castellae | Ongoing PSL - In-game setting

[ 2B doesn't look at him as they walk, the steady tamping of his boots familiar as they trail behind her. Their pods suspend themselves dutifully around the both of them, steadily orbiting and unbothered by the steady downpour even as it quickens and intensifies.

She says nothing as he talks, grateful for the way the roar of the rain almost drowns out his voice. Her combat visor analyzes and feeds her information even as she slides down a steep incline of rubble, keeping her body bent in order to stop herself from tumbling. Her clothes are soaked, her hair matted to her forehead and neck as she straightens, her internal systems maintaining equilibrium against the inclement weather as she takes note of the marks 9S has provided upon their shared objective map.

It doesn't take long for them to come upon their first mark: a mostly-intact apartment building with a collapsed roof, its upper floors falling into one another while its foundation holds steady. 2B steps into the lobby proper, her heels sloshing through the rainwater that managed to pool upon the ground before coming to a stop in the middle of the darkened room. It's only then that she turns to face her partner, her expression impassive even behind her visor. ]

Does your intel happen to say where we should start our search? [ She asks, her voice terse. It's about then that the ground beneath her feet gives way, crumbling underneath her before she can leap to safety. ]

[ 9S is hardly bothered by the lack of response when it comes to his small talk. 2B has never been one for it, and though he would love to get a bit more out of her? Her presence seems to be enough. It's never changed that being a Scanner with a partner has meant something to him. Loneliness seems to plague him moreso than anything else. Having a purpose is one thing, but being beside someone makes that purpose all the greater. His loyalty is to Command, to Mankind, but he's happy to give his loyalty to 2B along with everything else. So the silence isn't a problem. Nor is her terse sort of manner of speaking. ]

Well, not necessarily, but a--- UWAH!!!

[ 9S falls through the ground in turn upon their arrival, and he frantically reaches for his Pod to gain support and avoid a violent fall. Without fail, it provides support, delivering him to the bottom of what appears to be a dark basement beneath them. ]

Uh...

[ He flicks on his flashlight, finding what appears to be a few partially soggy and damaged boxes. 9S grins as he looks up to shout for 2B.
]

Hey! Looks like I might've found our first source!

[ A pause. ]

By the way, I'm okay. Thanks for asking!

[ 2B is more aware of 9S' loneliness than even he knows, and it's because of this that she seeks to keep a certain sense of distance between the two of them. The first time they'd met, she'd allowed him to get close; to allow herself a certain degree of closeness with him in return. The end came swiftly anyway.

The second time had been notably more difficult, though she could scarcely understand why. He always smiled the same smile-- called her "ma'am," asked superfluous questions-- always did his best to put himself in between danger and herself. The end had been less clean this time, and it had only gotten worse in sequence.

This is the fifth time that she's been here with 9S. Her fifth time through this cycle, and the third time her throat grew tight with the knowledge of what her partner knew. She couldn't compromise the security of YoRHa's operations. She wouldn't.

And yet... And yet. He always wore that same smile. Used the same phrases.

2B's reach for her own Pod is more measured than her partner's, her body swaying with the momentum of her weight as she descends into the sinkhole forming beneath them. Though 9S can't see her, her eyes desperately snap onto his frame, searching for signs of injury in spite of herself, though she says nothing. Seeing that he is whole and unharmed, she turns her gaze away, the toes of her boots gracefully tapping against the ground as she lands. ]

I can't ask if you're alright if you don't give me the chance to, [ She responds evenly, expressionless in spite of the ghost of amusement that ekes into her voice. She steps over to where he is, gently nudging one of the time-worn boxes with her foot. ] It's amazing that these even lasted this long.

[ 9S stands up with a grunt, dusting off his shorts and giving himself a good stretch. He takes the time to quickly scan his own system, to make sure nothing struck him on the way down. 100% at optimum efficiency. Lucky break. As 2B lands with a delicate tap of her heels, he crosses his arms. Nevermind the box quite yet. ]

Oh no, 9S!

[ He gasps, putting his hands to his cheeks. ]

Are you okay?! You're falling! Hold on, I'm coming! Don't die!

[ It's a bit melodramatic. But it's an example. 9S lets his hands drop back down, though he holds one finger up. A gesture of correction. ]

You know, for future reference.

[ Empathy, 2B. Empathy. ]

[ 9S sighs. ]

Looks like this place has held up pretty well. Given that the floor just caved in, we got a lucky break.

[ He comes to the box, leaning over it with his flashlight lit. Cautiously, he opens it. What he's greeted with, at first glance, just appears to be a bunch of magazines and what appears to be boxes for... ]

Oh, I know what these are.

[ 9S reaches in, grasping a plastic box. ]

It was called a D...V...D. Discs that provided video data for the purpose of watching on a television or computer. Often rented or sold.

[ Initially, he has the box backwards. 9S taps the bottom corner. ]

Yup. Barcode. No way for me to see what it cost or what server the price was connected to, but this was purchased. What are you?

[ 9S flips it over, and when he does? He squints. ]

Wait is that...

Oh--!

[ He doesn't drop it, but he certainly holds it rather far from him. ]

Eugh--!

Pornography! It's pornography!!!

[ 2B allows him to ramble, saying nothing. She stares at him, impassive as ever, from behind her visor, the HUD following his movements and feeding her information. Her mouth is set into a soft line, her jaw relaxed as he sweeps his arms theatrically.

She knows that he wants her to react in some capacity, and that's precisely why she doesn't. As far as she's concerned, the entirety of this exchange isn't vital to their mission, and as such, she doesn't need it.

2B watches him dispassionately for several seconds before her eyes scan the dark expanse of the cavern they'd found themselves in; she imagines that it had been some sort of boiler room or basement many, many years ago, and the remnants of human occupation lay scattered about in the form of eerily well-preserved boxes and scraps of cloth. She assumes that the subterranean environment has something to do with it.

2B catches a glimpse of the DVD case and lapses into an even deeper silence as she sidles closer to 9S, suddenly curious. She takes a step back when he has his rather explosive revelation, but she regains herself quickly enough to reach out a hand, plucking it from his grasp.

The cover of the DVD displays a rather poorly censored nude woman with short hair and a nigh impossible chest, her expression contorted into one of plaintive longing. 2B tilts her head as she examines the case, holding it gingerly. ]

... Humans consumed this sort of thing as entertainment? [ She murmurs, her tone bordering on distasteful. ] Though, I suppose it makes sense. They considered reproduction and death to be taboo topics, all while being fixated upon them. [ Taking the case into both of her hands, she opens it with a brittle snap, causing its spine to fracture and crumble in her palms. ]

... Ah. [ 2B's neck takes on an almost avian cant as she examines the contents of the now-broken case. The disc it had been meant to hold is still remarkably in place, though what catches her attention is the scene depicted on the paper insert within the plastic. The same woman on the front is straddling a man, her face twisted in exaggerated pleasure as his almost comically large genitalia impales her between the thighs. 2B can't do much but make a strange face at the sight. ]

What enjoyment is there to be had from this? I'm not even properly watching it and I can see that she's over-acting.

[ 9S has questioned 2B's ongoing preference of remaining silent during much of their travels. It's how she is, and though her distance can often rub him the wrong way, he has his suspicions of where those intentions lie. But suspicions can only go so far. A top of the line Scanner model goes well beyond common sense and intuition, but it's almost as if he would prefer to be blissfully ignorant. The fact that he holds a DVD case with a lewd image seems to make such a goal easily attainable. ]

[ He allows her to pluck it from his palms, if only for him to dive back into the box to grab something else. It's absolutely depraved and disgusting, even by his standards, but he can't help but continue to pry and examine. ]

Believe it or not, hupp--!

[ 9S grunts briefly as he leans over the box, digging his arm in to grab a magazine. He stands upright, where the grunting exhale falls from his lips. ]

-- Taboo as it was, you'd be surprised how obsessed humans were with sex. From what I understand, this kinda content was pretty easy to find. Whether it was mild or, well, this, sex was everywhere. I'm willing to bet sex took precedence over death.

[ He opens the magazine, tilting it upside-down. The first thing he finds is a rather large centerfold that begins to unravel before him. He looks almost startled by it, but it's more out of being intrigued than disgusted. Gross as it is. ]

Advertisements, film, even mildly alluded to towards younger audiences. You're right about obsession with the taboo.

Er--

[ He flips the magazine back over, nose wrinkling. ]

These pages are stuck.

Edited 2017-04-12 07:28 (UTC)

[ 2B smooths her fingertips down the front of the disc held within the broken case, marveling at how well-preserved it is for having been left alone for so long. With as much gentleness as she can muster, she gently lifts the disc from its slot, only for it to crack and shatter in her hand. With a soft click of her tongue, she drops the case in order to turn her attention back to 9S, folding her arms across her chest as she watches him dig into the box. ]

I guess I can understand. The propagation of their species is reliant upon it. [ Her tone is low even as she shifts closer again to get a better look at the magazine in his hands, its rusted staples barely holding the brittle pieces of paper in place. The centerfold is faded and warped, but the image of a topless woman coquettishly looking up towards the viewer as she contorts her body for the camera is clearly visible.

2B supposes that the woman is pretty, with long, flowing hair and smoldering eyes. Her breasts are full and impossibly round, leading her to believe that they were artificially enhanced. ] And such sights... were stimulating for them. [ She says thoughtfully. 2B reaches out, gingerly, lifting one of the pages as 9S turns the magazine over. ]

... You seem rather interested in them. [ She shifts her gaze to his face behind her visor, her expression still unreadable. ] I would think that any other data we gather on the matter would be extraneous at this point.

Ah--

[ 9S is forced to make pause, his glance having gotten pretty heavy over the centerfold girl. The interest he holds in her is rather similar to 2B, if not a bit more... Unnecessary and a bit irrational. He's rather entranced by the size of her breasts, the delicate color of her genitals that are so widely exposed by the position of her legs. He tilts his head at it, visor actually zooming in on the image and trying to scan for a clearer render. With how damaged the paper is, it's hard to get a good detai-- ]

I don't think it's extraneous at all! Things like arousal and procreation were-- Are important to the human race. All information is relevant.

[ He clears his throat, promptly turning the page. ]

My interests only lie in what I feel is useful for Command.

[ Was that defensive? A little. Is he a bit red? Absolutely. ]

[ 9S manages to turn the page, despite how they're stuck. He comes across a few rather... Harsh images. Particularly one depicting the very same woman from the centerfold being roughly penetrated from behind. The angle of the camera is underneath her, showing a rather close image of how this works and... ]

Wow. We were made in their image but... I have yet to see an android with a penis that large.

[ His sure as hell isn't. ]

[ 2B notes 9S' pauses, the way his gaze seems to linger upon the images before the both of them even behind his blindfold. To say that she feels a pang of jealousy is a severe overstatement, but something dark begins to roil deep within her neural processes, tightening her chest and weighing heavily upon her. Her own eyes follow his gaze, listening to the almost inaudible hum of his visor as he zooms in. ]

... You're actually enjoying this. [ There's nothing accusatory to her voice, but a flicker of teasing enters her tone. ] You've never been about passing up frivolity for the sake of it, even for Command. Don't give me that.

[ 2B's eyes fall upon the newly uncovered images, and she notes the way 9S pauses again. At his comment, she scoffs. ] Genitals are irrelevant. It's not as if androids reproduce. Besides... aren't these images rather... Brutal?

[ 2B reaches out and grips a corner of the magazine, stretching the page to its full length. Some of the images show the woman taking the man's cock to the hilt, her expression half-genuine in its pleasured discomfort. ] Unless that's what you're into. [ She turns her head to look at him. ] You're a Scanner model, but all androids feel euphoric during combat. There's no shame in it.

[ 2B is rather quick to call 9S on his bluff, and there's a bit of an audible sputter as he works to turn away from her. At least in terms of what she can see in the magazine. He wants to keep looking, but it's pretty clear that his cover is blown. There's a rather heavy sense of intrigue and curiosity, as there always is, but he can't help but wonder what all of this is like. ]

[ However, 2B's shift of tone seems to catch him off guard. Is she... Is she jealous? ]

[ 9S squints. He's tempted to make a remark about that, to ask if that's the case. But he knows that is likely a terrible idea, and will also likely end in her vehemently denying it. She's not interested in him that way. No way. ]

I'm-- Not in that way!

[ He closes the magazine, holding it at his side as he takes a step back. It's a known fact that androids can participate in sexual activity, given that combat brings a similar type of sensation to them. But he hasn't exactly partaken in it, and while battle is a thrill, he's not about to admit that he thinks about it in such a way. ]

[ Though, his cover is probably severely blown when his pulse rate hikes and his temperature gauge follows suit. 9S's cheeks dust pink. ]

Who said I was feeling shame? W-Why don't you leave making assumptions for Scanner models like me?

[ Some small part of 2B finds 9S' nervousness to be endearing. In all honesty, she likes the part of him that's eager to know anything and everything about the world around them, about the world that humans that had once called home. His voracity for knowledge, while likely due to the fact that he's a Scanner model, never fails to amaze her. His sputtering makes her want to smile, and his incessant babbling only serves to comfort and calm her on her worst day.

Something grips her chest tightly and pulls hard, tightening her throat and making it hard to breathe. She knows how this is going to end. So why does she allow it to get this far?

She focuses on the way 9S doggedly maintains that this is all for the sake of intel, and she sidles close, examining his face. Sexual activity had never been on the agenda for a model like 2B; combat models got their jollies from destroying machines, nothing more and nothing less. (And executioner models, well...) She meets his step backwards with one of her own moving forward, a hand reaching out to smooth her thumb across his cheek. ]

You should check your heatsink. Your dermal surface is unnaturally warm.

[ She vaguely wonders if humans acted like this, contradictory and tortured. She wants to step back as badly as she wants to close the distance between the two of them. Just as her lips part to speak, her pod drifts closer. ]

Analysis: Core temperature rising. Proposal: 2B should move to higher, more well-ventilated areas to stabilize.

[ 2B pauses, but keeps her hand at the side of 9S' face. ] What sort of assumptions are you going to draw from all of this? [ She asks, lingering for only a moment before allowing her arm to fall to her side. What is she doing?

After a few moments, she takes a step backwards, giving her partner space. ]

If you're done here, we should go. The rain is only going to get worse from here on out.

[ What is it about 2B that seems to get his pulse rate hiked every time? Her sense of constant calm? The aloofness she maintains so flawlessly despite the measures they often have to take? 9S is in a constant state of progress with his manner of gaining knowledge and remaining as versatile as possible, but 2B always seems to shock him with her sense of overall being. Something about her threatens to destroy his sense of logic, and he can't help but question every aspect of her, all while finding himself obsessed with every part of her. ]

[ That... Isn't a thought he likes to tread upon often. Just like that, his pulse quickens, and it seems to work in time to how she closes distance between them to touch his face. Her palm is incredibly warm, the soft velvet of her gloves tickling at the nerve-endings installed beneath the silicon skin that coats him. His ears twitch at her Pod's analysis, at her analysis. In realizing that this is a mutual ground they stand upon, he can't help the way he stares at her like a gaping fish. ]

I-I'm not--

Analysis: Unit 9S is also experiencing a significant spike in Core Temperature. Pulse rate has exceeded normal levels of activity.

[ 9S tenses, not quite capable of ignoring his Pod, but avoiding comment. His internal fans begin to work frantically to cool him from the inside, coolant immediately delivered from the heart-like device in his chest. ]

[ But before it can get any worse, 2B lets go, causing 9S to heave an exhale. He does, however, have to get that last word in. ]

Hey, you're an expert with a facade, I'll give you that. If your gears start moving any faster, you'll need them replaced by the end of the afternoon.

[ A pause, and he tosses the magazine behind him. ]

Fine. You're the boss.

Edited 2017-04-12 08:39 (UTC)

[ 2B isn't aware of 9S' apparent fixation of her, but she's more than conscious of the fascination she holds for him. Every time he speaks, she finds herself listening intently, even if she doesn't always grace him with a response. Every tangent he goes on, every line of thought he deems appropriate to verbalize, is something 2B takes and stores away deep inside of herself.

It's a heavy burden, and it feels like it doubles in weight as her eyes trace the near-perfect "o" shape of his lips, which are rendered so softly and tenderly from the artificial skin grafted over their internal systems. 2B finds herself wanting to smooth her thumb along those, too, if only to see if they're as soft as they look. She's surprised at the amount of effort it takes for her to not do so. ]

You don't know a thing about my gears. [ She murmurs evenly. She feels as though her servos might seize, and she silently curses her own weakness. 2B's eyes follow the trajectory of the discarded magazine from behind her visor, and she follows after it. ]

There's no need to be petulant. You said it yourself: this is valuable intel. [ Kneeling, she picks up the fragile booklet, being careful not to crush it in her hands. ] If my gears corrode, they're your responsibility. Aren't you the one in charge of my maintenance?

[ Wait she's-- She wants to keep it? 9S tilts his head, mostly because he finds such an action strange. Doesn't she know that he's already scanned what he's needed and saved it to the designated folder? 2B is as unreadable as ever, which is almost frustrating for a Scanner model like himself. He usually doesn't get full understanding of her unless he's inside of-- ]

[ Conducting maintenance to her systems. That was an odd manner of thinking. It seems he's still a bit flustered after the touch of her hand. He can still feel it, still hear her internal fans hum and whirr from their close proximity. ]

If your gears corrode, it will be because you're just as interested in what we found as I am. Our programming isn't all that different, you know.

[ Why is he admitting that human sex has intrigued him? Well, he can't be sure. Probably because he's forcing himself to face this from an analytical standpoint before he loses his mind. Still... ]

[ 9S stops a second, quickly grabbing one last magazine from the box. His lips purse, almost meek. ]

Might as well. Human mating rituals aren't exactly a subject we have much intel on. Time to keep moving, then?

[ Even 2B knows that there's no use for her to retrieve the discarded rag, but it's the principle of the thing, really. 9S had seemed rather invested in it. Why wouldn't she want to keep it for him? It was a strange, sentimental line of thinking, probably, but some small part of her is intrigued by the way he'd zeroed in on certain parts of the magazine. ]

I don't think my level of interest even comes close to yours, [ She shoots back, sauntering past him. The rain rumbles distantly, and the ominous creak of metal above them clues 2B in on what's about to happen even as 9S speaks. Moving quickly, she grabs him about the shoulders and throws the both of them to the ground, just out of the way of a large chunk of concrete that collapses from the floor above them. ]

Gh--!

[ 2B acts purely on instinct when she moves the both of them as the rest of the upper floors come tumbling down, metal bars and old concrete crashing onto the secret stash of porn they'd come across. She shields 9S with her body, pressing him against the far wall as she kneels over him, her hands planted firmly above his head as she seeks a way out.

2B doesn't have to wait long until her Pod speaks again. ]

Analysis: Upper portions of structure are compromised. Inclement weather conditions are likely to blame. Secure escape routes are not guaranteed. [ Her Pod slides around the both of them as the rumbling of the building finally ceases, gathering data. ] Proposal: Units 2B and 9S should remain sheltered until an escape route can be secured and communications with Command can be re-established.

[ Sensing that the building has settled, 2B takes stock of their surroundings from her position above her partner. The sinkhole that had brought them to the basement lay far above the both of them, and the rubble that had fallen had only served to make it larger. While using the wreckage as a platform to escape isn't out of the question, the steady downpour of rain from the hole in the roof would likely make conditions less than ideal.

Shifting away from 9S, 2B stands, pressing her back against the wall as she folds her arms across her chest. She says nothing, making way for the brilliant analysis 9S has likely already formulated. ]

[ 9S manages a sigh to 2B's rebuttal, taking the time to gaze at his new magazine he'd taken. The cover is rather gratuitous-- Another woman, this one far bustier than the last. Her genitals look... Surprisingly different. He had known that each body was unique in its own way, but the flesh between her legs seems tighter. Colored differently, though that could be due to the deterioration of the pages. ]

That isn't my fault. I was merely programmed to be as observant as-- Ah!!

[ The room begins to collapse, 2B shoving him to the ground successfully. 9S is forced on his back, the body of his partner sheltering him from the debris and rubble that begin to fall around them. All he's able to manage is the tilt of his head to watch the change of their environment, to witness where each piece falls so he can quickly plan a route of escape. ]

[ 2B's Pod is quick to analyze that such a plan won't work immediately. Judging by the way things have settled with the rain still coming down hard, it's not wrong. ]

Crap. I knew this would happen, but I figured this location had a bit more time than the others. The building seemed much more stable.

[ He sighs, turning his head, and he suddenly halts when he realizes that his face is barely an inch from her breasts. 9S' eyes widen behind his visor, lips parted as he exhales a very quiet sound of surprise. He... It's not like he hadn't paid attention to her shape before, but given what he just got done looking at? His attention is a bit... Hyper-focused on specific content. ]

[ The culprit of that has landed on the ground, opened to an equally brutal set of images of a woman rather passionately penetrating herself with a large, phallic object. He hasn't looked at it yet. ]

U-Um...

[ 2B retracts, allowing him to slowly sit up. The sound he makes is directed at her, but he creates a cover to make it sound like he's pondering. ]

Pod's not wrong. We're closed in. We could use some of that pile-up in the corner to climb out, but it looks like the rain is destroying what little support the rusted metal bars had to begin with.

[ God, his face is so hot. His temperature hasn't adjusted at all, and it seems to keep slowly rising. 9S rubs at the back of his neck as he stands, slowly sauntering over to look up through the hole above them. ]

Given the general behavior of the weather here, I'd give it about an hour or two before this lets up. Damn.

[ 2B inclines her head as 9S speaks. If she'd noticed the way his eyes had lingered over her chest, she makes no show of it. Part of her wonders why she isn't terribly averse to being trapped in a small space with 9S and no other means of outside communication. Part of her knows damn well why. ]

We were careless. I should have been more thorough in my sweep of the area. [ She admits, knowing full well that that means nothing now. ] We should regroup and prepare for the worst. [ 2B's eyes ghost over the new magazine's open face, stopping for a moment as 9S walks out to examine the hole in the ceiling. Kneeling, she lifts the edge of the magazine in much the same way she had done with the other one, taking in the sight of the woman fucking herself with some sort of silicone implement.

Curiously, 2B begins to flip through the pages. Majority of the images in the spreads are of women in various stages of undress, their lower orifices stuffed full with any number of things. The image is faded, but 2B swears she saw a woman with a lit candle poking out of her anus. She's been aroused before, of course; usually in the heat of combat, auxiliary lubrication systems had activated between her thighs, a function of a bygone era. There'd been a time when androids had tried to make themselves more human, and as such, they'd developed newer models with secondary sex characteristics and functions similar to those of the reproductive system in humans. Even so, 2B can't ever recall making faces like the women in this magazine.

As she continues to flip through the (now crumbling) pages of the magazine, 2B quietly speaks. ] I suppose you have more time to scan and analyze this more thoroughly, but stay vigilant.

I'm... Not gonna disagree. In hindsight, I probably should have been a bit more cautious myself. I put myself in charge of the map, after all.

[ But that's neither here nor there. 9S finds himself a bit distracted, even with him being able to make observations and plans. His gaze keeps going right back to that magazine, and when it does, 2B has taken it herself. The embarrassment is gone, for now. It's easy to face things from a logical, objective standpoint, and so he prefers to maintain that for now. ]

[ 9S awkwardly chuckles. ]

Guess this is as good an opportunity as any. I was starting to think how weird it'd be to review these in the Bunker.

[ He walks over, leaning to peek over to what 2B is looking at. ]

Humans... Utilized tools to pleasure themselves?

Man, this is bizarre. The only information I've ever found involved partners. That... Wouldn't that be uncomfortable? The anus is meant to discard waste, not...

[ 9S continues to lean, standing rather close to 2B. He doesn't entirely pay attention to it, especially not when he's busy scanning through this. The soft whine of his camera whispers through their dark surroundings as he zooms in on the image. If he were to be honest, such an action has him rather intrigued. 9S has felt arousal plenty of times, much like 2B, but this is... Different. ]

There's blame to be shared. I'm grateful you're alright.

[ 2B lets the statement hang for what it's worth, noting how distracted 9S appears to be. She watches him surreptitiously as his attention is commanded by the magazine in her hands, and some irrational part of her wants to tear it to pieces. Some strange, illogical notion within her wants him to look at her that way, even if it doesn't make sense.

Her pulse begins to rise as he moves closer in spite of herself, her central systems feeling as if they might begin to overclock. ]

Analysis: 2B-- [ 2B speaks abruptly before her Pod can finish speaking. ] Pod. Cease status reports until further notice. [ Clenching a fist, 2B releases the magazine as she hears 9S' camera hone in on the spread once more, the sound causing something sharp and hot to slide up her spine. ]

... Humans are irrational, [ 2B responds calmly. ] Does their creativity really surprise you at this point? There's no reproductive value in inserting implements into the anal cavity. Such an act is illogical.

Yeah, thanks for having my back.

[ 9S at least pries his attention away to smile at 2B. That sentiment is easy to find, surprising as it is. But it's not the first time 2B has expressed some semblance of care for him. The feeling, however, sort of dies the instant she comes closer and her Pod begins to speak. ]

Wh--

[ It's not entirely hard to tell. 2B's temperature has spiked, and that much is indicated by their close proximity. But he can't be sure as to why she deemed it necessary to shut off status reports. That's somewhat important during missions, isn't it? ]

[ 2B releases her side of the magazine, causing it to partially fall. It dangles from the one hand 9S had to it, and pages begin to fall out from the rusted staples onto the floor. 9S looks a bit lost, but his curiosity remains. ]

Pleasure, maybe? There are nerves inside and around the anal area. I wouldn't call it illogical, per se. I've seen reports of sex being initiated purely for amusement.

[ He clears his throat. ]

Documentation is all I have though. It's not like I know for sure or first-hand.

[ Watching over 9S comes as easily to 2B as fulfilling her objectives does. When he questions her, she says nothing in response, instead willing her internal systems to stabilize. She attempts to run diagnostics on herself, but to no avail; she isn't a Scanner type, or even a proper battle type. Her skillset doesn't have the proper tools for that sort of thing, and as such, all she can do is simmer with feelings she hardly understands.

She's grateful that 9S latches onto her words, and even more grateful still when he gives her an opening to change the subject. ]

Any firsthand experience would likely pale in comparison to whatever it is humans gain from something like this, [ She responds, willing her tone to stay even. ] I don't even think we were outfitted with the proper nerve endings in order to replicate all the variables involved in such an act. We've no need to reproduce, so feeling arousal in any sense is superfluous. An old, outdated remnant of code that serves no purpose.

[ 2B allows herself to talk in order to draw herself away from the devil of an idea that 9S's words plant into her head. She knows he's being innocent in his musings, but she can't help but feel a slight implication to his words. ] I think everything we've found today backs up those reports. I can't see the point of doing any of this solely for reproductive purposes.

[ 9S wrinkles his nose at 2B's dodging of his initial questioning, but as always, he easily becomes distracted by an opportunity to analyze and speak of his findings. The truth of the matter is, the fact that he's found such information is extremely exciting to him. Knowing about humans, about what they are capable of, intrigues him to no end. But it's this particular set of knowledge that he finds himself especially curious of. ]

[ What is it like to be so close? To touch and be touched? If it's such an obsession of human kind, it must have multiple benefits to it other than simply procreation. Does it tie in to romance as it's been indicated to? Would the motive of having sex simply for pleasure tie into romance? Or was it purely a carnal instinct to create offspring? ]

[ 9S could go on and on, so talking about it brings a thrill that is not unlike what a combat model would feel when destroying machines. He kneels down when he realizes the magazine has fallen apart, gingerly putting it back together despite the way it partially disintegrates to his touch. ]

Sure, sexual intercourse is mostly meant for reproducing, so it's pointless for androids on that note.

But they could have updated the basic install software for newer models ages ago. All yoRHa units have a sexual activity program embedded in the OS. It's not pointless to do it if the opportunity is there, though it's kinda frowned upon.

Emotions being prohibited and all that.

[ 9S sounds a bit dejected at that remark. While he may have unintentionally made indications to his interests, it's nowhere far from the truth. As he stands again, he stops, facing 2B. And once again, his eyes fall upon her breasts, look over her frame before he turns his head entirely. Why does such a thing feel indecent? It's likely rude. ]

I'd imagine it would be beneficial for androids to at least know what it's like. Being as close to the human image as we can, while still being... Y'know, efficient...

[ He shrugs. ]

It makes sense, right?

[ 2B knows him well enough to bank on his becoming distracted by his analysis. She's learned to artfully dodge his lines of questioning if they threaten to compromise their objectives, though it's gotten harder and harder as time has worn on. 2B wonders if it's because he knows more than he lets on... or simply because she's growing softer towards him with each cycle that they go through.

She can't deny how soft she's become. How vulnerable. Though she won't verbalize it, she knows it as well as anyone. As an executioner type, she can't afford this. Any of it. ]

They do, but wasn't the sexual fraternization program nixed a long time ago? While it boosted morale, soldiers ran the risk of becoming despondent when their partners fell in battle. [ 2B hadn't been active at that time, but she'd read the records. She supposes that that was what 9S had meant when he'd said "frowned upon." ] I guess it would make sense that fragmented code would remain in newer models... but I haven't experienced a need for it myself.

[ Even behind his visor, 2B can tell that his eyes are travelling southward. Even as he turns his head, she calls to him, sternly. ] What are you looking at?

[ She doesn't answer him, even though she sees what he's getting at. That implication is there again, and it sends a jolt through her systems. Her adrenal pumps activate in response, though she remains stock-still. ] Enough dancing around. What are you getting at?

[ What is he getting at, really? 9S doesn't even know. Well, he does, but he doesn't quite understand the reasoning behind it. Attraction? A need to be just like the humans? He can't be certain. Which is precisely why his attention darts right back to 2B and his hands raise up defensively. ]

What? I wasn't--

I'm not getting at anything! I-I wasn't around for the fraternization program, so all theories I have are based on data I never got.

[ Well, data he once had that was cleared. But he doesn't know that. ]

F-Forget I said anything!

[ 2B understands the want to be close. The want to touch. She isn't sure when it had become evident, but it had, and 9S is at the center of all of her dark, forbidden desires. She can't count how many times she's thought of tracing her fingers along the fullness of his lips, of feeling his skin beneath her fingertips, of bringing her hands to his neck and squeezing until---

That heavy, tight feeling returns to her chest, seizing her systems and causing them to skip. 2B averts her gaze from her partner, grateful for the order she'd given her Pod as her adrenaline pumps cease their thrumming. ]

9S. [ She steps closer to him, an eerie calm coming over her as she closes the distance between them. It's not unlike the calm that overtakes her when she's given the kill order from Command, when she stops to think about it, but there's no directive here. Just herself and 9S. ] I'm not going to forget, so you may as well spit it out.

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