Taming a seaslug

Dress your hair with lotus flowers. Wind chiffon scarves around your torso in shades that compliment their feathery cerata. Ditto your loincloth, armour against toxic nematocysts as you straddle the wild seaslug. Be barefoot. The untamed nudibranch is susceptible to podiatric rubbing. See how the rhythmic friction softens their expression, turns them trancelike, eyes dreamy as you massage. Whisper the names they love. Marigold sea-rabbit. Splendid dragon dancer. Never call them clown. In their presence, people hold their heads in their hands or thrash around in watery green panic. You know what you're up to. Summon charcoal clouds. Those tiny teeth will never razor you.