No wonder Sonia was having such troubles getting what she wanted from Darius. The man was so concentrated on unironic self deprecation, Chéri was surprised he found time for anything else at all. Which meant they had to do the opposite. A small, relieved smile expanded on their lips. And oh, how warm they could look when they smiled, how joyful. With that sort of smile, it was hard not to believe one was making a difference. And Chéri had all the interest to make Darius believe that.

“Wonderful,” the repeated softly “beautiful, graceful… you are so generous with me” by stating things everyone can see, they mentally added, but it was fine. Compliments didn’t impress them anyway. “I could,” they repeated “but I don’t. And you know…” they got closer, their breath getting shorter “you can’t tell your heart what to feel,” they were working more with their body right now, but that wouldn’t fly with Darius. Been there, done that. It had been ticked and there was no coming back.

Finally, the hug came. All this work for a hug, Chéri thought to themselves. My, what will they have to do to convince him to get out of his clothes. It was going to be a long one, this one. Chéri kissed back as if they had never kissed somebody of their own volition, as if kissing Darius was liberating and enlightening and sweet. The kept repeating themselves those were the feelings. Chéri surrounded his shoulders with both their arms and pulled themselves against his body, showing for a moment how strong and hard their every muscle was, despite their petite frame. Strong and petite. That was their brand and they were proud of it. Now, to snogging, Darius would need to get used to that. The kiss had to tast like hope.