Chapter Forty-One - Physical Comfort in the Presence of Another
Its a strange quirk of human nature that no matter the culture, there is nearly always sothing that will be considered an intimate, or even taboo, subject or action. For many western cultures this was depictions of sexual intercourse and images of breasts and genitals. For other cultures the taboos were other things.
As humanity entered the twenty-first century, however, titillating materials beca the tools of advertisers who wished to shock and intrigue, and because of their overuse of such salacious materials, they beca commonplace.
Now, images that might once have been considered downright pornographic inspire little more interest than passing notice. Instead, what has beco the new subject of enticent is sothing beyond the reach of many:
Physical comfort in the presence of another.
--Excerpt from Handholding and Other Carnal Desires, 2050
***
So whatcha gonna do? Rac asked.
No one tried to stop or even slow down as I headed out of the city hall building and back onto the street. I absently called up another Uber ride, this ti aiming for the hotel. I have an idea or two, I said. But nothing concrete.
Surprised you didnt just cut the mayor in half.
It was tempting, I said. But that wouldnt fix our problem.
Itd feel good though, Rac said.
I couldnt fault her there. The mayor was, in a word, a shitsac. He was making a terrible situation worse just by being himself. It was frustrating as hell. I didnt think that killing him would improve things either. The mayor was a product of a system, soone who was good at playing a fucked up ga. He reminded of Doc Hack a little.
Then again, I did cut Doc Hack in half. But that... felt different. It was violence in response to violence. An escalation, where the mayor wasnt.
If it really cos down to it, I dont think Id have a problem introducing the mayor to my sword, I said with a tap to the hilt by my hip. But I think there might be other things we can do first.
Our ride arrived a mont or two later. A driverless car that hovered near the ground and waited for Rac and I to board before taking off and rging back into the traffic above. I didnt even bother trying to make it move faster.
Wherere we going now? Rac asked.
I have a ho... but its under construction right now. Well be going to a hotel. Thats where the kittens are, and Lucy, my girlfriend. You can stay the night, if you want.
I can take care of myself, Rac said.
I nodded. I know. I wont force you, but... well, wait until tomorrow? I have sothing that you might like. A job, of sorts, you might be really good with. Plus we have room service.
Okay, Rac said.
I leaned forwards, elbows on knees, and ignored the incessant beeping of the car trying to tell to buckle my seatbelt. I needed to figure this sewer thing out.
Gomorrah and I could take over the operation, I was sure. So of those matter-reconfiguring machines, a few hundred drones, and a steady supply of materials, and probably a whole heap of stuff I wasnt thinking about and wed control the sewers. Theyd probably run better, and we wouldnt need a mutilated sewer gang to do things for us.
But that was a huge responsibility, the sort of commitnt I wasnt ready to take up, not by a long shot. Hell, I hadnt even asked Lucy to be more than girlfriends yet, I couldnt turn around and take over the critical infrastructure for a city with a population over a hundred million.
So, if we didnt do it, then who would?
The city had proven unable or unwilling to act until it was way too fucking late. That left... so corps? The Family, maybe. They had to have a few samurai that could handle big infrastructure things in their ranks.
Myalis, can you write sothing for ?
I likely can, yes.
I leaned back into the seat. I need a summary of everything weve learned about the Sewer Dragons and the water system for the city. How soon its likely to fail, what needs to be prioritized, all that stuff.
Done.
Right. Can you send that to Deus Ex, and Longbow. Tell them that I have no fucking clue what to do with this whole thing.
ssage sent. I assu youre aware that you could do sothing to alleviate this situation, though at great cost to yourself?
Yeah, I know, I said. I dont like it, and Im pretty sure I wouldnt do a good job of it. Lets look into other solutions before we get locked into becoming so sort of... sewer samurai.
Understood. I think there are a few avenues that you havent yet considered.
Oh? I asked. Trust Myalis to have a hundred solutions to my none. I should have asked her earlier.
Before you take any such step, you should rest. Youre not in a physical state to act just yet. Youre likely to make so critical mistakes if you dont take ti to sleep. Unless you wish for a thod to remove the need to sleep entirely?
I snorted. I like sleeping, I said.
It didnt take long for the car to pull up into the hotel. Rac had her face pressed up against the window as we arrived. Fancy, was her only reply.
Yeah, I agreed as I pulled the door open and stepped out. A small pop-up inford of the credits Id just spent on the ride, and it was only the fresh knowledge that I was rich that kept from wincing at the number of zeros.
Rac scrambled after and we headed for the front entrance.
I noticed plenty of people looking our way, and plenty more of them recoiling or touching their noses once we passed them.
Right, the sll.
Rac followed into an elevator, and I pressed the door-closed button. Myalis, I need sothing for the sll, I said.
There are so low-cost anti-bacterial decontamination sprays available in your DICAL catalogue, in aerosolized form. They should remove the majority of the stench.
That sounds perfect, I said.
My points dropped to 10,704 and I received a small box with a can within it, one that had a big plastic nozzle on the top and so very basic instructions on the side. I sprayed down my side, then up the centre of my body and hoped that the spray was getting everywhere.
Do I still stink? I asked Rac.
I guess, she said. Im used to it.
Fair enough. I gestured for her to turn around. Close your eyes and t-pose for while I spray you down. You can do after.
Rac nodded and did as I asked. Can is running out, she said after a bit. The entire elevator had a haze to it, which I figured was for the best, all things considered. Can I keep it?
Sure, I said as I reached out and pressed the button to our floor. I mostly didnt want Lucy to find slling like shit.
The elevator doors dinged open and Rac and I stepped out and into the corridor leading to my kittens and Lucy. I felt like I had a weight lifted off my shoulders.
Still, I had so sense of responsibility. I sent off a text to Gomorrah, telling her that I was ho, and that I needed a few hours of sleep. She replied with a thumb-up emoji, so I figured we were cool.
I knocked.
This is where you are staying? Rac asked.
For now. I bought the top floor of this building not too far from here. But were still fixing that up.
Neat, Rac said just as the door opened.
Lucy was standing there, in a T-shirt and ripped up jeans, her hair a ssy wet poof above her. She stared, then grinned before noticing Rac. Oh hey, you brought another one ho.
I stumbled forwards and pulled her into a hug.
Lucy laughed, and I felt her hands sliding over my armour to return the hug. Missed you too, she said. Where do you want to start?
Where did I want to start? A rant about stupid people, a long discussion about what to do? Maybe so fucking? Food? Those would all feel great.
I want a shower, I decided.
Lucy giggled. I just ca out of it. Should still be nice and warm. Co on.
Uh, this is Rac, I said with a gesture to the girl that followed in. She was staring at the other kittens who were perked up and staring right back. She also glanced at the cat-cha currently acting like a sphynx before the fridge. I bet there was a story there.
Hey, Rac said, one hand rising to wave. Sup?
Hi Rac! Junior, can you take care of Rac, please? Lucy asked. She looks like she could use sothing to eat, and a shower too.
Junior looked up from where she was zoning out on the couch, sighed, then bounced to her feet. Why cant you ask Daniel? she muttered as she approached Rac.
Co on, kitty Cat, Lucy murmured. Lets get you all cleaned up.
She pulled after her, and despite the armour and all the gear, there was nothing I could do to resist her tug.
***
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