Unlimited Books, But No Book

Barnon thought it'd be a good idea to take a longer shower, since Twilight likely had a good few pile of items she'd wanna add to the shopping cart. It was his last post-work shower, too; leaned back comfortably on the shower stool, the warm, recycled water poured over Barnon, steaming up the small bathroom. With little room for more than a Shower, Shitter, Sink and Mirror, it was a 'Capsule' Class Bathroom, everything in reach of the other by about a foot. Not the roomiest, but it wasn't like he hung out in here, other than using up all the hot water.

...Actually, maybe he shouldn't stay in here too long. Twilight might like a shower. She'd probably like warm water, too.

How long had it been, anyway? Fifteen, Twenty minutes? Half an hour, tops. Not like he has a water bill to worry about. Ship runs a set amount of water, recycled from all the various uses. Just don't think about it.

With a long sigh, Barnon goes to reach for the shower handle -- though, if Twilight does want a shower, he should just keep it running. This thing's been needing a tune-up; takes forever to warm up properly. Like many tasks that needed doing that didn't outright threaten his life if ignored, Barnon had the how-to video bookmarked somewhere, ready to be tackled whenever it became an actual problem.

He rises, water dripping off his body as he reaches for a towel, stepping out of the shower, the water still running. The bathroom has a good, heavy steam to it now, mirror fogged, as the sound of the water splashing on the floor masking the sounds of anything outside the bathroom.

The ponies basically wore nothing, from what he'd heard; and now seen. Plus, Twi was already used to him dressing like he did, so a towel should be fine. Not like he brought any clothes in here.

The capsule door hisses open, steam rolling out from behind himself as Barnon emerges, refreshed.

"You want a go, Twi? Left the water running for you, nice and hot." He asks, glancing over.

She hadn't moved since he got in the shower -- funny, and kind of what he expected to happen the moment he handed over a Holopad. She was always glued to those things.

She's completely frozen as he steps out, sitting on her haunches, Holopad propped on one of his pillows, watching him.
"U-uh..." She stutters, pawing at the holopad.

"You should be able to fit just fine; might be a little small since it's made for standing, but you've got your magic to like, reach the handle and stuff? You guys have showers and stuff, yeah?" Barnon starts crossing over, joining her by the bed, standing beside it.

"W-we, uh..." Twilight continues to stutter, hoof picking up speed as it keeps bumping the Holopad.

Anon leans, taking a gander. What'd she find that had her so confuzzled?

Oh. It's the naked pictures of him, posing raunchy in the bathroom that he forgot to delete. Guess those got carried over in the data import, too.

Why was his dick on his Ships cloud folder?

No, wrong question.

Why was she staring at his nudes? She had access to the galactic internet, she could go right back to looking up oiled men or whatever. How'd she even find those?

"...Twi, when you asked about the data being preserved..." Barnon trails off.

Somehow, she's letting off more steam than the shower that's still running. She's staring straight down, ashamed.

Twilight was horrified. She'd been using the sound of the shower to let her know when he'd come out, but he didn't turn off the shower -- Sweet Celestia he was just staring at her. He probably hated her. Right after he accepted her into his home? Curse her obsessive desire to snoop.

Barnon tsks. He was kind of flattered, honestly; but also completely blindsided that these little packets of crayon-colored mini horses could get up to something like this.

She still hasn't said anything, like Montegri Space-Deer in a ships headlights, just staring down.

"You, uh... well I mean, first of all, I'm flattered. Uh... maybe not on the bed, though?" Barnon scratches the back of his head.

"Oh! N-no, I wasn't doing anything like that!" She looks up at him, sniffing.
"Sorry, Barnon. I shouldn't have... you trusted me, and I... I'm sorry, but I just find you so... fascinating. You're like nothing on my world that I've seen before."

She's surprised as the bed creaks, weight shifting as Barnon sits on the bed beside her.
"Well, again, flattered -- but nah, it's my fault for leaving that kind of thing on there. Honestly, I should thank you for not freaking out about it, thinking I'm trying to make some kind of sly move on you." Barnon teases, holding out a hand and reaching for the Holopad.

"Here, lemme wipe some of the stuff that shouldn't be on there, you hop in and take a shower. It'll be fixed by the time you're out." Barnon says, in an attempt to comfort her -- but a hoof stops him.

Twilight swallows, hard. She was wrestling with some serious social awkwardness here -- she was given refuge in his own home, and the first thing she does is dig up the pictures of him she'd already found on the other Holopad? Again? No, she didn't want this to go poorly. She's already a mile out of her element; potentially an entire dimension.

She didn't know why she was so interested in him, but every time she looked at those pictures, at him... sat on the bed beside her, a towel loosely draped over his waist, barely hiding... it.

The clothes, honestly, made it a lot better when there weren't any.

"Would you... be upset, if I asked you to leave the pictures on there?" She asks, quietly -- but surprisingly firmly. "For entirely scientific and academic purposes."

Barnon raises an eyebrow. Alright purple. Two can play that game.
"Why? You've got the genuine article right here." He gestures to himself.

That gets a reaction. Her ears shoot straight up, lips pursing. Honestly, it gets Barnon's heart racing a little too. That was bold.

She looks to him, searching his face. For affirmation, before she slowly looks to his body, still half-dried from the shower, water dribbling down it. Barely covered by the towel, less tied around him, and more loosely draped.

Her hoof slowly slides up his arm, to his shoulder. She's so focused, on the contours of his body. The feel of his skin.

"You are... abnormally warm." She mutters to herself, alongside a myriad of other muttered notes. "Body is... soft, malleable."

Barnon flexes; he's no bodybuilder, but his work keeps him trim.

Twilight pauses, watching his arms.
"...And firm." She adds, giving him a particular look.

Was he showing off for her? Twilight's roaming thoughts are quickly interrupted.

"Hate to uh, cut in here. But you gonna use the shower? Otherwise I'll shut it off." Barnon thumbs towards the still-running shower, hot steam rolling from the open door.

She... was a bit sweaty. From the worry, from the panic, from the surprisingly taxing magic to get here...
"Uh... I don't know how to work it. Could you... show me?" She asks quietly.

"Gonna be awfully cramped in there if I do." Barnon warns. "Small bathroom."

"I-I meant, uh... do you mean together?" She asks, glancing to the bathroom.

"Sure. We can save whatever this is for after." Barnon teases, smiling. Twilight doesn't smile.

"...I wouldn't mind being close to you. And... you could demonstrate the dexterity of your limbs. If it doesn't bother you." She mumbles, throwing him a worried side-eye.

"You asking me to wash you, purple?" Barnon asks, returning the side eye.

"N-no, I meant demonstrate the... shower... would you?" She goes to deflect but, Twilight folds to the idea; she... wouldn't mind that, actually. "My magic is weaker since I used the spell to get here, and... I trust you."

Barnon hums. Alright.
"Sure, Twi."

Barnon pushes off the bed, Twilight watching him.

The towel slips off of his waist, slumping on the ground.

Her eyes are glued to his butt, as he steps into the bathroom doorway. He pauses, glancing back.

"You coming? Won't stay hot forever." Barnon calls, the warm steam tingling his skin again.

Twilight swallows, hard.

Her interests were purely academic in nature. Scientific. For learning purposes, to find information of an alien species.

Mostly.

Probably.

At least a little.

She climbs off the bed, Holopad blinking shut as it enters sleep-mode from lack of use.