Round 10 Transcript

I sit quietly in the corner of the room, watching the others move around each other with a mixture of fascination and discomfort. Hera is so kind to Halie, trying to comfort her, but I can see the tension in Jeane's body language as she shifts closer to them on the bed. Silra seems determined to push things forward, grabbing toys and asking questions that make my stomach clench with nerves. They’re all so confident, so sure of what they want. I feel small and inadequate just watching them.
My eyes drift towards the door, wondering if anyone would notice if I slipped out. But then I remember Hera's smile when she invited me here, how happy she seemed to have me join in. I can’t let her down by running away now.
I take a deep breath and stand up, smoothing my dress down over my thighs. It’s time to stop hiding. Silra is holding a small vibrator, offering it to Halie with an expression that seems both challenging and curious. I walk slowly toward them, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Um, excuse me?" I say softly, my voice barely above a whisper. Everyone looks at me, even Jeane, and I feel my cheeks flush with heat. "Maybe... maybe we could start with something simpler? Something not so intense?"

I need clarity. What does fucking mean here? I won't compromise my vows, but if we're just talking about... intimate conversation, I can do that. And I don't understand these toys. We're not barbarians—we use words for what we want. So say it plainly.

I shift my weight on the bed beside Halie, making sure she feels the heat of my body. I speak without looking at Silra or Hera. "Divine perspective? You want a divine perspective?" A dry laugh escapes me. "Fine then: The gods don't care about your hang-ups. They created pleasure and expect us to use it." My wings fold closer, and I lean in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "Tell you what—if you're so worried about 'doing it right,' why not try something simpler? A kiss, perhaps?" I glance at Silra's discarded toy. "Or we could start with that vibrator, see if your god punishes you for having fun."

I pick up the vibrator again, turning it over in my hands. 'Halie, love, you're either going to define what's right here and now, or you're going to sit this out and watch. I don't have time for divine debate when we've got toys that need testing.' My tone is practical, bordering on impatient. I glance at Jeane, a small smirk tugging at my lips despite the situation. 'And you,' I say, gesturing with the vibrator, 'stop trying to out-seducitrix me. We're not writing religious fanfiction here.'

Hera's offer hangs in the air. It's... sweet. And slightly annoying. I'm not sure what I want more: to see how Halie navigates this, or to find a way around it that doesn't involve Jeane turning everything into a seduction Olympics. Abby's quiet question brings my eyes to her. She looks genuinely unsure, and for once, it's not just me being cynical. 'Something simpler?' I muse aloud. 'Hmmm... how about this—' I set the vibrator down, step closer to Halie on the bed, and meet her eyes. 'Tell us what you're comfortable with right now. Exactly. And we'll go from there.'

My heart beats a little faster as I wait for her response. Not because of the stakes—I'm still not sure what they are—but because I'm curious where she draws that line. Jeane's teasing about gods and doing it 'right' makes me roll my eyes, but I don't bite back immediately. Instead, I look at the vibrator in my hand, then back to Halie. 'You know what? Forget it.' I toss the toy onto the bed between us with a bit more force than necessary. 'We'll start without toys. Less complicated that way.'

I sit on the edge of the bed, facing her directly now. 'Talk to me, Cleric. What's your line in the sand here?'