John dozed a bit at his desk, looking out the window at the dragons, fairies, and balloons flying across the Avalon skyline. Air traffic seemed a bit thicker than usual, but that was normal in what counted as Spring. It was the mating season for more than a dozen different species that lived in Avalon. Dragons were performing dives with their chosen mates to seal their love for one another, harpies were swooping down to grab suitable men off the street, and birdfolk were singing lovesongs. John had to politely decline three separate swooping harpies on the way to the office that morning. They liked his red hair, thinking it was bright plumage. Normally he wore a hat during this time of year, but he’d accidentally left it at the office the previous evening. Andressa had, of course, found it absolutely hilarious. At least, she claimed to. He couldn’t help, but notice that after the third swoop she began walking more closely to him and glaring at approaching objects in the sky.
The first few appointments of the day had been Rene, Gnost, and Radu, who had knitted himself a hat that protected him from the sun rather well, though he'd be going back to night appointments after he'd experienced a particularly scorching burn in a lacey pattern along his neck. He heard a knock on the door and stumbled in his chair a bit as it opened. Andressa’s eyes were twinkling as he steadied himself.
“Wia is here for her appointment.”
“She can come on in.”
Andressa nodded and gestured for the large sphinx who loped into the room on her large paws, her beautiful dark face smiling at John as she carefully climbed onto the couch and made herself comfortable.
“Hello healer,” she said as she settled in.
John walked around his desk with his notebook and a pen, settling on the chair across from her.
“Good afternoon, Wia. How are you?”
“I’m deep in the earth, a place you can find. Where water is gathered, clear and confined. I’m often a circle, with stone walls around. What am I called, when I’m dug in the ground?”
John thought it over for a few moments. “You're well.”
She purred in acknowledgement.
“That’s great to hear. How have things been going since our last appointment? I know it’s been some time.”
“I am sorry for that. I had to substitute for a friend guarding a grail of particular importance.”
John shrugged. “These things happen.”
“I took your advice and met with the group you recommended. I believe I could call them friends.”
John smiled. He’d introduced her to a group of men and women from Earth that played games together. Thanks to the Infinite Library they had access to at least the rulebooks for countless games, though they occasionally had to get creative with the pieces.
“We have played many games. I favor games of words and concepts, such as Mindtrap of which I am very fond. I also enjoy games I had not expected, such as Call of [Incomprehensible] the Unending King in Bronze, and Dungeons and Dragons. I have particularly enjoyed playing the role of the Dungeon Master
. Though I fear I may have gone too far with some of my rulings.”
“Oh?”
“I have added traps and monsters which the players consider unfair.”
John nodded. “It’s a balancing act. You want to make it fun for them and for you. Still, it sounds like you’re doing great overall. I’m proud of your success.”
She bowed her head slightly. “Thank you.”
“And have you been having any other incidents in Avalon? Posting up places and asking riddles?”
Her eyes darted to the right for a moment. “I’m simple to say, yet powerful too. I can open doors, or bring something new. I start with a letter and end with a sound. What word am I, when agreement is found?
He sighed. “Yes. Well, we can keep working on it. That’s why we’re here after all.”
…
John was using a brush to remove the fur that Wia had left behind on the couch when there was another knock on his office door. Andressa peeked in just as he was finished getting the last bad spot cleared.
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“Your next patient is here.”
He nodded and went to his desk, placing the brush in a drawer. “You can send her in.”
She nodded and gestured for a dwarven woman to come in. She was squat and muscular, even for a dwarf, with a messy mop of dark hair, burns and scars all across exposed arms, and powerful hands.
John held out a hand to her.
“I’m John.”
She took his hand in hers and gave it a firm shake, nearly making him wince. “Urda Ironroot.”
“Please,” he said, gesturing to the couch. “Have a seat.”
She nodded.
“Would you like some tea?”
“Nah. Tastes like drinking grass.”
He shrugged. “Fair enough,” he said as he settled in. “So what can I do for you today?”
“I wanna fuck an elf.”
He nodded carefully. “A terrible affliction to be sure.”
She sighed. “No, you don’t understand. I really want to fuck a particular elf.”
“Okay. Who is this elf?”
“I work with him. His name’s Valen. He makes the frilliest, most pointless armor and weapon designs. We argue constantly, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking of him since I began working there.”
John’s eyes widened a bit with recognition, but he bit back his tongue.
“Is it a crush, or do you believe your infatuation is more serious than that?”
“I think about him constantly. Every time I bring my hammer down in the forge his name rings in my ears. When I argue with him I feel like my heart is on fire. I want to crush his soft little body beneath me while I-”
John held up a hand. “I think I get the picture.” He resisted shaking his head, and took a sip of tea to collect his thoughts instead. It was uncanny how the two of them talked about one another. It was also clear that Valen hadn’t yet spoken with her. That explained the last two cancellations.
“Is there a reason this bothers you?”
She blinked and looked at John like he was an idiot. “He’s an elf. A little fey thing who’d blow over from a strong breeze. You’ve gotta be sick in the head to be attracted to that.”
“But you are.”
“By my ancestors I am.”
“How much do you care about having a comfortable work environment?”
“Don’t give a damn. I'm too good to get rid of and they know it.”
"Have you considered that it might just be an attraction to elves in general? Something about the taboo of it?"
"Aye. I dragged one from the tavern the other night to see if I just needed it out of my system. Was thinking he was Valen the whole time."
“Well. I’d say tell him then.”
“What?”
“I mean. What are the chances he’s attracted to you too? An elf and a dwarf? That’s crazy. Have it out with him and then you can put it all behind you, and if it works out..." He shrugged.
She scratched her chin. “Alright then. I’ll do that now.” She pushed herself to her feet.
“We still have plenty of time left in the appointment.”
“Bah, I just wanted someone to give me permission to be honest and my cousin Gnost recommended you.”
“Well. Good luck then.”
She nodded and walked out the door which he realized didn't have its privacy enchantment on to muffle noise.
Andressa came to the doorway and leaned against it as Urda walked out of the office.
“You’re bad. You know Valen’s just as obsessed with her. They’re going to tear each other apart.”
"Did I tell you about Valen?"
"No, but he never stopped talking about her when he was in the waiting room."
“And you don’t think they should give it a go?”
“Oh, I do, I’m just surprised you’d take such a direct hand in it.”
“Your demonic influence is rubbing off on me I guess.”
“At least once a night,” she said with a smile that showed all her sharp teeth.
John blushed a bit, and Andressa reddened as she fed on him and leaned toward him for a kiss.
…
The rest of the day went smoothly, and at the end of it John and Andressa locked up to walk back to his apartment. She’d been staying over most nights at this point. He’d gone to her apartment a few times. It was a nice loft with lots of light, but it wasn’t as close to the office. She gripped his hand in hers, interlacing their fingers as they walked. It was cold that evening, but he barely even needed his coat with the heat she gave off after a full day of feeding at the office.
They listened to the tweets and warbles of birdfolk looking for their mates and watched two silver dragons nearly slam into the road during their mating dive. When they got to his apartment they slipped on their more comfortable clothes and read books while draped over one another for hours before they went to bed. John stared at the back of her head for a few moments. Her black hair, and the tips of her horns peeking out at him. She was breathing deeply, already asleep.
“I love you,” he whispered, before he drifted off as well.
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