video | dating show attempt #1: naked attraction

[lyingheart]

[ The video opens from an angle, filming what looks like a film crew and a man wearing a very large cravat talking with Annie. Both faces can be seen from the side. ]

So get this, [ he says, lifting his hands. ] you start out by seeing everyone's bare feet—

[ Annie stares at him, unblinking. The man's smile fixes in place, and he continues on. ]

Then you see their bare legs—

[ Annie continues staring without blinking. Determined, the man goes on. ]

Then you see bare everything from the legs up, and then their faces—

[ Annie stares, her eyes narrowing. ]

Before at last you step out, naked, and—

[ She holds up a hand, cutting him off. ]

When they said this was going to be a dating show, I didn't realise they really meant pornography. A young woman like me might take offense.

[ The man waves his hands, shaking his head. ]

No, no, no! It's not pornography, it's art! There's no touching invol—

[ His voice is cut off as Annie moves forward, her quick throw of the man landing him on his back on the ground with Annie placing one knee on the middle of his chest. His arms are held overhead. He's breathless, wheezing a little, eyes wide from what whites can be seen by the camera, which floats closer. ]

To hell with art. Contact me when you have a real proposal.

[ She pushes up to her feet, dusting herself off with a look of irritation still on her face. Her eyes flit to the camera, then to the one holding it. ]

Turn it off, Fritz. Now.

Comments

[lyingheart]

On foot. On horse. On boat.

[ She shrugs. ]

Carriage are around too, and wagons, but if you own one or can afford to travel in one are different things. Most use them related to business. The nobles use nicer carriages for traveling as they please, same as the better off merchants.

[ Does this sound medieval yet? Paradis is living far behind the times outside their walls, though Annie, as always, doesn't breathe a word about it. ]

[sassymaru]

That... sounds positively primeval.

[Close, Maru.]

You don't have a system of public transit? Not even trains?

[lyingheart]

... It's not that bad.

[ Not... not primeval? ]

We don't.

[ Marley does. Renewable resources are needed for that kind of thing! ]

[sassymaru]

It sounds intolerable.

[At least to his fancy ass.]

Why... why not?

[lyingheart]

You get used to it.

[ Dryly stated: not like they have a choice. And who knows different, until exposed to differences? ]

Limited resources. Something like that sounds like it'd need a decent source of fuel. I can't say we have anything that makes sense for the kind of scale that public transit implies.

[sassymaru]

It still sounds... horrific. In a way, I don't see how anyone could get used to that sort of thing.

[He wouldn't even exist without technology.]

Not even animal power?

[lyingheart]

For public transit? You could hire a carriage if you had the funds, of course, but it's not like people commonly own an animal as expensive as a horse. As for getting used to it... how can you not? When there isn't any other option?

[sassymaru]

Horses are expensive? Do not the people here keep them easily enough?

[Asks the robot who has never seen a real horse.]

It simply seems an impossible task.

[lyingheart]

Horses need to eat. When you can't afford to feed yourself, how are you affording a horse?

[sassymaru]

They... eat grass, do they not?

[lyingheart]

... Yes. A lot of grass. This gets back to not being able to feed people, so where are the resources or land for raising grain for horses going to come from? The short answer is we come from a shithole where survival is already hard enough. Niceties like public transportation? Only happens on the water.

[sassymaru]

Doesn't... Grass simply...

Grow?

[lyingheart]

...

[ She sighs. She just. She sighs. ]

I'm assuming you've never had to think about logistics related to animal care outside of your experiences here?

[sassymaru]

Not in the least.

They wouldn't entrust an AI with animal care, to my knowledge.

[lyingheart]

Yet they trust you with laws? Both are responsibilities for lives, in the end.

[sassymaru]

Carrying out the word of the law is far different than learning the finer details of animal husbandry.

[lyingheart]

Common sense dictating the costs behind both of them not being simple isn't.

[sassymaru]

I suppose you have a retort to anything I may try to explain.

[lyingheart]

Possibly. I'm not feeling highly motivated to in the moment, more shocked.

[sassymaru]

Very well. I'll leave you to your scandal.

[lyingheart]

... Thank you.

[ ??? she knows what he means but this has been puzzling ]