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i am robbing bakerstreet again

PET PERSON MEME

>> premise

Hello, and welcome to The Care and Keeping of Your Pet! As you surely know, a pet is a big responsibility, and we're so glad you've decided to be a concientious master. A safe pet is a happy pet, and this handbook is certain to keep your precious lifelong friend as content as can be.

The history of the animal person is a long and difficult one, with their origins not being known even to this day. However, scientists believe that despite our common appearance - most animal people have humanoid forms except for the ears, tails, and sometimes teeth - we share no common ancestry, even if the ascent of this species corresponds with that of the homo sapien. We gained dominance over each breed thousands of years ago, beginning with the dog type, who have long been considered "man's best friend." Most breeds these days are docile and perfect for owners of any speed.

Of course, it is our duty as the superior species to take care of these animal creatures, and this is inherent in their genetic makeup. Everyone knows that an animal person, when matched with their correct human master, is loyal for life - a true "soulmate," if you will. Far be it for us to turn this away! Ever since the Great Domestication, these intelligent and loving animals have served us as friends, workmates, guardians, servants, and sexual companions and will for years to come. Despite recent hubbub from so-called "Pet People's Rights Activists," this way of life is wholesome and good. Scientific research shows that the natural desire of the pet person is to be owned and cared for by a human.

So, it's your first pet. What do you need to know?

As previously stated, pet people come in as many breeds as you can possibly think of. By far and away the most popular are the dog and cat types, but exotic birds and lizards have been gaining popularity among trendsetters from L.A. to Tokyo!
All pet types are best suited for certain jobs, and when hunting for one, it is best to search for a type that suits your needs best.
However, a "True Match" - when a pet person bonds with you and only you for the rest of their natural lives - comes naturally, and sometimes takes time before you can find the pet you will be able to give a forever home to.
According to all current research, pet people are completely sentient and like us in many ways. However, it is important to remember that they have many animalistic and feral characteristics. Do not be foolish and think that your pet is a person, despite the facts that many are clothed and may be allowed to read, write, and have "hobbies." Some traditional pet owners may eschew these frivolities, and that is within their right.
Pet people age more quickly than humans, at least physically, and many types have long lifespans. It is not uncommon for pets to be passed through the family. When getting your child their first pet, it's important to keep in mind that just because the pup is tiny now, a grown pet can be jumpy around a small child.
It is important to train a pet. Discipline will be necessary. This does not make you a bad owner. Failure to train early will result in a rebellious pet. Training is especially important if you want your pet to serve as a household servant.
Remember, your pet will be extremely protective of you, especially if you are Truly Bonded. It is best to socialize them early. A socialized pet is a perfect family pet.
These days, unowned and unbonded pet people are allowed to live as strays or "Frees" in certain designated areas. Some even hold "jobs." This is against their best interest, and owners who adopt these strays are to be rewarded. Still, the best place to get pets are from liscenced kennels or breeders.
Some masters find it beneficial to participate in activities with their pets, such as shows and other competitions.
Finally, much has been made about the sexual relationship between pet and master. This is a normal facet of the bond, and humans are sure to find pet people sexually alluring. But beyond that, it is only responsible and prudent for owners to care for their pet's needs. It is a well-known fact that the libidos of pet people are remarkably strong, and when they go into heat, it is usually more convenient for a master to relieve them. There is no risk of pregnancy. All rumors of hybrids are urban legends.
Despite this, masters must remember to not view their pets as romantic partners. Humans should stay with humans.

With that said, thank you and welcome to your first day as a pet's master!

>> how to play

Needless to say, The Care and Keeping of Your Pet is a bit biased and full of propaganda, but it gives a good idea of the world your character is now AU's into. They are either a pet person or a human master, and what that means for them varies.

So are they a devoted pet or a rebellious animal person looking to buck the system? A generous master or a cruel sexual sadist? Just a normal pet owner? Most likely they're something in between, but when you're raised in this world, it's difficult to see anything different on the horizon.

Rules

Comment with your character and say whether they'd be a master or a pet. Ideally, they could be played as both. Mention what kind of each they'd be and what they'd be like, (ie: "Xx-chan is a bunny girl who is happy to please her master" or "Asterothia is a cat boy who is aloof but loyal to his true master"). For pets, be sure to include features ("wolf ears, tail, teeth).

REMEMBER, pet does not automatically equal submissive and master automatically equal dominant. This is not a BDSM setting though BDSM can be included. How far you want to go with the actual "pet" aspect is up to you, as well. Your pet could just be your slightly-furry roommate or soulmate!
Comment to others.
Play out the scene.

>> prompts

This by no means an all-inclusive list, but it should get you going in the right direction.

First Time Pet/Owner: Usually, pets are gotten at a young age; you're an old dog. Can you learn new tricks?
True Bond: What all masters and pets yearn for...the pet's loyalty and adoration for life.
Love: It's expected for masters to love their pets, but to love them? Romance is strictly forbidden.
Old "Couple": Master and pet have grown together and know each other. You know, know each other.
Loss of Master: The pet has lost their master, perhaps even their True Bond. Is it possible to move on?
Young Master/Older Pet: Pets age quicker than masters, so it's possible to end up with a bit of an "age" difference.
Family Pet: This pet's been raised as part of the family. What happens when their feelings for a family member get more than platonic.
For Your Protection: You don't want to be a master, but you have to take in a pet for their protection lest they be in danger from the general public.
Stray: You're a stray or a "Free." Can you live like this with your biology screaming for you to make a match?
Servant: You're more servant than pet.
All Sex, All the Time: The only purpose for this pet is to service the master, and not in a way that means cleaning their house.
Guard: You're a loyal bodyguard, a service pet. You'll do anything for your master. Anything.
Pet Play: This is for those who prefer to keep their animals on leashes, have them eat from bowls, and keep away from clothing.
Breaking In: Training is important with any pet.
In Love with Another Master...or Pet: To lust after another's master is no better than treason, and to wish to be with another pet just cruel!
Punishment: Bad dog, no nookie!
Heat: All pets go into heat, and it's the responsibility of the owner to take care of this problem. After all, unchecked dry humping kills thousands every year.
Breeding: Breeders know the best qualities in each type and mate the cream of the crop together to continue lines. It's a hobby for some, a calling for others.
Territorial: Hey, hey, other dog person! This is your apartment. Stay the fuck out!
Kennel: Kennels are where unadopted pets are kept. They're generally agreed to be depressing places. Why not volunteer at one, keeping the pets healthy and happy with the kind of affection only humans can show?
Rebelling Against the System: Damn the Man! Pet people are people, too! Just be careful not to get talk. You know what happens to bad pets.
Instant Attraction: You ever just look at someone and know they're the one? That they're...your master? But what if you've been trying to fight it? Well, don't try!
Dominant Pet: You might be the pet, but you call the shots, at least in the bedroom.
Pet Show: Everyone wants to show off how perfect their animal is. Look at that ass! And you'll never believe their special skills...
Therapeutic: Pets, especially those bred for their kindliness, are perfect therapy for those who've been through trauma and heartache.
Jealousy: Who's that around your master? Oh, hell no. They better not be touching them!
Petting: Pet people are absolutely gaga for being touched. Even the most steely ones turn to mush for rubs.
Games: Playing with your pet and giving them exercise is a key to happiness. Of course, with a pet person, you might want to use other toys instead of a ball.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, it's okay....if you want me to be more careful, I will.

[But....also.]

...I don't mind if you make noise though, you know. I like hearing you sing.

[Well, this is less "singing" and more "horny warbling", but sure.]

Ha... I think you got enough of me "singing" in your ear last night, didn't you?

[Or maybe he didn't, either way, it is indeed going to be horny warbling which is why Ain is insistently keeping his mouth shut. He's trying to behave. Vash needs rest! Ain needs to calm down! Body why are you like this!!]

You're fine as you are. [He will. Behave™.]

Mmm...honestly, I'm looking forward to hearing more of it.

[You know! Just so you know :)

But if Ain wants to try to behave, Vash won't stop him. Vash...is still very broken, and probably isn't in a state to be fucking around (lol) at present anyway, though he WILL actually try to be more careful with his washing here. Less back touching and more actual wing-washing, all the way to the tips of his primaries before spraying them down with the hose.

Ain is more than welcome to shake them if he likes, it's not like Vash can get any wetter.]

[haha oh. okay. well.

Ain shelves that. This is a surprise tool that will help them later, et cetera. But no, he's being Good right now, they both are, and honestly when they're done here he's going to tuck Vash back into bed and get them food before he heads out.

And yes, his wings do have to shake and whip around. Ain tries his best to curb it, but it happens anyway. At one point, water gets too much for him, and so he, in a flurry of feathers, just starts beating his wings rapidly as he shakes them off.

It's like owning a really big dog.]

[The shaking is expected, but honestly? Vash doesn't mind at all. He laughs, loud and deep, as it happens, lifting his arm to shield his eyes as water gets slung all over the place. Honestly, he's pretty sure Ain could beat a man to death with those wings if he wanted...something something geese can hit people with the force of a baseball bat with their wings, so why can't Ain-

When the fluttering dies down, Vash leans back into his space, looping his arm loosely around Ain's waist from behind in a sort of half-hug.]

Feel better? You should be all soap free, now.

[He's a songbird, not a goose!! (He could absolutely kill someone with these.)]

I do feel better, yes. Thank you for the help. It can be difficult to get to my back sometimes.

[And he will Firmly tuck those wings again once he has sufficiently beaten the shit out of the walls with them, thank you. Vash-snuggles are also welcome, and Ain tilts his head back to kiss his cheek, letting it linger.]

Mm... one more thing, though.

[Hey babe let's have a discussion about what it means to clean Out—]

[Vash feels like a good owner. He feels accomplished. He is a Good Boy.

But now Ain is shifting gears as he tilts his head back towards Vash, who is looking back at Ain with a look of just :3?

Teach him how to do this he does not know.]

Mm?

[He's Ain's good boy. Ain's babygirl.

Kisskisskiss... Okay anyway.]

You have to clean yourself out before you get a stomach ache. Trust me. [Please trust him.] Which is going to mean you'll have to put your fingers... ah, actually, do you want me to help? I don't mind, since I'm the one who did it.

[Explaining things is a little difficult, Ain's better at just Doing, even if this may be considerably awkward.]

[Awkward, perhaps, but immensely helpful. While you only really need one hand for this, Vash can’t really see what he’s doing, and up to this point has never fingered himself, sooooo…

He just sort of looks at Ain helplessly.]

If….you don’t mind. It might be easier…

[And then, you know, he’ll know for next time! It’s not like Ain hasn’t fingered him twice already, one more can’t hurt right-]

Haha, are you pouting? I'm sorry.

[Kisskisskiss— and then Ain spins around in Vash's grip, because they have things to be doing. Actually, all Vash needs to do is lie there while Ain hangs the shower hose back up and sets about it.

He's not doing it for pleasure, at least, so that's something. Vash has been railed into a crying mess once already, he gets a break for a bit.

Either way, cleanup is cleanup. It's nothing special otherwise, and Ain is sure to explain exactly what he's doing so that Vash isn't so reliant on just Feeling and Assuming if he ever goes about this himself. If Vash looks mildly uncomfortable ever, Ain will kiss his cheeks and chirp at him.

And when they're done, and when they turn off the water, Ain burritos Vash up in a towel and carries him back to the main room, setting him down on the mattress. Like, is the burritoing necessary, no. Did he do it anyway, yeah.]

[Vash expected this to feel weird, but nobody could have prepared him for, uh.

That.

It's like when Ain stretched him before, but there's a whole lot more working stuff out that has him squirming, even moreso because they didn't get it done right away. Vash slept like this, so...yeah. It doesn't hurt at least, it's just a little weird...and awkward. It does help that Ain is so receptive to whenever Vash shifts even slightly, treating him to kisses to help make it less bad. Honestly, if Vash had to complain about anything, it's that he's still really sore. He's sensitive too from how thoroughly he'd been fucked, leaving him wondering if maybe he just isn't used to this yet.

It's probably that.

Eventually though it's all taken care of, both of them squeaky clean and refreshed, with Vash feeling very pampered as Ain carries him back into the bedroom. No, the burritoing is not necessary, but he doesn't seem to mind it. He just smiles up at him, you can practically see the little flowers floating around his head.]

I feel a lot better, thank you.

You're welcome.

[Aww, he's all flowery. How cute... Ain chirps a few times before he sets about cleaning up their clothes off of the floor, and getting their extra clothes out of the bag. Vash's are handed over, and Ain sits up on the edge of the bed to dress himself.]

I'm going to get us breakfast, [he says, as he's pulling on socks,] and then... I said I'd get us money today, too. You should rest more while I'm gone today.

[Ain feels very tired today himself, but work needs doing. He's not quite sure why — it's a mix of tired and too hot, but he's sure it's because he railed a man senseless and then took a very hot shower and definitely not because he's starting to get sick haha—]

[How Ain is feeling isn't something Vash can tell from the surface, obviously. He seems fine. Maybe a little tired, but who isn't after last night? Vash could probably just go back to sleep himself...

It's tempting to tell Ain to stay home. It's probably snowing still too, right? But...Vash knows they need the money. They need to be able to make it here for the rest of the week.]

Try not to stay out too long. You should get some rest too.

Haha, we'll see. Breakfast first.

[It's definitely still snowing. Ain bothers to open their window up a little bit to let some natural light in, and yep, there are snowflakes. It's all over the ground, too, but by now it's so late in the morning that the sidewalks have likely been shovelled.

Maybe when they both feel up to it, they can get in that snowball fight or something. For now, though, Ain leaves Vash with a kiss to the forehead, and sets out with money in his pocket to bring back food.

The inn does do breakfast, but Ain finds that it's a bit overpriced from what they can get if he just bothers to go outside, so that's what he does. He wanders the town for fifteen minutes, finds a place that sells cheap breakfast sandwiches, gets four of them for way less than what the inn was going to charge for one meal, and heads back. They have water at the hotel, at least, so drinks are covered. And, since he's an "owned" pet, people just... leave him alone. Let him walk around and buy things with "his owner's money". Much easier than if he were still looking like a stray.

The food is still hot when he comes back, too. He's quick and efficient about this, at least.]

[Vash watches Ain as he slips out the window, bringing his fingertips up to touch where he'd kissed him. It leaves him smiling, faintly, as he carefully reattaches his arm before laying down to wait for him to return.

It's snowy. Sleepy. Quiet, here. Yet all while Ain is gone, Vash finds himself worrying. He knows he can take care of himself, but even then...there's just so much that could go wrong. It makes Vash wonder if he should have tried to drag himself out of bed to help...

But before he can really do that, as he lays there, he ends up drifting back off to sleep. His body is just that exhausted, though the warm shower honestly didn't help much.]

[Well. Ain walks back into the room with breakfast and he's surprised, really, that Vash just passed out immediately when he left. He almost wonders if he should wake him up or leave him to rest and just leave the food for when he wakes up.

Hm.

Ain sits on the bed to eat his own food, and places the wrapped breakfast sandwiches that are Vash's on the pillow next to him. Maybe he'll wake up if he smells food, like a dog.]

[Fortunately for Ain, that's exactly what happens. Because while he's also a Plant, Vash is also part Golden Retriever, you see.

He smells the food, and it's enough to get him stirring, rolling over onto his stomach until he's face-down on the bed, mumbling something incoherent into his pillow before lifting his head. He blinks over at Ain blearily, looks at the sandwich, then back up at him.]

Hiii...

[Blinks his eyes out of sync like a lizard

Vash pushes himself upright with a comically loud yawn, stretching his good arm over his head as he sits back against the headboard of the bed, picking the sandwich up in his other hand.]

Haha, sorry...fell asleep again.

[Ain chirps.]

It's alright. I was debating on if I should wake you or not. You never get to sleep like this...

[It's nice, to come back to base and find Vash just... snoozing. Relaxed. This is what Ain wanted to happen when he railed the man half to death, kind of. He really wants Vash to relax without having to be turned into a sobbing mess first, but at least there's a surefire way to do it now. And for the time being, they're safe, and it's... it's just nice, okay. It feels good. The vibes are fantastic.]

You really are like a dog, though! [say goodbye to the cute moment it's gone.] You wake up to the smell of food!

Haah? A dog?

[Vash...tilts his head. Much like a dog. It isn't really helping his case much as he unwraps his sandwich.]

I'm going to take that as a compliment.

[Dogs are cute! Everybody loves dogs! So he doesn't mind being one.

He'll take a bite of his sandwich though and, boy. They had dinner last night and it was really good, but there's just...something that can't quite be beat with a nice sandwich that's warm. Vash is smiling before he even realizes it, taking two, three more bites in quick succession before he's even finished the first.]

Mmmh! This is really good! Where did you get these?

[Maybe Vash should be the one who wears the collar in this relationship, good god.

He's too cute. Ain's glad he likes the food — it's not that he wasn't sure he knows what Vash likes, but rather that he was anxious on if he'd prefer cheese or not as if he doesn't already know the answer — and the way he just goes to town on that thing makes the cuteness aggression rise. Lord, he's gonna have to figure out a way to suppress that. If it were up to him, he'd spend the day curled up in Vash's lap, but.

Money.

Money, and he wants to do something nice for the guy for once. Grr. Damn you, responsibilities.]

There's a breakfast place pretty close by. We probably missed it yesterday because it was past noon when we went out. [Ain didn't look at the hours, but he'd guess this place is the sort that's open from 6am to 12pm. One of those "old people restaurants" since old people are always up so early.] Haha, it was nice and quaint inside, like everything else here, and the line wasn't too bad. I bet I missed the morning rush.

[Vash is not only the Humanoid Typhoon, he's also a Black Hole. He will eat anything everything handed to him, he is no stranger to trying something once, even worms he found in the desert. Sometimes you just have to not be picky when you don't know what your next meal might be...but even beyond that, Vash is just naturally curious about these things. He always has been.

So while Ain explains, Vash just eats like a wolverine who hasn't had a meal in days, and at the very least Ain won't have to worry about there being anything leftover. Vash will see to that.]

Oh, maybe we can go there one morning before we leave? If we get up early enough.

[Vash...may be tempted to just sleep in the longer they stay here...]

We can. We can even sit down and eat inside. We never get to do that, do we?

[For good reason. Dumb reason also. Ain wants to just... veg out for once, so that's what this week will be. Eating food in public like people. Snowball fights and snow angels (snow birds?) and slushies that Ain will refer to in German because he forgot the name again. Gross ale and late-night kisses.

It's kind of the ideal. One could argue that if Ain wants to have a normal life like that, he can just leave and find someone else... but he doesn't think he'd trade security for Vash.

Ain eats. Not as fast as Vash does, but he eats his share of the four sandwiches he brought, or... well, he eats one and a half, and shoves the other half at Vash like the man's a fucking garbage disposal. Here honey eat this. :)]

Before I go, [he starts when he's finished,] I'm going to take the comforter from last night [that they got cum all over] and throw it into the laundry cart in the hall. Room service won't interrupt you otherwise, and we can get that cleaned and get something fresh on the bed next time they come by.

Oh! And I'm going to use the bag to hold any money I get, [he doesn't own a hat for tossing money into so the bag will have to do,] so I'm going to empty it out for now. [As if they have much.]

[They never do, because slowing down is a luxury neither of them can afford. It's why their time here is finite. Vash doesn't want to waste a single second, already committing to memory how long they've spent here. Today will be their second morning in this town, third day overall.

He nods as he takes the other half of Ain's sandwich and polishes it off like he didn't just eat a whole one for himself, though perhaps they should at least TRY to save the other two sandwiches for later just in case...]

That's fine. We'll pack it back up when you get home.

[They might need to use it again but, like. Vash will refuse to go to bed without that bag packed. They need to be capable of jumping up and leaving in the middle of the night if they have to, and he's had to leave all of his meager belongings behind before on more than one occasion. With Ain with him...he'd like to avoid that, if at all possible.]

We can probably buy a little bag for money, at some point.

[Like...a fanny pack, or something. Hell, they need another BAG really, like a backpack, but Vash is pretty set on traveling as light as possible.]

Haha... we can see what they have later.

[They don't need too much. They've never needed "too much", but it would be nice to have more than a few sets of clothing and a pocket to put money that's not buried under everything else, even if money is impossible for them to come by most of the time.

Ain leans forward and kisses Vash, on the lips this time. It's chaste, but he lets it linger, momentarily brushing their hands together before his brain for some reason thinks better of it and he draws back.]

I'll be back. Make sure you rest... and if something happens, I'll be at the fountain. I won't crawl into it this time!

[He swears. But with that, he gets up, and after emptying out the bag, he's off. This thing sure does feel like fucking Nothing when there's not a single thing in it.

By now, it's around noonish, give or take. The lunch crowd is out in force, and that's the perfect time for Ain to gun it to the town square toward the fountain (do not get into it, do not go into the fountain, do not splash) and set the bag down right in front of it, open so that people get the general idea of Put Money There Thanks. It's been a while since he's had to do this, but he's always been proficient at finding the most populous spot and just going for it. If people want him to leave, they'll throw rocks at him.

...but they don't. Of course they don't. Ain is a songbird, and songbirds are always welcome to sing out in public. Birds are loud, needy pets, and few people actually want to own one — but there's hardly a person out there who will turn down a song from a mockingbird. He was quite literally bred to sing, and sing he will. Loudly, beautifully, letting his voice carry on the wind as he stands up on the edge of the fountain so that he becomes the day's spectacle. The crowd is slow to gather, at first. Some simply walk on. Others stop for brief stints before moving on. But it's when one or two people stop — really stop — that herd mentality kicks in. Where does that voice come from, who is that pet?

It takes only one person stepping forward to give a tip before others fall into the pattern, and at that point, Ain is trying not to smile a bit self-aggrandizingly about it. Yes he is VERY pretty and VERY good at singing so you should give him money because he wants it, thank you.

Ain stands out in the wind and snow for four hours, only sometimes hopping off of his fountain perch to remove accumulated snow from the bag and shuffle somewhere else. Facing north, then east, then south, then west. Walking around the immediate epicentre of the town so that his legs don't freeze off and so that more people can hear him. Doing small dances to attract attention, but never anything more than a little jig or pulling someone from the audience in. At one point, another bird joins him in song.

It's nice. It's good. And four hours later, Ain is freezing half to death, feels way too hot (definitely because of exertion and nothing else), and it's closer to dinnertime than it is to lunch. But he has money. They're not loaded now by any stretch of the imagination, but they have enough, and instead of heading right back to base... Ain veers toward the jewellery shop he saw yesterday, because he has plans, dammit. He makes a beeline for the necklaces, trying to find something that's particularly... like... he doesn't know, Vash-ish, when the cashier walks up to him and asks if she can help him.]

I want to get something... [and he shrugs, because he doesn't know,] nice for someone important to me.

["How important?" She asks, "A friend? A sibling, a parent? Someone you love?"]

"Love"... [He echoes, weighing the word on his tongue. Vash said it this morning. He loves Ain's wings, he said. That word is heavy, and there's a lot Ain doesn't understand about it, how people use it.] Haha, I don't know. Miss, what does "love" feel like?

[Maybe she pities him, or maybe she thinks he's stupid. He can't tell from her gaze, especially as it swivels back to the display. "Love is complicated, sweetie. It can be a lot of things. For me and my partner, it means we can't live without the other one. It feels light and fluffy, but it's also stressful. I think about our future together all the time, if we're going to have kids or move away from this town or stay as we are. Things like that. For you... I'm not you, so I wouldn't know, but I heard you singing earlier. Who inspires you to sing like that, then come in here with your tips and buy something?"]

Mm. [...] I sing for him nowadays. Or maybe that's not quite accurate. Because of him? I told him yesterday I'd save my best songs for him, actually. Is that love?

[Ain "loves" things, too, like apple pie and getting into fountains and snow, but those are things he can always live without. If people use the word "love" on people when they can't stand to be away from them... if people use that word when they're thinking about a future together, if someone being your reason to do the things you do is "love"... ah. Shit.

She pats his arm with a knowing smile, reaching out for a particular necklace — a gold chain with a green gemstone charm on the end of it. It's not expensive enough to be real, real gemstones are outside their means right now. "Your eyes are green, so if he loves you, too, this should remind him of you. What do you think?"

Ain doesn't have the willpower to resist thinking about this anymore, so he simply nods and shuffles along to the front, where she rings him up and boxes it and sends him off. This woman has the energy of a bartender who knows a bit too much, he thinks, and maybe that's why she works in a jewellery store. From one gossip mill to the next.

He drags his feet a bit, holding the box in his hand and running his thumbs over the velvet, before shoving it into the bag. Before going back to base, he stops off at a fast-food joint to get them burgers and fries and milkshakes ("in the middle of a snowstorm?" yeah), and then makes his way back. And boy, when he comes into the room holding food and a bag of money with a fucking gift inside of it, he looks distracted as hell. Frazzled, almost. A deer caught in emotional-revelation headlights.

This is very bad for his blood pressure.]

[Four hours is a long time to sit and occupy yourself, yet Vash is unfortunately used to spending long stints of time by himself. He used to do it for days, weeks, months on end out in No Man's Land, so it's not going to be much different here, save for the fact he's waiting on someone to return. There's not really much to do in the room, though for the first hour Vash decides to stay where he is. He's still too sore to fucking move, really, so he'll spend the hour looking over his arm. It's still very broken- not unusable or shattered beyond recognition- but it's as he feared. The cracks have indeed spread, now no longer localized to only his hand. They've reached his wrist, now, and are likely going to keep spreading if left unchecked. After some fiddling and turning it over in the light, Vash decides that he can't worry about it right now. Either they'll make it to Ain's hometown, or somehow they'll be able to circle back around to Vash's "home". He doesn't know.

The next two hours Vash spends laying in bed, actually trying to get some rest. He dozes a little more intermittently, but for the most part he just lays there, trying to relish in the feeling of not needing to go anywhere, or do anything. He doesn't need to escape to the next town, and he doesn't have to look over his shoulder. For once, he's not thinking about Nai. At least, not in the forefront of his mind. That will always be in the back of it, just forced very, VERY far back.

He'll be ready to run, of course. Just not today.

On the fourth hour, Vash has exhausted his ability to stay still. No matter how sore he is, he has to get up for a bit. So he does, managing to drag himself out of bed with some difficulty. ...only to stumble and fall to the floor when he gets up, eventually managing to right himself so he can put on some real clothes. Clean clothes...and then, he decides to visit the inn's lobby for a little bit. No real reason other than to just exist in the space, to see the world go by.

There are quite a few people in the lobby at this time of day, either checking in or relaxing after a long day visiting the town. Since it's snowing, there are a lot of people drinking hot chocolate, he's noticed...and come to find out, the hot chocolate is being given out for free to guests. Vash helps himself happily to some before sitting by a window to just...watch the snow.

For once, nothing happens. Absolutely nothing exciting or interesting goes on, and it's amazing.

By the time Ain returns, Vash is already back upstairs with a second cup of hot chocolate with a lid on top, having gotten some for Ain to have when he got back. He's sitting cross-legged at the foot of the bed, dressed and looking for all the world like a dog who was waiting for his master to get home. Again, who is the pet here-]

Ain! Welcome back!

[:> :> :>

...oh. He notices, just as he's leaning forward with his hands resting at his ankles, the distant look in Ain's eyes. It prompts him to tilt his head questioningly.]

...What happened?

PET PERSON MEME

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