Instead of pushing Henry off his lap, Seth tightens his arms more securely, standing up and walking over with him. He settles down next to me, spreading Henry across both our laps. Watching Fae’s face is hilarious. At first, when it’s just his legs on screen, her eyes stay squinted. When he sits though, they widen, and her mouth drops open.
“And… you’re for real. He’s not some like, AI V-Tuber thing on the call?”
“Nope, I’m real.” Seth says, picking up one of Henry’s paws and waving to the camera.
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
Fae goes through someseriousemotions in a few short seconds. Shaking her head and blinking, mouthing, “no way,” and cocking her head like the “well, maybe” girl.
“So yeah…” I say when she’s seemed to settle a bit. “He was decorating my house because I kept having nightmares, and he remembered Christmas was my favorite holiday.”
“Oh my god, that’s precious!” she says, though it’s obvious she is still not 100% with us yet. “I—I have a million questions.”
“I’ll bet,” Seth says. “But first, hi! I’m Seth… Ada’s boyfriend.”
Aweek passes, and Seth is still sleeping on the couch. I think he’s trying to drive me insane. Fae has texted every twenty minutes with another question. She’s honestly got so many more than I have; she’s curious thatway. But, I’m grateful, because I’ve been able to learn so much more about Seth’s world and his life from them. Apparently, in the dream realm, there are lots of different sorts of dream monsters, but he’s the most “basic” kind. Over time, it’s common for them to specialize in something, like his friend Rhys, who is now essentially a cupid, and his friend Gloria, who specializes in bringing luck. Sometimes Seth is vague, but I get the feeling that it’s because things justworkdifferently there, and he’s not always sure of the whys or hows of things.
We’ve settled into a rhythm. He seems to really enjoy cooking, and he’s started doodling on random sheets of paper. He’s really creative, and quite naturally talented with a pencil. While I work, he tries out recipes, draws, or surfs the internet to learn more about the human world.
I’ve met with Amanda twice now, she squeezed me in since things were sort of emergent. I’m still nervous, but our first appointments went really well. She didn’t bat an eye when Seth came on screen, just said, “Ah, I see, good to know.” She winked, then told him that therapy was private and kicked him out of my bedroom.
We haven’tdonemuch yet, we’re still getting a baseline, but it feels like maybe… it might work.
Stretching, I shut my laptop with a resounding click, disconnecting from work for the day. ItisChristmas Eve, after all. All of my clients are squared away, my presents are all wrapped, the tree is decorated, and the fire is crackling away.
As if he was summoned by the sound, Seth rounds the corner from the kitchen, holding a plate in each hand. The smell has been driving me crazy for hours, but he wouldn’t tell me what he was making. Now, I squeal as he sets it on the table, because he’s made homemade Chinese food… or at least Americanized Chinese food.
“Seth, that looks amazing!”
“I read that sometimes Jewish people get Chineseon Christmas, because neither community celebrates. Obviously we’recelebrating, but it made me wonder what Chinese tasted like.” He sits down, his sweater stretched tight across his chest. We found a size that fits him, but just barely, though I’m not sad about how closely it hugs and highlights his form.
I squirm in my chair, because this protracted war he’s waging on my pussy has got to stop. Soon, I’ll be a puddle of need on the floor.
No. This man isminetonight if I have anything to say about it.
Over his tasty dinner, he tells me about all the interesting things he learned that day. I love hearing where his research took him, because his brain follows paths so differently from mine.
“So, I figured you might have heard of that band.”
“I might have, yeah…” I hide my blush in my glass of water.
Apparently, I didn’trealizethat I’d shifted the look of his mask to seem more like the lead singer’s mask instead of like the“Jason” style hockey mask of my actual attacker. “I guess itdoessort of look like his.”
“Yeah, so I listened to some of their music, but then I squirreled away to turtles, and turtle penises.”
I choke on my water and set it down, sputtering. “Turtle penises?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to figure out if mine is based on anything in nature.”
He is trying to kill me, or make my pussy explode.
“And… is it based on a turtle?” Surely I can talk about this. It’s no big deal. I amdyingto have sex with him again, but I can definitely talk about his amazing dick with zero issues. None.
You know, except for the wet spot that’s definitely going to be on the chair when I stand up. For a second, I regret that I didn’t wear underwear under my short skirt, but the chair isjust going to have to take one for the team. I’m fighting dirty today.
“Nope. Though their dicks arewild.The end opens and closes like a flower.”
