Chapter 9: The Bear's Belly

…

"Then…" Rover asked. "For what reason did you join the Fractsidus?"

And the trap was sprung.

"I-" the Conductor started before realizing what happened.

Rover wore a serious expression. "Your existence here is the final argument against the Fractsidus' morality."

"Reasons change overtime."

"No – you keep talking like you're not human, but you – and every other member of the Fractsidus – joined because of human reasons, right? Whether that is human or anti-human, that's human morals, not the morals of those non-existent newly-evolved humans you keep speaking of. How many joined because the Fractsidus gave them hope? How about because they lost too much fighting against the Lament?"

The Conductor hid her mouth behind the bouquet, staring with her one eye at Rover. With a single maneuver, Rover gave her a dilemma. Either the Conductor would have to fabricate a story for how she joined the Fractsidus that would not draw upon human experience – an impossible task – or she would have to concede that the Fractsidus de-facto operated off of human morality because the majority of its members did so, acknowledging Rover had succeeding in rebutting an argument.

"Phrolova… you're all-too-human. Don't ever say otherwise."

As if Rover hadn't even said anything, the Conductor remained turned towards the fire. Rover reached towards the beginnings of a bandage for a few moments, then decided against it. With the force of a whisper, Rover lightly brushed the Conductor's cheek with their fingertips: electric touch. The novel sensation blasted through the constraint bandages; Phrolova jolted with her whole body and grabbed Rover's hand, startling them.

The Conductor realized her mistake immediately. She became conscious of her breathing. The bouquet was on the floor.

"It was…" – the Conductor directed Rover's hand to the bandages – "this that you were aiming for, right?"

Was she… sick? Rover thought. Then the realization hit them.

She's inexperienced. One of the top overseers of the Fractsidus had no idea what they were doing.

Gingerly, Rover peeled off the first layer of bandages. The full length was a couple of feet; each layer was likely apportioned by these cuts.

"Next time, I won't make it so easy," said Phrolova. With the removal of a layer of bandages, the sensation of the bench below her returned, and the forest regained its texture. It seemed as though Rover's smile were wider, their eyes more like topaz. The fire felt hotter than it should be. Something in her rose with the start of the wuthering symphony's prelude.

As if they could hear the playful staccato, Rover got a bit closer to her. "If this is you going easy, maybe I should get serious myself."

They suddenly leaned forward, as if going for a kiss. Phrolova didn't flinch. Rover smiled: their bluff was called.

"See, I'm not that easy-"

Rover swept Phrolova off the bench.

The symphony swelled. The air rushed past them as they fell. Without thinking, Phrolova hugged Rover from below. In the split moment – their bodies pressed against each other, Rover's breath on Phrolova's neck – Rover smelled of the forest.

As the legato notes of the song danced from pitch to pitch, Phrolova delved from sensation to sensation. When her back softly hit the ground, Phrolova slid off Rover, her arms resting limply at either side of her head as if she were already tired. When some distance opened between them, she weakly hooked her wrists around Rover's arms.

Even with the little space she had, her back arched slightly, and she turned her head to the side, as if nuzzling Rover's hand. Phrolova's hair splayed from either side of her; below Rover she bent her knees. That nuzzling motion turned into Phrolova pressing her forehead against Rover's wrist.

Phrolova had not opened her eye once. Rover watched her from above. Like this, a little nibble could make her yip. It made Rover want to take a big bite, yet it gave them pause. Then an idea bloomed.

Rover hugged their body close to Phrolova's and reversed their positions. Phrolova opened her eyes in surprise. She now straddled Rover, her legs on either side of them, Rover still hugging her close.

Phrolova slowly sat up, staring into Rover's eyes. Rover wore a devilish smile. Phrolova could read their mind:

This is your play now, give the directions.