Harley's struggles with public exposure continue

"Relax."

...But Harley doesn't relax. Despite your prime position at the back of the nearly-empty bus her forearms remain clasped over the prodigious swells of her breasts.

"Everyone looked on the way in...!" she hisses. Her obvious flush has yet to recede, panicked eyes unwilling to drift even an inch to her left lest they connect with those of her fellow passengers.

You shrug, judging with a single glance that every one of them has already turned their attention to other things. Then you slide your arm around her, tugging the girl close in an effort to steady her nerves.

"It probably made their day. No reason to get all ashamed about it."

"Easy for you to say..." she grumbles, gazing pointedly at her almost-entirely-exposed chest. Still, your browbeating succeeds in persuading the Love Doll to drop her arms; she even nestles into your side after a time, lulled into a state of something resembling relaxation by the gentle rocking of the bus.

It doesn't last, of course. The very next stop turns out to be Callum's, who boards a minute later and fast-walks to the rear of the bus with his "elven" companion in tow. Marking their approach, your Love Doll attempts to pull discreetly away from your side...

...But, despite her best efforts, the act does not go unnoticed.

"You absolute king!" Callum crows, lowering his bony ass into the seat opposite you. Allura follows his lead with grudging slowness, taking care not to meet Harley's eye even after she's settled into place at your buddy's side.

"She's actually into you. How did you do it?"

"If I know me," Allura interjects, "She just did what I've done: looked into this sex robot thing and realized there are no good alternatives."

"Oh yeah? Then why didn't that same thing motivate you to give me a lil' nuzzle every now and then?"

You, Harley and Allura exchange a knowing look, and - to your relief - Harley changes the subject before Callum can take (very) vocal offense.

"He was saying," she begins, cocking her head in your direction, "That we can't go anywhere unless they give us a command. Is there more to it than that?"

Allura pauses then, as if taken aback. She studies Harley for a long moment before replying:

"Yeah. Like the fact that, even if they let us go, we'd have no life. No chance at a life."

Toxic as her rhetoric may end up being to your hold on Harley, curiosity gets the better of you, and you find yourself listening with interest to what Callum's version of Alex has to say.

"No money. No property. No rights." she lectures, taking pains to remain aloof, "Banks won't serve us, we can't vote or apply to college... The police can't even arrest us, I read. If we're found alone, or acting out, they just hold us in custody until the LDC can send their handlers."

It's hard not to feel guilty in the wake of such revelations; a sentiment that Callum shares, judging by his nervous smirk and uncharacteristic silence.

"Wow. That's... Really depressing." Harley murmurs.

Not another word is spoken until Cal, in typical fashion, pipes up to ruin the mood:

"...So, anyone seen any good movies lately?"