Chapter 4: Arthur 2.0

"I'm you, silly!" The stranger said as he smiled and moved to lay on his stomach, swinging his legs back and forth in the air.

"But if you're me why can I see you... And why do you look so..." Arthur was at a loss for words as he looked over the pastel unicorn vomit version of himself.

"Gay?" Arthur's second version offered.

"No... Well, that too, but I was gonna say different. I would never wear any of what you're wearing and is that hair even natural?"

"Excuse me! I'll have you know my hair is very natural, thank you, and I look different from you because I'm your ideal you!"

"Um... What?" Arthur asked confused.

Arthur 2.0 giggled. "For a book nerd, you aren't exactly a quick study." The new Arthur rolled over to lie on his back, looking back and up at Arthur. "I'm the you you wish you could be! I'm cheerful, polite, bubbly, can bake—cupcakes are my favorite—and cook, not a fan of drinking but not a lightweight, and a psycopathickillerwithviolentandpsycotictendencies. I'm gay as heck, sexy, and not afraid of expressing it in my actions or clothing, which is something I know you would love to do, you closeted-crossdresser you~. I love doing that as well, though I hate cursing. Any questions?"

"Um yes. What the fuck exactly was that middle part?!" Arthur asked, eyes wide.

"First off, swear jar. Did you not listen when I said I don't like cursing?" A jar with pastel polka dots and the words 'swear jar' on it appeared on the bed as well as a quarter in Arthur's hand. "Second off, which part? The not being a fan of drinking but not being a lightweight? Yes, I'm sorry to tell you, Arthur, but you're a horrible drunk."

Arthur was very confused as he put the quarter in the jar, forgetting all about what he he'd been referring to when he'd asked his question. "Um, why did this just appear out of nowhere?"

"Because you're dreaming, duh! Why else would you be able to see me?"

"I suppose that makes sense... What is your name anyway?"

"Umm... Oliver, I guess."

"Did you really just forget your name?"

"No. I came up with that on the spot! Isn't it cute? I didn't really have a name since you created me as a defense mechanism after practically passing out from the shock of hearing about Alfred planning to propose to Kiku! I'm basically gonna be a voice in your head after this!"

"What, so I like have schizophrenia now or something?"

"Schizophrenia is more than just voices and I don't mean to harm you, so it's all good! All I want to do is help you better yourself for Alfred! Andyouknowperhapskilloffkikuifthatdoesn'twork, but we'll think of that as plan B!"

"Um, excuse me?" Arthur asked, getting an uneasy feeling about this separate second personality he'd created of his apparently ideal self while trying to get Alfred to love him... Though then again, if he ever had Alfred as his he would want to do everything in his power to keep it that way and keep Alfred from getting bored and finding someone new, so although it wasn't likely he would ever become such, maybe an adorable, bright, happy Arthur or Oliver or whatever that knew how to cook and bake and was willing to literally kill to get or keep Alfred a decent way to go about it.

Oliver giggled. "Don't worry your pretty little head about all that though. Your body may not even have the strength to do anything like that by the end of this."

Arthur's eyebrows furrowed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, me... Anyway, what do you even want? Why am I having this dream and is there even a point to all this if I won't remember it when I wake up?"

"Oh, you'll remember it, dear. I told you, I'm to be a voice in your head after this. My goal is to talk and coach you through getting Alfred to like you... but even I can only do so much. I can make you look and act the part of Alfred's own personal seductive little minx, but what he does at that point and if you'll even let me is out of my hands. I can make you a figurative lake of fresh, clean water, but I can't make the amazingly attractive hung like a horse absolute stud that is Alfred drink. Understood?"

Arthur nodded. "I guess... I can only hope this works."

≈ 770 words, comments and votes are always appreciated and thanks for reading. X3