Group Theory and Experimentation

[trustycrowbar]

Who: Gordon, Shantae, Ronnae
What: SCIENCE! And other antics.
Where: The mansion basement labs.
When: End of Summer
Warnings: Good ideas, bad ideas, non-traditional relationships, big honkin' lasers.

"Hey, could you hand me that micrometer?"

The Labs had definitely taken shape over the past few months. What once was a large empty basement was now abuzz with diodes and tracks, makeshift displays made out of old televisions and projectors. Gordon was proud of how far it had come, and he was thankful for Ronnae's help. The half-elf was startlingly brilliant.

He was thankful for Shantae being there too, but, to put it gently, that had nothing to do with helpfulness. She was a walking disaster in the lab, but she was such a lovely disaster that it was well worth cleaning up after her. Besides, she was getting better. They haven't accidentally summoned any monsters in weeks...

Comments

[magicdancer]

Okay, gotta play this cool. Shantae watched Gordon go, and then sat on a desk close to Ronnae as she worked. "So... Gordon's really cute, isn't he?" she asked expectantly.

[shiest_sunbeam]

Having already grabbed a few tools and items and already with goggles down, Ronnae idly tinkered just as her ears perked up at the question. Thankfully, tinkering always did wonders for her skittishness.

"Cute?" She paused for just a second before turning back to her work. "No, I don't find him cute. But... Definitely handsome." Much unlike what she'd normally respond like when not at work, seems that when she's calm she can talk more normally about things.

[magicdancer]

Huh. That was easy... She took notice of how open and honest Ronnae was being when she was working. With her mind focused on her task, she was less guarded than Shantae expected.

...UFUFUFUFUFU...

"He is, isn't he? So, so handsome... You two work really well together. So natural. I bet there's a lot you'd be able to do together..."

[shiest_sunbeam]

"Hm? Of course. Good engineers can accomplish what most would think are miracles." she continued on, the whirr of the tools and the sparks come out of the items in front of her and a look of sheer concentration.

"I mean, engineering back where I came from can pretty much do almost anything. And whatever we can't do, I'm sure they're working on a way to do it and eventually with continued tinkering should be able to!" she smiled a little.

[magicdancer]

"That's... true," Shantae admitted. "But I was thinking a bit more of the private, one-on-one kind of things," she said, leaning in closer and trying to sound suggestive.

Subtlety? What witchcraft is THAT?

[shiest_sunbeam]

"Private? Like secrets?" Ronnae gave a small moments pause and it almost looked like she caught onto what Shantae was saying before nodding and coninuing to work. "Like working on special schematics or building blueprints? I mean... I don't think I'd mind sharing some of mine." You should probably take her toys away Shantae.

[magicdancer]

"Actually, I was thinking more like," Shantae began, trailing off a bit before leaning in to whisper right into her ear. "...In the bedroom." There was a time to dance around the questions. Shantae quickly decided that this was not one of them. And we all know she had amazing judgment.

[shiest_sunbeam]

The initial reaction was one of confusion. Her ears had perked , standing straight but mostly due to Shantae's closeness and the whisper. Soon she stoped working and the color of her ears began to deepen and if Shantae was still close she could feel the warmth rising. While no words came from the halfbreed at first, the clear look of embarrassment could be seen even with the black glass goggles she was sporting.

"W-What? N-No no, I mean why would you think?" That definitely was not something she was expecting out of Shantae. Didn't they recently begun a relationship?

[magicdancer]

That did the trick. Sometimes things needed a kick in the butt, as it were!

"I'm just curious, that's all!" she said, voice in no way accusing. She backed off, watching Ronnae's reactions with a broad smirk. "I mean, you two get along so well, I wondered... You sure you've never thought about that?" she asked eagerly.

[shiest_sunbeam]

"I no, o-of course not!" Which was true... well not really. Partially! It's complicated!

Her face was now a much darker shade and she looked around embarrassed. "Maybe."

"B-but that's not the point, why the question n-nothing's going on between us if that's w-what you're asking!"

[magicdancer]

"Oh I know, and you're very thoughtful to ask," Shantae replied. The expression on her face was ADORABLE. It made Shantae giggle at the sight. So she knew this next question was going to make her explode.

"But I'm wondering... Would you LIKE there to be?" she suggested deviously.

[shiest_sunbeam]

PASSES OUT

"Wh-what?" Okay, she was thoroughly confused and it showed. Not only was she embarrassed but now wondered if Shantae was just teasing her or was serious.

Being that she was one of the few friends she had here, it was perfectly plausible for it to be both!

Maybe she should play it safe, just in case. "I... I d-don't know. Like I said, you guys are in a new relationship and that's wonderful I'm s-super happy about it. So I just don't want there to be anything odd or awkward...." She shifts a bit uncomfortably in place and tries to busy herself with some of the bits and pieces that were around her desk.

[magicdancer]

"I know," Shantae said with a big smile. "But I also know you're one of the best friends I've got here, sooo... If it were you, I wouldn't mind! Besides, I think you're cute too~" she said with a wink. Sorry Ronnae, not getting out of this that easy.

[shiest_sunbeam]

The words made Ronnae stop, tool dropping thankfully onto the desk as the girl shivered very slightly and let out a small sigh. "You shouldn't s-say things like that. It's unfair." She almost regretted saying what she was thinking but opted to go with it.

Looking down, she smiled faintly. "I'm not quite sure why I even said that, s-sorry. But that's something that... w-well I've known for a while that it's an act that requires a l-lot of trust." She shifted a bit in place and rubbed her arm instinctively. "And understanding." And while she trusted them, individually and together. Wasn't their relationship just recent? Could they include an aspect from the outside into it right now?

"Not saying I'd mind I just... It's... complicated."

[magicdancer]

Shantae paused, blinking. "Hm? Why's it unfair?" she asked curiously.

She shook her head. "It's okay. I just... want to make sure you knew," she explained. "We both like you a lot, and I just hate for secrets to be between friends."

[shiest_sunbeam]

"Hey, no, I... I get it." She has just had some bad experiences when people do things on impulse... Not that she believes Gordon or Shantae would knowingly.

She offered a small sheepish smile. "I would be fun to give it a try though right?" With the obvious 'but maybe a bit later when it's not as awkward' type of tone. "T-thanks Shantae... F-for trusting me you know? It means the world."

Meanwhile...

[trustycrowbar]

Thump.

Gordon let his head hit the cupboard as the coffee brewed. Shantae was urging him to tell Ronnae how he felt to her. Furthermore she was interested in Ronnae herself. That was a lot to take in at once.

Not that he didn't like the idea of the three of them together. Christ, now that he realizes it, it was... Second, maybe third on his list of fantasies. (The other two involved slave Leia costumes and antigravity. Hey man, don't judge.) However, Ronnae was hard to read. She may not even be interested, or at least that she hadn't thought about it herself, and there was no possible way for him to suggest it out of the blue that didn't make him seem like a dirtbag. He'd spent most of his time at that coffee cart rehersing and verifying this fact.

He gathered the mugs of coffee and tea. Double sugar and cream for Shantae, black with sugar for Ronnae, and for him? Plain black and so strong it actually sloshes more slowly than it should. Maybe he shouldn't say anything... But somehow that seems worse. Well. Here goes nothing.

"Here you are." He heralded, rounding the corner with the drinks and oblivious to whatever he finds.

[magicdancer]

"It's okay," Shantae replied with a smile. "Maybe one day we'll give it a try. But I don't want to push you into something you're not comfortable or ready for. You're a great friend, and that's more important to me than anything."

She hopped up to hug Ronnae, just as Gordon returned with the coffees. She let go of Ronnae, going up to help Gordon with the cups. "Thanks, hon!" she said, beaming as she got up on her toes to kiss him. He was much taller than her, after all. "Oh, are you okay? You look like you bumped your head!"

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae nodded at Shantae and she had opened her mouth to say something when Gordon peeked in and she lost her voice.

Quickly fixing her goggles and trying to shake the embarrassment and promtply failing, she reached for her drink and nodded quickly.

"T-thanks, much appreciated."

[trustycrowbar]

"I'm fine. Just a little, ah... distracted." He says quietly, scrubbing the hair on his forehead with his off-hand.

Then she notices Ronnae and her change of demeanor. Uh oh.

"...You guys got to talking?" Then he regards Ronnae herself. "I, uh... I hope we didn't make you nervous. It was hard for me to even broach the subject. I think I have a feeling that I know what she said... and she's right."

[magicdancer]

"It's okay, Gordon," Shantae reassured him, getting up to hug him. "We talked things over. She needs some time..."

She lowered her voice though, and said to him, "Sorry about this... But I'm totally going to make it up to you tonight. In any way you like~"

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae shook her head quickly and offered an awkward laugh. "N-no it's fine. It's... actually nothing new to me. It just... It take a bit of time and understanding." Especially to new relationships.

Though whatever whispers Shantae attempted to do, enhanced senses betrayed the secrecy and Ronnae's face reddened and she tried to act like she didn't hear anything.

"S-so, I'll... J-just get back to work! T-Thanks again for the coffee!" And off to her desk she goes. Hurriedly. With her coffee.

[trustycrowbar]

"'Nothing new?'" He puzzles, glancing to Shantae after Ronnae retreats. Things were slowly starting to come into focus about her. It seemed that whatever happened last time made her hesitant to do it all over again.

[magicdancer]

"We probably shouldn't pry," Shantae replied quietly to Gordon. "If she wants to tell us, that's her decision." But like Gordon, that knowledge DID actually make things come into a bit more perspective. If Ronnae had a history with this sort of thing that ended badly for her... It wouldn't help if they pried and put her into a situation she was uncomfortable with, despite how they might have felt about her.

[shiest_sunbeam]

If asked, Ronnae would talk but it wasn't something she'd just start talking about. Mostly, she was glad and more at ease that it was something they at least seemed to understand and she appreciated that.