poly_chromatic | 004

Your age shouldn't have any bearing unless you're something ridiculous like 500. [Turning around] Are you over 500?

[Luke shrugs, and smiles.] Do I seem over 500? [She raises her arms back behind her and stretches, arching her back against the table as her shirt rides up her stomach.

And then she sits up, tugging her shirt back down and crossing her legs.]

400 would be much less ridiculous?

So far you have seemed like a youngish guy, a youngish girl, me, and apparently an otter, so why would that question have any meaning?

Exactly. Why do you need to know what age I am?

To go with the data I collected from your body. [Obviously.]

I've lost count.

Estimate.

[Luke considers this, and then leans back on her hands, smiling mischievously.]

Kiss me, and I'll tell you.

[Luke, please.] You look young enough to be my daughter. The best that's getting is a peck on the cheek.

[Luke's hoping for a win/win situation.]

I can go older if that's the trouble. [Shuffling herself to the edge of the table and letting her legs dangle off it again, she goes through a quick change that looks a bit like flames running across her. When she's done, it's the same body, but older, and more sensibly dressed.]

Of course, now you'll be wanting to stop everything and study that.

You'll give me an accurate estimate of your age in exchange for one kiss.

[And a small smile] If I'm putting sensors all over the City and its surroundings, do you think I might have started here? The ones here are more sophisticated of course.

If you can categorise what I can do scientifically, I'd love to know.

[She sweeps the skirt of her now-a-dress out under her properly and slips off the counter.]

It has to be on the mouth and last at least fifteen seconds and it's a deal.

So would I to be honest.

On the mouth, fifteen seconds, no additional caveats allowed. [In other words, demanding tongue is hereby off the table.]

[Bruce never said NO tongue. Luke smiles and holds out her hand for him to shake.]

[He didn't say no tongue, but at least it's not a requirement. He sighs and shakes.]

[Luke has pandered to Bruce, so that she's only about his height. This makes it easy for her to reach forward with her left hand and place it around the back of Bruce's head, where his hair meets the nape of his neck.]

Ok, come on.

[She pulls him forward with that hand, and the one still holding Bruce's hand and kisses him. Her mouth is almost unnaturally hot, not quite burning, but close.]

One Mississippi... two Mississippi... three...

[He hasn't kissed anyone since Betty, and surprisingly, all he really has to do is remember the sound of his heart rate monitor beeping its alarm to keep himself focused on not letting his discomfort quite reach his body.]

Seven Mississippi... eight Mississippi... nine...

[He is close-lipped, rather stiff, and clearly not giving it his all.]

[Luke backs off before the time is up, looking unimpressed.]

You do realise I said "kiss me", not "let yourself be kissed by me".

[Bruce looks equally unimpressed because this is just bullshit and he's getting tired of it.]

A kiss is lips pressed together. If you wanted more, you should have negotiated better. Now how old are you.

[Luke only looks irritated a moment longer before she shrugs, all amiable again.]

Oh well. Give me a moment, I have to work it out. [She goes a bit vague for a moment, thinking.] Will you keep it to yourself?

[Mercurial thing. He backs away and shrugs in turn.] I'm good at secrets.

[She's already working out different tactics. If a plan doesn't work, get a new plan.]

6000. Give or take.

That's... Older than I expected.

[Now he's wondering what he can do with those blood and tissue samples.]

It generally is. It's not in my nature to seem old.

Your nature seems too tricky... [a beat] ...for that.

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