Izime looked out the window, the sun casting no shadows as it'd yet to creep past noon.
The day was deceptively bright for the chill outside the Centropolis apartment complex. Smiling fondly he looked down into the alley behind the very familiar shopping center wondering how things had gotten this far.
The AI’s face was deceptively calm for the level of upset he felt at himself. Barb had finally kicked his ass out of his funk a bit too late to stop any of the problems that were looming over Psyis now, and it was all his fault. Too caught up in his head, running simulations on what ifs so long he’d let what was nearly pass him by.
Literally locked up at the thought of what might come to make any moves against it; now those problems were two steps ahead of him.
What's worse was trying to hide the fact that Psyis was throwing him into a fit every time she came into the room.
Learning to walk had been a long process but he’d had the grace of learning with assistance and could be called physical therapy. Dealing with the massive spike of oxytocin in his system just because he knew she was around was honestly torture; the following tidal wave of testosterone was like going crazy and consenting to it.
Thankfully he’d had Cradle fabricate a vasopressin inhibitor so he’d at least not go completely insane and be turned into a drooling monkey over the woman permanently. Sadly the effects only lasted about a half hour at best, wearing off even faster under direct stimulation.
The AI took another puff of the medicine before tucking it back in his pocket. Immediately he felt the tense guilt on his shoulders washing away along with the searing memory of what he’d seen in the bathroom.
Psyis pulled her shirt the rest of the way down as she left her bedroom, ears still recalling how Izime’s heart had been pounding holding her.
Walking down the hall she glanced into the kitchen and away from her balcony door where she could feel Izime standing in the living room. Wondering if she was the only one who still felt that bit of tension or if Izime would have lost his in the time she’d dressed.
Glancing down at her attire nervously, Psyis tried to find the confidence she'd just had in throwing on a shirt and her laciest set of underwear. She'd even looked at the other clothes available and decided against them on purpose.
The article had already accused her of it, and it was clear Izime wanted her too but just lacked the confidence apparently.
His resistance felt token at this point so Psyis decided to test the waters, opening her mouth to call to him from the hall.
Still not quite entering the same space to share it with him unsure of how he’d react to her excuse for clothing. Magenta brushed Psyis' mostly purple cheeks as she apologized half-heartedly, “Sorry about that I, uh…, well you probably know I get a little out of hand when I’m emotional.”
Only half-heartedly as she wasn’t entirely sorry for what had happened in the bathroom or for making it clear she was available for him.
She’d already admitted to herself that breaking down in Izime’s arms had felt far more comforting than crying in her shower. Psyis wasn’t going to change her mind on returning to them now to seek a different kind of release. Though she certainly wasn’t going to tell him so directly either, even if it was stressing her out doing so.
Kind of like his little trick on mercury; the evidence was there if he felt like digging into it; not that he’d need to dig far as she was standing right in front of him half-naked already.
“No that was my bad I just heard you and got worried,” Izime said as he turned, watching Psyis enter the room before glancing away again just as quickly. He almost wished Psyis had stayed in the hall, already feeling his blood pressure rise again just because Psyis was in the same room.
The still damp lines her gills had left on the white tank top only underlined soft curves that demanded his attention. The sheer white fabric she’d covered herself in hiding nothing, not even her altering stripes.
The effect while not intentionally seductive was certainly an offer he was having a hard time refusing. The AI looked away from her a bit ashamed of his earlier actions, more ashamed of his current reactions.
The alien’s proximity decided it was time for a high tide of pair-bonding hormones as she stood in what was clearly her ideal of innocent lingere. Izime took a sip of the glass of water in his hand, coughing slightly as he told Psyis he’d be a bit more aware before triggering such a response, “I’ll knock next time.”
Almost asking that she’d knock instead, clearly comfortable in bearing her skin to him now that it had happened once.
Cradle I’m gonna need another vasopressin inhibiter before the nights out.
Izime asked his bond to start fabricating a second batch of the hormonal blockers through his bond. If the AI had to handle the biological side of things and a half-naked Psyis, he was going to knock at least one of the key links out of his primate brain.
Keeping the oxytocin would still let him portray all the lovey-dovey things he needed as a human. Cutting out the vasopressin should keep him from becoming irrational and possessive like his body was suggesting.
Glad he was able to at least think rationally even though he couldn’t quite pull his eyes away from Psyis; Izime unconsciously palmed the inhaler in his pocket.
“Izime?” Psys asked, watching a bit embarrassed as Izime didn’t bother looking up to meet her eyes.
Looking down she realized what had his attention, her shirt doing little to hide her darker colors. She smiled, not quite covering herself as he’d literally just gotten an eyeful of her. The woman feeling a bit proud, Izime succumbing to inherent man-brain after seeing her still half-dressed.
The alien was a bit worried as the AI seemed to be malfunctioning a bit, almost steaming as he tried to catch his breath.
“What happened that upset you so badly?” Izime coughed trying to keep his attention where it belonged, the dose of inhibitor he’d just taken diluting as Psyis teased him with a view of her backside.
“Steven,” Psyis said as she walked into the kitchen to get her own glass of water, standing on her tiptoe to reach into her cupboard to grab a mug. Finally, back on her feet, she pulled at the elastic that’d ridden slightly, continuing to talk as she let the water run cold before filling her cup. “He got a hold of the footage from the Station somehow.”
“That’s probably my fault,” Izime explained Psyis' unspoken question, clearly curious why the cameras on the station hadn’t malfunctioned. “I’ve been stretching Cradle a bit thin since I started breathing again.”
“The tabloids are running an article that says some really really bad stuff about me.” The alien didn’t want to go into the specifics of what she’d been accused of, instead of detailing what the press was riling the public’s support for, “Jamestone’s running a hit piece that's demanding I step down from the League.”
Thinking about what Steven was so afraid of Psyis made her decision once more, turning and walking into the living room to join Izime. She stopped just on the other side of her coffee table, taking a sip of the cool water before sitting it down.
The AI was too distracted with this new problem he wanted to solve to even attempt her seduction right now.
“Whats the chance that a major news spot picks it up?” Izime asked while moving the various screens around, reading along as quickly as the search results came up. Checking the trending articles thankfully didn’t reveal much beyond their country cafe photo, yet.
Still, there were more and more comments popping up that their little outing was more deviant than proper in the comments. The AI quickly pulled those accounts information and checked their history to see what’d inspired the remarks.
“Pretty good seeing as there’s already that social media post about us trending.” Psyis walked over, reaching out and catching one of Izime’s hands to stop the weird waving he was doing. Asking a bit worriedly about the AI that seemed to be swatting invisible flies, “What are you doing?”
“Checking the internet,” Izime explained, as he used his other still free hand to continue browsing the windows. Finally reacting as he got into the corner of the web that was being salacious enough to post the tabloid directly, “OK, there are a few opinion pieces out already but nothing solid on you beyond allegations abo… what the fuck!?”
“Yea, it is not good.” Psyis curled into Izimes chest taking another deep breath of the scent of Izime, taking advantage of his distraction to enjoy him unabashedly. The AI’s particular toasty cedar scent mixing with the lingering hints of Kansas on him was particularly comforting, reminding her of home and this something new she was starting.
“No it's not, the masses are going to flip over a sideways claim like that.” Izime brushed at Psyis hair, running his thumb over the slightly rougher patch where she’s skipped shaving as he said, “We need to do something, see if we can get it pulled and force Jamestone to release a counter statement.”
Psyis nodded pulling away from Izime who was clearly in comfort mode just like she’d suspected. That lingering tension was nowhere in his body even as she’d been caught pressed into him.
Opening one of the drawers on her kitchen island she rummaged around finally finding the card she’d been given years ago. Walking back over she held it out to Izime, still silently considering how she could entice him into something more than talking about the articles and news.
“Whats this?” Izime asked as he took the card from Psyis, looking down to read the embossed words on the little paper rectangle.
“The number for my PR manager,” Psyis explained, waiting patiently for Izime to finish chewing over the same thing that’d tied her up mentally for hours. She didn't want to rush him as she was about to become pushy enough to compare to her irritating EX, the woman decided Izime would need to give a no to stop her.
If he didn’t then that just meant that his answer was a maybe and she needed to try harder. Psyis nerves twisting a bit, whether in anticipation or because she was pulling some of the worst parts of her last relationship and bringing them into this new one she didn't know.
“Marcus Kelly?” Izime said as he looked at the card, closing all the windows he had open. Finally looking back towards Psyis to ask, “How freaked out is this dude going to be if he has to talk to someone with more than two arms?”
Izime's thoughts on solving the tabloid issue vanished as Psyis locked her eyes on him aggressively, the air instantly charged with electricity. The look in her eyes made it clear she wasn't thinking about when or who called her manager, red pupils dilating and quite openly devouring Izime where he stood.
“He manages an electric-type smurf so he should be able to handle it.” Psyis said as she kept her eyes on Izime.
Bending down slowly letting her shirt hang as Psyis grabbed her cup, letting Izime get a clear view of the two things he’d been staring at just a minute ago. Watching as the blush on his cheeks spread down his neck and up his ears, Psyis hooked the collar with her finger pulling it even lower. The expected accusations of her trying to give him that show or being as blunt as a hammer not coming as he finally snapped out of the hypnotizing effect of her tits.
Psyis smirked playfully wanting to say something, never finding the words as he quickly walked past her to the kitchen. Tilting her head, she wondered if the water in his hands wasn’t enough as he opened her cabinet and pulled out another glass. Her confusion only grew as Cradle flapped over from her TV and coughed up a bunch of tiny white pills out into the glass Izime had pulled from her cabinet.
The thessian walking into the kitchen as well now, worriedly watching as Izime stuffed one of those pills into some inhaler he’d been hiding in his pocket.
“Medicine,” Izime explained, not turning to look at Psyis as he struggled with overcoming the effect her body was having on him. Taking a second so he could calmly exhale Izime put the inhaler to his lips and took a deep puff, the cooling sensation tempering the flaring oxytocin in his blood.
Halting the chain effect that would cloud him with a burst of testosterone, the desire to rip her clothes off faded. The idea of taking Psyis here on the counter fell back down several ranks in his list of possibilities for how the day would go.
“For?” Psyis pulled at Izime as she asked, turning him to face her. Red eyes checked him over, watching as his flushed face quickly became splotchy and then finally cleared.
“I’m having some issues as you can probably tell.” Izime waved off Psyis’ concern not wanting to get into the conversation about the ideas he was trying not to have at all.
Just the way she was pulling at him had his hands clenching in frustration at wanting to return the favor to her, instead, he took another dose of the inhaler.
“You’re burning up… sorry.” Reaching out Psyis felt Izime’s head, the AI flinching a bit. Pulling her hand back a bit she apologized, realizing she’d stopped him from taking a second dose. The thessian asked a question about the alleged medication she suspected wasn’t for any real medical problem. “Should you be taking it on an empty stomach,”
Nothing she couldn’t solve on her own, Psyis knew. Now reaching out and stopping him from taking a third dose, pulling the inhaler from his hands and tossing it onto the opposing counter as she said. “That's enough.”
“No idea actually, probably not,” Izime answered Psyis looking into her eyes before breaking and glancing down. His next question came out weakly as he almost begged to get them both in a public setting, “Do you want to grab lunch?”
Trying to find a reason to leave the apartment and escape the half-naked woman who was pressing into him before they crossed a line they couldn’t uncross.
Thats not a no.
Psyis smiled as she kept working away at Izime’s almost church-like resolve. Almost happily pointing out that leaving would be a bad idea, “The media would love that, a public outing with you when I’ve got the public asking me to step down.”
Leaning her head against his she shook it, asking Izime to consider her job even as she tried to push the same thought as far from her mind as she could. “Do you want me to get fired?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Izime tried to sound confident and keep his breathing steady as Psyis pressed him back into the counter. “If they can’t afford to pay you what you're worth I’ll hire you.”
Leaning back forward into her he tried to give himself a bit of breathing room, not wanting her to feel just how effective her attack was. The slightly awkward tilt of his hips put him even closer to her face, her red eyes separating in slivers of rubies, scarlet, and rich wine tones were like a blitzkrieg to his lines of resistance.
“I thought you didn’t do work relationships.” Psyis breathed out as Izime’s change in posture put her at his disposal, his eyes falling into hers clearly under her powers. Not even her mental ones, the AI obviously only able to think as far as she was just because she’d exposed her own desire for him.
Now faced with denying it to her directly, Psyis imagined he couldn't, not when he could see it in her eyes. The interplay of their breathing only highlighted the fact that all he’d need to do was close that bit of distance. The thessian already unconsciously wetting her lips, nervously watching as he worried his bottom lip with his teeth in similar anticipation.
“HR cleared it after a brief discussion. Just warning you if we do bond there will be a step-child of sorts, its about two and a half feet tall and eats cellphones.” Izime said, informing Psyis of the child he had with him who shared the same connection he was about to create with her. His thoughts of leaving vanished as he felt her arms wrap around his neck, muffling the warning sirens of sense that were still blaring in his skull.
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“Are you sure you want that, it's not a part of our deal.” Psyis closed her eyes letting Izime lead her in, his intentions clear in how he was caressing her cheek and adjusting her angle to meet his lips.
“It's not but I’m also not going to half-ass this thing with you... you were already crawling wherever you wanted in my head anyway.” Izime shook his head, etching how Psyis looked in his memory.
Making sure that the way she was flushed near pink in anticipation of his kiss was caught forever and remained so with him alone. It was a simple kiss but one she'd already technically stolen from him, now something he'd use to his advantage to give her the first real gift of their relationship.
“Izime that was one ti-” Psyis opened her eyes a bit terse at the accusation her voice faltering and lips pouting a bit when she realized what Izime meant. The level of unspoken communication between them was deep enough to grasp the inside joke turned flirt The AI explained even as it was clear she understood the compliment now for what it’d been.
“I meant I can’t stop thinking about you.” Izime said, leaning in as quick as he dared, to press his lips to Psyis’ and activate the lingering bits of tech she’d stolen from him.Sending the nanites she’d acquired while giving him CPR a pairing request before pulling back and sending her a test message over their new line.
Kicking the imaginary you out of my head is getting old.
Psyis felt Izime’s thoughts push through even though her entire being was focused on her lips seared for that split second when she’d thought he’d caved. Opening her eyes as the moment of affection she’d intended to deepen had already vanished from her with far too fast to satisfy.
Closing her eyes as a different and unexpected wave took her. The thessian was a bit confused as even though Izime had separated from her she could still feel his presence like a neighbor to her own mind. A strange kind of intimacy that paralleled the kiss she’d been left wanting over, the alien tried to confirm the new connection.
Izime?
The thessian sent the thought as she normally did, unaware of the emotional flow that was included with her subscription to Izime’s mental communications. Stepping forward as she tried to pick back up that unspoken communication, her lips finding a finger instead as the AI stopped her as if he was shushing a child muffling her and the line he'd just turned on.
“So do we go and make the news some more or?” Izime asked as he stopped whatever Psyis had intended to do with her foggy eyes. Smiling brightly as he heard Psyis message come back through crystal clear, that clarity now returning to her red eyes as well.
The various minds on the server between the three of them playing nicely for now with little to no cross-talk between his line with Psyis and the pre-existing line with Cradle.
The AI unaware Psyis was leaking her own intentions as she tried to insinuate that she’d rather finish the thought his kiss had brought to mind. The bond excited the thessian on a level she'd never felt, now testing her new psychic partner's defenses accidentally.
“We should probably stay inside, I’m going to order something just tell me what you want.” Psyis pulled at Izime’s jacket not wanting to ask directly as she tried to drop another hint for the AI, “Besides I don’t want to put on more clothes Izime.”
If he was hungry they could eat, if not she wanted to stay in her apartment and at least do what she’d been accused of. Psyis decided to stop playing with her words, using a tactic that’d always worked on Steven. She pressed into Izime trying to spark the same simple responses she expected from a human man, “I promise the dessert is worth it.”
“What if I wanted to make the news some more?” Izime nodded stiffly reason slipping away as he verbally countered her offer, with one of his own. “Throw gasoline on the fire to blaze it out.”
The AI knowing the thessian was agreeing to do something similar, watching as Psyis walked away shaking her head either refusing to listen or giving him a no.
The air around him was tinged with the fruit body wash and the darker notes of Psyis. A smell he’d not known until he’d wound up with a crying naked thessian in his arms after barging into the bathroom. That scent coming across pointedly now, clear and naturally enticing under the chemical smell of strawberries and kiwi. The chemically sweet scent hung over but not masking a note of something else underneath that begged him to chase her.
The AI moved across the room to stop Psyis from making the call, glad he’d taken that medicine as it gave him the willpower to stop her. The inhibitor doing its job quite literally and keeping him reasonable enough to say he didn't want to stay alone with her when they were both so emotionally charged.
Izime’s voice came out a bit hoarse as he asked her to stop tempting him, “Psyis please?”
Psyis turned as she held the phone behind her back, forcing Izime to pin her against the counter if he wanted to keep her from calling the sub-shop. “You’re not saying no Izime, just say it. Turn me down or stop me from calling.”
Izime faltered, his focus drawn from the phone towards the woman he was trying to take it from as she no longer had anywhere to go beyond through him or onto the counter for him.
“I’m going to show you off this time, we can’t just hide from this.” Izime heard the phone hit the counter as she spun his grip around Psyis taking arm instead now that her hand was free. Trying to convince himself that they were going to get lunch even as he was being guided away from the phone to do her bidding.
“You know I’m not hiding Izime,” Psyis shook her head, pressing smooth cotton against rough denim she made it clear how she intended to make her own waves with the press. Feeling Izime’s grip weaken as she directed his attention elsewhere, Psyis guided his hand down the hollow of her neck to where she could fill it with the same treats that’d drawn his eyes.
Breathing out with a needy tone she’d not used since first discovering such pleasures in her youth Psyis finally asked directly, “Come on, let's make one part of that article true.”
“If we don’t get out of this apartment I’m going to break at least one intergalactic law.” Izime warned Psyis as instinct took over. One hand kneading unconsciously as his eyes watched her grinding against him. The AI’s complaints had all the effect of a prerecorded message as Psyis guided him along, his voice weak as he complained. “I care about my career too.”
“Your medicine doesn’t work long does it…” Psyis said tauntingly, feeling Izime slowly OKing everything she wanted his hands to do. The thessian moved his hand down lower granting him clothing-free access to fondle under her shirt as she asked, “What law?”
Condoning her slight manipulations as she tried to distract him further. Her other hand started to work on Izime's clothing now, mottled fingers pulling at his belt loops.
“There's some paperwork that we need to fill out before starting a physical relationship.” Izime heard the words come robotically out of his mouth. His voice coming out as a tense growl, his hand feeling Psyis' taunt muscles under her shirt.
The AI let her hands guide him further off course even as he warned her about the consequences. “The galactic government does care about the off-chance of a new species popping up.”
“I… bought some protection, we’ll be safe.” Psyis knew Izime could feel her words were a lie but she wasn’t just going to say Steven had left them at her house. The connection likely went both ways, as she could feel how superficial his complaints were aside from that one possibility about children.
Pulling on him mentally and tempting him physically now. Psyis wrapped his fear in her desire opening Izime up further to her psychic insinuations, intentionally using her powers for the first time. The AI took to her desires like a fish to water, lifting her onto the counter where she could open to him, tempting him with access that was only hindered by the bits of fabric they’d yet to remove.
That need slamming the connection between them as it over-pressured them both. Blowing out the newly made line and triggering a similar effect to the last time she’d held Izime’s thoughts in her hand. The two were far too love drunk to realize their slowly switching senses as they rushed onwards regardless of the consequences until the backlash hit them.
Psyis tried to think clearly enough to get her hand under Izime’s belt, the chill of her shirt rising contrasting the heat of fingers well past her mid-rift. His hand brushed past her gills to hold her fully just as she managed to get her own handful of him. The expected pleasure came from somewhere lower as sensations passed from a body not her own, the thessian clenched her legs closed and laid back on the counter gasping in surprise.
Your hand.
Your hand.
Izimes mind was too fogged to voice the words aloud as mottled fingers finally worked under his belt. Teal eyes hazing over as he watched her hand slip underneath, a soft groan escaped him as she grabbed him brazenly. Need flared on the right side of his chest instead of where it should have been. A shocking sensation of pleasure sent from nerves his body didn’t have that had him almost collapsing uncomfortably onto Psyis.
Both of them collapsed like used wet rags, panting in shock and excitement at the sensations. Each had a bit of a different take on the feedback their petting had created after Psyis had crossed their powers up joining in with her own connection. She lay there still panting a bit, her body coming back down from the peak it’d nearly crested. Flushed but still wanting more, red eyes on the AI that shared the counter with her.
Izime weakly took another one of those pills, inserting it into the inhaler with a shakey hand before taking two deep puffs; the AI clearly more confused than excited.
“Will that affect me, or I guess us?” The thessian narrowed her eyes as she asked, feeling Izime’s side of the bond numbing a bit. The boiling of his emotions having a lid capped on it as soon as he’d taken his medication, Psyis warned him she was aware of its effects. “Izime… I can feel it.”
“It shouldn’t, it's specifically for humans, and it's only an inhibitor.” Izime shook his head as he answered Psyis question, not feeling the same discomfort she did at having the sensation so halted. The AI briefly considered making an oxytocin inhaler as well, his words betraying how opposed he was to the feeling compared to Psyis, “I may need something stronger.”
Izime reeling still as he tried to sort out just what addresses on his connection had allowed Psyis to become the admin, she’d clearly directed which synapses would fire in his brain. Forwarding everything they were supposed to feel to the wrong users, the confusion shocking any momentary desire right of the AI.
“Take a couple with you, I’ll get dressed and we’ll go out, get some food and... some air.” Psyis said motioning towards the mediation a bit embarrassed at why Izime was taking it at all.
Her breathing slowly calmed, still trying to swim back ashore, lost in the sea that shared pleasure had tossed her into. Eyes drawn to the part of him she’d woken up at last, the effect still visibly obvious as buckling his belt was clearly too difficult to bother with at the moment.
He’d just be re-tenting the problem she’d just discovered, Psyis taking a quick estimate before it’d completely gone back down.
“Really weird.” Izime nodded unaware he was slightly kink-shaming the thessian who had enjoyed the loop immensely. The AI more than a bit embarrassed as he asked her to not gawk at him so openly, “Pi could you not stare?”
“I’m going to go change.” Psyis excused her eyes as she scurried down the hallway toward her room and slammed the door shut. Her mind was more focused on remembering how he’d felt than how he looked standing embarrassed, not that she hadn’t been ogling a bit.
Throwing open her closet door, trying to focus on picking out an outfit quickly, the sooner she got Izime fed the sooner she could drag him back to explore her new bond. Red eyes drawn back to her bedside time and time again, finally breaking down and opening her nightstand drawer.
Psyis nervously pulled out the box Steven had left and unrolled a strip of the foil packages to look at them a bit closer to inspect the labels. Reading over the information they offered before searching on her phone to confirm her suspicions about men’s contraceptives. Her web search was inconclusive beyond men bragging and comments about being irritated with certain brands.
She looked back towards her bedroom door before shaking her head and putting the box back; they couldn’t be that different right?
Izime watched Psyis as she disappeared down the hall before rubbing at his chest. The way his shirt dragged across as he tried to massage away the sensation of Psyis’ nervous system; he’d no idea they were that sensitive.
The AI loaded his inhaler one more, taking another dose of the inhibitor that was calming his own body back down. Though in the tug of war, he felt like the drug was doing little to stop his lizard brain from submitting to Psyis.
The woman was clearly able to get the responses she wanted from him as long as he couldn’t say no. Something Izime just couldn’t seem to say when it came to her. Shoving his lack of willpower aside he called to his bond.
“I guess we should get dressed too,” Izime said with a nod to the raven, holding out his arm so Cradle could work its technological magic on his current outfit. The AI not wanting to even waste time finding some of his nicer clothes as Psyis probably would use the chance as an excuse to do other things instead. Things he wasn't confident he could say no to right now.
He stood still, watching as the reality-altering powers of the Father Hexagon were used to transform his cheap field-work attire into something for fine dining.
Cradle giving a flap of its wings and showering Izime with nanites.
The cheap cotton and denim folded over as their molecular structures were altered into materials Izime and Cradle considered to be more ‘modern’ as galactic-faring individuals.
Crafting a suit suited for the upper class from less backwater systems The black cashmere and woven microfibers used on earth paling in comparison to poly-carbon weaves a nano-thread fabrics. Black matte nearly appeared glossy just because of the almost liquid weave.
The raven tilted its head before deciding to adjust its bond's plumage to something more fitting for their intentions for drawing attention.
“Hey!” Izime cried out as he heard a snip near his ear, turning to see his ponytail coming undone. Giving Cradle a warning glance he allowed a trim, “Just a bit to even it out.”
Pulling at his new suit a bit nervously, Izime allowed his bond to give him his first haircut since coming to this reality. The AI turned as he heard Psyis behind him.
“I suddenly feel underdressed all over again.” Psyis complimented Izime’s new appearance watching as bits of his hair fell down, vanishing with a glow before they hit the ground. About to mention the potential smell assuming magic was involved until she realized there was none.
Watching as bits of Izime’s void swallowed them up as she felt them moving about cleaning his mess.
“You look perfect,” Izime shook his head as he considered the first steps in his plans to turn public opinion on its head about him.
Walking over he playfully brushed a few strands of her mohawk so they fell in front of her face, Psyis looking every bit the frumpy alien in jeans and a hoodie once more.
To slow to stop Izime just in case he was going in for a kiss she'd caught his hand too late, Psyis blew a puff of frustrated air at the hair that was now in the way instead as she asked, “What's the game plan.”
Her gut twisted a bit as she risked a downward glance to check on Izime’s situation. The alien briefly cursed the burdens of being a woman and the AI’s technological advantage. Confirming that Izime was clearly relying on that inhaler.
His hard-on would leave nothing too noticeable and even pass quicker than normal men's would thanks to that drug. Meanwhile, she’d have to purchase a liner to hide her reactions from the public if they got heated all over again.
Psyis kept her irritation to herself, making more plans for when they returned instead.
“Biggest, priciest restaurant I know of, a bit of me being a bad human, and you just being the celebrity you already are.” Izime tapped at his chin, Psyis' look making it clear that this trip had better be worth her while. The thessian’s mind was clearly on something besides food or wanting to listen to his request that they slow down.
Hoping he could bring a bit of a smile to her face Izime revealed his intention to make a splash in Earth's gossip magazines in another fashion, “The King of Knickknacks is taking Psyis on a date.”
“Your dare dawn your alter-ego for me,” Psyis raised her brows pretending to be shocked as Izime tried to weasel in a work-date with her. Looking back towards her bedroom with a bit of sarcasm as she asked, “Should I wear my suit instead?”
“Lux usually likes people to dress a bit nicer when they dine at the SkyCafe but no,” Izime felt his shoulders drop a bit as Psyis was clearly a bit miffed about being turned down. Though she did at least have the self-awareness to realize how snippy she’d gotten, now looking at the shoes instead.
Both standing a bit awkwardly, Izime knew Psyis really did need to de-stress, though maybe not like she was used to in her relationships. All the while he stood feeling pressured by both his own body and her, and feeling like he was losing the fight with both.
He just didn’t want to miss the chance they had right now either but still wanted to enjoy the moments that were supposed to come in between and before that especially. Sorting through the emotional slag to find the core of the issue he tried to convey his emotions through the still-sore bond between them.
If they were going to jump head-first into something he’d at least like to take her on something a bit more proper than the noodle date. Show in some fashion that he had genuine intentions of doing something more lasting and real than privately bedding her, even if it was at her request.
He wanted to make it clear no one was taking advantage and everyone was willing, the easiest way to do that was getting caught with both their personas. Psyis already caught off the clock but in League Orbital with him, now it was time he got caught with her. Then they could move on to making good on those claims and prove that it was just something that happened, not a power dynamic being advantaged.
Izime explained to Psyis how he planned to play off his naive nature the tabloids had tried to underline to his advantage as she knocked her head on his chest, “It might feel like you're out with Steven though. Tonight you're the sweet earth girl, I’m the too-rich intergalactic entrepreneur who’s trying to impress her with his money and connections.”
The AI relaxing against her as they settled their emotional conversation outside of the logistical one they were also having.
“You actually know the Lux Winthor?” Psyis asked as she stepped forward a bit regretful in the way she’d snapped at Izime, able to feel his emotional flinching at her words underneath the stoic reservation he held on his face.
Resting her head on his chest instead of apologizing, hoping her apology could be just as felt as his desire to take her out and enjoy the same moments Steven had with her. Izime’s intentions clouded with something else, likely another one of his plans she sifted through it.
She was a bit sad at finding his jealousy wrapping up his actual intentions. Izime clearly used how Steven had something with her he didn’t; time; to hide his plans for something else deeper.
“I do, Constantinople’s not the only person I sell to, or rather buy from in this case,” Izime admitted as he looked away for a moment a bit ashamed at how easily the psychic was sorting through the bundle he’d sent. Hoping to stop her before she asked about what she’d found Izime changed the topic to her family, “I may have funded some trouble for your family honestly, but Zexxianite has better purposes around the galaxy beyond turning your cousin mortal so I like to buy Lux out every so often.”
“What about the Vidaan?” Psyis asked, a bit more worried about the things Izime never discussed than the things he did and the thing he was dancing around seemed to involve Lux. If he was about to spend a noticeable amount of money that would draw attention to him from off-world, Psyis knew she’d hit the nail on the head when Izime looked away.
Smiling as she quickly sorted through Izime's depth this time to find his little side plots and intentions outside of just postponing her tonight.
“Whatever happens, happens.” Izime shrugged away Psyis worry, being accused of doing anything inappropriate with her would be far worse than inflating Earth's economy with off-world funds. The AI reiterated that he just wanted to make it known they were an item, “I’ve got enough money to buy my way out of any financial issues with them, I just want to draw a different kind of attention to us as a couple.”
He knew galactic news travelled fast but not that fast when it was just Earth gossip. However, there were a lot of eyes on the planet right now, so going out with her should garner a bit of attention.
Looking up to find Psyis looking at him a mix of doubt and confusion, Izime quickly changed his answer thinking he’d gotten the question wrong, “Did you mean Lux? I pay in repairs to his stuff, that suit would take him decades to fix otherwise.”
“Izime what aren’t you telling me about this plan?” Psyis put her hands on her hips not believing that Izime had revealed even the tiniest bit of the trouble his plan would cause. The anti-social man didn’t even like going out let alone to a high-end socialite restaurant.
Now all of a sudden he had dawned a designer suit and insisted on attending one of the poshest villain-owned restaurants in the USA? There was something else going on that she just couldn't quite grasp under it all.
“It might end up with me being taken in for questioning.” Izime gave a side-ways answer not wanting to exactly tell the very independent thessian why. The entire concept and idea behind it would likely clash with her sensibilities, earth's culture being a couple of thousand years behind the rest of the wider galactic community.
“So instead of staying home and…” Psyis rolled her eyes and glanced back down her hall hoping she was clear enough for the dense AI to understand. The entire plan not making sense to her as being a safer alternative if he’d just wind up in lock up, “You’d rather risk spending the night in jail?”
“If we…” Izime nodded down the same hall as Psyis, laying out how his night would go if they decided to just let their biology lead the way, “Jail is a risk anyway, and not even a nice Earth one. I’ll explain a bit over appetizers OK?”
“Are we really going to SkyCafe?” Psyis asked, not sure she wanted to discuss their lack of intimacy while sitting alongside America’s rich and famous. Glancing outside and looking at the lack of shadows to guesstimate the time. The cafe was likely full of patrons who were the most gossipy elites, those not busy ensuring their empires were being maintained.
Reminding Izime of another risk that came to mind as soon as she thought of those who suffered from affluenza, “That's close to Voltham Iz are you sure?.”
Psyis immediately worried that someone else might come crashing into Lux’s cafe if he heard that Izime was intentionally showing her off so close. Izime would be giving Steven the excuse to show in a cowl, seeing as he was once again breaking the League's rules on using his magic.
“It is, I’m banned from Voltham, not its two better-behaved sister cities,” Izime smirked a bit, Psyis narrowing her eyes as she started to suspect him of more than just showing her off. Holding out his hand he looked at Psyis expectantly, “Not scared of the fire a few sparks might are you?”
Psyis took Izime’s hand rolling her eyes as he teased her with his magic.
The thessian did not even have a chance to close her eyes before the world around them blurred away with a snap. The comparative silence of her apartment was replaced with the sounds of surprised chatter and gasps as Izime got the scene he wanted to cause.
The Skycafe's terrace surrounded them already, it was far too late for her to change her mind; swallowing back her fears she stepped along side Izime.
If Steven showed she’d handle him, if anyone else showed… well Izime seemed to have a plan already.