Now Jessica was in charge of the kitchen. She wanted to cook something for the two of us, but I convinced her that I was not hungry (what an effort it took me!), because I had just recently had a very good and tasty dinner. My sister's culinary talents were not outstanding and were somewhere on the level of my past ones (in this world, thanks to my free time, I learned to cook a little better) - she simply threw coarsely chopped pieces of ham and tomato into a frying pan and fried them, poured a mixture of beaten eggs and milk on top, and then happily ate it all, washing it down with red wine. And naturally, she stayed for the night. At first, I offered her to take my bed, I myself could sleep on the couch for one night, but Jessica began to argue with me again. After all, I, a man, should sleep on a softer and more comfortable bed. After a few minutes of arguing, the woman finally agreed to lie down on the bed, but on one condition - I would also sleep with her. With a sigh, I made Jessica's bed on the couch and went to sleep on the bed. In the morning, I was in for a surprise too. Since I had a studio apartment and the bed was elevated, it had a view of almost the entire room, and I could easily see how in the morning, having woken up to the alarm clock (which woke me up too), Jessica got up and, stretching elegantly, went to the bathroom in her underwear. And then she came out and got dressed right in front of me, without the least embarrassment (she was wearing stockings, not tights). Of course, I understand that we are "relatives", but we are not five years old! Both she and I are already adults, we could be ashamed. But unfortunately, all the female relatives in Peter's life did this and did not see anything shameful in it. And some of the sisters even did it on purpose - after all, when their father was not at home, the only man who could appreciate their new designer underwear or the results of their visits to the gym was Peter. And they didn't care at all that he was a child then.
- Brother, - the woman drawled, watching me make the bed (I managed to get dressed while she was taking a shower), - what do we have for breakfast? Just something light. I need to watch my figure, otherwise how will I find myself a husband?
- Look in the kitchen, in the leftmost hanging cabinet. There should have been some muesli left there. There's definitely milk in the fridge, - I answered the woman looking at me questioningly.
She nodded and went to the kitchen, swaying her hips, as if showing off in front of an ordinary guy. Did she even understand what she was doing? With a sigh, I went to the bathroom to do my morning routine.
"So she knows about you, Carrier?" - the First spoke to me when I was brushing my teeth. "Or was that one of your human jokes?"
I looked around - the bathroom door was closed, the water running from the tap was making noise, my sister was rattling something in the kitchen. If I speak quietly, Jessica should not hear my conversation with myself. But it is still worth speaking in a whisper. There is no such thing as too much reinsurance.
- It was. Extremely successful. Although, for us, rather completely unsuccessful. I felt how you began to act after her words. What were you going to do? - the symbiote left this question unanswered, but it was clear to me that he was ready to kill Jessica for revealing my, or rather, our secret.
"Why did she guess so easily that it was not her brother in front of her?" - the First changed the subject.
"We could not have given ourselves away by our behavior, could we? Or did we? You people are so incomprehensible."
- Well, yes, we could not have given ourselves away, I remember almost everything about Peter's past, which means you remember it too. It's just that it is quite difficult for people to accept that their relatives, friends or just acquaintances could change so much in such a short time. It is difficult and incomprehensible.
"What?! Why?!" — The First asked this with such indignation that I almost choked on the water I was rinsing my mouth with. — Well, it's quite complicated, some say that people change, others argue with them, in their opinion, people are not destined to change. I think Jessica is not used to seeing such a brother. She is used to his passivity and melancholy. And she tried with all her might to take care of him and look after him. So she guessed everything without even suspecting it.
"Fools!" — the symbiote was indignant again. "The meaning of life and existence is to change, develop, evolve! Those who do not think so have already reached their peak of development, and they are only fit to be absorbed."
— Hm, I think you're right. There is even such a saying — there is no limit to perfection, — silent approval was felt from the First.
"I am interested in one more question, Carrier."
— What is it?
"This woman's attitude towards you. Almost all the female representatives that we have met have felt attraction towards you. Often sexual. Or just interest. Some to a greater, some to a lesser degree. But almost never met those women who have some kind of distinctive symbol. A ring on their finger. After all, this means that they have chosen a male for intercourse and subsequent procreation, right?"
- Well, that's right, - I nodded at these words of the symbiote. I have long noticed that the First is very sensitive to human emotions, especially when they are directed at us. Maybe this is an ability inherent in all symbiotes? Although it is difficult to talk about this, because she was created artificially, and who knows what else they "stuffed" into her. Maybe she has dozens of these abilities, and she herself does not yet know about them. And her observations on the attitude of the women around me, married and not, were very true. In this world, betrayals happened even less often than fights between superheroines and villains. It was hard enough to find a husband, try finding a lover too. No salary would be enough to support both. There have been cases of cheating between female couples, and even then, very rarely. And of course, one of the peculiarities of this world is that until you are ringed, you turn a blind eye to adventures. Even if you date one person for several years, while simultaneously having an affair with several others. - But I don't understand, what does Jessica have to do with it?
"She hasn't yet chosen someone to continue the family line, but she doesn't feel attraction to you. Only what you people call love. A very complex and little-understood feeling, although it's just chemical processes in the brain. Why?"
- Jessica is Peter's blood sister, - I answered the symbiote, feeling my cheeks flush slightly, - that's why she loves him, but doesn't want him.
"Why? After all, inbreeding is very common among mammals."
- Inbreeding? I don't even know the word! What is it? And how do you know it?
"From the white coats," the symbiote answered laconically. "And the closest equivalent of this word in humans is incest."
Eh, no matter how much you talk about tact, the First practically never learns it. - It is not accepted among humans. It is even frowned upon.
"Why?" the symbiote asks again. Oh, and how can I talk about it? I feel like a parent to whom a small child came up and asked where children come from. And what should she answer? - It is difficult to explain. And as I already said, it is frowned upon. In close family ties, children, offspring, as you say, are mostly born with deviations.
"Why?" the First repeated her question again. Eh, she really is like a child. - I don't know. I am not a geneticist or a doctor.
"Carrier, if the only thing stopping you is possible defective offspring, then I can help with that."
- You can do that too? - I was surprised. Influencing the genetic structure, that's a whole other level.
"I don't know, maybe in theory. Let's try?"
- Definitely not! - I objected to the First and went to have breakfast.