Once the group returned from the Ulfat Factory, Octavia insisted rather strongly that the group take a break before embarking on their next mission. She stated quite plainly that between new equipment, new team members, and new resources at their disposal, they needed to take the time to adjust to everything that had happened, and to let Gaudile tune up everyone's equipment to maximum capacity. She also stated that now was the perfect opportunity for everyone to relax and get to know each other better, and thus forge a greater unity as a team for future missions.
She didn't fool anyone for a moment. Everyone in Resistance HQ knew this was a thinly veiled excuse to make time for Axl, Cinnamon, and Marino to spend time together as civilians off mission. At the same time, she was probably the only one outside that trio not hiding thinly veiled amusement at the look of panic that flashed across Axl's face whenever he got caught between Marino's smoldering gaze and Cinnamon's innocently affectionate one...especially not after Axl had returned Cinnamon's panties (after downloading the contact info) and she'd demonstrated an astonishing level of flexibility as she put them back on without removing her pants or disengaging her armor. (Marino had already suggested a session of 'competitive yoga' with Axl as the judge, much to Axl's embarrassment and everyone else's amusement.) As such, everyone wanted to see the trio interact, for one reason or another.
As a result, Axl now found himself in an awkward if enviable situation as he walked along the halls of the Central Tower, dressed in a loose white button-down shirt and black slacks. On his right arm, Cinnamon had swapped her nurse armor for a white sundress and greek sandals, her blonde hair swept out in her usual 'wing-like' do, giving her an almost angelic appearance. On his left arm, Marino was dressed in a slinky, shimmering black dress that hung off her left shoulder (leaving a good amount of skin visible on the side turned towards him) with slits up to the hips on both sides. The dress stopped just above her knees, and was complemented by knee high black high-heeled boots and elbow length black gloves (which Axl was certain concealed her knives). With her green hair hanging straight down her back, held down with a spiked black headband, her wicked smile completed a rather devilish appearance.
And considering how closely both were pressing against him - almost competitively so - he had no idea what he was supposed to do with his hands.
Aside from that, however, he found the entire outing rather relaxing. Since Octavia had decided to let them have their privacy, it was just the three of them, leaving him free to stretch himself a bit, to be more than just 'Mama's Boy'. Not that he had a problem with being so dedicated to Octavia as his mother - being without one for most of his life accounted for that - but it was hard to balance that with the confidence he felt he needed to deal with the ladies. Much to his surprise, both Cinnamon and Marino were happy to listen to any story he wanted to tell, whether it actually interested them or not. Marino was also able to lead them to part of Central Tower that was off the main path...and thus an ideal date location, as it was filled with restaurants, arcades, and stage shows. On a whim, Axl decided to win both of them a plushy at the claw game...only to be left mortified when he managed to grab two 'Chief Axl' plush dolls, complete with soft scythes.
Other than that hiccup, it seemed like it would be a perfect date...right up till the moment he decided to take them to a show before a meal. It turned out a certain young pop star was performing and recognized him...and took rather public exception to the situation.
"You!" Rafflesian snapped out as she leapt off stage, charging right up to the trio. "Just who do you harridans think you are, clinging to my Axl like that?"
"Your Axl?" Marino demanded crossly. "And just where do you get off claiming him?" Her hand slid dangerously downward, her fingers flexing as though to pull her knives out at a moment's notice.
"For your information, Axl's mother hand-picked me to be introduced to Axl!" Rafflesian insisted primly, looking rather smug. "Took my private contact information from me for him personally!"
"That's odd," Cinnamon observed, her tone deceptively innocent. "Octavia introduced us to Axl in person asking him if one or both of us were to his liking. And how could she have hand-picked you when she doesn't have hands?"
Rafflesian's expression turned murderous as she swung her staff downward, the sunburst on the top whirring as it engaged internal combat systems. People nearby immediately started moving to a safe distance.
"Girls, girls!" Axl called out desperately. "Please, this isn't the sort of thing to get into a fight over! This shouldn't end in bloodshed!"
Before Axl could continue talking, Rafflesian metaphorically pounced. "Right! We can settle this on stage! I'll prove I'm the better girl for Axl then either of you!"
"Now hang on-" Marino began.
"Alright," Cinnamon interrupted. "But you're famous for your singing and dancing as an idol. That's a bit of an unfair advantage."
"I can take you two on one!" Rafflesian insisted. "My Belladonnas and I against you and whatever backup singers and dancers you can scrounge together, and I'll show Axl I'm the only girl for him! Losers give up on him forever!"
"Done," Cinnamon agreed quickly. "Two hours to prepare."
Rafflesian smirked confidently. "See you then, my sweet Axl!" she purred, blowing Axl a kiss as she sauntered away.
Axl and Marino rounded on Cinnamon, who quickly raised her hands. "Sorry, but this was the only way to resolve this that wouldn't result in one or more of us being taken away in a body bag or handcuffs!" she called out quickly. "Besides, I know we can win this! ...a-as long as I don't die of embarrassment."
As Axl blinked in confusion, Marino suddenly grinned widely. "You sly devil! Rafflesian is going to broadcast this all across the Tower...and we'll have the entire population gathered as an audience."
"And...I think I know just the performance to appeal to all ages..." Cinnamon continued.
As the pair went off to plan - and to call on X, Zero, Spider, Massimo, Gaudile, and Octavia to assist - Axl blinked in confusion. "Uh...what just happened?"
The actual competition segment likely violates the lyrics rules of the site. As such, you can find that segment here. Read before continuing to the next segment of the chapter.
Axl sighed in relief as he, Cinnamon, and Marino found their way to a karaoke restaurant where they could listen to other amateurs sing while they ate. As much as he wanted to go back to an ordinary date, three things caused problems for him. First, he, Marino, and Cinnamon were all still in their 'costumes' from the musical competition. Second, Gaudile and Octavia were also at the table with them. Third, it quickly became plain that Marino wanted the date to have a 'happy ending', was gently but steadily nudging Axl in that direction, and was also apparently not averse to Cinnamon being involved as well despite Gaudile's disapproving gaze.
This all culminated as Marino pulled out what she considered her 'trump card', the latest issue of a magazine series called 'Girls Gone Maverick'. "Page 24," she whispered softly, not noticing how Cinnamon went beet red at the sight of the issue cover.
Gulping, Axl began to turn to that page, only for his jaw to nearly fall off as he saw Marino on the page, showcasing a particularly skimpy outfit. "W...wow..." he managed to stammer out.
"I still have that one," Marino purred in his ear.
"I'm not sure I like the direction this conversation is taking," Gaudile chided darkly. "Especially not with Cinnamon listening-"
"Oh please, old man," Marino chided playfully. "You know by now she's been sneaking out, making friends, and having fun. You even know how she gave Axl her contact information. I wouldn't be surprised if she were in one of these as a thrill!"
Cinnamon let out a startled squeak as she sank into the couch they were sitting on, trying to hide from the magazine behind Axl's shoulder.
Marino blinked in surprise. "Wait...you don't mean..." She quickly flipped through the pages of the magazine...only to come across the foldout in the middle.
The whole group stared in shock as 'Sweet Baby Sugar' looked back up at them from the pages, her 'angelic innocence' plainly visible in the tasteful nude pose. As they stared, the latest singer on stage began singing a song Gaudile and Axl found appropriate, though for entirely different reasons.
I doubt I am the only reader that demands more misery for AXL!
7965471 you sir would be correct axl is one lucky guy
Cinnamon doing the center page spread in a dirty magazine... wow. I liked the song battle, especially the modified Lion King song, very nice. I can see Axl going medieval on a random guy perving on Cinnamon or Marino without realizing it. Also, got to have them both interact with Ferham, I can just see all three of them out shopping or something for fun, especially if Marino and Ferham don't recognize one another and they're both determined to find the perfect outfit for Cinnamon.
Cheif R: "...So how did you end up in a crater that used to be your room, with a pelvis crushed almost beyond repair?"
Axl: "I lived last night sir...I lived "
a spotlight shown down
before Massima pulled
1. Shone.
2. Umm... alternate take for Pumba?
Oh boy, if Rafflesian think she can beat those two in this old song and dance routine, she's got another thing coming.
I only have two words for that song segment. Hakuna Matata.
Pretty sure Cinnamon's embarrassment was center fold there.
Well that happened...
"How did you manage that?!"
I'm not sure that Axl wants either of THEM acting as his conscience.
Oddly, i was imagining that one of the girls would be performing this one. if somewhat more animated on the singer's part.
Love the performance choice, that was great.
Somehow, somewhere, Aubrey III has the appropriate choice comment about this.
7965825 who knows, maybe the singer was called Audrey IV.
Well, I got my wish.
Though my desire for Axl to suffer through some more shenanigans has yet to be satisfied...wonder if Ferham will pop in after she sees a recording of the concert. Or at least make a reference to it in the future.
And speaking of the concert, who wants to bet that Octavia had taken photos to give to Alia and Iris after this is over?
Honestly? I ship Marino and Massimo. I can accept this setup, but it's not as interesting to me as if you'd done my preferred ship and Axl X Cinnamon. Simple romantic situations would more than suffice for me.
So Rafflesian appears again.
Though even if Octavia and some of the others don't approve. I always rooted for Raffle since she reminds me of Trixie to a degree.
Why do I wonder if somehow someway Axl will end up with all thre girls?
Uhh...
This makes me uncomfortable.
I figured Axl's harem would've grown
The performance on the other link was well-made, and the ending to this chapter was hilarious.
Small edit needed in the performance that I noticed. I believe it's supposed to be 'his carefree days', not 'his every days'.
Gimme dat fukken magazine!!!!!
7966195
Bet it could be 4 or more if we see Axl in Equestria. I do see a couple reploids squeezing in with Ferham into Axl's arms.
7971304 You can't be wrong if you ship everything.
7971316 You don't understand! Axl's love life here is the tip of the iceberg with Tatsurou's Pinkie Pie being the rest! Pinkie gets more game than anybody else in the PWNY verse!
Sure you can argue that not all Pinkies are the same. I swear, there's a hive mind between the pink ponies.
Well now... I was not expecting a favorite movie from my preschool days to be referenced THAT way... and yet I only have two thoughts:
The first is that it's been WAY too long since the last time I watched Lion King.
The second is that this twisting of circumstances seems funnier to me than it probably should.
Marimo has my vote. Cinnamon reminds me a little too much of Elena from Grandia 2.
This is not a light novel! Stop it, I say!
So I guess he pissed off a CPU or something, because AX Heart is nowhere to be seen. He's gone from shybie to flirt to shybie again. What, is he only afraid of girls when they're in love with him?
Too bad nothing in this chapter will matter much, because it'll be so rushed and cliche'd (2,725 words for a chapter called "Downtime"; that makes sense) that if the romance aspect was cut from this story entirely, nothing of value would be lost.
...
*Sigh* All right.
Really. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"?... Whatever.
So that was the chapter, I guess. Two girls Axl knows nothing about won out over a girl Axl know slightly less about, so I suppose something was achieved. I thought it was neat how some of the date went, where he's not worrying about being a "mama's boy" and instead just had fun with them... even though it was in montage-form and had no actual development.
But Jesus, you really need to lay off the fanservice sometimes. Believe it or not, a relationship can be more than just "Oh Em Gee'zums; da gurls luk hawt!!!!!!!" The characters can work off of each other and be cute... by themselves.
derpicdn.net/img/2013/12/17/499181/full.gif
I know, I know. Hear me out. It's true that an initial attraction is important for a relationship to start, but a surface-level attraction can only take you so far. Sometimes, instead of acting like the only thing left in the world is for the guy to fuck the girls, or have the girls desperate to fuck the guy, you focus on what aspects these characters like about each other past the surface level. Even shows like High School DXD can get this across by letting you have some window into why the dude likes each girl, and the girls in turn with the guy. Yeah, Issei likes Rias for her breasts, but he grew to like her, not just from the endless amounts of care she showed her friends, but also her determination to let her dream come true, of helping other people's dreams come true while winning all the Ratings Games they participate in. Rias was initially interested in Issei because he just so happened to have the wish symbol whatsit that saved as he was about to die (while being a Sacred Gear owner), but she grew to like him because he was the first person who adamantly supported her decisions, to the point that he'd face down a high-class devil with regeneration abilities out the wazoo just to keep her from marrying said high devil, of whom she detests.
What do we know about Axl, Marino, and Cinnamon?... Um... Axl's famous... Cinnamon's sexy-cute... and Marino's sexy.
That's about it.
Aw, the last video is unavailable...
Loved the competition segment. Imagining the four boys as the narratives was hilarious.
11028305
Fixed the bad link.
11028368
Pfft. Should've known that was the song you were referencing.
honestly this whole chapter has been a ton of fun, the ships are sailing now, let's hope the mission goes just as smooth...
I don’t really find doing song lyrics in a story to be particular good anyway so I’ll just skip it. Long segments in stories just do not work