Earth Quest 8 - Agree

he deal was not too bad. Thinking it over let you figure out that being Su's boyfriend had mostly perks. Her resources and intelligence seemed high, and she was being very practical about the whole thing, which gave you the impression that she was not a bad partner for someone as noncommittal as you. She offered good reasons for you to simply agree. Whatever fears you had about the woman ravishing you the moment you said yes were dashed when she simply got in close, took a selfie, shook your hand and left with all of her things. It was like a transaction. You gained a girlfriend and a phone number with her name. Her full first name was apparently Su Namgung.

"Anyway, that's how it happened. Now I guess I'm in a relationship, but I don't know how to deal with human women at all, because I'm technically supposed to be going after Asuka." You explained.

Iravani nodded, crossing one leg over the other. She noted that you did not try to look up her skirt as she did and lifted both of her dark brows.

"Are you sure you're into women?" She chided as a joke, smirking at you.

"I'm not! I'm just doing this-" You paused.

"Voices?"

"How'd you know?"

"Never mind." She smiled, patting a brown envelope on her desk. With the end of her pen, Iravani tapped her chin lightly.

"So, you are not attracted to women, but you have already stumbled into one relationship while pursuing a second, and this is why you came asking for my help?" She questioned.

"Not because you have voices in your head giving you strange missions that you must carry out?"

"I don't care about that." You still can not believe you let that slip in passing.

"Listen, Doc, I don't wanna talk about that. I wanna talk to you about how to handle this situation, because I only ever tried pursuing men and I'm out of my depth, here! Can you help or not?"

She nodded slowly. "I can-" You perked up.

"Not. It's unethical."

"Then why am I even here!?"

As you stood up suddenly she raised her palm for you to stop. "Let me finish. So long as I am simply this school's nurse I can not help you in this way, because it is unethical and outside my bounds as a simple Nurse."

"Doesn't stop you from getting close to me..."

"Hehe. Please, I was just trying to find your pulse."

"I don't think you can find it there." You remarked sceptically.

"You would be surprised, but do you want me to get to the point or not?" She asked.

"Please."

"If you sign a waiver making me your doctor, I can do all sorts of things. One of which is giving you some advice."

You sneered. "Is it true that I must take an oath to not speak of anything that happens during our meetings?"

Iravani paused. "What?"

"It's some type of Hyperbolic Oath."

"Hmm." She opened your file and looked through for records of your intelligence, nodding the whole way as she read through.

"Interesting." She chose not to correct you.

"Yes, indeed. Your hyperbolic oath. But I am also bound by the same oath." She offered altruistically.

"A two-way pact. Interesting. Very well. What should I do?"

She pulled a few papers from the file. "Sign here. Here. Here. Here. Here."

You nodded. She watched you. "You change your signature."

"Yes." You narrowed your eyes at her.

"I see, I see." She smiled.

"Just asking." Iravani turned the page over.

"Finally, sign here." You did so.

"So now can you give me advice about women?"

`Why didn't you just ask me?` Fin questioned.

You sighed. `Fin... I'm actually trying, not joking around.`

There was a pause.`W-what!? Wait, what the hell does that mean!`

`You were in multiple disastrous relationships, then ended up with the same woman for a thousand years? Huh...`

`That's a one-thousand year success rating!` He argued.

`Alright. If I need to know how to get inside Jeane's panties I'll let you know.` You smirked.

`For the record, this woman is one-hundred percent trying to take advantage of you.`

`Sure sure. I got it under control. We both took an oath.` You thought dismissively.

`Listen, Djir, she's going to feed you bad advice that suits her.`

`Alright, let's listen.`

Iravani finished thinking. "Alright. The important thing to understand about women is..." She smiled wistfully, placing a hand over her heart.

"Yes?" You leaned in.

"That our heart is just like yours. Our mind is your mind in all the important ways. So, when you think about how to impress a girl, you just need to consider what impresses you."

You blushed. "I- I mean... I like twinks a lot."

"What?" She lifted both brows.

"Okay, let's start over... You probably just want to go after girls that behave in a way that is traditionally considered boyish. Whether that be assertive and confident-" You thought of Asuka when she said that and nodded to show you understood.

"Or athletic and domineering." That was Su to T. Oddly, you did actually like both of those girls in their own way. If it were the other world, you would have made them your subordinates.

"Wait..." That thought gave you an epiphany.

"You're getting it? You just need to find people similar to you and that fit your tastes and-"

"I'll make the woman I like my subordinates! That will help me get past the fact that I'm having to pursue girls and not boys."

Iravani's mouth fell agape. She shook her head. "Yeah, or that..."

"Maybe you should just try for boys. What was that about Prince J-"

"Can't. Voices."

"Got it." She leaned forward.

"Are they in the room with us right now?"

You gave her a look of complete incredulity. "They're in my head, idiot."

She leaned back with a sigh, trying her best to keep a smile. "My mistake."

"I have an idea."

"What's that?" She asks curiously.

"You should be my subordinate."

"What does that entail?" She asked, humouring you while she scribbled something down and ticked a few boxes on her clipboard.

"You just need to follow my directions. For example, Finn- I mean I, of course, was sent to another doctor before coming here. I assume he was sworn to the same secrecy that we are now."

She rubs her eyes as you switch unintentionally between first and third person over and over again.

"I can't imagine why you would be seeing a doctor before me!" Iravani remarked sarcastically.

"But, this is interesting to me so I will use my powers to look into it so I can check those records.."

You blinked. "You can do that!? Your powers extend to others?"

Iravani nodded evenly. "Yes. Since you signed all the forms I can attain other medical records in pursuit of proper care for you. This is simply part of the system I am a member of."

"Interesting. Good. Do that. That is the only mission I have for you right now."

Iravani smirked and offered a loose salute. "Yes sir~"

As you exited the office Su was waiting for you. She walked beside you as you turned and walked down the hall without paying her much mind. She cocked her head curiously to one side and observed you for a few steps before asking you.

"Not even a greeting for your girlfriend?"

"You said we should be discreet in public."

She reached down for your hand and wove her fingers and yours together. "We can still do things like this."

"I wasn't sure. If that's the case that's fine."

She exhaled, holding your hand as you both walked together through the hall. "You really aren't impressed by me at all? The fact that I am the daughter of a wealthy group in the east. That I am beautiful and-"

You rolled your eyes. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You're skilled, unique and driven. I don't care about any of that other stuff." You identified her as such in response to Iravani's advice. They were the features of Su that made her most alike to you, so they were the factors you were most interested in. You expected her to get upset by your dismissiveness, still.

`There's no way that woman's advice will work, but Su is a good test subject for these techniques. I do like them, because honesty is one of my most reliable weapons.` You waited. Su was silent for a long while.You nodded to yourself.

`As expected.`

Unexpectedly, her hand tightened around yours almost to the point of hurting. "You... All the things you like about me. They're just that?"

"Listen. Don't get bent out of shape about it. I don't know how to handle a woman's feelings." You uttered callously.

Su leaned closer. You looked at her and saw that she was smiling, her cheeks blushed. 'All those things you like about me. Those are things that I've done myself. You identified them and you weren't lying, right?"

"I don't lie. Not when I don't absolutely have to. If I was gonna lie to you I wouldn't have agreed." Su laughed shakily, getting a little misty.

"Hey!" You got in front of her.

"Don't be a baby."

Su jerked you by the grip she had on your hand and pulled you into her arms. "I'm not sad, silly. I'm happy. That is precisely what I have always wanted to hear.. Mmm." She hugged you tightly and affectionately. After a few seconds she leaned back to look you in the eye.

"I do have one question, though."

"Sure." You shrugged, trying to squirm out of her arms. Before she could ask, Su looked up, staring at something over your shoulder.

"Finn?"" It was Asuka's voice.

You turned your head, just barely able to move enough to see her. "Oh, hi."

Su held you protectively. "Another woman? I don't like where this is going, Finn."

"Hey, let go of him. He's obviously uncomfortable!" Asuka demanded.

Su smirked. "Why? He's my man."

"What?" Asuka looked to be in shock. She looked to you for any hint as to whether or not it's true.

"It's true, Asuka. We're dating, I suppose. But-"

"No buts." Su leaned down, resting her chin on your shoulder from behind. She nuzzled her face into the side of yours.

"We're dating~"

"G-get off of me, woman!"

"You-" Asuka gulped.

"You both have an interesting dynamic." She paused, about to walk away before she remembered why she found you.

"Uhm, right. Finn, we have our first outing tomorrow. I'll text you the place and time."

You nodded. "Sure, thanks As-" You felt Su begin to squeeze, rather than hug. She was using all of her strength. Asuka turned up her nose and walked off, mildly satisfied to have caused a bit of confusion. She began to feel guilty as she walked further away, but it was too late to correct things. It was all up to you.

"Excuse me... What fff-" Su began.

"I can explain!" You wheezed, feeling like you were about to pass out.

"Go ahead and explain!" She demanded while almost strangling you. You pointed to your neck. She reluctantly let you go. You took a deep breath.

""I got work helping look after the temple grounds." It was only a half-fib.

"Looking after? You mean, like... Picking up trash in the woods or something?"

"Sure, yeah."

"Then I can come, too?"

"No." You said quickly. When you saw her expression you looked away and added.

"I-I mean, you have to ask Asuka, right? It's not my place to offer..."

She stared you down while keeping both hands firmly on your shoulders. "You don't have to work, you know. If you need money I will give it to you as an allowance."

"Are you daft? I'm not gonna rely on my woman to make ends meet!" You shouted back. She sighed, shoulders slumping.

"I understand completely why you would feel that way."

"Good." You straightened out your posture while fixing your tie.

"So-"

"So I just have to ask Asuka to allow me to join you both."

"Sure, whatever." You knew she would say no, so it was not your problem anymore.

"What was it you were gonna ask me?"

"Can you come home with me and meet my chaperone?"

"Chaperone? You mean, like, a babysitter?"

"More like a bodyguard. My Father is not here, naturally. To attend this Academy on the other side of the world I had to agree to a bodyguard. So I have someone that looks after my security. When she asked about you, I showed her the video of the other day to give her an idea, and surprisingly she wished to meet you personally and ask a few questions." She waved her hand flippantly and added.

"Feel free to say no. I will not allow my father's lackey to intimidate or scrutinise my choice in companions." You nodded slowly, wondering what the harm was, either way. Seemed as though you genuinely could just refuse. It sounded like an annoying meeting, especially since the alleged chaperone was likely to be another crazy woman.

`I feel like I'm having women thrown at me so often, like the world wants me to partake in degenerate activities...`