Apple Orchard
A little chat with Dad
It was late at night and he was laying in bed with Ryan cuddled up to him, happily exhausted. He watched his sleeping friend and his mind wandered back to the strange mark on the boy's hip. Why had it appeared? What even was it? He knew Ryan didn't have any tattoos… So what was it? He felt drowsy and he held his friend a little closer as sleep came fast upon him…
"So you have claimed your first…" He knew that voice. It was the strange man who was his father. He really could only see the man. He had a vague idea that there were other things around him, but he couldn't make them out.
"What do you mean?" Jason looked confused at the man. Another image came into focus. Ryan, happily asleep on top of him, the mark showing prominently.
"Your mark is on him." The man rested his hand on Jason's shoulder, smiling. "That sign inside the heart. That is the sign that represents you." Another creature, female, young, stunningly beautiful, stepped up to them, showing off her hip. The same heart design, but a different sign in the middle. "And this lovely thing bears my mark."
"So what does it mean?" He was still somewhat confused.
"It means he belongs to you." The woman purred the words. "And no one else can claim him. He is protected from others, and you can affect him in a way no one else can."
"What do you mean?"
"Like this." His father spoke, smiling. His fingers strayed to the mark on the woman's hip, running over it gently. She responded with a shiver and a soft moan, and it was quite clear she was aroused. "You touch it, and he will be ready for you instantly."
"So what does the heart mean? Is that part of the sign?"
"Yes and no." His father paused a moment, searching for the words. "The symbol in the center will always appear. The heart… doesn't appear as often." He looked at the image of the sleeping boy and smiled softly. "It appears that your friend has strong feelings for you. That is why it has appeared."
"Does he… does he love me?" Jason was… honestly a bit surprised.
"Perhaps, in some form at least. Most mortals, humans in particular, seem to use that word too often. He is certainly quite fond of you, to be certain. Do not take his affections lightly."
"I… I won't. He's… He's my best friend. Always has been."
"And he trusts you with the truth of himself. That is valuable. Treat it as such."