An Actual Date

You walked arm-in-arm out the doors of the Arrival Center. Both of you were silent but giddy from the progress you had made today. You never thought the day would come that you would be leaving the AWIO as the sponsor of a monster girl. You glanced at Morgana to look at her expression. As always, she had the commanding confidence of a noble woman. Your awe of her nearly suffocated the nagging feelings of inadequacy you had standing next to someone so beautiful.

“Let’s walk home, Darling. I’m sure you will need some food and rest.”

You thought about it for a moment. While the slime woman could basically survive off your bodily fluids, you were feeling quite drained and hungry. With that in mind, you weren’t really feeling like heading straight home to your apartment yet. Not to mention there was scant food to eat in your house. You decided to do something different.

“Hey, Morgana. How would you feel about eating out somewhere tonight instead of going straight home? I mean, I’m dressed nicely from the interview and you always look amazing. How about we celebrate some more with a little date?”

Morgana’s body rippled with excitement. Her face beamed with a wide smile.

“I’d love to have dinner with you. What a great idea my little pet has had.” Her words were calm but her thoughts were not.

“Date?! A date with Jim?! A date like real lovers!!! The way he asked me was so manly! I love him so much! Love. Love. Love. Love. Afterwards…I’ll corner him in the apartment and…”

You shook your head as her flood of emotions and thoughts hit you. Her enthusiasm was cute, but the part about the apartment was a bit concerning. Well, that was a problem for future you to face.

“I know a place near here. It’s not anything crazy fancy, but the food is good. I know they’re monster girl friendly as well.” You then led Morgana down a nearby street.

The sun was getting low as you and Morgana reached the Italian restaurant several blocks from the Arrival Center. The place was small but beautiful with a nice brick front and trellises covered in ivy. The restaurant was divided between an outdoor patio area and an indoor dining area. A sign above the door read “Marianna’s” in a fancy cursive script. You opened the door for Morgana and guided her inside.

The inside of the restaurant was filled with the enticing smell of baked bread, herbs, and garlic. Seating was mostly private booths, which you thought was just perfect for some romantic time for the two of you. An older gentleman greeted you both by the door. He was dressed in a simple button up shirt and black pants. His hair was long and black with streaks of gray. It was all tied back in a slick ponytail.

“Bonjourno! Welcome to Marianna’s. Would you like indoor or out-” The man’s voice cut off. “Jim?! Jim is that you?! It’s been a long time, my boy!” The old man strode forward and clapped a massive hand onto your back.

“Oh hey, Anthony. Long time no see. How’s the family?” You had forgotten that you knew people here in your haste to do something fun with Morgana. Now, you were worried what kind of response you were going to get.

Anthony regarded you more closely before looking at Morgana up and down. His brown eyes and wrinkled face were difficult to read.

“Oh, they’re great. But who is this?! This isn’t Stephanie. Dongiovanni!” The old man let out a slight chuckle. He was obviously curious why you were not currently with the woman he remembered you being married to.

“Stephanie…Stephanie and I got divorced a little over half a year ago. This is my new partner, Morgana. Morgana, this is my friend Anthony. He and his wife own the restaurant.” You pleaded with Anthony through your gaze to drop the subject of your ex while simultaneously presenting Morgana with a proud puff of your chest. You did not want to sour the mood by talking about Stephanie.

“I see. I see. Well, now. Che peccato, but these things happen, yes? Besides, you seem to be doing well for yourself despite it all! Look at you, Morgana. Che bella che sei!” Anthony reached out with his bear-like hands and held Morgana’s in an affectionate grip.

“It’s nice to meet a friend of Jim’s, Anthony. Stephanie’s loss is my gain. He’s a fine man.” Morgana responded with her typical regal repose.

“Hahaha! Sono d’accordo! Indeed he is. Now, you’re here to enjoy yourselves, not talk to an old man. Let me show you to a table. Would you prefer to sit outside or inside?”

Before you could respond, Morgana took command.

“We would like to have a private booth, please. One with minimal foot traffic if possible. We are celebrating our first official day as partners. I’d hate for our…excitement…to disturb your other customers.” Morgana flashed Anthony a sly smile, which he returned with a wink.

“Of course. Oh, I like this one, Jim. She’s got some spirit!” Anthony guided the two of you to a secluded high-backed booth in a corner of the restaurant. You were handed menus and given a few moments to settle. You thought about what you wanted and ordered. Morgana simply got the same as you did. After Anthony had personally taken the order and the menus, you and Morgana sat staring at each other.

“So, is this where you bring all your women for dates, Darling?” Morgana inquired with a playful look and a raised eyebrow.

“I was just happy. When I thought of a place that made me happy that I could share with you, I just wound up here. Sorry if that threw things off. I don’t want to talk about Stephanie any more than you do. I promise.”

“You are allowed to talk to me about what troubles you, my love.”

You tried to be comforted by those words. There was just this nagging feeling that part of you was broken and would never be repaired. You felt like there would always be this part of you that worried that you would be abandoned again. One day, this beautiful woman with her sparkling pink eyes might leave you, and the next time you might not manage to survive it. Like it or not, your anxiety was getting the better of you. It had been less than a week, and Morgana had already become so important to you. The thought of losing her was already more than you thought you could handle.

Now that you were no longer harboring a fugitive, your relationship with this goddess was beginning to feel very real. Part of you wanted to scream the question why she chose you, but the other part just wanted to continue living this fantasy. Like, if you never talked about it, it wouldn’t happen.

Like always, Morgana sensed your emotions.

“Something on your mind, my pet?” Her passionate and loving gaze searched your blue eyes thoughtfully.

“I’m just…It’s just hitting me how good I feel being with you. I’m not sure exactly what I have to offer you, but I want to do my best to make you happy.” You didn’t mention the other thoughts that flooded the darker recesses of your mind. The thought that you wouldn’t be enough at some point. The thought that she had latched onto the first man she had encountered and would someday find someone better than you. The way Stephanie had.

As it all muddled in your mind, Morgana’s tendrils reached swiftly across the table to hold you in place. One took hold of your chin and lifted it up, preventing you from hiding.

“I will never do what she did, Jim. I may be a monster, but I am not that kind of monster. I will never put you through that. I was hungry when I met you, but that isn’t why we are together. There were other males in that building, but I wanted you. Call it fate or instinct or whatever you want, but I knew the moment I smelled you that you were going to be mine forever. Now that we are joined, I know everything about you. I know you better than you know yourself. I hear your thoughts, I’ve seen your memories, and I’ve tasted your desires. With all that knowledge, I still choose you. You are a good man. You are intelligent, kind, strong, and sexy. It will take a lot for you to upset me in this life, pet, but one thing that will surely guarantee my wrath is doubting yourself, me, or our love. Do you understand?”

Morgana looked into your eyes with a serious expression. You felt exposed and **** under her gaze. She could see through your insecurities everytime. It would be impossible to hide anything from this woman. You reached out consciously to hear her thoughts. You could hear her feelings through your connection raw and on display. Morgana made no effort to hide herself or her motives from you. She loved you to a degree that made you shiver. She was not lying to you. She couldn’t. You were hers and she was yours.

“What if…What if things change?” You couldn’t help but put your fear out in the open.

“Jim, I am a slime queen. We mate for life. We make whole kingdoms just for the one person we devote our entire beings to. As time goes on and our life changes, we will change together with it. We slimes are nothing if not adaptable. It doesn’t matter to me how your looks change or how our family grows. Trust me. Even going to another plane of existence wouldn’t be enough to keep me away. You are mine. We will be happy together. So, I will ask only one more time. Do you understand me, pet?”

You contemplated what Morgana said, wrestling your fears away. You needed to stop worrying and trust her. You’d never be able to move forward if you didn’t, and you knew that you didn’t want to remain as you were.

“Answer me, Jim.” Her voice commanded your response.

“Yes, Morgana. I understand. I’m sorry for doubting you…for doubting us.”

“Good boy.” She stated before standing up, walking to your side of the table, grabbing your chin roughly and firmly kissing your lips. Your saliva mixed with hers as you both slurped on each other’s tongues. She pulled away with a heavy smack of your lips.

“Now that that is out of the way. Let’s get you fed. You’ll need your strength for tonight. I have so many plans once we get home for how you will make up for trying to spoil our first date.”