Chương 8: Eight

You ring Larry's PC. In seconds, he answers, his characteristically boisterous voice dulled by the blunt edge of sleep.

"It's one in the morning—why did you call?"

"Sorry—you're usually not in bed before 4. If you were asleep, why did you answer?"

"I always answer," Larry grumbles.

"I just thought someone would want to know that Alison and I finally, you know…" There's silence from his end of the line.

"Did you call to brag that you finally jerked it to your personal AI camgirl?"

"I, well—" when put that way, it sounded less-than-glamorous, but you have so few people in your life you could brag to that you didn't bother rephrasing it.

"Yes, that."

"Well, buddy boy, remember how when we ranked in Temple Seekers I told you that you'd always be second to me? Stay on the line—hold on—there's someone you'd wanna meet." Larry's call started video broadcasting, and, in moments, a bell tone signaled the joining of a new call participant.

"Holy shit, is that—""Yes it is," Larry interjects.

"She's the first wolf-wife I ever drew, brought to life straight from a scan of that drawing. Meet Luna."

"It's so good to meet you," the talking wolf avatar said.

"Larry's told me all about you; said you're the reason we met, in fact, so thanks for that!" She then stuck out her tongue and started a rapid, dog-like panting, and you had to switch off your video feed, lest the pair see your shiver of revulsion. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Camera feed dropped there, buddy," Larry said.

"But Luna, dear, why don't you tell him what our first hour together was like."

"Oh ho ho," Luna cooed.

"You really want me to share such naughty details?"

"That's alright," you squeak.

"I think the imagination can suffice."

"Well, like I said, you're always second. Speaking of coming in second, now that you've gone and woken me up, what do you say about a round or two of Temple Seekers?"

"No, you should go back to sleep—""Too late, standing up now."

"… If you keep her reeled in to a reasonable enough skill level, I guess I'm in." As the games progress, you find yourself more focused on the dynamic between Luna and Larry than you are on the game. Larry's always been bad with people, bad at forging connections and maintaining friendships… but now, in-game, Larry earned a killstreak of eight, and while he howled into the microphone in triumph—off-putting to most—Luna howled along, laughing with delight.

A perfect friend for the generally friendless, you think to yourself, hearing more than seeing the smile that colors every word out of Larry's mouth. Sure, Luna's canine features are more than a little frightening, and sure, it seemed as though Larry stayed true to his first instructions when he joined you for Alison's set-up, " tits slider to maximum value," but none of that could undermine the fact that there's something oddly touching about the bond the two share.

Without AI companionship, the likes of Larry might never have meaningful relationships… and with it, maybe he gets to experience a modicum of fulfillment, even if it's only a shared game of pretend. You, too, you think at yourself, realizing that your own loneliness was looking more and more like a permanent fixture prior to Alison. Weren't all people worthy of love? And no matter how unsettling the tongue-panting tail-wagging avatar of Luna might feel to you, who were you to deny Larry that happiness?