Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:52:31 -0500 From: Ronald Speener Subject: Chrysalis Part 2 Chapter 19 Chrysalis Part 2-Chapter 19 This story is about a young man's quest to fix a major birth defect--he was born without a penis. On his quest he meets his soul mate and many other soon to be friends. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are the product of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any real person is coincidental. The story depicts procedures and practices common for gender reassignment; however, this story does not claim to be a medical treatise, and information is primarily for the purpose of the story and not medical advice. This story is written for adults with adult themes. If you are underage or live in a location where references to gay relationships or transgender people is forbidden, please log out of the story or move. This work is copyrighted by Boethiuscell@gmail.com © 2023 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and retrieval system, without the written permission of the copyright owned to the extent permitted by law. Please contribute to Nifty. They do a great job of providing stories that please the senses, titillate the mind, and expand our view of the world. Chapter 19--House Hunting Silent Models, always tried to wind things down by 2:00 on Friday. The photo shoots this week, thrilled Chris because of the international flair to the collection. He pranced, pouted, vamped Chinese mandarin, Scottish Outlander, Arab sheik. Dorn, the artistic director for Silent Models, fluttered around Chris, like a butterfly to milkweed driving Chris to explore sides of masculine sensuality through the fabrics he wore, the poses he struck, the introspection he needed. Chris, while sitting on his sofa listening to Schubert, had an epiphany. That being female was not something he wanted to totally lose. That being female was part of him, that he could me male, masculine and still enjoy the softer parts of his essence. It made him want the transformation of his body to male stronger, but he did not need to sacrifice compassion, kindness, love to macho posturing, chest thumping, and braggadocio. He did not need to sculpt his personality to becoming male but needed to sculpt his body to the emerging self. He undressed and stood naked before a mirror; a task he avoided rigorously. But now he saw a young woman, breastless true, but a woman. Instead of being repulsed by the image he saw the figure was an unfinished sculpture, he saw the woman as the framing for a male body; he saw himself as male, with a penis, with or without body hair. He started imagining himself as a clay for his future body, trying on different features. He staggered at the possibilities and knew he needed to be cautious and not rush to fit anyone else's expectations. He needed to create the body that was him. He dressed again but putting on what he felt he wanted to wear: deep blue silk pajama bottoms and a white sleeveless cotton T-shirt. He poured himself a glass of wine, sat back on the sofa sinking into the sensuality of Scheherazade. A knock on the door broke him from his soft reverie. Tom he thought wanting to go out for supper, but he thought Tom said he needed to work late tonight. He peeked through the door viewer and ripped open the door with a huge whoop. "Hi, Chris," Ariel said, "hope you don't mind me stopping by un...." The rest of Ariel's sentence was lost as Chris pulled her inside, with an enthusiastic huge. "Didn't think I would see you until tomorrow." Chris tugged Ariel over to the sofa, she almost losing her balance. "Sit, let me get you a glass of wine." Ariel sat, lost in Chris's delight. Chris returned, handed her the wine, bouncing on the sofa like a boy with a new puppy. "So glad you are here," he smiled. He noticed her looking around. "Do you like the place?" She stood and wandered over to the paintings Slim had given Chris. "These are very nice," Ariel said. She stepped back and looked more closely. "This are brilliant. A tryptic?" "Yes," Chris said, knowing that his Sunday's party would be a success, "A friend gave them to me." Ariel turned from the paintings to look at Chris. "He is an artist." "Yes he is," replied Ariel, "I'd like to see more of his work. Is it possible?" She turned and returned to sit by Chris. Seeing the gleam in his eyes. "You, devil," she laughed, "you've already arranged it." Chris nodded proudly. `I should have expected as much." She patted Chris's hand. "Do you have me booked for the entire week that I am here?" She laughed lightly. " No," Chris's grin said more than no, "just this weekend." Ariel laughed. "Tomorrow you are helping me house hunt. And then Sunday, you are invited to my party, more of a Sunday brunch." Ariel looked around the small apartment. "Not here but at a friend's house." "The friend who is also an artist?" Chris smiled sheepishly. "Get dressed and you can tell me everything over diner," She looked at Chris, "Although what you are wearing now would turn heads." Chris smiled, noticing that Ariel was in jeans so he could be casual too. While Chris changed, Ariel loudly probbed. "House hunting, not apartment hunting. You know I love doing that." "Tom said you would" Chris yelled back and then emerged from his closet in black jean, same T-shirt, and a black leather bombardier jacket, cut short." "Stunning," Ariel said as she rose to meet Chris by the door. "You are not the same lad I met in Chicago." Chris looked at himself in the mirror, nodding agreement. "Ethiopian okay." Derrek found Chris and Ariel sitting in the sleek but comfy sitting area just off the lobby of the Aurora Hotel-New York sipping latte's out of hand-thrown mugs that had the hotel chain's emblem embossed. "Hi Chris," Derrek said with unusual warmth. Chris introduced Ariel. Derrek sat and motioned a server for a similar to Ariel and Chris's. "I would like to sit a bit before we head out to let you look over a dozen properties. I select a few that you might want to see" He looked at Chris and then Ariel. "It will save us time avoiding places that you are not the least interested in." Ariel acknowledged the wisdom of that; Chris was still in a little shock and was glad Ariel was taking the lead. "Is it okay if we do it here?" Derrek was nervous, which was unusual, around Ariel. Cedrick Greenwood had a reputation of being hard-nosed, confrontational, and single-minded when he negotiated. The grapevine said his wife was the same without the bluster. "Why don't we move to the solarium," Ariel gestured to a brightly lit archway. "It has a small table. I'll have Alicia bring us a pot of coffee and biscotti." Ariel slightly nodded her head when the server, Alicia, was at Ariel's side to take the order. The solarium was not large, maybe six small cafe style tables, each with three nicely padded chairs. The solarium appeared to be in a light well of the hotel, the meager sunlight was offset with grow-lights. While Chris expected the space to be lush tropical, it was more woodland with orchards, spring bulbs--daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and tulips, ferns, three miniature willows against a rocky waterfall that ran into a stream on three sides of the room. Chris heard birds; he spotted a large cage with finches. Ariel selected a table near the waterfall. "My husband always sets three chairs at a table. A couple is reluctant to take a table for four, while four do not mind pulling a chair from a table of three." Derrek smiled and nodded Alicia set a cart next to the table with the coffee, cream, and sugar and a small tray of pastries. "Ms. Greenwood, Henrie, the pastry chef, has a new delicacy he wants you to try. It is a pistachio raspberry mousse tart with a caramel drizzle." "I can never refuse any of Henrie's creations. Thank you Alicia." Over decadent coffee and the orgasmic dessert, they discussed Chris's needs. Ariel insisted Chris needed a large area to entertain, a professional grade kitchen, large master with ensuite, a second room that can be office and guest room. Chris wanted charm, easy transportation, light, and nature nearby. We eliminated Manhattan: too congested, and as Derrek pointed out over priced. Chris still wanted Brooklyn, which Derrek said was trending and property values were going to rise. We debated, home--too much maintenance, condos--high rise verse smaller boutique. They examined floor plans and online photos. Finally, after two hours, Derrek narrowed the list down to five properties in Brooklyn. After a quick text, they left the hotel. A red Land Rover was at the front with Rami at the wheel. He ran around opening doors, and sneaked a kiss on Chris's cheek. The first was a high-rise overlooking Manhattan offering stunning views. One look and Ariel and Chris opted to not even stop. The second was nice, but at less than 1,000 sq ft, Ariel rejected as too small. The third Chris really liked. It overlooked Prospect Park, but the kitchen was small; Derrek said it could be remodeled to a more open floor plan. For a lark he showed a townhouse, just under 3000 sq ft, under budget, waterfront, in Ergen Park. Ariel loved the kitchen, but Chris was not sure he wanted to maintain a house that large. It was left on the list, though. The last was in a 1930's building, brick, but updated inside. It was good sized, almost 2,000 sq ft, and almost perfect. It was on Ocean Ave. overlooking Prospect Park. It was a third floor condo with a professional kitchen (the previous owner was a chef), three large bedrooms but not open concept. It would need work, but the best feature was the views of the park across the street. As the group left this place, Chris told Derrek to buy it. Derrek sat between Chris and Ariel. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, "You should take more time to consider all your options." "I am sure. I walked in it felt like home." Chris stated as if that was the only consideration needed. Derrek gave an imploring look at Ariel. "Derrek, I agree with Chris. This is the perfect place for him. The decision may seem impulsive, but I absolutely trust Chris to know his mind." "Well, Dude," Derrek turned to Chris, "you make my job too easy. The building is a co-op so you will need to meet with the other owners and pass inspection." Chris looked out the vehicle's windows at the passing buildings. "Will that be a problem since I am only nineteen, single, a model, and gay?" "It might on the age. They will be concerned with the financial, but I can handle that. The rest is up to your charm." Derrek patted Chris's knee. "So that will not be a worry." "He could charm the fangs from a cobra," Rami said from the front seat. "The price is 1.3 mil. Offer 989 Thou." Chris said turning to Derrek. "We can negotiate from there." "That is a little low, but it has been on the market for over three months and the market is sluggish. I also suspect that the other owners are being particular. We can start from there." Derrek leaned into the front seat. "Stop by the office so we can do the paperwork and then I'll take everyone to dinner at Babbo to celebrate Chris's new home." On a last-minute impulse, Chris asked Derrek if he could attend his party Sunday. Derrek was surprised but after a discussion with Rami, he agreed. for 2:00 PM. Chris immediately texted Louis that there would be two more. The text reply was that additions were already anticipated. Chris was in early at the Deli with photos of his new home. Stella brought over two cups of coffee; one for Chris and one for herself. "House hunting is exhausting," she said with a maternal hug. "How did it go?" "Found a place and put in an offer." Stella leaned back to look at Chris. "I walked in and it screamed buy me." "It must have been a very loud scream to have you move so fast," Stella partly smiled and partly laughed, "but knowing you, even if it has been only a few weeks, I know that your judgement is sound. So, if this place is what you must have then congratulations." "It's not a done deal yet, we need to negotiate the final offer, and I need to be approved by the co-op board. Derrek, my agent, says that it may take a few months for the board to approve me." "Good," Stella huffed, "not that I don't want you to have your own place. I just like having you around. You class up this place." Chris leaned over and kissed Stella on the cheek, "I like being around too. This was a hard decision." Tom soon joined Chris followed, before Tom even got coffee, by Juan and Zack, who insisted on sitting next to each other forcing Chris to slide closer to the window and leaving Tom alone on his side of the booth. The three, after a quick good morning and placing orders, stared at Chris. "What?" "Well?" was Juan's reply. Tom pointedly glanced down at the manilla folder Chris had on the table top. "Yeah, I'm buying a condo apartment." Excitement bubbled from Juan and Zack. Tom sat glum although his words were congratulatory. "Didn't take you much time." Tom said, "must be anxious to move on and be on your own." Tom took a sip of coffee, a distraction, "Find a place on the Island?" Chris did not know what was eating Tom, but he figured Tom would let him know when he was ready so his answer was a curt, "No." Juan and Zack pushed him for details; their enthusiasm blunting Tom's reactions. Chris slid the folder over. Zack and Juan oohed over the real estate pictures. "Got more?" Juan asked. Chris could not contain his enthusiasm over his place. He opened his phone, thumbed, and brought up over fifty photos. "Overkill," snarked Juan with a large smile. He was so happy for Chris. Juan, Zack and Chris went Martha Stewart over the decorating possibilities. Chris gushed about the size, the light and most about the proximity of Prospect Park. A little peeved at Tom, Chris looked at him. "It is the perfect place to share with a boyfriend. Once I find one who isn't a douche." Chris then turned back to Zack and Juan. "I know this very sudden, but I walked in and knew this is my home. It felt right. Now it is not a done deal yet, but I see myself there." Tom slid out of the booth saying he needed to get a few things done. "You will be at my party?" Chris asked uncertain of the answer. "I would not miss it for anything. And I am truly happy about this place." Tom smiled, at least it was genuine. After Tom left, Zack turned to Chris, "Who shit on his lawn?" Chris could only shrug. "Maybe he is jealous." Juan opined to Zack. "I think he is afraid that he will lose Chris." Juan chuckled, "Like that would ever happen. Tom is Chris's man; Tom just doesn't know it, poor sap." Chris sat there listening, a third wheel, but agreed to himself. Then the conversation returned to Chris and his new home.