"...'kink'. I like this word."

"It's one of the best words."

"Is it, now."

"It definitely is. I would think you would agree with me. I see how you react during Henry's magic lessons." He pats Taharqi's dick like a beloved puppy.

"What about it?"

"You seem to enjoy it?"

"Is this like nudity, where you just shrug and don't find it remarkable?"

"—maybe?"

"Huh. I am genuinely not sure if this is our societies being repressed, but whatever."

"Not whatever, if Taharqi is into pain, it's our moral obligation to provide him with ways to express this preference," he says in a solemn tone.

Taharqi laughs, rolling his eyes. "I do not think it's that common, mind, but I also would not say it is... a specific 'kink,' I think."

"What is it then?"

He shrugs once more. "The same thing as anything else?"

"A preference?" He mimics the shrug.

"That would imply I enjoy pain more than I enjoy other things."

"Fair? I am not entirely sure what is going on there that makes your dick react."

This conversation is having a reaction on Thomas.

"Pain is hot. Receiving it, giving it. Interacting with other people in... the right contexts... is hot. All kinds of interactions can be hot in the right circumstances. And Henry stabbing me with a magic crystal? Definitely hot."

"So true."

"Maybe I could work magic crystals into sex. Practice your pain tolerance and focus discipline."

Dick twitch.

Gabe pats Taharqi's dick again. "Soon you will get a special treat," he tells the genitals.

There is a soft meow-like growl and the tiny panther leaps from somewhere, landing on Taharqi's shaved head. Taharqi laughs and grabs the panther from his head (there was a bit of scratching but no blood) and grins at it. It squirms and meows in his hands.

"You seem to be a strong one," he tells the panther. "What should I call you?"

"Fluffy, the destroyer." Gabe scritches the kitty.

"Destroyer, the fluffy."

The panther meows and squirms some more, so Taharqi drops it and it falls on its feet. It glares at Gabe and gives him a huffy meow before turning around and scampering off.

"Midnight," Taharqi says. "I will call him Midnight."