of line. I’m honored that you’re my friend, and I want you to know that I would do anything for you. -Even learn how to tame my bad attitude and stupid tongue.”
Kata put on the bracelet, admired it, and then stood and flung her arms around me. I even got a peck on the cheek. “Forgiven,” she said. “Then again, I forgave you that night after I ganked your cheesedip.”
“So you didn’t put rhino-crabs in my underwear drawer?”
Kata busted out laughing, “Sway will never let me forget some things. I promise you’re safe.”
We laughed together, and then she showed me the improvements she was making to the training bot, as well the beginnings of other projects she was working on. We talked about how excited we were to have X the house since him becoming something of an orphan after having nothing else to do with his parents. Of course, we gossiped about his walk of shame.
“Hope he enjoys it while it lasts,” Kata said about the affair. “By next week, he’ll be back in his own bed.” Then she blindsided me with a question, “So, how jealous are you?”
“Me?” I stammered.
“Oh come on,” Kata took off her lab coat and started shutting down her equipment, “I know her well enough, and I’m learning you fast enough to know something went down on the cruise. Unfortunately, what went down was neither of you, but I feel like something sparked, and you’re both too busy looking in other directions to really get it.”
“Now you’re just trying to show off how smart you are,” I said trying to dodge the question.
Kata looked at me as if I had no secrets. She wrapped her icy arm around mine, and we walked toward the elevator. “Well, here’s what we’re going to do. You look far too yummy not to have an amazingly beautiful woman on your arm this evening when we go out for dinner. It just so happens that I am available to fill that role. I’m going to freshen up, we’ll go eat and welcome our newest tattooed beefcake to the party, and then after dinner, well steal away, and you’re going to tell me all about it. Even if we don’t solve any problems, we’ll still have some great gossip time, and that always makes everything better.”
I nudged my shoulder playfully into hers, “Sounds like a plan. I’m just going to have to ask one favor…”
“Yeah?”
“I need you to make me some more cheesedip,” I joked.
She tried hard to hide her vengeful smirk, “Two words,” she raised a finger with each word, beginning with the middle, “Rhino. Crab.”
I nodded haplessly, “You know, on second thought, I think I’m good on the cheesedip for a while.”
We both started laughing again. Always the elegant cutie, it was funny to see Kata’s nose crinkle and her cheeks scrunch when she giggled. I led us to the elevator, but before doors could open I leaned over and planted a quick peck of my own on her cheek, “Actually, my favor is, this: Promise me you will never, ever change.”
She held my arm a little tighter, and then rested her pink and platinum head on my shoulder. “You got yourself a deal, Bro.”
PIECES
“I have been playing this game long before it had a name.” Red Mask said to Yellow. Do not worry yourself. You, more than any of us, have lost the right to feign concern now. If not for the fear of your yellow soul, the board would have already been set. I do not fault you, but I can ill-afford to entertain your regrets at this juncture.”
Red Mask made a broad sweeping motion to a large black-and-white game board in the middle of the white chamber. A single column of light staved the encroaching darkness away. He looked over the checkered-field confident about his plans. The black king and queen held their position. The only other placed piece, a bishop, stood ready. On its side, a fallen knight waited to be picked back up.
“Are you sure
Kata put on the bracelet, admired it, and then stood and flung her arms around me. I even got a peck on the cheek. “Forgiven,” she said. “Then again, I forgave you that night after I ganked your cheesedip.”
“So you didn’t put rhino-crabs in my underwear drawer?”
Kata busted out laughing, “Sway will never let me forget some things. I promise you’re safe.”
We laughed together, and then she showed me the improvements she was making to the training bot, as well the beginnings of other projects she was working on. We talked about how excited we were to have X the house since him becoming something of an orphan after having nothing else to do with his parents. Of course, we gossiped about his walk of shame.
“Hope he enjoys it while it lasts,” Kata said about the affair. “By next week, he’ll be back in his own bed.” Then she blindsided me with a question, “So, how jealous are you?”
“Me?” I stammered.
“Oh come on,” Kata took off her lab coat and started shutting down her equipment, “I know her well enough, and I’m learning you fast enough to know something went down on the cruise. Unfortunately, what went down was neither of you, but I feel like something sparked, and you’re both too busy looking in other directions to really get it.”
“Now you’re just trying to show off how smart you are,” I said trying to dodge the question.
Kata looked at me as if I had no secrets. She wrapped her icy arm around mine, and we walked toward the elevator. “Well, here’s what we’re going to do. You look far too yummy not to have an amazingly beautiful woman on your arm this evening when we go out for dinner. It just so happens that I am available to fill that role. I’m going to freshen up, we’ll go eat and welcome our newest tattooed beefcake to the party, and then after dinner, well steal away, and you’re going to tell me all about it. Even if we don’t solve any problems, we’ll still have some great gossip time, and that always makes everything better.”
I nudged my shoulder playfully into hers, “Sounds like a plan. I’m just going to have to ask one favor…”
“Yeah?”
“I need you to make me some more cheesedip,” I joked.
She tried hard to hide her vengeful smirk, “Two words,” she raised a finger with each word, beginning with the middle, “Rhino. Crab.”
I nodded haplessly, “You know, on second thought, I think I’m good on the cheesedip for a while.”
We both started laughing again. Always the elegant cutie, it was funny to see Kata’s nose crinkle and her cheeks scrunch when she giggled. I led us to the elevator, but before doors could open I leaned over and planted a quick peck of my own on her cheek, “Actually, my favor is, this: Promise me you will never, ever change.”
She held my arm a little tighter, and then rested her pink and platinum head on my shoulder. “You got yourself a deal, Bro.”
PIECES
“I have been playing this game long before it had a name.” Red Mask said to Yellow. Do not worry yourself. You, more than any of us, have lost the right to feign concern now. If not for the fear of your yellow soul, the board would have already been set. I do not fault you, but I can ill-afford to entertain your regrets at this juncture.”
Red Mask made a broad sweeping motion to a large black-and-white game board in the middle of the white chamber. A single column of light staved the encroaching darkness away. He looked over the checkered-field confident about his plans. The black king and queen held their position. The only other placed piece, a bishop, stood ready. On its side, a fallen knight waited to be picked back up.
“Are you sure
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