Chapter 143: Maintenance and Masterpieces
The forest lies in near silence as Pip’s parts lay scattered across the bed inside the pleasure house, surrounded by various tools and equipment. Vuvi runs a diagnostic scan across his core crystal at a table nearby, muttering numbers to herself under her breath.
Off to the side, Raenly and Bilorial clean and re-seat various joints and plating, working with the careful, methodical focus of two men handling something they don’t entirely understand but deeply respect.
"Oops!" Raenly gasps as he fumbles and drops one of Pip’s finger-plates with a clatter.
Vuvi looks up from the crystal, scowling. "Careful, Mystbern!"
"Sorry! Sorry!" Raenly calls back, scooping Pip’s parts back up, blowing dust off it before gently setting it back down on a cloth. "These are smaller than they look."
"They’re fingers, Raenly. Everyone’s fingers are that size."
"Not when you’re worried you’re about to break one of the only functioning miracles on the entire continent."
"True," Vuvi sighs, already turning back to the crystal before her.
Bilorial shoots the cat-kin beside him with an equally withering sneer before turning back to Vuvi.
"I’ve studied every last inch of this construct by now," he says. "And I consider myself one of the sharpest minds in the Demon Lands where alchemy and engineering are concerned, and yet, still, I can’t make heads or tails of how you built him. Consider me genuinely impressed." he pauses slightly, " And a little jealous, if I’m honest."
Vuvi chuckles. "I’m not sure I could explain it either. Even if you asked me to explain it twice. I gave up trying to make sense of Pip a long time ago. My whole purpose now is just keeping him safe and running smoothly." She shrugs, softer than usual. "The Great Mother blessed me with him. I’m just trying not to waste it."
"A noble quest," Bilorial says. "I’m proud to play even a small part in it."
"Same here, honestly," Raenly says, not looking up from a bolt he’s tightening. "Never would’ve guessed my life would end up chasing Vuvela Blackthorn across an entire continent. Been amazing, mostly." He pauses. "There was a week near the beginning where I had my doubts."
Vuvi grins. "Market Town?"
"Market town." Raenly groans. "Mysa and I followed you guys for more than a week on foot. Through every forest and village you . Absolute torture!" He says, shaking his head almost fondly before glancing at Bilorial. "Until we got saved by a demon general."
Bilorial claps a hand on the cat-kin’s shoulder. "A clumsy cat, this one." he says, fond, "but a clever one. Would’ve been a genuine tragedy to see that talent wasted chasing you around in the mud."
"For what it’s worth," Raenly adds, still fitting the finger-plate back into place, "I’ve never actually thanked you."
"You’ve thanked me plenty." Bilorial smiles.
"Still." Raenly says, finishing up Pip’s finger plating, "You’ve kept Musa and me alive. You deserve a proper thanks."
"It’s close enough for our purposes." Bilorial replies, tightening a bolt at Pip’s hip with a small, satisfied click.
"Thank you..." Vuvi sighs from beside the crystal. " From me... and Pip. For keeping us safe."
"It’s nothing," Bilorial scoffs before looking between Vuvi and Raenly. "You two really are siblings in spirit, aren’t you?"
"No we’re not!" Vuvi says, deflecting.
"We’re nothing alike!" Raenly confirms.
"No, of course not," Bilorial says, entirely unconvinced, and goes back to his work.
Vuvi claps her hands together. "Done. The core crystal’s fully calibrated. Let’s put him back together."
A while later, Pip sits up on the bed, fully assembled, polished, and freshly prepped, his eyes flickering to life as his systems boot back up around him.
He looks around, gives a small, cheerful beep of greeting to the faces around him before he stands up and tests his joints and servos.
"How do you feel?" Vuvi asks him.
Pip scans through his own status screens, everything humming a clean, uninterrupted green.
He shoots Vuvi an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
She sighs, content, wiping her brow with the back of a wrist. "Finally done. Time for bed. Big day tomorrow, Pip. We’re meeting the dwarves and all."
Bilorial rises, looking Pip over with genuine fondness. "You are every inch the divine construct." He says, crouching slightly and meeting Pip’s eyes. "We’ll continue watching over you and your friends. You have my word."
Pip gives an appreciative beep, then a low, grateful bow.
Bilorial smiles at him fondly, offers a short, formal bow in return, and turns back to Vuvi. "You really have built a masterpiece, Lady Blackthorn."
"He’s more than that," Vuvi says, smiling. "He’s my best friend."
Pip glows with warmth, stepping beside Vuvi, practically humming with Pride. His chest light flickering soft and steady like a heartbeat as she reaches up to sling an arm over his shoulder.
"Bed. Now. mister." She scolds at him, smiling adoringly.
They stroll off together, her curls bouncing against his glowing side with every step.
"That’s our cue too," Bilorial says.
Raenly groans. "I really don’t want to sit in a pocket dimension all night again. It’s cramped, and it smells like feet."
"It smells like feet because you keep storing your boots in there."
"That’s an unrelated and frankly unfair accusation."
Bilorial sighs, the long, patient sigh of a man who has clearly had this exact conversation more than once, before bowing to Vuvi. "Thank you, again, for allowing us the privilege of spending the day with your team... and with him."
"You’re not entirely insufferable, for a demon-kin general." Vuvi says, smiling despite herself. "I don’t mind you sticking around, honestly. Even if Raenly and Mysa are with you."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Raenly snaps back.
"Kind of you to say. But we have our orders, I’m afraid." Bilorial hesitates, then leans in, voice dropping. "Which reminds me. Do keep our little playdate quiet, if you don’t mind. Queen Vexena hasn’t exactly authorized us to mingle."
"Your secret’s safe with me, Bill." Vuvi giggles. "And thank you for looking out for us."
"It has been an honor." Bilorial smiles.