<Nocturnal Harmonia>

Tae seemed to think highly of Yugi's admission. He supposed it was a compliment, if nothing else, and comparing oneself favorably in the same sentence as the chairwoman had to be a positive as well. If he had to comment on their visuals, however, Yugi would call Tae the superior choice. The political and emotional power of Makima, combined with her general demeanor, was her real bread and butter. Whatever the case, Tae claimed they didn't need to exercise such teamwork against her. Yugi shrugged beneath the running water. "That wasn't even intentional. You've got no idea how hard I find it to get a good partner for... literally anything. You're just gonna have to deal with the consequences of that finally happening. But, feel free to mete out punishments if you're upset about it~" he teased.

Everyone found a reason to enjoy the water. Miko even stressed how it settled her OCD to have water with such cleaning capabilities. "Right? The bath doesn't have this kind of quality. I'm guessing the System read into the whole 'shower for clean, bath for relaxation' thing pretty hard. Gotta agree though; I don't even get myself this clean. I might be able to drop my skincare routine," he added to the brunette's original clause. Tae approved of the 'shower' as well, expressing a need for one in her new bath. "You can have this one. I'm not leaving it here when we're done. Oh, and that reminds me... we still need to set up that base," he rambled. That train of thought would continue in Yugi's mind even as Tae talked about her ability to pose. She was right that he should take advantage of having two bodies ready and willing, but... there was another thought stewing in Yugi's head as well. Something about their current trio held the answer to the Players' lack of base issue. As for taking advantage of potential posing, he'd openly speak about that while having Shadows carry him closer to the bath. "It's a long list. If we're offering now, I'd have to ask if some things ever even caught on. Did anything happen with that 'amen' pose? Or the face-down, ass-up thing? And while we're on that topic, is anyone doing the hip sway?! That one's awesome! And and and..."

The teamwork of the Players wasn't something that either of them was making an overly conscious effort to do. Yugi was the type who wasn't used to having a reliable partner, and as such he and Miko existing and bouncing off each other was their natural state of being together. The teasing he sent Tae's way had her sticking her tongue out at him under the water, "Oh you're just going to volunteer you both for punishment~" she said withdrawing her tongue so she could smirk at the pair. "I will also volunteer us for punishments. When you're hot, pain is a seasoning♪~" Miko asserted which made Tae laugh and hold up her hands. She wasn't used to encountering a girl so forward about being a masochist, it was no wonder when she first met the girl she was practically exploding.

Beyond points like that everyone seemed to agree about the great nature of this 'shower'. Yugi seemed excited about it as well, claiming the bath hadn't gotten him this clean but that he might even be able to give up his skincare routine. "Chii♪~ I know. I spend way more time cleaning myself than most people consider normal and even I don't feel like I've gotten this clean before..." Miko confirmed. Both of these teens had at least mild to moderate neurosis, but Tae wasn't judging. There were much worse things in the world than two teens who really enjoyed personal hygiene. Apparently, Tae would be given this shower at the end, "Thanks~" she said happy to potentially have an even better post work relaxation ritual. As for the need to set up a base, Miko remembered one of their early prizes from their first quests. "We really do. We've been handing out house keys to a place that doesn't exist. Wanna go looking at real estate later? We can make sure the spot we chooses feels right. Especially assuming game mechanics will apply♪~" Miko chirped, while using that water to clean that newly lengthened magical hair. Tae heard what they were speaking out and felt like it was an oddly mature conversation but also like she'd missed something. "Is there a rush? And what kind of spot would you want to set up in?" the Doctor wondered. There had to be some strange qualifications necessary for them to pick a spot. Ah but just as easily as they discussed random real estate, they feel back into perversions. Tae was hearing the names of a few known internet and anime crazes. "Whoa, way to let the pervy little guinea pig out the cage~" Tae mentioned. "That hip sway is pretty popular. Something about it popping in one of the Aeon's games. Amen pose sounds familiar but I don't know what it is... and face down ass first is always popular~" she explained of the missing information for the kids. All the while Miko was quiet, but... a dangerous little phrase came from her lips. "Box is open..." Miko mused as both she and Tae were also taken over to be put into the bath whenever Yugi was ready to settle down. Hot water capable of healing souls was what could be expected.

Yugi would absolutely volunteer himself and Miko for punishment ─ at least from someone like Tae. In any normal circumstance, he'd volunteer Miko alone without question, knowing it was something she'd sign herself up for anyway. In fact, she seconded his volunteering immediately. Yugi only pointed to the brunette with his thumb. "See? I'm a bit pickier in that regard. I only add myself because I'm the guinea pig. I'm still trying to be vivisected by those battle scars you're dishing out~" he flirted.

Beyond the talks of magical showers and the like, there was the matter of... Player Housing, as gamers would put it. They had to find a place eventually. If they hadn't lost that original temporary base, they'd probably be able to teleport into the tutorial dungeon whenever they wanted. Instead, they'd have to find somewhere in this world. "We'll have to go looking, yeah. Damn, we should have set it up in the Job-Change Quest," Yugi griped briefly. Looking to Tae, he shrugged once more. "There's no real rush, technically... but player housing usually comes with a lot of good shit. We might even unlock the farming mechanic or something. At the very least, it seems like it'll be a respawn point for the next time we're randomly ripped into another System Dungeon. We'll need... something fitting, I think. Monarch of Shadows, lording over death in the overworld and..." He paused there. Why? Well, there was something they'd forgotten to mention ─ something that may have been the answer to all of their current problems. All he could say in realizing that was... "Fucking. Lasagna."

Ah, but there was another issue cropping up as well. A box was open, according to Miko. One could only wonder what that meant in this case. In Yugi's experience, it was likely relevant to an ongoing conversation... somehow. On the other hand, that connection could have been a dozen links into something that wouldn't make sense to anyone but Miko herself. "How close is the relation this time? Or are we going, like, six months back?"

Miko and Yugi were a pair being observed by Tae currently. She found their antics interesting in this moment of downtime. Both of them seemed to be perfectly fine volunteering themselves for a bit of punishment, though Yugi was a bit pickier since he wanted his punishment to be a bit more specific. "Sou... ka," a bit of a blush would be found on the doctor's face as she worked her way through a few odd feelings. "If you two are sure... I won't argue, still it could be dangerous," she mentioned acknowledging the power difference might still be a bit problematic. "Iia, it's all good. I can heal, you can heal... we both have passive abilities that do it too... no need to take the care route if you get really into it. Neither of us will die while we're so close together♪~" Miko encouraged her to have at them in the way that felt most comfortable to her, making it obvious her own safety would be fine if they were in such a position.

With the encouragement out of the way, magical bathing being discussed there was also still real estate to consider. Tae, fit in nicely to such a conversation, trying to be a reasonable 'older' person in the situation and help the teens think through things and figure out stuff. "Yeah, the Job-Change Quest would have been a good place," Miko said, both of them apparently not thinking of such a thing. But she wouldn't even blame them considering the fight for their life hat took place there. Still, as Yugi began talking about what they would need in a place for their 'Player Housing' and the potential bonuses that could go along with it... Tae couldn't help but feel like there was a potentially really good spot. "Hm..." she mumbled. Ah, but that wasn't all, Miko had been filtering that information and was creating a box, she was also sure that there was something that should apply to what they were looking for. Yugi on the other hand would be mentioning lasagna, much to Miko and Tae's initial confusion. Tae would be commenting. "Okay, not following at all," the doctor offered finding that random. "I was going to ask if we were hungry, and I will say I now really want some Italian and that's on you," she said pointing at Yugi with a pout on her face. "But...no, that has the tone of, the start of a stupid brain rant... " Miko concluded.

Still there was an open box, which Yugi took issue with and Tae was also initially confused about, but Yugi's mention made it seem like the boxes were some mental use tool for Miko. Interesting. "It was mostly about the positions, which I know and I don't know why... so I really need to remember to talk to my therapist. Ass tower was my addition to the list... Bigger problem, I'm a year behind on Aeon's works and games, but I'm putting that back in a box..." Miko explained. Sex and rants were beginning to get mixed up. Tae could follow Miko's line of thought, but not easily. The mention of the Aeon's could have been a trigger, the sex positions probably helped, but that was... "A clusterbomb of confuckle," Tae said while shaking her head.

Tae continued to warn against the dangers of her clawing behavior. It had been a while since Yugi's last scoff, but now he'd be giving the most intense one in several hours. Some might realize there was a rant incoming from that. "Fuck danger and fuck healing! I'm not some pussy who's gonna become a failure because I put in enough work to get myself torn the fuck up! If I earned some battle scars, I'm gonna go fucking harder. Just don't pull some bullshit like, I dunno, giving me more than what I've earned. I want honor scars, not some participation trophy," he chattered.

Perhaps the Job-Change Dungeon was the Players' ideal base location? No, that was just an empty husk of a place; something had to be better. As they all discussed the topic, Yugi came to the realization because of another matter entirely. Tae was utterly lost when he spoke of lasagna, but Miko knew what he was getting at. Once more, there would be a rant. "My fucking brain is made of lasagna! And you all let me just walk around thinking I've got a big, meaty brain when it's really mixed in with sauce, floppy ass noodles and... fucking half-melted cheese! Fucking STUPID!" he started. That was only the beginning. "Met Death a second time after that quest! Got a route for her and everything, but it was some freaky shit about the boundary between realms getting blurred after we extracted dozens of Shadows at once! Fucking bombshell doctor is standing RIGHT HERE with her ability to get stronger from being around DEAD THINGS! WE grow our entire ARMY from DEAD THINGS! Everybody on the same page here? Anybody want to talk about how we live in JAPAN, where there's an entire FUCKING FOREST OF DEAD PEOPLE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET?! Don't be lasagna!"

Beyond that pair of rants, Miko had a box open... and what a box it was. She cited the positions that she shouldn't have known about by her own admission of unviewed media, an addition to the list she had to offer, and... being behind on the Aeons' media. There was one critical piece of information in there somewhere, and missing it was the cause for much confusion. "... Why the fuck are those in the same box? Doesn't matter; ass tower's a great addition! It doesn't become legendary until there are at least three, but with the asses you two have? I wouldn't call it settling. Also, Sensei, the 'amen' pose is that bent-over one where you put upside-down prayer hands behind your legs. Ever seen it?"

Tae would soon be hearing some ranting, whose only prerequisite was a scoff. Miko understood what was coming but the words that Yugi spoke would be surprising to the Doctor. She'd seen the lad self-deprecate in a rage before, but this was an entirely different matter. He declared her previous partner a pussy. He claimed that earning battle scars wouldn't result in ED in his case, and would instead feed his behavior. He also claimed to only want what was earned not a participation trophy. "Okay." that was all that Tae could say after a rant like that. What could she do but not consciously hold back on a lad who didn't want her to, and in truth Miko was right, they had much sturdier bodies than the average Hunter... Tae couldn't fault them for wanting organic experiences and not caring about the consequences. "Gamer rage. We're going to get pounded into paste♪~" Miko whisper sang happily, making a small smile creep across Tae's lips. This was fine. These two were oddly mature for a couple of horny teenagers.

Ah but such credit couldn't just be given all the time. No, because as they discussed real estate and 'Player Housing'. Everyone currently in this bath together, figured there was an ideal place for them... but two of them hadn't gotten there just yet. But the rant that came was self-loathing and surprisingly food related. Yugi compared his brain to lasagna and called himself stupid and Miko could only huff, "Can you loath less deliciously♪~ You're making me fucking hungry!" Miko asserted. Her belly making quiet little rumbling noises. No matter she'd have her fill of something soon enough. At the same time, Yugi's rant began putting pieces together for Tae. And by the grand reveal she was nodding her head. "Sou ka, that would make a decent bit of sense. Also I have an ability called Shadow Reaping, which now includes references to the Shadow Monarchs and Shadow Soldiers..." Tae said having pulled up the previous messages she'd been sent. Miko on the other hand sighed... "Well no one thinks about the Suicide Forest unless you're thinking about re-rolling yourself..." Miko paused. "Oh, there it is, you've been saying that all day. I would have gotten there in a couple more items in the box. So I guess a visit to the Suicide Forest is in order?" Miko decided looking sheepish.

There was one thing unnoted by Tae and it would come back up in a few minutes. No for now they were dealing with the odd box created by Miko. It would seem that the oddity of the things in that box was the first thing in question but it moved on to her addition of the 'Ass Tower' and the explanation of Amen Pose for Tae. "Oh, that pose is being called the Heart Pose now, but I get it. I know what you're talking about," Tae confirmed. Meanwhile, Miko sorted through her thoughts, "I know you said it didn't matter, but that stuff is probably all in the same box because my therapist is an Aeon's model," Miko said, "Still ass tower's gonna be great!~" Miko added only to have Tae think about something real. "Wait, did you say... you have an active route with the goddess of death?!" Tae exclaimed.

Could Yugi loath less deliciously? There was a simple answer to that. "Fuck no," he said. So long as he had reason to be annoyed with himself, Yugi would continue those food-related insults to his own brain. It was a mystery how or why he'd even started those analogies, but it wouldn't be stopping anytime soon. As for Tae's 'Shadow Reaping' ability, it apparently had some information that was no longer redacted by the System. Yugi had yet another reason to be upset. "Of course it does now, because fucking stupid Brainface doesn't believe in giving us useful information! You know what? I'm glad he's not involved in the last update! I hope his ugly fucking brain fell off his face and got replaced by the System's memory chip or some shit," he rambled. Moving on again, Miko came to realize the missing connection to his repeated mention of rerolling. That was yet another thing that made the Suicide Forest an obvious base choice. "See? That's the fucking cheese. First thing you see, getting all melty and making you think the shit's done. But it's not done! Lasagna!"

Was Yugi going to run out of upsetting facts? No. Tae had another one to give, specifying that the pose he spoke of was being called 'the Heart Pose' now. Upsetting as that was, he didn't have enough words left for a full tirade. "That's just dumb. I see how we got here, but... dumb," he said before Miko gave the missing information tying that recent box together. "Oh. Well, that makes more sense now. Moving on. Ass tower," he said. Alas, Tae had finally looped back to the missed mention of a death goddess and her apparent Bond Route. "I did say that. That happened. Irkalla, ancient Mesopotamian goddess of the underworld of the same name, pink hair, hotter than any fertility goddess you could possibly imagine ─ in a weird magical way ─ and resting at 34% Intimacy after she made me blow all over her face without even touching me. Wore a wedding dress for some reason. Ass tower? I need an outlet."

Apparently, Yugi could not loathe with words less delicious. "Goddamn it, Omen-kun♪~" Miko whined. At some point someone was going to be devoured, she was far too hungry. More pressing than that, were the words which had been initially redacted from Tae's Shadow Reaper skill, which were ones which would have let them know important information about the job change quest. Of course, this would lead to another rant from Yugi. One which Miko would actually cosign. "Damn right, fuck Brainface!" Miko asserted, but then some other memory was triggered. "Box is open. You remember what you said you'd do if we actually ended up with a super army?" Miko mentioned a reference to a flippant point of performing a sex act. Tae knew they took issue with their 'administrator' but apparently they were quite upset. Still there was more to think about than the absurdity of Brainface, given the fact that they had more food related brains. "You really like those food related metaphors," Tae mentioned. Miko on the other hand was cross. "Mention food one more time, and I'm eating you♪~" she threatened with a pout on her face.

Moving on from Systems and other such things, they came back to more sexual topics and it would have been fine. The 'amen pose' was changed to the 'heart pose'. "Hm, calling it the amen pose would have made it a bit kinkier, I like it better~" Tae decided. Soon enough they were able to move past the point. An ass tower, was Yugi's demand and Miko was all forward. "Do I go on top cause small, or on bottom because cushion?" Miko wondered of her own position. There was quite the crazy take on a death goddess with an open route who was apparently so stunning that Yugi was forced into orgasm without touching. "Wow! That sounds crazy. As for your ass tower... how do you imagine it?" Tae asked while leaning herself over the edge of the tub to reveal her backside. Miko could fit over top or underneath it wouldn't really matter to Tae as the girl was quite small.

If nothing else, the Players could usually bond over their distaste for Brainface's actions. Even when the System's administrator was doing helpful things, he always found a way to be annoying somehow. No matter. Yugi had too many things to be upset about already, and it seemed Miko was choosing to be upset about his food references. One more and she'd eat him, Miko threatened. There was a pregnant pause in the air after that moment, followed by Yugi sharing a single word. "Sashimi."

Tae was right; the 'amen pose' was a far kinkier, more appealing name than whatever the hell people had come up with in the past year. "It's so much kinkier! Calling it the heart pose is just... tame, boring... dumb. It's like we took it from Rule34 to some dumb Tik...tok...challenge..." He stuttered toward the end of a clause, looking to Tae as if asking if humans really let that happen. What had degenerates become in the past year? This was criminal! Oh well. It would have been equally criminal of Yugi to ignore the start of an ass tower, which Tae was already getting into position for. His preference for placement was requested, but not before Miko brought attention to something he said during the tutorial dungeon. Indeed, he hadn't forgotten that statement. "You're really just opening all the fucking boxes right now, aren't you? Yes I remember! I also remember something about bending you over everything and everybody on this trip, so what the fuck are you asking me top or bottom for? I'm too busy trying to un-think about an intrusive goddess image to keep recalling shit!"