Viktor suppressed a very non-tactical whimper as the dog catcher led him through the castle façade's side entrance. Her dog trainer uniform hugged curves his tactical systems absolutely refused to stop analyzing. The leash tugged as he slowed to admire a couple wrapped in a passionate embrace near the entrance.
He'd seen some strange things in his time, but this was a new level of weird, even for a Veridian party. As he was dragged forward, he couldn't help but notice two women locked in a passionate embrace. One, a vision in a slinky, emerald dress, was laughing, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The other, a striking brunette in a tailored suit, responded with a playful smirk. Their bodies were intertwined, a dance of intimacy that was both alluring and intoxicating. Viktor couldn't tear his eyes away as he followed arms whose hands disappeared suggestively. He stumbled forward a few steps resisting like a dog needing to pee. The dog catcher snapped at him but he didn’t hear the words.
He was consumed by the way the couple moved together, their bodies effortlessly fitting together like puzzle pieces. A stray strand of hair fell across the brunette's face, and the other woman gently tucked it behind her ear with her exposed hand. Their eyes staring into each others like a silent promise of what was to come. Viktor felt a strange pang of envy, wishing he could follow those two around on a leash. He'd never seen this particular type of raw, unfiltered passion. The woman in the emerald dress leaned in, her lips brushing against the other's ear. A shiver ran down Viktor's spine as he imagined the words she whispered, the secrets shared.
"Eyes forward, soldier," his handler commanded, tugging hard on the leash causing Viktor to choke, stumble forward, and almost complain before catching himself. He hadn’t realized it was a choker collar, much more than a merely decorative prop. The catcher’s eyes held no amusement, just stern authority as she made eye contact and made sure he was obedient. The rhinestone leash jingled as she loosened it, guiding him around the edge of the dance floor.
"Tactical observation requires full situational awareness, ma'am," Viktor managed, then caught himself.
"I think you mean to say... *enthusiastic tail wag*," she quipped. "Less talking, more following. And stop calculating optimal engagement vectors for every woman you see or you’ll be taken out front again."
"But the tactical possibilities—," he started before the chain silenced him again.
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Maya sipped champagne and let the music wash over her, each note carrying permission to simply exist in this moment. A live strings section wove through electronic beats effortlessly, while floating lights turned colors again, painting everyone in gentle gold as the strings collectively rose into a crescendo. She tried not to watch a couple at the bar near her - one woman trailing fingers down her partner's arm with such tenderness that yearning filled Maya's chest. Their intimacy felt foreign and familiar, like a language she'd forgotten she knew.
Near the quantum-glass dance floor, another pair caught her attention. The taller woman's elegant profile reminded her of Sarah, though the resemblance faded when she turned. Still, Maya couldn't look away from how naturally they moved together, bodies finding shared rhythm without thought. She'd never seen such unselfconscious joy in human movement.
The music shifted - strings fading into something deeper, more primal. A presence materialized at Maya's side, radiating quiet confidence. "Dance with me?" The woman's voice carried warmth without pressure. Athletic grace marked every line of her body, from defined shoulders to the way she extended her hand. Maya hesitated only a moment before accepting, eager to join the people on the dance floor and grateful for an invitation to jump in. The woman's fingers were strong but gentle as she drew Maya forward. Up close, her beauty was striking - high cheekbones, bright eyes with a hint of playful mischief. She moved with a runner's economy of motion, each gesture precise yet natural.
"I'm terrible at this," Maya confessed as they began to move.
"There's no terrible in dancing," her partner smiled. "Only feeling." She guided Maya with subtle pressure at the hip and shoulder, teaching without words how bodies could speak.
As they moved, the dance floor became a living, breathing entity, responding to their every step. It was more than just a surface; it was a canvas, a mirror, a portal. With each movement, the floor shifted and changed, its colors swirling and morphing in response to their emotions. It was as if the floor could feel their joy, their passion, their bodies intimately. They were no longer just dancing; they were interacting with a sentient, responsive surface. The experience for Maya was exhilarating as her senses became one with the other dancers. Maya found herself relaxing into the dance, her engineering mind quieting as something older and deeper took over her arms and hips. Her partner moved them through the crowd with effortless grace, maintaining perfect distance - close enough to share warmth, but rarely close enough to feel hit on.
"You're a natural," the woman murmured, and Maya felt the words vibrate through her chest when they nearly touched. The music shifted again, slowing. Other couples pressed closer as the dance floor filled with those waiting on the side, pressing everyone closer together as they moved closer to each other. Maya thought she saw Sarah, but realized it was a glimpse of the woman that just looked like her. She looked down as she became wrapped in her partner's embrace, the ache in her chest intensifying. When she looked out in another direction, a large man dressed in a scantily clad Dalmatian costume was being jerked by a leash, chastised as he stared at a couple, tongue mostly hanging out. Before a sense of disgust could set in, she thought she recognized him as Viktor. Instead of disgust, she became upset with her clouded perceptions, Viktor is injured and in a wheelchair, she thought.
Maya finally saw her dance partner for the first time, realizing she was a Symmetrist. Her confusion grew pushing her into her own mind. She struggled to not look up at the dancers around them that she kept staring at, then rising guilt of her role in yesterday’s events in the face of her kindred dance partner’s kindness. She began having difficulties standing. Her partner's hand slid to the small of her back, steadying her. "Stay with me," she whispered.
Her eyes held understanding of Maya's confusion, misreading it as shared loss. "We all feel it," her partner said, “we all have to lean on each other.” Maya's guilt surged - this beautiful stranger thought she was mourning their district's collapse, not hiding from the responsibility of it. It definitely steadied her. But before she could respond, soft lips pressed against hers. The kiss was gentle, almost reverent. For one eternal moment, Maya forgot everything but the press of those lips, the strength of the arms holding her, and the way the world disappeared, narrowing to points of contact.
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Then reality crashed back. Maya stumbled backward, mumbling apologies as she fled toward the restroom. Behind her, her dance partner's face fell from hope to a realization that she had misread the moment horribly.
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Above them, in her private suite, Cassandra smiled like a satisfied cat. "Your engineer certainly knows how to make an exit," she purred to Sarah. "Though Nova usually has better luck with first kisses."
Sarah's hand tightened around her glass as she watched Maya's retreat. Beside her, Cassandra shifted, the museum key's outline visible beneath silk lingerie in Sarah’s enhanced vision - suddenly much harder to obtain. “What are you trying to prove,” Sarah inquired.
“Apparently nothing, she is clearly smitten with you,” Cassandra said confidently. “Look how she keeps staring at that woman whom I also arranged to be near her. She looks like you, don’t you think?” Cassandra smiled at her own design.
“Not at all,” Sarah said though the resemblance was remarkable and the dress even looked like hers. "Another drink?" Sarah forced her voice to remain light. She needed a new plan now, one that would cost her far more than she expected. Somehow she imagined the museum key would be in a desk or satchel that she could grab discretely and quickly. But now, as if Cassandra expected her intentions, she felt like a rat in a cage, exposed, naked, desperate for the cheese that hid within the maze and inaccessible without performing tricks she would have to learn for the first time.
Cassandra watched her carefully. Sarah looked up and smiled casually, attempting to maintain her practiced demeanor. Sarah didn’t like eavesdropping on Maya like that, less that Cassandra had arranged a test of the woman she arrived with. Maya didn’t deserve that tonight. Sarah was committed to making the night glorious and relaxing for her, but now she was caught up in a game with her ex-lover. Her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. Cassandra looked away disinterested, as a cat does when her prey falls quiet, disappointed that her trap didn’t yield better results. Sarah’s plus one did not take the bait, apparently deeply committed while Sarah’s reaction demonstrated her feelings were not available this evening.
“Shall we have a drink,” Cassandra said expectantly, a gentle command for Sarah to get it as she returned her gaze after a feigned disinterest, unrelenting and insistent.
Sarah didn’t miss the beat as her tactical training began taking over and she needed an answer to this puzzle. She shifted her weight uncrossing her legs, feeling Cassandra’s eyes follow her. She rose, her movements deliberate, her body swaying with practiced grace, tantalizing in a display of confidence. She attempted to make each step a silent promise before looking back over her shoulder. Cassandra was watching but looked away uninterested. Sarah could read her old friend well and was disappointed in herself for showing a reaction to Maya. Seduction was no longer an option.
She moved towards the bar, catching her reflection in the mirror. She looked beautiful, powerful, and undeniably alluring. Even if Cassandra had seen through her with the intricate staging and manipulation of Maya, she still had her moves. Such an elaborate effort, Sarah thought. Cassandra loved watching people and it was no surprise she had cameras everywhere to show Sarah. Cassandra closely watched intention. The realization that she couldn’t easily seduce Cassandra narrowed her options to none. She reached the bar as a new and much more dangerous idea emerged.
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Maya fled at full speed to the nearest restroom, her heart pounding in her chest. The unexpected kiss had thrown her world off balance. A rush of emotions flooded her, a mix of surprise, confusion, and a strange sense of exhilaration. She splashed cold water on her face, the icy sensation soothing her racing thoughts. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't help but smile.
Her first kiss by a girl had been unexpected, but also thrilling. Her analytical mind, usually so precise, struggled to categorize this new sensation. A warm blush crept across her cheeks as she realized the depth of her feelings. She was flattered, yes, but something more—a sense of wonder, a stirring of desire.
Taking a deep breath, she practiced her response: "I'm flattered, but I'm with someone tonight." Her voice sounded steady and polite. She rehearsed, each time with growing confidence as she imagined the conversation, the potential awkwardness, disappointment, and rejection. But she was determined to handle it with grace and maturity. Her smile shifted from delight to a disinterested kindness she used at work.
With renewed purpose, she stepped out of the restroom as the music swelled into high energy levels, changing the entire room's ambiance. “I’m so sorry,” her dance partner didn’t give her a chance to say anything. She had been waiting off the dance floor, “I completely misread that…” Maya couldn’t have imagined a better outcome, her smile blossomed into genuine appreciation if not joy. Nova returned her smile with a delightful twinkle, “Friends? Us Symmetrist girls better stick together.”
“Of course,” she was grateful for the connection. “My name is Maya.”
“Nova,” replied her partner, grabbing Maya and leading her again. Maya recognized the name immediately as one of the stars in yesterday’s annual run. Scores of questions popped into her mind, but Maya let them fade, they both had gone through a lot and deserved a night of carefree celebration. As they danced, Maya felt a strange, almost magnetic pull drawing them ever closer.
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Sarah returned to the table, her heart pounding. She handed the drink to Cassandra, her fingers lingering on the glass waiting to gently touch in the handoff. "Here," her voice soft, barely audible. "To new beginnings."
Cassandra smiled, her eyes sparkled in amusement. “So you have a donation in mind for the museum? I had hoped for a little more adventure tonight, but perhaps that will wait for another time. Que Sera Sera.”
Sarah's heart raced. Sarah admired Cassandra's unwavering belief, her vision, her ability to inspire others. Even if she disliked her games, her unwavering dedication to advancing the city culture swayed her deeply in appreciation and love. She wouldn’t be able to maintain this ruse for much longer, coming close to faltering several times. If it wasn’t for Ava’s overreaching wisecracks in her implant, clearly from boredom, she could’ve gotten lost in Cassandra’s plan. It was the only reason Ava hadn’t been muted.
Sarah leaned into her close and dear friend whom they had shared so much together. Their breath mingled as Sarah kissed her cheek channeling her genuine appreciation while suppressing all other feelings within a box, locked far away. She sat back only slightly, enough to lift her glass, nearly cheek to cheek. “To friendship,” she said as she touched glasses and drank fully, exposing her neck near Cassandra’s lips. It was an old invitation and a familiar gesture. She felt her friends' eyes upon her, questioning, and yearning. She drained the glass empty, placing it on the table in front of them before looking out over the city. She waited.
As expected, Cassandra did the same. Just like old times, she thought. Sarah leaned back in, taking her glass while the other arm reached around and embraced her. Cassandra’s curious and expectant eyes watched closely. Her breath warm against her now, Cassandra couldn't help but be drawn in. Sarah whispered, “I’ll take good care of you.” Cassandra looked up as her expression changed in a moment of brief realization before she faded to black. Sarah lowered her slowly onto the chase in a relaxed position and retrieved the key from its secure location.