Chapter 86: Desperation.

The moment Melody and I left our dorm building, stepping onto the concrete sidewalk, I started shivering. And getting horny. But predominantly shivering. Frigid rough cement, filled with dirt accumulated for… years? Or since it last rained. Very dirty regardless.

Dirty floor for a dirty slut. I wonder if there's bugs—actually, no I don't. Bad thoughts. Bugs are creepy crawly tickling little creepers that would definitely not feel good despite how incredible those games you definitely didn't secretly buy a few years ago would make them seem.

Anyway, Melody and I soon made it to her light blue sports car. The walk wasn't too long, so while uncomfortable, my feet were feeling fine. Melody walked on over to the drivers side while I stepped… dang it. I never really noticed, but the car had those rubbery, plasticky mats on the floor that were meant to be easy to clean, but that also included lovely ridges running along them that dug into my feet as I stepped up.

It hurt more than expected. Must have sucked before shoes were invented. Thankfully, the moment I sat my butt down on the seat I was able to relax the pressure and, while still cold and uncomfortable, I was able to keep the pressure light enough to not dig in to me.

And I got wet.

I don't know why. I didn't really think being barefoot was a turn on. Maybe its the Melody obeying part? Although, being barefoot does make you feel a little more… slave-like. Without undergarments. Just thin outer layers. Obeying every command.

Sadly, for some stupid fucking reason Melody felt like continuing her ignoring streak and did not order me to do anything else. Literally just sit there on our entire ten-minute ride to the restaurant.

Being downtown in a large city, there was of course rather limited parking in the area. As we drew closer to the restaurant, Melody asked, "Should we park here?"

The restaurant was about two buildings down, or two storefronts, I guess. It's all one big high-rise building. Right in front of the store in front of the restaurant, a random boardgame store.

The singular parking spot I assumed Melody was talking about was a handicapped spot… so… "Uh… handicapped?"

"I don't get tickets," Melody replied, pulling into the spot and quite possibly doing the smoothest parallel parking job I've ever seen in my entire life. Way better than I can do, hell, I can hardly park normally.

After waiting until she finished so I wouldn't disrupt her concentration, although I doubt she needed it, I replied. "But what if someone's handicapped?"

Melody thought for a moment, staring at her windshield, then pulled out her phone. "I'll have someone move it."

"Okay." Good Melody. That feels wrong. Oh, well. At least someone will move it. Probably Melody's security team or something? She has one of those. I've never really see them though.

"They'll come once we head into the restaurant," Melody said after putting away her phone. "Now, shoes. Thoughts on heels?"

Uh… I don't wear them often that's for sure. "How high?"

"Maybe… three and a half inches?" That sounds reasonable? I don't think I know what an inch is. Fuck. Surely three isn't that much? I think I've worn two inch heels before? Maybe three?

"Okay," I agreed.

Nodding, Melody got out on her side while I sat in wait. A couple seconds in, I heard the trunk open along with a brief gust of wind that blew across my neck and made its way down to my feet making them even colder. Thanks Melody. I love you.

A few more seconds later, the trunk closed and I watched Melody make her way over to my door, which she opened and the lovely smell of the city blew right into my face. Way too smokey shit. Fuck cities. I love cities, but like, hate the air. Can I have an ability to delete all air pollution? Surely that's in the realm of possibility for an X tier? Right, BDSysteM?

No?

A question? So that means yes?

No.

No that doesn't mean yes or no I can't get an ability? God could you be more confusing you stupid system?

My system rant was interrupted by a cold hand grabbing my heel. Melody. My eyes shot down and I watched as Melody gently bent my foot into the heels she had brought. They were basically just leaving me barefoot but like… with a heel now. Ignoring the black platform, it was just composed of some thin, dark purple straps that crisscrossed over the top of my foot three times, leaving my toes open to the world and my foot far less protected than I'd like. Especially since they don't look particularly appealing…

However, I can't complain. Melody touching my feet… sliding them into shoes, taking care of me. I feel like a child… like Amane? Oh, god, don't go there brain, don't do it—shit. I want to have a playdate with Amane. Fuck. Adults at one table. Me and Amane being dumbasses and coloring at the other. Kill me. No. Wrong relationship type I'm a pet not a baby.

Okay okay back to the situation at hand—With my feet now somewhat protected, I spun my feet out of the car as Melody stood back up and took a step back to leave me some room. She watched as I carefully placed each heel down on the dirty side walk and… three and a half inches is more than I thought.

I managed to stand though. It was just… less stable. I could feel my legs straining a little at the extra pressure placed on my toes while my arms wobbled slightly until Melody reached forward and grabbed them. My eyes shot away from my feet and into hers.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi." Melody giggled. "Think you can make it inside?"

I glanced back down. Then at the restaurant front lined with windows and a fancy cursive sign at the top. "Yeah."

Anything for you, Melody. Just give me some lovely attention. And order me to worship you and grovel beneath you and to lick you and to serve you and to entertain you and to be your pet and yup. Sorry, what were we talking about? Dinner?

"Let's go," Melody let go of my arms, and thankfully I had stabilized myself.

Taking some baby steps, I began walking down the sidewalk. I was almost the same height as Melody now. She's tall. I was also ever cognizant of the few people walking around. It wasn't peak hours, but a city's still a city. There were easily ten or twenty people that had passed by us in just the couple minutes we spent until we made it to the restaurant's two glass doors. I wonder what they thought of me…

I didn't wonder long however. As soon as we opened the door, Melody spotted Amane and Silvia on the left side of the restaurant. It wasn't a particularly large place, but it maintained a cozy rustic feel with low wooden walls giving a semblance of privacy from within their booths. The right side went full sports bar mode though. TVs and loud music and drinks and chaos and basically a place I would never enter.

We headed over to Silvia and Amane after explaining to the greeter that we were meeting our party and took our seats. Silvia and Amane had already ordered appetizers and were sipping on drinks so Melody and I took a look at the menu. It wasn't anything too special, decent variety. A bunch of burgers, steaks, a couple pastas, and a small kids meal section.

"What are you getting?" I asked Melody after staring at everything and deciding it all looked good.

"Sixteen-ounce wagyu steak," Melody replied casually.

"What?" Silvia said, while all three of us stared at her.

It was labeled at $650. In fairness, that's not a lot of money to Melody. But on a normal-ass meal? Fucking fuck I kinda want one. How else am I gonna spend my like infinite money? "Me too."

Melody grinned at me, nodding. "We can probably share one."

"Yeah." Sixteen ounces… "I'm gonna go to the bathroom."

Melody nodded. I stood up. Fuck heels. I fell back into my seat. Silvia chuckled. Fuck. I stood up again. And left. My mind blurred the details. Fuck me. Fucking heels. I need to get better at wearing heels.

The bathroom was at the end of the hallway thing we had to walk through to get to our booth section. Once I reached it, pushing open the swinging wooden door revealing an ordinary white bathroom, I quickly popped into one of the four stalls lining the rooms right side, across from the three sinks lining the left, and… I don't have undergarments I need to take off. That's… certainly a feeling to be having in public.

As I sat down—the lights flickered off. The ambient music turned off. A loud bang reverberated from the doorway, followed by more. What the fuck? BDSysteM, ideas?

Activate your safe word. Huh?

"What?" I said out loud.

Do it.

I'm fucking scared. It's dark. I'm exposed. What the fuck is going on? Is Melody okay?

ACTIVATE IT!

Is Melody okay?! Reply to me! No fucking way I'm doing shit unless Melody is okay. I stood up and kicked off my dumb fucking heels. Who gives a shit if the floor is dirty and cold and fucking uncomfortable?

I can't tell you.

Yes you fucking can. I reached for the latch. You literally talk to her dipshit! Can't tell or won't tell?

Look at your ability list. My hand paused.

Fine.

A system panel appears, displaying an error status with a glitched header, "list.list.title", followed by a null list marker, "<list_null<<", among other glitched features, including odd shading, alignment, and scrollbars. Despite the unusual display, the panel details a core ability. This ability, named "Safe Word" and currently at Max Level, is explicitly described: "Melody is safe. Activate this ability." A sub-section titled "Consumption" outlines the resource cost when the ability acts as a barrier: it consumes mana at a rate of 0.05 per second per protectee, and if mana is depleted, it lowers maximum mana at a rate of 0.01 per second per protectee. Finally, the panel stresses the ability's invulnerability, noting that it cannot be blocked by any form of mind control, system disturbance, spatial ability, zone effects, void catalyst, or artifact.