"The way he phrases it is that he is not actually sexually attracted to me but he loves me and it's like giving your friend a massage when they've had a rough day except also there are orgasms, and I haven't poked this too hard because he is in general ridiculous and it's the kind of thing he'd do. And Marlo's gay, my type is apparently 'enthusiastic nerdy people who are very cute and not great with people.'" 

"I love you!!!"

"I like you lots." 

"I think mine is more like-- I wouldn't have been attracted to you if I just saw a picture of you and someone told me you were a guy, but I like trans girls, and I like you, and-- I want to have sex with you whatever your gender identity is. Because you're great."

"I know I keep saying you're cute but I can't think of any other way to react to things like that." 

"You can keep calling me cute as much as you want! --What was the thing you were sad about earlier?"

"I have a tragic backstory involving an abusive relationship I got into in college, and the thing with the charity got me thinking about people claiming to act for ideological reasons but actually all their gifts have strings you can't see attached, and, well." 

Lev hugs him very very tightly. 

"I wouldn't."

"If I thought you would we'd be having a very different conversation. It just — reminded me." 

"Is that why you're camming?"

He makes a noncommittal sound. "It's why I'm camming as opposed to having a college degree, it's not why I'm camming as opposed to being a bartender or barista or something." 

"What would you do if you-- had a choice?"

"If money didn't factor into it at all I'd just draw. If I could train in any field and be assured of getting a job there, architecture maybe? If I could go back to college for free but nothing else, no idea." 

"I want to let you just draw."

"....I have no plans to quit my day job but that's very sweet of you." 

"Okay." Lev kisses his forehead. 

He leans into the touch and — kisses Lev, very gentle. 

He kisses back, still gentle.

Good. 

Is Lev smiling? Lev should be smiling.

He is.

Good. 

He should stay that way. 

"What do you want to do while you're here?"