The little plush dragon sits on the table next to me as we enjoy the cheese and fruit. Sylvus also produces a bottle of wine, because of course he does. Classical music plays over the TV’s speaker.
The familiar flavors heal a deep part of me, though I have to say this wine is much better than the cheap shit my friends and I snuck in high school.
I adjust my dress as the fatty cheese goes straight to my breasts, and Sylvus looks on hungrily.
We keep up the charade, chatting.
I let a slice of strawberry melt on my tongue—he brought back a cloned plant a couple months back, and we’ve been carefully cultivating them. Sylvus has invited me into more and more of his life, and he now takes me regularly to the greenhouse made of translucent silk up on the top of the plateau, not far from my meadow. That explained his steady and diverse supply of fruits and seeds.
I lick my fingers. “So, am I going to see reports of a daring museum heist on the news?”
His grin turns wicked. “You don’t watch the news.”
“How many inter-planetary crime forces are hunting for you now?”
“The same amount as always.”
“So… all of them?”
He tips his chin up with pride. “Yes.”
“Should I worry about that?”
“Not in the slightest.” He takes a sip of wine.
“And… why is that?”
“I have threads around the necks of all the key players. Blackmail can be soveryeffective.”
I laugh, savoring another slice of cheese. “I love you.”
His leg reaches up and brushes my cheek. “I love you, too. And I have one more treat.”
“Another?! You spoil me.”
“That’s the point. Since you’ve adapted so well to this life, my colleagues and I have been rethinking some of the applications we reject. We usually only allow candidates that are overtlysubmissive to ensure they’ll be happy in their new life. But that may be unnecessarily narrow.”
“You think you could broaden the income stream?”
A smirk tugs at the corner of Sylvus’s mouth. “Why would you flatten my work into such cold terms? This is about creating moreopportunitiesforhappiness.”
“Uh huh. Where do I come in?”
“I want you to meet some of the candidates. Share your experience. Answer their questions. Help us decide if they’re a good fit after all.”
“You’d trust me with that?”
“Of course I would. You’re brilliant, Andromeda. If you weren’t…” He leans over, caressing my cheek. “…I wouldn’t enjoy it so much when I reduce you into a begging, desperate mess.”
Warmth blooms through my brain, and my breath catches. I tug at the front of my dress, where my breasts hang heavier and heavier. “I could go for some of that soon…”
“Think about it. Tell me if you want to try. There are always applicants.”
“I do.” I nod firmly. “I do want to try. It’s been really nice to be aimless, but… I could use a little aim. And I want to stay sharp. If only so I can keep you on your toes.”
He smiles. “Alright. When do you want to start?”
“Tomorrow?”
