“I’ll think about it.”
CHAPTER 4
Abouncer helpfully leads me out one of the many back doors and when I step into the station corridor, it’s just like it was before, with Feather.
Everything borders on unbelievable.
Further down the corridor, I see the entrance to Phantom’s and for the first time, I get a look at the sign beckoning clients in.
A vibrant array of letters I can’t read with a familiar silhouette.
It shifts to English a moment later. “Phantom’s Phuckery.”
The name always sounded funny… It looks even funnier.
The sign beneath it changes too. The little UFO that’s on our shirt blinks, advertises “Abducted aliens and human holes.”
I’d be offended if it didn’t make me laugh. I’ve never been tempted to try out the abduction role play option for the booth, but I know some of the women who have absolutely love it.
This level of the station is—I assume—an entertainment district. Along with Phantom’s there are a dozen restaurants, two theaters, what looks like an arcade, and a pay by the hour capsule hotel.
I’m not among the taller portion of the station population, that’s for sure, but I’m not the shortest, either.
I draw a few looks, but no one bothers me and I let my gaze wander.
Until it stops on a familiar eight armed man.
Mooralan doesn’t see me at first. He looks like he’s waiting for someone. And even though I know it’s not me, I walk over to him.
He sees me a moment before I say, “Hey.”
“Hello,” he leans forward and then freezes. “May I kiss your cheek?”
I should probably tell him no, but Ilikehim, and it’s nice to see a familiar face out here.
“You may.”
His smile makes me smile too.
His kiss makes my cheek tingle.
“It is lovely to see you,” he says, “I had hoped I might find you wandering the corridors some day.”
I glance toward the restaurant. I can’t read the sign, but there definitely aren’t any humans inside, and the food on the tables isn’t something I’ve ever seen before.
“Is this your go-to hang out spot?”
He looks at the door, like he’s just remembered where he is. “No, I actually can’t eat a single thing in there… Unless I want to be horribly sick.”
I look toward the bustling restaurant and there are certainly no other aliens who look like him. “Then why are you lurking at the entrance?”
“I have a friend who loves their Sumanigi noodles. We’re grabbing our respective food before we go to a show.”
“My kind of show?” I ask with a little laugh.
His gaze drops to my lips. “Are you performing?”
“Not today.” I wonder if I could give him a private show… Some other time. “I’m exploring.”
