He glanced down at his own newbie clothes.
Chas: I really need to get myself a new outfit.
Doobie: Need to get yourself some money first. Then you can build as big a wardrobe as you like. I have so many clothes in my inventory, collected over nearly three years, that I know I’ll never ever wear them all again.
They sat down and were immediately animated to eat from the plates of steaming virtual food in front of them. Chas seemed to be carving his way through a thick steak.
Two chings in rapid succession drew Chas’ eye to the fact that he had an incoming IM. It was from Twist.
Twist: Goddamned SL! I only just got back in. What happened?
Chas: Oh, me and a beautiful exotic dancer chased Tommy Tattoo to Crack Town, caged him, shot him, and sent him crashing into orbit.
Twist: Jesus, Chas. How on earth did you manage all that?
Chas: Easy, Twist. When you know how.
Twist: Pfffff!
Chas: Anyway, I’m kind of busy right now. Having dinner with a lady.
Twist: What!?
Chas: I’ll explain later. But just to let you know, Twist, I’ll be looking for my share of the fee for getting rid of Tommy. Fifty-fifty, although I’m not sure it shouldn’t be more, given that you weren’t even there. How much do we charge, by the way?
Twist: 100 a day, plus expenses
Chas: Lindens?
Twist: LOL. What else?
Chas: Gees, Twist, it’s hardly worth showing up for that.
Twist: Well, big shot, maybe you should take it up with your union rep. I have to log off now. I’ll see you at work.
Chas looked up to find Doobie watching him.
Doobie: IM?
Chas: How did you know?
Doobie: Well, when someone takes nearly a minute to answer a question, I have to figure they are a little distracted.
Chas: Oh, I’m sorry, Doobs. It was Twist. What was the question?
Doobie: I was offering you Landmarks to stores where you can pick up decent clothes at reasonable prices. You interested?
Chas: What’s a Landmark?
Doobie: A teleport link. There’s a folder for them in your Inventory. I’ll look out some LMs for interesting places for you to visit in SL. Pass them on to you next time. And I know there’ll be a next time, because you still owe me 500 Lindens.
Chas looked at her speculatively.
Chas: How much time do you spend in here on an average day, Doobie?
Doobie: Pretty much all my waking hours. Except when I’m eating. Although sometimes I eat at the computer, too. LOL.
Chas: Well, what does your family say?
There was quite a long silence.
Doobie: I don’t have any family, Chas. None to speak of, anyway.
He decided not to probe any further. It was odd how it was possible to divine reluctance, hesitation, embarrassment, amusement, without ever really seeing someone, or hearing their voice.
Chas: So what else do you do with your time? I mean, when you’re not dancing or... entertaining clients?
Doobie: I hunt griefers.
Chas: What’s a griefer?
Doobie: LOL. Well, what does it sound like, Chas? It’s someone who causes grief. You get them in RL. Troublemakers. Vandals, criminals, people who infect computers with viruses... Folk are just the same in the virtual world as they are in the real one. Only here, it’s gloves off. They get what’s coming to them. If Linden Lab don’t deal with them, then citizens take the law into their own hands. We go after them where they hide and gather. Free damage areas where there are frequent pitched battles. That’s why I have my armour and my weapons. I usually go griefer hunting at a place called Sandbox Island. Anything goes there. And you know what? It’s fun.
She suddenly stood up.
Doobie: I’m not hungry any more. Do you wanna dance?
Chas felt that he had barely begun his meal. But Doobie was clearly restless. She didn’t seem to want to remain in one place for more than a few minutes at a time. And, besides, he was curious to know what it would feel like to dance with her.
Chas: Sure.
He stood up.
Doobie: I’ll TP you.
And she vanished.
The poseballs for Slow-dance v3 were set in the centre of yet another terrace ringed by columns. Petals fell here, too. The night sky was only just visible through the trees that grew all around, swaying in the cool night breezes that blew across Midsomer Isle from the ocean. Discreetly placed lamps threw the long shadows of the columns across the dancefloor, and Doobie was already attached to her poseball, waiting, with arms extended, for her partner. Chas clicked and joined her.
The dance began formally enough. Chas had his arm around Doobie’s waist. Their left and right hands extended together.
Doobie: On your toolbar, at the bottom right, you’ll see a musical symbol. Click on it.
Chas did as he was told, and immediately soft, seductive Celtic music filled his ears, transforming the atmosphere of the night.
Almost at the same time, Doobie’s arms slipped up around his neck, drawing him closer, and he watched as his hands slid behind her to glide over the curve of her buttocks. He felt a strange, unaccountable thrill. How was it possible for animated pixels on a screen to have such an effect on him? The AV’s gazed at each other in the night, a strange intensity in their eyes, and Chas felt the beginnings of butterflies in his stomach.
Doobie’s hands slid over his chest, and she buried her head in his shoulder as his arms moved around her waist to hold her tight. Chas felt a stirring in his loins and had the oddest urge to kiss her. An urge frustrated by the limitations of the animation.
Chas: This is nice.
Doobie: Mmmm. Yeh. Can you feel my breath on your neck as you hold me?
Chas: Yes, I can.
And he almost believed that he could.
Doobie: Then feel my hands as they glide over your chest, slipping beneath the cool cotton of your shirt to touch the heat of your skin.
Chas: OMG Doobie, should we be doing this? I hardly know you.
Doobie: Don’t worry. You’ll get my bill tomorrow.
Chas: Hahahaha.
Doobie: He laughs!
Chas: You’re not serious?
Doobie Littlething smiles.
Doobie: Of course. Not. LOL. Thank you for brightening up my day, Chas.
She paused.
Doobie: So, tell me, how does a newbie get to be so good-looking on his first day in SL?
Chas: I had inside help.
She was silent again for a while, and they listened to the music and wrapped themselves in each other’s arms.
Doobie: Will you play chess with me again sometime?