The official DOOMSDAY CLOCK has been set at 100 seconds to midnight. The end of the world is nigh. One minute and 40 seconds from now it could all be over. Now I'm not one to complain, except in the sense that's all I ever do, but this is bullshit. At the beginning of 2019 the clock was 2 minutes from midnight. It's taken it a whole year to get 20 seconds closer. At that rate it could be another 5 years before we reach midnight. WTF is that about? What's the point of a clock with a time on it which bears no relation to reality. It's even worse than that. This clock has been at 2 minutes to midnight several times. The first being in 1953 when they arbitrarily decided it was two minutes to the end of mankind. Then 38 years later, in 1991, the clock was at 17 minutes to midnight. This clock goes backwards to. It's even more unreliable than it seems at first sight. It's a pointless clock. It doesn't work properly. Yet again it has needlessly raised my hopes of the end of days being upon us. Stop teasing me. I'm losing all faith in Armageddon. It's the only thing that keeps me from exploding into a homicidal frenzy. The thought that when I go, billions of other assholes are going with me. It also contradicts the Antichrist Greta Thunberg. She says we've got 9 years, or some other random number. One that 9 years from now will be have been extended and updated several times to take into account they don't know what the fuck they are on about. Right Doomsday Clock, you have been complained at. Let that be a lesson to you.
(The copyright to this image is the property of Common Dreams.)
"I think she's evolving." Pip observed as Scarlet disappeared into the main bedroom.
"Don't let her hear you saying that." Jake cautioned. "It might upset her. Actually there's no might about it. You can't go around accusing Scarlet of evolving. It would mean she isn't perfect already."
"You know she doesn't think she's perfect. Or do you?"
"Of course I know she doesn't think she's perfect. Scarlet likes to project the impression she believes she's perfect. It's a delicately balanced illusion. One she's lived many lives with. I prefer to think of it as being her adapting."
Her face scrunched up.
"That's basically what evolution is about. Adaptation. Generally through random variation."
"Adapting sounds better. It's far more proactive. And for future reference I haven't said either. This is all on you. Nothing to do with me."
"Have it your own way. I think she's adapting then. What do you think?"
"I don't even know what you're on about. You said she was evolving and that set off alarms. You don't mess with perfection. Especially not her carefully constructed illusion of perfection. So what did you mean?"
"You've got me confused now. I'm still thinking about random adaptations." Her pretty face clouded. "That was it. The seduction thing. Ordinarily she'd have carried on regardless of the consequences. It's not like you two are exclusive."
"We are and we aren't. The situation is fluid. Although this is the first time she's had a thing about monogamy for this long a period. It usually doesn't last 5 minutes. Then she forgets about it for a long time, before it comes up again. This time is different I suppose. We fell off the horse almost immediately, but then we got back on again. That almost never happens."
She looked at him inquiringly.
"When did you fall off the horse? Was it before we got here or after?"
"I'm not even sure it really counts. It's like that interlude in Wonderland. Not of this world."
"Just tell me. Please."
He explained some of what had happened in Angelique's city. Skimming over the more intimate details of their coital activities in about 3 words.
"She had this fantasy about a Jondar Emmael Gundersun, she'd met years ago when she first arrived in the Never. Can't blame her. He was a very good looking guy." He cast a furtive peep towards the bedroom where Scarlet was. "Now you've got me thinking. This monogamy thing has gone on for far longer than I'd expected. Given the circumstances. She might be adapting. I wonder what she's adapting to? Should I be worried?"
"Sod that. This place you went to is far more interesting." She smacked the table. "That's what happened to Morag wasn't it. The experience drove her over the edge. Only she thought it was a dream."
Jake looked relieved, she noticed.
"Yes. She met with the Hermes she fantasised about. That was her ideal man."
He was trying to move this on. Leaving out juicy details.
"Who did you get busy with?"
"I can't remember her name. It was a crush I had a long time ago. Nobody you'd know."
She knew he was lying. That meant it was someone she did know. Her face lit up.
"You dog. You were banging Ursella weren't you?"
He looked flustered. Spluttering.
"No.. Yes.. No.. Not really. It wasn't actually her. It was just a woman who looked exactly like her and had the same personality and memories."
Pip grinned, nodding to herself.
"So basically what you're saying is, she doesn't know you were all over her like a rash."
"Look I'm not the one on trial here."
Jake fought to compose himself as he tried to work out what he actually meant. Hard to say. He did feel a bit of guilt. It was the good sort. The one you got after enjoying something far too much.
"Now you've let that genie out of the bottle you'll never get it back in. Why do you think I didn't say anything?"
Scarlet had reentered the room.
"I'm going to be quizzing you about this Jondar to lady. The one that got away. At least he thought he did." Her chuckle died as she looked over at her friend. "Wow. That's... Wow."
"What do you think?"
Happy to have the distraction Jake was more than willing to cast his fashion eyes over her ensemble. Which he now did.
"Is that legal? You're far more naked than if you were naked." He still couldn't take his eyes off her. The skimpiest, flimsiest of transparent coverings left little to the imagination. Yet paradoxically allowed the imagination to run wild. It was so hard to explain. Your eyes were drawn everywhere. As her scanty apparel drifted from translucent to seemingly nonexistent. "That's a very nice outfit you're almost wearing."
He received a glower, before being dismissed.
"I wasn't talking to you. What do you think Pip? Am I overdressed?"
Pip knew that was pure mischief and provocation on Scarlet's part. She was happy to play along.
"No. I think the complete absence of underwear makes a statement. It's a sexually offensive statement, but I tend to agree with it."
"So these earrings won't be over the top then?" She held them up to her head.
"I don't think they'll be a distraction."
Being honest with himself he knew that others he'd seen had worn similar clothing. Both men and women who were happy for every corner of their body to be displayed. Many had worn completely see through apparel. After a while it went unnoticed. This was another level. Revealing more by showing less.
"Don't stand near me. That's all I ask. I don't want to get trampled to death in the stampede. I pity whoever you set your sights on. They'll be murdered inside five minutes. That dress could create a crime wave." Another long look at the entrancing display. "You do look incredible though. Like a dream come to life. Alright Pip? What have you got planned to blow my frigging mind?"
"There's no way I can top that. Mine is far more modest. What about you Jake? Have you got anything in mind? Have your creative juices been inspired?"
Scarlet strutted over in her big heels, taking a seat between them.
"I got him another dark suit. The tie is a bit more colorful, but I thought I'd risk him sulking."
And indeed Pip's outfit was less immodest than Scarlet's. It was still more revealing than the design she'd been wearing before. She had underwear. Gossamer thin, misty rather than cloudy, but it was underwear. He found himself thinking back fondly to those Victorian dresses she'd worn. Impenetrable ramparts with multiple protective layers. Everything covered at least twice. Their entrance into the casino, directly from the elevator, wasn't what he'd expected. Scarlet did draw a lot of attention. Everyone looked her over long and, dare he say it, hard. A fair few gentlemen extended their compliments as they introduced themselves. There were as many women though. All of them asking what she'd done to achieve this and could they copy it as long as they made personal alterations to the original design. Once the initial rush was over things calmed down quickly. It wasn't like there was a shortage of attractive women here.
Scarlet and he stood at the top of the steps from the lift. A broad platform, along which a bank of these person transporters sat. Others came and went. Scarlet scoped out the crowd. It was a large place though. She might have to move deeper into the football field sized space. Pip had been engaged by a couple of young women she knew. With a quick see you later she went with them down onto the gaming floor. Filled with tables of games he'd never played before. Maybe he could help out. Jake ran his eyes over the bustling horde. Quickly knowing he was out of his depth. Oh he'd know a prospect if he met one, but he wasn't capable of spotting the signs from a distance. There was Pip. He didn't recognize any of his other friends. His gaze shifted back to the blonde.
"The more I think about it the more I'm certain Pip's boobs are getting bigger."
His partner jabbed him in the short ribs.
"Will you shut up about that? They are getting bigger you twit. She's using sculpting stem cells. Transitioning slowly. She's got a bit of complex okay about the alteration. You continuously drawing notice to it doesn't help. Pip doesn't want it to be obvious."
"Surely others have noticed?" He said defensively.
"They probably have, but they aren't repeatedly drawing attention to her chest. They've got more sensitivity." She was still watching the room like a hawk. Her hand suddenly gripped his arm. "When you see her next, tell her thanks from me. It was a brilliant idea to come here. I think I've hit the jackpot."
He followed the direction of her eye line. Nothing stood out to him.
"How do you mean?" He asked.
"I think I've spotted a trinary relationship. Two men. One woman. All wearing the same marriage bracelet as far as I can tell. So I'm off for a closer look."
He grinned as she set off down the steps. Now she'd pointed it out he thought she was onto something.
"What are you going to do if they turn out to be in a quaternary relationship?" He called after her.
She smiled back at him.
"I think I might explode with joy. All over this casino and the surrounding area."
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