The Shut-In 01 (Patreon)

The last few rays of the setting sun were disappearing on the horizon as Dean walked down the street with a sad expression on his face. He had arrived in the city that morning, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, he didn't have a place to stay for the night. He had already visited several hotels and other humble lodgings, but they were all occupied or well out of his budget.

"What a way to start my college days," he muttered to himself, annoyed and exhausted. "If only I had applied to live in the dorms."

At this point, he was contemplating sleeping in the park, but before he joined the ranks of the homeless he remembered Macie, an old... friend of his, had recently lived here as well. They lost their virginity to each other early in high school which... complicated things. Over the years they grew more distant and after she moved away they barely spoke at all. It would be odd for him to contact her now, but he had few other options. He only hoped she wasn't harboring a grudge.

He found her contact, crossed his fingers, and called, hoping she hadn't changed her phone number.

"Hello?" answered Macie's unmistakable voice on the other end of the line.

"Macie! Hello, it's me, Dean. Remember?" he said with an obviously nervous tone.

"Dino? Is it you? Wow, it's been a while," she said pleasantly. Her casual demeanor made Dean relax a bit. "Well, of course, it's you... you are one of the few people I know who calls instead of just sending a text."

"Yeah... Well, sorry I didn't call sooner. I know we've lost touch," Dean explained.

“Ah don’t worry about it, it’s not like I’m blame free. I know what it’s like to lose track of time as life gets complicated,” she said.

“It’d be nice to catch up,” Dean said. “I’m actually in town right now, are you still living in Bluebird Hill?”

There was a moment of silence before Macie replied. “Yep, I still live here.”

“OK, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m kind of stuck without a place to stay tonight. Would it be possible to let me crash, just for today? I promise I won’t bother you or your roomates or anything.”

Another pregnant silence before Macie answered,a bit more timidly. “I’m living alone, so you don’t have to worry about that but… I’m not sure you’d be… uh… ready to come visit me.”

“Not ready? What do you mean?” Dean said.

“...you know, it’s better if you just see for yourself. Just, it’s weird and I’ve been avoiding everyone recently, but I have the strange feeling you’d get me.”

“So that’s a yes?” Dean asked.

“It’s a yes. I’ll send you my address via WhatsApp. It’s not hard to get to,” Macie said.

“Great!,” Dean said enthusiastically. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

“Haha, I’m sure,” Macie said. “I’ll wait for you. Don’t take too long, OK?”

It took Dean about a half hour to reach Macie’s apartment. Her building was right on a main avenue and the loud sounds of traffic were constant. This was the epitome of big city living… in a modest way.

When he got to her door he stopped, combed his hair, straightened his clothes, and took a deep breath. He had feelings for Macie back in high school but it was just a fling. But seeing her again now? Well, if he had a chance, he might as well take it. Truth be told, Dean always regretted not taking things beyond friendship, but with the social pressures of high school and all that was to be expected.

But it had been four years since they saw each other, and he hadn’t caught up. He quickly tried to check her social media but… nothing. No pictures since high school. What if she had changed? Maybe she got fat? Or maybe she got even more pretty than before? Maybe she was hiding some massive secret? Maybe she worked for the government!?

“...Let’s not get caught up in any stupid fantasies,” he thought to himself. “A girl like her probably has a boyfriend already.”

He rang the bell and waited for a response.

“Who is it?” came Macie’s voice from behind the door.

“It’s me, Dino,” Dean said, waveringly unsure.

“It’s open,” she responded. “Come in and close the door behind you. Be sure to lock it!”

Dino’s mind raced again. Was she some sort of stalker or serial killer? Was he going to be skinned alive, never to be seen from again? Would he… OWWW.

… he stubbed his toe on a box. In fact, there were a ton of boxes everywhere, strewn about and half full. It looked like she had just moved in, but she supposedly had been in this house for a while. Packing paper and garbage bags were all over the floor, and there were dirty dishes on the coffee table. It… certainly wasn’t the tidiest apartment he had ever been in.

“Macie?” Dean called. “Where are you?”

“Up here,” a voice said from above.

Dean looked up and stifled a gasp. Macie was glued to the ceiling, smiling and looking down at him. She was naked, completely naked, and was clinging to the ceiling with all six limbs. She had four arms and her feet had become some sort of hands as a long but strong looking flesh colored tail swayed rhythmically behind her.

“Oh shit…” Dean exclaimed in wonder.

“Macie giggled and let go of the ceiling, dropping and twisting in mid air to land on all six feet as if she were some scores between an Olympic Gymnast and a feral animal.

“Hello Dean. Wow, you are way taller than I remember,” Macie said.

“H-h-hi Macie, you are more… naked than I remember,” Dean said, not knowing what else to say.

Macie laughed and skittered across the living room floor to climb on the couch. She stretched out showing off six breasts and a rather large, penis on top of the vagina between her legs.

“Only you would notice that I’m naked before you notice my mutation. Same old nervous Dean.”

“I would have thought the mutation was… obvious?” he said blushing with embarrassment. He looked away to avoid making eye contact and his eyes centered on the refuse strewn about her apartment.

“Wow…” Macie said. “I had kinda hoped my body would distract you from… er… the rest of my apartment…I’m sorry…” Macie started.

“I’m sorry!” Dean belted out at the same time.

The two paused and then laughed. The whole situation was absurd.

“So what happened?” Dean asked. “Why are you naked and what’s up with,” he waved his hands around motioning to the whole apartment, “This?”

“Well, I hate to bust your bubble but I’m not naked just because you are here,” Macie said. “To be honest I just kind of always walk around naked. It’s just too much trouble to get dressed.”

“What about when you do go out to shop?” Dean asked.

“Oh I don’t do much of that,” Macie responded.

“What about school, or work?” Dean asked.

“Don’t do that either,” Macie responded.

“Well what about going to the park or…” Dean stopped when Macie gave him a look. “Not that either then eh?”

“I’m what you call… funemployed,” Macie said.

“So you are a NEET?” Dean said.

“Hey! Don’t call me a NEET, I’m gainfully employed and work remotely in software development.”

“A shut-in then?” Dean said.

“I prefer, modern day hermit. You know they used to respect old wise men who use to never leave their huts and spend their days contemplating life as prophets,” Macie argued.

“Do you do a lot of contemplating life?” Dean asked.

“Freelance coding is kind of like contemplating life. They ask you to rewrite the same section of code ten times and you ask yourself ‘what am I doing with my life?’” She and Dean couldn’t help but laugh.

“But how do you get food, medicine, essentials?” Dean asked.

“Have you been living under a rock? When the pandemic hit they opened up delivery services for all that. If I need to I’ll put on a robe so I can interact with the delivery man but often they just leave the groceries inside the entryway and I just pick them up later. Kinda hate standing on just two legs though. Six legs is so much easier.”

“Six legs?” Dean asked. He did notice all her limbs were kid of a cross between a leg and an arm.

“Yep, no real difference between legs and arms for me. Six hands get chores done easier and I have the walls and ceilings to walk on which kind of makes it feel like my apartment is four times as big.”

“Chores?” Dean said skeptically.

“Okaaaaay so… the problem is when your apartment is four times as big you are also four times as likely to not deal with… you know… waste and stuff. I mean, look, the ceiling is still perfectly clear. I even have a computer, TV, and hammock up here. I don’t really need the floor much so it’s kind of like a low shelf…”

“Slash… refuse bin?” said Dean.

“Yes, slash refuse bin. Besides being outside is overrated. The city streets are dirty and I don’t really want to get my hands dirty. And clothes for this body are expensive and don’t fit well and they make it harder to move on the walls and ceiling. It’s just easier this way.”

“Even if you don’t go out?” Dean asked.

“Even if I don’t go out,” Macie responded. “Tho I guess, I probably should have warned you about the no clothes thing. I just haven’t had company in like… two years now? I guess you sounded so confident over the phone I suppose I figured it wouldn’t bother you,” she said with a small blush.

“I don’t… I mean… it’s not that I’m completely comfortable but you should feel comfortable in your own home. Especially since you are doing me a favor. But don’t you miss like going out at all?”

“No.”

“Seeing friends?”

“I play online games, that’s good enough.”

“Going to the park?”

“My apartment has great windows, lots of sun, and great ventilation.”

“Going dancing?”

“I think I’ve spent like five thousand dollars on my music system here, and they don’t let me dance on the walls in clubs.”

“What about like, dating, meeting someone?”

“Not worth it. Besides I get all the action I need right here,” she said motioning to her crotch. “I’m a one woman show. Wanna demo?”

“D-demo?” Dean asked but Macie had already started. With one of her many hands she begun stroking her penis which very quickly grew, over a foot long. Macie bent it down and shoved it into her own vagina, letting loose a small cry of pleasure. She started undulating her hips as her penis thrust in and out of her vagina. It didn’t take her long to orgasm, cum dripping onto her carpet.

Well that explained the stains.

“That felt so good,” Macie said. “I wonder if it felt good cause I had an audience this time… huh… is this awakening something in me?”

“I… can’t believe it,” Dean said. “D-do you normally fuck yourself in front of guests?”

“Don’t have guests,” Macie said. “But this is a good way to pass the time. Hope I don’t get pregnant!” she laughed.

“Is.. is that a thing?” Dean asked.

“Pffffft, no. As far as I know I’m shooting blanks, at least when it comes to myself. Don’t even need to use a condom. So see, I have all I need. Food. Shelter. Space. Money. And even pleasure. All in one apartment.”

“It feels… like you are lying to yourself…” Dean said.

“Excuse me?” Macie said back.

“Like, it feels like maybe you stay inside because you are ashamed of your mutation,” Dean continued.

“Wow… really tactful analysis Freud. I just fucked myself in front of you and you think I’m embarrassed by this?” Macie said with annoyance.

“Yeah but, you said you were more comfortable around me. Wasn’t it because…”

“Don’t fucking think you are too important Dino,” Macie said her tail thrashing about. “I do feel more comfortable around you but not THAT comfortable. It’s SUPER fucking rude to play armchair psychologist like that? Maybe I’m just happy with my life!”

"I'm sorry. I wasn’t trying to offend you" Dean said, “Ignore me. I’ll just leave.”

“Don’t leave, idiot,” Macie said picking up Dean’s pack before he could pick it up. “I’m upset with you but I’m not gonna let you sleep on a bench in the park. Just learn some manners alright.”

“Schooled on manners by a nudist shut-in. I guess I deserve it. Honestly, if this life works for you, it works for me,” Dean said apologetically.

“Good, now come on, let’s set up the bedroom.”

“The bedroom?” Dean said surprised. “I don’t wanna be a bother.”

“I never use my bed,” Macie shrugged. “Like I said I prefer sleeping on the ceiling. You take the bed, I’ll be fine. Besides I’m probably gonna stay up all night playing games anyway.”

Dean went into Macie’s bathroom to put on his PJs dodging several boxes along the way. When he came out, Macie was on her computer, clicking away on her mouse with one of her legs while typing with her other ones. He tried to read her expression, was it frustration… pity? He wasn’t sure. He preferred not to think about it anymore and closed his eyes, falling asleep as she clicked away at the keys.