Calling it a date does funny things to my head. And heart. And everything those two happen to be attached to. I've heard the word 'swoon' used in these situations and thought it silly. Egg on my face. I stare at the shirt and pants laid across my bed.
White long-sleeved button-up, black slacks, black tie. Could be going to a wedding or a funeral. All-purpose. I'd worn this set before, to small events and the ilk but this is the first time I've ever considered it wrong.
Impersonal. That's the word that screams back at me as I look over the things. I had no hand in picking them at all. Inoffensive, monochrome. Yet I'm out of time. Only other choice would be one of those messy hand-me-down shirts I've found in my possession. I couldn't. Would be a spit in the face to Iris.
This kinda feels the same, though. Just bland nothingness. I sigh and take the lesser of two evils. At least this looks like I've dressed up and not like I'm wearing a bigger siblings stolen tee that hasn't been properly laundered or taken care of in months. There's a warmth in the thought, despite my initial disgust. Comforting and toasty.
Now's not the time for that, though. Gotta look nice. Look good and presentable and date-able and I'm look like I'm not having a panic attack.

Whipped right back into my own head as the smallest crack turns to a chasm while I try to not hyperventilate.
Lur K. Moore. The blandest, may-as-well-be-invisible dude has somehow not only impressed a girl enough to get talked to more than once but has somehow managed to get her to like me. Enough to date. For her to pretty much ask, too. I died. Have to be dead and in some sort of heaven.
Anxiety mellows with a smooth and soothing notion. She knows who I am. I didn't hide that. Never tried to be anything but me, but better. Tried to not be so...nothing and more someone. It felt nice to grow like that and the fact that she seems to not only have been spurring my journey on but finding the same sort of joy in it...
Face is hot. I feel blastingly warm all over. Entire soul cooked to a sear with emotion. As the time ticks off I feel my innards beat with a heat formerly unknown. It all makes me feel so very very happy.

Dressed and prissed-up. A strange cold spot inside at the reaction, or lack thereof I'd gotten when I broke the news to the folks. Happy, somewhat excited, but not fretting or freaking out. I kinda wanted a teary mother to tell me I'm growing up or Dad to give me 'the talk' but I just got a mildly proud 'We expected this from you. Great work.'
Can't fault them for it, with how they are usually. This is normal, this is expected and plain and a gentle buzz. Nothing too stimulating or chaotic about it. I find myself aching for the movement of life. No longer placated by just being still and calm. I blame Jack.
I smirk in the mirror, knowing exactly how he'd respond. Claiming it my own fault, or hell, even Iris'. Who herself would push the blame to the Jo's, who would both fight over the right to wear the title for the one who 'ruined' me. I close my eyes and beam. Flashes of color, sparks of happiness. Bleak darkness behind the eyes turned into fireworks.

Eyes shoot open as my phone dings. Not of the alarm I'd set, but rather a text. Heart goes into lockdown as I move over, quickly yanking the phone up to spy a message from Iris. I pray quietly while I open it.

"Heya L, here a bit early. You mind if I step in, meet the fam?"

I check the time. Twenty minutes before she said she'd be over. Glad as hell I got ready this early, too. I fire right back, no hesitation.

"Sure."

Message sent and I quickly stamp out into the living room, place already quiet and parent-barren. Shoot. I move over to Dad's office, rapping on the door once with a knuckle.

"Come on in."

Gingerly but quickly I open the door, peeking in to see him not even turning his head to me fully, only using his eyes to look up from his desk.

I sign quickly, "Date's here."

His shoulders soften slightly, "Ah, good. Have a fun night." The slightest of smiles, eyes glistening with that soft sort of care. It tenses my back as I have to tell him.

"She wants to come say hi."

His eyes widen slowly, his frame turning up to me and leaning back in his chair as he nods. "I can take a break. She here now?"

I glance at my phone and back at him, nodding yes. Moving as a mountain would, intent clear and slowly, deliberately he rises, moving over to follow me from the room.

"Dear! Can you come meet me in the kitchen a moment!?" Is rumbled through the walls of the house as Dad calls to Mom in the back room, and not a moment too soon. The doorbell dings, date arrived.

I hot-step to the front, pulling open the door and getting floored by the woman standing in front of me. You'd think this was a grand ball with the way she's dolled, hair teased and curled, makeup on and perfected, long velvety-red dress billowing at the ankles, light sparkles of shiny glitter dotting it, growing ever denser as the dress flows downwards.
For a moment I'm too stunned to do anything but blink a few times, the image flooding my senses. As I come back to reality I throw up the strongest words I have in my arsenal as she smiles at me, cocking a head slightly as one of her fists rests upon her hip, triangling her arm and elbow as she takes a small stance while waiting.

"Beautiful." A word I don't often get to sign out. Feels like now's the time.

Grins grows greater as she steps into my personal space, almost sending me back on my butt. I step from the threshold of the door and let her in as she calls to me in passing as well.

"You look great, too. Didn't think you'd be one for ties but you wear it well, Lur."

As if I wasn't blushing hard enough already her compliment tingles the nerves in my neck and tells the thermostat that we're going up a degree or two, especially on the facial regions.

There's a slight pause as she takes the place in. I glance up to see if something's caught her eye only to realize it's the nothing that's caught her attention. I'd brought it up when I'd seen a pic of her room but this is her first time seeing that I was telling the truth. Plain walls, square furniture.

"Huh. Weren't kidding." I shrug as I step next to her, watching as the parents enter to greet. To my utmost surprise I notice the tiniest flicker of apprehension between the two as they join. What?

Dad takes the lead, not letting any still air hang as the four of us meet for the first time. A hand extends in greeting, the standard. "Ah you must be Iris, then?" She perks at her mention and offers a shake. Strong one. I worry for a second as I watch the shake clasp.

"That's me. Good to meet you two." The handshake is returned, my eyes tracing the pairs as they return. Dad flexes his slightly as it comes back to neutral. I worry slightly harder.

"I'm Darcy," A hand touches my father's shoulder, "And he's Clayton." He nods with his name being spoken, jumping in to add on.

"Clay's fine. And Cee for her." He smiles as Mom playfully rolls her eyes while he explains, "Doesn't like being called Dee, you know?"

"Aww! That's so nice!" Iris clasps her hands near her head, squinting and smiling. I relax a bit as Mom is the one to start to lead us into the kitchen.

"Come and sit for a minute, honey." In a flash we step into the kitchen, questions started the moment the chairs pull from the table.

"You and Lur met this year, then?" Mom prods.

"Sure did. Caught the wallflower trying to blend into the greenery." I go pale as she makes the joke, smiling and nudging me with an elbow, both the parents suddenly hit a touch of worry. I swallow as the conversation is kept in flow by Dad.

"That's nice, he's spoken kindly of you." Amazing sidestep. I relax a bit again as he goes for some generic questioning, "So tell us a little about yourself." A tall one but one she's happy to jump in on.

"Well I like live music, pretty good at knife-throwing; not competition level but we're getting there, like traveling and was looking into getting a job that would let me do just that. Not locked in on it yet, though."

The silence is thick enough to cut with a knife. I realize now that every single line out of her mouth would probably set my parents off. I squeeze my fists and sweat harder. They'll be supportive. I think. It's not like them to yell or freak out. At all. Ever.
An idea of them doing just that strikes me for a brief moment. A fear made manifest through imagination yet I find it oddly normal. As if I'd want that, and not the quiet and judging gazes that's assuredly going to land on me instead.
I look up to see exactly that. Mom wearing her concern like a set of glasses. I cringe.

"Lur never mentioned you were a raptor." Dad immediately puts his foot in his mouth as he realizes he's come at the idea at completely the wrong angle. Iris takes it in stride.

"Born and raised." She flexes the claws on her hand, I now noticed they're painted and somewhat manicured. Pretty.

The awkward still hits like a truck again, turning into a refusal from one side of the table to continue to misstep and my side not built for this kind of pressure.
I have to make a move to stop the silence from becoming neverending. I quickly sign in.

"Yeah we've hung out since the start of the year. Were just friends at first and found out we mutually liked each other."

Mom starts to speak as she notices my signing, "Oh Lur says that you tw-" Iris cuts her off.

"I know." She pulls her hands up to sign as well, "I knew a little ASL before we met. Learned more to talk to Lur better."

Icebreaker in every sense. The sudden double realization drops jaws and shoulders. Right, never got brought up I guess. They just assumed I'd used the text-to-speech thing.

"That's wonderful to hear." Dad smirks at the unintended wordplay, nodding. "It was nice to meet you, Iris. Hope you two have a good time tonight."

Mom catches on quickly, "R-Right. Yes. It was a good meeting you." She rises and hesitates just a moment, "I'll see you two out."

Dad stays seated, offering a quick wave as Iris and I are shuffled to the front, Mom holding onto my sleeve as the door opens and I start to step outside, her eyes glancing at the van Iris came to get me in.

"Let me borrow Lur for just a moment." Iris nods stepping out and making her way to the car first. I prepare for something. What, I have no idea.

I'm patted down once as Mom gives me a final once over, taking a short breath before speaking, "I can tell you like each other and she seems nice but I can't help but be a little worried, sweetie." An awful emotion touches inside.

Before I can protest or feel anything but surprise she adds on at the end, "But I trust you. Just...be careful. Love you, sweetie."

A quick hug and I'm shunted out the door. In a small stupor I stumble over to the van and pull open the passenger side, peering in to a half-smile-half-shrug from Iris.

"Not a fan of me, huh? Can't say I blame them." I try to signal a quick no but she shrugs.

"Don't be mad at 'em. I'm not. I'm not exactly a princess, ya know?"

The only thing I can state back in the moment is the final note she'd left them with. "They really liked that you knew ASL."

She snorts. "That was kinda your job to lead with."

I settle in and nod, "Right." My shoulder's squeezed.

"Kinda glad you didn't, though." I grin and lean back, buckling as the van slips backwards.

I relax a bit, settling into the seat as we go. Mood from tense and high to slow and calm. Radio gently playing something to tide us over as the dark sky crawls along above. The quiet now comfortable. I lean on the edge of the van while we go.

"What'd your Mom say?" Her voice a bit tough, coarse.

I start to mindlessly sign that it wasn't anything but realize she has to keep her head forward. I take a breath.

"Just said she trusted me." I clear my throat once the words are out, a head whipped around to me to try to protest but realizing it's too late. She just smiles comfortably and looks back forward.

"They're nice." I nod and start to agree verbally but decide against it. Just let the moment flow as the streetlights skirt along overhead.

It's not long before we finally pull up to the little place we'd settled on. Pizza parlor. Dinner and arcade. Childish, but that's maybe a good thing.

As the van parks, an empty stop a decent distance Iris makes conversation at me.

"You excited?"

I glance over to see her giving me a side-glance, waiting for my answer before exiting. I give her one, "Sure am."

As I exit I glance down at my own outfit, then up to the place. It's not quite as fancy as I was expecting. Never been to one of these but I assumed it was decently fancy. I mean they serve beer and all.

"Hey, 'dress for the job you want' right?"

Iris is a few steps ahead, waiting for me to join her to the walk in. I sign at her, "Are we overdressed?"

She shrugs, tilting her head the other way, "Maybe. Didn't really dress up for the venue, you know?"

The words take a second to strike meaning in me. I have to avert my eyes once I realize exactly what she'd said. I find my hand grasped at as I'm pulled forward, almost stumbling over my own feet on the asphalt.

"It's cold and this dress doesn't have a back." Yes'm. Right away. I match her pace and walk along as we approach the front, noticing it's decently busy. Once I spy the insides I realize that we're right on the cusp of overdressed. Place isn't cheap, isn't fancy, warm and glowing. I feel a nice glow from the warm orange light spilling out.

In we are and Iris does the talking, confirming our reservation and getting us in and seated, game card in hand. I turn the thing over a few times, neat. Big logo on it and a little bit of information on how to fill the thing back up, a bit of free funds from this little dinner-for-two deal I'd picked out.
Still feel a bit cheap or cheesy but the second I brought this place up there was no other question. Think Iris might've picked it herself if given the chance. Wonder if she'd like to pick the next one. I pull back a bit. Let's not plan that far ahead yet.

Into the little booth and menus out, place is louder than I'd thought. Not like it's a problem for us. I make a quick gesture at Iris, smiling.

"You think they factor in the hearing damage to the bill? Would explain the price."

It kills. Table slapped, snorting horfs as she wheezes and jostles in the booth, touching my leg with her tail as it wildly expresses emotion. I feel pride as I sit back and pick out my little choice off the tiny omni section. Must be a carni-centric restaurant with the way they fully display the extreme meat overload they call a pizza pie on the front. I consider for a second.

"You wanna try this?" I point at it?

"That's way too much food, Lur." I shrug.

"And?"

She pulls her lips into a flat unamused gaze. I push a little more.

"Leftovers?"

"Alright you glutton. And here I thought The Jo's were bad." I shrug and look at the front menu again, flipping it around to check the absolute laundry list of ingredients that go onto this absolute meat monster. Thing has to weigh a pound a slice.

I glance up to greet the waitress as a tired and overworked old saurian woman strides up.

"You two ready to order?" I nod to Iris who goes ahead and gets the pizza platter and some drinks. I get a few concerned looks as the waitress notices rather fast I'm not speaking. I'm not the only one who notices. A scowled stare is pointed at her as she leaves.

I tap Iris on the leg with my own to pull her attention back to me as I sign, "It's fine."

"...Sure." I give her one more tap as she rolls her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You're too nice."

A quick thumbs-up as she sighs and leans forward, rolling her fingers on the table while we wait. "So you were serious about that whole bland nothing house."

"Yeah."

"I can see why your wardrobe was one color. Hell, even your folks wore an entire beige-and-a-half. No offense."

As I quickly run their outfits through my head, never before really considered, I notice the truth in her words. I shrug. "Not wrong."

She sighs, "Kinda went as expected."

"Really?"

She looks away, "Yeah." Oh.

I wait for her to look back to sign, "It went well I think."

She gives me a half-frown. "Yeah. They weren't exactly happy with me. And uh... your Dad's not-" I sign frantically.

"No! No I just forgot to bring it up." She chortles and relaxes.

"You guys not talk a lot?" I shrug.

"Kinda, just not about anything important."

"The kicker, huh? Hmm." She looks up from her own hands to mine, in a flash reaching over to snatch my own from the table where they rest in between sets of signing.

"Got your tongue." She looks at me playfully. Ohoh. I grunt out.

"Do you?" My hands are squeezed and arms pulled slightly.

"Hey no talking. That's cheating."

I shrug and smile as I feel her put my hands together, putting hers outside mine.

"I was kinda afraid for a bit there you didn't like me back." My hands instinctively try to move to talk. Locked. Instead I start to open my mouth.

"Uhp, not yet. Let me finish." Gotcha. I stay quiet.

"I started to get the feeling that I wanted to know you more. That I appreciated being around you. All that mushy stupid stuff and got this sad feeling that it might have to just stay one-sided." She looks up into my eyes, peering deep as she does.

"I couldn't sleep the night you told me you liked me too."

Mouth hangs slightly open as she fiddles with my hands in hers, still keeping me muted while she works up the strength to say something else.

"...I want you to know I really do like you, Lur. A lot."

Finally let free I move into speaking in a flash, hands frantically expelling my thoughts all smashed together. Coherent sentence it isn't. "I like you too a lot Iris mean it really like a whole lot." Hand touches my own again.

Through half a laugh she speaks, "Alright, got you. No need to panic. Sorry for bottling you up. Just had to have a second to actually say it. Not great at not yelling it or exploding. Ya know?" She cringes a bit, remembering the swathe of times I've had to stop her from pulling out hair or leaving some claw marks on Jack, the Jo's or just anyone who slighted her. Or me, for that matter.

"I like that part of you." I tell the truth and get a massive blush back, so strong Iris has to look at the table. Wait, that was a big one? Dangit.

"Thanks, Lur." Bashful and giddy. I share the sentiment, almost.

I spy movement from the corner of my eye, turning to see... three waiters carrying something. A platter. A sinking pit in my stomach tells me they're getting closer. No way.
Sure enough, they're headed to our table, moving everything aside to just engulf the entire thing in this monster. The pic on the front of the menu showed it being the size of a table but I thought for sure it was just an exaggeration. That it'd be a normal large. Not...mammoth sized. I watch in awe as it's slid onto the table with a huff.

"Enjoy." They clearly didn't enjoy having to lug this monster over. I look up to see I'm not the only one hanging a jaw at this thing.

"Lur?"

At a loss for words as well. Nuts to eating this whole thing I don't think I can even finish a single slice. By God it's death served on a platter. My doom looks me up from the table. Greasy, artery-clogging death via stomach rupture. I think I hear it whisper "Eat me..." while I shudder.

"Dude we're gonna have to get a to-go wheelbarrow." I have to nod along yes as I peer at the singular slice that I think I'm going to try to fight down. I swallow and pull back, cheese still pulling from underneath the mountain of brown and red toppings while I get my arm's worth of 'za onto a plate that came with the demon.

Snickering and laughing from the other side. I look up to see Iris smiling, hard, eyes threatening to glisten as she wipes at her face.

"You know I was kinda worried I'd ruin this somehow. Make it not fun or weird or something." I almost drop my food as she still threatens to tear up.

"Guess I was worried for nothing." I wanna dive across the table but hold back, giving the dorkiest thumbs-up I can muster while she rolls her eyes, going for a bite and giving her own thumbs-up.

The slice is delicious and two meals in itself. Let it be known here and now: Lur K. Moore will not be bested by food so long as he draws breath. I eat. And eat. And eat and eat and eat and manage it. My stomach hurts, pants want to burst, I feel sleepy. Yet I feel victory. Battle won, but war assuredly lost. If I perish to grease-related reasons so be it.

I sigh and slip my view up from my plate, having finally been set free from it's monstrous inhabitant to spy something that almost worries me. Two pieces gone from her side. One completely MIA and the second halfway done on her plate. She looks slightly guilty, speaking with a mouthful.

"What? It's good!"

Oh it hurts to laugh. Stomach like a lead balloon as I wheeze at her, earning a touch on the leg under the table with her tail. Slightly embarrassed, slightly jovial. I slink back in the booth while Iris finishes her bit, my arteries hardening as I focus my entire energy on digesting.

The waitress swings by to drop off a fleet of to-go boxes, already one step ahead of us it seems. No need to ask or remind at all and after Iris managed to end her second piece we pack up and stack high. I glance over to Iris and consider how she even managed to get a full slice down, not to speak of two. She's so petite.

"Split down the middle, then? Two boxes a pop?" I shake my head no at her math.

"One to me three to you."

"Pfft, not happening. I bring home that much grease and Dad will kill himself with it. Two each. Fair." I relent, shrugging as I've no energy for anything not currently stomach related.

"So you spy any games you wanted to try out? That bike racing thing looked rad." Oh right the card. I fish it out of my pocket and hand it to her, following along and pointing out one of those co-op zombie shooter games. Iris is at it in a flash.

We set our boxes aside and tap the card in, setting us up for a three-life round. I'm not particularly dexterous but she sure as hell is. Neither of us 'gamers' per se but she outclasses me in a flash. Little score counters in the corner as we pop some rotten green monsters while playing the on-rails shooter. Not a chance in hell we finish it, but it was quite fun.

I glance over to her side to see she's more than doubled my points. I get a smirk, "Yeehaw."

Very, very glad I wasn't drinking anything as I'd one-hundred-percent have just shot it out of my nose with how hard I snort at her. I snort and snicker hard enough to hurt my sinuses, finding myself leaning over onto Iris as I've almost doubled over. The odd strength of the laugh I have to attribute to the sudden relief that came with the end of the match. Peculiar.

I recover and we head over to her section now, a raised platform holding a motorbike of which she hops up onto while I feed the machine the card, hesitating as I look at the buttons. I smile and tap the top option, setting her up for a solid rest-of-the-cards-worth of time. I dust my hands off and admire my handiwork as she quickly gets into the racing game.
As I look over her leaning and revving as she steers the motorcycle I stand stunned in her presence. I don't even bother looking at the screen, but rather her face from the side, fully focused and grinning as the light reflects off her eyes. I'm struck by just how pretty she is. I can feel myself getting all sappy watching her, enjoying myself greatly by simply watching her be happy.
She gets a solid thirty minutes of gametime in, gone in a flash due to just how fun it was. She quickly got a hang of the thing and even managed to put some scores up on the board, coming in at a top-twenty time for the entire arcade. Name of 'IRS' entered.

Down she hops and has to steady herself on the land, a bit steeper than she'd though, right onto me.

"Hell of a thing. Makes me kinda want a bike myself. You want to try?" I simply shake my head no.

"You about ready to head out?" I sign at her and she stretches.

"Sure, why not. Got some time to kill still. Favorite part of the date's not even started, yet." Her voice lowers in the last bit, sending shivers up my spine.

We make our exit, finishing off the bill and leaving a nice little tip while Iris brings up the prospect of paying for half again. I wave my hand to try to dissuade her but get more promises of money in my hand no matter how many times I try to tell her I want to treat.

"I'll wear you down. I promise you that, Lur." She may just be right. I stretch once as well as we open the doors to the van to drop off the take home boxes and I struggle to hop up into the van, pushing the seat back a little for some breathing room. This dough lump in my stomach isn't getting any smaller anytime soon.
While I wait for Iris to hop into the driver's seat I peer out into the lights of the night. Buildings and street lamps and billboards all dotting the inky blackness turning the backdrop into a nice collage.
The door opens, but not her side. My passenger side door swings open and as I glance down to see Iris clambering inside I start to try to ask through signing what's up only to have my questions quickly answered as she lands in my lap as the door shuts. Oh. OH.

We've pecked once or twice before, little kisses. Nothing serious. That streak ends right now.
Her lips touch mine and we kiss, hard. It starts slow, searching and learning. Just one or two as she settles in, wraps her arms up and around my neck, settles her tail around my waist and presses her entire body into mine.
It goes from that to lip locking in one smooth motion. Her breath in mine, carriage starting to heat, senses all locked on her.
Words escape me. Hands find themselves on her back, hugging in as well. I let her lead. It's immensely pleasurable. I learn exactly what she meant by her favorite part of the date. I might be inclined to agree.
Lengthy is our embrace. Huffs and smooches and quiet pleasant vocalizations as it goes. Addicting, if anything. Whelming. Soothing. Loving.

Finally she lets me out for air, turning from lips to neck, teeth touching gently as she kisses, sending shocks through me. She pulls all the way back, arms pull up to my shoulders as she looks me dead in the eyes, glistening chestnut eyes half-lidded as she looks me dead in the face.

"You're perfect." Slips from my mouth, almost effortlessly if quietly.

She hushes me with her mouth, another long press before she lets off for the night, sitting back and speaking. "Flattery will get you everywhere, you know?" We share one more warm grin betwixt before she slides from my lap, climbing over into the driver's seat and making it a point to slap me a few times with her tail, teasing. I catch it in my hand as she starts to sit, earning a yelp.

One more thwack as she returns her tail to her own sphere of personal space as we settle in to drive home, body still buzzing from her touch. Scales feel against my skin not something I'll quickly forget. Her absurdly soft lips gonna be visiting my dreams for the future to come. Already reminiscing about the moment as the car pulls off.

The drive's over in a flash, radio a droning backdrop to the already massive internal hum I happen to carry, van pulled to the front of my house before I can even get my thoughts in proper order and not mired in her indigo scales.

"We do this again? I loved it." Hands come up to parrot back.

"Loved it, too. Anytime." She smiles wildly, nodding and baring teeth, squinting.

"See ya." And leans in. All too well I know this. Watch the parents do it daily. To have it offered myself sets a calm joy inside. I lean in and give a goodbye kiss. A seal to ensure many more to come. Bubbling the IQ out of my head as the only thing left up there happens to be a very micro dino.

And I'm into the cool air, watching the headlights turn round the block, waving like a moron at them. I'd thought I knew what being happy was before this but I'd only ever had a taste of it. Cloud nine, I think they call it. I feel like I'm floating. I get it now.
Weakly and slowly I amble back up to the porch, opening the door and stepping into a dimly lit house. I spy Dad on the couch, watching some Netstix series. He notices me come in.

"Oh welcome back. It go well?" He turns to look at me, gentle face turning from open and soft smile to a bit worried. His hand comes up to gesture at his own face.

"You've uh, got something here, Lur." Hmm?

I press on my face and look at my hand, dry and nothing. I whip my phone out and turn on the front facing camera to-
Oh my God. I've got lipstick absolutely plastered across my face, almost wearing her full color on my lips and across. Face turns cherry red as I press my hand against and rub, trying to get it off. Does nothing. Oh fuck's sake I guess Iris couldn't see it in the dark of the car.

An amused sigh comes from my old man, "Well I'll take that as a yes. Try water, Lur. And have a good night."

Entire body cringes as I've just displayed prominently to my Dad exactly what I'd planned on omitting. Very quickly I march over to the bathroom and pray I escape Mom. Thankfully making it inside to use some wadded up toilet paper and quite a large amount of force I manage it off. And the stuff on my neck, too. Raptor Christ.
Clean of body but not of soul I peek out, finding the spot on the couch still occupied by Dad. I decide against trying to weasel some sort of explanation or beg him to not tell Mom. Exhaustion strikes, hard. I'd not realized how much I was held up by the moment but the second I find a spot of relaxation I start to threaten to sleep standing.
Room's entered and I collapse into bed, pulling out my phone to see I've got a text already from Iris.

"Can't stop thinking about you."

I don't sour the mood with my own story. "I'm excited for next time."

"Me too." And dotted with a kiss emoji. Heart skips a beat. I fire one back

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Pub: 20 Aug 2025 03:51 UTC

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