Page 19 of Tasty Tentacles

I lower him gently to the floor, calling my assistant, “Janice! I could use some help.”

I shrug off my jacket and place it under his head. As I’m extending his legs, Orion pushes past me into the hall.

“Orion!” I call. “Wait up!”

Janice arrives, so I leave our new intern in her capable hands and dash after Orion. I catch him in the lobby, waiting for the elevator and fumbling into his mask. I take his arm and when he turns, there are tears in his eyes. He looks so sad, like he’s lost all hope, and I can’t help it. I open my arms and say, “Come here.”

He doesn’t turn away, so I pull him into a firm hug, trying to feel as strong and steady as I can. He doesn’t hug me back, but I feel his mask rest against my head. It feels odd, trying to provide stability to this giant of a man, but I do my best.

After a moment, I release him and suggest, “Let’s go to my office. It’s private and we won’t be interrupted, and we can talk.”

He follows me, completely silent and visibly drooping, and I point him to a chair, closing the door. He looks completely broken, with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The unfortunate incident in my office obviously couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

“Can I get you a coffee or some water?”

“I’m fine,” he says. “I’d like to keep the mask on.”

This cuts straight to my heart. If he can’t trust me, who can he trust?

“I apologize for the interruption back there.”

He waves his hand, dismissing it, and that simple gesture speaks volumes. I can only guess how many times the same thing has happened before. He looks me straight in the eye and says, “So, when is the soonest we can do this? I’m dead tired of being a creepy Cthulhu freak.”

With that, I’m very worried. He’s not being rational, calling himself names, but he needs to be at a time like this. He’s not in the state of mind to be making life-altering decisions. I need to help.

“We can schedule it first thing in the new year, but Orion, talk to me. What is happening? You don’t seem yourself.”

“Nothing,” he says, then he thinks better of it, and says, “No, not nothing. A lot has been happening.”

“Tell me,” I offer. “Anything you’re comfortable sharing. I’m here.”

He looks at me, and I see the moment the trust returns to his eyes. He takes off his mask and fiddles with it, and says, “I could use some water, Doctor Genji.”

“If you’d like, we can leave the Doctor Genji behind. My name is Hideo.” I grab a bottle from the mini-fridge and hand it over, and coax, “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“My boyfriend just broke up with me, Hideo. Because of them.”

“I’m sorry, Orion.” This makes so much sense. The incident in the office was an additional trigger after a truly lousy day. We can work with this.

“A year, gone,” he says, and I let him talk. He needs to talk, and I want to listen. “And you know, I don’t blame him. He’s building a name for himself. I just learned that his acting is taking off, and I know it’s true. I’m holding him back.”

“I’m sure that isn’t the full story,” I say. “But please continue.”

“You know, it’s not really a surprise. The signs were there, but I didn’t let myself see them. It’s silly. It’s not like this is the first time. They all say my tentacles aren’t a problem, but they always are, in the end.”

He sits there, twisting and untwisting the mask in his hands, and I know there’s more. I let him get there.

“And do you know what’s even worse? I think I’ve ruined things with Albert. With your husband. He is your husband, right?”

“Yes, he is, and he’s the most wonderful man in the world.”

“I know he is. I think he’s the best friend I have. Him and Jake. My dog Jake.”

“I think he’d agree. I hope you know, my BertieBear has a serious crush on you.”

He stops and stares at me, his tentacles waving in little curls and arabesques. For just a moment, I let myself sit and admire. I don’t understand how he can’t see how remarkable he is.

“Hideo, tell me…did he see?” he asks in a hushed voice. “I don’t know what I’d do if…”