[Aqua Reginae] Virgins Wanted

“’Because magic’ is a great reason, pal. At least it is until more research is done. Sometimes you just don’t got the tools to figure things out, y’know?” She took a moment to glance over at what he was doing. Space words! Those were totally space words! She’d have to question him about it later, but she had a potion to deal with.

“Ehehe, sorry. It’s not really meant to be eaten – the fact that it works at all is more of a… side effect. But hey, if it does work…”

Bell watched eagerly as the boy considered what was happening to him. He really was a clever person, wasn’t he.

“Nope!” She grinned at his attempt at an explanation. “Nice try, but no cigar, although… I would love to try that out, that’s a fascinating concept. I’m sure for that I’d need something a tad more complicated than a cassette tape and some salt and bread, though.”

“The whole point of chatter water is for it not to be learned or memorized.” She gave the heater an experimental poke, but it was still a bit too warm to put away. “I mean, it’s all over the place, right? Gobble-de-gook. Even more of a mess at full potency. Lasts for hours, just looping and scrambling all over the place… what happens is you learn to think inside it – but from the outside, it sounds like you’re just thinking nonsense. It’s like a – a mental assault. Mega cool, mega specific-to-areas-with-mind-readers.”

“So far totally unsupported by scientific principles, too! I mean, I’d love for that to change, but there you have it.”

“Oooh. You could use it as a training method. Generally, folks just use it to keep psychics out, though. You’re a clever fellow, you know that?” She looked over to him with an appreciative smile, bonking foreheads with him when he leaned in and meeting his gaze at close distance for a good moment. “‘Course I got questions.”

Then she pulled back and started counting on her fingers. “Alright, let’s see. First, where you from, second, why you here, third, can I mess with your boopy-glove machine –

She met his gaze again. “And why – this one’s my biggest question – why you trying to trick everyone into thinking you’re five or something? ‘Cus let me tell you, you’re a heck of a lot more interesting like this.” She grinned.

“Ach! I’m only patient for potions. Everything else has to give way.” Bell gave Orion an impatient wave of the hand, but paused at his next actions.

“Earth, huh.” Her expression turned a lot more somber at that – at least at first glance. It was more like the gears were turning so fast in her mind she didn’t have the energy to emote. “Future boy? Gods, if you turn out to trying to take over the world or something I’m gonna be mighty disappointed.” She liked this boy, she’d decided. (She’d quietly switched her perception of him to “man” as well, but he didn’t need to know that.)

“Oooh.” She turned the glove over in her hands, admiring its weight. “I imagine you can explain that using straight science, too. None of my wishy-washy-maybe science. I’m so jealous…” She slipped it on just to see what it was like, and moved her arm up and down curiously. “You wear it like it weighs nothing. Ahhhh… If only you had a spare, I could try to take it apart…”

But she took it off and gave it back to him with a short, wistful sigh. Then she straightened up to listen to what he had to say, giving him a soft chuckle. “A game, huh? That’s a weird game to play.” Then she smirked. “You seem to think that’s a privilege of some sort.”

“Oooh. I’ll have to set a mind-reader on you some time, friend.” Bell grinned. She was only half-joking, to be honest – she would love to see just what Orion was thinking, and if she had the ability to read minds she’d definitely be in there right that instant.

“That don’t sound pretty simple to me. You think I could trick it by cutting off your arm, maybe?” Not a threat, just a question. “Or does it only work with live cells?”

She scowled a bit when it turned on for him, though not seriously. “It really is a picky little thing, isn’t it. Any normal glove would have leaped at the chance to be with me.”

“Guess you’ll have to bring me to your ship sometime, then. Maybe I’ll just follow you back one day — seems like a worthy cause.”

Orion didn’t exactly seem old, but when he did things like this she couldn’t help but notice the height difference. “Maybe I’ll cut you down to size one of these days.”

But in the end he was the one who brushed her off. “Hmmm. Sounds like you’re trying to get a free deal to me.” She tutted as if disapproving of him. “I already spent a good amount of gold on you, y’know, and I’ve told you plenty, if not more, than you have to me. I think you’ll have to offer me something a little extra before I let you into all my stuff.”

“I like your ship already. Maybe we can have a chat about you some time, just the two of us.” She doubted she would get very far if it was loyal to him, but it still sounded damn interesting.

Bell gave Orion a pseudo-innocent smile, as if completely oblivious to the expression on his face. Man, what she would give to be taller than him…

“A proposition? I dunno.” She shrugged. “I mean, I haven’t even seen what you have to offer. How am I supposed to decide?”