Simulated Love

**This page is the property of Holo. Don't take any stuff from this page without his permission, he shall make sure to take attitude. Thanks for respecting it. Stay cheerful.**

"And just like that, the victory goes to Phobe Phobos of The Twin Avatars! And that wraps up the Card Course Cavalcade! And such a rigorous competition it was! Remember folks, the games go every week from Wednesday to Friday. Each time with a new meta, new strategies, and rulesets! Can't wait to see you again!" The announcer proclaimed, his voice getting hoarse at the end, having to shout even louder to compensate. His throat was sure to suffer as a result. The bet dealers were now hard at work to collect the prizepools and organizing the logistics of winners and losers. One of them stepped up to Phoebe and Cleo who were quietly celebrating their win.

"Good evening, Madams. So, the reward. I believe you desired Hardware if you won. Same address as usual, I assume?" He asked to which he got a nod. "We have run analyzis on your specs to see that the hardware is indeed an upgrade. And so it is. I trust you will be well pleased with the results. And you, Phoebe. Bytes as per usual?"

Phoebe looked to the man with a somewhat confident look but still one with nerves going amok. "Actually, I would like the credits for once. I have some plans that require some cash for the time being." Phoebe explained vaguely, her sweet voice smooth as silk. "Will that be able to be arranged quickly?"

"Beyond quickly. Already transfered." He said with a wave as he walked away. "Enjoy whatever it is that you intend to get out of it. If you're going to a 'club', rub one for me, will ya?" he joked. Phoebe knew the man a bit more on a personal level. Ashur tended to be quite crude, and he responded mostly to equally crude remarks. "Pay up and rub one yourself, cheap-ass!" She shouted back at him, to which a loud chuckle came from him.

Turning back to Cleo with a sigh and half-smirk, she looked up at the woman and her raspberry eyes. They always enthralled her if she was not careful to compose herself. "Seems like that finishes that contest. Many more to go if we are heading to the top. But this teamwork of ours might just demand they create a brand new elo for us alone." She giggled playfully.

"I'd be fine with the top but if that ends up being the case I wouldn't complain." Cleo chuckled, an amused smile on her face as she leaned back against the digital table of the sever they were on. "But with as fast as we're rising they might have to do just that. I thought I was doing good before but ever since I teamed up with you things have been, well, things have been going well and beyond my expectations." Cleo leaned forward a bit, poking Pheobe in the middle of her chest and shooting the girl a playful wink before she drew are hand back and offered her a fist bump. "Put her there my partner in crime. Another victory another step up. So, what're you planning to do with those credits? Scoping out a new vacation home IRL? I'd reccommend Greece, somewhere by the beach. Maybe I could visit some time?" Cleo half-jested, having wanted to meet up with her friend for some time now but their schedules and distance apart made that difficult.

Phoebe raised her fist and bumped it with Cleo's, happy that their partnership was going as swimmingly as it was as she showed her a bright smile. But... It wasn't quite enough. Leaning back against the same table, she clutched her hands together in front of her. By now Cleo would know that it is a telltale sign that she was feeling nervous. "N-No, nothing of the sort... I would need to save up a whole lot more than silver-elo rate credits to afford that," She said, chuckling to herself as she scratched her left cheek. "No, I was, uh... I intended to use them to have some fun on 'the town' for once... I figured it was about time I did something for myself for once. And you-" She continued, all but giving away herself in that moment.

Nerves bitting hold of her every byte, Phoebe spoke up again with a deep breath. "I... I was gonna ask if you would like to come with me. Not like an actual town but, you know, meet in the town. As in, go somewhere here in virtual space, just for fun... Just the two of us?" She stuttered, unsure of how to present this. "W-What I mean to say is... Cleo, would you like to go on a date... with me?"

Cleo clicked her tongue, a small smile gracing her glossy pink lips before she brought her index finger to her chin as though in thought. Like her lips her nails too her a glossy raspberry pink in color matching her eyes. She let out a quiet, "Hmmm" for some moments before taking in a breath. "A date, huh? That's quite the bold ask of you, Phoebe. To just come out and call it that without any beating around the bush." She chuckled before her eyes met with her friend, "I suppose a date isn't out of the question. We could kill two birds with one stone, have this date of ours and celebrate our victory. What do you say, Partner?" Cleo winked at the girl, sticking her tongue out playfully though inside she was honestly surpised by the entire conversation. She liked Phoebe, perhaps even in the sense that she desired her romantically, but she'd never gotten that same vibe from Phoebe toward her. She wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth though.

"Where might you whisk me off to first? The clubs? A bar? A movie? Don't keep me waiting, Phoebe. I'm oh so excited for our first date." She teased.

Phoebe blushed a bit at her partner's seeming excitement and blunt words. "S-Sorry, was it a bit too blunt of me? Was I perhaps a bit-" she spoke before cutting herself off as Cleo continued. "I-uh-Yes!" She exclaimed happily, barely able to keep herself on her feet, wanting to prance and skip with glee. But that wouldn't be a dignified look, so she calmed down before speaking up again. "Yes, that would be an efficient way to spend our time. A-And I had some plans for what we could do! I was thinking we could start with..." Phoebe trailed off as she began to present a holo screen of a bar and restaurant in the theme and style of a American Jazz flair. A-ANd then I figured we could go to a little club called "The Home of Bachus"! It is supposed to be a spot for all kinds of parties, and it has a romantic even-" She cut herself off again, a bit scared that she might already be going overboard. "W-Well, anyway, it would kind of be like a cultural exchange date in a way!" She awkwardly chuckled. "So, um... Shall we meet up at any particular time? Get dressed for the occasion?"

An amused huff of air escaped Cleo's nose as she listened to Phoebe's awkward ramblings of what they might do. She found it cute to see the woman stumbling over herself, it was also quite flattering to boot. "All of that sounds lovely, Phoebe. Let's meet back up in our usual spot around... hm, eight-thirty-ish, alright? I'll wear something nice so be sure to get all dolled up for me too. I like a lady with some flair to her." Her fingers crawled up Phoebe's back ending at the nape of her neck. "Let's make this a night to remember. Back at the usual spot at around eight-thirty, m'kay?" Cleo made sure the woman understood and agreed before she pulled up a holo-screen of her own, pressing on it caused her to seemingly pop out of existence leaving behing a set of lips that blew a kiss before it too faded away.

Phoebe was left standing stunned at the sight of the holographic kiss. Seems like things was turning out splendid for her after all. Excited, she ran off to a spot nearby, completely forgetting that log and site blinking was a thing in her excitement. Turning up next to a virtual fashion shop, she stepped right through, and with more determination than ever, she called out to the store clerk: "I need you to pimp me the fuck up!"

Waiting by the spot, tapping her feet all the while, Phoebe awaited her precious partner. She didn't tap out of impatience, but rather due to the nerves still biting her. This was her shot. Her chance. 'You can't fuck this up, Phoebe... If you screw up... Well, just don't'. The thoughts in Phoebe's head was running at lightspeed, going over every scenario that could go wrong and how she should prevent it if it happened. She already proved herself a diligent and trustworthy partner. Now she gotta prove herself reliable as well... 'Good luck'.

Standing there in her date dress, a shortcut skirt, a handbag hanging from her left arm, and with one of her shoulder's free from fabric it left a bit to be revealed for Cleo. Unfortunately it would mean being revealing for others as well, but that was a price worth paying. Raspberry pink and glossy, she stood at the ready for their date. She also had a little trail of a veil at the back hem of her dress, adding a bit of a glimmering trail in her wake. Her lips were painted a faint pink and had applied some black eyeliner to accentuate her eyes. She hoped it would be enough. She hoped it would impress.

"Well, well, if it isn't my little Blue Raspberry." Cleo chuckled as she appeared to Phoebe's side. Cleo had chosen a dress in the Egytian style, cotten white cross breasted dress with gold trim on the arms and around the neck. The skirt of the dress was divided into two sections a half skirt that went down to her ankles and covered all around the back of her legs rounding against the sides and a pelvic curtain of equal length that too found gold all along the hem of the curtain. The dress showed off her back, ribs, and most importantly it showed off her long slender legs, one of her most appealing features. "Your dress looks beautiful, perhaps we can trade clothes some time." She complimented Phoebe's dress, a smile on her still pink glossy lips. A small amount of blush had clearly been applied to her olive skinned cheeks, a light green eye shadow had been applied to be wing-tipped.

Cleo did a little spin to give the girl a good look at her entire dress. "So, what do you think? Sexy? Too much? Or just right?"

Phoebe was entranced by the display. Had this been in the physical world, that kind of clothes would probably cost a fine couple of credits. Even in the CyberStream could some nice threads cost a bit too unless you were personally able to program it. The dress and the make-up only bolstered the beauty of Cleo and amplified Phoebe's desire for her. At Cleo's inquiry, Phoebe came back to reality to give her answer. Though she wished she hadn't.

"You look wonderful, Cleo. And that dress is just so se- Set right! Yea, that's right. It is set just right on you." Phoebe clumsily corrected herself. She couldn't kill the mood second one into their date. She had to get a grip. She needed to make the most of this chance she had been given. She couldn't repeat the mistakes of the past. "You make me feel underdressed with all your flair. I have some fun things planned for us today. I'll fork the costs, so don't worry about any of that. Saved a while for this. So... Feeling ready?" Phoebe asked softly, getting ready for the night ahead, holding out a hand to Cleo so they could both blink to the right server.

"Nonsense, Phoebe, you look as good as ever. Side by side we'll have all eyes on us. And thanks for inviting me out, I promise not to drink you out of house and home." She continued as she reached out and took hold of the woman's hand. In a blink they were both standing in front of a painted wooden building, a mural of color splattered all over the front of the restaurant in the shapes of musical notes and intruments. Music could be heard coming from inside, exciting Cleo. She did not let go of her friends hand as they approached the building, talking to an NPC about the sort of table they would like and arranging the cost of said tables before they were led inside. Cleo held a firm grip on Phoebe's hand, the two walking side by side as they were brought to their table, up a set of stairs they were brought out onto a balconey where they set near the edge of the glass railing overlooking the stage where holographs in the likeness of famous American Jazz players played. It was only when Phoebe moved to pull out Cleo's chair that the orange haired woman let go of her friend's hand.

With a thank you to Phoebe they both sat, the music loud enough to hear but not so loud that they could not speak at a decent volume and hear one another. "This place seems nice. I've never been here before, it's quite fancy."

"Glad you like it! I reserved a spot to be available ahead of time... About... A week before I asked you out. If the reviews are to be trusted, then this will be one hell of an evening." Phoebe explained sheepishly as she moved into a comfortable sitting position. She wasn't quite sure how to sit or act, never having been to one of these things before. But she held out hope. She didn't want to do too much 'reading' on it either in fear that it might get in the way of her own wants. With a slight wave to one of the servitors, a hologram appeared before them in but a moment in the image of a waiter with a writing block in hand to take drink orders. With their orders made, it would only be a few minutes before they could order their dinner. It would take a bit for the drinks as well, for while a beverage or edible could be blinked to the table in a few seconds, the more popular spots and renowned locations tended to try and give more of an authentic feel. Which meant the serving, the ordering, and the waiting.

Soaking in the environment, the sounds and the smells, Phoebe turned to Cleo with a soft smile. "Thank you again for accepting, Cleo. I am very happy." Phoebe said giddily. "Oh, it is gonna be such an exciting night! I-I mean, I'm sure it will be a fun time." Phoebe corrected, trying to act a bit cooler, not wanting to seem desperate or obnoxious about it all. Once their drinks arrived, Phoebe having ordered some lime-green drink. She had no idea what it would taste like or even what it was made of. But it looked like a nice color so she felt the need to try it.

"I checked our stats a bit too, by the way. It seems like we might be upgrading to Gold Elo any moment now. Just a few more games and we are ranking up yet again. Our victories are taking us far." Phoebe delivered the good news, figuring that since this is as much a celebration as it was a date. Lifting her glass up for a cheer, she continued: "To our bright future."

Cleo lifted her pina colada up into the air, "To our bright future indeed." She cheered with her friend before lowering the drink and taking a sip. Letting out a quiet "Ah" of satisfaction she leaned forward to rest her chin on her palm. "And bright it really is. Who might have thought that in such a short time we'd rank up so fast. We'll be platinum in a matter of time, I owe a lot of that to you. Sure, sure, I was moving up before we met but after we teamed up? That's when real progress started. It's like, we can read each other's minds when we're out there. I've never felt something like that with someone before. I wonder if its the same with all the top level players in Platinum. Or maybe we're something special altogether huh?" She asked, though before Pheobe could speak Cleo continued, "A whole week in advance, huh? You must have been pretty confident I'd say yes. Fame better not be going to your head, nobody likes an inflated ego." She teased and joked with Phoebe, simply trying to have fun.