So Far From the Other

I look at the message while tapping my screen. What should I say? How do I start this? I drafted up a simple hello but this is Madam Odette I am talking to. I should be proper so I delete the hello and move onto something more formal. "Madam Odette, I am available."

No… No, that's not right. I shouldn't make it sound like I am demanding her attention now that I am free. Should I drop the "Madam" as well? I delete the message thinking of what to send. I just tap the "A" key over and over again until I get three lines of them. I hold the delete button until it clears again. I don't know what to send. I really am a lost puppy without her around huh?

My phone vibrates in my paw with an incoming message.

"I can see you typing."

"I wasn't sure how to greet you."

"There is no need to be

formal here. It's just the two of us."

Everything I have been taught from this woman is being thrown out the window! I really don't know if I should be casual with her or if this is a test. She always knows how to mess with me…

"Still feels weird."

"If you would prefer, you can still refer to me as Madam Odette."

"I will try to relax."

"You're at home. You should relax. This is time for you to relieve stress and come back fresh."

"I will definitely work on that to the best of my ability."

What am I saying? How can I work on relaxing to the best of my ability?

"Red, calm yourself. It's just me. I'm alone in my room. No one is going to bother us. Are you alone?"

"Yes, I am."

"Now breath, and relax."

Is it at her order? Or that I can almost hear her voice in my ear soothing my tensions? Either way, I calm myself. I get to where I'm at my center once again.

"Thank you, Odette"

"Calling me by my first name?

Very daring."

This is why I have anxiety with her. She can be so playful but her usual demeanor is that of when she is in public. Very straight laced, all business, with no time for idle chit chat. Just get to the point and move on. But I've seen her behind closed doors. She is a very caring person. Since she has told me to relax, I think I will and have a little fun.

"You've only let me call you

Odette in private and I would say that right now is pretty private."

"How private is private?"

"My parental figures are well off in dream land while I am hidden away in the basement guest room."

"Does that door lock?"

"It does."

"I would make sure that it is before we continue this conversation."

I shoot from the bed across the bedroom to the door grasping the knob. It's a simple lock that I feel like I jammed to where no one will ever be able to use it again. With one leap I fly across back onto the bed with a hefty bounce. I watch as my phone flips over. I grab it going back to the messages ready for… something. What was I so excited for?

"It has been done!"

I stare at my phone waiting for the reply to come. If I were sitting, I would be on the edge of my seat. She's been super responsive, taking only seconds but it's quiet. I must be patient though.

"And I shall not be disturbed for the evening. I informed Danny I am taking an evening for myself."

Danny drove my butt from her place to my home and back. That's a 12 hour drive and the man is still pushing himself? Nope! I have to take a stand!

"Let that poor man sleep! He had a full day taking care of me."

"I already insisted he take the day but he refused. He'll be fine. He knows his limits. And now, I want to test yours."

I can feel the blood rushing to my nose and ears. My entire face feels like it's on fire. I don't know why I'm so excited. Well, I have an idea, but I may just be projecting. Madam Odette is a lady of class after all. I need to calm myself. She wouldn't dare do what I think she's asking.

"Well the door is locked at your request. I am secluded from anyone else. How do you propose we proceed?"

"You sound so formal. Even while away you are just stuck in my habits."

Now it sounds like she's mocking me. Even though she's poking fun at me, she does have a point. I may be home but I am still acting as though I am under Madam Odette's care. Well, technically I still am, just on vacation.

"It was drilled in pretty hard to show respect at all times."

"Well now I want you to show me a little disrespect."

"I'm getting some mixed signals here."

"Maybe this will clear that up for you then."

I could see an attachment was sent. I tapped it to watch the download bar slowly move. This was not a small file. 20%... 34%... 56%... I lay my head back waiting for the vibration that signals that it's done.

Bzzt! There it is.

I pick my phone back up looking at the small preview. It's an image file and from what little I can see, it must be of Madam ODette. I didn't think she would, but she just may have. I tap it to enlarge the image. There's a short pause while it loads. The anticipation is killing me.

The image comes up and my eyes widen. I know those curves quite well but something just makes them… better. Is it the light? Is it how she's standing? Maybe it's just that she's so far away but feels so close now. With only her purple robe clinging to her, she looks amazing.

"Try all I might, I don't think I could disrespect that."

"Such a silver tongue from a red fox. This may be your only chance. Why not take it?"

She's a temptress. She wasn't when I first moved in but the more I did, the better I became, the more she began to become this flirtatious vixen. I don't hate it by any means but she also knows how to get under my skin. And she's good at it! Maybe I should play dirty. What could I get her to do? Or how can I get a different response?

"How could I bring myself to do such a thing but since you insist and are in such a playful mood; please Madam Odette, show me your greatest insecurity."

I want to invoke a reaction. I want to invoke something that she has to address that will make her squirm and be uncomfortable. I know she's a very strong woman. She puts up this wall of strength and has the power to move it to clear a path where she wants to go, pushing anyone who stands in her way. But I also know her better than a lot of people. I know her behind the scenes. I've seen her worry. I've seen her squirm, just slightly though.

But now, she and I are separated. She often uses her body to tease me. Her voice cuts into my mind and she plays games with me. Being this far apart, I might finally have an advantage. She seems so willing to play. Well Madam Odette, let's play. You may be an immovable wall of strength but I'm an unstoppable force who knows you intimately.

"Show you my greatest insecurity? That is a strange one but I can oblige."

I sit back with a smile on my face. I finally got her. I think. Her tone was still one of confidence but we shall see what she comes back with. I see an attachment come up, I tap it to download, and once it loads I tap it again to enlarge. She had her robe pulled up over the base of her tail and it's a very nice photo of her butt. Is that her biggest insecurity?

"That's… your butt. That's your biggest insecurity?"

"No! I love my butt. And so do you. I've caught you staring at it enough but it's my tail."

Her tail? That's an odd thing to be obsessed about. Looks fine to me. Good color, no weird fur spots. Even where it connects to the body is smooth and flawless. What could it be?"

"I take your silence as you can't see it. If I must, then I will. Because I had scoliosis as a young child that was corrected, my tail is off center from my body."

"That's your biggest insecurity!? Oh my god you are infallible."

"Don't make fun of me! It really bothers me!"

This woman… Her biggest insecurity in life is that her tail may be off-center. Oh how I wish that was the largest problem in my life. Even so, she was honest with me. I think… Maybe? I may never know but I will have to trust her.

"I didn't mean to make fun of you. I only meant to tease. Let me make it up to you. How can I do that?"

There was no pause in between messages. She shot back with a reply almost instantly.

"It's only fair that you show me what you are insecure about."

Well hell… I opened the door and she blew it off the hinges. What do I have that I'm really insecure about? And she said to show it. That makes it difficult. Maybe she wants something physical like she showed me. I think I know what may work…

I set myself up on the bed so I lay on my back. With the TV on, I use it as a backlight to provide a shadow of the object for my photo. I snap it, and send it on it's way. I have no doubt she will be as confused as I was for what she sent me.

"So… yourself conscious of… your feet?"

"Yes, incredibly so. For some reason all the limbs don't look even with one another. They don't fit the normal ratio for fox feet. I've always found it strange but growing up the doctor said it wasn't an issue."

"So we are both just weird about a small thing that we don't need to be weird about."

"Everyone has their own small nitpicks about their own body that they wish they could change. I'll tell you what; it feels good that you're not outside of this insecurity. Makes you more… personable."

This is not the turn I was expecting this evening to go. Still, it's good to get to know someone like this. As odd as it may be, these weird little questions really get you to know someone and even what they think about themselves. I like this game.

"Ok you, my plans have been derailed long enough. Door locked, correct?"

"Yes ma'am."

"And you're hidden away from prying eyes, yes?"

"Yes again."

"Good, then I want you to see something."

I pause to wait for what she means. My phone shakes again in my paw. It's an image like I imagined it would be. I tap to enlarge it.

Oh, she is a tease.

She's standing before her full length mirror. Her signature red robe was hugging her in just the right places. From her neckline it hugged between her chest draping to her side. The cloth followed her perfectly hugging her chest hiding it from view. The robe continued down hugging her hips to cover herself just enough. She's almost like a muse for a marble sculpture. She knew damn well what she wanted to do and she nailed it.

"It's going to be a battle of wills, isn't it? To see who can break first."

"No, it will be two adults enjoying one's company from afar. But I feel I will win."

"We shall see then, won't we. Let me see what I can cook up."

"I look forward to your rebuttal, Red."

Okay, I have limited resources. I don't really have much here that I can use. I'll have to play this carefully. She used a full length mirror to get her shot. I may be able to make something work.

My shot is not nearly as provocative as hers. Mine almost looks like a glamor shot. I removed my shirt, sat down on the floor, and took a solid ⅓ portrait of myself against the mirror on the wall to show off more of the seclusion of the room. I may have or may not have flexed some muscles to show some definition. It may be lean but when exerting, there is some solid definition.

I swallow my pride and send it away wondering if it will be enough for her. I lean back against the wall waiting. My phone goes off once more with the reply.

"Mmph, that is a handsome fox."

Things only escalated from there. She sent poses exposing herself ever so slightly enough to tease. I would send back close ups with some snide comments. We both just send things back and forth never really showing too much but just enough.

I remember looking at the clock as the red light lit up with the time of 2:33 in the morning. She hasn't responded in a while. I wonder if she fell asleep. I sure hope so because I am about to nod off. I haven't had any clothing on for almost two hours. I have been, for lack of a better descriptor, leaking for a while and left a weird stain on the comforter where I've been laying. I'll wash it before I leave.

REVISED

I look at the message while tapping my screen. What should I say? How do I start this? I drafted up a simple hello but this is Madam Odette I am talking to. I should be proper so I delete the hello and move on to something more formal. "Madam Odette, I am available."

My phone vibrates in my paw with an incoming message.

"I can see you typing."

"I wasn't sure how to greet you."

"There is no need to be

formal here. It's just the two of us."

Everything I have been taught by this woman is being thrown out the window! I don't know if I should be casual with her or if this is a test. She always knows how to mess with me…

"Still feels weird."

"If you would prefer, you can still refer to me as Madam Odette."

"I will try to relax."

"You're at home. You should relax. This is time for you to relieve stress and come back fresh."

"I will definitely work on that to the best of my ability."

What am I saying? How can I work on relaxing to the best of my ability?

"Red, calm yourself. It's just me. I'm alone in my room. No one is going to bother us. Are you alone?"

"Yes, I am."

"Now breathe, and relax."

Is it at her order? Or that I can almost hear her voice in my ear soothing my tensions? Either way, I calm myself. I get to where I'm at my center once again.

"Thank you, Odette"

"Calling me by name?

No title?

Very daring."

This is why I have anxiety about her. She can be so playful but her usual demeanor is that of when she is in public. Very straight-laced, all business, with no time for idle chit-chat. Just get to the point and move on. But I've seen her behind closed doors. She is a very caring person. Since she has told me to relax, I think I will and have a little fun.

"You've only let me call you

Odette in private and I would say that right now is pretty private."

"How private is private?"

"My parental figures are well off in dreamland while I am hidden away in the basement guest room."

"Does that door lock?"

"It does."

"I would make sure that it is before we continue this conversation."

"It has been done!"

I stare at my phone waiting for the reply to come. If I were sitting, I would be on the edge of my seat. She's been super responsive, taking only seconds but it's quiet. I must be patient though.

"And I shall not be disturbed for the evening. I informed Danny I am taking an evening for myself."

Danny drove my butt from her place to my home and back. That's a 12-hour drive and the man is still pushing himself? Nope! I have to take a stand!

"Let that poor man sleep! He had a full day taking care of me."

"I already insisted he take the day but he refused. He'll be fine. He knows his limits. And now, I want to test yours."

"Well the door is locked at your request. I am secluded from anyone else. How do you propose we proceed?"

"You sound so formal. Even while away you are just stuck in my habits."

"It was drilled in pretty hard to show respect at all times."

"Well now I want you to show me a little disrespect."

"I'm getting some mixed signals here."

"Maybe this will clear that up for you then."

Bzzt! There it is.

I pick my phone back up looking at the small preview. It's an image file and from what little I can see, it must be of Madam Odette. I didn't think she would, but she just may have. I tap it to enlarge the image. There's a short pause while it loads. The anticipation is killing me.

"Try all I might, I don't think I could disrespect that."

"Such a silver tongue from a red fox. This may be your only chance. Why not take it?"

She's a temptress. She wasn't when I first moved in but the more I did, the better I became, and the more she began to become this flirtatious vixen. I don't hate it by any means but she also knows how to get under my skin. And she's good at it! Maybe I should play dirty. What could I get her to do? Or how can I get a different response?

"How could I bring myself to do such a thing but since you insist and are in such a playful mood; please Madam Odette, show me your greatest insecurity."

"Show you my greatest insecurity? That is a strange one but I can oblige."

"That's… your butt. That's your biggest insecurity?"

"No! I love my butt. And so do you. I've caught you staring at it enough but it's my tail."

Her tail? That's an odd thing to be obsessed about. Looks fine to me. Good color, and no weird fur spots. Even where it connects to the body is smooth and flawless. What could it be?"

"I take your silence as you can't see it. If I must, then I will. Because I had scoliosis as a young child that was corrected, my tail is off center from my body."

"That's your biggest insecurity!? Oh my God you are infallible."

"Don't make fun of me! It really bothers me!"

This woman… Her biggest insecurity in life is that her tail may be off-center. Oh, how I wish that was the largest problem in my life. Even so, she was honest with me. I think… Maybe? I may never know but I will have to trust her.

"I didn't mean to make fun of you. I only meant to tease. Let me make it up to you. How can I do that?"

There was no pause in between messages. She shot back with a reply almost instantly.

"It's only fair that you show me what you are insecure about."

I set myself up on the bed so I lay on my back. With the TV on, I use it as a backlight to provide a shadow of the object for my photo. I snap it and send it on its way. I have no doubt she will be as confused as I was about what she sent me.

"So… yourself conscious of… your feet?"

"Yes, incredibly so. For some reason, all the limbs don't look even with one another. They don't fit the normal ratio for fox feet. I've always found it strange but growing up the doctor said it wasn't an issue."

"So we are both just weird about a small thing that we don't need to be weird about."

This is not the turn I was expecting this evening to go. Still, it's good to get to know someone like this. As odd as it may be, these weird little questions get you to know someone and even what they think about themselves. I like this game.

"Ok you, my plans have been derailed long enough. Door locked, correct?"

"Yes ma'am."

"And you're hidden away from prying eyes, yes?"

"Yes again."

"Good, then I want you to see something."

I pause to wait for what she means. My phone shakes again in my paw. It's an image like I imagined it would be. I tap to enlarge it.

Oh, she is a tease.

She's standing before her full-length mirror. Her signature red robe was hugging her in just the right places. From her neckline, it hugged between her chest draping to her side. The cloth followed her perfectly hugging her chest and hiding it from view. The robe continued down hugging her hips to cover herself just enough. She's almost like a muse for a marble sculpture. She knew damn well what she wanted to do and she nailed it.

"It's going to be a battle of wills, isn't it? To see who can break first."

"No, it will be two adults enjoying one's company from afar. But I feel I will win."

"We shall see then, won't we? Let me see what I can cook up."

"I look forward to your rebuttal, Red."

Okay, I have limited resources. I don't have much here that I can use. I'll have to play this carefully. She used a full-length mirror to get her shot. I may be able to make something work.

My shot is not nearly as provocative as hers. Mine almost looks like a glamor shot. I removed my shirt, sat down on the floor, and took a solid ⅓ portrait of myself against the mirror on the wall to show off more of the seclusion of the room. I may or may not have flexed some muscles to show some definition. It may be lean but when exerting, there is some solid definition.

I swallow my pride and send it away wondering if it will be enough for her. I lean back against the wall waiting. My phone goes off once more with the reply.

"Mmph, that is a handsome fox."

Things only escalated from there. She sent poses exposing herself ever so slightly enough to tease. I would send back close-ups with some snide comments. We both just send things back and forth never really showing too much but just enough.

I remember looking at the clock as the red light lit up with the time 2:33 in the morning. She hasn't responded in a while. I wonder if she fell asleep. I sure hope so because I am about to nod off. I haven't had any clothing on for almost two hours. I have been, for lack of a better descriptor, leaking for a while and left a weird stain on the comforter where I've been laying. I'll wash it before I leave.

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