“So, you guys have showers, tubs, sinks, and toilets?”
“Yes. They do not need magic. That is simply pressurized water.”
“So, you do have science on your planet.”
“Isthatscience?” Kaspian's eyes went wide. “Then we could do what you do? We could make machines without magic?”
“I don't see why not.” I shrugged. “You just need people to figure it out.”
“Getting people to change is difficult.” He grunted and stepped into the living room. “So, what is the name of this city?”
“Salem. It's the capital.”
“What's a capital? My mind tells me it's a large letter.”
I snorted a laugh. “I guess you only get explanations that make sense to you. The stuff you're familiar with.”
“That could be.” He motioned for me to go on.
“A capital is a large letter and is also a seat of government. Every state has a capital city where we come together to decide on laws. Stuff like that.”
“Ah! It's equivalent to our crown cities, where the kings rule.”
“How many kings do you have?” I paused just inside the living room.
“Hundreds. And those are only the Dragons. Other races have kings as well. But those kings defer to Dragon kings. We rule the world.”
“Of course you do.” I rolled my eyes.
Kas didn't catch my sarcasm. How could he when he was already abandoning our conversation to examine the furniture? He ran his hand over my leather couch, tapped the top of a lamp, and picked up the remote control from the coffee table. Distracted by it, he set his beer down on the table and turned the remote over in his hands.
“Don't press any of those buttons!” I grabbed the remote from him.
“Why not?” He was back to glaring at me.
“It turns on the TV.” I motioned at the flatscreen.
“What is that?”
“You're not ready for it.”
“I will determine what I am not ready for.” He crossed his thick arms.
“I'm telling you. A television is too much for you right now.”
“Don't be absurd. I'm a Dragon King. Nothing is too much for me.”
I crossed my arms to match his stance. “Do you remember those stories I was talking about?”
“Do you mean tales like my make-believe kingdom?” His glare intensified.
“Yes. I mean, not your kingdom, but stories about make-believe things. And we don't just tell stories through books. We can record . . . uh, plays to watch whenever we wish. Do you have plays?”
“Of course, we have plays! We are not heathens.”
I snorted. “Well, we can capture plays with our science machines. They take pictures of . . . ugh, forget this shit.” I turned on the television. I go the Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu route when I watch TV, but when I turn it on, it automatically brings up a free cable channel. Of all things, one of the X-Men movies was playing—a fucking battle scene, no less. Men and women in snug suits flew across the sky, lasers shooting from their eyes and butts. Okay, not their butts. I don't have to explain the X-Men. It was your standard superhero shit. But not standard for an alien. Kaspian roared and lurched backward to fall onto his ass.
Myass got laughed off, sending me into a forward bend to brace myself on my thighs.
