Maid to Love You - A Clockwork Romance

Voting is open
Reader mode
Character Sheet
  • Informational
    • Maid to Love You
    A Clockwork Romance

    Miss Jane Eleanor Polestar
    The player character. An 18 (nearly 19!) year old woman, next in line to the County of Polaris, wandering the galaxy in search of love aboard MSY Mercury. You vote on her actions, but her perspective here is limited.

    Mark Butler
    Miss Polestar's robotic butler, and head of the servant staff. He is tasked primarily with management, but also acts as valet to any male visitors.

    Marie Lady's Maid
    The viewpoint character. A newly activated robotic servant who acts as Miss Polestar's lady's maid. Though witty and sharp, some quirk of her construction has intensified both her physical and emotional sensitivity. Is inexplicably French.

    Pierre Chef
    Miss Polestar's robotic cook, responsible for the kitchen and larder. He is noted to have loose association with many lovers in many ports.

    Tom Mechanic
    Miss Polestar's robotic handyman, who also helps to maintain the other machines.

    Tessa Mechanic
    Miss Polestar's robotic handywoman, who is hired later in the story. She has greatly modified her own body, and has a complicated history.

    Hans Messenger
    Miss Polestar's robotic messenger, who manages the mail, prints newspapers, delivers messages, and manages the property of guests. Is inexplicably German.

    Amber Housemaid
    Miss Polestar's robotic housemaid, who keeps MSY Mercury clean and tidy. Noted to have two large, orange headlamp eyes. Is inexplicably American.

    Polly Kitchen Maid
    Miss Polestar's robotic kitchen maid, who assists Pierre in making food. Also the head of the serving staff's union, a position she does not take very seriously.

    Content Warning
    This quest is an erotic romance. There will be sexual content, and it will not be separated from the main text or spoiler tagged. You have been warned.​
     
    Last edited:
  • Informational
    • [X] This planet has very nice beaches, miles and miles of them. Maybe it'd be best just to get away from everyone and take a walk while you talk, get her away from all the distractions. The sound of the ocean is calming, and maybe you can give her an excuse to try swimming?
     
    [X] This manor has a balcony on the top floor with a simply wonderful view of the ocean and the stars. It is a relaxing, calm, and quiet place, perfect for difficult conversations about one's employment. Though you should remember some candles, it'll be dark.
     
    [X] Perhaps you should meet her on her level, so to speak. There's an establishment that caters to the machines here who work the terraforming equipment, something a little like a dance hall. She may be more comfortable there, broaching such a tough subject. And a little music might not hurt

    Slumming it! Show just how much you care by meeting her in her culture, maybe even see just what kinds of romances there are to find among the clanking classes to get some inspiration for your own problems!
     
    Just quickly, let me say a huge thank-you to everyone who decided to come by the Vinesauce is HOPE charity event this weekend, if only for a little bit. Together we have raised over $200K (Just in donations!!!) for the PCRF! (Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation) As someone who has lost family members to cancer, it is something no one should have to go through, and every little bit helps to give us all a little bit more hope in this shitshow of a year. Here's hoping that I see all of you at next year's charity stream.

    Thank you,
    <3
     
    [X] This manor has a balcony on the top floor with a simply wonderful view of the ocean and the stars. It is a relaxing, calm, and quiet place, perfect for difficult conversations about one's employment. Though you should remember some candles, it'll be dark.

    Rooftop balcony under the stars? Oh yes please.
     
    [X] This manor has a balcony on the top floor with a simply wonderful view of the ocean and the stars. It is a relaxing, calm, and quiet place, perfect for difficult conversations about one's employment. Though you should remember some candles, it'll be dark.
     
    [X] This planet has very nice beaches, miles and miles of them. Maybe it'd be best just to get away from everyone and take a walk while you talk, get her away from all the distractions. The sound of the ocean is calming, and maybe you can give her an excuse to try swimming?
     
    [X] This manor has a balcony on the top floor with a simply wonderful view of the ocean and the stars. It is a relaxing, calm, and quiet place, perfect for difficult conversations about one's employment. Though you should remember some candles, it'll be dark.
     
    [X] This planet has very nice beaches, miles and miles of them. Maybe it'd be best just to get away from everyone and take a walk while you talk, get her away from all the distractions. The sound of the ocean is calming, and maybe you can give her an excuse to try swimming?
     
    Awww, cute update.

    I think things are bound to get painfully awkward if Miss Jane tries to fit in at the machines' dance hall... so let's do it!

    [X] Perhaps you should meet her on her level, so to speak. There's an establishment that caters to the machines here who work the terraforming equipment, something a little like a dance hall. She may be more comfortable there, broaching such a tough subject. And a little music might not hurt.
     
    [X] This manor has a balcony on the top floor with a simply wonderful view of the ocean and the stars. It is a relaxing, calm, and quiet place, perfect for difficult conversations about one's employment. Though you should remember some candles, it'll be dark.
     
    XXII - By Candlelight
  • Threadmarks
    • That evening, I did not see much of Miss Polestar even after she had returned to the guest estate, at least for a couple of hours. I did not begrudge her this, after all, things still felt somewhat awkward between us, but I cannot deny my curiosity when I received a message asking me to come meet her in the master bedroom.

    I did meet Mister Lovelace at the front door, leaving for the evening, with his butler in tow who, hopefully, handled chaperon duties in my time of distress. The smile he gave me as we crossed paths was kind, and I could not help the feeling that he would take good care of my Miss, though he did seem to carry himself somewhat awkwardly.

    I rapped three times on Jane's door, and hearing her call to come in, I pushed the door wide. Inside, I found the lights low and the double doors to the balcony open, the sea breeze causing the thin curtains to ripple as if they were underwater, caught as they were in the silver luminance of the twin full moons. And there, leaning on the balcony and looking out to sea, was Jane. Her hair, bound high atop her head, glimmered in the starlight, and… Just the sight of her and I was in love all over again.

    She was perched next to a small table where I presume she had spent time with Mister Lovelace. Had I a tongue, I would have had to bite it to keep from speaking out about the impropriety of inviting him to her room, except I found myself doubting he had been up here at all. This wasn't for him: there was no sign that there had been a romantic candlelit dinner or anything of the sort. Instead, there was simply a bottle of wine, a small music box, and a single candle, it's soft blue flame flickering gently on its lowest setting.

    The confused mix of emotions that washed over me was entirely too much. She couldn't possibly know what she was signalling here, could she? She had no idea. Here I was faced with my wildest fantasy and all I could feel was… confusion. This had to be some sort of misinterpretation. She was expecting Mister Lovelace and there had been a miscommunication, surely.

    But there was only one glass, and Miss Polestar was looking at me expectantly. Her smile was hesitant as she gestured for me to take the seat across from her, and at that point, I could no longer deny what was staring me in the face. This had nothing to with Mister Lovelace.

    This was for me.

    Before I could really register what was happening, I was seated, grateful for the candle's low setting as I would otherwise be unable to hide my blush. I folded my hands neatly in my lap as I did, doing my level best not to fidget as Miss Polestar settled into the seat across from me, taking a slight sip from her glass of wine and mostly not wincing.

    "So… I know you said that I have nothing to apologize for." she said, setting down her glass carefully. "But the longer I think on it, the more I know that isn't true. I've done more than just break a promise to you, though that would be shameful enough. I've… I…"

    She trailed off, taking up the wine glass again. She was about to take a sip when it seems she found her words.

    "Marie, you are important to me in a way I didn't expect nor know how to process. In a way that is perhaps… perhaps improper. This past month together has been wonderful and scary and heartbreaking and I can't imagine having done it without you, nor can I imagine pressing on in your absence either. Despite our stations, I've come to think of you as…" she paused, contemplating, "...a f-friend. I'm sorry. That was…"

    I could neither assemble the thoughts nor the words to express the cavalcade of confused emotions I was feeling, or the suspicion that neither could she. When I don't know what to say, I fall silent, like the wires to my microphone have been cut by some saboteur, but Jane… I suspect she says words and hopes that she can extract meaning from them in the aftermath. It must be the case.

    "It's alright, Miss." I finally assured her, simple, steady, neutral words that utterly failed to capture the enormity of it all. "I understand."

    Did I? Did she?

    "I… When you said you had been considering resigning, I dwelled on it. I'll admit I've been able to think of little else." she continued, the words tumbling from her mouth and clearly outrunning her brain, "I have come to realise that you are perhaps one of the most delightful and supportive and… and special individuals I have ever met and having you disappear from my life would be more than I could bear. What must I… what can I do to sway you to stay?"

    I did not have an answer. I had a thousand answers and I could speak none of them. I was unable to muster a sound, despite my best efforts, and I found myself staring at my lap, at my hands resting there, trying to weather the overwhelming pressure. I gripped one hand with another, rubbing my thumb against my palm, the motion simple and predictable and normal and safe, the only thing that made sense.

    After a few silent, tense moments, Jane's white-gloved hand came to rest on my own, her fingers curling around mine. I couldn't bring myself to look up, to behold her, the thought of meeting her eyes near to dreadful, but I squeezed her fingers tight. From the shadow falling over me, the candle obscured, I could tell she was leaning close. The tension of the moment, the hope, the dread, all of it was too much, I turned off my cameras to try and centre myself, but I could feel her now, so very close, and all I could do was hold myself perfectly still, paralysed and overwhelmed.

    ---

    What do you do?

    [ ] You hug her.
    [ ] You kiss her.

    ---

    Please note that there will be a SIX HOUR moratorium on this vote, we would like people to think very carefully about this. We also reserve the right to extend said moratorium if the subject matter is not taken seriously enough.

    Thank you all for reading.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • On the one hand, I am, of course, quietly chanting 'kiss, kiss, kiss' in my mind like some brain-dead neanderthal slug.
    On the other hand, practically speaking, that's a heck of a lot to just toss out after such an emotional time. I'm not entirely sure it's the best choice in the moment.

    But, uh.
    Yeah, pretty sure I'm gonna vote Kiss. Because gods damn it, Jane figuring out that she is in lesbians with her robot maid is something we've all been waiting for.
     
    Last edited:
    I almost forgot that our votes are deciding Jane's actions, not Marie's; my first thought was a hug, because it's safest and doesn't escalate. But no, this is Jane reacting to her dear, close companion visibly shutting down in front of her after she made a confession, of sorts. I don't know what the right action is. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that these are the two actions being presented to us.
     
    Okay.

    Despite my strong support for Jane/Marie and love of gay fluff...

    ... I think this is too soon. If it's a kiss, it either won't be a romantic one or it will lead to unnecessary trouble later on, most likely the latter. Right now, Jane is only aware that the thought of Marie leaving terrified her and that she thinks of her in a way that "is perhaps improper". She may or may not have let Mr Lovelace down gently, depending on what that that nod meant, but bluntly she's still operating on emotional logic and hasn't thought this through.

    She needs to talk to Tabby and process the fact that she's attracted to women, and then make a move. Preferably after a more coherent confession than the one she just blurted out.

    This is a good step! It is a meaningful step. It will definitely bring Jane and Marie closer, level up their intimacy and put them as something more like equals - "friends" - than Miss and Maid.

    But romance needs to wait until Jane's sorted out exactly what she's doing with her life and what, precisely, she wants.

    [X] You hug her.
     
    Last edited:
    Aleph said:
    Okay.

    Despite my strong support for Jane/Marie and love of gay fluff...

    ... I think this is too soon. If it's a kiss, it either won't be a romantic one or it will lead to unnecessary trouble later on, most likely the latter. Right now, Jane is only aware that the thought of Marie leaving terrified her and that she thinks of her in a way that "is perhaps improper". She may or may not have let Mr Lovelace down gently, depending on what that that nod meant, but bluntly she's still operating on emotional logic and hasn't thought this through.

    She needs to talk to Tabby and process the fact that she's attracted to women, and then make a move. Preferably after a more coherent confession than the one she just blurted out.

    This is a good step! It is a meaningful step. It will definitely bring Jane and Marie closer, level up their intimacy and put them as something more like equals - "friends" - than Miss and Maid.

    But romance needs to wait until Jane's sorted out exactly what she's doing with her life and what, precisely, she wants.

    [ ] You hug her.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    That's absolutely the logical correct answer.

    But is it the choice that Jane would make in the moment? I don't know. It may still be. But there's a lot of emotions boiling up to the surface, which always muddies the waters.
     
    Zurai001 said:
    That's absolutely the logical correct answer.

    But is it the choice that Jane would make in the moment? I don't know. It may still be. But there's a lot of emotions boiling up to the surface, which always muddies the waters.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Emotions are hard. Love is hard. Humans are messy critters that are driven first by stupid hormones, second by their stubborn heart, and third by logic.
    And it is currently a very romantic setting, after a very emotional time.

    Jefardi said:
    I have to agree. I'm conflicted. My base response says kiss. But that's also the inner voice that says to keep eating and wants me to call off work every day.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    But is it also what Jane's lizard hindbrain thinking? That is the question!
     
    I think Jane would do kiss. The reason is because she is trying to emote a feeling stronger then hug which she has done before... It's clear that this is effecting her more than just a hug.

    My explanation is crap (I'm on mobile)but yeah.
     
    [ ] You hug her.

    thatsbait.gif

    I'd say kiss but it's only going to create more drama and confusion and hurt feelings. Let them make up as friends, then let Jane work out that she's a gigantic homo in love with her cute robomaid.
     
    Definitely kiss. Even if it is wrong, it's out in the open now. And if it isn't, there's a lovely romantic setup here that should not be left to waste.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Voting is open
    Back
    Top