Love Be a Mothkin Tonight

Hidden among the dreary clouds that hang low above London, England is another world:  The Mothkin world, only here they grow no larger than twelve inches unlike the mothmen that plague our world. In a city named, Mondon—not dissimilar to London itself due to how leylines work—Mugh Gefner sits at his desk perusing the layout options for the cover of his coffee table book:  Playwing.

Its audience is more for the high society types with artistic nudes and soft erotica. After all, Mugh is a respectable gentleman, well liked in the community. This is not only due to his multiple charities, but also with how he treats the women, often giving the misguided young women that come through the door opportunities on the other side of the publication dependent upon skills.

He's a fair man, but in the end, there is a business to run, and he is very successfully shrewd. All this would change, however. An empire he built from the ground up will hang in the balance.

Mugh paged his secretary, but then sighed as he remembered that she was at a routine eyes cleaning appointment. He scoffs at the idea as he grew up only being able to afford doing it himself. He huffed as he stood and grabbed the sample he had chosen and walked to his open office door, located Flarence, his assistant, and called out to him. He tapped his foot as he waited impatiently for him to come near. Flarence hurried and Mugh's antennae fluttered with impatience as he neared.

Flarence is an astute gentleman, fiercely loyal to his boss. When within a few feet, he asked, "Have you selected next week's cover, sir?"

"Yes, yes, but some changes are necessary. These subtitles need to be in a serif font. Sans serif fonts are for magazines and the interweb, not our prestigious publication. Also, these colors need to be warmer. It's the dead of Summer for Mothra's sake! I want to feel that heat coming off of the page."

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir. Anything else?"

"Why, yes. I need a temporary secretary."

"Do you have someone in mind, sir?"

"No, but... " he started, but then trailed off as he noticed a new-hire setting up a folding step ladder to put some file folders up on a top shelf as the office is a no-fly zone. "Who is that?" he asked, strangely bewildered by the woman's slow and careful movement up the ladder.

"I believe her name is Gethel, sir."

"When are her photos due to publish?"

"She... she didn't make the cut, sir."

"Preposterous. She is magnificent. Just look at the roundness of her thorax. Have her come to my office immediately." he ordered as he watched her lean far to try and put a large file folder away before he handed Flarence the chosen sample and quickly turned to walk back into his office and shut his heavy glass and oak door with an unintended loud bang.

"As you wish, sir." Flarence said with a sigh before turning to retrieve her.

It was a loud enough noise to startle Gethel and she lost her balance, and to prevent her fall, she started flying, only this immediately began to cause loose papers to fly around. One of which went into the face of a passerby and caused them to stumble into the folding ladder which then folded and fell into a man coming up the stairs sending him tumbling down as he is a loyal employee and would never fly in the office.

She landed just in time for Flarence to arrive and escort her to Mugh's office.

"Am I in trouble?" she asked nervously.

"Don't you worry, my dear. Mr. Gefner has a... different job lined up for you. A sitting job, which should suit you better, I would think." Flarence assured her.

"Alright then." she said as she followed him before turning to look at the aftermath and a few sour looks from those involved. She blushed and turned back in time for Flarence to open the door for her. She smiled and nodded as she passed him, but then nerves struck her as she was now in the presence of the head honcho. She tried to maintain her smile, but it quivered and she gave up on it before taking the seat to which Mugh pointed with his open hand. She gulped heavily as she sat, forcing a smile and doing her best to sit still despite her skin crawling.

"So, Gethel, is it?" Mugh asked with antennae raised high.

Gethel could only manage a slight nod.

Mugh smiled and continued, "I must first apologize on behalf of our judges. I'm sure there's something they overlooked, and I've been meaning to make some changes in that department. In fact, why don't we get you in for the next session. How does that sound?"

She was still in a bit of shock. Her late husband had been an avid collector of Playwing. She had loathed it at first, but then she got to know Mugh through one of his interviews they published, and she's idolized him ever since. Still, it took her a long time to build up the courage to do it, and now, after being rejected, she was being given another chance. She would have to build up her courage again. "I'm flattered, but I would need some time to think about it... again."

"By all means. My intention was never to rush you. The offer is on the table if and when you're ready, but," he said, then paused a bit for unnecessary dramatic effect due to his nerves, "that's not why you're here. I need a secretary for about... oh," he said as he looked at his watch, "for just another hour or so. Have you ever answered a phone in a professional capacity?"

Her lips pursed a bit as she thought about it, "No, I can't say that I have, but I have been on the phone a lot in my life, you know, with friends and family and those pesky telemarketers. My niece and I can talk for hours and hours!" she added with a hearty chuckle.

"Yes, well, I'm sure you'll do fine. Just keep everything very formal. How about your writing skills? Do you write legibly? Perhaps you know some shorthand, hmm?" he asked with a smile, trying not to sound overbearing.

"Well, I do have excellent handwriting—"

"Splendid! You're hired." He said with a nervously forced guffaw.

Gethel then gasped, but some spit went into her trachea and began to choke her. She tried to hold it as her face was going red, but at the same time she was trying to nod and smile to agree.

"Are yo—" he went to ask as he stood, but she could hold it no longer and twisted over the side of the chair to have a very powerful coughing fit. He waited until there was a lull to ask again and she just nodded heavily, but with her antennae swept back in distress. She then turned to cough some more for a moment and then got a chance to breathe.

"Do you need some water?"

She went to say, "Yes." but the tickle came back with force and she violently nodded her head as she coughed and coughed with this one ending in a dry heave. Luckily, this subsided the cough and she sighed as she sat up and fanned herself with the tips of her wings and cleared her throat a few times. As Mugh handed her a glass of water, she admitted, "Ugh, how embarrassing. Thank you."

"Pish posh. Happens to the best of us at the worst of times."

"Mmm, that it does." she added with a slight chuckle before taking a sip.

Mugh waited for a moment until they met eyes once more before asking, "What are you doing this evening?"

Gethel cleared her throat once more and then responded, "Well, nothing special. I was planning to give my dog a bath."

"Let me take you to dinner. Your choice."

Gethel's antennae went to either side in a demure fashion as she tried to hide her shock. She was a bit struck by his forwardness and is used to a bit more courtship before a first date. Her wings fanned a bit faster as she answered, "I... I don't know if I'm ready for a date. Especially with my boss." she added with a chuckle before taking another sip of water.

"Well, think not of it being a date. It will be a business meeting and we'll go over the idea I have for your photoshoot. I have a feeling you will love it."

“Hmh, in that case, I suppose I can’t refuse.”

“Perfect. I’ll pick you up at 7 sharp. I believe we have your address on file.”

She had to clear her throat once more, but her eyes brightened and her antennae relaxed. “7 it is.” She finished with a smirk.

Mugh smiled, but paused for an uncomfortable amount of time. He snapped himself out of his trance suddenly by saying, “Right! I’ll have Flarence fill you in on the job.”

Gethel was startled and the tickle came back slightly causing her to cough lightly as she took his hand he offered her to escort her to her office.

They both felt a bit lighter on their feet, and both were anxious and eyeing each other as the clock ticked on and on.

To be continued…