Talking things out, mostly.

Stepping out of the tent into the crisp early morning, my newly improved senses flood my mind with fresh scents, sounds, and other stimuli. I take a moment to steady myself, breathing in a deep lungful of air through my nose, enjoying the smells of the forest. It's lighter out than I expected, a fact I chalk up to my newly improved vison until I hear a tentative, “Adam?”

My attention is drawn back over to the campfire next to which, and watching me with a hint of worry, is Lisa. I frown I slight confusion, recalling that Lisa was supposed to have last watch. ‘Just how long was I out?’ I hear the snap of a twig, the sound much louder than I’m expected or prepared for.

Startled, I sink into a combat stance (or at least what I think is a combat stance), spear in hand, only to find Lisa on her feet, her usual mask of passivity replaced with a look of concern. “Adam… are you ok?” I look at her sheepishly for a moment, before sighing, stowing my spear with a thought. I absentmindedly run my hand through my hair, then reply, “Honestly? I don’t know.”

Lisa had always been reserved, and truth be told, slightly intimidating to my younger self. We interacted at mealtimes, but rarely talked besides that. That had all changed one night a fair few years ago. Something had been worrying me, I can’t remember for the life of me what it was now, something small probably, but back then it felt like the end of the world. Unable to sleep, I had gone downstairs to get a drink, only to find Lisa in a similar predicament.

It hadn’t been long before we were both talking, sharing our insecurities and worries. We had talked throughout the night, still chatting away when Mum discovering us the next morning. She had torn us both a new one for staying up all night, but both Lisa and I could see that she was happy that we were finally getting along. Ever since then, we had always supported each other.

Whenever I had been stressed or lost, it’d always been Lisa who’d lent me her ear. I’d pour my heart out, telling her about my problems, problems that I was too afraid or too embarrassed to talk about with Mum. She was the perfect listener, someone who would listen without judgement, and had the knack to know when I just wanted to vent, or if I wanted advice and suggestions. In return I’d do the same for her, supporting her though her lowest moments, with advice, a hug, or sometimes just a shoulder to cry on.

My eyes meet hers, full of concern for me, and before I know it, I am sitting in a chair beside her, venting about the past couple of days. I speak on and on, about my worries and my fears, about both the good and the bad, and my hopes for the future. The longer I speak, the better I feel, it's as if a weight is being lifted off of my shoulders. As per usual, Lisa’s the perfect audience.

I stop for a moment, summoning some water from my inventory and taking a swig to wet my dry throat. ‘How long was I talking for?’ The Idle though is interrupted as Lisa asks, “and… and then what happened?” Her tone of voice is… strange, slightly off, almost eager? I glace up at her, only to find her watching me intently, her face slightly flushed, and her breathing a little heavier than it ought to be. Her eyes lock on mine, a smouldering intensity present that I’d never seen before.

The distinctly uncharacteristic look she’s giving me startles me out of whatever revery I’d been in. Suddenly worried, I run through the last few moments of our conversation whilst my mouth had been on autopilot. With a blooming sense of dread, I realise the topic had somehow shifted to last night, and I had been describing the feeling of Emily’s body pressed against mine in vivid detail.

I was so used to sharing everything with her; I had spoken without thinking. The cat was well and truly out of the bag now, and it was time to face the music. I focus on Lisa again, expecting to find a look of anger and disgust. Instead… ‘Is… is she nibbling on her bottom lip?’ My eyes move back to hers, and in a moment of clarity I realise that the smouldering I had seen wasn’t rage, as I had first feared. No, it was lust.

My newly upgraded memory kicks in, and a half-forgotten memory drags itself from the depths. It had been the night of my first and only house party back in London (whilst the Scottish countryside is really pretty, there’s a distinct lack of nightlife when you like miles away from the closest village). I had stumbled back home gone three in the morning, only to find Lisa still up and about. As things usually went, we got to talking.

It had been the same that night as it was right now, the same intense stare as she dragged out the story of the drunken make-out session with the girl who never told me her name. Lisa had left in a hurry after she dragged all the sordid details out of me, I now recalled, locking herself in her room. I had shrugged it off at the time, then promptly forgotten about the entire exchange. Until now, that is.

Staring back at her now, the seed of an idea formed. ‘Is… is she into this?’ I swallowed, debating my options for a moment. Whilst my mind had been working in overdrive, her expression had changed, her eyes showing the first flicker of doubt. She was putting her cards on the table just as much as I was, I realised. Exposing a side of herself that she had never revealed to me before now. ‘Fuck it.’

“And then she kissed me.” I say the words, almost in a whisper, and watch as her eyes widen. Entirely unprompted, I described the kiss. I told her how Em’s lips had felt against mine, described the taste of her lip gloss, explained the inner turmoil I had felt before finally giving into my lust, only for Emily to pull away, how I planned on getting my own back, to ambush Em with a kiss of my own.

Lisa’s eyes were wide as I spoke, but I could see the effect my words were having on her. Emboldened by the look she was giving me, I leaned forward, bringing our faces slightly closer together, then whispered "Seems someone quite likes the idea.” She visibly swallows, a look of concern crossing her face for a moment, a look that slowly fades as I stay put, simply looking into her eyes. I wasn’t like that disgrace of a human being, forcing the issue before she was comfortable, before she was ready.

I was content to wait. If she wanted this, she would come to me. Time stretched on, and with it went my self-assurance. ‘I read this correctly, right? Oh gods, I’ve made a massive tit of myself.’ She must see my internal panic, as she almost seems to relax. She smiles at me soothingly before she leans forward, her eyes drifting closed, and kisses me.

The kiss starts out pretty tame (you know, as far as incestual kisses are tame) with mouths closed, lips lightly brushing against lips. Then her arms wrap around me, drawing me closer to her as the kiss deepens. I feel her hand on the back of my head at the same time I feel her tongue press against my closed lips, requesting entry. I am more than happy to oblige.

I open my mouth, moaning slightly as her tongue finds mine. For a time, we are locked together, sharing intimacy never meant for brother and sister, but neither of us care, lost in the moment as we are. Slowly, the kiss comes to an end, both of us breathing heavily and red in the face. Lisa bites her bottom lip whilst looking round the campsite. Finding no-one, she darts in for another quick kiss on the lips, then gets to her feet.

Looking between the tents, her blush deepens, before she stutters, “T-t-t-t-t-that was really nice. I, errr… need a moment.” I rise to my feet too, suddenly nervous. ‘oh gods, have I ruined everything, haven’t I?’ She keeps looking between the tents, shifting from foot to foot as if uncomfortable, occasionally glancing back at me. Instead of the look of regret I am expecting, I get the impression she’s holding herself back. Things suddenly click, all the clues slotting into place. I open my mouth to say something, then close it again. What if I’m wrong? ‘I may have a way to confirm my suspicions…’ Focusing on Lisa, I activate Medical Scan.

I stare, incredulous at the Active H effect ‘Kitty needs a stroke’ and to my surprise, a handy tooltip pops up.

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Kitty needs a stroke: This woman really, really wants to masturbate.

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‘Oh, so I was right.’ Grinning wolfishly, I lean forward and whisper in Lisa’s ear. “If you 're quiet about it, Mum shouldn’t wake up… Probably.” My grin only grows as she practically jumps out of her skin, turning back to me with wide, embarrassed eyes. Slowly however, need overtakes propiety, and she whispers back, “Are you sure?”

I nod in response, and she smiles sheepishly back at me before planting another kiss on my lips. I have a thought, so before she can scurry off, I say, “Take this too, you know, for after you 're done.” She looks down at the Herbology and Alchemy primers I had given her in confusion, before visibly changing mental gears and looking back up at me, surprise clear on her face.

“You’re giving these to me?” I smile and nod before replying, “Yup, I know these sorts of things are definitely much more up your alley than they are mine. I was planning to give them to you last night, but got somewhat distracted, as you know.” She treats me to a genuine smile, looks around tentatively again, then dives towards me again for another kiss.

After a second, slightly shorter make-out sesh, we break apart again. The poor girl is practically panting at this point, so I wink at her, then say, “Go, I’ll finish your watch.” I look on with growing amusement as she scrambles towards the tent, looking back at me one last time with eyes full of lust before practically diving inside.

I smile widely. The thought that I turned on a woman so much that she simply had to masturbate acting as a colossal ego booster. My expression freezes, however, when a notification window opens, unbidden.

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AsSysCu006: Why d'ya do that?

0----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0

I stare at the message, a myriad of emotions flowing through me. ‘W-w-w-w-w-we were being watched the whole time!’ The thought is rather terrifying, and is certainly not helped by the appearance of the second line of text.

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AsSysCu006: Why d'ya do that?

AsSysCu006: Relax, lover boy, I’m not askin why you kissed ya sister, that was kinda hot, NGL. I’m askin why you gave ya Quest reward away. You know it was meant for you, right?

AsSysCu006: And before you ask, no, I’m not readin ya thoughts, they’d probably be sticky. I can see ya expression.

0----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0

Well… this certainly complicates things.