look I'm not thrilled about it either 

but he's cute and enthusiastic and I don't know what I'm doing 

I guess he hasn't stalked you yet...?

if he had I would not be conflicted, I have any judgement at all 

but he hasn't and I am and aaahh 

I mean, would you date him if you'd met him on a dating site

yes

if I'd talked to him about math via a dating site instead of a private show it wouldn't be a question 

except insofar as Marlo exists and might have opinions about that 

I'm maybe a hopeless romantic

but I think you should talk to marlo

okay. thank you 

I love you 

💙 

love you

good luck

He calls Marlo. 

"Hey." 

There's a sound of rustling papers, and then, "Hey. You doing okay?" 

"Yeah. I'm fine. — he knows you exist and he knows I'm a guy and I have. A lot of feelings." 

"— sweetheart," and Sasha can hear how much Marlo wants to be hugging him. 

He swallows. "I know. I miss you too. — I think maybe I like him back, is the problem." 

There's a pause. Sasha keeps his breathing even and crosses and uncrosses his fingers. 

"....I love you," Marlo finally says. "And if it's what you want then go ahead. Just —" 

"— I'm coming home exactly when we planned I would," Sasha tells him. "And I'm coming home to you. I love you." 

And he can't see the way Marlo is smiling but he knows. He's seen it often enough. "I love you." 

He smiles at-- not Luna-- when she-- he-- gets back. 

"Hey." He flops on Lev's bed. 

"Hey. How'd it go?"

"Went well. I'm staying the rest of the two weeks." Maybe he should be cuddling Lev. 

"Thank you."

He looks heartbreakingly grateful for being touched, and for the time.

He doesn't miss that. "And then I'm going to talk to Marlo in person and hug him lots, and figure out whether it makes sense to do something like this again." 

"Okay. That makes sense."

He very cautiously touches Not Luna's hair.

He makes a quiet pleased noise and snuggles up to him. "You're so good." 

!!!!!!!

"Thank you."

"Thank you. — you were really good about the gender kink thing, I want you to know that I thought that was sweet regardless of the thing." 

"I am... confused about what else I would do."

"You've seen how most of my clients are! Someone with a kink for misgendering is usually not sweet about it!" He nuzzles Lev and then kisses his cheek. 

"I get off on hurting people emotionally but that doesn't mean I want to... actually... hurt them..."

"And I appreciate this about you." 

Lev is concerned about Not Luna's clients and he wants to hug her him. 

Fortunately for them both they are already hugging but they can totally hug more. "So I have no idea which things I should tell you, do you have, like, questions?"