Page 20 of Lucky Shot
PrettyInLace:hahaha.
DemiDefenseKip:I’ve always wanted to find someone who would let me do that to him. Dress him up. Put him in satin with thin panties and ruffle socks. A collar around his neck. Maybe a tiara in his hair. Paint his nails. I kind of want a human doll.
There’s a moment of silence where Pretty doesn’t respond, and I’m almost sweating in anticipation of his response.
PrettyInLace:Can I ask you something? Personal.
I shiver and bite my lip, my fingers tapping on the side of the laptop.
DemiDefenseKip:Okay.
PrettyInLace:You’re a guy, right? Are you gay?
A breath of relief leaves me. I had no idea what he was going to ask, but that is definitely fine.
DemiDefenseKip:Yes, to both. I thought you knew that.
PrettyInLace:You can be anyone you want on the internet. The gender you reflect in your character doesn’t necessarily have to be yours, you know?
DemiDefenseKip:Fair. Yes, I’m a gay man.
PrettyInLace:And you’re not a serial killer, are you?
DemiDefenseKip:I’d like to point out that I could tell you one way or the other, but that doesn’t mean it’s the truth. You know that, right?
PrettyInLace:Yes. But… I hope you’ve been honest with me.
DemiDefenseKip:I have been.
I’m about to add ‘I have nothing to hide,’ but that is a complete lie. So instead, I give him a variation of that.
DemiDefenseKip:How about this: We can both agree to honesty. No lies. If there’s something we don’t want to share, then we can say as much. That way we’re not lying to each other. Okay?
PrettyInLace:Yes, good. I’ve been honest too. But I’ll admit now that there are some things I don’t want to talk about.
DemiDefenseKip:Understood. And same.
PrettyInLace:One of the reasons I play this game is because I can be myself in a more authentic way than I can in my daily life. In my profession, I’m always watched. There are expectations of me and it could be very detrimental to my career if I don’t meet them. It’s exhausting. There are times when I wear dresses in the game. Just because I can’t in life.
My breath catches. The hairs on my body stand on end. Did he just say…
DemiDefenseKip:I get that.
Our chat remains still and I think we use the excuse that our characters have gotten to a village to take a break from talking. We stick close together and though we go through each building, I don’t find a skunk pelt.
PrettyInLace:I’m beginning to think that there’s no such thing as a skunk pelt in this game.
DemiDefenseKip:I’m about to look up a cheat to see if it does. Or I could just knock out some of the quests that will bring me to leveling up. I’m like 80% there.
PrettyInLace:What’s beyond a god? I think you’re going to reach that. I hope I get to watch.
I definitely want him to. I’d love to have him with me. But I don’t say that. Does that sound clingy?
Then we’re back to wandering the forest, making our way toward the troll and we’re still quiet. So I turn the question back on him.
DemiDefenseKip:What about you? Tell me a fantasy.
PrettyInLace:Besides being in a position where I can be myself, you mean? Because it’s definitely bordering on being a fantasy at this point.
