[GAME] The House

[skinstealer]

Mist's Journal

Day 32

...today was...

I'm not sure how to describe it.

It feels both...beautiful, and terrifying.

Shrump and I went back to the grotto today to talk, with Shrump saying they had something important to tell me. I figured it'd be something more about their previous partners, seeing as it's been on their mind a lot and to some degree, it was...

But they confessed that they had feelings for me, and that they hoped I felt the same. Which...I do, I genuinely do, but that's- I was stunned, I didn't know what to say at first. They simply placed their tiny hand on mine as I struggled to find words, and stayed with me as I made every stalled up sound under the sun. Eventually, I was able to speak...and I told them that of course I feel the same, it's just-

There's so much. There's so much in the way, and I was scared of acting on any of it...I find them beautiful, of course, and that scares me- while my cannibalistic urges thankfully still do not apply to them, I worried that getting any closer may cause them to kick in...

To which they said that they trusted me, and held out their arm. I was terrified at the obvious offer- I refused at first, saying that even just a taste would potentially push things over the edge. They said that if it made me feel better, they could have a small chunk of my own body as well, and we could swap. That way, our health would be mutually regenerated, and it could be...a sign of trust. A safety pact.

At first, I thought that was ridiculous. Aside from the obvious- consuming my body just makes other people hungry- It just didn't seem fair, the idea of me taking so much to them, and whatever portion they would receive from me barely doing anything...but...

The trust in their voice swayed me, as well as the fact that they brought other snacks for us to munch. Their new hunger would be sated quickly, they said.

I decided to take a piece from my left knee, seeing as it was hovering anyway- it wouldn't interfere with me being able to walk at all, even if we were going to heal each other regardless. Shrump pulled off their left hand, and we sat there for a moment, holding pieces of ourselves and thinking quietly. Shrump's hand was squishy, wet, and dripping with raw tempura batter- completely unappetizing, even separated away from the person I love. Shrump spent some time tapping at the hard surface of my knee, commenting that it was almost jawbreaker-like. I commented that they'd basically be eating a rock, and they said that suits them just fine.

We ate our strange lunch, with Shrump commenting on the hunger immediately- they said it felt tingly, but not overwhelming, and satiated the rest by eating their chips. I asked if the fact that it's directed at people was overwhelming, to which they shrugged and said that it was no more jarring than their usual attraction to me...which made me laugh so hard I doubled over. To think that such a tiny guy could say something so bold...

But...I was happy. While Shrump's hand was completely...well, it would be rude to say disgusting, it certainly wasn't good, either. The meat itself was fine, but the batter...I could go without that. But while I did not enjoy the actual flavor or texture, that just made me happy- because for me, no hunger persisted. It was just like a normal meal, no issues whatsoever.

Shrump seemed so pleased when I said I felt safe around them, and we hugged and talked for what felt like hours. Our bodies regenerated quickly thanks to the food sharing, and we spent the whole day just...sharing each other's time.

I don't think I would choose to feed on them again any time soon, but...it's nice not to have to. I'm still scared of what could come, all of the stakes a relationship could have, what this means for our pasts...but Shrump says that this is what their past lovers would want for them, they just know it-

And for me, I know that Hen is long gone. I need to remind myself that now, I'm free.