The Trial (UPDATED 2/25/17!!!)

[Medowsweet]

A cripplingly shy sneeze fetishist enrolls in a research and development trial for a "robot companion".  But can a robot really feel love?  Can a human fall in love with a machine?  And what happens when the trial ends?

This is somewhat inspired by the series Absolute Boyfriend which I highly recommend reading:

http://www.goodmanga.net/absolute_boyfriend/chapter/1

I looked down at the computer screen, my face flushed with heat.  The application had been thorough.  VERY thorough.

"The more information you provide for us. The more we can insure your "companion" meets and exceeds your needs and expectations."

My cheeks burned all the hotter and I couldn't bring myself to raise my eyes off the screen and look at the prim clerk behind the cherry wood desk.

The application had asked a number of uncomfortable questions.  Questions like "How many times a week, ideally, would you like to have sex?"

Or "How physically responsive would you like your ideal partner to be?"

Or, "List your most responsive erogenous zones."

Then there had been a scroll bar for things like "strength", "athletic abilities", "need for sleep", and "general constitution" of your ideal mate.  That had been much easier for me to a answer.

There were areas for "intelligence", "education", "dominance vs submissiveness", "charisma", and "emotionality" which even made sense.

As well as personality traits to click the little box if you wanted them included.  (Some of which horrified me that anyone would ever consider in an "ideal partner"!!): "crule" was, for some reason, an option, as was "sadistic", and "short tempered". On the other end of the spectrum were "warm", "affectionate", "funny" and even such tropes as "waffy" and "woobie".)

But the HARD part, the part I was on now, the part that made my cheeks burn and locked my eyes to the screen, were the glowing words glaring up at me now:

"Please list your fetish or fetishes in order of most arousing"

This was partially why I was agreeing to do this in the first place.  I had a fetish noone could ever possibly understand or accept... the only way I would ever really be able to try out my fantasies in real life would be if the "person" on the receiving end of them wasn't a "person" at all.

I hesitated... I knew I should be honest.  It was part of the rules of the trial... and, of course, it meant getting what I wanted- but being honest here would be very difficult for me, particularly under the unblinking, gentle gaze of the prim clerk behind the desk.

"The more information you provide for us. The more we can insure your "companion" meets and exceeds your needs and expectations.". She repeated.

I bet she's one of them!  Somethig about her demeanor, almost TOO professional, the prim way she sat, and the way she almost never blinked.

"I know it can be difficult" she went on, when I still could not seem to order my fingers to type what I knew they must on the touchscreen panel.  I stood as though frozen in place trying to will myself to divulge my hidden shame.
"But do remember that section 15a of the contract you signed requires complete honesty and full disclosure on the part of the human applicant."

Yeah, she was DEFINITELY one of them, I decided resentfully.  Still, she didn't have to rub it in.

"I should also remind you that full confidentiality is insured, and no part of your application will ever be sold or shared with any party without your prior, written consent."

I took a deep breath and blew air put into my cheeks... the longer this took the longer I would have to put up with HER.
Then slowly, I began to type:

S.. ...N... ..E... ...E...

"Sneezing" came up right away as the suggested auto fill.  I can't tell you how much that meant to me.  Something about it being a preselected option normalized it, and I exhaled a little breath I hadn't known I'd been holding.
I clicked it and a moment later and the bold instructions "click all that apply" filled my screen.

⬜ Cold

⬜ Allergy 

⬜ Contagious 

⬜ Embaressed

⬜ Hurt/Comfort
 
⬜ S & M

⬜ Gigantic 

⬜ Messy 

⬜ Build ups

Again, for some reason I found this pre-installed list comforting.  It made me feel a teensy tiny bit less like a weirdo.

But the questionnaire went on!

It had details for pitch, volume, frequency and force!
And finally, sensitivity to potential allergens.

At this point I was about ready to die on my feet.  The "helpful" clerk smiled her banal smile and thanked me for my time, informing me that my order would be processed and that I should expect a call back in 4 to 6 weeks.

I couldn't even make eye contact with her.

I murmured something, "Thank you" I hope, and hurried out of the office with my face burning.

               *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

That night I knew I had made a mistake.  You see, somewhere out there in the world, someone knew my deepest, darkest, most shameful secret.  That someone also had my name, phone number, address, email address, and psychological profile!  My stomach hurt, and I didn't feel like eating.  I had weird dreams all night.

As the weeks went by my mood was all over the place.  Sometimes I was excited!  I was about to live my deepest, dearest, most secret and unlikely fantasy!  Other times I was horrified!  How could I take him out in public?  If anyone could tell by looking at him that he was one of those new companion robot figures then his copious allergies would give him away!  I hadn't thought that far ahead- I hadn't thought this through!

Then, on a Monday, while I was on lunch break, my cell phone rang.  My "companion" was ready and would be available for inspection and pick up between the hours of 1 and 6 pm.  I felt like I had had too many cups of very strong coffee, both elated and jittery, and a little unwell.  I thanked the lady on the phone (it sounded suspiciously like the not-very-helpful clerk I had delt with while filling out the questionnaire) and told her I would be there around 5.

You could say that for the rest of my day I was at work only in so much as my physical body was in the chair.  At 4:30 I left as though I believed my house to br on fire.  It's possible that a few people attempted to say "good buy" to me and felt dissed, I'm not sure because either I didn't hear them, or I may have even responded "bye" automatically.  Like I said, I was there in body only.

Every traffic light took an eternity, every other car drove too slow and too close.  I kept going over in my mind what I should say or do if various potential scenarios came up, trying to predict what would happen, and worrying my fetish would come up and how I could play it off or deal with it.  Would my "companion" KNOW what I had written on the application!?!

My heart was pounding in my ears, and I felt like I may be vibrating, but I got out of the car with poise and dignity, remembered both my purse and my keys, and made my way to the front office, forcing myself not to look around to see if anyone was watching me go in there.

I gave my name to the same clerk who had made me uncomfortable during the application process at the front counter (unless there were multipals of her?) And had a seat in a corner, pulling out my phone and looking for something to do (nothing was very occupying, however, all my usual favorite sites seemed flat, uninteresting, and obsessed with the trivial).  

After what felt like three eternities and an eon wrapped together I was called by a man in a white lab coat into the back room.  He clipped a bracelet much like a fit-bit onto my wrist and told me I was to wear that for the duration of the trial to collect data and insure that my companion was both safe and effective. Then I was lead into a room where, standing in front of me, was the most handsome creature I had ever laid eyes on.

He was staring strait head, violet eyes unblinking, and showed no reaction to our entering the room.
The man in the white lab coat pulled out a metal clipboard and said, looking over his notes, "Modle 0219 is currently operating in diagnostic mode.  That is to say, it's personality, emotion, and independent agency programs are not entirely booted up yet.  Think of it as 'safe mode'."

The man turned his attention to "Modle 0219" and said, matter of factly, "Stand on your right leg."

Obediently, and without expression, the robot-companion complied.  

"Now your left leg"

He (it?) switched legs.

"Raise both arms to 90 degrees."

Modle 0219 did so.

"Spins in three clockwise circles"

I had no idea what all these tests were for, or why they had to be done in front of me.

The man in the white lab coat marked something on his clipboard, then flipped a few pages back and read what was written there.  He crossed the room in a business-like manner, opened a wooden cupboard, and pulled out a small, glass bottle.  He spritzed the air between 0219 and I.  The air took on a sharp, perfumey, alcoholic floral scent. 

Almost imidiately 0219's violet eyes fluttered closed and he/it snapped forward into a helpless volley of uncontrollable sneezing.  My heart imidiately went out to the companion-modle-robot-whatever-he-was while at the same time I recoiled in horror-
THAT SHEET OF PAPER HAD MY FETISH WRITTEN ON IT!  

The man in the white lab coat made another mark on his paper with clinical indifference, then went reached behind 0219's head and said, "If you ever need to reboot the unit, there is a switch behind its left ear.  Hold it down for 5 seconds.". Apparently doing so as he spoke.

There was a very faint whirring sound, 0218 blinked, as though waking from a dream, and began to look around with somthing like confused interest.

"Hello, girlfriend." He said, in a pleasing baritone-tenor.  "Wow! You're beautiful!"

I felt my cheeks get hot.  I wasn't, of course, noone had ever called me "beautiful" before and meant it.  But the robot companions were most likely programmed to find whoever their human counterpart would be to be "beautiful."

"I'm not.". I said, "but thank you."

"I'm not programmed to lie!" He retorted, he sounded almost hurt.  "I have been programmed with the knowlage of 324 different aspects of human beauty, including symmetry, skin tone, health, fertility..."

"What would you have said if I was asymmetrical and unhealthy looking?" I asked

0219 smiled.  "I would have found something about you I liked.  I am programed with 324 different aspects of beauty.  It would be unusual for someone not to have ANY of them."

I frowned, well then that didn't really make it much of a compliment, did it?

"I'll leave you two alone a moment to get acquainted" the man in the white lab coat said. (Although with an entire mirrored wall that was surely one way glass, and two over head camera I didn't feel very "alone".). On his way out Lab-coat-man spritzed the perfume twice more into the air, then pulled the door shut behind him.

The room filled, tho faintly, with the sticky sweet floral smell again.  0219 frowned, blinking and rubbing his nose furiously.  His breath began to catch, and he let it out in a slow, trembeling exhale.

"Are you okay?" I asked, flooded with a strange emotion that was half way between guilt and desire.

0219's eyes were distant and pricked with tears.
Now it was HIS turn to blush.  His cheeks turned pale crimson and I couldn't help but wonder how that "worked".  We're they filled with tiny fiber-optic capillaries?  Or prehaps some kind of dye?

"I-I'm fi (hih!) fine." He said, scrunching up his nose and turning away from the cloyingly sweet scent.

He didn't look fine, he looked like he was tottering on the edge of an enormous sneezing fit.  I wanted to keep him talking.  As much as I hate to admit it, I wanted to hear him struggle to form words while fighting the inevitable building sneeze.  I wanted to hear his voice hitch and break, wanted to watch him fight a losing battle his rapidly reddening, slightly twitching nose.

"Do you feel emotions?" I asked, searching to keep the conversation going.

He blinked a few times, focusing on me as if he had lost the thread of the conversation.  "Sorry" he said, sniffing and drawing another shakey breath.  "I... I..." his eyes fluttered closed and he shook his head.

"Yes, I feel the full range of human emotions, I cahhh (huh!) I c-can- Hep CHXXSH!". He looked both startled and embaressed, as though he had never sneezed before and didn't quite feel it was natural.  "Sorry." He added quickly.

(I was the one who should be saying "sorry".)

There was a momentary awkward pause where neighter of us seemed to be quite able to remember how to talk.

Then he commented mildly, "You're expirencing a slight rise in adrenaline and oxytocin."

"WHAT?!"

"The bracelet." He explained defensively, in an almost apologetic tone.  "It-" he sniffed again and made a face that indicated his nose was still bothering him.  "It transmits certain important information to me so that I can learn to be a better "companion".  Remember that I am a test modle in the research and development stage, so all the bugs haven't been worked out yet."

A sudden, horrifying thought struck me.  "DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAS WRITTEN ON MY APPLICATION??"

He looked a little taken aback, maybe he was beginning to wonder if he had been shackled to a crazy person.  For a moment his eyes went distance, not the delishious pre-sneezy sort of distant they had worn a moment before, this was more akin to the blank stare he was wearing when I had first seen him before he was fully activated.  A moment later his eyes went back into focus and he looked down at me.

"No" he said, "it's restrict- ree..." his voice had turned breathy and and a little urgent.  A hand drifted absently up to his nose to massage under his nostrils... his breath caught- then suddenly he turned full away from me and sneezed twice, forceful, helpless things ripped from him without his consent.  "Sorry." He said again, "couldn't stop it" he sniffed.  "It's restricted information.  Maybe the company thinks getting to know one another organically is an important part of the bonding process." (He sniffed again)

That took a load off my mind and I was able to relax some.  I decided to try to treat him as though he were any ordinary other person.

"So, what do you like to do?" I asked, prehaps a little lamely, but a small room with two way glass mirrors and overhead camera wasn't exactly the ideal place to "organically" build a relationship.

"I don't know yet." He said said, "all I've ever done so far is stand in this room and have a breif conversation with you."

And sneeze, I thought, a lot, but I didn't say so.

 

Edited February 26, 2017 by Medowsweet

[SneezyHolmes]

I loved this! I hope there's a part too..although I bet illness would be interesting on a robot. I think you've just inspired me to write something lol ?

[M214186]

I loved this and hope to see it continued. Thanks for such a great story.

[Medowsweet]

I intend to do a part two.  I actually have many "chapters" in mind as long as people keep reading.

 

As for illness what about a "computer virus"?

 

P.S. in Absolute Boyfriend Night gets a fever in later books (like book seven?  Or somthing like that) from over heating, trying to collect more information then he can hold.

 

(It's chapters 29, 30, and 31 if you go looking to read it, but it all the craziness won't make sense if you haven't been reading the whole thing)

Edited February 4, 2017 by Medowsweet

[SneezyHolmes]

25 minutes ago, Medowsweet said:

I intend to do a part two.  I actually have many "chapters" in mind as long as people keep reading.

 

As for illness what about a "computer virus"?

 

P.S. in Absolute Boyfriend Night gets a fever in later books (like book seven?  Or somthing like that) from over heating, trying to collect more information then he can hold.

 

(It's chapters 29, 30, and 31 if you go looking to read it, but it all the craziness won't make sense if you haven't been reading the whole thing)

Hmm..I vaguely recall looking at that manga years ago when I was super into reading manga but I never got around to reading it. As for the "computer virus", that's a very good idea! I'll have to try writing something later!  

[dragonko]

Wow wow wow wow wow, this is absolutely fantastic! I really hope that you keep this going!

[jano]

Absolute Boyfriend was such a fun to read series, I'm excited you're doing a fetishy spin on it!!

[peonyandoleander]

This sounds AMAZING, I really look forward to reading more. If you ever need a beta reader i'm more than happy to help!

[kushamisukii]

Wow this was really intriguing, I definitely want to read more and see where it goes. I really enjoyed reading this !!

[ThatSneezyGirl]

Can't wait for more!!

[Bungee]

this is really great so far and pretty original idea as well! Hope to see more soon! 

[HideAndGoSneeze]

Oh my.. I'm blushing as I read your aging story.. I love this idea.. And want a robot of my own now! *blushes* I can't wait for the next update! 

[Shamaël]

I don't know Absolute boyfriend but I loved your story! A robot who gets ill is a very interesting concept and you wrote it beautifully. I hope you will write some more. Thank you for this part!

[camillapapen]

Oh, I love this! I really hope you'll continue.

[HPG]

Please continue!

[Medowsweet]

It was about that time that "Lab coat man" reentered the room.

"I see that you are enjoying your companion." He said mildly, reading what looked like a large iPhone or a small tablet, "According to our data your fetish specific "special features" seem to be creating the desired physio-chemical response."

My cheeks went instantly crimson and my heart began to pound in my ears!  "Physio-chemical".  He meant the oxytocin thing 0219 had mentioned earlier.  They were sitting there behind that mirrored glass WATCHING my "physio-chemical" reaction to 0219's sneezing!!!

For a moment I felt the room spin, the walls were beginning to close in on me, and I couldn't breathe properly.

Then suddenly 0219 was standing in front of me, putting himself between Lab-coat man and I like a protective sheild.  He gripped my arm in a firm but gentle grasp that was, never the less, like solid iron, impossible to break, and directed me, protectively, a little further behind him.

I didn't know how to take this, and neighter, apparently, did Lab-coat man.  He pressed a few buttons on his tablet-thingy and held a small device flush against 0219's chest to take a reading.

0219 sneezed suddenly, and I could feel the heat radiating off him.  
He was blushing.  
Lab-coat man ignored this, so I'm not sure if it was an intended response or not.  I wanted to curl into a little ball and hide.

"The user saftey interface -seems- fully operational." He commented mildly.  "0219, what do you think you're doing?"

"Leave her alone." 0219 ordered, and there was the protective hint of a threat in his usually mild voice.

"I beg your pardon?" Lab-coat man said, not having made a threatoning gesture towards me in the first place.

"Her cortisol, heart rate, and adrenaline levels indicate that she sees you aaaahhhh-haaas as a threat." He explained, his voice a bit breathy and trembling near the end, tho trying to maintain his fierce, protective demeanor.  

I imidiately loved him for it.

Lab-coat man raised an eyebrow, apparently confused, then suddenly barked out a laugh that was entirely unlike his usual scientific, clinical demeanor.  "She's not threatoned, she's just shy." He said dismissively, traces of laughter still clinging around the edges of voice. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt her.  Now," he added, trying to learn around 0219 to speak to me directly (though 0219 repositioned himself to remain squarely between us) "If you are satisfied with 0219's functioning, you can sign the release papers and take him home. Call us immediately if there are any-"

"HETCHOO! CHX!  CHX!  CHOOO!!!"  

0219 convulsed into a helpless fit of sneezing, still standing protectively between myself and Lab-coat man.  I could see his shoulders hunch and tighten as he was snapped forward without his consent. I reached out involentary and lay a hand accross his back soothingly.  I couldn't help it, the poor thing, I just needed to take him home and cuddle him!

"Sorry" he said, a little sheepishly, embaressment thick in his voice, and he sniffed.

"-signs of malfunction." Lab-coat man went on as thought he had not been interrupted.

"I'm okay" I said reassuringly to 0219, and stepped out from behind him to accept a wooden clipboard handed to me by Lab-coat man.  I signed the forms as quickly as I could and hastily handed them back.

0219 was blinking and shaking his head, I could tell he was going to sneeze again.

"Sorry" he said softly to me, a little breathless, "I can't- c-can't seem to c-control my-HhhXCH!" He'd done his best to block the sneeze from coming out. "XCH!  (sniff) sorry."

I felt a tingly, throbbing warmth spreading through me. My eyes were locked on 0219 like glue as he wrinkled and rubbed feircely at his mildly freckled nose... until I ALSO realized that everyone in the room could read my bio-whatever signs through that bracelet-thing!!!  Then suddenly I wanted to die on the spot.

0219 again pulled me protectively behind him again.  I could hear his breath hitch softly, and I have to admit, I ached to see his face.

"Mmm" Lab-coat man commented mildly, "prehaps the user protection instinct is set too high.". Then he brightened triumphantly  "But, that's why we're doing the trial: to work out the kinks." 

Lab-coat man scanned the forms and flipped professionally through the pages to insure they were all correctly filled in, then tore off the back page and handed it around 0219 back to me. 

"You're good to go". He said cheerfully, "someone will contact you in one week for further evaluation of the unit."

Then he smiled an almost impish grin, and sprayed us both two times with the bottle of sticky sweet perfume.

"You kids have fun tonight, you hear, and gather LOTS of information!" And he winked at me before leaving through the doorway opposite the one I'd come in.

0219's breath caught in this throat and his eyes fluttered closed.  He appeared frozen with an expression somewhere between panic and helpless desperation.

Somethig seep inside of me began to throb.

"Wait-till-we-get-to-the-car!" I said, in suddenly alarmed.  Maybe I could snap the bracelet off and say it was an accident, or at the very least they didn't have to see the direct cause and effect that 0219's sneezes were having on me.

0219 nodded, but he didn't move, I tried to tug him but it was like tugging against a solid wall.  His breath was coming in sharp, jagged gasps, and trembeling, bearly controlled exhales.

"C'mon, let's go!". I said urgently.

"Suh-sorry" 0219 managed between despretly hitching breaths, "T-tryjng nuh-not t-to... n-not....to... heh- hhhhhh- huuuh!"

"Iknow!Iknow!" I said quickly, "C'mon, hurry!"

We made it exactly three steps towards the door before, "HETCHOO! sor-HETXCH! S-so-Hugh'CHOOO! Sorry!". He pinched his nose shut with one hand, though he allowed me to pull him by the other.

I steered him towards the exit as quickly as I could.  He followed blindly, eyes closed, sneezing every few steps.

We burst from the front door and dashed down the concrete steps to where I had parked along the curb.

I clicked my car, making it's little beep-beep, and released 0219's hand.

"It's okay" I said. "We made it."

Almost imidiately he succumbed to a helpless sneezing fit.  Harsh, powerful paroxysms ripping through him until he had to steady himself against the car for support.
(I had the feeling he just might accidentally knock it over, between his super human strength, and his utter lack of control at the moment. Though no force on earth could drag me back into that lab with their mind-reading-bracelet-app to tell them this may be a potential problem).  I tugged hard at the bracelet but it didn't come off, and there didn't seem to be a clasp.

When 0219 finally managed to regain some measure of control over himself, he looked cautiously up over the car at me.  His violet eyes were bright with tears, his nose was turning pink, and his cheeks were burning. 

I think the expression on his face made my heart stop beating, and what was becoming a famillure liquid heat was again washing over me.

I dug in my purse to get him a Kleenex, partially to break eye-contact, because I was aware that I was staring, even if 0219 wasn't.

I handed it to him without looking, deliberately busying myself unnessesarily with my keys.

"I'm sorry". He said thickly when he could finally manage to speak.  "I tried, I-I couldn't stop mysel-HEPChhSH! Sorry.  I couldn't help it". He looked somewhere between mortified and apologetic, with allergic tears still glistening like gems against his crimson cheeks.

Now, I felt -really- guilty. 
 
The warm liquid heat inside of me was turning to cold, burning needles of shame.

This companion was going to lead me to an early grave. Between the intense highs of watching him struggle against his nose, the secret guilt of knowing I had programmed him this way for my illicit pleasure, and the mortification of knowing "they" were watching me through some sort of chemical-monitoring-heart-rate-bracelet, I was rapidly becoming an emotional wreck.

"It's not your fault." I said, clicking the unlock button and getting into the car, I locked my gaze strait ahead as I heard him get in and felt the car shift with his weight.

"I am designed to be the perfect companion." He said almost apologeticly  "I should at the very least be able to control my own body."

I licked my lips, wanting to reassure him, -needing- to ease his discomfort, but unable to make eye contact... and unable to say what he needed to hear.  "Well, if you were perfect you wouldn't be human."  I said by way of lame reassurance.

"I'm not supposed to be human," he said with something like self disappointed or failure. "I'm supposed to be your ideal mate." 

This conversation was rapidly heading into dangerous waters!

"Ilikeyoujustthewayyouare." I muttered, all in a rush, "Hey! Do you like music?" I added, with my trade-mark lack of grace, and switched on the radio, searching for the most energetic, mindless, saccharin thing I could find.

"I've never expirenced music." He answered automatically.  "Though I am programmed with the ability to appreciate beat and rhythm." 

I think he was more going along with my obvious subject change then buying it, but I would take it.

   *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Hey, everyone, please keep the comments comming!  It really motivates me, and I love to hear what you think!

 

[Pyrus_Fangmon]

Absolutely marvelous!

I love the frustration you out into her. And the fact that everyone can see her reactions through heartbeat? Brilliant!

I do wonder through. Cameras. Whatbif by some miracle the bracelet is taken off by some magic force? And by another, an emergency protocol is activates in 0219 to where his eyes are mini cameras? If the lab guys can't track her heart rate, what if they catch her off guard?

[Shamaël]

This part is just brilliant. I love your characters - the narrator, torn between her shyness and her desire, and the (maybe a bit too much) protective robot. I especially love the fact that he apologises for not being able to control his body (but I love apologizing after a sneeze in general).

And I really liked "lab coat man" too... 

8 hours ago, Medowsweet said:

"Her cortisol, heart rate, and adrenaline levels indicate that she sees you aaaahhhh-haaas as a threat." He explained, his voice a bit breathy and trembling near the end, tho trying to maintain his fierce, protective demeanor.  

I imidiately loved him for it.

Oh, I would have loved him too for it! The mix of protectiveness and vulnerability is really great here.

8 hours ago, Medowsweet said:

0219's breath caught in this throat and his eyes fluttered closed.  He appeared frozen with an expression somewhere between panic and helpless desperation.

Somethig seep inside of me began to throb.

"Wait-till-we-get-to-the-car!" I said, in suddenly alarmed.  Maybe I could snap the bracelet off and say it was an accident, or at the very least they didn't have to see the direct cause and effect that 0219's sneezes were having on me.

0219 nodded, but he didn't move, I tried to tug him but it was like tugging against a solid wall.  His breath was coming in sharp, jagged gasps, and trembeling, bearly controlled exhales.

"C'mon, let's go!". I said urgently.

"Suh-sorry" 0219 managed between despretly hitching breaths, "T-tryjng nuh-not t-to... n-not....to... heh- hhhhhh- huuuh!"

"Iknow!Iknow!" I said quickly, "C'mon, hurry!"

We made it exactly three steps towards the door before, "HETCHOO! sor-HETXCH! S-so-Hugh'CHOOO! Sorry!". He pinched his nose shut with one hand, though he allowed me to pull him by the other.

I steered him towards the exit as quickly as I could.  He followed blindly, eyes closed, sneezing every few steps.

I generally don't make so long quotes, but this part was beyond perfection. Sincerely. Her frustration, his helplessness - and the sneezing, everything was just... wow. I really, really hope you will update soon! Thank you!

[HideAndGoSneeze]

Oh my Lanta... I love this so much!!!  I picture myself as the main character because I would feel pangs of guilt too... But I can't wait for the next installment!!! 

[Medowsweet]

Thank you all so, SOOO much!!!  Knowing you guys like my story makes me somewhere between squeal and melt.

As for eyes being cameras: you'll see very soon they have multipal ways of spying on our poor heros.  This is moderately inspired by a manga, so there may be mildly anime-esque sci-fi elements to it.

As for the narrator being relatable: I think most of us feel at least a little the way she does?  Maybe not to that extent, and maybe, after years of hanging around the forum, we've learned it's no big deal to feel the way we do, but I would be surprised to find someone who didn't go through a "oh my gosh, it's so mortifying to feel this way" phase.

If you could order one, but the cost was they'd see your biochemical reaction every time he sneezed, and maybe watch you with a camera... would you do it?

[Alabaster]

HECK YES

[HideAndGoSneeze]

Umm without hesitation! I would definitely buy one!! Knowing what I'd feel and the nervousness... I'd still want one. 

[M214186]

Still loving every minute of your story. 

[kushamisukii]

This is literally amazing . I am so eager for more !!! I can't get over how good that update was. Ahhhh!

[Bgrace27]

ugh this is so good!