her metaphrical mask. She'd learned this one from her mentor, the mask of a smart woman was appearing average at best. She stood beside Ngao, not bothering to look herself over before leaving the car because if she had she'd have panicked again. Instead, she committed to her role, her arms around his as she smiled at the scenery. He was her anchor, her rock, and she didn't intend to leave him for fear of being swept away in a city of sin.

"No staring at the dregs, got it," Bee, alias Liz, said, emphasizing her British accent as she grabbed Bark's other arm. "I want to go there first," she added, pointing to the tower that was closest to where their target had parked.

Shade, or as she was known as now: Lea, spoke in an even more German accent than usual. The idea was exoticism, all the better to make Ngao seem to have the influence to travel and be hot, or whatever rich people did. "Oh of course, yes," she said softly, "It looks like a dangling weiner."

Breaker laughed with loud volume giving a small pat on his knee. "Now that sweet thing is a hoot and a half. Since ya ladies want to check out that 'dangling weiner' so much I'll take ya on over. I ain't watchin' however and ya'll better not be starin' for too long. I just might get a little jealous, just a little." He started making his way there with both ladies on his arms, which one part of him enjoyed this. The other part was hesitant because of what this entailed for the mission. His posture was more regal and straightened making certain to take their advice to not seem as brutish or quite like a freight train, at least not an unrefined one anyway.

As the group made their way to the tower, they spotted their prey, a group of middle aged men who looked like fairly normal tourists, if it weren't for their military-esqe formation and bulges where pistols could easily be held.

"Come on, let's get going," Liz said, pulling Bark along at a slightly faster walk. "Want to see all the new shows."

Breaker made his way along making sure to keep with Liz's pace. "Alright slow down sweet thing. I doubt those shows ain't worth lookin' at in comparison to the both of ya." He gave a wink and made sure to keep up at their pace and in the hopes of catching up to their target.

Shade was working so hard not to roll her eyes, keeping pace with "Breaker" as they ventured forward. She had a pair of sunglasses on, regardless of the time, and behind them her eyes glowed red as she watched the group of their quarry move. She walked like a being beyond, information surrounding her with each step.

Entering the tower just a little behind their target, the group was met with a roar of sound, from the advertisements above them and the crowd surrounding them. Looking around, LIz spotted their quarry heading to the elevator. "Head to the elevator," she said under her breath, her comms picking it up out of the noise and sending it to the other two.

Breaker gave a small nod, which he gave a chuckle along with the line of, "Lea ya ain't gotta be shy of elevators long as ya with me." It was done intentionally to make them seem more silly and not a threat to those who could be watching from afar. He began making his way to the elevator with both of them in tow. On purpose keeping his eyes on them from time to time and the little bit of area surrounding the elevator. It was to make him look clumsy at wanting to see the two ladies on each arm while trying to see where to go.

"I'll never fear when I'm in your arms," she sighed dramatically, leaning her head on his shoulder as she infiltrated the elevator with her mind. Her mentor would be so proud of her.

Just getting on the same elevator car, which put some train cars to shame in scale, they stood just a few feet away from their target. Liz squeezed Breaker's arm, looking up at him with a smile. "Wonder what's open right away?" she asked, pressing her body against his.

Breaker chuckled a little with a small and boisterous laughter to accompany it. "I know ya might be hankerin' for an energy boost after last night, but lets have some patience fer what might be open. Ya got an expensive pallette sometimes in food and ya liquor. Those accents are sexy though when the wine hits though."

"Our accents are sexy all the time," Lea said with playful defensiveness. "You're the one that sounds like a southern oil baron."

"Helps that he is one," Liz replied with a giggle.

"Woah now you're the ones who tol' me it would be a good investment. My old managers I'd have said 'no sir if ya can't have mah nuts then you can't have my guts called money'. However ya'll got access to that so how could I say no?" He laughed at that, but commented on their lines more appropiately. "Ya ain't wrong about those accents bein' sexy all of the time though."

"Of course, of course," Liz replied, as the elevator's doors closed and started moving. "Gotta keep that gravy train moving at speed."

What the fuck was he talking about, Shade was thinking. What the fuck would she answer? She dreaded answering this, but she had little choice. "I can't wait to get your nuts," she said in her thick accent, purring up towards his ears, despite how far they were from her small body.

"Only if you get to them first," Liz said, moving her free hand to her mouth as she giggled.

Breaker chuckled a little, but smirked and placing his mouth close to Shade's ears while giving a little growl. "Maybe later and we'll be able to scratch as much as we want." He pulled away and focused for a brief moment onto Liz. "No need to fight over my nuts. I got two of'em, wanted four but I heard that gets weird as hell."

One of the Crusaders sighed, looking the other way as the group flirted.

"But you love when we fight," Liz said, putting her hand on his cheek. She was tempted to go for a kiss, but didn't want to push Shade too hard on that front.

"Yes, but if there were four of us he'd never see the end of the fighting," Lea said sweetly. "You'd like that wouldn't you," she said to him, still feeling the residual shiver from his growl into her ears. She did NOT have the time to unpack how that made her feel.

Breaker smirked once more focusing on Liz first, which he placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek and moved over although far more slowly to Lea's cheek and placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek as well. "I won't lie it's sexy when ya ladies fight, but I prefer that fight on me. Also four of ya? Shit that'd be hard ta handle, but in a fight whether a ring or a bed? Ya can't back down from that especially the ones in the bed, the pride of fightin' up high and down low is on the line."

"You just like how we make up afterwards," Liz said with a giggle.

"And how we make out," 'Lea' added, feeling dirty. Her fingers were gently stroking along his muscles, realizing that this little action wasn't just an act.

Breaker's tail went stiff for a brief moment, but however Ngao couldn't believe this was coming from Shade. This contact with little if any hesitation. He gave a noticeable wink towards both of them. "I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't. I'd love those claws ya got Lea. Perfect massage, but not too much we got a little audience."

Thankfully, the elevator slowed and then stopped, with nearly everyone, including the Crusaders, getting off. Their target started to the flexible walkway that led to the titular plumb-bob. "Guess we're headed in," Bee said under her breath.

"We'll just have to see how these claws do later," she responded, pulling Bark out of the elevator along with her.

Breaker laughed at that, but followed all the while his tag wagged for a split second and then stopped. "Alright ladies now that the warmup is ovah, whatcha lookin' ta see first?"

"Might as well head to the casinos first," Liz said, rolling her eyes as she pulled in the direction of the plumb-bob.

 

[Acewing13]

Breaker followed Liz, which he kept his ears perked up at brief moments to attune himself and close in on any sounds specifically the Crusader's conversation if he could. "Fun before the feast? I feel ya Liz."

As the group tailed their target, they got on the walkway, the glass cooridor slightly swaying under their feet as the flexible ends matched the pride piece's movement.

Watching the walkway move, Shade put herself entirely brushing up against Ngao, keeping her eyes on the prize as her body screamed at her to not be in the sky with moving ground.

Ngao was used to this along with heights, but he didn't like it much. It was perhaps due to an almost animalistic instinct, but he preferred 'boots on ground' and definitely not 'boots in air'. He held on to both of them making sure to keep them close just in case. "Don't worry sweet things I got ya." He gave a wink to both and keeping himself focused along with his ears trying to read the Crusaders actions, primarily if they seemed to be on the defensive or perhaps were considering reaching for those pistols.

As the adrenaline junkie of the group, Liz smiled as the walkway swayed, Regardless, she clutched to Breaker's arm until they got off the walkway and onto the carpeted floors, seeing the Crusaders head to the hotel check-in desk. "How close do you need to be to infiltrate their systems?" she said under her breath, looking over to Shade.

Shade had begun the process as soon as she entered wi-fi range, beginning at their router and spreading through the system like a ghost. "I'm already in. What exactly do you want from me, I can do it."

"What room or rooms they're booking and if you can get the cameras as well," Bee said, still under her breath as she led them to the neighboring casinos, still walking by the check-in desk.

The room numbers appeared in a message on Bee's pad, as Shade kept up the act of a silly German girl. "Cameras are on a different system, though if I can find that I can use them too."

"Guess we'll have to go hunting for that," Bee replied, before grinning up at Breaker. "So, how are you going to try your luck tonight?"

Breaker smirked at that as he was quiet and keeping his ears open for anything interesting. "I was thinkin' of tryin' my luck on a few slots. Call it an old habit sweet thing, but I've won with a little trick or two on'em." He winked at them, which he gave a nod over to the group of slot machines. Not too far from a poker table where it was placed.

While the other two kept up the charade, Shade was analyzing everything about the building. With just a bit of work she would dig up blueprints from the archives, look for the security room, and tweak the slot machine algorithm 1% in the player's favor just because fuck it.

As Bark played the slots, they could see the Crusaders walk in, having shed a few members since the check-in desk. With fewer members, the manager was easier to pick out. He was a squat specimen, looking like too many leg days had been skipped as he sat down at the poker table, his bodyguards spreading out except for two that stood to either side of him.
After a couple of pulls, Breaker got a prize that just covered the costs of the previous pulls.

Breaker chuckled at that win, although small it meant he could play more if need be. However he stopped for a second to look back at Liz and Lea. "Look at that, what I tell ya? Slots gives the credits right back to play some more and hopefully to the jackpot." He noticed the manager at the poker table, curious about what action to take. He could play poker and feel him out, but that could blow their cover potentially. "Whatcha ladies thinkin'? Should I find another slot machine or try some poker?"

Shade sent the location of the security room to Bee, as she blinked at Bark's words. She didn't really have an answer that didn't sound like herself chastising him for falling into the gambler's trap immediately. "I don't know if your poker face is all that impressive," she said with a smile. "The tail gives you a disadvantage."

Breaker chuckled a little, which he gave a wink. "Believe me I fight well under pressure. Poker is a fight after all. Can't let them know whatcha got until it becomes too late or close enough fer too late."

Bee looked at Shade's messages, leaning against Bark as she thought. "Might help us meet new people, but up to you, love," she said, bouncing her hip off the dog-type's before typing, "When do you want to try and get to the security room" to Shade.

"As soon as possible I would assume," Shade responded. "You are the Captain after all. This is your orders."

"Fair," Bee replied, before looking up at Breaker with a smirk and running her nails up his back. "Unless you want to let us ladies relax instead of trying your luck..."

Breaker raised an eyebrow at that notion. "Leave ya so some other rich smuck could take ya under their wing and make ya manager or supervisors? No can do, I was taught fairly bettah than that." He smirked at the notion and was ready to follow their lead.

"Then let's check out a room," Liv said, winking as she pulled Breaker away from the casino.

Breaker reciprocated the wink with one of his own. "Easy now ladies I'm more interested in checkin ya'll out than any room. No room decorations beat the dresses ya'll are wearin'. No contest."

"But what about when the dresses come off," Lea whined, "Surely we'll still be delightful, yes?" She needed to get to that room, even if all she could manage was an outlet on the other side of the wall. Or, whoever runs the camera room to walk past with something from that room.

"Yeah, what about then?" Liz asked, as they waited at the check-in desk. "Maybe show you our favorite moves?" Smiling, she typed on her pad and held up the message to Breaker, "Get a room on the fifth floor. Closest to the security room."

Breaker was looking for more retorts of flirting until he took a quick look at the message, which he smirked. "Alright I getcha I ain't no saint exactly, but I won't lie and say ya got some divine sexiness under those dresses and some wild moves under the sheets." He walked to the check in desk. "Hey there fellow...Waiter? Don't wanna say cowpoke as that'd be around this kinda place I bet. Anyway could ya get me a room on the fifth floor? My ladies are starvin' for attention if ya get my meanin'."

"Sure, man, sure," the receptionist said, staring at Liz's breasts for a moment before shaking his head, taking Breaker's fake ID, and typing onto a screen. "Alright, 503, here's your keycards, Mr. Blaze," he said, handing them to Breaker.

"Thanks, I just don't want to get too much motion sickness, you know?" Liz said, fanning herself.

"Uhh, yeah," the receptionist said, fighting as hard as he could to not oggle the clientele.

Breaker snapped his fingers really close to the receptionists face to snap him out of it. "Ain't nothin wrong with lookin', but I take it personally on my pride as a fighta and as well as a lova that you wouldn't even bother to look at the other one. They ain't dress fer nothin and ya been starin' too long. I believe ya owe both an apology, I'd say bow included but I ain't no Daqin."

"Oh, uh," the receptionist said, nodding to both ladies. "S-s-sorry about that. Anything I can throw in as an apology?"

"Look at this ladies a gentleman in Las Vegas besides me, hot damn and people thought chivalry died or mutated in the 21st. I told'em it didn't die it's just in hidin' these days. What fine drinks do ya want in the rooms? May as well spice it up before we attempt to make some favorite moves of our own today." Breaker smirked at the man all the while being friendly, perhaps one part bully and other part arrogance.

"Wine, I think would suit the evening fine," Lea said, not having ever had wine before but trying to appear rich. "Something to... loosen the event."

"Have any 2280 Chateau l’Arrosse Merlot perchance?" LIz asked, knowing from personal experience that rich people were very particular about their wine.

"Uh, err," the receptionish said, as he saw the price tag. "Uh, yes, I'll have that sent up in just a bit."

"Thanks," she said, winking at him before grabbing Breaker's arm.

"Well as surprising as it might be I'm more of a sweet man, although it may not look like it. Give me some of the rare Moscato ya got. Best receptionist and I'll even do ya favor and pass ya tip as well as a review." Breaker smirked and handed him some of the 'winnings' from the slots. The credits passing into the digital tip jar so to speak.

"Behave yourself next time," Lea purred, her grip on Ngao informing him of her desire to not be near that guy any more. There was work to be done, after all.

"Careful sweet thing I want ya purrin' fer me and not him. I get just a little jealous, only a little." He laughed a little and started making his way to their room with both of them on his arms.

 

[Acewing13]

As the group got to their room, Liz held a finger to her lips before opening the door. Pulling out her datapad, she pulled out an antenna and started scanning the room, looking for bugs.

Breaker gave a nod and went into his Ngao training of keeping his ears open on the floor. He used his attuned hearing to see if anything odd popped out. There were random conversations some about casino and poker winnings. Other scorings of the romantic and perhaps sexual variety. On purpose he kept his ears open for any of those odd electronic sounds just in case.

Shade's eyes glowed red under her sunglasses, scanning similarly. If she could find any, she could potentially find where their feed went, if anywhere. She also wondered how wine tasted, and if she should actually try it later or if she should just keep it forever.

As only made sense, Shade's electronic speacialty was the one to find a bug, hiding in the decorative plant. Pulling it off, she could see that it was sending it's info over an encrypted wifi signal.

Shade smiled, eyes staring at the bug as she become one with it, and began chipping away at it's encryption to follow it home. Meanwhile, she just looked like she was standing there, staring into the little bug, like a robot.

"What do you think, Lea?" Bee asked, walking over to Shade. "Makes you feel like you're on a cruise ship, with the slight swaying."

"Yes," she said, distracted, "Except instead of water underneath us it's steel and concrete. Which is less reasuring."

"It's carbon nano-tubes, only thing that'll take that out is actual sabotage," Bee said before typing, "Let me know when we're okay to talk normally."

Breaker in an attempt to deflect whoever may have been listening on the bug started to speak. "No need to worry Lea I know ya a bit scared, but that's alright ya know because I'm here to hold ya until ya ain't so scared no more. Ya probably distracted settin' up that cruise fer us next week ain'tcha? Anyway Liz I ain't know ya like Merlot, thought you was one fer sweet drinks an' all. Then ya pull my leg like this."

"I just went for something that I thought they'd have but was really expensive," Liz said, giggling as she put her arms around his neck. "If I knew you wanted something specifc, probably would have just gone with that."

Shade's vision was information as she moved along a pipeline of numbers, following the path of the bug to it's conclusion. It was possible all the rooms had bugs like this, but that wasn't her priority. She switched the audio track from their room to a random room, and she felt her smile widen as she felt the expanse she'd been looking for. Like a collection of viewports, the security room was her's for the perusal.

"We may speak freely," She said, her voice returning to her usual pattern. "Places like this typically put bugs in as many rooms as possible, to possibly shotgun potential blackmail should the need arise. I can see through their eyes now. They have been foolish."

"Thank goodness," Bee said with a sigh, still hanging off Bark's neck. "I haven't giggled that much since fucking middle school."

Bark gave a sigh of relief at that, as his posture slumped down at least in comparison to his previous posture. "Alright keeping that up was kind of fun, but also stressful." He allowed her to hang off of his neck confused if technically this still counted as on or off the clock...

"Yep," Bee said, realizing what she was doing and taking a step back. "Uh, Shade, you have eyes on the target and their rooms?"

"In a moment," she hissed, battling creatures in her vision unknowable and technologically viable. "Yes, I see them." She pointed a finger at Bee's datapad, and it was granted the wireless feed of their targets. "I must remain connected, as I am the connection between your machine and their cameras. Which means... I will stand here."

"As in you can't move?" Bee asked, raising an eyebrow. "If that's the case, could have someone outside run and get a cable to connect to our comms."

"Well, I could move, but I am currently battling what you would call a firewall, which currently thinks I am like, well, a virus. I am calming it, to mask my presence. So, walking is possible, but I would be distracted all the while. The important connection I was speaking of," Shade said, "was me to your datapad. Otherwise you see nothing."

Bark was worried for Shade, as he knew she was fighting something. However she was a pro at this far as he was concerned and could handle it. "We should hand her the datapad and gather as much information as we can on the pad. If we need to link up again? We can, but it is our best bet right now. I'll keep watch just in case and listen for any footsteps in the hallway and rooms next to us."

"Well, room service is going to come in a minute," Bee said, tabbing through views until she found the casino cams, seeing the target still there. "Really, I do want to set something up so you're not up all night though, Shade. I'll ask the outside team to get a connection in so the IT department can help out with that firewall. And then," she continued, looking around the room and seeing only one bed, "We're gonna have to talk about the sleeping situation."

"They'll notice if something smashed their firewall, these people have more money than makes sense to have. Once I pacify it, it will think me part of it." Shade's body moved, like when the presure of a video game causes one to move with the avatar, whatever that may be. "If you think a connection is necessary, one from the bug to the pad will be sufficient for continued viewing."

"Besides," Shade said stiffly, "I can stay awake for as long as needed."

Bee looked over at Bark and pointed her thumb at Shade, letting him know it was his turn to try and talk Shade down from pulling an all-nighter.

Bark gave a nod as he understood the message, but was afraid of the attempt failing however it was worth a shot. Her life was on the line after all. He walked over to Shade and spoke softly. "I'm going to touch your shoulder for a moment." He placed his hand slowly onto her shoulder. "We appreciate the work you do, even though it may not quite look like it from time to time. However it isn't wise for you to pull all-nighter and no I'm not saying you aren't capable, but if we run into any further trouble later? You'll be weaker on the physical end of things. You're divine in many ways, but even divine beings need sleep more so to tackle great enemies...Will you allow us to speak with the IT team to get another connection going? Allow you to rest and relax with us?"

The feed on the datapad grew fuzzy, then glitched for a second as he placed a hand on her shoulder, until all resumed normally. "I'm not saying don't do it, I'm saying I will do it as long as I am allowed!" She growled. "I do not need consoling like a scared animal nor do I need pretty words, because I am already in agreement, it would be far more comfortable to not stand here for the near future.

Bark looked confused and turned to Bee confused. However he spoke up hiding his confusion. "Understood and it is appreciated Shade. Captain try to contact the IT department and establish some external link in there or get an extra feed. Once that is done? Shade can and will disconnect...Perhaps the other two find a way to get a connection of some sort? Assist on that matter?"

"Yep," Bee said, typing away on an encrypted link of their own.

As she did, a knock came at the door and someone said, "Room service for Mr. Blaze."

Shade immediately panicked, and sat in a nearby chair and just posed, so that is seemed like she wasn't just standing there like a machine.

"Would you get that, love?" Liz asked with a smile to Breaker.

Bark gave a small cough and went up to the door, which he gave Breakers signature's smirk answering the door. "Yes I did order room service, whatcha got fer us?" He was keeping the door closed for the most part but left it open enough to see him and a bit of the room behind him.

"Yes," the waiter said, holding a plattter with two bottles and a small stack of glasses. "2280 Chateau l’Arrosse Merlot and 2310 G.D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti."

Breaker gave his smirk, as he grabbed hold of the two bottles and the small stack of glasses in his hands and fingers. "I'm a kind man who rewards good service, especially on time. Leave a card with ya name and I'll make certain ta leave a stellar review with that good ol' tip in tow as well."

"Uh, Jim Davis from Service," the waiter said, patting his pockets.

"We'll write it down," Liz said from behind the door. "Thanks!"

"Sure," the waiter said, nodding to Blazer before walking to the elevator.

"Leave a card?" Bee said, chuckling as Bark closed the door. "That's funny."

Bark shrugged his shoulders, as he closed the door with his foot and walked over placing the glasses and wine bottles down. "I know on cruises the waiters have them---wait never mind. I forgot they assign particular people to certain sections of the ship hence you get their name and card...I might have applied that here." He chuckled a little.

"Huh," Bee said, scratching her chin for a moment. "Never been. Mostly just yacht stuff." Realizing she was speaking from privlege again, she went back to her datapad. "Outside team got the message. We'll get a package to set up in an hour or so, also with our suitcases so we can change."

'Mostly just yacht stuff,' Shade rolled her eyes. She couldn't say anything about it, of course, given that thanks to Bee she was in the least trustworthy place on Earth, wearing clothes that would have bankrupted most people back home. "Thank you," she sighed, the net calming down. "What is the plan after this? Sit in this room until something interesting happens?"

 

[Acewing13]

"Mostly until we know they're not switching hotels or anything like that before the meeting," Bee replied with a shrug. "We leave when they leave and if they head east, then we know it's game time."

"Do I..." Shade started, before stopping. "Do I get to keep the dress?"

"Sure," Bee said with a small smile. "Glad you like it enough to ask."

Shade gave a bashful smile, before she stamped it down to resume looking severe.

Bark blinked as he looked down at his suit raising an eyebrow and questioning if he wanted to keep it. Maybe trade it in perhaps for something more athletic? However he did look up and smile seeing their exchange to one another seem more friendly. Thankfully it wasn't just an act put on becoming Lea and Liz. "M-May I trade this in for something more athletic? Suits I'm not sure are my strong point..."

"What?" Bee asked, frowning as she looked over at him. "The white tux is hot though. Tell him, Shade."

"You look like an international man of mystery," Shade agreed, distracted by technology. "You look like 007, but sound like a weird parody of him."

"An American accent instead of a British one will do that. Especially a southern American," Bee said with a chuckle.

Bark flustered a little at the thought, as he didn't believe himself to be that good. "M-Me sounding like 007 but southern? Truth be told I thought I was being as an american word goes, douchebag? Tried to be nice and not make you out like objects, as I didn't have the stomach for it."

"Yes," Shade mused, "If you had been more insufferable I would have hated it. You're lucky I know who you are for real or I would avoid you entirely."

"Think the most uncomfortable part for everyone but me was the walkway," Bee said with a shrug. "You both did great though."

Bark blinked at that, but he gave a nod as it was understandable. "That is the consequence of too much confidence turning into arrogance I suppose? Also you're the ones who did great, heh I was just the distraction. I'm happy we've made it through alright so far."

"So far," Bee said, nodding as she looked over at Shade and then at the datapad "Hopefully things keep going well."

Bark gave a nod back to her of his own. "I don't think they spotted us, maybe seen us as obnoxious and unusual. The hard part might be going at this with very little weaponry...We'll manage and find a way."

"If you're talking about the grab, we'll be able to have our usual pick from the vans," Bee said. "Feel a little vulnerable right now though, yeah."

Bark tapped on his muzzle at thought. "I suppose one thing we'll have going for us is they won't expect your pistol, which is a good thing. We'll manage." He smiled

After a while, service came again, this time bringing their luggage and a box. Unpacking the box, they were met with a bunch of equipment and a print out with instructions. "This'll be fun," Bee said, holding up the antenna and stand alone laptop.

Bark blinked taking a look at the print out instructions, raising an eyebrow at this. "I assume this is going to be simple to make and fun?" He chuckled a little.

"Simple is a relative term," Bee said, reading through the instructions. "Looks like we test if the connection works first before we try and replace Shade with it, so at the very least we won't interrupt her."

Bark will give a nod and go over to the pieces of the contraption. "Alright tell me what to do Captain. You lead with the instructions and I'll follow." He will have followed the instructions to the letter and even get the right screws in. Thankfully he's done contraptions like these before and refused to try and use different screws in places where it looked like they fit.

After a half an hour or so, the pair had successfully put together the equipment and tested the connection. "Alright, Shade, disconnect from my datapad and switch to the outside connection," Bee said, sitting down on the bed.

Shade's eyes stopped glowing, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The switch was easy enough to do, though she did triple check the other two's work thoroughly. "Connected," she affirmed, before she sat back on the chair and conformed to it's shape by relaxing.

"Outside's keeping the firewall in check with your patterns," Bee said with a sigh. "And I told them we're done for the night. I'll keep an eye on things, but you two are done for the night and I'm mostly good. So," she added, bouncing on the bed. "What are we doing, sleeping wise?"

Bark blinked and it completely slipped his mind when she mentioned the one bed thing earlier until it was mentioned again. "Damn I forgot to get us room at least with two beds instead of one...Then again that might have been the intention from the check in guy? A-Anyway I'll sleep on the floor and you two take the bed."

"I can sleep anywhere," Shade said, already relaxed in the chair. "You two can have the bed, as you are more... inclined to share one already. The floor is carpeted, and thus a decent sleeping place for me."

"I mean, there's plenty of room for all three of us," Bee said, looking at the king sized bed. "Just...I don't like having you be on the floor You sure you don't want to at least try that? Promise to keep things chaste."

"Well to be fair all three of us did fall asleep on the couch pretty well. I don't mind being in the middle either. It may not be heaven exactly between both of you, but it's the next best thing for me---Right on the job." He coughed a little and kept himself composed in the hopes of not getting as lost in his thoughts.

Shade looked at the two of them, and thought for a while. She stood up and grabbed her usual clothes, brought with the tech, and said, "Fine. I'll join you, but if it gets uncomfortable i will sleep on the floor like a normal person," and she went into the bathroom to change into something she was used to, her usual outfit.

Bee let out a breath and a chuckle as she took out her own sleeping clothes, sweats and the red chemisethat Bark was familiar with. "You going to wait until the bathroom is clear?" she asked him, undoing the fasteners of her dress, leaving only her panties to cover her.

Bark blinked at both of them realizing they were going to officially sleep in this bed together. "Y-Yes I'll wait! I'll let both of you finish in there first."

"I'm just doing it out here," Bee said with a chuckle, undoing the final fastener and letting the dress fall to the floor. "Not as satisfying as doing that with a full length one," she added, pulling the chemiseover her head.

Bark blinked as he couldn't help but to stare at her for a moment before shaking his head and he looked over towards the bathroom and back to Bee. "I feel like I'm stuck in a pincer move of sorts here." He chuckled a little at the thought, but was going to wait for Bee to finish. "Uh if she takes a little bit could I technically undress out here?"

"Ask her," Bee said with a shrug, pulling up a pair of grey sweats, before picking up her dress and pulling a hanger out of the suitcase.

Bark was hesitant to ask Shade since last time he was indicated to ask something she snapped at him. He knocked on the door for a brief moment. "Do you mind if I get undressed out here Shade and go into my sleep wear?"

"I had assumed you would already be done by now," came the response. "If you wish to avoid an encounter in which I almost see you nude, that can be arranged. I will remain in here."

"I appreciate your patience Shade." He gave a nod and made his way further into the room, which he was carefully taking the time to undo the suit and folding every nook and cranny of it back. Maybe not into perfection, but he was making certain he got as close as possible to it. Soon he looked into the luggage and found his short pants for sleep. However he couldn't find any shirts at all. "Er...Bad news I may not have a shirt to sleep in."

"Sounds like great news to me," Bee said, before reconsidering. "Well...if that doesn't make Shade too uncomfortable."

Bark thought long and hard on it, but shook his head. "I think she'll be alright and understand? Hopefully...The alternative is wearing feminine sleep wear and I refuse. I've lost more bets to my sister than I care to admit and I was forced to sleep in it once. Never again." He went over and knocked on the door. "You can come in Shade."

Shade had spent her time in the bathroom brushing her teeth, folding her dress, and looking at herself in the mirror. She wore her bodysuit, skintight and protective against touch for the most part. After a few minutes of thought, she took the zipper and drew it down a bit, not revealing much technically but mirroring her dress in showing just a bit of what lay hidden.

So busy had she been testing her own desire to appear attractive that she'd only heard the last bit. She opened the door, her eyes locked on his shirtless body, and she stood there like a deer in headlights for a fraction of a second before she blinked and resumed something akin to normal operation. "Y-you're... looking prepared for rest," she said bashfully as she skirted past him, barely reminding herself to show herself off, at least to be visually appealing.

He flustered a little at the thought of Shade seeing him like this. "I-I apologize I didn't apparently pack a sleeping shirt a-at all. I-I hope it doesn't freak you out or anything."

 

[Acewing13]

Bee stayed quiet, just frowning at the fact that Shade's 'sleeping wear' was just her usual outfit for a moment before shrugging. "I'm going to brush my teeth," she said, picking up her toiletries and going into the bathroom, though keeping the door open.

"It is... no trouble," Shade said, setting her dress on a table and placing her datapad on it as she bashfully turned back to face him. "It is... an appreciable sight." She wanted to touch them, his abs, feel the muscle and imagine what he could do with it, but she stopped herself. "Despite my issues it does not 'freak' me out."

Bark gave a sigh of relief and smiled at her. "G-Good I didn't want you getting freaked out especially over the scars on my body...I do have a question did you have a desire to feel them or was that just Lea?" He smirked for a brief moment although hidden, as he turned to look away and turned back. A part of him was curious, but the other part of him did remember them ganging up on him at that shop.

Her eyes moved from his eyes to his torso, and back again. Slowly she moved forward, standing right before him with her hand stretching out to lightly brush over his scars. "Scars are nothing new to me," she said quietly. "My allies, my... my friends, back home had several each, all their own. I, I have some as well, hidden largely by the outfit. Yours are nothing to fear." She looked back up to his eyes. "May I touch them? I just realized I did not ask."

He blinked as he hadn't expected this development at all. Some flusters perhaps and her not taking credit for thinking that, but not this at all. He gave a nod and smiled however. "You may touch them and your touch is soft against them...You have scars as well? I hope to be able to touch yours someday as well, if you'll let me."

She touched one scar, fingers gliding along it as she stared at the area around it. "Someday. My scars are especially unkind," she whispered. Her hand placed against his abs, then on his chest, she looked up into his eyes. "I feel I am being unfair," she admitted quietly, "when my hands tour your chest and yet I cannot accept the sudden touch even of someone I prefer the company of."

Bee poked her head out of the bathroom, saw that an intimate moment was going on, and ducked back in to leave the two Chongwu to their talk.

He looked at her and a part of him couldn't help but to focus on her touch on his scars. However he was focused enough to shake his head at the words. "It's okay, we all have difficulties we deal with physical, mental and emotional. I understand it's hard for you to accept my touch, but we'll get there someday." His ears twitched for a brief moment hearing of Bee's movement barely out of the bathroom and then back in. "Can I lift you up and hug you?"

Shades biggest question was "lift me up how" but she didn't want to ruin the moment with her vulnerabilities. She thought about it for a moment, and then nodded.

Bark looked at her and her body, which he carefully placed his arms around her in an embrace and lifted her off of the ground. The part not mentioned was him moving his muzzle to nuzzle her cheek against his. "It's fine if you need time to get used to it...I appreciate you doing so, but most of all I want you happy. Even if it is to go through some of my more annoying moments."

Instinctively, to not be dropped, she wrapped her arms around him in turn, but she wasn't sure why she'd be worried. Lifted up in his big, strong arms, she gave a surprised little mew and wrapped herself around him. "Yo-You are not really that annoying," she said bashfully, "I suppose you make up for it in large ways." Slowly she gathered the courage to nuzzle against him in return, a new sensation that she hadn't felt before. "You are warm," she noted again. "Had I not known you previously I would be a violent mess right now," she said quietly. "Instead, I feel... safer."

He smiled and continued to nuzzle against her, but his tail couldn't help but wag after all of this. It was going at such a pace the wind could be heard being torn through as it kept on going. "You are warm too...I'm glad you feel safer around me. I'm glad you aren't being violent either, that would be scary...Do I make you happy Shade? You and Bee always make me happy."

"I think perhaps my violent outburst would be minimally effective against you," she said, a purr growing in her chest as she held on to him. She was light, surprising even for her size. She looked into his eyes as she pondered his real question, something real and notable she could understand. "I do feel, I believe, a certain amount of levity when you are around. Perhaps lighter, and safer, and... warmer, in my chest. It is new to me. I think it might be the beginnings of happiness."

He smiled as his tail seemed to wag with even more intensity, thought to be impossible at this point. Anything of light weight particularly paper weight could be seen moving from the wind being made. "G-Good that's what I feel around both of you. Safe and comfortable to be around both of you and not have to be shy about being myself. " He placed a soft kiss onto her cheek smiling all the while at her. It was definitely easier to kiss her up here than down at her standing height.

She could have remained there forever, probably. Safe in his arms, feeling his warmth filling her and assuring her of his presence. However, she opened her eyes briefly to see Bee sitting on the floor, spectating, and Shade grew embarrassed again. "Bark, I've been selfish again." Her eyes glinted mischievously. "Can you hold both of us at the same time?"

Bark's ear twitched vaguely catching where Bee was, having scooted from the bathroom to the hallway. For once he was a bit too distracted to realize where she moved to only that she moved earlier. "I should be able to...Are you sure?"

"Yes, I have been selfish," Shafe nodded. "If she is kind enough to share your warmth, I will do the same."

"We going for the double carry or making it easy on Ngao and just laying down?" Bee asked, smirking as she walked over to them.

Ngao in normal circumstances would have waited for a decision to be made. Maybe move more carefully even, but this was the time for initiative he figured. Also it was something he wanted. He held one strong arm onto Shade, as he moved the other and wrapped it around Bee's waist and hoisted her arm with his one arm. Fortunately he had enough strength to make it appear effortless, more so because he didn't want Bee to think unintentionally she had weight. Ladies were feathers last he checked anyway.

"Apparently everything is easy for Ngao," Shade remarked, stifling a little giggle.

"Let's see how red we can make those cheeks," Bee said, leaning over and kissing his muzzle.

Ngao in normal circumstances would be blushing like a mad man, but the flusters didn't seem to be coming this time. He smiled and placed an affectionate kiss on Bee's cheek, which he soon switched over to Shade's cheek giving the same thing. "It might be hard to do that right now. I think I'm far too happy for that."

"Then lay us down," Shade mewled, "as I am sleepy and require warmth throughout the night."

Ngao chuckled at Shade, as he nuzzled along her cheek and then along Bee's cheek. "I would like to suggest something...It might be a strong offer but I can suggest warmth whenever you wish Shade. All you need is ask, you never have to sleep alone from now on unless you want to...Okay?"

"I... will take that under advisement," Shade said wth a blush, "as I would..." everything she could say to defend herself would be countered by either one of them with ease, and so she'd stop there. "Thank you."

Ngao gave a nod, but took a moment to offer Bee an extra nuzzle on her cheek. "Did you want to add anything Bee? I know you're hesitant to trust your instincts on some things...However you know how to be caring and your instincts are never wrong on being sincere."

"Guess I'll just extend the same offer," Bee said, looking over Bark's head to look at Shade. "Though if you really want, there's a guest bed that you can stay in instead."

Shade, embarassed, hid her head behind Bark's. This much positivity from multiple sources was... uncommon. "I-I said I'd think about it," she whined, "Later."

"Fair enough," Bee said, moving a hand up to rub Bark's ear. "So we ever going to sleep or you just going to stand here while we use you as a couch, sweetheart?"

Ngao smiled looking a little thoughtful on the matter. "Well holding up two beautiful goddesses is probably something you don't let up. Make some deal to let them down eventually, gain demigod abilities...Or their happiness and sleep? It's not really a choice I don't think." He chuckled and walked them over to the bed and kind of plopped them and himself into the bed so he was able to have them up further in the bed with him. Also so their legs weren't dangling off of the bed. All in one express although a bit bouncy.

Shade let out a little "oof" as she landed in the bed, a little trill of excitement shivering down her spine at the feeling. She nuzzled against Ngao, a hand on his chest slowly tracing his scars and then his muscles as she basked in the warmth. "The abilities I could give would be too much for your mind," she purred mysterously, as in, actively trying to sound mysterious.

 

[Acewing13]

Bee chuckled as they landed, saw that Shade had his chest covered, and hugged his neck tightly. "They'd be beyond your wildest dreams," she agreed, making a line of kisses across his face.

Ngao's tail unfortunately couldn't wag at all being squished between his big body and the bed. He chuckled a little at the thoughts, but a small fluster was forming as both of them seemed to be working together on this. It wasn't as awkward as earlier mere moments ago. "Oh? Mind giving me a demonstration or a detailing of these abilities and powers beyond my wildest dreams? I'm starting to see why Breaker was hitched." He placed another affectionate kiss on both of their foreheads.

"Well, an acolyte of mine would be able to see what I can see," the cat purred, "A world settled over the natural, a world of numbers and letters and movement in streams of light. A demigod of my design would be much like you," she continued, "strong and crafty, with the aforementioned upgrades." Her fingers traced further long his chest, as she stared into his eyes. "Hopefully you'd be able to handle sight beyond sight in this age of technology."

"While mine would share in my fountain of wealth," Bee said, scratching his neck with her nails. "More money than one can spend in their lifetime. Access to unimaginable experiences, pleasures, and vices that'd make a courtesean blush from embarressment. Thankfully, I think in this case you can serve two goddesses," she added, kissing his cheek.

Ngao was enticed in this situation or perhaps dilemma maybe? Why would a mortal simply stay a mortal in this case? However there was a reason although lame as it may sound. Worse in a particular moment of mythology truly seemed like the worst option, but this was reality and hence seemed like his best option.

He moved his arm from under Shade and placed carefully a hand along her cheek and trailed his fingers down towards her chin rubbing it with his thumb. "Why would I need such sight when I can clearly see the best sights in their glory? Beauty and even dare I say sexiness." He placed an affectionate kiss onto her lips with a slow and careful speed as of to not scare Shade until he pulled away on purpose.

He turned his attention to Bee moving his arm from under her and placed a more brave hand onto her cheek, but took a moment to move her hair out of her face giving a smile. "A fountain of wealth? It is interesting, enticing and powerful perhaps but why would I need that when I have something that didn't require a fountain of wealth? Goddesses' attention, love and fervor without the help of such a thing. Also what courtesean could compare to a goddess?" He placed an affectionate kiss on her lips only allowing his tongue for a brief moment along hers before he pulled away. "Mortality and by extension love should pull me through although by taking a backseat of sorts of course."

Shade blinked, pausing her work for a moment before she resumed. "Well clearly the actual best option is 'all of the above,' foolish mortal." She licked her lips, the taste of his lingering still, though she wanted to be low-key about it. "It wasn't really a choice," she purred, "more of an open-ended offer. But, I suppose if you need to wait for the most dire moment to accept, we can just leave you to being normal until needed. It might be cold. It might be lonely." Shade, at a certain point, had to admit to herself that she had no idea what she was doing. Was it dirty talk? Stroking her own ego? Both? A third thing?

However, at this point she couldn't be outdone by Bee, being a normal human.

Bee was also unsure where to go next, since her usual next escalation was unavailable since she'd told Shade that they'd keep things chaste. "Think what we're saying is that it's up to you," she said with a shrug, before putting her cheek next to Bark's.

Ngao chuckled more so at Bee's response, as he could tell she seemed to be out of options at least her usual options, which were a little more towards her strengths. However he caught onto Shade licking her lips, which if it were Bee he would say it was an attempt at being sexy or perhaps dry lips in the moment. Shade was more logical however, dry lips or something more? "Well if it is up to me? I'm a simple mortal and I love to start off small and I prefer to be warm..." He once more pressed his lips against Shade's on purpose not letting go and for once taking her on a challenge of sorts. He placed an affectionate hand onto her cheek rubbing along it in the hopes of making her more comfortable and even perhaps feel more love in it. All the while his other hand on Bee was taking the rub along her hair and even for a moment her ear in the hopes of seeing a different reaction from her.

Shade tensed up before she sighed happily, purring as she tried to match his kiss, a hand resting on his chest while the other reached up to rest against the side of his face. She was heating up, and she knew it, and she wasn't sure what variables had changed that made her somewhat comfortable here. Maybe it was Ngao's presence, or the understanding that she had power here. They wouldn't do anything without her allowing it, and that gave her a power she'd never felt before.

Again a voice in her head, her own voice, pressured her to feel things. Emotions, and other such feelings. Why shouldn't she? She was a goddess, after all. She'd spent half an hour in a hotel and had infiltrated it entirely in that time, with nary a direct connection in sight. She was a modern day wizard, and might as well enjoy something of her own.

A rush of confidence, maybe misplaced but she didn't have time to consider that, surged through her, and she lifted herself as she kissed him so that she was laying on his chest, looking down at him with a smile.

Her smile faltered. "I... I have no idea what to do while I'm up here. But I would like to do something."

Bee seized the opportunity and took the other woman's hand. "Mind if I show you?" she asked.

Shade very nearly reacted by yanking her hand away, but the inches she's pulled back were returned as she put her hand in Bee's. There was no shame in taking advice, after all. "I... can imagine no better mentor available."

"He likes when you scratch his neck and tug on his ears," the other woman replied, moving the cat-type's hands to Bark's head. "I'll take care of his lower half until it's ready for you to take over, alright?"

With an excited little purr, Shade's hands began playing with Ngao's ears, while one hand settled against his neck. Claws gently slid long the fur, to be ever more tantalizing than fingers alone. She reminded herself that she was in control of herself and the situation, and she allowed herself to relax as she played with their puppy.

Bee slid down the bed until reaching Bark's lap, pulling his pants down until her prize was revealed. Straddling his legs, she started stroking his shaft with her hands, looking up to see how he was reacting to all of the attention.

Bark was shocked as he didn't expect Shade to have the confidence to go on top of him. Maybe to initiate a kiss of her own or perhaps to possibly by mistake have her hands reach his legs. Never on top of him and her willingness to want to partake in all of this? This was unexpected, but more so the feelings of Shade hitting his weak points while Bee was going straight to work downstairs. She normally couldn't do both and more so because his height was an issue. There could be no doubt of his reaction, as his body could be felt shivering from the touch on his neck and ears more so with her claws something Bee couldn't quite imitate. His shaft didn't even give a slow rise almost going immediately as far up as it could and for flavor even leaked a little something worth tasting perhaps.

This was awkward as he wanted to do something during this, but he wasn't prepared for two people at all. He placed a hand onto Shade's waist rubbing along the contours of her body making sure to be slow about it, as he didn't wish to scare her. While his other hand went down to Bee's head giving affectionate head rubs and making sure to keep her hair out of the way.

Bee chuckled as he went rod straight almost immediately, licking the end of the shaft. "If you're gonna want to get his dick in you, you're gonna have to undress some more. Also, if you want it to be a little more comfortable, you'll want to be a little wet down there as well. Ngao, if you could finger her some to help that along, that'd be good." With that said, she started sucking on his dick, moving her hands to his legs as she squeezed his thighs.

"Yes, a wise start," Shade agreed. She sat up, straddling Ngao's chest and looking down at him with a smile. "Gaze upon the goddess of technology, the modern Bast," she purred as she raised her hand to the zipper that was halfway down her chest, and further unzipping it. As the suit was loosened, her breasts came into view, until eventually she had unzipped it entirely. She peeled it from her body, her back along her spine covered in nearly ritualistic scarring, and the front of her torso had a few from cuts from a life of clandestine operations.

She pulled the suit off, moving only to toss it to the side, and sat on his chest, bare to the world. She was lithe, slight, not overly strong but the quickness of her movements gave a hint to a speed inside her. All of her was bare to him, and consequently Bee as well.

 

[Acewing13]

Bark couldn't help but moan at the work Bee was doing down below, but he was going to get to doing his part his brain going to be mission oriented at all of the attention until he could see Shade in all of her glory. Perhaps a more accurate description a goddess reborn in technology and less of the sands and pyramids where she once resided. "S-Slow down Bee there might be m-more work to do." On purpose he moved his hand away from Bee and placed both onto Shade only moving her down enough so he could raise his top half and take a look at her body and scars. He couldn't see her back, but he could see the few cuts from the front.

"A goddess of technology comes to me? I ought to worship her as much as I can." He started to come close to her body specifically where her scars were and placed kisses along them. Soon starting to instead suckle on them, which his hands carefully started to explore her body feeling around for her scars and even her breasts.

She shook as he touched her, a familiar touch but now encouraged. She placed a hand on his neck again, stroking his fur with her claws out as she gave a shaky sigh. Her other hand was settled on the bed, holding herself up under the weight of this feeling, this delightful sensation. "Good," she said shakily, "We are worthy of worship, and who better to give it to us?"

Bee looked up from her ministrations to blink at the tapestry of scars on Shade's back. Sitting up and moving up, she straddled Bark's waist and put a hand out to hover over the other woman's back. "Mind if I do some mutual worship?" she asked, lightly touching one finger to Shade's spine.

Shade shivered harder, but gave a slight nod. "Yes. Be gentle there. They still ache sometimes." She'd thought about moving away, but could not. Would not, she would not let herself flee from this.

"Of course," Bee said, pulling her hand back and instead leaning over and kissing the cat-type's back, moving from the shoulder blade on down.

Bark's ears twitched paying attention to them as they spoke, which apart of him was worried that she had scars that still ache. However it wasn't the time to speak and ask her about it. He finally moved his lips away from her front scars and started to place a few barrages of affectionate kisses along her breasts. All the while his hands explored her sides and one moved towards her back on purpose giving a gentle touch with his claws to a few of them. He stopped for a brief moment realizing something, as he moved up to give a growl to her ear. "A worship of love is the best isn't it?" He whispered in her ear before moving back down to one of her breasts and suckling softly on it.

She whimpered, more vulnerable than ever before in the company of people she liked, arching her back as he suckled on her breast. She leaned back, then forward, trapped and toyed with from both directions. She gave quiet sighs, nearly silent mews as she felt so much for the first time. Eventually she held Ngao's head in her hands, panting as he played with her. "Fuck," she whined, "creatures of temptation, both of you," she said with a little moan.

"He's got great instincts, doesn't he?" Bee said, taking her chemise off and scooting a little closer until her breasts touched Shade's back. She leaned forward to kiss the cat-type's neck and her hands down to her waist, running her nails through the black fur.

That was truly a new sensation, breasts against her back, but she couldn't say it was a bad feeling. She pushed back into Bee's embrace, head reeled back on Bee's shoulder while their human lover kissed along her neck. "Y-yes," she whimpered, "I am under a delightful assault, with no need for escape. I have never been touched with such... goodness, before."

Bark was smiling deep down happy to hear of her pleasure and their compliments, although he was far too focused on her pleasure to word that at least for now. He started to suckle harder against her breast until finally he stopped and switched towards the other one. Finally he moved a hand on down Shade's body grazing his claw along her body and in her fur until he reached the spot Bee told him to earlier. Instead of fingering for now, he rubbed along it to get a feel for how wet she was. Right now he didn't wish to overstimulate her, give her time to get used to the feeling.

She was wet, and she shook as he touched her down there. It was another new feeling, one for the book of things she'd like to happen again someday. With an actual moan now, not hidden nor stifled, but instead a long sigh, she placed a hand on Ngao's shoulder, unsure of his next move but accepting it, whatever it was.

He continued rubbing her down there on purpose starting to graze his claws along there wondering if she felt any extra pleasure from the touch. For a brief moment he touched a claw along the nub, which he sucked more harder on her breast. However he was careful with his teeth knowing Bee liked them, but was uncertain if Shade liked them against her skin. His other hand moved to marvel at her bottom squeezing one of the cheeks softly always finding something to marvel at with his hands.

Bee took the opportunity to move her hands as well, one backward to grab Bark's shaft to keep it stiff and the other up to Shade's cheek, putting a little pressure to turn the cat-type's head until they were face to face. "You enjoying yourself?" the human asked, smiling as their breath mixed.

With a whimper Shade nodded at the more experienced woman, and found she could voice her desires indirectly, as though putting in a request. "I-I want him to put his teeth on me," she whined, "I want more," she said, looking into Bee's eyes, "I want to feel him more."

"Sounds like a plan," Bee said, leaning in for a quick kiss, before looking down at Bark. "You heard her, put some teeth into it, I'm going to grab something." With that, she hopped up off the bed and went to her suitcase, grabbing a bottle.

Bark blinked was going to question it a little, but if it was what Shade wanted? He wasn't going to refuse. He started to sink his teeth down onto her breast only grazing at first, as his suckling continued. His shaft was twitching at the feel of Bee's hand, but soon it left. It was dribbling at the pleasure of the moment fortunately he wasn't near release and could hold it, if he had to. On purpose he started to press his claws in on one of her ass cheeks wondering if she would like it. His claws placing a little more pressure on the nub and from time to time tracing a claw down there to keep her shivering and whimpering.

The cat's whimpering grew louder, moaning under his deadly instruments as pressed his natural weapons against her. She missed the feeling of Bee behind her, but whatever the human was doing was bound to matter to this encounter. Shade could finally be vulnerable, trying something her mentor had said was freeing in a way, and she she surrendered to be played with by tooth and claw. She was a shivering mess.

Bee squeezed some red liquid from the bottle into her hand before dropping it back into the suitcase, rubbing it between her hands as she walked back to the bed. Sitting in between Ngao's legs, she rubbed the viscous liquid on his shaft until it completely covered it. "Alright, hop back here, kitten," she said, pinching the dog-types balls a little to keep him stiff.

Bark was focused on his movements and giving her pleasure until he felt his shaft covered in some liquid. It felt nice, but in that weird wet fur kind of way. Then the pinch came, which almost made him clench his legs. That was odd and a little painful, but he would have to take it. First he finally pulled himself away from her breast, on purpose grazing his teeth away from it. "A-Are we certain we should d-do that first? I was gonna let her ride my face, the true worship of Shade-Bast. It is her choice however." He placed an affectionate kiss along her neck waiting for a decision.

She looked down at him, panting as she thought for a time. Recovering from the stimulation, just enough to make a decision, she kissed his lips and began to push herself backwards. She lifted herself up, looking down at his member with a shiver. She was determined, determined to go through with this, but damn if it wasn't intimidating to look at. With a whine she placed her lower lips next to his shaft, comparing it's size to her body, before she lifted herself back up. "True worship is what I wish it to be," she said breathlessly, "I wish for it to be feeling you inside me," and with her confirmation she slowly, agonizingly slowly, started sinking onto his length.

He shivered at the sight of her lower lips close to shaft at first with the size comparison. A part of him was scared he might hurt her like this, as he had heard about first times. However he listened to her and spoke back to her, as he placed an affectionate hand along her cheek. "True worship is loving you and following your lead, b-be careful." Another moaned escaped him, as he felt slowly sinking onto his length. However like a good worshipper he was waiting and letting her move at her pace.

Bee wiped her lubricated hands on her sweats before getting behind Shade again, her head next to the other woman's to have a clear view and moving a hand down to the cat-type's groin and spreading her lips to ease the shaft's penetration. "Let us know how fast or slow you want to go," she said, kissing the black-furred shoulder.

 

[Acewing13]

Unable to speak, Shade moaned and whined as she gathered the courage to go further. With the help of a fellow divine she moved further, feeling the rawest of all the new feelings she'd gathered that night as she moved further down the pole provided. Her claws were nearly digging into Ngao's fur as she gasped, and finally, with a long moan, she had taken him entirely. Moving her hips to get a feel for the size and strength of him, she smiled a silly overwhelmed smile, red eyes not glowing, yet shining with pride and pleasure. "I did it..." she mewed half-triumpahtly.

"Just wait until he starts moving," Bee said with a chuckle, looking to Ngao and giving him a wink.

Ngao chuckled a little and winked back at Bee, but first he rose his top half and placed an affectionate kiss along Shade's lips. On purpose he wasn't letting go of the kiss, but slowly he started to move himself a little inside of Shade. He was attempting to give her time to get used to the pole she was on. His hands now moved onto her waist, as he started to move her little by little on his pole. He broke the kiss for a moment. "Dig the claws in more goddess, whether I am servant or scratch post I am yours." He locked lips with her once more keeping his rhythm more constant, but slow.

She whimpered again, her arms wrapping around his neck to hold herself to him, leaning on him as he prepared her for more. He was gentle during her vulnerability, and for that he'd earned her affection. Her tail was lashing, the tip swirling happily around as she tried her best to provide a return on his movements but she did not have the strength. Into his ear, she whispered, "I trust you. I cannot repay movement for movement, I am too weak. Therefore, I am yours. Show me how to... how you want to make love to me."

He smiled at those words and gave a nod, which on purpose he moved his hands towards more of her bottom. He was keeping his rhythm constant on purpose giving her time to become more and more used to him. His shaft could be felt twitching with the pleasure of her tightness surrounding it, but his rhythm did seem to increase once he felt her loosening more and more. Soon he started place affectionate kisses along her neck and from time to time using his height to reach over and steal a long, but affectionate kiss from Bee as well.

Bee returned the kiss, moving her hand to cup his cheek until they seperated. "Keep up the good work," she said, kissing his nose before moving to the other side of Shade's neck. While she kissed it, she moved her hands around to cup both of the cat-type's breasts, digging her nails in to add to the Chongwu's sensory overload.

Gasping and panting as Ngao began to, well the term Shade would attribute to it was fuck, her, she let her body be sandwiched between her partners. Hands on her breasts, neck covered in kisses, she was a captive to pleasure for the first time ever. A whole new world opened up to her, and weakly she moved her hips to thrust back against Ngao's hips. She was trusting his pace, and at that point he could have done almost anything and she'd be too horny to do what she normally did: try and out-rationalize her own feelings.

Ngao could hear her gasps and panting, as he continued to keep the rhythm going with his thrusts. This was however eliciting moans of pleasure from him, but he was keeping his focus on pleasuring her. Which it seemed to be getting harder and harder to keep that focus. The rhythm seemed to slow down a little, as he made sure she came down as much as he could, putting his shaft as deep as it could go inside of her. He placed his claws once more this time on both of her ass cheeks and squeezed tight, while placing himself near her ear and giving a growl equal parts pleasure and dominance trying to make her shiver in pleasure once more from that.

The growls in her ear had the intented effect, she shook with desire in his grasp. She tightened around his shaft at the growl, the side-effects making her lose control further. Clearly, she liked that. Her claws gripped his shoulders as she tried to redouble her efforts to get fucked, mewling under his power. "I need more," she mewled to the room. "F-fuck me harder," she demanded, pleaded with him. "Your goddess needs to feel more."

That was all he needed to know for certain, as the rhythm picked up once more to it's previous tempo however this time he was having her go as deep as she could. However he seemed to keep going faster and faster allowing his claws to dug into each cheek, which on purpose he replaced his moans of pleasure with growls of various pitch close to her ear as he could get. Soon enough the knot was beginning to inflate, but he was holding out waiting for her pleasure to become complete before his. It was his tribute to the goddess he was worshipping and he wasn't about to come up short.

Bee did her part as well, pressing herself against Shade's jiggling back and stretched to grab the ear Bark wasn't growling into with her teeth, sucking on it in similar hopes of the dog-type, making this a great first time for the black-furred Chongwu.

Rhythmic moans sounded from the cat's throat as she was pounded, Ngao's hands gripping her as he used her, and helped along by the woman behid her playing with her furry breasts. In unbridled ecstacy Shade was unquiet, mouth agape to let loose her delighted noises. Deep inside her, a feeling unlike any other formed, a pressure and a tension growing as her spine shivered, nerves firing with pleasure as she was overloaded with feeling. Too much, too much stimuli, too many feelings, so many pleasure points she didn't know she had, all screaming along with her as she was fucked closer to her climax. She could feel his knot growing, her scientific mind knowing full well what it was meant for, but the most prevalent part of her mind feeling only desire. She needed to feel him, all of him, and after a sudden rush of sensation and stimulation she gave a silent scream, head rolled back, as she came for the first time. Her walls clenched around Ngao's shaft, as her body sought to milk him of his precious fluids, while her body was aflame with desire.

Ngao at first was contemplating holding back his pleasure still at this ideal moment, but upon seeing her give everything and hearing her noises of pleasure? Feeling her clench down on him? It was far too much for him and his shaft responded by the knot inflating more until it reached full mass and released everything he had, which perhaps it could have been due to the pleasure and some part of him wanting to mate Shade, it seemed a massive amount was given out a few drops even leaking although the knot was sealing it in. His growls stopped all at once, as he gave a final squeeze on her cheeks and a few bountiful spurts seemed to happen. His body shivering with an almost endless amount of pleasure.

Shade's mind was overloaded with sensation, shaking as she leaded on Ngao's chest to hold herself up. The feeling of being filled like that, it was everything she'd wanted, a mark that declared a union she desired. She was clucthing onto him, claws in his fur, mewling as she slowly came down from her animalistic high. Her walls were still squeezing around his shaft, trying to take his seed deeper, into her womb, though it would have no effect there. Words failed her, coming out as half-gibberish and half praise, showed through her actions instead she she wrapped herself around him, keeping him there to feel every last spurt, each one sending shivers up her spine.

He chuckled a little for a brief moment, but he as well was on an animalistic high perhaps brought on from doing this with a Chongwu. He pressed his lips against hers in an attempt to tell everything she need to know about the experience, before pulling away. All the while the knot reciprocated the biological advances and squeezed a tiny bit more in a failed attempt at making young Chongwu.

Barely considered conscious, she kissed him in return, holding onto his neck as her mind unclouded. She pulled back, staring into his eyes, and smiled. "I... That was everything I had hoped it would be..." she shook her head, as if clearing away the cobwebs. "I don't know what came over me," she said quietly, "I loved it..."

"It's called an orgasm," Bee said with a chuckle, running a hand down Shade's spine. "Pretty good stuff."

Shade chuckled. "No, I meant to allow this in the first place. I am glad I... indulged."

Bark chuckled for a moment at all of this. "No offense, but you make it sound like a drug...I loved to see your confidence during it all."

Shade laughed, putting her head against his chest. "Yes, it was liberating." She wiggled her hips on his knot, chuckling at the feeling. "I feel full, I feel... as though I have earned this."

Bark chuckled once more, but held her in his arms placing a hand on her spine and paying attention to the scars letting one of his fingers trace through them lightly. "You not only earned it, but you deserved it in a good way...I appreciate you showing us your scars. Now I have an idea of why you mentioned your scars being unkind."

"I'm wondering where you got these back ones?" Bee asked, taking another look at the spiderweb of scars that Shade had. "You said they still hurt?"

Shade went quiet, tail curling against her back as if it might hide her scars. "That is... not topical," she said in a near whisper. "I am too busy feeling joyous, to think instead on things otherwise. I am selfish," she said quickly, changing the subject, "And now realize our captain has not yet found climax. I am selfish, as I do not want to stop feeling this fullness inside me."

"Well, it'd be pretty hard to get you off him anyway," Bee said with a chuckle, letting the subject drop for now. "But I got a solution, if you'll let our puppy lie back down."

With a gentle lean, Shade began pushing Ngao back, in accordance with Bee's wishes.

 

[Acewing13]

Hopping off the bed and taking off her stained sweats and underwear, Bee sat down next to Bark's head. "How you doing, Ngao? Got any welts?"

Ngao allowed himself to almost comedically become pushed by Shade and lay back ready for Bee. He chuckled at her question and shook his head. "No, no welts far as I know of and if so? They're probably good ones." He looked over at Shade for a brief moment. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it Shade you can speak of it when you're ready." He smiled and turned back to Bee ready to focus on her. "I'm ready for you Beatrix, last I checked worshippers don't get many breaks."

"True," Bee said, leaning down to give him a kiss before straightening and moving to sit on his muzzle. "Let me know if I should move," she told him, before looking at Shade with a smile. "You know, I really should go and make you sign the paperwork before we do more, but..." she trailed off before grabbing the cat-type's chin and pulling her into a kiss.

"There is time still," Shade assured, kissing Bee in return. She was largely stuck, by her own choice at least, and so she leaned into Bee as they kissed over Ngao's body as he worked. Shade was an inexperienced kisser, a doubt attached to her actions as she tried her best.

Ngao gave a nod and was now getting to work on Bee placing a few kisses before he started, which he gave a pinch with his claws on one of her ass cheeks when she mentioned signing paperwork. Then he got to work diving right into her lower lips with his tongue exploring the first parts of it, while he moved his hands to the nub and rubbed his claw on it albeit more roughly. He wasn't going to squeeze it yet, as he figured Bee needed a warmup without much attention during all of that earlier.

Bee took Shade's inexperience in stride, showing her the ropes by example, pressing her tongue into the cat-types mouth. She wiggled her hips at Ngao's attentions, moving a hand to scratch his chin.

Using the tongue was something Shade wasn't used to, but figured she'd try it. Her tongue started rough, but softened to play around wih Bee's to keep her mouth busy, while Ngao's mouth was too. She pulled only an inch away to speak clearly, whispering to the woman before her. "I have never kissed a woman before. Though, the same could be true of a man before a week or so ago. I am learning much on this planet."

"Happens when you put yourself out there," Bee replied with a smile, before leaning back into the kiss.

Ngao's ears perked when his chin was scratched but he continued using his tongue inside of her. Soon he moved his other hand to Bee's ass and gave it a loud slap. He should have been considerate of Shade who may find it weird, but it was habit for him to resort to that when he was down there. He slipped his tongue in further into her making sure to every nook and cranny in there. The hand starting to squeeze a little on the nub with his fingers and not the claws this time at least.

The shaft was inside of Shade, but it could be felt twitching with pleasure but not shooting anything out. The knot did seem to not be deflating and twitched as if it was attempting to try to inflate or at the very least stay inflated.

Shade lightly bounced on his knot, loving how it felt inside her as she kissed this woman. She wanted more from this knot, and her mind was full of different ideas for getting herself fucked by Ngao. If things kept going like this, maybe she'd have to start fantasizing about Bee too.

Bee groaned at Ngao's squeezing her clit, giving him another scratch in appreciation. She pulled back from the kiss for a moment to say to Shade, "Do something to my boobs. Be as rough as you want," before pressing back into the kiss, her tongue pressing as far back as it could.

"S-sorry," Shade said as she pulled back to get a visual confirmation on Bee's breasts, and placed a fuzzy hand on one, feeling it in her palm. She resumed the kiss, another hand on another breast, and experimented with playing with them. Moving them about, feeling the nipples, and eventually claws gently stroking across them.

Ngao upon hearing that started to ramp up some of his antics by starting to use his claws to squeeze the nub and pushing his tongue as far as it could go. All the while slapping her ass with loud smacks, only stopping to give a rough squeeze that dug in his claws from time to time. Not to leave any permanent marks thankfully.

Bee moaned at the Chongwu's attentions, squeezing her thighs around Ngao's muzzle and wrapping her arms around Shade's neck as the kiss continued, one hand scratching the back of the cat-type's neck in appreciation.

Shade returned the odd hug, pressing her breasts against Bee's, learning how to kiss with her tongue.

Ngao continued his barrage of pleasure onto Bee on purpose to get a rise out of her, he placed a tip of his claw right into the bottom hole after he slapped her ass one more time. However for a brief moment he maneuvered his muzzle so he could get it all onto Bee and started to press some of his teeth around her lower lips applying little pressure while once more starting his tongue going full throttle inside of her.

Bee hissed as Ngao bit her, her hips shuddering in his grasp before she came, squirting fluids into his mouth and down his chin. She pulled back from her make out session with Shade for breath, moving one hand to scratch the dog-type's chin as she smiled at the cat-type. "Sorry if I got a little forceful there," she said to them both.

Shade nearly collapsed, her hands on Ngao's torso to hold herself up. "I am so sleepy now..." she mewed, "Too much feeling. Too much... sexiness."

Ngao did his part dutifully in taking all of it that he could, unless it escaped down his chin. He continued to keep licking her down there making sure to get rid of all of it before finally stopping. He couldn't help but force a chuckle at Shade's words of too much sexiness.

"You did great," Bee said, leaning down to kiss the top of Shade's head, before rolling over and laying down on the bed. "Roll her over so she doesn't fall asleep sitting up."

Ngao chuckled, but quickly said. "Understood I wouldn't want her sleeping standing up...Sorry we tired you out Shade." He took hold of her for a brief moment and rolled over so she could be laying down instead of sitting up on top of him.

She gave out another 'oof' as he rolled on top of her, but she recovered by hugging him tightly with a happy whine. "My stamina is bound to improve," she said. "Next time, I want to do it like this. I want to feel your strength," she purred, and one hand slowly moved to take Bee's. She closed her eyes, stuck with Ngao inside her and on top of her, and could feel herself falling into sleep. "Warm..." she purred, as darkness reigned.

Bee squeezed the offered hand before moving so she spooned Shade, looking over the other woman at Ngao and giving him a smile. "A little different than the other day, huh?" she whispered, putting her free hand on his cheek.

Ngao chuckled quietly, but gave a nod of affirmation at Bee's words. He turned his head and placed a few kisses along her free hand. "She was really brave today and more sexy than usual." He smiled at Bee and at Shade happy that this was working out better than he could have ever hoped.

"Really let us treat her like a goddess," Bee softly replied, rubbing Shade's hand as she felt the raised flesh of the cat-type's scars against her breasts.

Ngao gave a silent nod. "Yes I think it was nice to let her have some control of the situation so to speak? So it didn't feel forced and be what she wanted...We'll probably need to have a talk about where she should live? I can be wrong, but I don't think she's going to want to sleep alone anymore."

"We'll see," Bee said, leaning over for a quick kiss before settling back down. "Night, sweetheart."

Bark reciprocated her kiss with one of his own. "Night Beatrix." He gave a yawn and finally closed his eyes to enter the abyss known as sleep.

 

[Acewing13]

Next Morning

Shade opened her eyes eventually, consciousness returning as she took stock of where she was. It was ungodly early in the morning. She was trapped between the awe-inspiring bulk of Ngao, and the comfortable breasts of Beatrice, and Shade had to wonder for a second how she got there in the first place. As she regained her memories as her brain rebooted, she looked down, and saw the where she'd been joined to Ngao the night before.

She tensed up, the memory of that feeling, all those feelings returned, and she had a chance to think rationally. Fuck. She'd given into temptation, wasted the night in slutty pleasure, when there was work that could have been done. Vaguely sore inside from her experience, she expertly began moving out of the embrace, making not a sound as she worked to escape.

Her first instinct was to take a shower, to wash the scent of sex from her fur. She stood under the water, thinking about her choices the previous night. Whether they had been the right ones, whether they had been selfish, whether she should have waited longer. And countered by the memory of how she felt being held, the delight at being touched like that, assaulted with pleasure on all sides. When she left the shower she put her bodysuit back on, and sat down in the chair opposite the bed, watching the other two as they slept. Her arms crossed, leaning back in the chair, and pondering her actions some more.

It was a little unfortunate, but due to his attuned hearing he could vaguely hear her escape out of his embrace and felt her. However he was nervous because Shade would have had time to think about her actions, which she could be rational and say 'never again' or something like that. He let her leave his embrace and stayed in the bed longer playing possum to think on things, but it was hard due to being still partially sleepy. Also he didn't feel as comfortable without Shade being there.

Soon once he heard her come back from the shower, he still laid there in the bed however he felt he was being watched by Shade. That was an awkward feeling, but it could have been a bit of paranoia. His tail wagged around lazily in the covers. He wondered if Shade could tell he was awake?

Bee was still fast asleep, having unconsiously grabbed a pillow when Shade left, cuddling it in her arms as she softly snored.

Shade was staring at Ngao, his naked body stretched out on the bed. She'd spent minutes watching and thinking, until eventually she stood up and sat on the bed instead. She spoke quietly. "What spellcraft are you capable of," she whispered, and it was unclear if she was speaking to either of them or just to herelf. "Something must have changed. I must have changed. It feels unlike me to do this. Or... that. So clearly you must be a being of some sort. Designed to appeal to the senses."

Ngao on a mental level was kind of sweating, as he couldn't tell if she was speaking to him or if she was speaking to herself on the matter. On the one hand he wanted to comfort her, but knew that could be embarrassing and not give her a chance to vent things. On the other hand he could be possibly being rude and she knows he's awake. On purpose with some stealth work his tail wagged a little in her direction touching her leg.

She snatched his tail in her hand, stopping it in it's tracks, staring at it until she sighed. She stroked his tail gently, still staring at him. "I have felt desire before, yes, but never before have I acted on it. I am surprised I talked myself into it." She started stroking his leg, claws trailing through the fur. "I allowed myself some vulnerability, and was repaid in kindness, and desire returned. And now I don't know what to do with you. I have been rude to you, and unkind, and I feel unfitted for such affection you've given despite my failings. I do not understand you," she sighed.

He blinked a little at those words a part of him confused on the matter, but another part of him knew all too well dealing with low self-esteem practically since his creation. His body did shiver a little feeling her stroke his legs and especially after feeling those claws trail through his fur. He took a moment to think of other thoughts and attempt not to focus on those godlike hands. The shaft stirred a moment before resting. One ear was perked up a brief moment wanting to catch any extra sounds and perhaps to get passed some of Bee's snoring.

With a roll of her eyes, Shade moved closer to Ngao, looking down at his shaft's slight movement. "Even now I appeal to you," she chuckled, moving even closer. "I know full well you no longer sleep," she admitted, "your breath, your movements, uncharacteristic of one being asleep. Her hand moved up his leg, feeling towards his muscles again as she did. "Even now, you are being polite to me, by furthering the ruse of slumber. Such dedication is admirable."

Ngao blinked and allowed his tail to start do it's regular wagging routine, not as happily of course since he was partially sleepy. He turned to her with a small smile. "S-Sorry I wasn't sure if you were speaking to me or yourself trying to get your thoughts together...If I may say? You're not unfitted for my feelings there is a beauty I admire in you Shade, sexiness as well I can say officially now too..." He placed a hand on one of hers carefully. "I apologize if I did anything wrong? I know I can be annoying sometimes, but I do my best to respect your decisions and boundaries...L-Like when I suggested you staying at my apartment the first time."

Shade growled lightly, crawling up Ngao to settle on his waist, staring down at him. "So insistent. Did you have such thoughts in mind when you asked the first time?" She hissed playfully, her hands settling on his chest. "The desire to see me compromised, vulnerable, entirely nude? With thoughts of seeing me spread before you?"

Ngao's body shivered at the feel of her touch and her demeanor was sexy at least to him to say the least. He flustered at the attention and gave a nod, but shook his head at the same time. "I-I don't know I-I found you pretty. N-Not when I asked you to l-live in my apartment the first time!"

She blinked, smiling as she looked down at him, tilting her head. "So, you did not find me pretty when you first offered a place to stay," she asked sarcastically. "So glad to know you've changed your mind." Her hands stroked down his chest as she regarded him. She'd successfully changed the subject from living arrangements. "Now I expect your every thought must have some degree of me in them, unavoidable."

He wasn't sure how to answer that question either, but he spoke in an attempt to try. "I-I did find you pretty back then w-what I meant was I didn't have any dirty thoughts. M-Many thoughts have you in them, b-but most of them involve you being happy because that's what I want most." It was hard for him to have a genuine smile, but he did. However his shaft was twitching wanting different attention, as it started to stiffen up.

Shade looked down at his body reacting to her, smile widening. "I may never understand such selflessness," she admitted with a sigh, "But I understand favors. And... repayment." She moved herself to lean down, positioned between his legs and staring eye level with this dick as it grew larger. "I will need practice, I assume, if I wish to continue this path of desire." A hand came up to grip him, soft furred hands slowly stroking him with curiosity. "Do tell me if I make a mistake," she asked, "for I think I intend to play with you like this."

Ngao blinked as he hadn't expected this from her, but he growled a little as his shaft seemed to stiffen up more and more at her touch until fully standing up at attention. He shook his head, but spoke as calmly as he could. "Your hands are soft and amazing Shade t-there are no mistakes at all. Y-You can use your claws j-just don't dig them in."

When he was at attention, her breath on his cock as she hovered her face over it, she mewled a giggle. "I would never knowingly hurt you, my champion." She gathered her courage again, and wondered how the hell she'd gotten into this position again, but with a smile she started licking the tip, getting a taste for him as she began her practice. Her tongue was rough, but not painful, adding just a hint of extra friction to the experince. "Is this something you like?" She said, before licking his tip again.

Ngao's body shivered at the different feeling tongue licking his shaft, which it didn't feel like Bee's tongue at all on there. A loud moan was elicited from him, as he allowed himself to get absorbed into the sensation and wasn't willing to hold himself back in this. "W-Well I like you so there is no way I wouldn't like this." He placed a hand down onto her head on purpose giving soft rubs along her head and ears.

With his moan finally waking Bee up, her hair a rats nest as she blinked blurry eyed at the scene for a few moments before shaking her head. "You guys went for round two without me?" she asked, looking more hurt than anything.

Shade's purrs from his hand on her head cut off, ears pinned back at what was more or less a repremand. "Well I didn't plan for this to happen! I just... started doing it!" Notably she'd left Ngao's shaft high and dry to converse, a hand slowly stroking him as she talked. "I am allowed to make love to my boyfriend... or.. lover, I guess, without express permission from you."

"I didn't," Bee started, before sighing, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry. Didn't mean it like that." Rolling away to look at her datapad, she tapped it to look at her messages. "Alright, they're still in their rooms, means we're still off the clock," she said, putting it down and crawled back to the pair of Chongwu. "Alright, where do you want me?"

 

[Acewing13]

Ngao looked at both of them and in almost silent and quick fashion placed a finger to both of their lips and shook his head. "I'm a man of...Strong words, but I love both of you. We listen and understand each other." He smiled and moved his fingers away from both of their lips, which he held one of Bee's hands and rubbed at it. "I apologize I got...Distracted and didn't think we would wake you. You looked hurt finding out about it. Lil Bark can wait a little, but are you alright Bee?"

Shade, unlike Lil' Bark, was not keen to wait. Letting Ngao deal with a grouchy Bee, Shade took the initiative based on pure spite, and opened her mouth. She slid it over his dick, taking him into her mouth, suckling on him for the first time. She looked up at him with big cat eyes, watching him as she slowly moved up and down, inexperienced but powered by spite.

"I just don't like waking up to not being invited to the par-" Bee started, before frowning at Shade giving Ngao a blowjob. "Fuck it," she said, grabbing the dog-type by the ears and pulling him into a rough kiss.

"Let-s talk about---" He was cut off upon feeling Shade starting to go full throttle in a sense on his shaft, which he couldn't help but moan. However he was trying to stay focused Bee until he saw her frown and kissed him while grabbing at his ears. This kiss felt rough and didn't feel like the usual kisses they shared. This was confusing and didn't feel like last night, which was cooperation. This felt like some odd sex competition and not the friendly kind either assuming there is one amongst some people. For a brief moment he allowed himself to feel all of the sensations, which his shaft was twitching at all of the pleasure.

Shade was not used to this sensation, but a certain amount of pride followed feeling him twitching in her mouth. She worked harder, purring as she worked him over, now bobbing her head rapidly to beat Bee out for the sexiest beast there. She'd been behind for too long, and she needed a leg up. Her hands were on Ngao's thighs, her claws trailing along his fur, stroking him as she sucked him off.

Bee on the other hand worked the field, keeping up the make out session while her hands went to dig into the back of his neck and his long chest scar, her nails pressing as hard as they could in the, most likely vain, attempt to match the cat-type's claws.

Ngao was feeling pleasure from both ends of things there cat claws and as far as he could tell human claws all over him. This couldn't compare to any pleasure he'd felt, but then again every moment of pleasure was distinct to him. His shaft was twitching more and leaking onto Shade's tongue, while he tried his best to reciprocate Bee's kisses shivering all over from the attention he was receiving.

The taste of him was somewhat salty, something she could get over if it meant victory in this moment. Slathering her tongue over his tip as she sucked him, she began to make a show of it, letting the action make more sloppy noises. Up and down she moved her head, looking up at him and occasionally at Bee to get a measure of the competition.

Feeling him getting closer to climax, she pulled back from the kiss and half turned around. "You're missing something," she said, leaning over to reach under Shade's head and grabbing Bark's balls. At once, she squeezed both of them in one hand and twisted one of his ears, hoping for him to spray the cat-type's face.

He was getting closer and closer to release and the knot was beginning to form soon, but however he tapped Bee's shoulder with one of his hands and then moved both over to hold Shade's head, as she was coming back up to go down to suck on his shaft. He shook his head at both of them. "I don't think this is the right way to go about this...It feels good on a biological level and some parts mental. You're both beautiful, gorgeous and sexy all at once to me, but emotionally? I'm not into this if this is some spiteful competition to outdo each other...Friendly competition however? I'll be involved any day and may feel like the most luckiest sentient on the planet. Shit I'd even challenge anyone else to say the luckiest sentient in the universe. I love both of you, but fighting each other like this? There is no romance in this and no friendly competition between you either."

Bee stopped as she listened to Bark and realized what she was doing. Pulling her hands back, she sighed, covering her eyes with one hand. "Damn it all, it's too early for this," she said.

Shade's head was in Ngao's hands, unable to move. Her ears pinned back, mouth closing as she realized there would be no more treating him to something enjoyable. She was tempted to try to continue, but it would be pointless. The event was over, and in her eyes what was supposed to be her trying something new was overruled by a third party she hadn't intended to involve in the first place. Scowling, Shade moved Ngao's hands from her head and stood up. She walked into the bathroom, wordlessly, to wash her mouth out, checking information on her datapad as she did.

Ngao gave a sigh, as he could tell Shade seemed annoyed by it all. He rubbed Bee's hand for a brief moment. "Take a nap, you'll need it more so than us since you're leading us to victory. One way or another." He looked a little uncertain about all of this, which apart of him wondered if he should have let it continue? It felt right but their disappointed and annoyed looks started to tell him in a particular way it was wrong.

"No, I'm too worked up right now," Bee said, getting off the bed and putting on a grey hoddie and clean sweats. "I'm getting some coffee," she added, sniffling as she grabbed one of the hotel keys and walking out of the room.

Shade exited the bathroom and slung her coat on, putting her goggles over her head, and began to walk to the door without a word.

Ngao gave a sigh, as he let them both of them leave questioning if he was going to be of any help whatsoever. A part of him wanted to run after Bee, as he heard her sniffling before she left. Not enough to think about it and she was gone and so too was Shade. Another sigh emanated from him, as he took the time to sit up on the bed and cross his legs. He placed his hands onto his knees and started to essentially meditate in an attempt to either center himself or perhaps argue and debate over life things with himself or both. Probably both.

It was then that Bee's left behind datapad started to buzz, a call apparently coming through.

Bark's ears twitched immediately at the datapad, which he raised an eyebrow wondering who was calling without Bee here--wait Bee wasn't here. He went over to the datapad and answered the call. "Yes sirs and ma'ams?"

"Bark, where's the Captain?" one of the other squad leaders asked. "She's not answering the texts we sent."

Bark blinked as that was a very awkward thing to have to answer. "She went out to grab some coffee, what's the situation squad leader?"

"Some of the Crusaders left their rooms and are headed down. Wait, coffee? They might be headed towards her now," the agent on the other end of the line said.

"Wait they're headed down now? I'll make my way down there squad leader. Did you wish for me to maintain cover or be at the ready in tactical gear?" Bark was worried, but kept his cool under this pressure. They could handle themselves if they had to.

"Stay in cover, the manager's still in their room," the squad leader said with a sigh. "We see Bee and Shade now. The Captain at least is going to run into the Crusaders."

Bark gave a nod on his end out of habit, but did respond. "Understood squad leader. I'll make my way down in cover now." No hesitation in his step, as he went to put on a part of the suit already just in case keeping the squad leader on call if there were any other instructions given.

When the Chongwu stepped out, he could hear the squad leader sputter for a few moments, before asking, "Ba-, Breaker, is not wearing a shirt part of the cover?"

Bark didn't even think about it and shook his head. "Why would it not be part of my appearance? Why some of ya rich types might could stand ta be a little less fancy and more wholesome." Breaker laughed to the caller while making his way on down to the nearest coffee location.

As Breaker made his way to the floor down to the lounge/cafeteria level, he could see Bee being accosted by a pair of Crusaders, one putting a hand on the back of her chair as she stared forward.

"All I'm saying is if you'll fuck a fucking animal, why wouldn't you suck me off, princess?" the provocative one asked, moving his hand to hold her shoulder.

"Cause my coffee tastes a lot better than your limp dick," she said, taking a sip of said coffee. "And that's saying something, cause your American coffee is shit."

"Maybe you'll change your mind when you don't have the option," the Crusader said, tightening his grip.

Bee's hands shook as she kept staring forward, until she spotted Breaker and waved him over. "Blaze, over here!" she said. "These boys are getting handsy."

 

[Acewing13]

Breaker walked over with an arrogant smirk on his face and upon reaching them, he would clap his hands adding as much volume as he could. "The ol' arrogant handsy act? Plain and usual, also shows ya humans or rather you guys in particular might have evolved from those 20th century primates? Chimps or somethin? Real brutal and handsy and no integrity neither." He let his hands down. "I don't appreciate bein' called a fuckin' animal, but most importantly I don't like my manager bein' forced to suck someone off. You wouldn't like it neither I bet, now lets lay off the arrogant prick shit and move on outta here. Else I gotta get serious and ya don't want to see that."

"Aww, look at the show dog talking," the Crusader wingman said, walking up to Breaker and getting in his face. "Look, bub. I don't know who you are and that means you're shit. I watch all the MMA, boxing, and other combat sports and I've never heard of you, 'Breaker Blaze'."

Breaker Blaze raised an eyebrow and soon gave a loud laugh that seemed to continue for a little while, before he stopped shortly while keeping eye contact on him. "MMA, boxing and otha combat sports huh? Ya right I ain't quite in those ones." He got a little bit closer to his face, which he barred his teeth in an almost menacing growl. "Those ain't shit in comparison to the underground rings. Ain't no referee bullshit ta stop the punches from comin inta yer skull, but at the mercy of the other person. Ain't no divisions either if ya too damn skinny? Ya better learn how to duck and fight. Most importantly ain't no rules against dirty fightin' let alone any fuckin' medic ta tend to injuries unless ya payin'em and you'd best believe some of those shady bastards will leave ya, if the other one paid them ta do so."

The persona itself of Breaker Blaze might have been fake, but the intense look of anger and his hands flexing for combat were all too real. Let alone the story of underground rings being all too real, which far as he could tell the only different ones were human vs human, Chongwu vs Chongwu, and Augmented vs Augmented and even then those blended in just because or there was money to be made. "Now we can throw the fuck down, but I give ya fair warnin' that medic ain't gonna come fast enough. Unless ya be a pussy and use one of them peashooters ya got."

"Underground?" the Crusader said, blinking as he took in this new information, his eyes lingering on Ngao's scars. "I, I mean I guess that could be a thing."

"What, really?" the handsy counterpart said, sighing as he let Bee go. "Something to bring up to the boss, I guess. What's the point of having connections if you miss out on the real stuff?"

"Yeah, we'll have to bug him about that," the fanboy replied with a nod, before looking back at Breaker. "Still, must be raking in the dough to get that quality of a broad." Before the Chongwu could react to that, the pair left, leaving Bee and Ngao to themselves, though a couple of onlookers still were looking in their direction.

"I've never been so close to committing police brutality," the Captain grumbled, keeping her voice down before adjusting her hair. "Well, might as well get something to eat, Breaker. Got a busy day coming up."

Breaker gave a wink to her. "No problem darlin' always happy ta assist and help ya out with bullshitters. Cause clearly they can't fight worth a damn. We'll get somethin' ta eat and then in the mean time after we'll get Lea some grub don't wanna leave her out of nothin'."

"For sure," Liz said with a nod and small smile. "Oh, did you bring my datapad with you?"

Breaker smirked and gave a nod. "Careful ya don't stare at those shots of my body too much." He handed her the datapad.

"You know how I get," Liz said with a wink, before sobering as she looked at and started to responding to the messages. "Whoops, looks like I missed some marketing stuff. Grab some food and let's get back to the room. Can't do any work out here."

Breaker chuckled a little. "Careful looks like I'm not the only one gettin' distracted by those hot sights." He would go over to the buffet area picking up various food items that required him holding roughly about five plates of food.

"Always overdoing it," Liz said, shaking her head as she took one of the plates. "I'd take more, but someone needs a free hand to press buttons and the like."

Breaker gave a wink to Liz. "I need an appetite after all o' that shakin' last night. More so if I'm gonna have energy fer later when we hit that dance floor."

"Well, don't overeat," Liz said, smiling as she shook her head. "Can't have you looking flabby in the promotion shots, now can we?"

Breaker gave a shrug at that. "Flabby? Baby I work too hard to eva get flabby. However ya can't be gettin' angry all the time. It'll lead ta wrinkles, which I'll still love ya all the same."

"Good to know," she said, bumping him with her hip before walking off. "Talking to a girl about wrinkles? Give me a break."

He chuckled a little and giving a little shrug. "Hey if ya love someone, ya gotta be honest. Let'em know ya know there through thick or thin if need be."

"Way more romantic ways to say that than 'Hey girl, I love you, but just remember that you'll get old and crusty looking'," Liz said, smirking as she looked over his shoulder at him. "And besides, with you as my meal ticket? I'll look this good when they put me six feet under."

Breaker gave a loud laugh at that and gave a nod. "Fair point I'd imagine they'll be able ta shoot fireworks and all that at ya funeral. Unless ya clone yerself and put your mind in there. Immortality at it's finest probably unless they ain't mastered that yet?"

"Still waiting for the Daqin to make that available," she said as she called for the elevator. "But maybe that's for the best. Think I'd only be able to stand a couple of centuries."

Breaker gave a shrug at the thought. "Well I'd maybe go for a couple only cause you could. Without ya I'd be mighty sad and mighty sad without Lea either."

"That is true, you'd be lost without us," Liz said, leaning against him until interrupted by the elevator arriving and her datapad buzzing. "Just so many interruptions," she said, pulling out the pad as they entered the elevator.

"Don't tell me the oil stock markets is crashin' else ya'll lost a bet and a juicy one at that." Breaker laughed a little, entering the elevator with her and took a moment to look at the decorum of it, which to him just screamed filthy rich.

"Ehh, we're leveraged to make money either way," Liz said, typing away with one hand. "How do you think rich people only get richer in recessions?"

Breaker gave a shrug. "That's why I leave that type o' work to ya and Lea else I'd put it in probably somethin' like augmentation companies. People always needing'em last I checked. Unless everyone starts ta grow parts or have multiples of'em just cause."

"It's boom and bust mostly," she said as the elevator started to climb. "People get them for work or when they have a lot of money. When belts tighten, not as much to go around. Oil used to be the same, but these days it's settled into a stable market that's pretty hard to shake." Looking over she smiled and asked, "Getting tired of the economics lesson?"

Breaker chuckled a little, but shook his head. "Why would I get tired of a lesson from ya? Smart women are sexy last time I checked, long as they ain't tryin ta take ya money and even better when they makin' ya. Without those compromisin' o' morals of course."

"Who said I'm not making money off you?" Liz asked, waving her datapad at him. "I mean look at you. Big as a barn and handsome to boot. Just need to get you in front of the cameras and we'll be making this look like childs play." The elevator chimed to interrupt their conversation, prompting them to get off on their floor.

Breaker laughed and shook his head. "Lemme rephrase I mean make money off o' me the fun way and not the bad way. Although ya just might make me blush with your flirt talk, sound almost wholesome like my Ma."

"You know I love that," she said, walking over to their hotel room and opening the door. "Making you blush makes my day."

Breaker laughed once more and entered the room. "If I didn't know any better I'd think ya were out ta get my guard down fer a little romance."

"Maybe, maybe," she said, closing the door after them and looking at her datapad. "Alright, they said no one came by the room, so we're still good." She sighed, putting the plate on the bed, rubbing her eyes. "Can't believe I was stupid enough to leave my datapad behind on a fucking mission."

He walked over and placed a comforting hand onto her shoulder. "Hey it's alright, we all make mistakes...Me included, I'm not sure if me speaking up was a good call during the...I suppose versus match between you two. I can't relax just yet however, I have to find Shade wherever she went. Do you know which direction she went in?"

"No, you were fine," Bee said, patting his hand. "I was just being an ass. Camera team said she was fine, but I think they're worried that if they gave directions, she'd turn them into frogs or something. Tech witch and all that."

 

[Acewing13]

Bark gave a smile with his tail wagging at hearing she seemed to be safe. "That's good news and they're probably right to be worried a little at giving her directions. I don't think she likes that at all unless she's ready for directions...I just don't want her to shut herself off from people and emotions."

"Fuck," she said, shaking her head. "It was going so well. Just had to be my usual grumpy self and not realize she wanted some alone time with you. Just wish she didn't do it right next to me, you know?"

He took a moment to get behind her and embraced her in a hug from the back while interlacing one of his hands with hers. "It'll be fine Bee, we just need to work on it and not get too ahead of ourselves that's all. We'll think about that for next time. First we need to tell her that everything is alright and we understand her at least to some degree."

"I mean, it'd be better for her to say it before we presume too much," she said, squeezing his hand as she leaned against him. "That's what I thought of before I was interrupted by the misogynist squad, but I might be wrong. Could be that she decided that she thought I was using my position to force my way into your private time or something completely different. This is the worst part of relationships."

Bark thought on it for a brief moment before he shook his head a little. "I can't comment on your previous relationships, but one of the things that make relationships stronger is dealing with challenges. Not on purpose, but overcoming them together so you know you can rely on each other and learn how to rely on one another." He smiled and placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek. "You're correct I believe we might be presuming far too much...I feel like at some point she's going to blow up on me."

"Doesn't help that this is her first time," Bee said, turning to bury her face in his chest fur. "I could tell that from the way she kissed. Might not have felt any kind of physical affection before, let alone sex."

Bark gave a nod at her words. "That's what I believe she said, that she never acted on any desires until last night." He gave a sigh, but decided to keep himself focused. He held her close and rubbed on her back in the hopes of comforting her more. "We'll figure it out one way or another."

She sighed as she stepped back. "So, were you planning on eating first and then looking or the other way around?" she asked.

Bark tapped a muzzle to think on it. "I really shouldn't go looking around on an empty stomach...However I feel like every minute she might run off to somewhere else new, safely assuming I can even find her. Where was the last place they had seen her at?"

"I'll try looking while we eat," Bee said, grabbing a plate that her stomach didn't tremble at, fruit on top of a waffle.

"...Are you sure Beatrix?" He was tempted to grab a plate, but another part of him was willing to run off at least in the metaphorical sense to go after her. He grabbed a plate of multiple waffles stacked on each other drenched in 'maple' syrup.

"Where'd you go without direction?" she asked, picking out a strawberry and popping it in her mouth. "Get something in you so you don't scare her off with your stomach rumbling."

He thought on the matter, as something came to mind. "I could try to track her by scent, but I'm not as good as one brother who was stupid good at it...I don't know I have this feeling she'll get angry that I chose to stay behind and eat without stopping her from leaving through the door." He gave a sigh, as he wasn't even certain of his own instincts on the matter and far too worried. He sat down and started to eat the waffles cutting down whole sections and stabbing them and then proceeding to devour them.

"Just swing by the cafeteria with her when you find her," Bee said, tabbing through camera feeds as she chewed on her waffle. She frowned at her datapad for a moment and tapped it. "Funny, thought the camera was looping."

Bark gave a sigh at that, as he tapped his fork onto the waffles. "It would make some lick of sense...She doesn't want to be found nor chased about what happened...However I don't think she left in disguise did she? It's why I'm kind of worried. I can only have a guess that she's going to the most secluded spot or perhaps high up somewhere."

"Hmm," the Captain said, tabbing through the camera feeds until her datapad glitched again. Following a hunch, she tabbed once more and smiled when the feed repeated. "Got 'er. Wolf something down and take your phone. I'll guide you in."

His tail stiffened immediately at those words, as he took another huge chunk of those stacked waffles and ate them. He got up after wiping his hands on a napkin or two. "No time to finish, I've got to move now. She is smart enough to know or assume we're onto her and will move on." He took hold of his phone. "I'm ready when you are Bee...I'm scared and don't know what to say, but I'll say something."

"Good luck, sweetheart," Bee replied, giving him a smile before waving him off. "Get going. go to the stairs and go up three floors."

Bark gave a smile back, but first took the opportunity to hold her close in a tight hug. "Thank you for your help Beatrix...Don't try to blame yourself too much for this. We all make mistakes okay? That includes me as well."

"We'll celebrate after," she said, leaning against him for a moment before pushing him away. "Now fetch."

He gave a nod and didn't have time to think about her dog line, but even then it usually came from a friendly place at least in his mind. He straightened his tie and made his way out of the door unfortunately still never putting on the 'shirt' part in the suit. His phone was on, as he made his way to the stairs and seemed to be storming his way up the three floors.

For ten minutes Ngao was taken from one end of the hotel to the other, following Bee's advice until suddenly her guidance became less helpful. She'd pulled back through the footage when she realized a small letter was left behnd at each site, written on a wall with a marker and hard to see, spelling out: "Hello Captain."

"Well, she knows we're onto her, but she hasn't done anything else," Bee said, spending most of her time switching between two cameras at a time.

Ngao seemed to be doing his best and kept on his toes at being in cover while maneuvering around. This was much harder than he thought it would be. Worse he couldn't ask questions about Shade or else the cover would be blown. "Pardon ma'am rushin' fer da meal time", "Howdy do ya mind movin' across the way so I can move on to that elevator?" Soon enough he went on the phone to Bee taking a deep breath. "I think I'm being toyed with or perhaps revenge...I figured she'd be onto us, but that means her mind is mission ready." He said this in private before moving on.

"I'd go with toyed with, to be honest," Bee said.

Eventually, Ngao was led to a window on the top floor of the hotel, where Shade was found staring off into the city, an eyeful of the view keeping her locked to the horizon.

Ngao made his way finally to the top floor of the hotel, which he was surprised she was staring out of the window and into the city. He was for once in a long while out of breath. He was running around constantly for so long he even started running out of excuses for his cover with the last two people he passed up. "Okay I could be hallucinating from exhaustion or longing, but I think she's right there." He took a moment to catch his breath and hoped this wasn't some elaborate hologram. He made his way over trying to walk as calmly as he could. "Shade? Are you okay? Please don't tell me it's a hologram of some kind..."

"I do not have that capability," Shade responded, still looking into the city. "Though perhaps it's time to try it." She looked to him finally, noting his disheveled state and chuckling. "You did not have to run the entire time. Surely by the time the Captain realized my upper hand, you would have no longer felt the need to chase me."

"Sounds like you found her," Bee said over the datapad. "Uhh, sorry about the shirt thing. Completely blanked on that fact, to be honest. Good luck." And with that the line went dead.

Ngao gave a nod and slipped the phone back into his pocket, almost dropping it being focused on Shade. "Well glad you got a little fun out of it, but also yes I did have to run the entire time. I was scared and worried all at the same time, I almost broke cover more times than I care to count." He made his way over to her and took a look at the view and then back at Shade. "I prefer to look at you than the city, but that could be just me." He chuckled a little at his small flirt, but he shook his head. "I...Came to apologize for what I did. It feels like I threw away your efforts and bravery for my feelings. Perhaps for not speaking sooner on the matter so it didn't go too far."

Shade went back to looking at the view, shaking her head slowly. "You are a fool. If you hadn't run around people wouldn't think twice about your existence. You would have been just another traveler in the halls, another person to ignore for these fools with more money than is fair." She was stalling, but she'd run out of things to say already. "I was a fool as well. Overcome with passions not tasted, I sought more of that feeling, and... did not think there would be any interference. I should have waited. Or just never thought of it again."

 

[Acewing13]

Ngao listened to her with his ears perked up taking in every word, which he reached his hand close to hers. His normal routine was to ask and then do so, but he had been worried and exhausted so wasn't thinking of that. He held her hand carefully and shook his head. "It's fine Shade...Mistakes do happen and that feeling I believe came from a good place in a sense. You wanted to return the favor so to speak from when you spoke before doing it? All of us made mistakes, as I should have known to make it private or perhaps ask Bee's preferences during such matters long before this...Don't say never think of it again, weird as it is to say apart of it involves being in a relationship only if you enjoy it I believe...Also divine affection is hard to ignore." He chuckled, but smiled only holding her hand as he hadn't wanted to put too much stimuli and perhaps make her run away.

Her hand twitched, the sudden arrival of another hand bringing her claws out in self-defense. "Please, Ngao, until I say otherwise I would still demand you ask before touching me suddenly." Her another hand drifted over and began prying his hand away. "I am not in the mood to be touched."

Ngao gave a nod and moved his hand away immediately. "Apologies I was exhausted and worried for awhile now, I didn't think to ask like usual..."

"I know why," she interrupted, "and that consideration is why my body did not claw at your hand." She held her hands to her chest, as if holding them close where they would be safe. "I was brash. Too quick to feel. I should not have allowed myself to indulge in my temptation, not here, not with... extra complications. My heart runs ahead, while my body and mind struggle to keep up. Surely this is not ideal. It leads to you," she said, turning to him, "becoming a battleground for a fight I did not think I would ever feel mattered. And for that I aplogize."

Ngao gave a nod with a smile. "Apology accepted and you're forgiven from both of us, but that could presumptous of me in a way...If I may? I don't think your heart was in the wrong place, perhaps running a little too fast but it did show us another side of you. More than the sexy parts I'll call it. It let you feel vulnerable I believe? A true opportunity to show we aren't a threat perhaps? A danger to you? That you mean more to me than...I don't want to say the nasty words for what I'm thinking, but I consider you a girlfriend and not some conquest like I said before." His tail wagged a little, but it seemed to be careful and almost hiding.

She looked at him with a puzzled expression, a puzzlement that eventually led to her shoulders losing their posture. "I... I am not equipped to handle these emotions. Maybe something was missed in my creation, or I was denied a pivotal lesson in my younger years. Clearly I wasn't allowed to be normal. It is like a maelstrom of feelings welling within my soul, and I have so few avenues to express it." Shivering, she held herself again as she looked at the ground. "I want to be held, I want to feel such things freely, but here I am, on the top floor of an architectural abomination trying desperately to not feel... slighted, or as though I am being unfair to the Captain for feeling slighted."

Ngao gave a nod to her, as he listened to her words trying to figure things out. "We can't help those feelings and I can't blame you for feeling slighted given it was something new and you were confident in pursuing it...I can't tell of a way of how to help exactly, but I would like to try and help you feel those things." He smiled before something else came to mind. "I think it was a strange crossroads with Bee being well grumpy and not quite liking that right by her. I believe she feels she could have handled things better."

"I'm sure," she said flatly, shivering again. In his own words, he did not know how to help her. All he could be was a sounding board for feelings, reciprocated or not. And so, in folly, Shade decided she would attempt instead to feel her feelings one at a time. Alternatively, she could attempt to never feel at all, as she had before, but that stupid machine in that stupid museum had ruined that.

Wordlessly, Shade turned around, clutching herself tightly to keep herself grounded, and she began to walk to the elevator. Ears low, tail drooping limply, she was the picture of despondency.

He watched her and noticed her ears going low, which she didn't look good at all now. He walked next to her making sure to stay close but not to touch. "We'll figure it out together Shade, that's apart of being in a relationship. Also because I care about you, I might be reiterating words but do let me know if I'm talking too much or if anything makes you feel sad or bad." He paused for a brief moment, before speaking again what was on his mind. "You might believe yourself to be strange and not normal, but I do know what that feels like to some degree..." He pointed at one of his ears, as he continued to speak. "My hearing is attuned, more than I want it to be at times. I've had to learn to mentally not pay attention or block some things out. If I focus? I can hear some things people don't want to hear."

Standing in the elevator as it moved down, Shade looked up at him. "I can see the make and model of this elevator, it's statistical chance of catastrophic failure, how much it can carry, and a dozen other things just... right there. In my vision. Unasked for, and not always helpful. I have to sift through it mentally to look past it. I can look at you and see how much you'd be worth in a market for our kind, how that sale affects the stock market on a galactic scale, and when I look in a mirror I am reminded of how much I am worth monetarily."

With a wry chuckle and continuation of her sad posture, she added, "So now we just need someone who can smell the corruption of mortalkind, someone who can taste the base elements of food, and someone who can feel how many threads are in a blanket by touch alone and we'll have the Sensitive Squad."

Ngao tapped on his muzzle for a moment, which some of that made sense with what she had told him before. "A little bit on the nose with that one, but unfortunately my handler beat you to the punch albeit with far less of the numerical vision I suppose. It was expensive work but a Chongwu was given one of the abilities of a particular shrimp, the eyes can see in various spectrums...Unexpected side effect of well migraines and seeing things you don't want to see. All of them except the taste one I suppose?" He chuckled a little.

"I can be wrong, but I feel I said something wrong earlier? I'd like to ask can I give you a hug?"

Shade took into account the relative privacy of the elevator, and gave a small nod in response, not looking up at him for fear of feeling yet more feelings.

Ngao wrapped his arms around her and enveloped her close to his chest in the hopes of comforting her. "I know now you might look at things with statistics and numbers, but I do want you to know once more I do love you and I will do all I can so you can feel better and smile once more...I've never felt myself to be the best, perhaps lucky so I've always had a fear of losing people."

A well of tears filled her eyes, stopped in their tracks by Shade attempting to halt all outgoing emotions. Tucked into his chest she felt safe again, as though finally there were someone else to defend her against the world, and yet tearfully she pulled herself away as the elevator opened again on their floor, and she started walking to the room.

Ngao felt warm and finally felt like he was making some progress towards her healing. There was another part of him that wanted to protect her from it all and keep her there for hours if that's what it took. Until he felt her pull and respected her intent with letting go, but he followed closely to her and ahead of her. He opened the door and letting her go in first.

She walked past Ngao and walked right up to the bed, ignoring Bee as she threw her coat to the side, and faceplanted next to her in the middle of the bed She hid her face from the world, remaining silent as she pretended to be swallowed by the void, tail limply laid to the side.

Bee blinked, looking at the other woman and Ngao for a moment before shaking her head. "I'm sorry for earlier, Shade. I was selfish and didn't think through what I was asking," she said. "Are you hungry? Ngao brought some food up earlier but it's kind of cold now."

Ngao walked over and took off the lonely tie without it's team of the jacket nor shirt that went with the whole set. He sat down next to Shade and watched her and Bee looking for any reactions and keeping his ears open for any words. "I looked for that food you liked the one time on the rooftop. I can order room service if you want some fresh ones."

Shade thought about lying, saying she wasn't hungry and moving on with her day. But under the force of two people that at the very least seemed to care for her, she lifted her head slightly. "Cold is fine," she said quietly, "If I wanted warm food I shouldn't have left." Not ready to address the elephant in the room, Bee's apology, Shade put her head back on the bed, and covered the sight of her head with a pillow. A fortress of her own design.

"Well," Bee said, grabbing one of the plates from where she'd moved them, before putting it within Shade's reach, "We got meat, fruit, some carbs. Take your pick."

Shade's hand crept closer to the plate, feeling around aightlessly before she picked up a cold waffle and brought it under her pillow to chew at it for about a minute. "Thank you," she mewled quietly, further muffled by the pillow.

Ngao watched for a moment at both of them, which he poked Bee and pointed at Shade. He couldn't risk any other signals because well in his mind Shade may as well have been a mastermind of absolute certainty.