Rising Shards

I tried to gauge Pippi's reaction to this as Alix Corinani sat across from her. Alix had already biffed it trying to do a jump into her first camping chair, breaking it and hiding it in the tent before trying again with another.

I hadn't had the worst experiences with Alix, but I hadn't had great ones either. She tried to hit on me and Evy two times each at school, all the attempts so hilariously bad we couldn't really be too upset, and once we explained firmly that we were dating (and not looking for her to be our third, her backup flirting request, nor did we want her to be our "side bitch," her words, not mine) she did finally back off. Even though she was nerdy enough to spend however much on those ugly smart glasses with the clunky add ons, I wasn't sure she was Pippi's type of nerd.

I was ready to shoo Alix away the moment Pippi was out, but she didn't rule out her second date right away.

"Weird to meet a coworker at one of these," Pippi said. "Sorry if I'm awkward."

"It is a bit awkward, isn't it?" Alix said. "But, I've been told that awkward situations...um...well, I've been told a lot of things."

"How about...what have you been told about you?" Pippi asked.

"I've been told that I'm pretty epic at sex," Alix said.

I pinched my forearm trying to keep my expression blank. That's what she was starting with?

"Really? Someone actually said that?" Pippi said.

"Well, not in those words exactly," Alix said. "But believe you me, the intent was behind their words to convey...just that."

"Huh," Pippi said.

"Funny, because Pippi was just saying she's looking for someone nerdy that'd—"

"Stella!" Pippi kicked me. "Back off."

"Fine, fine," I said.

Back off, eh? Was Pippi actually into this? I followed her wishes and went to get us some water bottles, letting the two chat. I looked around trying to see where Evy and Mahina were, but didn't spot them.

By the time I got back, Pippi and Alix were in a spirited conversation.

"And then the manager was all, 'you can't eat that while trying to sell products! This is Brambler!'" Alix said.

"And that's the moment you decided to ask her out?" Pippi giggled.

"I...perhaps was reading too much subtext into what she was saying," Alix said. "Luckily, I missed the kiss."

"You missed? You tried to kiss her?" Pippi asked.

"I thought the moment was right," Alix said. "To her it looked like I just fell over. She bought my story that my belt broke and that's why my pants were coming down, luckily never finding out I was indeed droping trow in anticipation. So that's why I was a bit iffy about trying this out, but lesson learned. Don't work for local Brambler Co. stores."

"I would guess the lesson was don't try to kiss your manager when they're firing you, but maybe hearing it out loud would have given me some of that subtext," Pippi said.

When the buzzer went off again, Pippi was in a better mood than the last one.

"Wow, you two hit it off," I said. "I think?"

"She had no game whatsoever and was very insistent she was great at sex, and broke three chairs and hid them before she could get caught," Pippi said. "But..."

"But?" I asked.

Pippi scratched her ear.

"I dunno, fail women are kinda hot," Pippi said.

"You think so?" I said.

"Listen," Pippi said, holding up a single finger. "You're dating Evy, she's great, I get it. But sometimes you want the opposite."

"And Alix is the opposite?" I said.

"Totally! Evy is all there for you and whatnot, but I bet Alix would need lots of care. Take care of her when she falls down a well or tries to make out with the mayor."

"You'd want to date someone who'd try to make out with the mayor?" I asked. "I guess that wouldn't be an issue if it was an open relationship."

"She'd be a fix me up," Pippi said wistfully.

"Did you get her number?" I asked.

"I didn't," Pippi said. "If I really wanted to pursue that I'd just ask her at school, I guess."

I had my hands on my hips, tilting my head to the side as I analyzed Pippi's reactions.

"You sound like you're regretting it a smidge," I said.

"If she pops up again in one of the other rounds, fate is telling me to go for this pathetic woman, and I shall heed the call," Pippi said.

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