full
[18+] “Salisbury” by Roscoe G. Beetle (read by BandanaDog, part 1 of 2)
[18+] When bodies can be tailored to match what's inside, Sal is unsure of his choice until he meets a dragon, and learns what's truly possible.
Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Salisbury” by Roscoe G. Beetle, who is a writer of erotic fiction, and author of the upcoming novella “Thorns” published by Bewere Market as well as safe for work fantasy under the name of his good friend David The Kamenwriter. You can find more of his stories as well as the stories of his good friend at thekamenwriter.Itch.io and on their Archive Of Our Own.
Read by BandanaDog, Unorthodox Spacetime Drifter.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/18-salisbury-by-roscoe-g-beetle-part-1-of-2
Transcript
Today's
Speaker:story
Speaker:concerns
Speaker:adult
Speaker:subject
Speaker:matter
Speaker:for
Speaker:mature
Speaker:listeners.
Speaker:If
Speaker:that's
Speaker:not
Speaker:your
Speaker:cup
Speaker:of
Speaker:tea,
Speaker:or
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:youngsters
Speaker:listening,
Speaker:please
Speaker:skip
Speaker:this
Speaker:one
Speaker:and
Speaker:come
Speaker:back
Speaker:for
Speaker:another
Speaker:story
Speaker:another
Speaker:time.
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:Pride
Speaker:Month
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of “Salisbury”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Roscoe
Speaker:G.
Speaker:Beetle,
Speaker:who is
Speaker:a
Speaker:writer
Speaker:of
Speaker:erotic
Speaker:fiction,
Speaker:and
Speaker:author
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:upcoming
Speaker:novella “Thorns”
Speaker:published
Speaker:by
Speaker:Bewere
Speaker:Market
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:safe
Speaker:for
Speaker:work
Speaker:fantasy
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:name
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:good
Speaker:friend
Speaker:David
Speaker:The
Speaker:Kamenwriter.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:stories
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:stories
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:good
Speaker:friend
Speaker:at thekamenwriter.Itch.io and on their Archive
Speaker:Of
Speaker:Our Own.
We
daresay
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:not
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:to
Speaker:point
Speaker:out
Speaker:that the
Speaker:right
Speaker:to
Speaker:self definition
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:foundation
Speaker:of
Speaker:all
Speaker:other
Speaker:LGBTQ
Speaker:rights.
Speaker:Without
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:word
Speaker:regarding
Speaker:who
Speaker:and
Speaker:what
Speaker:we
Speaker:are,
Speaker:what other
Speaker:rights
Speaker:can
Speaker:function?
Speaker:And
Speaker:what
Speaker:fuller
Speaker:exercise
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:to
Speaker:self definition
Speaker:can
Speaker:there
Speaker:be
Speaker:than
Speaker:fursona?
Speaker:Where
Speaker:we
Speaker:may
Speaker:say “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:a
Speaker:lion”
Speaker:or “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon”
Speaker:without
Speaker:fear
Speaker:of
Speaker:contradiction,
Speaker:there
Speaker:has
Speaker:Pride
Speaker:truly
Speaker:won.
Read
by
Speaker:BandanaDog,
Speaker:Unorthodox
Speaker:Spacetime
Speaker:Drifter.
Please
enjoy
“Salisbury”
by
Speaker:Roscoe
Speaker:G.
Speaker:Beetle,
Speaker:Part 1
Speaker:of 2
He
didn’t
Speaker:wear
Speaker:perfume
Speaker:or
Speaker:cologne.
Speaker:He smelled
Speaker:clean,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:but
Speaker:had
Speaker:also
Speaker:been
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:about
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:faint
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:sweat
Speaker:was
Speaker:beginning
Speaker:to
Speaker:linger
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:moved
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:bus.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:just
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:me,
Speaker:scales
Speaker:golden
Speaker:and
Speaker:hair
Speaker:shock
Speaker:white.
Speaker:The
Speaker:body
Speaker:was
Speaker:thin –
Speaker:notably
Speaker:so,
Speaker:with
Speaker:skeletal
Speaker:wrists
Speaker:and
Speaker:legs
Speaker:encased
Speaker:in
Speaker:black
Speaker:jeans.
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:likely
Speaker:had
Speaker:it
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while –
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:old
Speaker:discontinued
Speaker:models
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:old,
Speaker:early
Speaker:days
Speaker:of
Speaker:body-modding
Speaker:when
Speaker:folks
Speaker:would
Speaker:go
Speaker:insane
Speaker:with
Speaker:possibility.
Speaker:He
Speaker:went
Speaker:reptilian,
Speaker:but
Speaker:heavily
Speaker:modified –
Speaker:long
Speaker:hair
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:style
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:beard,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:blood,
Speaker:sweat.
Speaker:He
Speaker:had
Speaker:curated
Speaker:the
Speaker:functions
Speaker:and
Speaker:realities
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:long
Speaker:and
Speaker:hard,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:spent
Speaker:decades
Speaker:living
Speaker:in
Speaker:it.
It
was
Speaker:hard
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:with
Speaker:body
Speaker:modding,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course.
Speaker:You
Speaker:see
Speaker:someone
Speaker:about
Speaker:your
Speaker:age
Speaker:or
Speaker:even
Speaker:younger
Speaker:nowadays
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:times
Speaker:they’ll
Speaker:be
Speaker:older
Speaker:than
Speaker:they
Speaker:let
Speaker:on.
Speaker:Teenagers
Speaker:complaining
Speaker:about
Speaker:taxes
Speaker:and
Speaker:nine-to-fives
Speaker:or
Speaker:twenty-something
Speaker:dudes
Speaker:talking
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:wife
Speaker:they’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:married
Speaker:to
Speaker:for
Speaker:thirty
Speaker:years.
Speaker:Most
Speaker:people
Speaker:you
Speaker:saw
Speaker:hovered
Speaker:between
Speaker:that
Speaker:eighteen
Speaker:to
Speaker:twenty-five
Speaker:range,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:people
Speaker:letting
Speaker:themselves
Speaker:show
Speaker:their
Speaker:years
Speaker:further
Speaker:on
Speaker:into
Speaker:their
Speaker:mature
Speaker:thirties
Speaker:or
Speaker:rarely
Speaker:even
Speaker:an
Speaker:attractive
Speaker:forty
Speaker:year-old,
Speaker:usually
Speaker:a
Speaker:man
Speaker:who
Speaker:has
Speaker:styled
Speaker:himself
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:silver
Speaker:fox
Speaker:he
Speaker:wished
Speaker:he
Speaker:was.
But
this
Speaker:dragon?
Speaker:He
Speaker:had
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:let
Speaker:himself
Speaker:age,
Speaker:and
Speaker:age
Speaker:beautifully
Speaker:he
Speaker:did.
Speaker:As
Speaker:I
Speaker:stared
Speaker:further
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:streaks
Speaker:of
Speaker:grey
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:white
Speaker:and
Speaker:realized
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:hair
Speaker:had
Speaker:likely
Speaker:started
Speaker:off
Speaker:another
Speaker:color.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:what
Speaker:it
Speaker:was.
Speaker:Perhaps
Speaker:black
Speaker:or
Speaker:chestnut
Speaker:brown
Speaker:to
Speaker:set
Speaker:off
Speaker:against
Speaker:his
Speaker:golden
Speaker:scales,
Speaker:or
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:a
Speaker:soft
Speaker:blonde
Speaker:to
Speaker:match
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Perhaps
Speaker:another,
Speaker:less
Speaker:natural
Speaker:color –
Speaker:green,
Speaker:blue,
Speaker:or
Speaker:violet –
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:let
Speaker:fade
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:years
Speaker:passed
Speaker:by.
As
I
Speaker:stared,
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw him
Speaker:turn
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Speaker:In
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:moment
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:locked
Speaker:to
Speaker:mine.
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:seem
Speaker:to
Speaker:react
Speaker:much
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:overt
Speaker:stare.
Speaker:After
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:he
Speaker:smiled,
Speaker:the
Speaker:corners
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:causing
Speaker:his
Speaker:snout
Speaker:to
Speaker:crinkle
Speaker:around
Speaker:his
Speaker:nostrils.
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:him
Speaker:then,
Speaker:no
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:blushing
Speaker:hard. The
Speaker:sight
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:smile,
Speaker:and
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bright,
Speaker:yellow
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:had
Speaker:caused
Speaker:my
Speaker:stomach
Speaker:to
Speaker:flutter.
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:wrong
Speaker:with
Speaker:me?
Speaker:He
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:thirty
Speaker:years
Speaker:older
Speaker:than
Speaker:I
Speaker:was –
Speaker:probably
Speaker:more!
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:ashamed
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:body.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:afford
Speaker:a
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:custom
Speaker:job
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:had.
Speaker:Mine
Speaker:was ‘off
Speaker:the
Speaker:rack’
Speaker:so
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak.
Speaker:Lion,
Speaker:body
Speaker:type
Speaker:two (tall,
Speaker:mesomorph,
Speaker:golden
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:chestnut
Speaker:mane,
Speaker:masculine) –
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:identical
Speaker:to
Speaker:basically
Speaker:every
Speaker:other
Speaker:lion
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:see
Speaker:out
Speaker:on
Speaker:the street.
Speaker:The
Speaker:only
Speaker:thing
Speaker:distinguishing
Speaker:me
Speaker:from
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:shaved
Speaker:sides
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:mane,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:flop
Speaker:over
Speaker:my
Speaker:face.
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:it
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:look
Speaker:cool,
Speaker:but
Speaker:even
Speaker:that
Speaker:hairdo
Speaker:was
Speaker:common
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that
Speaker:whenever
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:someone
Speaker:else
Speaker:rocking
Speaker:it
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:stab
Speaker:of
Speaker:regret.
I
stared
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:jeans,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:put
Speaker:the
Speaker:sight
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:old
Speaker:man’s
Speaker:smile
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:never
Speaker:seen
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:like
Speaker:him
Speaker:before.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:need
Speaker:within
Speaker:me,
Speaker:suddenly.
Speaker:A
Speaker:hopeless
Speaker:need
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:necessarily
Speaker:put
Speaker:into
Speaker:words.
“Excuse
me,”
Speaker:came
Speaker:a
Speaker:soft
Speaker:voice,
Speaker:then,
Speaker:from
Speaker:above
Speaker:me,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:raised
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:to
Speaker:look.
Speaker:There,
Speaker:the
Speaker:braided
Speaker:beard
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:golden
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:dominated
Speaker:my
Speaker:vision.
Speaker:I
Speaker:raised
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:further
Speaker:and
Speaker:saw
Speaker:once
Speaker:again
Speaker:that
Speaker:smile,
Speaker:and
Speaker:those
Speaker:bright
Speaker:eyes, “May
Speaker:I
Speaker:sit
Speaker:here?”
“H-huh?”
I
Speaker:managed
Speaker:to
Speaker:stammer out.
Speaker:I
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:where
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:empty
Speaker:seat
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:aisle
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bus.
“May
I
Speaker:sit?”
I
turned
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:to
Speaker:where
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:sitting.
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:gotten
Speaker:up,
Speaker:walked
Speaker:over,
Speaker:his
Speaker:cane
Speaker:tapping
Speaker:with
Speaker:every
Speaker:step,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:long
Speaker:tail
Speaker:politely
Speaker:low
Speaker:to
Speaker:not
Speaker:bother
Speaker:other
Speaker:passengers,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:approached
Speaker:me.
Speaker:He
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:expectantly
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:me,
Speaker:and his
Speaker:smile
Speaker:grew
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:impatient,
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for
Speaker:an
Speaker:answer.
“Oh!”
I said,
Speaker:suddenly,
Speaker:his
Speaker:words finally
Speaker:registering, “Yeah!
Speaker:Yeah,
Speaker:fine.”
He
nodded,
Speaker:before
Speaker:reaching
Speaker:behind
Speaker:himself
Speaker:to
Speaker:gather
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:curling
Speaker:it
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:aisle
Speaker:so
Speaker:no
Speaker:one
Speaker:would
Speaker:trip
Speaker:over
Speaker:it.
Speaker:It
Speaker:brushed
Speaker:against
Speaker:me
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:did,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:crest
Speaker:of
Speaker:white
Speaker:fur
Speaker:running
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:upper
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:it,
Speaker:ending
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:leonine
Speaker:tuft
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:end.
Speaker:My
Speaker:own
Speaker:tail
Speaker:twitched
Speaker:by
Speaker:reflex,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:away,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:window,
Speaker:trying not
Speaker:to
Speaker:stare.
“Forgive
me
Speaker:for
Speaker:being
Speaker:forward,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:laying
Speaker:his
Speaker:cane
Speaker:across
Speaker:his
Speaker:lap, “It’s
Speaker:just
Speaker:us
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:bus
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:company.
Speaker:Max.”
I
turned
Speaker:back
Speaker:then,
Speaker:and
Speaker:saw
Speaker:his
Speaker:clawed
Speaker:hand
Speaker:offered
Speaker:to
Speaker:shake.
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:it
Speaker:without
Speaker:even
Speaker:meaning
Speaker:to.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:remotely
Speaker:in
Speaker:control
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:body,
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:panic
Speaker:come
Speaker:over
Speaker:me.
“S-Sal,”
I
Speaker:managed
Speaker:to
Speaker:say,
Speaker:introducing
Speaker:myself, “S-sorry
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t, uh,
Speaker:make
Speaker:much
Speaker:conversation.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:used
Speaker:to,
Speaker:uh…”
“Oh,
I
Speaker:figured,”
Speaker:Max
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:chuckle, “How
Speaker:many
Speaker:stops
Speaker:for
Speaker:you?”
“Uh,”
I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:before
Speaker:looking
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:again. “Probably
Speaker:around…
Speaker:seven?”
“Ah!
Good.
Speaker:You
Speaker:get
Speaker:off
Speaker:before
Speaker:me.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:talk
Speaker:for
Speaker:a while,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:pleased, “I
Speaker:like
Speaker:your
Speaker:hair.”
I
sat
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:straighter,
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:shooting
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:floppy
Speaker:side-shave
Speaker:to
Speaker:fiddle
Speaker:with
Speaker:it.
“Oh!
Uh.
Speaker:Thanks.”
“I’ve
seen
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:youngsters
Speaker:with
Speaker:it,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:nodding
Speaker:his
Speaker:head,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:touch
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:furry head, “I
Speaker:imagine
Speaker:I
Speaker:might
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:old
Speaker:to
Speaker:try
Speaker:it
Speaker:out.”
“Your
hair
Speaker:is
Speaker:already
Speaker:so
Speaker:beautiful,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:quickly, “You…
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean…”
It
dawned
Speaker:upon
Speaker:me
Speaker:what
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:said,
Speaker:and
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:glance in
Speaker:my
Speaker:direction,
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:my
Speaker:anxiety
Speaker:rise
Speaker:up.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:he
Speaker:never
Speaker:lost
Speaker:that
Speaker:wonderful,
Speaker:kindly
Speaker:smile.
“Thank
you,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:one
Speaker:claw
Speaker:winding
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:way
Speaker:around
Speaker:a
Speaker:tuft
Speaker:of
Speaker:silvery
Speaker:white
Speaker:hair, “It
Speaker:grows
Speaker:back
Speaker:thick.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:lucky.
Speaker:They
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:really
Speaker:accounting
Speaker:for
Speaker:age
Speaker:in
Speaker:mods
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:day.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:subject
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ravages
Speaker:of
Speaker:time
Speaker:ever
Speaker:since.”
“It’s,
uh,
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:look
Speaker:for
Speaker:you,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said, “Suits
Speaker:you.”
“Age,
you mean?”
Speaker:Max
Speaker:answered,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:sly
Speaker:smirk.
“Er…
I
Speaker:mean…
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t…
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t…”
I
was
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:deep,
Speaker:resonant
Speaker:laugh.
Speaker:He
Speaker:slapped
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail
Speaker:like
Speaker:someone
Speaker:else
Speaker:might
Speaker:slap
Speaker:their
Speaker:leg.
“Just
teasing
Speaker:you,
Speaker:young
Speaker:man,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:himself, “Or
Speaker:rather…
Speaker:I
Speaker:shouldn’t
Speaker:assume
Speaker:just
Speaker:because
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:mane.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:gotten
Speaker:in
Speaker:trouble
Speaker:for
Speaker:that
Speaker:before.”
“Man,
yeah,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:insisted,
Speaker:quickly, “One
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:reasons
Speaker:I
Speaker:picked
Speaker:this
Speaker:body
Speaker:out.”
“Oh?”
“Sal
used
Speaker:to
Speaker:stand for...
Speaker:something
Speaker:else,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered, “I
Speaker:went
Speaker:by
Speaker:Sal
Speaker:growing
Speaker:up
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:hated
Speaker:my
Speaker:old
Speaker:name.”
“Is
it
Speaker:short
Speaker:for
Speaker:something
Speaker:now?
Speaker:Or
Speaker:are
Speaker:you
Speaker:just ‘Sal?’”
I
hesitated. “Promise
Speaker:you
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:laugh?”
I
could
Speaker:tell
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:verge
Speaker:of
Speaker:laughing
Speaker:already,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:claw to his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:and
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:a
Speaker:finger
Speaker:to
Speaker:it,
Speaker:nodding,
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:full
Speaker:of
Speaker:good
Speaker:humor.
“Salisbury,”
I
Speaker:admitted,
Speaker:letting
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:smile
Speaker:show
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:shrugged.
He
was
Speaker:putting
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:effort.
Speaker:I
Speaker:appreciated
Speaker:that
Speaker:at
Speaker:least.
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:corners
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:rising
Speaker:up,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:managed
Speaker:to
Speaker:control
Speaker:himself
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:burst
Speaker:out
Speaker:laughing.
“Like
the
Speaker:steak?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked.
“Yeah,
kinda.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean…
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:people
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:calling
Speaker:me
Speaker:Sal.
Speaker:Lots
Speaker:of
Speaker:others
Speaker:change
Speaker:their
Speaker:name
Speaker:completely
Speaker:because
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:all
Speaker:tied
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:how
Speaker:much
Speaker:they
Speaker:hated
Speaker:their
Speaker:old
Speaker:lives
Speaker:or
Speaker:parents
Speaker:or
Speaker:whatever,
Speaker:but
Speaker:my
Speaker:mom
Speaker:named
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:she’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:big
Speaker:support
Speaker:through
Speaker:all
Speaker:this,
Speaker:so…
Speaker:it
Speaker:felt
Speaker:shitty to
Speaker:just
Speaker:overwrite
Speaker:that
Speaker:completely,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:name
Speaker:that
Speaker:started
Speaker:with
Speaker:Sal
Speaker:that
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:sound
Speaker:pretentious,
Speaker:so…”
“Did
you
Speaker:name
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:after
Speaker:what
Speaker:you
Speaker:had
Speaker:for
Speaker:dinner
Speaker:that
Speaker:day?”
I
paused,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:shrugged,
Speaker:no
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:shrinking
Speaker:myself
Speaker:down
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered, “Y-yeah.
Speaker:I
Speaker:like
Speaker:it.”
“I
like
Speaker:it
Speaker:too,
Speaker:young
Speaker:man,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:he
Speaker:emphasized
Speaker:the
Speaker:words
Speaker:made me
Speaker:blush, “I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:as
Speaker:adventurous
Speaker:as
Speaker:that.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:Max
Speaker:long
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon.”
“Dragon…
they
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:offer
Speaker:dragons
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:shelf.”
“Custom,”
he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:with
Speaker:some
Speaker:pride,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:touch
Speaker:his
Speaker:face, “Technically
Speaker:speaking
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:komodo
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:chassis,
Speaker:with
Speaker:custom
Speaker:pigmentation.
Speaker:The
Speaker:mane is
Speaker:horsehair, and
Speaker:there are
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:other
Speaker:tweaks
Speaker:here
Speaker:and
Speaker:there.
Speaker:The
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:and
Speaker:digestive
Speaker:tract
Speaker:are
Speaker:mostly
Speaker:omnivorous.
Speaker:Bear, I
Speaker:think?
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:carnivore
Speaker:for
Speaker:a while
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:younger
Speaker:but
Speaker:that
Speaker:gets
Speaker:expensive,
Speaker:and
Speaker:gout
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:real
Speaker:possibility
Speaker:later
Speaker:in
Speaker:life.”
As
if
Speaker:to
Speaker:demonstrate,
Speaker:he
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:back
Speaker:his
Speaker:lips
Speaker:to
Speaker:show
Speaker:off
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth.
Speaker:They
Speaker:looked
Speaker:almost
Speaker:human,
Speaker:with
Speaker:blunt
Speaker:molars
Speaker:and
Speaker:sharper
Speaker:canines
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:front,
Speaker:although
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:were
Speaker:very
Speaker:large
Speaker:and
Speaker:imposing.
Speaker:Of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:a lion.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:comfortable
Speaker:with
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:teeth.
“Wow,”
I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:remember
Speaker:any
Speaker:details
Speaker:about
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:body, “I’m
Speaker:just…
Speaker:a
Speaker:lion.
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:most
Speaker:off-the-shelf
Speaker:models
Speaker:have
Speaker:basically
Speaker:human
Speaker:digestion
Speaker:and
Speaker:teeth.
Speaker:I
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:thought
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.”
“Makes
sense.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:jealous.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:in
Speaker:over
Speaker:and
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:just
Speaker:right,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said, “Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:sweat?”
“E-excuse
me?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:snapping
Speaker:towards
Speaker:him.
“Sweat,”
he
Speaker:said, “I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:some
Speaker:folks
Speaker:early
Speaker:on
Speaker:who
Speaker:went
Speaker:mammal
Speaker:and
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:deal
Speaker:with
Speaker:panting
Speaker:to
Speaker:cool
Speaker:off.
Speaker:Seemed
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:trouble.
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:sweat
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:year
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:half,
Speaker:years
Speaker:and
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago.
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:I
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:miss
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:spending
Speaker:a
Speaker:year
Speaker:cold
Speaker:blooded
Speaker:was
Speaker:miserable.
Speaker:Either
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:too
Speaker:cold
Speaker:and
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:practically
Speaker:a
Speaker:narcoleptic
Speaker:or it’s
Speaker:hot
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:doctor
Speaker:says
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:spend
Speaker:an
Speaker:hour
Speaker:a
Speaker:day
Speaker:lying in
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:warm
Speaker:rock.
Speaker:Raised
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:temp,
Speaker:put
Speaker:sweat
Speaker:glands
Speaker:back
Speaker:in,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:year
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:right
Speaker:as
Speaker:rain.
Speaker:Never
Speaker:complained
Speaker:about
Speaker:getting
Speaker:sweaty
Speaker:again.”
“I…
I
Speaker:sweat,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said, “Pre-fab
Speaker:models
Speaker:have
Speaker:baseline
Speaker:human
Speaker:abilities
Speaker:unless
Speaker:you
Speaker:order
Speaker:something
Speaker:different.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:a
Speaker:friend
Speaker:who’s
Speaker:cold-blooded.
Speaker:She
Speaker:loves
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:then
Speaker:again
Speaker:she
Speaker:works
Speaker:outside
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Lots
Speaker:of
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:bask while
Speaker:working,
Speaker:and
Speaker:winters here
Speaker:aren’t
Speaker:so
Speaker:bad.”
Max
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:muttered, “It’s
Speaker:come
Speaker:a long
Speaker:way
Speaker:since
Speaker:I
Speaker:was a
Speaker:kid.”
“How
old
Speaker:were
Speaker:you?”
“Twenty,
when I first made the switch,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said, “You?”
“Just…
just
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:months
Speaker:ago.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:twenty-four
Speaker:now.”
“Congratulations!”
“Sometimes
I
Speaker:feel
Speaker:a
Speaker:little…
Speaker:weird
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Like
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:perfect
Speaker:fit
Speaker:yet,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:paws, “I
Speaker:wonder
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:made
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:choice.”
“Are
you
Speaker:still
Speaker:under
Speaker:warranty?”
“I…
am,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:only
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:chances
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:it
Speaker:right
Speaker:before
Speaker:they
Speaker:cut
Speaker:me
Speaker:off,
Speaker:and
Speaker:even
Speaker:then
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:service
Speaker:charge
Speaker:for
Speaker:going
Speaker:in.
Speaker:From
Speaker:then
Speaker:on,
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:all
Speaker:post-market
Speaker:mods
Speaker:and…
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:a
Speaker:little…
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:about
Speaker:that.”
“Oh?
I’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:using
Speaker:post-market
Speaker:parts
Speaker:for
Speaker:years.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:safe
Speaker:enough
Speaker:as
Speaker:long
Speaker:as
Speaker:you
Speaker:find
Speaker:a modder
Speaker:you
Speaker:trust,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Max.
“Expensive,
though, and
Speaker:what
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:like
Speaker:them
Speaker:either?
Speaker:What if…
Speaker:what
Speaker:if
Speaker:there
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:a
Speaker:body
Speaker:for
Speaker:me?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:voice
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:buried
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time.
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:it
Speaker:about
Speaker:this
Speaker:old
Speaker:man
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:allowing
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:so
Speaker:freely? “What
Speaker:if
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind
Speaker:isn’t…
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:compatible?”
“Compatible…
well,
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:it
Speaker:took
Speaker:me
Speaker:a while
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:right,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Max,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:claws, “Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:like
Speaker:being
Speaker:a
Speaker:lion?”
“I…
I
Speaker:do!
Speaker:Only…”
I
hesitated,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Max,
Speaker:ever
Speaker:curious,
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:towards
Speaker:me,
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for my
Speaker:answer.
Speaker:I blushed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:handsome
Speaker:face
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon.
“Well,
I
Speaker:mean,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered, “It’s…
Speaker:a
Speaker:pre-fab
Speaker:model.
Speaker:I
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:every
Speaker:other
Speaker:lion
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:street.
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:stereotypes
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:really
Speaker:like
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.”
“I
must
Speaker:admit
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:first
Speaker:saw
Speaker:you
Speaker:I
Speaker:might
Speaker:have
Speaker:generalized,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Max, “But
Speaker:then
Speaker:the
Speaker:haircut
Speaker:gave
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:different
Speaker:idea.”
“I
went
Speaker:hypermasc
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted…
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:recognizable
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:man
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:life,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:worked,
Speaker:but…
Speaker:well,
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:met
Speaker:other
Speaker:lions,
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:tend
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:kinda…
Speaker:toxic.
Speaker:Dudes
Speaker:insecure
Speaker:about
Speaker:their
Speaker:masculinity,
Speaker:so
Speaker:they
Speaker:cranked
Speaker:it
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:mane
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:muscles.
Speaker:I
Speaker:realized
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:doing
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:thing.”
“Well,
let
Speaker:me
Speaker:rephrase
Speaker:the
Speaker:question
Speaker:then,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said, “What
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:like
Speaker:about
Speaker:your
Speaker:body
Speaker:now?”
I
thought
Speaker:hard
Speaker:about
Speaker:it,
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:paws.
Speaker:I
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:flexed
Speaker:my
Speaker:fingers,
Speaker:letting
Speaker:my
Speaker:black
Speaker:claws
Speaker:extend
Speaker:out
Speaker:through
Speaker:my
Speaker:fingertips.
Speaker:I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:pink
Speaker:pawpads,
Speaker:and
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:my
Speaker:head.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:I
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:fiddled
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:mane.
“I
like
Speaker:most
Speaker:everything,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said, “Maybe
Speaker:I
Speaker:wish
Speaker:the
Speaker:face
Speaker:was
Speaker:different.
Speaker:It
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:look
Speaker:like…
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:try
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:custom
Speaker:skull
Speaker:sculpt
Speaker:done!”
Max
nodded,
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:wide.
“And,”
I
Speaker:continued,
Speaker:getting
Speaker:carried
Speaker:away
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:reached
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:gathered
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail, “I’m
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:disappointed
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:tail.
Speaker:It
Speaker:could
Speaker:be…
Speaker:cooler.”
“Cooler?”
“I
mean,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:an
Speaker:extra
Speaker:limb,
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:something
Speaker:with
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Maybe…
Speaker:segmented? Or
Speaker:prehensile?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered,
Speaker:imagining
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:with
Speaker:something
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:thicker. I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over at
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:tail,
Speaker:realizing
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:somewhat
Speaker:jealous
Speaker:of
Speaker:it, “Something
Speaker:like
Speaker:yours.”
“Mine’s
not
Speaker:prehensile, I’m afraid.”
“I know,
but
Speaker:it’s…
Speaker:thick!
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:got
Speaker:character,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:towards
Speaker:him.
Speaker:I
Speaker:reached
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail
Speaker:then, but
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:myself,
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:hovering
Speaker:mid-reach.
Speaker:I
Speaker:realized
Speaker:what it was
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:do. “M-may
Speaker:I…?”
“Certainly,”
he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:low
Speaker:and,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:mistaken,
Speaker:seductive.
Speaker:I
Speaker:blushed
Speaker:further,
Speaker:and
Speaker:finally
Speaker:let
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:rest
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:golden
Speaker:scales.
Speaker:They were
Speaker:warm –
Speaker:very
Speaker:warm!
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:tell
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:temp
Speaker:ran
Speaker:hot
Speaker:compared
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:human,
Speaker:perhaps
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:compensation
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:body’s
Speaker:other
Speaker:functions.
Speaker:His
Speaker:scales
Speaker:were
Speaker:smooth,
Speaker:and
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:along
Speaker:them,
Speaker:he
Speaker:moved
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail
Speaker:slightly,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:them
Speaker:contract
Speaker:and
Speaker:flex.
“Wow…”
I
Speaker:muttered.
“That
nice,
Speaker:huh?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked, “I
Speaker:take
Speaker:good
Speaker:care
Speaker:of this
Speaker:body.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:one
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:interested
Speaker:in
Speaker:body-hopping
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:young
Speaker:like
Speaker:some
Speaker:people.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:happy
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:my
Speaker:age,
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:until
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:too
Speaker:decrepit
Speaker:to
Speaker:function.”
“I’m
glad,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:admiring
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:the
Speaker:sunlight
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:bounced
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:shining
Speaker:gold
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:scaly
Speaker:hide, “You’re…
Speaker:really
Speaker:cool.”
Just
the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:embarrassment
Speaker:came
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:old
Speaker:man
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:took
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:compliment –
Speaker:a
Speaker:happy
Speaker:bashfulness.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wore
Speaker:oddly
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:face
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:majestic
Speaker:looking
Speaker:gentleman,
Speaker:but
Speaker:that
Speaker:in
Speaker:itself
Speaker:was
Speaker:nice.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:still,
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:way,
Speaker:a
Speaker:person
Speaker:like
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:else.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:he
Speaker:got
Speaker:embarrassed
Speaker:sometimes
Speaker:by
Speaker:an
Speaker:intimate
Speaker:compliment.
“Thank
you,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said, “So,
Speaker:a
Speaker:thick tail
Speaker:like
Speaker:mine?”
“Maybe
one
Speaker:that
Speaker:does
Speaker:something,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:back, “I
Speaker:wonder…”
“Yes?”
“Did
you
Speaker:ever
Speaker:try
Speaker:having
Speaker:wings?
Speaker:Or
Speaker:horns?”
He
laughed
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:and
Speaker:shrugged, “Wings,
Speaker:yes,
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while.
Speaker:Awfully
Speaker:inconvenient,
Speaker:and
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:build
Speaker:up
Speaker:your
Speaker:skeleton
Speaker:right
Speaker:you
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:fly
Speaker:with
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Look
Speaker:fantastic,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:but
Speaker:more
Speaker:trouble
Speaker:than
Speaker:they’re
Speaker:worth
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:opinion.
Speaker:As
Speaker:for
Speaker:horns,
Speaker:well…”
With
that,
Speaker:he
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:white
Speaker:mane
Speaker:and
Speaker:parted
Speaker:the
Speaker:hair
Speaker:slightly.
Speaker:There,
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:a
Speaker:set
Speaker:of
Speaker:short,
Speaker:curled
Speaker:horns
Speaker:which
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:hidden
Speaker:among
Speaker:his
Speaker:mane.
“Goat,
mostly,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:explained,
Speaker:before
Speaker:knocking
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:head, “Thick
Speaker:skull
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:bonus.
Speaker:Once
Speaker:again,
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:trouble
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:careful
Speaker:with
Speaker:them,
Speaker:but
Speaker:much
Speaker:more
Speaker:manageable
Speaker:than
Speaker:wings.”
A
stab
Speaker:of
Speaker:envy
Speaker:ran
Speaker:through
Speaker:me
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:framed
Speaker:by
Speaker:those
Speaker:newly
Speaker:unveiled
Speaker:horns.
Speaker:The
Speaker:way
Speaker:they
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:thick
Speaker:mane
Speaker:struck
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Horns.
“I
could
Speaker:have
Speaker:horns,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered, “that
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:cool.”
“Sounds
like
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:planning
Speaker:to
Speaker:turn
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:chimera,
Speaker:rather
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:lion,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:smirk.
“Have…
have
Speaker:you
Speaker:ever
Speaker:seen
Speaker:a chimera
Speaker:before?”
“Sort
of.
Speaker:Rare
Speaker:though.
Speaker:Lots of
Speaker:modding
Speaker:ahead
Speaker:for
Speaker:you
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:go
Speaker:that
Speaker:route.
Speaker:Face,
Speaker:tail,
Speaker:horns…”
“As
if
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:ever
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:afford
Speaker:it,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:sigh
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:slouched
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:seat, “It
Speaker:took
Speaker:all
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:this
Speaker:much,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:pre-fab
Speaker:dealer
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:really
Speaker:work
Speaker:with
Speaker:outrageous
Speaker:mods
Speaker:like
Speaker:that.”
“The
one
Speaker:thing
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:got,
Speaker:young
Speaker:man,
Speaker:is
Speaker:time,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:said,
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face, “I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:come
Speaker:out
Speaker:looking
Speaker:like
Speaker:this
Speaker:first
Speaker:try,
Speaker:y’know?
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:reinvent
Speaker:myself
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:times.”
“Yeah…
Yeah,
Speaker:I
Speaker:get
Speaker:it.”
There
was
Speaker:a
Speaker:lull
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:conversation then
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ceiling,
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:imagining
Speaker:myself
Speaker:with
Speaker:horns,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:long,
Speaker:prehensile
Speaker:tail –
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:reptilian
Speaker:like
Speaker:his!
Speaker:Could
Speaker:you
Speaker:mix
Speaker:mammal
Speaker:and
Speaker:reptile
Speaker:mods?
Speaker:Weird.
Speaker:I
Speaker:liked
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:people
Speaker:would
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:weird.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:so,
Speaker:that
Speaker:person
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind’s
Speaker:eye
Speaker:was,
Speaker:if
Speaker:not
Speaker:me,
Speaker:then
Speaker:closer
Speaker:to
Speaker:who
Speaker:I
Speaker:was,
Speaker:and
Speaker:who
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
Speaker:Max
Speaker:was
Speaker:right.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:time.
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:started
Speaker:the
Speaker:journey,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:my
Speaker:new
Speaker:body,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:how
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:that
Speaker:body
Speaker:to
Speaker:look.
However,
as
Speaker:we
Speaker:sat,
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:hiss
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bus’
Speaker:brakes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up. There,
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:my
Speaker:stop
Speaker:passing
Speaker:us
Speaker:right
Speaker:on
Speaker:by.
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:forgotten
Speaker:to
Speaker:ring
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:stop.
“Shit!”
I
Speaker:cried,
Speaker:reaching
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:pull
Speaker:the
Speaker:yellow
Speaker:cord, “I
Speaker:missed
Speaker:it!”
“Sorry
about
Speaker:that,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Max,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:sheepish, “I
Speaker:lost
Speaker:count
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:stops.
Speaker:Are
Speaker:you
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:hurry?”
“I
mean…
Speaker:no,
Speaker:not
Speaker:really,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered, “But
Speaker:still,
Speaker:the
Speaker:next stop
Speaker:is
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:downtown.”
“Well,
it
Speaker:just
Speaker:so
Speaker:happens,”
Speaker:Max
Speaker:lilted,
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:towards
Speaker:me, “I
Speaker:live
Speaker:downtown.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wonder
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:interested
Speaker:in
Speaker:coming up
Speaker:to
Speaker:share
Speaker:a
Speaker:cup
Speaker:of
Speaker:tea,
Speaker:or
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:a
Speaker:drink
Speaker:of
Speaker:something
Speaker:harder
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:prefer.”
I
turned,
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:wide,
Speaker:staring hard
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:was
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:wide,
Speaker:now,
Speaker:the
Speaker:long
Speaker:canines
Speaker:hanging
Speaker:down
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:lower
Speaker:lip,
Speaker:making
Speaker:him
Speaker:look
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:more
Speaker:predatory
Speaker:than
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:before,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:ever
Speaker:lost
Speaker:that
Speaker:kind,
Speaker:impish
Speaker:twinkle
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:eye.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:but
Speaker:smile
Speaker:myself,
Speaker:realizing
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:suggesting.
“Oh,”
was
Speaker:all I
Speaker:managed.
“I
admit
Speaker:I
Speaker:came
Speaker:over
Speaker:for…
Speaker:less
Speaker:than
Speaker:wholesome
Speaker:reasons,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said, “I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:you
Speaker:staring.
Speaker:I
Speaker:figured
Speaker:you
Speaker:might
Speaker:be
Speaker:open-minded.
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:more
Speaker:correct
Speaker:than
Speaker:I
Speaker:supposed.”
“I’d…
love
Speaker:to,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:stammered, “H-have
Speaker:some
Speaker:tea,
Speaker:that
Speaker:is.”
--
Max’s
place
Speaker:was
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:third
Speaker:floor
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:old
Speaker:brick
Speaker:apartment
Speaker:building
Speaker:that
Speaker:said ‘hotel’
Speaker:out front,
Speaker:likely
Speaker:because
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:been one
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:past.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:walked
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:slight
Speaker:limp,
Speaker:aided
Speaker:by
Speaker:that
Speaker:cane,
Speaker:but
Speaker:despite
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:climbed
Speaker:dutifully
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:stairs.
Speaker:I
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:that
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:elevator,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:said
Speaker:nothing,
Speaker:merely
Speaker:following
Speaker:after
Speaker:him,
Speaker:figuring
Speaker:this
Speaker:was
Speaker:likely
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:routine.
Speaker:He
Speaker:dug
Speaker:his
Speaker:keys
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:leather
Speaker:jacket
Speaker:and
Speaker:smoothly
Speaker:unlocked
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,
Speaker:before
Speaker:turning
Speaker:towards
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:gesturing
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:enter.
The
apartment
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:like
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Clean.
Speaker:In
Speaker:the
Speaker:warm
Speaker:summer,
Speaker:the
Speaker:halls
Speaker:were
Speaker:little
Speaker:stuffy,
Speaker:but
Speaker:as
Speaker:soon
Speaker:as
Speaker:we
Speaker:walked
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:apartment
Speaker:proper,
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:cool
Speaker:off
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:far
Speaker:more
Speaker:comfortable
Speaker:temperature.
Speaker:I
Speaker:walked
Speaker:in
Speaker:and,
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:low
Speaker:shelf
Speaker:for
Speaker:shoes,
Speaker:hurried
Speaker:to
Speaker:kick
Speaker:my
Speaker:sneakers
Speaker:off
Speaker:to
Speaker:put
Speaker:them
Speaker:away.
Speaker:Max
Speaker:closed
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:behind
Speaker:us,
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:little
Speaker:shelf,
Speaker:and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:off
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:shoes,
Speaker:revealing
Speaker:bare,
Speaker:golden
Speaker:claws.
“Ahh,
much
Speaker:better,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:wiggling
Speaker:his
Speaker:claws
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:stood
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:grunt
Speaker:and
Speaker:walked
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:hall
Speaker:towards
Speaker:a
Speaker:larger
Speaker:living
Speaker:room, “I’ll
Speaker:start
Speaker:to
Speaker:warm
Speaker:up
Speaker:some
Speaker:water
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:tea.
Speaker:If
Speaker:you
Speaker:like
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:some
Speaker:whiskey
Speaker:too, or gin.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:make
Speaker:you
Speaker:something
Speaker:cold.”
I
followed
Speaker:him,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:did.
Speaker:A
Speaker:drink
Speaker:did
Speaker:sound
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:nice. “If
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:offering,
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:just…
Speaker:have
Speaker:what
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:having?”
He
smiled,
Speaker:gave
Speaker:a
Speaker:wink,
Speaker:and
Speaker:said, “Good
Speaker:man,”
Speaker:before
Speaker:puttering
Speaker:off
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:side.
Speaker:I
Speaker:followed
Speaker:along
Speaker:and
Speaker:found
Speaker:myself
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:wide
Speaker:living
Speaker:room
Speaker:with
Speaker:bright
Speaker:green
Speaker:walls.
Speaker:The
Speaker:walls
Speaker:were
Speaker:lined
Speaker:with
Speaker:antiques –
Speaker:vases,
Speaker:figurines,
Speaker:lamps,
Speaker:cabinets
Speaker:full
Speaker:of
Speaker:little
Speaker:glass
Speaker:animals –
Speaker:and
Speaker:there
Speaker:were
Speaker:framed
Speaker:photographs
Speaker:on
Speaker:every
Speaker:available
Speaker:space.
Speaker:Most
Speaker:were
Speaker:of
Speaker:landscapes,
Speaker:or
Speaker:people
Speaker:who
Speaker:were
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:friends,
Speaker:but
Speaker:one
Speaker:prominent
Speaker:photo,
Speaker:blown
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:set
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:of
Speaker:honor
Speaker:above
Speaker:a faux
Speaker:fireplace,
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:tasteful
Speaker:nude
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:host,
Speaker:lying
Speaker:upon
Speaker:a
Speaker:hammock
Speaker:lit
Speaker:by
Speaker:natural
Speaker:sunlight.
When
I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:photo
Speaker:of
Speaker:Max,
Speaker:naked,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hardly
Speaker:believe
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:seeing.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:younger
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:photo,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:by
Speaker:much.
Speaker:There
Speaker:were
Speaker:deeper
Speaker:streaks
Speaker:of
Speaker:grey
Speaker:and
Speaker:brown
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:beard
Speaker:and
Speaker:mane,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:figure
Speaker:was
Speaker:perhaps
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:more
Speaker:filled
Speaker:out,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:twinkling
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:pleasant
Speaker:smile
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Speaker:I
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:body –
Speaker:gold
Speaker:all
Speaker:over,
Speaker:except
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:soft
Speaker:cream-colored
Speaker:belly
Speaker:scales
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:covered
Speaker:up
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:man’s
Speaker:clothes.
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:the
Speaker:man
Speaker:had
Speaker:tucked
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:crotch
Speaker:so
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:photo
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:pornographic,
Speaker:but
Speaker:upon
Speaker:closer
Speaker:inspection
Speaker:I
Speaker:realized
Speaker:that
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:shaft
Speaker:and
Speaker:balls,
Speaker:he
Speaker:instead
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:slit –
Speaker:not
Speaker:quite
Speaker:a vulva,
Speaker:but
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:rack.
“Like
it?”
I
jumped,
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:sticking
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:once
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:stare
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:old
Speaker:man,
Speaker:who
Speaker:was
Speaker:carrying
Speaker:two
Speaker:glasses
Speaker:of
Speaker:clear,
Speaker:carbonated
Speaker:liquid
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:lime
Speaker:wedge
Speaker:floating
Speaker:in
Speaker:each,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:cane
Speaker:hooked
Speaker:around
Speaker:one
Speaker:arm
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:walked
Speaker:with
Speaker:more
Speaker:care.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:a
Speaker:cocky
Speaker:smile.
Speaker:Feeling
Speaker:almost
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:doing
Speaker:something
Speaker:wrong,
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:answer,
Speaker:but
Speaker:all
Speaker:that
Speaker:came
Speaker:out
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:bashful
Speaker:stammer.
In
answer,
Speaker:he
Speaker:only
Speaker:laughed,
Speaker:offering
Speaker:the
Speaker:glass
Speaker:forward.
Speaker:I
Speaker:took it,
Speaker:the
Speaker:coolness
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:glass
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:pawpads
Speaker:calming
Speaker:me
Speaker:somewhat. He
Speaker:then
Speaker:took
Speaker:his
Speaker:cane
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand
Speaker:and
Speaker:walked
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:fireplace
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:himself.
“I
like
Speaker:photography,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:explained, “Most
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pictures
Speaker:around
Speaker:here
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:myself.
Speaker:This
Speaker:one,
Speaker:though,
Speaker:a
Speaker:friend
Speaker:took
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.”
“A…
friend?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:chanced
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile, “Or
Speaker:a
Speaker:friend?”
“Does
it
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:one
Speaker:or
Speaker:the
Speaker:other?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:annoyed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:question, “I
Speaker:hope
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:be
Speaker:my
Speaker:friend
Speaker:after
Speaker:everything
Speaker:is
Speaker:said
Speaker:and
Speaker:done,
Speaker:y’know?”
“To
be
Speaker:fair,
Speaker:I,
Speaker:er,
Speaker:I
Speaker:hardly
Speaker:know
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Max,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:drink,
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:suspicious
Speaker:of
Speaker:it, “It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:reckless
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:up
Speaker:here.”
He
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:glance
Speaker:at
Speaker:me,
Speaker:brows
Speaker:raised,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:drink
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:glass,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:put
Speaker:it
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:mantelpiece.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:he
Speaker:walked
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:his
Speaker:claws
Speaker:and
Speaker:cane
Speaker:alternating
Speaker:their
Speaker:clicks
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:hardwood
Speaker:floor,
Speaker:and
Speaker:reached
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:drink.
Speaker:I
Speaker:gave
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he,
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:surprise,
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:sip
Speaker:from
Speaker:it,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:sighed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:taste
Speaker:and
Speaker:gave
Speaker:it
Speaker:back.
“There,”
he
Speaker:said, “If
Speaker:I
Speaker:dosed
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:something,
Speaker:we’ll
Speaker:both
Speaker:be
Speaker:asleep
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:do
Speaker:something
Speaker:to
Speaker:you.”
I
had
Speaker:to
Speaker:laugh,
Speaker:a
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:laugh,
Speaker:but
Speaker:still,
Speaker:a
Speaker:laugh
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:same.
Speaker:Deciding
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:brave,
Speaker:I
Speaker:raised
Speaker:the
Speaker:glass
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:lips –
Speaker:touching
Speaker:the
Speaker:place
Speaker:where
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:lips
Speaker:had
Speaker:touched
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:own,
Speaker:I
Speaker:realized –
Speaker:and
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:tip.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:astringent,
Speaker:dry
Speaker:flavor,
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:citrus
Speaker:tang
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:lime.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:bitter,
Speaker:but
Speaker:good.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:one
Speaker:for
Speaker:gin,
Speaker:normally,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:nice
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:know
Speaker:this
Speaker:man a
Speaker:little
Speaker:better,
Speaker:even
Speaker:if
Speaker:just
Speaker:through
Speaker:his
Speaker:preferred
Speaker:drink.
Retrieving
his
Speaker:own
Speaker:glass
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:mantel,
Speaker:he
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:cane
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:couch,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:walked
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:at
Speaker:once.
Speaker:I
Speaker:put
Speaker:my
Speaker:glass
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:and
Speaker:took
Speaker:off
Speaker:my
Speaker:jacket,
Speaker:draping
Speaker:it
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:couch.
Speaker:A
Speaker:moment
Speaker:later,
Speaker:he
Speaker:picked
Speaker:it
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:spoke
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:bring
Speaker:it
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:nearby
Speaker:closet
Speaker:to
Speaker:hang
Speaker:up.
“Have
you
Speaker:ever
Speaker:done
Speaker:anything
Speaker:like
Speaker:this
Speaker:before?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:took
Speaker:down
Speaker:a
Speaker:coat
Speaker:hanger.
“N-not
really,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered, “Not since
Speaker:I
Speaker:got
Speaker:my
Speaker:new
Speaker:body.”
“Have
you
Speaker:experimented
Speaker:with
Speaker:it
Speaker:much?”
I
looked
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:closet
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:finished
Speaker:hanging
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:coat,
Speaker:and
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:turned
Speaker:I
Speaker:caught
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:I
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:blushing,
Speaker:for
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:exceedingly
Speaker:smug.
“I
mean,
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:this,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:gesturing
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:thin,
Speaker:reptilian
Speaker:self, “I
Speaker:can
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:tricks
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:me
Speaker:feel
Speaker:good.
Speaker:How
Speaker:about
Speaker:you?”
“I-It’s a, er,
penis.”
“That
simplifies
Speaker:things,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:dealbreaker
Speaker:otherwise.”
“I’m
not
Speaker:really
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:it.”
“Well,
lets
Speaker:sit
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while
Speaker:first,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Max,
Speaker:gently,
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:walked
Speaker:over,
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:his
Speaker:cane
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:table,
Speaker:and
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:grunt
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:me.
Speaker:He
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:drink
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:gin,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:back,
Speaker:relaxing.
Speaker:As
Speaker:he
Speaker:did,
Speaker:he
Speaker:raised
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm
Speaker:to
Speaker:drape
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:couch
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me. “We
Speaker:can
Speaker:go
Speaker:slow.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:some
Speaker:questions.”
He
gave
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick
Speaker:glance
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:nude
Speaker:portrait
Speaker:of
Speaker:himself,
Speaker:which
Speaker:we
Speaker:could
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:see
Speaker:from
Speaker:where
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:sitting.
Speaker:I
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:it
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:my
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:going
Speaker:dry.
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:drink
Speaker:then,
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:courage,
Speaker:and
Speaker:found
Speaker:it
Speaker:just
Speaker:in
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:ask
Speaker:the
Speaker:question.
“Are
you…?
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:have…?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:gesturing
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:portrait, “Is
Speaker:that
Speaker:a…?”
“Komodo
dragon
Speaker:base,
Speaker:remember?
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:an ‘innie.’”
I
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:stare
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:portrait.
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:this
Speaker:way
Speaker:and
Speaker:that,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:another
Speaker:drink.
“Huh,”
I
Speaker:said.
“Problem?”
“No!
I…
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean…
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:expected.”
With
that,
Speaker:the
Speaker:old
Speaker:man
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:lean
Speaker:towards
Speaker:me,
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm
Speaker:sliding
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:couch
Speaker:and
Speaker:onto
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulders.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:myself
Speaker:beginning
Speaker:to
Speaker:relax.
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:safe
Speaker:with
Speaker:this
Speaker:man,
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:trust
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:teach
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:scooted
Speaker:myself
Speaker:closer
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:soon
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:side
Speaker:by
Speaker:side,
Speaker:our
Speaker:thighs
Speaker:touching
Speaker:softly.
Speaker:He
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:close,
Speaker:his
Speaker:snout
Speaker:settling
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:ear.
“It’s
versatile,
Speaker:you
Speaker:know?”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Max, “And
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:practice.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:top,
Speaker:or…”
He
reached
Speaker:over
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:other
Speaker:claw
Speaker:then,
Speaker:gently
Speaker:taking
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:paws
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:own.
Speaker:Gently,
Speaker:he
Speaker:guided
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:cup
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:crotch.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:mound
Speaker:there,
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:engorged
Speaker:from
Speaker:excitement,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:clear
Speaker:his ‘innie’
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:come
Speaker:out
Speaker:yet.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:like
Speaker:fondling
Speaker:the
Speaker:few
Speaker:girls
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:experimented
Speaker:with
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:transitioned,
Speaker:but
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:thing
Speaker:while
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:the
Speaker:sweet,
Speaker:bearded
Speaker:face
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:old
Speaker:man
Speaker:made
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:blood
Speaker:rush to
Speaker:my
Speaker:cock.
“I…
I’d
Speaker:like
Speaker:to
Speaker:try
Speaker:that,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:my
Speaker:voice
Speaker:quiet
Speaker:and
Speaker:low,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:afraid
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:saying.
“Delightful,”
he
Speaker:whispered
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:ear.
Speaker:Then,
Speaker:I
Speaker:gasped
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:a long,
Speaker:flicking
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:touch
Speaker:the
Speaker:inner
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:ear,
Speaker:making
Speaker:it
Speaker:twitch
Speaker:by
Speaker:reflex.
Speaker:My
Speaker:paw
Speaker:fondling
Speaker:the
Speaker:man
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:harder
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:crotch,
Speaker:while
Speaker:my
Speaker:other
Speaker:paw
Speaker:gripped
Speaker:onto
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:leg
Speaker:hard enough that
Speaker:if I wasn’t wearing my jeans, I would
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:afraid
Speaker:I’d draw
Speaker:blood.
This
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of “Salisbury”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Roscoe
Speaker:G.
Speaker:Beetle,
Speaker:read
Speaker:for you
Speaker:by
Speaker:BandanaDog,
Speaker:Unorthodox
Speaker:Spacetime
Speaker:Drifter.
Speaker:Tune
Speaker:in
Speaker:next
Speaker:time
Speaker:find
Speaker:out
Speaker:how
Speaker:Sal
Speaker:and
Speaker:Max
Speaker:will
Speaker:spend
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:evening
Speaker:together.
As
always,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Happy
Speaker:Pride,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
