"Orchid - 3 - Touchy Feely"
By Hexus (https://pastebin.com/u/Hexus)

URL: https://pastebin.com/qXWd4MuU
Created on: Wednesday 20th of August 2014 03:56:33 PM CDT
Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 04:21:12 AM UTC


>Just another day at the dome.
>Kind of.
>Usually, your day would have ended a long time ago, but you've hung around, volunteering for the kaiju handler’s evening shift.
>At this particular moment, you were in an elevator, returning to "the Den" with your third bag of chips for the day.
>That vending machine a couple of levels above was getting fat on your loose change.
>The elevator stops early, the door opening to reveal a mustachioed man with a cap.
>The janitor pushes a cart loaded with cleaning supplies into the elevator beside you with a bored look and turns to the array of lift buttons.
>He leaves them alone, apparently having the same floor in mind as you did.
>In the nervous quiet of the elevator, you strike up a conversation and when the elevator doors open up to the eternally unchanging hallway, you walk alongside one another.
>As you come to a particular door, you stop your companion.
"Oh, hey, guy, you gotta come in here."
>"The kaiju quarters? Are you crazy, bro?”
"No, no, watch, I've been talking with her at lunch ti-"
>"Talking with her? You mean the kaiju?! You've gotta be kidding me."
>You wave your access card like a magician about to do a trick.
"Nah, I'm one of her caretakers. It's cool."
>You swipe the card and press a button on the console, cracking the seal to the monster’s den.
"Look, I'll keep the this open, okay? She's actually really nice."
>"Yeah, so she can eat ya when your guard's down."
"Oh please, she's safe."
>He hesitates for an agonizingly long few seconds.
>"Maaaan, fine, but no way this'll end well. I'm comin' in so I can say I told you so when she starts munching on your leg."
>You really, really hope that doesn’t happen.
"Fine by me."
>You enter and he wheels the cart in after, probably to use as something to throw at Orchid while he runs away. 
>The chamber lights were dimmed to give the kaiju within a chance at a simulated night.
>From the deep end of the pool, a soft but constant blue glow rises out of the depths.
>You march to the edge of the platform, careful to avoid slipping on the oft-wetted surface.
>From there you peer through the carefully filtered water, making out a colossal form resting on the bottom.
"Hey, watch this."
>Your companion looks on in horror as you manhandle the bag of chips, causing an uproar of crunching noises.
>The janitor startles.
>"Woah-don’t, shit man, don't wake it up!"
>You ignore him and whistle like you were calling a faithful hound while drawing a chip out of the bag for all to see.
>A pair of blue eyes groggily look up from the depths, their size disquieting as they blink at you in the distance.
“That’s right, come on, girl!”
>You take a number of steps backwards toward relative safety.
>Key word being "relative."
>The glow from the water intensifies, playing off the sides of the chamber and you count up.
“One... two... three!”
>You toss the chip off the platform and immediately a vaguely equine head that easily dwarfs you, the janitor, and even his cart, bolts out of the water with wide, open jaws.
>Honestly, this wasn't the first time you did this; you’d seen it enough times to appreciate the details, giving it a sort of slow motion effect.
>It less emerges than it does explode, the surface of the pool bursting with a roar of turbulent water.
>Bioluminescence overwhelms the chamber’s artificial lights, casting everything in an electric blue most notably coming from her eyes which are locked onto that tiny piece of crispy flavored potato like it was her last meal.
>The mouth snaps shut around the chip, still in mid-air, with a loud clack of teeth.
>"Holy, fuck!" the janitor's voice cracks as the creature’s attack on the potato chip prey comes to an end, the entire thing starting and finishing in just beyond an eye blink.
>The water sloshes about but the monsterhorse lingers there, sitting on the relatively shallow end of the pool, face barely out of the water and sloshing the chip around in her mouth happily.
>You just clap your hands and cheer, not even waiting for the waves that surge against the platform to calm down.
"Good girl, Orchid!"
>She smiles bashfully while you feel like a boss.
>Who can feed a kaiju chips?
>Nobody else, baby!
>Orchid swallows and clears her throat loudly.
>”Is he okay?” she asks.
“Hm what?”
>You follow her gaze to the janitor, peeking his head out from around his improvised cart cover.
>Honestly, you're a little surprised he hasn't run off by now.
“Him? Yeah he’ll be fine.”
>The kaiju makes a weird face.
>Yeah, you probably wouldn't believe you either.
>”He doesn't look okay.”
"He's fine."
>She glances between the two of you nervously.
>You can tell a statement is forming on her lips as she starts to fidget.
>Before you can ask about it, she awkwardly launches into a flurry of questions.
>"Why is he here? Did they change your shift? Are, are you training a new handler?"
"No, no, nothing like that, he's just a friend who I thought might like to meet you."
>You turn and motion to the janitor behind the cart.
"Hey, come out and meet Orchid. It’s safe, because she’s a good girl... aren’t you Orchid?”
>The monster pony nods her head with a “Mhmm!” and smiles sweetly... with giant, car-crushing teeth.
>Yeah, he’s not coming out.
“Fine. I’ll show you. Orchid.”
>”Yes sir?”
“Can you come here, for just a minute?”
>The blue monstrosity approaches, planting her forehooves on either side of the platform.
>This wasn't quite the first time you had seen her hooves, though you never got the time to just stand there and gawk at them.
>They were always strange looking, that kaiju inheritance making them not too unlike armor plates rather than simple keratin.
>Long story short, she could step on a tank without much issue.
>You reach out and dare to touch the bottom of her closest hoof, feeling how strikingly solid it was.
>Orchid inhales sharply, as surprised as the janitor behind you.
>A moment of tense silence falls over the chamber and you start to regret making your move.
>You slowly turn your head and look up to the blue eyes staring at you.
>Not an angry sort of look.
>Not as scared as you've seen her.
>Just, surprised.
>As time drags on, you glance between the monster and the janitor.
>They look strikingly similar as they both hang on the moment, mouth agape.
>They stay like that for what felt like a solid hour before Orchid's started to change.
>The edges of her lips begin to curl upwards in acceptance.
>At least that's what you thought at first.
>A slightly quirked smile grew into a pleased expression, and then into a happy smile, and finally, into a face of almost manic amazement that reminded you of a kid who just had a beautiful butterfly randomly land on her nose.
>Under the pressure of being so closely scrutinized, you can feel that same old nervous tremble start to develope in your arm.
>Silently you ask yourself what sort of horrible repercussions were about to come your way.
>You remove your hand and mechanically turn to the man sheltering behind the cart.
“Tada. See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Harmless."
>The janitor shrinks further back and you hear the distinct noise of the monsterhorse leaning closer.
>Slowly, delicately, and above all, the creaking of muscle and sinew building up a new sense of dread in you.
>The blue glow lights up your side of the platform like a concert spotlight.
>You smell fish as a billow of air ruffles your clothing.
>You see massive kaiju hooves clamp down on the platform's sides between you and the janitor.
>From behind you is slow, heavy breathing.
>The janitor in front of you looks like he's about to shit bricks in terror.
>You feel a tingling, but it takes you a moment to realize it's that ever-present feeling of static electricity buildup around her, not just the hairs across your skin standing up as they try to evacuate a doomed owner.
>You’re sweating, but can’t tell if it’s from how humid her breath is or because if she’s leaning as far onto the platform as you think she is, her mouth is close enough to nibble the back of your shirt.
>”T-touch me again," she says, voice somehow louder than your frantic heartbeat.
>Your legs just seized up as you contemplate turning around and facing doom like a man.
>Failing to turn around, you look for the janitor, finding him unmoved from his spot behind the cart, ready to bolt for the exit like a runner at the Olympics.
>He's not going to help.
“I-I’m sorry?”
>The monster forelegs flex ahead of you, dripping water back into the pool.
>The request comes again from behind you; nervous, gentle, girly, and muttered loud enough that you flinch.
>"Can you touch me... one more time?"
>You make eye contact with the only other human in the room and silently plead the janitor to save you.
>He shakes his head and mouths “Hell no.”
>You swallow nervously and look over your shoulder.
>She is right there.
>If Orchid were any closer, your atomic structure would be meshed together.
>Her lips are only millimeters away.
>Her snout is so close it almost blocks out any view of her oversized eyes.
>But you see them, their titanic size leaving no other possibility. 
>The pupils are cross-eyed, locked on to your comparatively tiny self.
>"Can you, please, touch me again?" comes the request.
>A hundred horrid deaths, everything from being licked up and swallowed, chewed to death, crushed by her lips, decapitated by her jaw, and more, flash through your head.
>As soon as you touch that flesh, something is going to happen.
>You don't know what.
>But you can't escape.
>Too close.
>Instincts decry that the predator has you now.
>This is the future you chose when you tried to make friends with a kaiju.
>You must face it like a man!
>You clench your fist, adrenaline surging you towards action despite the nervous twitch of muscles protesting your recent trend of suicidal decisions.
>You give one last look to the janitor with a silent, determined face that ushers him to save himself.
>Only, he’s not there.
>You don’t see him behind the cart but instead as a blurred figure clearing the doorway and disappearing into the halls, shoes smacking loudly against the flooring as he flees.
>”I told you so! You’re on your own, bro!” his voice echoes.
>The door slams shut and locks behind him with a pneumatic hiss.
>A wet, booming noise erupts as Orchid expectantly clears her throat, startling you and drawing your attention back to the issue at hand.
>You take a deep breath, marshaling everything you're made of, and spin around.
>You thrust your fist upwards, managing to strike the bottom of her nose, but just barely.
>If she wasn't resting her head on the platform, you'd never have reached it.
>As your hand returns to your side, she sighs complacently, eyes shut and weight rocking from side to side as if recalling a fond memory.
>The kaiju is completely unfazed by the fact that you just punched her in the face.
>As big as she is, she probably doesn’t feel much difference between it and the little poke from earlier.
>You wave your hand to clear the fishy aroma and take a few steps back to get clear of that monster mouth.
>As you do so, your foot slips on a pool of water and though you catch yourself from falling, you look up to see that she’s watching you intently again. 
>Tissue and eyelids move in a blink, as silent as a distant roll of thunder at this proximity.
>She curls her lips in a reassuring smile as a thought occurs to her while you pick yourself up.
>"You should hold on to me so you don’t slip again."
>She takes your moving further out as a sign of bravery.
>She loudly voices her approval.
>”That’s it! See? You’re okay!”
>You start to back up when the grating sound of her hooves sliding against the concrete comes from behind you. 
>The two have followed you, still stubbornly blocking the way out.
>You glance back and forth between the tank-eating mouth in front of you and the tank-crushing limbs behind you, and you can’t decide what’s worse.
>“You can touch it again, really, I won’t hurt you.” 
>You’re left awkwardly meeting that monstrously hopeful face.
>Nope, too scared.
>You eye the spot between the hooves, that crevice where the two meet.
>They flex and fidget against against one another as if sensing your emerging plan to squeeze through, the dull, scraping sound echoing in the chamber.
>You shy away from them, and closer to the other scary thing in the room.
>By the time you realize you've probably made the worst of the two choices you see her mouth part a ways, evidently as surprised as you are.
>You start to retreat when your back hits the hooves again.
>They had moved up to meet you.
"Orchid? St-"
>”It's okay! I promise, you can touch my nose again!”
"No, I don't want to t-"
>"But it'll be so nice!"
>Need a distraction, a distraction!
>You realize you dropped the bag of chips at some point.
>Where they went, you're not sure.
“How about some more chips instead? I-it’s dessert time!”
>To her credit, she paused to think on that before she looked at you again, ignoring the fact that you had lost track of the delicacies in the commotion.
>”But you’re better than chips,” she replies.
>You really hoped she wouldn’t say that.
>Knowing her, the comment was somewhat flattering.
>If only you weren’t being compared to food by a giant monster.
>"Now come closer, you'll be fine!"
>The hooves behind you begin to push you towards that face.
>Your shoes scramble for traction against the wet surface of the platform as you try to avoid your imminent fate.
>What traction you do find is forced out from underneath you by the nearly unstoppable force of kaiju muscle.
>You shrink back against the unyielding hooves as much as you can, forced to stare ahead at the mass of blue lights.
>Her mouth was open in her frenzy, breathing excitedly, unlike your panicked hyperventilating.
>The maw of doom shut and for a moment you felt a surge of hope before it opened back up again.
>She swallowed a glob of saliva and a flash of extra blue colored light spills up from the depths at the back of her throat to highlight that end of the platform.
>This was nothing like when you dared to feed her that first potato chip.
>You were still in control there.
>There was no semblance of it here as you were ushered to a place no one was supposed to get close to and survive.
“Orchid?! ORCHID! Stop! I'll get you chips!"
>You watch in horror as her lips move to respond, showing glimpses of death.
>"But I already-"
"I know, I know! I'll touch you after we eat, too!"
>Those glowing eyes bore into your own as everything comes to a screeching halt, causing you to stumble.
>"Can... can you touch me before you go?"
"Uhhh, sure, just don't move!"
>You probably should have thought that through before you blurted it out.
>Even so, Orchid takes in a sharp breath of air and goes stock still.
>You start to look around for any alternate way out, but the only thing not blocked by kaiju is the pool itself, which only leads to more kaiju.
>You turn slightly, looking between her face and the hoof's squishier inner sole as you reach over with agonizing slowness and touch the appendage.
>Orchid gasps and you clench your muscles for some inevitable disaster that somehow, never comes.
>The gasp turns into another pleased sigh and sure enough, the barriers blocking your escape are parted, coming to a rest at the left and right sides of the platform.
>You start scurrying to the safety of the doorway when a voice from behind bids you to stop.
>"Thank you; people don't touch me much anymore."
>Some crazy part of your brain highlights that last word.
>You turn and look at her, concerned.
"Anymore?"
>"Yeah, I used to get to touch people a lot when I was little."
"Little?"
>You had a hard time picturing the monstrosity that made sharks look like koi fish get any smaller.
>Orchid gives you a funny look as if to ask why you hadn't left the room yet, but nods her head.
>"Yes, back when I was a tiny little kaiju, I used to touch people and feel them and hug them and they would pet me and give me fish. I was so happy."
>She couldn't have been that small, though you had never heard of the Orchid project's early days save that it was an internal scandal for the Defense Corps. 
"How small were you back then?"
>The kaiju eyes you and the door wistfully.
>"I was just a tiny little sprout," she says. "Actually, smaller than you. Seventy-six point twenty-four centimeters exactly."
"What? How did you get like this?"
>"I'll tell you if you touch me again."
>You roll your eyes and lean to the side, coming into contact with her once more.
>You weren't sure if that should count or not but by the way her expression lit up, it was acceptable.
>"I had a growth spurt," she says matter-of-factly. 
>You just stare at her, nonplussed, in your best "this kaiju has disappointed me" face.
>"What?" she asks, her eyes illuminating the shadows in the ceiling as she looks up ashamedly. 
>You use your other hand to brush up against the strange, squishy texture and the kaiju immediately looks back down to you.
>You take the opportunity to actually examine what you've been touching.
>Inside the rim of the hoof is a squishy, grayish sort of skin that reminds you of a dolphin you used to pet during sea camp, though thicker and more resistant, like some kind of tire rubber.
>You dare to prod it a few times and Orchid's breathing stutters for a second as she exhales.
>Was that a stifled kaiju giggle?
>You pause and peek out of the corner of your eye to find a very bashful Orchid.
>Her face is a fusion of delight and apprehension as her gaze shies away.
>You have discovered her weakness.
>You ready your arms for a full on assault.
>The leg and hoof flex expectantly, treating you to a view of a softer center surrounded by the steely armored rim of the hoof.
>You watch with cowed silence as the surface scrapes and grinds against the platform.
>It unpleasantly sounds like an overturned car skidding along pavement.
>Instantly, your mind flashes with various images of getting splattered like a bug or kicked into the water with the beast itself and causing some sort of shark-like feeding frenzy.
>Your hand withdraws hastily.
>Best save that for later.
>Fortunately, it seems you’ve done enough to encourage her to spill her secrets.
>She sighs contentedly.
>"Okay, I’ll tell you, mister handler.”
>”They fed me better. When they all started to take care of me, I had lots of fish! I mean, I didn't have wheelbarrows like I have now, but when I was little, it was a lot of fish! I was the scientists' favorite project, especially daddy’s.”
>Her eyes glance from side to side as if she was about let slip some dark, scandalous secret, and with a smug face she added, ”I even got animal crackers."
“And he was a scientist?”
>”Mhm. He's a big man in the science team, I mean, not big like I am, but he's important. I just wish that he'd visit more. No one visits anymore; not after I got big.”
>You mentally run through a checklist to imagine who it could be, but the way the science division was practically worshiped as the masterminds behind the jaeger program's success, they'd be more than willing to impress upon her that they were important.
>You're forced to move on in your questioning.
"So, you're saying that you grew up and they just stopped spending time with you?"
>Orchid nods uneasily and looks back down into the pool.
>"I didn't understand it at first, but it didn't take long for me to figure it out. Fewer and fewer visited over time and I kept growing bigger and bigger."
>You notice her furthest hoof has moved, now anxiously rubbing back and forth against the side of the platform, kneading itself against the edge.
>"I'm a big, scary kaiju. That's what I am."
>The hoof stills and the lighting across the platform changes as she lays her head on its side.
>The motion is painfully slow as she puts weight on the concrete structure as best she can fit without crushing you beneath her cheek.
>You look to the surface of the water that she suddenly finds so interesting to look at, the cold neon glow shining on the pool like searchlights sweeping over an arctic lake.
>You're not entirely sure how to respond to this.
>It’s true, no matter her sob story.
>So you don't say anything for a long moment.
>Instead, you traverse the short distance separating the two of you.
>Your footsteps are painfully noticeable in the otherwise quiet room.
>One of the ears flicks and rotates and her eyes look to you, one above and one level with you on the pier.
>The way both eyes are stacked vertically as she rests her head on its side reminds you of concert lighting, but you keep yourself focused on the lower one.
>Orchid blinks startlingly, jarred out of whatever thought she was entertaining in her head as you reach a hand out to her.
>Both of you seem to question the move.
>Her face, and in reflection, your own, asking you one thing.
>Were you really so comfortable around her now that you could do this again?
>Maybe you were just a sap for sob stories.
>The back and forth fishy breeze stops as the monstrous equine holds her breath and you glance back and forth between her eyes, nostrils, and lips, pursed in concentration.
>The eye, contracting and expanding as her gaze anxiously flicks to the different parts of you, is the only part of the sprawling form that dares move a muscle.
>Slowly, tentatively, you place a reassuring hand on her nose. 
>A spark in the back of your head notes that you must be setting a new world record for most times someone touched a kaiju's face without getting eaten.
>With that thought, a surge of confidence streaks through you.
"You're not that scary, Orchid. I'm still here, right?"
>It takes you a moment to realize you haven't stuttered this time.
>The grayish skin in front of you shifts, drawing your attention.
>The bravery is short lived, however.
>"But-" she starts and you flinch a short distance away from the suddenly active maw of doom.
>She is totally that scary.
>In your haste you almost slip in a puddle, playing it off like you were just repositioning to look her in the eyes.
>She doesn't say anything further and you are quick to toss her protest aside.
"No buts! We'll figure it out. For now, we can get you those chips, that'll make you feel better, right?"
>"...I already..." she glances away and takes a deep breath.
>There's a scraping sound behind you followed by the creak of massive muscle and sinew in motion.
>You whip around to see both of her forehooves have returned to block your escape.
>That's not good.
>You turn back to her to find she is right-side up now, her head having lifted off the end of the platform.
"Orchid? I'll go get the chips so we can make you feel better."
>She takes another deep breath, looking down into the depths for something.
>She's trying to psych herself up for something, but you can't see what.
"Orchid, h-honey?"
>Your voice is cracking.
>You're starting to get back into panic mode again.
>She exhales and looks up, the eyes piercing into your soul compared to the rest of her form. 
>The monster's face approaches you and at the same time you feel the pressure of the hooves at your back.
"Wait!"
>She doesn't yield to your cries as you are pushed, blue light growing ever-stronger as it comes closer.
>Her mouth opens to meet you, lips forming a small "O" and you feebly wave your arms to try and push the mountain back.
>You glance to the side.
>The pool, if you can just dive into the pool!
>You don't have the time to make your move.
>Your hands up ahead feel the soft but unyielding texture of mammalian kaiju flesh.
>You gasp in horror; one sopping, wet, truth forcing itself to the front of your mind.
>It really is too late this time.
>Your elbows bend painfully as you are pressed further against it.
>No amount of effort can stop something with this much raw strength.
>Before you can squirm away, your whole body is stuck against the maw of doom.
>The ring formed by her lips centers on your body and a sudden suction threatens to pull you in.
>The breeze from behind you turns into a gust as air drifts around you and into the glowing depths.
>You fight it, but the pressure from behind you prevents you from wriggling away.
>The aperture is just barely too small for you to fit through as you splay as far out as you can.
>Square peg, round hole.
>Even so, you can see into it.
>It is not pleasant.
>The glow, so very strong so close to its source, illuminates every single detail on the interior of her mouth.
>You push harder against the kaiju, putting your all into staying away from that set of teeth.
>The lips accommodate easily, letting you sink in ever so slightly.
>Your face is brought that much closer to its demise and you see the throat open up wider.
>Through some miracle, the force of air isn't enough to draw you all the way in.
>But with lungs as large as they are, another thought creeps out into the open.
>The kaiju is toying with its prey, obviously.
>You redouble with a grunt and push harder, muscles protesting in agony.
>The lips come together to stop the flow, squeezing your body firmly.
>Crushed to death, you knew it! 
>Then, as suddenly as it began, it ends.
>You are released with a solid popping sound. 
>Your straining push to get away sends the back of your head to strike the inside of the hoof, the softer material leaving you none the worse for wear, you hope.
>Your aching arms might have something to say about that, though.
>The kaiju hastily retreats to give you much needed space.
>You stumble onto the ground, now free of any horsey blockade to hold your back from soaking further in a puddle of water.
>You regain your bearings to find her watching, face flushed with a dim blue glow, barely noticeable against the brighter lights.
>You're too rattled to get up immediately, but you are well aware that once again, the way is free.
>Looks like you're having a reunion with your old friends, adrenaline, and hope.
>The giant hooves are firmly in the depths of the pool.
>Not like they can't get back up, though the moment seems to have ended and they stay at rest.
>From the water, Orchid swallows nervously.
>"No. Y-you, m-make me feel better," she mumbles meekly over your panting. 
>You stare dumbly at the monsterhorse for a few seconds.
>The blushing, the awkward look, the puckered up lip, the lack of teeth, the... compliment?
>Was that a kiss?
>Did she just try to kiss you?
"Holy shit."
>You set your sights on her, too estranged to not look the neon eyes right dead center and with an even more piercing stare of your own as you silently try to confirm your suspicions.
>She blanches, losing what confidence she had, and retreats deeper into the pool.
>Her antenna, horn, and ears, are the only things left above the water, like strange trees over an island of her soaked hair.
>You shake your clothing a little to get some of the dampness out and give you time to address the kaiju across the chamber.
>This is unheard of.
>It wasn't a thing that was ever supposed to happen.
>Kaiju kill and eat people, they don't do...
>This.
>How should you respond to it?
>How could you respond to it?
>What would anyone think if she ever tells a soul about it?
>You can't see her eyes from this angle, but you can hear her hooves fidgeting, the dull thumps and scraping noises coming from under the water.
>You have to do something.
>You finally muster the courage to say something.
"I should get going, it's, uh, late. Goodnight, Orchid."
>Smooth.
>You make for the door, setting a land speed record in power walking.
>The water explodes from behind, causing you to squeak and flinch as the kaiju rises enough to talk. 
>"I knew it! I'm so sorry, I thought you really liked me an-"
"Goodnight, Orchid."
>The other side of the room hushes.
>Now you can just walk out without any curiosity to compel you to turn around this time.
>You take one last look back.
>Her face and the closest section of the platform, is flushed a fuzzy blue color.
>When she looks so worried with her mouth closed, it's almost, almost, kind of cute.
>From a distance.
>As soon as you hit the door button and take a step into the hallway, you realize you are not the only human present outside.
>Up against the wall like they were about to do a breach and clear, is a squad of some bizarre fusion of SWAT members and national guardsmen.
>The base military police in full emergency dress.
>One in particular who had an access card in the door's panel and a finger hovering over the "OPEN" button, seems mystified at your appearance.
>"Hey, you got away!" he says.
>He taps the panel and the door closes with a steadfast hiss of pneumatics, sealing you off from the kaiju den's bluish tint.
>The group breaks from their position against the wall.
>Were they really about to try to fight the kaiju?
>"Nice job," the man at the console says, flashing a thumbs up.
>"Yeah," another chimes in. "We were about to go in and retrieve you. Looks like you escaped on your own."
>"Are you injured?" asks a very flighty looking third, who begins to look you over.
>"Of course he's not, you don't survive a kaiju attack!"
>"Can it break through here?"
>"It couldn't possibly fit through the door."
>"That never stopped a kaiju before."
>The senior officer held up a hand for attention, bellowing "Rescue successful. Everyone to the briefing room!"
>"Good thing you played it cool, mister feeder."
"Th-thanks? It wasn't hard, she's kinda sweet, I guess."
>"The janitor was right, you are crazy!"
>"Hey, medics!"
>You shift your gaze over to another of the members as they converge on you and- is he carrying a rocket launcher?
>Who knows what kind of anti-kaiju ordinance was developed here; this might have actually been able to hurt her.
>She was scary but she hasn't done any real harm.
>Had you waited any longer, would they have been able to pierce the tough hide?
>Would she have been wounded?
>Potentially killed by a lucky shot to her enormous eyes?
>From around the man with the rocket launcher, several paramedics push forward with equipment and a stretcher. 
>As they reach you and the security staff breaks enough to give them a bit of space, the closest paramedic, a black-haired man with more scruff than he should probably have, tries to coax you into sitting down.
>”Have a seat, you’re safe now, son.”
“From what, Orchid? She’s harmless.”
>”You're okay, you don’t have to lie anymore, it can’t get you now.”
>You start to stand up but the doting paramedics push you back down into a sitting position.
>"Easy, take it easy. You're in shock."
“No, I’m telling the truth; she's not that bad!”
>”I know a kaiju attack can be very traumatizing and produce some strange feelings you may not understand, but-”
“What, no! I-it's not like that! Wait, wait, wait, we have security cameras in the Den! We’ll go to security and I’ll show you.”
>"You're not doing anything until we check you out."
"I'm fine, she didn't hurt me. We gotta check the camera! I'll show you."
>The security staff look at one another as if to ask if you were serious and one shrugs.
>The paramedics look at you skeptically, but allow you to get up again.
>The scruffy one starts to say something when one of the officers puts a hand on him.
>”I think he's fine. If a kaiju did anything to him he'd be dead. Let’s take him down to security and see what this is about.”
>Some time later, you sit, cramped and crowded in the camera monitoring room.
>On four of the screens you see yourself featuring in a replaying feed from the kaiju den.
>The janitor refuses to move from the cart and you see yourself stride towards the end of the pier.
>From the vantage point of the ceiling camera, you see the massive form of Orchid herself look up, the crystal clarity of the water making her size apparent as you see yourself in the foreground.
>She pushes herself off the bottom of the pool and shoots towards the surface.
>The collective members of the staff, including yourself, watch wide-eyed at how fast she darts towards the chip you see tossed out to the pool.
>The kaiju pony soars out of the water to snatch the chip from the air like a great white shark to a savory prey. 
>This looked a lot more impressive slowed down on camera.
>The security monitoring room around you explodes into commentary.
>It’s like an audience watching a dolphin show for the first time.
>One of the security guards in particular taps you on the shoulder.
>”How’d you teach her that?”
>"Again!" another calls.
>The security guard at the console looks to the senior officer for direction, who is more than happy to announce a decision.
>"Someone get me some popcorn; we're going to go through all the video records from the kaiju room and find out the truth."
>The footage would prove that Orchid's nice, if scary.
>Things are turning out okay. 
>You get to relax for just a second before you realize that the cameras were also on when she kissed you.
"Fuck."
>You softly bang your head against the chair in front of you, it's sitter having leaned too far forward to notice.
>While doing this, you eye the bank of screens to the side and find one showing a live video from inside the kaiju den.
>It seems you are not the only one regretting a decision tonight.
>Orchid repeatedly taps her forehead against the pier, the reinforced edge of the platform hitting her forehead just below the horn and antennae.
>The thumps of remorse coming from the monitors, and your own whacks of defeat against the desk next you, synchronize like drums in an orchestra.

-----Director's Cuts and Other Horrors-----

Someone asked to see some of the alternate ideas and rewrites that happened in this chapter since it was so long in coming. In all honesty, most of my work is simply edited on the spot, with only one draft that just gets tinkered with over and over again. However, some of it was saved as per the request and is available below. It is pretty scattered, but this is what the stories usually look like while still being written up. Lots of blank lines to denote a gap from one part to the other that needs to be filled in or bridged somehow.

-------1-------
“So, what was your first fight like, if you don’t mind me asking?”
>She shook her head, glowing tips of her hair throwing blue light around the room as they shifted noisily from side to side.
>”Ah, ah, ah, you have to touch me first.”
“Again?”
>She nodded, eyes watching attentively. 
>”Pleeeeease.”
“Fine, fine, but you better be detailed.”
>”I will. Oh, oh! I know, how about a game?”
“Game?”
>”Yeah, I haven’t done this in forever! We’ll play, paddycake.”
“What?”
>”Oh come on, you know the game. I’ll hold up a hoof, and then you touch it, and then we clap our hands-er-hooves together and I’ll hold up the other hoof, and then you touch that with your other hand too and we’ll clap and start again!”
>She can see your lack of enthusiasm.
>”It’s easy! Here, I’ll start.”
>An object larger than a semi-trailer whips towards you as a blurred shape.
>You fly backwards, stumbling in a pool of water at the snap reflex to get away, leaving you to land on your rear with a grunt.
>You look up at the looming bottom of her hoof, just hovering there, waiting for you.
>You’re shaking again, blood pumping and energy rising.
>Blissfully unaware, you see Orchid crane her neck to see around the hoof.
>”Did you slip on some water? Are you okay?”
“Y-y-yeah!”
>You put a hand over your mouth as your voice cracks from stress.
>”You can do it!”
>”Come on, what’s the worst that can happen?”
>You were desperately trying not to think about the worst that could happen.
>You touch it and the reaction is immediate. 
>Both hooves fly back to either side of her and slam down on the platform.
>She squeals and buries her face in her hooves, failing to stifle her giggles that remind you of a dolphin.
>”Okay, okay let’s go. Now the other side.”

>”Freeze!”
>There was an awkward pause where nothing moved.
>It was quickly over when Orchid perked up.
>”Oh, more people?! Aw, you shouldn’t have! I get all these visitors tonight!
>She waves a hoof at the assembled squad.
>”Hi guys; what brings you here?”
>”’Evenin, Orchid,” one of them waves back politely.
>He is quickly shushed by the apparent commanding officer, but the kaiju doesn’t seem to be bothered.
>”Wanna play paddycake too?”

------2----

“And he was a scientist?”
>”Mhm. He's a big man in the science team, er, well, I mean, not big like I am, but he's important. I just wish that he'd visit more. No one visits anymore. Not after I got big.”
>You mentally run through a checklist to imagine who it could be, but the way the science division was practically worshiped as the masterminds behind the jaeger program's success, they'd be more than willing to impress upon her that they were important.
>You're forced to move on in your questioning.
"So, you're saying that you grew up and they just stopped spending time with you?"
>Orchid nods uneasily.
>”I-it’s why I blocked the door that…” 
>She swallows uneasily. 
>”...that one time.”
>You nod your head sagely and she continues.
>"I can... understand. I didn't get it at first, but it didn't take too long for me to figure it out."
>You notice her off hoof has moved, now rubbing back and forth against the side of the platform, fidgeting. "I'm a big, scary kaiju. That's what I am."
>The hoof stills and the lighting across the platform changes as she lays her head on the concrete as best she can fit it.
>You look to the surface of the water that she suddenly finds so interesting to look at, the neon glow shining on the pool.
>You're not entirely sure how to respond to this.
>It’s true, no matter her sob story after all, no one ever comes in if they didn’t have to.
>Or, is it?
>You were there, the janitor came in, even if only for a minute, but that was something.
“You can’t help it.”
>Orchid just blinks at you, ears moving as she is jarred out of whatever thought she was entertaining in her head.
“When people hear about kaiju, they think of a big scary monster.”

>Not to mention she was a different kind, though similar, of scary.
“You’re not like that, but they don’t know. You’re big, they’re big, and until anyone comes to talk with you, that’s all they see.”
>She sighs.
>”But how do I talk to them if they don’t even come in here? I'm not allowed outside on my own.”
“I… I dunno. We’ll think of something. But for now, you rest, I'll go get that bag of chips now." 

>As soon as the door opened, a mass of arms grabbed you.
>"We got him, he's out!"
>You yelp and immediately Orchid calls out, worried.


-----3-----
After the main character comes back from whatever event that led him out of the room...

>”I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier and I, um, wanted to say, thank you. It means a lot to me.”
“I, actually think you’re kinda cute in your own kaiju way.”
>Her mouth opened and closed.
>”Y-you too!”

“No, no, you gotta let me back in there."
>"Don't be brave, son, that's a kaiju in there!"
>"Don't you dare! Give him back!"
"Orchid, Orchid, calm down, I'm fine!"
Don't hurt him!"
"She's safe, I promise! But right now, she's scared and she thinks you're going to take me away."
"Just let me prove it."
>"We are not about to let you sacrifice your life, we don't need any more bad publicity or deaths to tarnish the den!"
>"I was so worried."
"It's okay, just a misunderstanding."
>"I would never hurt you."
>You swallow nervously.
>Real reassuring.
"I, I know. Just calm down, I'm not going anywhere."
>"You're the best keeper ever."
>She pulls you close and nuzzles you.
>Wet, rubbery skin leaves dark water spots on your clothes.


>You exit the room, and enter into the arms of the base military police.

>"We got him, he's safe!"


"What? What charges?"
“Reckless endangerment of other staff member, endangerment of property, endangerment of-”
“I get it!”


"Yeah, look at that tremble, hes scared


>You return to find the behemoth form still in an all too visible slump.
“Orchid, honey, are you still moping around?”
>She looks down into the puddles of water alight with her glow
>”Mhmm.”
“Well I have something for you.”
>”Chips.”

“Better.”
>”What’s better than that?”
>You sashay up to her and reach out, touching a hand to her lips.
“Boop.”
>She manages a reply, but not after a startled squeak.
>”You’re the best kaiju-keeper I ever had.”