“That fucking sucked….” I said.

“What happened to you guys?” Sasha asked.

The group was now in a sort of waiting room as soon as our ‘characters’ died.

“We got crushed in the warehouse as it was trapped.” Alex said in a defeated tone. He was certainly not happy with how Rasputin played that section off any more than the rest of us.

“A sub par performance, next time you may want to consider evaluating your path before pressing forward.” Rasputin said in a mildly condescending tone.

“If we had stopped moving for more than a second or two we would have no doubt been picked off by snipers.” Max said.

“Or another route would have had a different set of traps” Aerithis said.

“Or the traps didn't exist until after we had already started to move forward.” I said accusing Rasputin of effectively cheating.

“While most of those were valid possibilities they have become unrealized. In the future I expect more critical thinking from this group.” He said then just disappeared.

“Sadistic asshole.” Sasha muttered.

“No arguments from me…” Alex commented.

“I don't know about the rest of you but I could use a drink.” Max stated.

“Not much of a drinker but sure… wait can we even get drunk?” I said then asked.

“Yes you can get drunk. A very carefully controlled amount of Ethanol is introduced into your bloodstream.” Aegis said from behind me.

“Well then, that's the first bit of good news I've heard all day!” Max said excitedly.

We started off with a few beers, well all except for Aerithis they had an analog to alcohol also used for their form of social gatherings.

“So please don't kill the messenger but Rasputin was not entirely wrong…” Aegis said to the group, her own cheeks starting to show some color as apparently digital alcohol could affect her as well.

“Okay before you continue with that remarkable statement, are you drunk Aegis?” Sasha asked.

“Hey I’ve had just as much as the rest of you… I think. Besides I've been drinking for hundreds of years.” She said.

“Wow, how does that work?” Max asked, he seemed completely fine.

“Emulation basically, I have several filter subroutines that apply the same effects to me as if alcohol was affecting a human brain.” She said, slurring her words a little.

“Alright… let's circle back to what you had said prior…” I said embarrassed, she was my AI after all. That actually earned me a questioning look from her.

“That's still your first beer girl!” Aegis accused, then 2 glasses appeared in front of me.

“Hey wait! I'm not even fond of alcohol!” I said in a panic.

“I'm not going to force you but just like before, but please try the experience.” Aegis pleaded.

I let out a long sigh “This has to violate some sort of ethics…” I commented and finished up my first.

“Oh certainly but I can't always be a good and proper influence.” Aegis said then finished the second half of her current drink in front of her.

“So as I was saying, Rasputin may be a dick but he wasn't wrong. Your group could have taken a moment to evaluate other options or searched for traps. Same goes for the door where you were downed Sasha.” She said.

“Okay fine… but does he need to be such a dick about it?” Sasha asked.

“That is all I am going to say on the matter.” Aegis said then downed her next beer in one go.

“I have heard about this custom of drinking but it is interesting to see in person.” Aerithis said, after several minutes of near silence.

“Humans are social creatures, inebriation is sort of a dumb way to speed up the bonding process.” Aegis said.

“Do your people not have anything like this?” I asked, I was still only halfway done with my second beer.

“We do not, the closest parallel would be the hunting and consumption of a shared meal. My people also do not engage in large groups unless we are at war.” They said.

“So I'm guessing a far more intimate sort of gathering.” Alex said, I got a sort of side eye from him as he finished. Which actually made me blush and wonder just what his lips would feel like.

“If by intimate you mean for procrastinating then yes. A hunting partner that is compatible is important, at least when evaluated from my species pre-industrial past. I will also note that my species method of procrastinating is vastly different from humanities.” Aerithis said.

“You should talk to Alex some more, maybe explore some as well. I didn't miss your brainwaves spike when he was talking… or glanced at you.” Aegis said in my head. That made my cheeks burn red hot with embarrassment and Aegis chuckled at the sight.

We mostly chatted about how the past couple of days had gone after that as well as some of the more interesting things we could now experience. I even embarrassingly told my story about the first time exploring the new body at the gym. That in turn lead everyone to talk about recent embarrassing moments. It was actually quite a bit of fun and made me realize how much I had been missing out on avoiding people for so long.

The group was hanging out in a virtual lounge. It was actually quite relaxing… Once I let myself relax. I had found a large comfortable couch and was currently burying myself into the soft fabric. I was watching the rest of our group, Argus and Gutenberg who is Max’s AI both joined in at some point and I now saw several other people milling around in small groups.

“May I join you?” Alex asked, and had totally not just startled me.

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“Sure!” I said as I tried to recover from my embarrassment.

“Sorry didn't mean to startle you.” Alex said and sat down a few feet away leaving a comfortable amount of distance.

“Nope I would never do something so embarrassing…” I said in reply, which got a chuckle out of him.

“So how are you holding up? I know some aspects we have gone through are more… difficult than others.” He asked.

“Could be a lot worse honestly but I really don't want to dwell on that right now.” I said.

“That is completely understandable.” he said and took another sip of his beer.

“This… has honestly not been what I was expecting. Okay maybe the last few days have been but the weeks up to this point?” I commented.

“Oh I get that, it's been lots of research and discovery… What about you? Anything particularly interesting since you joined?” He asked.

“A few things…” I said a bit reluctantly, a small part of me just wanted to rip the band-aid off and come clean. To tell him that I am a liar and not actually a woman. I got the impression he knew I was thinking about something.

“So no pressure or judgment, if you are not comfortable we can talk about something else.“ he said gently and I could see sincerity in his eyes.

Fuck you can do this just take it slow I told myself.

“I was a bit different in my physical or maybe my organic body… I'm sort of still coming to grips with it.“ I said a bit reluctantly, see that wasn't so bad.

“Ah, I think I understand… I wasn't the most physically fit individual myself… and believe me there was a lot of me to go around if you know what I mean…” he said with humor.

I stretched then curled into a bit of a ball as I turned to face him.

“It was a bit more extreme in my case…” I said trying to build up the courage to come clean.

“That actually sounds difficult… if it helps you look amazing.” He stated, he didn't try to get any closer or anything. He was keeping his distance and letting me open up under my own terms. That made the butterflies reappear in my stomach for a brief moment.

“I used to be a guy…” I said in a rush, heat suffusing my cheeks. I wanted to curl into a ball and disappear from the universe.

“Okay, maybe I just don't understand but you don't seem like a dude.” He said with a confused expression.

“See, just follow your instincts.” I heard Aegis whisper to me in my head. It took me a moment to collect my thoughts.

“I mean I was born a guy… umm… parts and all… and when I joined Aegis convinced me to try living as a woman.” I said, trying to explain.

“Oh… that sounds similar to a cousin of mine. He seems much happier after that, and when he was different before he just didn't fit. Is that what you are sort of referring to?” He asked me.

“I… I think so.” I said confused, this was not the direction I was expecting this conversation to go.

“Yeah, I never really saw him as anything other than a guy thinking back on it now. Besides, he's completely buff… I'm actually kind of jealous now.” He commented with an amused smile.

I was currently quietly chuckling to myself. The relief I felt as well as the acceptance was almost tangible.

“You ok?” He asked me with a bit of concern.

“Yeah… I'm fine… no wait I'm better than I.” I said with a big smile.

“That's good to hear you actually do seem like a weight was just lifted from you.” Alex said with a smile.

“I'm… can I ask you something?” I asked him.

“I mean you just did but if there is something else sure.” He said with a smile, I slapped his arm because of that which made him chuckle.

“Can I kiss you?” I asked hesitantly.

“Sure, but that might make all the others jealous. Who wouldn't want to kiss these li….” He said with just a hint of self mockery before I interrupted him with my mouth.

His lips were indeed soft and he had a bit of stubble that was pleasantly scratchy. At some point he had placed one arm on my left arm just below the shoulder. His other was on my opposite hip, it felt good. So good I wanted to know what his body felt like on top of mine. We broke apart after a moment.

“That… that was very enjoyable.” I said.

“It certainly was…” he said softly breathing, I got the impression he wanted to go further… and to my surprise so did I.

“You… Do you mind if we pick this up after our date? I have a particularly nice dress I think you would enjoy seeing me in.” I said, my own embarrassment and now excitement obvious.

“Hmm… sure I'll wait. You have me very interested.” He said with a smile

A little while later I was in a private digital room. True to her word Aegis had populated this room with all sorts of rather crazy bedroom ‘toys’ and no explanation on any of them. My real problem was that I wanted to be with someone right now.

So in my mind I thought about that ‘Do not disturb’ and imagined I turned it off. I could sense Aegis' presence again.

“You umm… doing ok in there?” Aegis asked hesitantly and maybe a little drunk still.

“I… I don't know what I want right now… but I'm leaving more towards wanting him…” I said embarrassed to hell and back.

“You could always give him a call…” she said with a hint of a smile.

“Well… fuck… but I want to get to know him first.” I said, confused about my own emotions on the subject.

“So then you'll have to wait if that's the case.” She replied.

“Welcome to the wonderful world of estrogen… look the best I can recommend besides the one night stand is pretend the pillow is him. The human imagination is very good about that stuff…” she said and I could actually tell she was uncomfortable about this subject.

“Is it always this annoying and distracting?” I asked sullenly.

“No once you understand what you really want it gets better.” She said.

“Wait, are you saying I don't want Alex?” I asked confused.

“Alex is fine but you will eventually want to explore more. Just relax and learn to have fun, maybe it will always be with Alex, maybe it will be with someone else.” She said then cut the link.

“Uuggg she was little help for once…” I said to myself frustrated.

Instead I focused hard on a list of physical bodies, located Aegis's sanctuary which she had nicknamed ‘Hoth’ for some reason I didn't understand and moved myself there. It certainly took a good deal of concentration for it to be registered by the monitor AIs but I was slowly getting the hang of it.

I found the place comfortable, private and very real. I was still sort of in awe that I was actually light years away from Earth and was able to travel that distance with no more than a thought. The actual house had very little technology in it, it was meant to be an escape from that surrounding after all.

I started a small fire in the stone fireplace, and set it up for a slow burn. I wanted the atmosphere more than the warmth even though the warmth felt good. I then curled up into a small ball, and threw a blanket over myself and just watched the fire for a while.

“Hey there sleepy head.” Aegis said to me quietly, I must have dozed off at some point.

“Hey… what time is it?” I asked groggily.

“About 4 in the morning, I noticed signs you were waking up.” she replied.

“K… so what's up? I'm comfy and want to fall back asleep.” I said starting to have the urge to nod off again.

“I wanted to apologize for earlier you were asking for help and guidance and I sort of blew you off.” She said.

“I actually get this one… I was being a horny crazy person who had no idea what they were doing. Then my immediate reaction is to go to my big sister for help. Also I have no doubt the Alcohol had an impact.” I said embarrassed and a little ashamed.

“Well thanks for understanding, I still felt bad… by the way you look incredibly cute curled up like that… if you don't mind I want to cuddle you right now…” she said embarrassed.

The couch was extra deep and now I think I understood why. We both got comfortable and she pulled me in close. It felt good, it's not what I would have wanted a few hours ago but it still felt nice.