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! |
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I...want to leave in the morning, but...
[They've already lingered in this town longer than he'd normally consider safe. To that end, he's fairly certain they've just gotten lucky up to this point.]
It would be smarter if we left tonight.
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[Ain can manage several hours of flight, but with cargo (Vash) that's harder. They'll need to stop off somewhere for a few hours in between trips. Ain knows exactly where his hometown is without even thinking about it; he's well-travelled enough. Also, bird senses. Bird senses are incredibly weird.
So. He takes Vash's empty cup and stacks it with his own, and then shuffles them both off to the bathroom.]
We can leave after dinner. I'll need food in my stomach if we're going to be flying.
[It's either that or they go on a long hike through the mountains and like. Honestly? Ain would just prefer to get to Eve as soon as possible, so she can fix his arm up and they can try to relax a little. At least about that.]
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We could go to that diner we ate at when we first got here, if you want? That place was pretty good.
[He might be biased though because his last memory of it was having his brains fucked out as soon as they got back from eating there, ssooooooo]
Also…will you be okay flying in the snow? It’ll be cold…
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[If he collapses with pneumonia, uhhhhh... Oh well?]
Besides, we can fly outside of the snow before we can walk outside of it.
[Said as he's helping Vash take his arm off and... hm. Frowning at the damage that they haven't talked about, but he won't voice it now. Instead, he's going to help Vash get undressed, like a good pet. Shirt off... Pants... Well, forgive him for hooking his fingers into Vash's waistband to pull him in for a kiss, he's not trying to be horny he sweaaaaaars...]
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He hopes Ain doesn’t pay much attention to his arm as he removes it, and it seems he’s rewarded in that by the way he’s suddenly tugged in for a kiss. It leaves him smirking against Ain’s lips, reaching his hands around to drag the fingertips up between his wings. Carefully.]
What’d I do to deserve that, hm?
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[Ain is a monster when it comes to physical affection. It's never enough with him, ever. He always wants more of it, like the hand in his feathers, like all the times he's woken up this week to Vash cuddled up to him. It's extremely validating. And... Like. It's as close as he's gonna get to them putting a label on anything, when one of them is oblivious and the other is struggling to say anything.
Maybe that's worse. Ain's certainly not thinking about it.]
You smile all goofy when I kiss you, too. It's cute.
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[Vash shrugs one shoulder, rubbing the space between Ain’s wings. It’s…very tempting to drag his hand through those feathers, wanting to feel the softness of his wings. But…he knows what would happen if he did. They’d be late leaving…if they even left before morning at all.
On a whim, Vash leans back in to kiss Ain’s nose.]
And it makes me happy, too. I can’t really explain it.
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Good. I like kissing you, and you'd have to fight me to get me to stop!
[Once clothes are off, he's turning the shower on and getting into it, dragging Vash in with him. They can do what they did last time, wash each other's hair and be stupidly affectionate, only this time they don't have to sit down. Ain's still grabbing the detachable showerhead to spray them down with, though, even as he lathes up Vash's hair.
And, maturely, he immediately sprays the guy right in the face for a single second, giggling like a schoolgirl about it. Surprise.]
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Then, he shakes himself off like a dog. Ineffectually of course, since he is not in fact a dog, but he does it anyway.
Vash can’t even retaliate really because he’s laughing too hard, forced to drop his forehead against Ain’s shoulder for a minute, back arched forward to meet his smaller companion. It’s a far cry from the melancholy of earlier.
Of. Every day, really.]
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God. Why aren't they married. Why is the world so mean to them specifically.]
You're gonna get soap in my eyes!
[His protest is weak, riddled with laughter, like he didn't just cause this himself. He'll actually do his job of scrubbing Vash now, but not before he steals a cheek-kiss before the man stands properly again.
Again. Where is his wedding ring. Where's his bird rights that says he can marry a Plant. Fuck.]
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[Ain sprayed water in his face, not soap, there's a difference. Yet Vash doesn't sound put out at all, wiping at his eyes again with the heel of his hand as Ain shifts to actually scrubbing him down. He hadn't realized how much he needed that, on top of everything else, because it's left him feeling...a lot lighter. Especially in the wake of being kissed, and it's for no reason at all. Ain just kisses him because he wants to. Vash kisses Ain because HE wants to.
It...all means something. Doesn't it? He's certain it must.
He'll ponder that as he stands there patiently as Ain works, both of them taking turns with the soap and the showerhead, while not causing any more mischief.
Probably. Hopefully.]
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They spend the rest of the day in comfortable peace until dinnertime, and head to that restaurant they went to their first night here. There, they eat, obviously, but there's a certain melancholy that falls over them as they return to the inn. It's only when night falls and they're fully packed — with their clothes on their backs, supplies in their bags, and a scant amount of money in their pockets — that they climb up to the roof, say goodbye to the cute little town, and fly off.
Like when they originally arrived, Ain carries Vash in something of a bridal carry, otherwise the weight on his back is too much to catch the wind with. The weight on his arms is... well, it's going to suck for the next three hours, but they have a lot of ground to cover. Indeed, they're out of the snowstorm within about half an hour, and the rest of the flight is...
Well, it might be more impressive if it weren't dark out. It's a miracle Ain can discern the shapes of trees from rocks and roads and the sort in the gloom. They're far from any light pollution, so the stars and nebulas shine bright overhead, but it certainly isn't enough light to make it clear where they're headed. Were Ain not a bird, possessed of Bird Brain, he might be lost.
Honestly, he intends to fly them through the gloom until he can't anymore, until they find somewhere else to hunker down, but about three hours in — just as he's at his limit and debating telling Vash they need to crash in the woods where the bears can eat them — he smells the strong scent of sulfur, and veers sharply toward it. It's a little off their path, but it's absolutely worth it in the end. That nasty, rotten smell is due to a natural hotspring, lit up under the full moon's light, just tucked away in the woods where society hasn't yet found it.
Ain flies them toward that, landing a few feet off from the edge of the spring. It's big enough to swim in, and would make an excellent tourist spot, if anyone knew about it. There's nothing nearby for shelter other than the good ol' forest itself, but... it's a hotspring. It's warm. It fucking smells.
Ain needs a break, or his arms are going to become putty, so he sits down on the edge of it. Give him a moment.]
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Too much time to think. To ponder. To already feel homesick for a place they barely really got to know before they had to leave. It's not home, he reminds himself. Nowhere is, no matter how pleasant or inviting. To make it a permanent residence would be dooming the entire population living there, and Vash refuses to lay another generation of lives on his conscience. He's not sure he'd survive it.
And so they fly, and Vash trusts Ain's judgement in making sure they're going the right way. About two hours in he dozes for just a little bit, less so lulled to sleep by the ride, and moreso forced by his own body to rest after being up for so long. It actually isn't until Ain abruptly changes course and veers downward that he snaps awake, lifting his head just in time to see the treeline rapidly approaching oh GOD-
Oh. No, they're fine. Ain is just landing, probably to take a break from flying he assumes...until the smell of sulfur hits his nose, and Vash is left with more questions than answers. He tenses up as Ain sets him down onto the ground before taking a seat at the edge of the spring, and...for all intents and purposes, it's just a body of water. A very bad smelling one at that, and if Vash's long time spent in the inhospitable desert taught him anything, it's that water that smells like this- even if it's ALL there is- is bad.
So after a moment, he finally breaks the silence.]
What is this...?
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[Ain's arms and wings are very much Sore already, and he knows it's partly because he spent so long in bed — but still, it sucks. It sucks so much. He knew he'd have a flying limit, but he wishes it wasn't only three hours in. By now, they're miles away from civilization on any side, and it's going to take a while to get to his hometown, since they're still in the mountains. He flies fast, but he needs breaks...
There's probably a day, maybe a day and a half, left on their journey. Including breaks. It's almost midnight by now, and the fatigue and general cold are wearing him down. Ain unsubtly rubs his nose and sniffles, then sets about taking his shoes off.]
I thought this might be the best place for us to rest for now. ["I'm in a lot of pain," he wants to say, thinking better of it because Vash will fret if he does.] It's warm, and secluded, and we might be able to find a cave to sleep in...
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[Vash steps a little closer to the water out of curiosity, watching the way steam rolls off its surface due to the clash between the warm water and cooler air surrounding it.]
I've never heard of anything like that before...is it safe?
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[Ain—]
It's safe. It's basically a hot bath in the mountains. Usually, they're tourist traps, and they claim the minerals in the water are good for your skin. It's better than being cold either way.
[His coat comes off when he feels like his arms won't dissolve for being lifted too high, and then slowly does everything else follow suit. Then Ain dips into the water, submerging himself up to his chin.
Everything aches. He handles pain about as well as a toddler that fell off the swingset, so... One can only imagine the stress he is under. It doesn't help that he didn't fully get over that cold, either, and now he knows he's making it worse by flying for so long in such frigid weather.]
Ahh, sorry. I should've said something... I need a break for the night, but we'll be back to flying tomorrow morning, I promise.
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Regardless, Vash is already crouching down next to the water's edge as Ain explains what it is, peering at his own reflection in the surface before its suddenly broken up by Ain unceremoniously getting into it. He's a bit surprised by just how fast Ain stripped, but once he explains why...Vash's expression softens, and he sinks to sit properly on the ground.]
It's okay. I don't think we were followed...and there's no way anyone could find us out here otherwise. We'll be okay for the night.
[Why can't they just live in the forest as hermits is the next obvious question.
BUT. If Ain says that the hot spring is safe, and is already IN it...it must be, right? So, after a moment of eyeing him in the water, Vash rolls his shoulders and shrugs off his jacket before stripping down the rest of the way, kicking off his shoes and setting them next to where he laid the rest of his clothes. He pauses just long enough to pull off his arm before joining Ain in the water, and.
Oh. Oh. Oh, it's so warm...]
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[Ain Does Not Know About Naiâ„¢. He's just assuming that it's like, police, and they're so off the grid that police would have to get super lucky to spot them. That little town had police, of course, but each department operates independently; either way, no one's going to find them here.
Once Vash is in the water, Ain cuddles up to him immediately. He wants to Flap, but his wings feel like lead, so. Maybe in a bit. For now, cuddling.]
See? Isn't it nice?
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Vash relaxes the moment Ain moves in close, prompting him to wrap an arm loosely around Ain’s waist. There’s a little convenient lip in the rocks to sit on which Vash is taking advantage of, and it’s hard not to sigh with pleasure and relief at how nice the hot water feels to his muscles.]
It is…it’s really warm. Like a hot bath…
[But arguably more novel, considering. Plus, the frigid air of the mountains isn’t bothering him at all right now. The hot springs, dare he say, is made that much more enjoyable thanks to the contrast.]
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I'm glad I smelt this and not a gas leak or something. [It's half a joke. Kind of.] We're safe and warm here. We don't have anything to eat, but... when we wake up tomorrow morning, at least we'll feel a bit more invigorated.
[...sniffles again, god dammit—]
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Do you need a handkerchief? I think I stuffed one in the bag at some point...
[He has to hope it isn't one he'd been using to wipe leaking oil off his arm, because they don't need to have that conversation right now-]
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I'm okay. I'm comfortable, and I don't want to get up.
[If anything he'll just dunk his whole head in the water, no big deal. The cuddling is nice, though, and Ain's tempted to climb fully into Vash's lap. But.
You know. Probably not the wisest idea.]
It's only because of the elevation change, [he lies, you know, like a liar,] I'll be fine after a bit.
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Vash...does not believe Ain, because he was very recently sick, but he isn't going to argue. Being in a warm bath of sorts with hot steam to breathe in is probably good for him anyway, and the best either of them have on short notice. With that, he'll concede and just lay his head against Ain's shoulder.]
If you say so. I just hope going from being really hot to cold again won't be a problem.
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[No one believes you.
It'll be about half an hour before Ain's limbs stop feeling bad, and as soon as he can properly move around without the encroaching feeling of Death, he swims over to the centre of the spring, spreads his wings,
and starts fucking splashing. Goodbye, birdbrain has him he must worsh.]
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Does that feel good?
[He has to imagine it does. Finally, Ain has plenty of space to flap as much as he wants...and splash as much as he wants.]
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I thought I replied to this but I was actually yelling about Elsword
lifts you
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eve is way too smart for me i am Making This Up as i go
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finally a journal i have-
THE BABY THE LEGEND
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1/2
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not to introduce a/b/o into the situation but also--
BUT ALSO
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me voice: and i added the el masters to this timeline because ???
they deserve to be here too its fine
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