Page 9 of Snowed in: With the Alien Tentacle Monster

Despite himself, Logan found his curiosity piqued. "Oh yeah? What happened?"

Valen's tentacle stayed lightly wrapped around Logan's arm.I was young, barely past metamorphosis. The delegation from the Crystalline Worlds arrived for trade negotiations. Their customs are... illuminating.

"How so?" Logan found himself settling onto the couch, Valen hovering beside him.

They communicate through light patterns. Very subtle. I was supposed to greet their Head Resonator with a specific pulse sequence.The glow under Valen's skin flickered in what might have been embarrassment.Instead, I got excited and...

"And?"

I lit up like a supernova. Overwhelmed their sensory arrays. Three of them crystallized in shock. It took days for them to return to normal.

Logan's eyebrows rose at the absurdity of it all. "So you've always had a talent for making memorable first impressions?"

Valen's skin pulsed brighter.My father was not pleased. But the Crystalline delegation...His tentacle squeezed Logan's arm gently.They said I had 'refreshing enthusiasm.' The trade agreement was very favorable.

On screen, the movie's protagonist was now tangled in strings of Christmas lights. Valen's attention drifted back to it.

"Lights important... for Christmas?" he asked verbally, withdrawing his tentacle.

Logan's smile faded slightly. "Yeah. Very important. People put them everywhere. Trees, houses, streets..."

"You do not have lights here," Valen observed, gesturing at Logan's decidedly undecorated cabin.

"No," Logan said quietly. "I don't."

Before Logan could sink too deep into his memories, Valen's physical form began to shift again. This time, however, he did not transform into a human. In fact, he took no solid shape at all. His azure skin dissolved into pure light, swirling patterns of purple and blue dancing through the air like an aurora. The room filled with a soft, pulsing glow that reminded Logan of Christmas lights, but infinitely more alive.

Logan stared, transfixed. How was any of this real?

And had this alien just turned itself into Christmas lights for him?

"What are you…?"

The light condensed slightly, reaching out a tendril to touch his arm.I am made of light. Do you like it?

"This is your true form?" Logan asked, recalling the strange light he'd seen in the woods.

It's close to it.

"Then why the other form?" Logan gestured vaguely at where Valen's tentacled form had been moments before.

I chose that form for you,Valen's thoughts carried a hint of amusement.It is customary for us to take a form pleasing to our mates.

"Jesus." Logan ran a hand through his damp hair, fighting back a mix of embarrassment and defensive anger. "You thought I wanted you to have tentacles?"

Did they not please you?The lights swirled in what could only be described as a teasing pattern.

Holy shit, this was embarassing, because how could Logan deny how pleased he'd been?

No need for shame,Valen's mental voice held a distinct note of satisfaction.I can be whatever form you like.

"So you just pulled the idea of that tentacle monster straight from my mind?" Logan's voice was rough with discomfort and a hint of lingering desire he'd rather not acknowledge.

You had such detailed imagery,Valen shared, his lights pulsing with clear amusement now.It seemed... optimal for our interaction.

"We're done talking about this." Logan stood up, needing space. "And stay out of my head."

There are more interesting forms in your mind. Should I choose one of them?

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