https://tinyurl.com/ufdk43p

[magnetite_plz]

A trail of strange, unidentifiable red petals winds through the plaza this cold day in the Nexus. Not a heap of them, but enough small bits of brilliant red to pop out amid the snow and dreary ground to leave a distinct marking of something or someone passing through.

The trail leads anyone following it to Nike, currently brushing more of those petals out of her impossibly long golden tresses, her brow furrowed in concentration. It's more of an emotion than her countenance normally belies. She startles to see anyone approaching her and drops her hands from her hair quickly. Scrambles for a long piece of red and white cloth she's got folded into her pack.

"Apologies. I did have queries for the populace today." Her fingers grip and cinch the fabric between them, slowly working their ways down the length of the cloth. She fidgets with it while she addresses anyone who will listen.

"Why do people choose partners based on mere attraction? Out of dozens of qualifying attributes, why should something so unimportant have a disproportionate weight to the equation? The choice could be made based on compatibility of skills, or a mutually sought after goal or..." Nike trails off and with a sudden forceful flick of her wrist bunches up the fabric in her hands to flop against her thighs in clear frustration. The demon clearly does not understand and it's eating at her.

"Why do you do this?"

Comments

[rekindledtitan]

"Oh, sure, but- ahh, it's complicated." There's no taboo around Exos having relations with any of their organic kindred. (Nor each other, but there's so few of them left it's hardly a consideration.) It happens. But so much of biology and attraction is hardwired in, to say nothing of the practical aspects... well, that's not Nike's problem and it doesn't even have to be hers. She lets out a surprised chuckle at the compliment. "Thanks, Nike."

Good, she got Nike to laugh. The angel so rarely does.

"Good! So... want to come show off in the Crucible with me?" If anything will net her the admiration she deserves, that will.

[magnetite_plz]

There's a pause where Nike just watches Blaze, almost laughing again until she realizes that the titan isn't joking with her and that the invitation is genuine. Her fingers wring into the cloth that's been all but forgotten in her hands. Why has her voice gone?

Nike swallows. Nods jerkily a few times before she can get a word out.

"...Yes. I would...I need the practice anyway."

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze's optics flare brighter as she kinda-grins in the way you have to know Exos to recognize. "All right! Ghost, tell Shaxx to slot us in ASAP." She claps her hands together, satisfied.

"Come on, let's get to the ship. We've gotta decide what to wear."