"Beatrice, can I ask you something? Like a really strange thing?"

"You may ask" Beatrice briefly glanced at Ava before returning to her work on the bar's books, "But I may not answer"

"Riiiiiight" Ava drew the word out. "Like, I was wondering if you had to tell Supes what the money we got from her goes on"

"Mother Superion has asked that we try to not spend enough to cause attention. Why do you ask?" Beatrice realised that Ava had a problem from the tone of her voice and she tried to wonder what it was.

"I want a vibrator"

"I- I beg your pardon" Beatrice choked on the mouthful of tea that she had been in the process of consuming.

"I want a vibrator or at least a dildo thing…" Ava explained, looking down and talking quietly as she continued. "Will you hear me out at least without judging me?"

"I will" Ava now had Beatrice's full attention as clearly the Halo Bearer thought that she needed an adult toy.

"I'm not good with words, but here it is… I couldn't feel anything from below the neck down, Sister Frances killed me, that Halo brought me back and I ran with JC and his friends on a ferry where he… Well, he fucked me but I never felt anything down there when he finished. I've looked it up on my phone and tried getting myself off…"

"Ava" Beatrice groaned in desperation.

"Sorry, Bea… Like I said, not good with words… Anyway, I've looked it up on my phone and tried getting myself off but nothing happens. I can feel myself touching my clit and that shit, but no fireworks and eye rolling back orgasm. I'm just worried this fucking thing has only cured me of death so much and not everything" and Ava seemed very scared and frightened.

"I see… And you think that using a vibrator might solve the problem so to speak?" Beatrice asked and Ava nodded. "I am so sorry, Ava – I thought you just wanted one to bother me and tease me. I think that, in this case, we can bend the truth a little bit"

"How?"

"Mother Superion is the head of the OCS, but the Order serves the Warrior Nun – if you tell me that you purchasing a… Well an object of vital importance is classified, then I would be forced to obey the Warrior Nun's orders"

"Oh" Ava worked that over in her mind several times. "So you won't tell her?"

"No" Beatrice smiled warmly.

"Then its classified super duper top secret on pain of death" Ava laughed a little. "Thanks, Bea… I know you've got a vow of chastity and I didn't want to make my friend uncomfortable"

"It is of no problem, Ava. I just wonder why Doctor Salvius did not mention the possibility of this"

"I didn't ask"

"Why not?"

"I had a sort of flashback when she examined me back to the orphanage and the Nuns just poking and prodding me"

"Oh… I should have realised. Again, I beg forgiveness"

"No biggie" Ava shrugged. "So what do you suggest?"

"Well" Beatrice allowed herself to sound funny if only to soothe Ava's very clear fear, "I don't have a lot of experience in such matters being a Nun and all that, but I think something small would suit you well enough. Shall I do some research and get you a few options?"

"God, Bea, you make it sound like house hunting. There is a place near to work and I thought maybe we could look there"

"I can wait outside for you if that is what you want" but Ava shook her freshly cut that day head.

"Um, I was hoping that you'd be with me looking. Like, I totally get you are a Nun and I do try to respect that, but I'm scared that I'll make the wrong choice or something. I mean, I haven't shopped for myself since… Well" she finished almost in a whisper, "Not for a long time"

"Father, forgive me this small sin which I am about to make. It is not for my benefit but to help Ava in her time of need" Beatrice said a quick prayer and then looked at the younger woman and said with a completely straight face "Fine"

"You will?" Ava's head snapped up to look at the only real friend she had in the world at that moment.

"Yes, but I want it noted that I come under protest"

"Noted" Ava blinked. "Wait, did you just make a pun?"

#

Beatrice had been expecting a seedy place in a dark room with sex everywhere she saw and people working their with questionable hygiene. She was surprised to see the medium sized store was brightly lit, everything was ordered, the place was clean and staff actually in black t-shirts and trousers. As far as she could tell, it was a very respectable establishment, as far as these places seemed to go, and a member of staff saw the pair enter and greeted them.

"Can I help you two?" she asked.

"Yeah… I need a vibrator" Ava said bluntly.

"Well, you came to the right place. And yes, that was a pun" the woman added as Ava started to speak. "Have you any sort in mind?" she asked.

"Well, I've never had one before, so do you like have a kids version or something?" Ava said.

"Darling, she'll get the wrong idea" Beatrice jumped in to save Ava from a mistake in her Swiss German. "She hasn't had one before but wants to learn… Could you suggest a good one to start with?"

"I can" the woman said in English. "Perhaps this would be easier for you?" and Ava was grateful.

"Like, that would be great. So, what should I get?"

"Forgive me for being blunt, but have you experience in masturbation?"

"Only on myself" Ava answered truthfully and Beatrice resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Good" the member of staff replied. "Well, as you are starting to use one, I suggest the Training Wheel" she looked around and then pulled a box off that showed the image of a vibrator in deep purple with a few ridges along the shaft. "This can work as both a vibrator and a dildo, so you get the best of both worlds. It has several different speeds so that as you get used to it, you can make it go faster or slower until you find the right speed for yourself. Comfort is important for things like this, so learn what the best angles are and…" the woman went on giving hints and tips that Ava felt sure would help her later on. As they went to the counter to ring up the item as well as a jar of cleaning spray, Beatrice looked around felt uneasy that several mockeries of catholic dress were for sale, but even a member of the Church such as herself knew that people liked to dress up and roleplay. After all, she had not always been a Nun…

#

"Ava? Are you finished?" Beatrice very slowly put her head around the door. She'd heard Ava cry out and then start to sob so she'd quickly crossed the flat and knocked – opening the door when she got no reply. Ava was on the bed, jeans and knickers down by her knees with the vibrator hanging loosely in her hand.

"I got a buzz, started to see white and then… And then it died" Ava wailed. Beatrice blinked and wondered if the Halo Bearer had really suffered from some sort of difficulty from some neurological problem thanks to her having died. She was about to comfort the young woman when a thought struck her.

"Ava, darling?" she asked as she pulled her in half dressed for a hug.

"Yeah?" Ava buried her head into Beatrice's shoulder and started to sniff back tears.

"Did you change the batteries?"