Chapter 20: Earning freedom and bunny-girl hearts
"So what is he anyway? A golem? A magic doll? Can I have him?"
Vuvi rolls her eyes. "He's my masterpiece. And no, noone can have him. He's not a tool, or a doll. He's... real. Go find yourself a boyfriend... or a thorny bush you can hump." she finishes with a flick of her hand.
"Right, right... " Penelo nods, unfazed by Vuvi's verbal barbs as she crouches in front of Pip, inspecting him with wide-eyed fascination. "But what does he do?"
Vuvi springs to her feet, stomps over to Penelo and slaps her hand away from his pelvic port.
Pip droops his head with a long, sad beep.
"He's a divine gift!" Vuvi snaps. "And we're on a mission!" she says, bitterly. "At least we were until we got involved with you!"
Penelo's ears slowly fold over her face.
"I said I'm sooooorry!" she whimpers as she slumps to the floor. "I'm not a bad person, I promise! I didn't know Veena stole weapons! I thought it was food! She's... different. But I thought I could trust her."
"Still stealing!" Vuvi scoffs. "This is why me and Mother try to stay away from big towns and cities. They're just full of liars and cheaters and backstabbers and thieves!"
She glares at Penelo, who flinches, hiding herself behind her ears and paws as she whimpers.
Penelo crawls toward Vuvi, keeping her head low.