fandomtownies | The Magpie Emporium, Monday [4/5]

Steph was pretty busy today running the Space Battles TCG tournament, because of course she had to run one today, but she came back downstairs to check in with Vi and make sure Little Bot hadn't actually skewered a gremlin.

"You know, I'm almost afraid he's never going to put that down again."

That was because, like all Roombas, deep on his electronic heart he craved violence.

"He's certainly having fun with it," Vi agreed, grinning at Steph.

Honestly he was in the right place to exercise that in a safe way, one might argue.

"You don't want one too?" Steph teased. "You'd look pretty badass."

Wrong aesthetic, Steph. Honestly.

The gremlins would disagree, but then, they would.

"Yeah, but I always do." So modest, Vi.

The gremlins were just sad that their potential for shenanigans was being curbed preemptively.

"That is true," Steph agreed. "That might be a little too badass for the universe to handle."

Could they not nibble upon one single patron?

"I mean, it's not the universe I'm worried about handling me."

Vi, no.

All they wanted was a little taste but the Roomba said no. It was tragic.

"I can handle you just fine, if that's what you're worried about," Steph said, crossing her arms and smirking at Vi. "I'm not letting you get all the way through today without at least having one pretend duel with me, though."

Surely there was a gamer here obnoxious enough that even Little Bot couldn't object?

"You know I'm down for whatever you want," Vi replied, grinning back.

In between Little Bot and Steph's near-maniacal efforts to keep the store a welcoming space, that was honestly kind of a long shot.

"Don't think I didn't hang on to a couple of the swords from the tournament swag just for us," she informed Vi cheerfully. "Look, if Little Bot gets one, we should too."

Maybe the gremlins could decide they were problematic after the fact?

"It's only fair," Vi said, nodding her head super seriously. "What colours did you pick?"

If that was what worked for the gremlins, who was Steph to say? Oh wait, the one who ran the store, that's who.

"Yellow for me, and blue for you." Steph shrugged. "Not that there were many options left, so that's what I went with."

Steph didn't want the gremlins to have any fun. :(

"I can work with blue," Vi said. "It's pretty badass, so we'd match."

Not at the expense of her clientele she didn't!

"Also kind of the school colors, I think," Steph added. "That wasn't on purpose, but we can claim we're repping if anyone asks."

But if you thought about the gremlins were her clientele too!

"We're just full of school spirit, everyone knows that."

But the gremlins never paid for what was basically their 24/7 game room access -- except ugh, what a capitalist way of looking at it. Okay, fine, the gremlins were clientele. Whatever.

Steph waggled her eyebrows. "We're full of something, that's for damn sure."

So couldn't the gremlins have a little bitey chaos? As a treat?

Vi laughed and leaned in to steal a kiss. "And don't I know it."

Ultimately that was up to Little Bot. Steph wasn't the boss of him, no matter what she thought about it.

"Babe, if you didn't know by now, I'd have serious concerns," Steph said against her lips.

Little Bot's opinion was an emphatic no. The emphasis came from the laser sword.

"Hey, I might've needed a refresher," Vi protested, fingers hooked into Steph's waistband.

Sorry about that, gremlins. (But not really sorry.)

"I'm happy to refresh your memory any time you ask." Steph wrapped her arms around Vi's neck. "Whether or not you even need it."

Vi grinned shamelessly at Steph. "I really, really need it."

"Then by all means." Steph tucked her fingertips into Vi's waistband and gave a firm little tug. "Let me make sure your needs are fulfilled."

Vi let herself be tugged in closer (because they'd been so far apart before, really). "You're so good to me."

Steph laughed and rested her forehead against Vi's. "I wouldn't know any other way to be with you."

"You could ban me from the store," Vi teased, because it had been long enough that she could feel brave enough to tease Steph about that. "I hear dating your employee is problematic."

"Oh, very," Steph replied, because likewise it had been long enough that she'd entirely rationalized it away. "But it's not like you're getting preferential treatment over other employees. And anyway, you know I like to be a problem."

She leaned in closer against Vi. "I saw you run off once before. I have zero interest in seeing that happen ever again."

What did Food Human call her tragic neglect of Saffron if not preferential?

"I have no interest in running," Vi assured Steph. "It was pretty miserable thinking you wanted me gone."

Did Saffron consider herself an employee though?

"Dumbass," Steph said in a voice rough with affection. "I wanted exactly the opposite thing. Good thing you came back so we could get that cleared up."

Saffron should have been in charge, but no one wanted to pay attention to her. Woe.

Vi reached for Steph's hands so she could kiss them. "I will always come back to you," she promised.

Really, it was the height of Food Human's folly to think that she was in charge. Pfft.

Steph squeezed Vi's hands, her expression awed and reverent as she watched her. "I'll chase you down to remind you that you said that, if I have to."

They both knew it was really Snuggle Human.

"You'd better," Vi said, leaning in to kiss Steph properly.

...yeah, Steph agreed with her on that.

"Bet your cute ass I will," Steph murmured against her lips, tugging her over to lean against the counter.

Vi wouldn't, but well, she was outvoted apparently.

She didn't need much urging to follow Steph's lead, leaning in against her. "I mean, you already have that."

Outvoted by two, well, people who utterly adored her!

"On a very regular basis," Steph added with a laugh. "Doesn't mean I won't look for any excuse to work in a compliment to it."

In that case, Vi would just have to go along with it.

Vi grinned into the kiss. "If that'd what you want, I guess I'll just have to give you as many opportunities as I can."

But could she also devote all her attention to Saffron, maybe? All of it?

Steph chuckled and wrapped her arms more tightly around Vi as she nipped at her lip. "I will take every opportunity you give me and then some, babe."

Maybe if Saffron's votes counted double, but they didn't.

"Oh, how terrible to be taken advantage of like this," Vi dramatically exclaimed as she tightened her own hold on Steph.

They should. Rude, universe.

"Dork." Steph bumped noses with Vi, but by accident since she was laughing again. "I mean, obviously I was going to have my wicked way with you, but still."

Somehow this was all Food Human's fault.

Vi rested her forehead against Steph's, beaming at her. "Your dork. Who's up for all kinds of wickedness."

Food Human had clearly orchestrated the entire plot.

"That a promise for tonight?" Steph tried to drawl, although the goofy grin on her face made it much less sexy than she'd been going for.

It was a conspiracy and Saffron was the target.

"Yeah it is." Luckily Vi was so far gone that she thought Steph being goofy was sexy.

It wasn't paranoia if Food Human really was out to get you.

"I'll make sure you make good on it, then." Steph leaned in to steal another kiss, and yes, her goofy ass thought it was a real stroke of luck that Vi thought it was sexy.

Proof? What proof did Saffron need other than her unfilled (there were three pieces of kibble missing!) bowl!

It was a real stroke of something. "Hey, I intend to," Vi protested between kisses.

Three pieces missing, and there were two broken ones in there too. Insult to injury.

"Oh, I know you will," Steph assured her. "I'm just trying to be helpful here."

Sure, that was one way to describe it.

How was Saffron expected to cope with these kind of trials?

"I can think of a few ways you could be even more helpful," Vi said with a grin.

This was more than even any normal cat should be expected to bear!

"For you, babe, I am always ready, willing, and eager to assist," Steph informed her with a matching grin.

Ugh, Saffron's humans had the most ridiculous mating rituals.

The Magpie Emporium, Monday [4/5]

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