Satin rips as Bunnimon continues her tirade.

Sharp teeth and tiny claws open a tattered gash in a pillow. The wound sprays arterial goose down feathers that bathe one corner of the bed in white. Scampering in a tight circle she slides across the slick bed sheets. As the feathers kicked up in her wake gently waft through the air, Bunnimon focuses her rabbity rage onto another pillow. It deforms with a whumpf as she bounds into it.

I can't blame her frustration, seeing as my own is still painfully rock hard and now re-tenting my trousers. Still, even through the torment, the sight of an angry bunny charging like a rhino into a pillow wall to disappear in an ensuing avalanche of fluffy softness, does make me chuckle.

A machine gun thump thump thump tempo echoes off the wall as Bunnimon's rear leg blurs, kicking furiously at her newest feather stuffed foe.

I leave her to vent, turning my attention back to my Magitech kit, Tinkering tools, jewelry, crystals and the wide variety of pieces and parts now spread out onto the table.

My inflamed libido is making it difficult to concentrate. In my heart I know we were lucky that Cinnamon transformed when she did and not mid-session while… ahem... deep into sexual impropriety. However, the aphrodisiac induced high and teased to the edge haze she elevated me to is anything but pleasant.

I need to calm down but even my go-to of clowns and snowmen have transformed into sexy imaginings of half-dressed Harley Quinn costumed porn stars and giggling, bikini clad ski-bunnies playfully engaged in snowball fights.

I shake off the visions.

Last time when I tried Crafting time passed in a dreamy state. I just hope that proves to be the case again. With a few breaths to steady my focus, I picture what I want to accomplish in my mind then pick up, what my innate character knowledge identifies as, a small scrim file.

The calming zen-like state of creativity slips over me and my fingers move on autopilot. Selecting tools and tiny parts. Measuring. Etching gold rings and crystal shards. Fitting pieces so small and delicate that even with my super keen elf eyes I need to use a specialized set of tweezers and magnifying glasses from my kit…

Crafting: Downtime Activity

**********

I only realize that I'm finished with my latest project when I lean back and unconsciously reach for my empty glass. Apparently having polished off the last of it in nursing sips as I had worked.

The pleasant buzz from my earlier drinking is now gone and seeing as I'd replaced the wine with water soon after I'd started, it has not returned. Thankfully the mind-numbing need to 'get bizzay' has receded too, and the python in my pants has also slipped into slumber.

Pushing back from the table, I rub my eyes under my shades then glance to my pocket watch, pleased to hear the reassuring tick tock tick signifying it was still working. While Crafting I'd needed to measure the resonance timing of a couple of the crystals and it was then that I noticed it had stopped.

Apparently at some point during our fight with the Blyght the minuscule amount of Mana that had breathed life into the gears had been sucked away due to the creature's magic leaching aura. And so, much like an unwound stopwatch, it had come to a sudden halt.

The worry that it had been irreparably damaged had pulled me from my Crafting dream-state but all it took to fix the clock was another single drop of the viscous Mana enriched oil from my kit to the inner workings of the device and then I was back at it once more.

Glancing at the time, sure enough, just over three hours have passed. An hour and a half for each item. The exact amount of time I recall the construction was supposed to take from my previous character point expenditure planning.

On the bed Cinnamon has now reverted from Bunnimon to sexy humanoid and is passed out face down in a pillow. I keep quiet, trying not to make too much noise. Letting her enjoy the plush mattress and, slightly damaged, expensive sheets.

I'm feeling a bit fatigued also. The overall excitement of the day taking its toll. Unsurprising. After all, it had been a rather long and eventful one till this point. I'm tempted to curl up and spoon with my Cinni-bun's but I want to make sure I get any other preparatory tasks finished before something else comes along to distract me.

And Cinnamon was one hell of a distraction.

On the table in front of me are the two devices I’ve completed. One much larger than the other.

Earring of Whispered Words: [Magitech Item] When worn these earrings can be touched allowing the wearer to send whispered messages to other linked earrings; as long as they are within the range of a quarter-mile. [Bonded Item]

(Fairy Sized) Earring of Whispered Words: [Magitech Item] When worn these earrings can be touched allowing the wearer to send whispered messages to other linked earrings; as long as they are within the range of a quarter-mile.

It's strange, the descriptions are so similar with only minor changes, but I know the second is the cheaper character point cost ‘Duplicate-Accessory Item.’

Another thing I find weird is that even though the earring I have crafted for Kryst is ridiculously tiny, especially compared to the human jewelry sized one I’ve made for myself, there seemed to have been no special requirements or additional difficulty involved in its construction. It was as if whatever game mechanic crafting system which allowed me to make them in the first place simply did not take into account the size difference. Only the point cost of the item.

I'd wanted to make one for Cinnamon as well, but by my estimation, the Gala would be starting in a little over an hour. I simply did not have the time.

My rationale for making one for Kryst first was fairly simple. If the three of us did need to keep in contact or to pass any messages quietly Cinnamon's super-sensitive ears, or a Kryst on her shoulder, would be enough.

From the dome of vegetation on the table Kryst lets out a tiny snore-snort. The comical sound makes me grin. I’m tempted to peel back the leaves and wake her. To surprise her with her newest gift, but more importantly to make sure she's feeling better and make sure that our plan worked.

The bruising on my arms has faded to little more than a dark patch on one wrist. So if Kryst is indeed recovering faster in her little green fortress of solitude my hope is she will be back to 100% when she finally decides to grace us with her presence.

I pause, chewing on my thoughts regarding the regenerative rate and Mana imparting talent of fairies. It seemed that people and creatures could have abilities that operated in a similar fashion to how my 'Shadow Meld' racial ability worked. By having various situational qualifiers attached to them.

If I was designing the ability Kryst described for a role-playing game how would I do it? Something like, 'Regeneration - Only while resting surrounded by living vegetation' would work. The always-on Mana boosting aura that all fairies possessed was a little harder, but still not that difficult to quantify. 'Extra Mana Recovery – Only usable on others. No conscious control. Only when uninjured with full Manapool.'

(Passive) Deduction: Success!

Whoa! The thought rocks me back in the chair. The more I think about it the more sense it makes. Was that how everything was made here? With either improvements or restrictions applied to increase or decrease the point costs price? That seemed to ring true so far. At least by my observations related to my own Character point spending.

Did everyone in the world spend points? Kryst and Cinnamon have never made any mention of points or levels or any sort of game mechanics, so if they do it must be some sort of unconscious trigger. It makes sense that I as a quote-unquote, Player Character gets to peek behind the curtain. So to speak.

I glance over at Cinnamon in contemplation, gears turning in my mind.

The sight of her long shapely legs and perfect bubble butt enhanced by the red thong and garters immediately stirs awake the beast below my belt.

The wine and drug-induced sensitivity may have waned but even so, I can't help but stare at her sleeping form. Eventually, I manage to pull my lustful male gaze away from her smoking hot bod and take a closer look at the outfit she's wrapped in.

The materials used in the lingerie's design were a little different from what would be found in the 'real world.' Much like the medivalized satchel bag I'd made for Kryst. That's not to say that either were sub-par in any way. Quite the contrary.

As far as the lingerie was concerned, it may be only a fraction of the fabric needed to create an actual dress but the delicate stitching and the hours of meticulous work that must have been involved to create the lace and form-fitting sheer material is mind-boggling.

The craftsmanship on her red stiletto heels is just as extraordinary as the rest of the outfit. Even with the glossy sheen, I can tell it is true leather, not some faux pu-leather replacement usually found on most shoe store shelves. Shined with oils and skill. Fashioned into footwear by a master cobblers' hands, not machined in an automated factory or thrown together in some third world country, cheap labor sweatshop.

Just as Cinnamon hypothesized I too come to the same conclusion. Producing such an outfit here would be reserved for the more affluent members of society as surely only they could reasonably afford it. If one could look past the inherently sexual nature of the clothing they would see the same thing I did.

Art.

The rest of the clothing in the wardrobe was obviously of a higher quality than the standard attire I'd seen the general populace wearing, but I'd not seen a single piece that could compare to the… extravagance of the lingerie.

Cinnamon rolls over sending feathers spilling to the floor and one full breast nearly escapes its lace prison. I take in the centerfold scene again and smile as I recall Cinnamon's reaction of wide-eyed wonder when I'd presented the sexy set of underwear to her.

It was rather peculiar that after all her searching Cinnamon hadn't found it herself. After all, she had been pouring through the clothing and drawers in her closet like she was looking for the final clue in an escape room.

Why was it then that I had stumbled across it almost immediately? Did I pass some kind of Perception check? Or was there something more to it. I wonder if…

Deduction: Success!

My own wardrobe is in my peripheral vision and I turn toward the corner to look at it. Studying with my Analytical eye.

(Exceptional) Men's Wardrobe: Some of the finest clothing and fashion accessories have been collected into this standing closet. In addition to the assorted outfits contained within, up to ten mundane articles may be retrieved with a value of no more than 50 gold apiece. [10 point Accessory Item Pool- Limitation: Clothing or Fashion related Bonuses and/or Abilities Only] [Uses Remaining: x10]

No way. My stomach tightens for a second then I'm on my feet and through the door into the other room. I look at Cinnamon's wardrobe. Analyzing it too.

(Exceptional) Women's Wardrobe: Some of the finest clothing and fashion accessories have been collected into this standing closet. In addition to the assorted outfits contained within, up to ten mundane articles may be retrieved with a value of no more than 50 gold apiece. [7 point Accessory Item Pool- Limitation: Clothing or Fashion related Bonuses and/or Abilities Only] [Uses Remaining: x8]

Three points from the Accessory Item Pool and two Uses gone? Did I create the shoes and lingerie the same way I'd done with the satchel bag I made for Kryst? If so why didn't Cinnamon simply do the same? I pace around then return to the larger bedroom. That she had no clue what lingerie was could have played a big hand in it, I suppose.

Peering over a Cinnamon I attempt to Analyze the lingerie but since she is wearing it or has possession of it I can't seem to get a read. I guess I could just wake her up and ask her to take it off.

The beast below my belt stirs.

No. Even prepared for her that could easily lead to other things. And as pleasant as that idea was I had theories that required testing.

Inspiration strikes and I snatch up my Adventurer's Backpack. I recall that I only have x2 Uses remaining. Concentrating for a moment to imagine my desire I reach in and pull out a...

(Basic) Artist's Toolkit: These specialized tools are used to assist in the pursuit of a craft or trade. [Art]: This kit contains an assortment of basic supplies such as paints, brushes, charcoal, chalk, inkpot, quills and a small leatherbound sketchbook.

Hustling back over to the table I quickly pack away my various tools, clearing off a bit of space. With a picture set firmly in my mind's eye, set to the task.