Round 20

I approach Silra from behind, drawn by curiosity and professional interest in her engineering solution. The conversation about cameras flits through my mind—Jeane's suggestion, Abby's discomfort—but I push it aside for now. My focus narrows to the technical problem at hand: this precariously assembled sex machine needs to support multiple users without collapsing. That requires structural integrity testing.

"Actually," I say, leaning in closer to examine the frame, "I think we should do a static load test first." My finger traces along one of the joints Silra reinforced with lube. The substance glistens under the lights, and despite my best efforts, I feel a flush creeping up my neck at the implications. "We need to know exactly how much weight this thing can handle before we start... using it for its intended purpose."

I glance around at the others—Jeane watching with that unreadable expression, Abby looking both relieved and apprehensive about the camera compromise. My eyes return to Silra, waiting for her response. The smart thing would be to maintain professional distance during this whole ordeal, but something about her competence and quick thinking makes me want to stay close, maybe even offer more than just technical advice.