"Icarus, please," she begged. That was his internet handle. He told her his real name before, but she never made an effort to remember. Online, she had an excuse to say that real names felt awkward. In reality, that was just a convenient cover for how she really felt.
She never told anyone because she knew they'd think it was strange. She felt like she wasn't good enough to be addressing anyone by their name. That felt more like it was meant for those on equal footing. She always felt beneath them. Internet handles it would be.
***
He was drunk. She never talked to someone close when they were drunk before. She led a very sheltered life. No drinking, no swearing, no sexual conversations... She didn't know that drunk people could behave differently.
"What if I told you I thought you were sexy because you're submissive?" He asked.
She was taken aback. Was it wrong for him to have those thoughts? She wasn't sure... Nobody had ever called her sexy before, it sounded strange, almost dirty.
"Well... I... I don't know about sexy, that sounds wrong." She had no idea what a terrible thing to say that was.
"Maybe you shouldn't talk to me anymore then, I'm not a good influence on you."
"Please, Icarus! I... I enjoy talking to you, and pleasing you, and doing things for you!" She really had no idea what 'pleasing' could imply. Again, very sheltered life.
"No, I'm not a good influence on you. You'd be better off not talking to me. I'm going to sleep. Good night."
She couldn't stop him. She didn't have the will to go against what he said.
"Good night, Icarus.. I'm sorry."
She went to bed in tears. She had to find a way to make it up to him.
The next day she asked him what being under the influence could mean. They were talking again, at least. He told her she should take everything with a grain of salt. She didn't know what that meant.
"Just tell me you didn't mean that you thought I was actually sexy... everything else was fine." She thought that would be okay. Little did she know...
"I can't say it's not true. I should have never told you that. Like I said, maybe we shouldn't talk anymore."
Shoot, shoot, shoot! Wrong direction!
"No, wait! Please, it's okay, even if you think that," she tried to salvage the situation. Her mind about being 'sexy' to someone instantly changed when she realized he might stop talking to her.
"No, clearly you didn't like how I felt about you."
"What can I do to make it up to you? Please tell me, anything!"
"Anything is a lot. Don't promise what you won't do." She saw hope in his statement.
"Please please, Icarus, just tell me what you want. I'll try my best if it's in my power to do so, I promise."
She waited. And waited. Finally his response appeared.
"You can make yourself orgasm for me, I guess."