Vuvi giggles and groans beneath the steam-powered hauler, grinning like a gremlin as she indulges in her favourite activity: Tinkering.
Meanwhile, Pip studies the two women closely as they wait, impatiently, for Vuvi to complete the repair work
"...why not?" the bunny-girl mutters as she argues with the hooded demonkin woman.
"We don't need them!" the hooded woman snaps. "We've survived on our own! We move the goods and we get out…"
"Fine!" the bunny-girl moans. "I'm just gonna say thank you! I can do that at least… right?!"
She pouts, crosses her arms and struts toward Pip while the hooded figure glares at him before turning away.
"Hi again!" she grins as she approaches, her legs moving with an instinctual skip as she bounds toward him.
He lifts his hand and waves with a short beep.
"Oh, that's cute!" she giggles as she passes Pip and bends down at Vuvi's side.
"So… my name's Penelo." she says, pointing at her chest with furry paws.
"Vuvela Blackthorn." Vuvi strains from beneath the vehicle. "Pip, get me a 3 inch socket and some troll fat." she mutters. "These axels are dryer than a dryad in the desert!"
Pip quickly ruffles through Vuvi's tool bag, handing her the wretch and a small tub as her hand pokes out from under the vehicle.
"...and that's, Pip." she adds.
Penelo, the bunny-girl, turns to Pip with a coy grin. "He's cute. Is he like a mechanical helper or something?"
"... or something." Vuvi chuckles.
"Leave them alone, Penny!" the other woman yells out. "Let her finish. We need to get out of here."
Pip notices her discomfort and nervousness as she tensely scans the horizon every few seconds.
"Just trying to say thank you, Vee." Penelo grumbles. "Their friendly! And look at this one! So cuuuute! And shiny!"
Pip beeps. If he could blush, he'd be glowing red.
The hooded woman rises. Pip's sensors twitch and his mind pings with every movement of her body as she struts toward him. Something about her reminds him of Maribelle. Not her shape, but her presence. Ominous, and reeking of hidden power.
She steps before him, leans forward and sniffs.
A tingle tinkles her spine as she stumbles back in shock.
"W-What is it?" she stutters.
"It's cute… so shiny! I want one!" Penelo giggles as she runs a finger down Pip's arm.
He shivers with a clank.
"Ohhhh! Did you see that, Veena? He's ticklish! I love it!!!" the bunny gushes.
"I built him!" Vuvi snarls as she pokes her head out from under the vehicle. "If you want to touch, book an appointment!"
"What's he made of?" The demonkin, Veena, asks, inspecting him closely as she moves a step back.
"That's proprietary information, I'm afraid." Vuvi scoffs, rubbing her greasy hands across her chest. "I'm done. You can try starting—"
But before she could finish, she was silenced by the sound of hooves.
Lots of hooves.
Armoured, angry and approaching with great speed.
Vuvi squints as dark figures fade into view, galloping down the road toward them. "Are those knights—"
"HALT!" a voice bellowed. "HALT! IN THE NAME OF MARKET LAW!"
Penelo's ears shoot up. "Oh nooooo!"
Veena hisses, already pulling her hood further over her head.
A dozen knights on horseback come into view, storming down the road, banners waving, weapons drawn and shouting.
"It's them! Seize them!"
"Halt! Thieves! You're under arrest!"
"Stealing weapons! Trafficking! You'll pay for this, criminal!"
They are surrounded in seconds by snorting horses and clanging swords.
"Weapons?" Vuvi blinks. "I'm afraid there's been a major misunderstanding, Sir. We don't have any—"
The knights tear the open the back of the hauler, tossing out crates that slam into the ground and burst open to reveal swords, crossbows, maces and glowing artifacts.
"Weapons?" Vuvi finishes as her gaze falls to the gleaming goods. "Okaaay, I know this looks bad!"
Penelo's eyes roll back as she faints instantly, overcome with fear and anxiety.
"Searing souls! Not again!" Veena scowls. "Penny! PENNY! Wake up!" she yells as she tries to slap the bunny-girl back to consciousness.
She turns to Pip, her eyes quivering and her voice cracked. "Please… look after her. I'll find you."
With a clap of her hands she vanished into a puff of black smoke that snaps at the air.
Vuvi stands shivering, hands raised, gold bags hanging from her waist as the sneering knights approach.
"This is going to ruin the tour…" she whimpers.
"Arrest them! Confiscate everything!"
Pip didn't resist.
He just beeped. Groaningly.
----------------
The Market Town prison cell was dark, damp and miserable. But Penelo didn't seem to mind.
The bunny-girl was far too preoccupied studying Pip. She had been circling him for nearly an hour by now. Touching, sniffing, poking and marvelling at him with childish delight. Her ears twitch curiously as she gawks at every gleaming inch of his ultrium reinforced frame.
Pip, awkward and slightly quivering, tries his best to regale her with heroic poses.
Her nose wiggles and her tail bops each time she gets a whiff of his aromatic, alchemical oils.
"Hnnnhgh! Why does he smell so goooooood?" she moans as she rubs her thighs together gleefully.
With his ego firmly fondled, he beeps with joy.
And she squeals.
"He beeped, again! So cuuuute!"
Pip slowly shifts one hand to his waist, and another to his chin.
"Oh gods!" she gasps. "Are you posing for me? Stoooop! You're killing me with how adorable you are!"
"I think I found my wife…" Pip thinks to himself, as his chestplate glows slightly brighter.
In a dark corner, Vuvi sat cross legged, cross armed, and with a very cross face. Her green eyes glint with candlelight as she glares at Penelo fawning over Pip, muttering under her breath about never trusting city-folk.
Her blouse ripped, boots scuffed and her usual fiery fountain of frizzy hair now low and drooping down her head. Her body and pride having been trampled by a dozen armoured boots.
"I swear, you damn rabbit!" she snarls under her breath. "If you sniff him one more time!"
Penelo sniffs him, again, giggling with glee.
Vuvi jumps to her feet, ready to pounce.
But she relents upon seeing Pip's gleaming faceplate, his eyes glowing with a sense of esteem and his happy little beeps as the woman, covered in pastely-pink fur, paws at him.
Her anger quickly fades and her mouth spreads to a soft smirk as she slumps to the floor, breathing a sigh of defeat.