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Your relationship with Dolly had been going extremely well, and it seemed like it was only getting better as time went on. She was intelligent, loyal, kind… she was just an absolute knockout in all areas. There were times, on occasion, you wondered how you'd been lucky enough to land a bombshell like her, but you didn't let those thoughts rest for too long. You knew in your heart of hearts that she loved you, just the same way you loved her. And that was enough.
You thought that things might change when she was Realized. But even if they did, Dolly deserved the absolute world, and you wanted to give it to her. You counted your lucky stars that she still wants to find time between her work to come and help you pursue your PhD. You weren't always the best at studying, but having someone around to help you through it was, surprisingly, really helpful. You kind of worried it would be distracting, but she was so overwhelmingly patient and loving in her help. You knew you were starting to learn more and more.
There was one day in particular which saw you both sitting together in the library, sitting side by side as you poured over books, taking notes for your thesis. Her legs knocked against yours sometimes, your pens touching as you both took notes. Every so often, she would look up from her work and give you that same winning smile you fell in love with, and it feels just like falling in love all over again.
As you both worked away, though, you noticed her seeming… distracted? That was the only word you could come up with for her. Her leg hopped in place a little more than usual, her eyes darting away from the page to you every so often. You don't remember seeing her like this very much at all before being Realized.
A little concerned, you set your own pen down and looked over at her. It didn't take her long to realize you were staring. She hummed a little, looking towards you with her pen still in her hand, twirling between your fingers.
“Howdy, darling,” she said, a shy smile crossing her face. “Somethin’ the matter?”
“I thought I should be asking you that,” you replied, tilting your head a little. She laughed a little.
“Why? I'm right as rain, honey!”
You were sure there was nothing exactly wrong with her, but she certainly seemed off her game. You gave her a scrutinizing look, trying to figure it out on looks alone, but that didn't do anything. Obviously. Well, other than weird Dolly out slightly.
“You sure? You just seem… I don't know. A little off your game?” You said. “It just feels like something's wrong. Are you sure you're alright?”
Dolly bit her lip, looking back down at the papers beneath you both. Her pen kept spinning between her fingers, which is a skill you were realizing you envy.
“Well, I dunno. Somethin’ has been ticklin’ me for a bit, now…” She said, a little cautiously. You nodded, urging her to continue. “It's not much, really! Just– aw, I dunno how to describe it…”
“Is everything alright?” You asked, again. “We can cancel the studying for today, it's totally alright–”
“No!” Dolly suddenly exclaimed. “Stars, no. I wouldn't be going and putting my own distraction in front of your education, honey!”
“So you're distracted,” you said. “Is that all? I get that sometimes. Like, all the time, actually.”
“Maybe… It's only started since you did that fancy-shmancy Realization stuff on me– which I still don't understand, by the way,” she said, grinning a little. You both could hardly understand how they worked, but you were glad it did. “And it's… not bad, I s’pose? Just… new.”
“Well, what is it?” You asked gently. You heard nothing but the pen tapping against the table, so you carefully reached over and took her hand in yours. The pen grew still. “You can tell me, Dolly. No judging, promise.”
Dolly looked up at you for a long moment, chewing on her lip again as she weighed some invisible options. Then, she nodded. “Okay, darling. But no laughin’, you got that?”
You did a little cross sign over your heart. “Cross my heart.”
“Okay. Okay…” she took a breath. “Well, I don't quite know what all the hullabaloo is about, but I've been finding it mighty hard to work on– well, work! Every time I come to help you study, my mind gets all… fuzzy, ‘n distracted. I start thinking about you, honey.”
“Me?” You asked, your cheeks warming. “What about me?”
“Well, everything! But… especially these scandalous thoughts about wantin’ to… to kiss you, and stuff…”
Dolly’s ears burned a little at her admission, and she turned her face away to avoid whatever embarrassment she thought would come. But you really just found the whole deal endearing. She was so wrapped up in her own head thinking about kissing you that she was getting distracted from the work she loved so much? It was kind of flattering, honestly. You and her certainly had very different definitions to “scandalous” thoughts, anyways. How was anyone meant to keep the same definition after knowing Scandalabra?
“Just kissing?” You asked. Not leading, just a genuine question.
“Mmm– most of the time, yeah! But, dunno… it's only started since this Realization finagle, y’see. It's like my thoughts turn into actual feelings in my body! It's awful distracting, honey…”
You couldn't help but chuckle a little. “That's just a part of being human, sweetheart.”
“How do you possibly function when your body can just– just decide it biologically wants to do something else?! It's a gosh darn built-in distraction!” She declared, but she still tried to cover her blushing cheeks.
“Well, most of the time, we just learn to ignore it until we're able to actually indulge in it…” you explained. “But, I mean… if a kiss is what you want, we can do that right here.”
Dolly blushed as if you'd suggested getting naked in the middle of the library. Your conversation had been pretty hushed up until this point, out of respect for everyone else in the space, but Dolly still managed to be quieter.
“Kissing? Out in the open?” She asked, glancing around. “Is that something you humans do? Just casually?”
“Well, us humans,” you corrected, reminding her of her new nature. “But yeah, all the time. Some people find it annoying, but their opinions don't really matter. You can kiss any time you want, really. So long as the other person consents, obviously.”
Dolly chewed on this information for a moment. You tried not to stare at her as the silence stretched on between the two of you. The ticking of a clock rang out from somewhere within the bookshelf corridors of the library, making each moment feel a little slower. But eventually, she turned back to you. Her blush still decorated her face, but she was smiling now. Almost devilishly.
“So, then… do you consent, honey?” She asked, causing you to develop a small flush to match her own.
“Absolutely.”
With a little giggle, she leaned in, across the study materials left on the desk, and kissed you. She was still an incredible kisser, even after becoming Realized. In fact, you'd argue she's even better at it now that she's able to really grasp human anatomy. She brought a hand to your cheek, and you brought yours to her waist, just resting it there. She hummed, pleased.
You thought the kiss might be quick and short, considering just how embarrassed she seemed about the concept of even kissing you in public, but like usual, she surprised you. The kiss was long and surprisingly sensual, and you couldn't find it in yourself to dislike it. You turned properly in your seat to face her, as did she. The moment stretched on, and you loved every second of it.
Eventually, you had to pull away, because your newly mutual status as humans meant you had to breathe. A shame, really. But as you pulled away, she sighed dreamily.
“Well, my stars. That was one hell of a gosh darn kiss!” She exclaimed, giggling a little to herself. You smiled right back at her.
“Yeah! Welcome to being human, darling,” you said, squeezing her waist a little.
“It's fun,” she said. “If not totally unproductive…”
You couldn't help but laugh. The studying felt a little far off right now, your attention fully focused on Dolly. “Well… the deadline for this draft is pretty far away. We can spare a break… at home, maybe?”
Dolly got that look in her eye; the one she got when you first Realized her and propositioned her. She leaned in a little.
“Whaddya s’pose we'll do there, baby?” She asked, tilting her head innocently.
“I think you know. You don't have several PhD’s for nothing, baby.”
She giggled again. “That's true. C'mon, pack up, pack up! I don't fancy waiting around too long for you, honey.”
“On it!”
You made short work of packing up your notes and her books, and everything else you'd been using. She did the same, giggling every time your hands brushed packing things away. You made your way back home quickly enough, hands interlaced as you went. You might not have gotten much studying done that night. Not for your PhD, anyways.
But you certainly learned a lot more about her newly human body.