Chapter 38: The Showcase, the Shakedown, and the Saint
The midday sun bares down on the cobbled plaza of the Alchemist Guild as Vuvi adjusts her goggles and flips her notebook open with a dramatic flair. Pip stands polished and gleaming on the presentation platform, surrounded by curious murmurs from judges and onlookers alike.
Three guild judges, an elderly gnome, a bored-looking elf, and a keen-eyed dryad woman with a clipboard, circle Pip like lions around an exotic bird.
"What's the primary power source?" the gnome asks, brows raised while tapping his monocle.
"I'm afraid that's proprietary I formation. Classified," Vuvi replies, crossing her arms.
"What's the function of this pelvic conduit?" the elf asks, brushing the end of her quill across Pip's hips. He trembles with a muffled beep.
"Classified," Vuvi repeats, grinning.
"Can he really pleasure multiple partners simultaneously?" the dwarven woman asks, more intrigued than skeptical.
Vuvi's eyes sparkle. "That, my friend, we would be happy to demonstrate."
Across the plaza, Raenly Mystbern scowls beside his elegant, chrome-inlaid pleasure chair. An elaborate piece of machinery with gold trim, aromatherapy channels, and far too many gears.
He hisses as the crowd around Pip grows thicker.
One of the male judges, a tall human with a pinched face, scratches his head. "Well, this all sounds great, but we'll need a practical demonstration. Some kind of test."