The forge bursts with a bellow of heat.
Sparks leap from anvils, tools clank and clatter, boiling oils hisses in steaming trays.
In the center of the chaos, Vuvi looms over Pip's frame as he lays on a thick, rune-encrusted workbench.
His limbs completely disassembled and his pelvis neatly separated and catalogued on a nearby table while Vuvi works on his torso, her head halfway into his chest as she leans into his open backplate.
She fiddles with his coolant matrix while his core crystal hums quietly on a nearby bench, safely held in a magical containment lattice.
Vuvi pokes her head out of his torso, goggles down, sleeves rolled up, arms deep in his glowing internals.
"Size 3 crystal camp!" she barks.
One of the orcs scrambles through a draw before running over and handing her a strange, arcane vice.
"Wipe!" she snaps.
Penelo hops forward, dabbing Vuvi's forehead with a sweat-stained rag, her face pale and hands trembling. "I'm wiping! I'm wiping!"
In the back of the room, Veena sits calmly at a small table, sipping a cup of tea while she scratches quill to parchment, drawing up a non-disclosure agreement that would prevent the blacksmiths from revealing anything regarding Pip's construction, or face terrible consequences.
"Binding terms complete." she smirks proudly, muttering under her breath. "Section seventeen, clause 45, sub-section 3… 'violation of this agreement may result private and public punishment and/or humiliation, including but not limited to minor arson, flogging, tickle curses...'"
"Perfect." she smiles before glancing up. "How's the upgrades getting along?"
"Shhhhhhhush!" Vuvi snarls. "The smallest misalignment and I'll turn him into a giant, glowing paperweight!"
"Aaah!" Penelo yelps. "No! Not my Pippppp!!"
"Bunny! Stop breathing down my neck, I can taste your breakfast!"
"Sorrrry!"
A few hours later…
The team emerge from the blacksmith's shop just as the second sun dips below the rooftops of Market Town, casting beams of warm gold and lavender light across the streets.
Vuvi walks ahead of the group, arms crossed behind her back, cheeks smeared with grease and a smug grin plastered to her face.
Behind her, Penelo skips along, a plethora of bags hanging from her arms, showing off ribbons and shiny accessories to Veena, who strides gracefully beside her, flipping through her notebook.
Pip trots behind them, perfectly polished, his joints humming with new parts and improved precision. His gait is smoother, his core burns brighter and his new sub-audio system allows him to communicate in new and exciting ways.
He chimes, whistles, boops, beeps and happily hums in harmonic tunes as he walks
"I was really hoping I could get your voice working." Vuvi laments. "But they still don't have the parts. Sorry, Pip."
He beeps then whistles a soft tune filled with forgiveness.
"Looks like you're loving the sub-audio system though." Vuvi smiles.
He whistles approvingly.
Truth be told, he was much happier. A voice might ruin things, but he could handle some chimes and whistles.
He brings up his HUD and reviews his upgrades.
[New Subsystem: Harmonic Tuning Fork - Enables mood-responsive sound tones]
[New Passive: Stamina Flow Overdrive - Increases partner stamina recovery speed by 33%]
[New Module Installed: Adaptive Grip Regulators – Improves massage and intimate control]
[New Module Installed: Adaptive Heating Plates – Allows for Exo-skeleton heating control and tempreture synchronization]
[Cooling Capacity Improved By 35%]
[Thrust Motor Max Output Increased By 70%]
[Skill Upgraded: Thrust Lv. 4 - Thrust Lv.5]
[Skill Upgraded: Sensual Touch Lv.3 - Sensual Touch Lv.4]
He whistles happily.
Until….
"BLACKTHORN!!"
The shout pierces through the crowded street like a tossed blade.
Vuvi flicks around, brow furroughed, then sighs deeply.
"Ahhhh, basilisk balls. Why him?" she groans.
"Vuvela Blackthorn! I knew I recognised that flaming mop-head."
A young cat-kin man, barely Vuvi's age, strolls toward them grinning widely, his coat tails flapping in the breeze, goggles pressed up to the pristinely-styled hair hanging down his forehead, and a large toolbag bouncing at his hip.
Beside him struts a cat-kin woman. Taller, sultry, eyes half-lidded and smokey. Curves for days and a presence wrapped in a form-fitting, shiny leather skirt and perpetual smugness.
She studies Pip like a starving artist looking at a timeless masterpiece.
"Well, well." The cat-kin man smirks. "I heard rumours of a red-head and her golden golem, but to think it's actually you. Still playing with scrap metal, then?"
"Still alive?" Vuvi grumbles. "Pity."
"Oof!" he cries mockingly. "Your words wound me."
"Then your grades should've killed you."
The cat-kin woman snorts. "You've gotten feisty, Blackthorn. I liked you better when you were crying after morning drills."
Vuvi sneers.
"Want me to cut out their tongues?" Veena asks loudly and half-joking as she steps forward, horns sparking.
Vuvi takes a deep breath and sighs. "No. Veeeery tempting… but no."
The cat-kin man scoffs, turning to Pip. "So this is what all the whispering has been about?" He pokes Pip's arm, then his chest, then sniffs him. "Hmph. Crude design, metals seem low-standard, barely even recognize the magic... and… is this wraithglass?" he chuckles. "How quaint."
Pip shoots a golden glare at him before sounding off a combination of angry beeps and chimes.
"You're hurting Pip's feelings!" Penelo cries as she wraps Pip's arm around her and pulls him against her chest. "You're a bully!"
"Pfft! Feelings?! Surely you jest." the cat-boy scoffs. "I don't see what the Alchemist Guild is fussing about. My latest creation is going to be far superior to whatever… that is."
Before Vuvi could fire back a snarling response, he turns on his heel.
"Well, I'll let you get back to your glorified cuddle-golem." he chuckles before trotting off, leaving behind a scent of fruity perfume with a hint of superiority.
"See you at the Guild's showcase," the cat-kin woman adds with a smirk. "If you have the guts to show your face."
She turns, cackling as she struts off, her body bouncing seductively with each step.
Vuvi gives a loud grunt before cursing under her breath, steaming with anger.
Pip heats up too, though for a different reason as he watches the cat-kin woman saunter off into the crowd, her hips swaying hypnotically with each step, casting curves that carve into his neural circuits.
He ejaculates a puff of steam involuntarily, before flicking his hands over his pelvic port in shame.
"Who are they?" Penelo asks as she calms Vuvi with a pat on the shoulder.
"Raenly Mystbern and his sister, Mysa." Vuvi huffs. "Walking traumatic flashbacks."
"You sure you don't want me to assassinate them?" Veena asks with a playfully raised brow, though her eyes show no humour.
"Nah." Vuvi mutters, clenching her jaw. "We'll do something better!"
She turns to Pip, eyes ablaze with the fires of vengeance.
Pip whistles, low and ominous as his eyes flicker a faint crimson.
He gives a shiny thumbs-up with his newly-upgraded hand.
Challenge accepted.