The Cosmos, The Arrivals, Book 1, Chapter 8, Babs Dresses Steph: Robyn Cams Her Titter & Upskirt, also Tiffany , Day 1, Section 2, Babs Reminds Steph: Not Equals & Better Keep Secrets ¶ Boss Babe lets Steph stand and busies herself with the Desktop. When she returns attention to Steph she carefully aggresses, “Don’t you think we are equals. Listen to me. Should {any} leakage about my past emerge, no matter what the source, you may expect to promptly find yourself ‘bare, bald, and naked’ and begging to Strip next Term.” ¶ Steph twists her body but holds position. “Wait a minute. I’m not the only one who knows about your last Term. What if Janet tells on you? She wasn’t very nice to me when I arrived downstairs yesterday. She’s nobody’s friend. Don’t forget that she was a Stripper before she became your Roommate last Term. She’s into showing herself off.” ¶ Babs squares her jaw. “Then you had better hope Janet keeps secrets, because I’ll hold you responsible anyway if the wrong secrets come out.” ¶ Steph opens her mouth, but Babs speaks first. “I’m surprised Janet never begged an Alumni Reprise at the Nugget last Term.” ¶ Steph blinks…and advances a partial truth. “You never know about Janet. She can be pretty sneaky sometimes. And you never quite know about what comes out of her mouth.” Steph isn’t prepared to abandon the accountability trap, and she advances her case. “Penny and Coco will talk about you, too. They’ll make up stuff. And who knows if Robyn’s Redaction is perfect.” ¶ ¶ Babs squints at her Pledge, who stands naked before her. “Janet has offered to trade one of her Corvettes for you,” she threatens. “She said that once she gets her hands on you, you won’t just be tittering or showing your snapper to the Cams.” ¶ Steph feels a chill go down through her naked, standing body. Goosebumps form across her belly. Her bare feet feel warm. Steph exerts discretion with her previous Pledge. “Ma’am, don’t misunderstand me; I don’t hold you or Janet responsible for my demotion. I know who’s responsible. Robyn did this to me. So, Ma’am, you and I might be role-reversed, but we are on the same side. You need to please hand me my new minidress, and let me take Robyn’s maillot. As far as I’m concerned she can spend all the rest of this Term naked, and she deserves to be a naked Stripper next turn! Even you know that.” ¶ Babs studies her former Monitor. “Roommate Games require you deal with whoever arrives as your Roommate,” she humors. “At least initially. You’ll have to save Robyn for later.” ¶ “Ma’am, thank you, Ma’am.” Steph bows, assuming she’s getting a green light. ¶ Babs smiles and hikes her nombril up. {Shall Steph wear a minidress sleeveless, or with straps?} BB knows the answer. {Steph shall forgo all secrets about her strawberries and scruff and shall keep them in the public domain. Along with her belly button.} ¶ Babs hands today’s minidress to her anxious Pledge; Steph breaks out of position and eagerly takes the Garment into her hands. {Enough!} She turns and exits the Bedroom, failing to even say “thank you.” ¶ Once in the Bunkroom, Steph watches herself put the minidress on in the Mirror. She smoothes the dress as she looks in the Mirror to inspect what she wears. This morning’s minidress is a particularly risky concoction with oversize armholes. Steph straightens her posture in the Mirror. {It is going to be a challenge to keep Gamers from looking in and seeing my stalks and sand dollars. Maybe Boss Bitch has it in for me, however unjustifiably, or maybe she’s just a pawn. Janet’s more revengeful, and, given the chance, she would reduce my minidress to only its cutout hole. I’m lucky that she’s not the Monitor here. All I need to do is maintain a low profile and not cross BB. I can do this; I really don’t need Babs in order to collect a second piece and Opt Up. Or collect two more pieces and Double Opt Up.} ¶ Steph furrows her brow. However! If there is an opportunity to be gained, especially a Double Opt Up, I will consider trampling upon Boss Bitch so fast she’ll never know what hit her.