"Oh sister... Why did it have to come to this...?" Sighing dramatically, though truthfully there were few other ways Chika could sigh, the Oracle of Leanbox leaned over the table before taking a desperate swig of her drink. It did little to make her feel better now, but she supposed if she couldn't have Vert in reality, she could drink herself into unconsciousness and see her sister in her dreams. "I'm coming for you! Wait for me...!"

The three other Oracles seated around the table watched Chika with a mixture of emotions. Kei and Histoire could at least relate to the prospect Chika was facing on a level due to the marriages of their own CPUs, even if not the "also having feelings for that CPU" part of the equation, and in their own ways, felt for green haired woman. Mina, who was technically in a similar situation, would have perhaps been feeling sympathetic to Chika in a different sort of way, but as she had yet to be told of what Vert and Blanc had been discussing, even after all of this time, she remained blissfully ignorant, even in this setting free of the restraints of the fourth wall.

"I don't see why you have to make such a big deal out of whatever is going on with her..." Mina shrugged her shoulders dismissively, pushing up her glasses as she reached for her own drink. Naturally, it wasn't nearly the sort of vulgar and adult drink that Chika was drinking. "Lady Vert is available and no one would ever judge you for making advances. It must be so nice, being able to be so open about what you like..."

Chika narrowed her eyes as Mina spoke. Kei looked to Histoire in the hopes that looking at the other Oracle's reaction might clue her in as to what exactly Mina was referring to, but Histoire's reaction — a sigh and a raised hand to her head — didn't help her figure much of anything out. She supposed more observation was in order.

This sort of conversation had occurred before, Kei realized, or at least Mina had made comments like that before... On the other hand, Chika had never been in the state she was in when they had taken place. Was that important?

"Here we go again... Why does it always take me three drinks to remember why I don't like these get togethers...?"

"You... You think you can talk about not being able to do this or that, but you have no idea what you're talking about!" Standing up in her seat, Chika slammed her drink down onto the table with such force that liquid actually flew up from the sides of the glass. "You're just a lolicon! It's not enough that my poor sister is blind to what's right next to her because of this, but... But even a fellow Oracle is shamelessly..."

Chika never did finish explaining what she felt that Mina was doing so shamelessly. Her face began to turn a color not unlike that of her hair, and she quickly bolted — probably heading for the restroom.

"That's what she gets for getting up like that." Mina commented to herself, smirking ever so slightly as she watched the Leanbox Oracle go. It was clear that even she, with all her posturing, was starting to get affected by the "poison." "She can be no better than the twins sometimes. Maybe she needs a babysitter herself..."

"Now now, Mina, there's no need for comments like that..." Histoire had stepped in to Chika's defense, being aware of what was going on with the other Oracle. The blue haired woman looked at her curiously for a moment, then shrugged it off and returned to her drink.

With Chika gone for the moment, it appeared as though things would be calm for a little while... Which left Kei to her thoughts. Pursing her lips as she surveyed the table once more and took a sip of her own drink, Lastation's Oracle considered her own situation. Given her greater role in the upcoming Part 3 of the story, and the exact specifics of that role... Or rather, given how she had left things in Part 2... Perhaps now would be a good time to consider her options?

If she was going to look for love, or at least look to understand the experience of love, then obviously she would need another person to help her with that. She couldn't very well do it on her own — it was that sort of attitude that had gotten her to this point in the first place, after all. The most obvious choices would be fellow Oracles like herself, but...

The most obvious of those obvious choices was Mina. No overt or interfering attachment to anyone else like Chika had, not to mention no obvious issues of size differences like Histoire would create. Really, Histoire wasn't even "obvious" like the other two were because of tha,t unfortunately. While Mina might have... whatever it was that she harbored towards her CPU Candidates, Kei didn't know her to be the kind of person who would do anything particularly offensive with that, and if she were to be realistic about it, considering her own appearance, Mina's tastes would work to her own advantage, wouldn't they?

On the other hand... Kei wasn't sure if she was ready to experiment with a person who so readily became inspired and excited by the idea of cleaning her charges with her tongue, even for a scene meant purely as comedy relief.

Actually, she didn't think she would ever be ready for that.

Okay. Definitely not Mina, then.

The next choice would then have to be Chika, but...

Kei bit her lip and glanced in the direction that the green haired Oracle had dashed off in.

The woman had either been drinking enough to make herself sick over her existing feelings for someone else, or she felt so strongly about it all that she was being dramatic about it to make herself feel better. Knowing Chika, Kei suspected it was likely a mixture of both — she probably just wanted the attention. There was also the fact that, given Chika's almost "vigilante" behavior recently, Kei wasn't sure how she should feel about the woman, especially considering how it might effect Planeptune and Lastation... She couldn't say.

On the other hand... Kei had to stop herself from dismissing Chika outright for a moment. While Chika was certainly a wild card, it was clear that she was only so because of her ability to feel affection for another person. Thinking on it a little more, Kei supposed it wouldn't be a stretch at all to believe that Chika probably understood "love," at least the romantic kind that Kei sought to understand herself, better than anyone else in their group.

... However, returning to her initial concerns... Kei didn't particularly like the idea of the drama that Chika would bring with her, even without taking into account current affairs between the nations. That was just the kind of person Chika was. Kei had finally started to deal with her own personal drama and she would be quite happy not having to deal with any more for as long a while as possible. If that meant forgoing the most "experienced" member of the group, then...

In other words?

Definitely not Chika either.

Kei sighed, finishing her drink and setting the glass on the table.

She normally would have only considered Mina and Chika to be the obvious options out of this obvious bunch, but... She supposed she could think outside of the box if she had to. Hesitantly, she turned to look towards the last remaining member of their group. She supposed it was the inside that counted, right? Even if the person in question still had significantly less actual insides than she did — less everything, really.

Well... Here goes nothing.

"Say, Histoire? I have a request."

"Kei? What is it?" The smaller Oracle seemed surprised by Kei speaking up, but her reaction was hardly negative. She was smiling warmly at her and despite her flushed cheeks, for even Histoire had had a few drinks by this point, she seemed perfectly calm and capable right now. Chances were, if Kei had to guess, she was happy to have a distraction from Mina and Chika. Well, that certainly worked in Kei's favor, didn't it? Distraction was just what she was looking for.

Though how was she to go about suggesting it...

As an idea began to form, Kei scooted her chair just a little closer towards where Histoire's book was floating. The Oracle either paid it no mind or assumed Kei was simply getting closer to make the conversation she was about to instigate easier on the two of them, as it was a bit noisy. According to the books Kei had been reading on the subject, not to mention the things she had caught Noire watching that she had been sworn to never speak of for as long as she lived, physical proximity was a good way to approach this sort of thing.

"I've been thinking about Lastation and Planeptune, Histoire." Her tone as formal as ever, Kei's voice and words gave no hint as to the topic that she was approaching. She glanced around the room before returning her gaze to Histoire. Now that it was time for her to act...

... she didn't actually feel bothered. Was that a bad sign? She had read that when approaching a potential romantic partner on the subject, one would get nervous and feel something, but she wasn't feeling much of anything yet. Had she done something wrong? She hadn't had much to drink, so she knew that wasn't involved...

"Kei? Is something the matter?" Histoire's expression had shifted to a frown now. It was understandable — Kei's feelings regarding the union of the two nations were hardly a secret, even if her recent attempts to change her heart on the matter were. Perhaps Histoire thought that Kei was about to start some sort of disagreement, or maybe she thought Kei was going to complain about Planeptune...

That would make for a good opening, wouldn't it?

Deciding that she could deal with whether or not she felt anything after Histoire answered her, Kei offered Histoire what she hoped was an appealing smile. It wasn't exactly a skill she had ever needed to use in these circumstances before, though she certainly knew how to appear appealing when it came to business. Would that apply here as well?

"I think we need to go further." Kei started, hoping she would be able to ease Histoire into this without much trouble. Already, the Oracle appeared to be calming down now that it appeared to her that Kei wasn't going to start something — of course, that had never been Kei's intent here anyway. "Lady Neptune and Noire have presented an excellent plan for the unification of our nations, but I believe we can do more. As their Oracles, it is our duty to do this."

Histoire blinked in surprise. This was certainly surprising! For Kei to be talking like this... It must be quite the idea that she had! Happy that her fellow Oracle was more willing to go along with the nations' union, Histoire herself floated closer to Kei, a smile spreading across her lips.

"That sounds wonderful, Kei. Just what is it that you have in mind?" Oblivious to what Kei was planning for her, Histoire appeared for the world like her night had just been made.

Were Kei truly invested in this, the following narration might have been: Little did Histoire know that Kei had much more in store for the other Oracle than business, and Kei intended to make sure she enjoyed it just as much as she would. Were Kei Neptune after a long day of work and the drinks Kei had had, the following narration instead might have been: Little did Histoire know that Kei would making her night all night long.

Being neither of those things, Kei simply chose to get right down to business.

"After studying how our shares have mutually increased since the wedding, I believe it would be very beneficial for the two of us to enter a relationship as well." Kei made sure to lock eyes with Histoire as she delivered her suggestion, though without changing the tone of her voice, one might have almost believed she really was suggesting some kind of trade. Realizing that this might be a fatal error, Kei gently, almost clumsily even, raised her hand to place it on Histoire's tiny lap. It was something that felt awkward even to her, and she regretted the action almost immediately — but what was done was done.

If Histoire had been confused about what Kei had been alluding to before, there was absolutely no way that she could possibly be getting mixed messages now.

Her face growing bright red in a matter of seconds, Histoire's book rose in place and already started a retreat — before she had even given Kei an answer no less!

"I-I-I'll... I'll let you know!"

As the little flustered fairy floated off, making a strange "ababa" sound as she went (no... Kei had probably imagined it... right?), Kei sighed once more and placed her elbow on the table so she could rest her face in her palm. She'd have been through three relationships by the time Histoire ever got back to her. If Histoire ever got back to her.

She supposed... She'd have to look elsewhere then. Maybe that was for the best. Chika had clearly never even considered her fellow Oracles, and Mina... Well, Kei honestly didn't know what Mina seriously considered in a relationship. Maybe that was for the best as well. Maybe Mina herself didn't even know. If that was the case... Maybe Mina was the one to ask after all?

Kei wasn't sure if she was particularly interested in trying again so soon, however, and certainly not with Mina right now given the state she was in. At the very least, she was starting to understand why even those who actually did desire relationships found them so difficult. Rejection was... irritating.

Raising her head, Kei decided she might as well get another drink. After that humiliating disaster, she certainly felt like she could use one. Maybe she'd go make sure Chika hadn't hurt herself before she tried to converse with Mina about her situation. Maybe Mina would even be understanding about it...

Unfortunately, before Kei was able to excuse herself and head to the bar or even to the restroom to see how Chika was doing (or if she was even there), her gaze met the gaze of Mina... and Kei quickly realized that she was probably going to need more than one drink. The woman had a strange look on her face, one that made it clear she had been watching the horrible exchange that had just taken place betweem herself and Histoire, but it wasn't one of offense. Oh no.

It was a strange sort of smile. Kei might have called it lecherous if she were the kind of person who used such descriptions to address her colleagues, but she would never apply such a word to a fellow Oracle... still, she really didn't like the way Mina was smiling at all. How closely had she been watching that exchange with Histoire...? And more importantly, how much had Mina had to drink?

Kei didn't like where this was going.

And Kei definitely didn't like the fact that there was understanding in that smile.

"So... You think Histoire is pretty too...? I always knew I couldn't be the only one..."

Kei didn't like any of this one bit.