She - begins turning pink, and giggles a little to her lap.

"So. Yeah. That," she says, inanely.

"I - gave you the book because I want you to know all the things about me that might reasonably scare you away," he says. "I think - or at least I hope - that if you decided you definitely weren't going to love me, the valley might let you out."

"Okay. Well. I don't really think your tastes in literature are worthy of me freaking out and deciding I definitely couldn't love you, that sounds insane. I don't think being into rape and torture is the same as committing it, and I don't think you have plans to rape anyone or torture someone without their consent? That's the impression I've been getting of you, by how you are informing me of what you like and giving me an exit if I want it, correct me if I'm wrong there."

"I used to rape and torture people," he says. "And I'm not... I don't..." He sighs. "I don't want to do that again, but - you don't have any assurance of that, not really. And even if you believe me - I don't expect to change my mind but I know my self-control isn't perfect. I don't think I can call myself safe. So."

"Having imperfect self control and a sketchy past aren't - they're not the same as deciding to harm me. To me, I mean. I might not appreciate being hurt in a moment of uncontrolled, um, passion, to the point where I might not be able to fall in love with you after it happened, but the existence of that possibility is not in itself an impossible obstacle? It can be mitigated with good communication and safe practices. Whereas if you went, 'Bwuahaha I have you now, I can and will do whatever I like with you whether you want me to or not' that would not be a problem I could solve by talking through our options, you know?"

"Lucky for me that you feel that way, I guess."

"I guess. Or the valley was vetting candidates for you well enough that you wouldn't have to deal with people that would screech and flee at your taste in literature. It took two thousand years, it might be considered unlucky that it took this long."

"Not that many people wander into the Cursed Valley in the first place. I'm not surprised it took this long for one of them to be - compatible."

Nod.

"Still. It doesn't sound entirely luck based, you know?"

Shrug.

"Anyway it's - I actually find it very comforting to be given exit options and all relevant information that I might need to know in case I'd like to leave upon learning it?"

He nods. "That's - good."

"Yeah." Smile. "So um. What else do you do, besides read well written erotic fiction?"

Shrug. "Read badly written erotic fiction?" he jokes. "I don't know. I just sort of..." he waves a hand around at the valley.

Snort.

"I suppose the significance in your actions bleeds away over time, after long enough here?"

"Something like that."

"Well, all right. I suppose I don't know how to quantify my hobbies, either."

"There's things to do. Books. Pretty architecture."

"Looking at it, or does the valley take requests?"

"It listens to suggestions."

"That sounds interesting - architects would probably find this place a dream, if the valley were feeling indulgent, they'd be able to see what they're envisioning immediately instead of needing months or years to see it become real."

He laughs. "Yeah."

Smile.

"Anything you'd recommend I look at, in the valley? You'd be the one to know what's really worth looking at."

"Well, you already know about the viewing pool..."

"Yeah. Oh - I found a giant magical rose earlier, actually?"