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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

Of course I do. How could I not?

[Thus spoke the man who doesn't understand emotions like, at all, but go off sweetie. At least he gets this much. At least he figured it out somehow.]

It's... I've never been... I've had crushes before, I think, but never something like this. [And we don't need to go over his crushes or his escapades, nope, the man discovered dick and realised he could put his mouth on it and it was over.] I didn't think you'd feel the same, though.

...

Are you crying? You're shivering.

[Please don't cry on him he's very small (6'0")—]

I'm not...

[He whimpered while crying.

He just. Squeezes Ain. Squozes him. He never wants to let this bird go ever again, thanks.]

I'm just...I'm really happy.

[And you know how people can cry out of sheer happiness?

Yeah.]

[Yeah, you know what, the fact that people do that still freaks Ain out, if only because he's never experienced it himself. Still, he rubs soothing circles into Vash's back, singing softly until he stops, because he's... concerned? He supposes? It's not something to be concerned about but he Is.]

Vash... [That's it. Anything else he was going to say just sort of dies on his tongue. Just "Vash", whispered between them like some secret. Oh, how he loves this man, who's currently sobbing on him.] Do you want to get out for now? We can sleep for the night somewhere nearby. It won't be too cold if we're by the spring. I... want to hold you for the rest of the night.

[You know, like he does... every night, but this time there are labels attached.]

[Vash...is in fact a big baby, this is just in his nature. He's not sobbing uncontrollably at the very least, but he's definitely sniffling all over Ain's shoulder as they sit in the water being gross all over each other. If there weren't the very present threat of falling asleep and drowning, Vash would want to just...stay here.

Vash nods a little, eventually pulling his face away from Ain's neck so he can scrub his eyes against his own shoulder, which only succeeds in getting his face wet with spring water. Sigh.]

Y-yeah...

[Though drying off without anything to dry off with is going to be fun ain't it-]

[No, Ain loves that big baby, stop it. What a fucking doofus.

Drying off will be sort of bad, but. That's kind of the price they pay. If they can both tolerate a moment of cold, Ain will dry them both with his wings, and then they can get dressed and find somewhere nearby to camp out.

Ain was right when he said he's pretty sure there's a cave nearby; it's just up the mountainside a bit, in view of the water. They've got a stolen blanket and plenty of trees and a warm spring, so it's not like they'll freeze to death. It's not ideal, but both of them have had worse.

...that, and as Ain will demonstrate after he grabs kindling, he can make magical fire. So. They'll be fine. He just has to stave off yet another round of illness for the time being, because he can feel it coming on already. The hot spring was supposed to fix him, but when he's outside of the warmth he realises that the fatigue in combination with flying through mountain air is going to kill his immune system.

All they have to do is get to town, though, that's all they need to do. Then he can task Eve with taking care of Vash while he hits the fucking floor.

Sigh.]

We'll head out when the sun rises. Or... Near it. [He tucks himself up against Vash while they get sorted.] It'll be a bit of travelling, but we'll make it just fine. You'll just have to give me some frequent breaks. You're kind of heavy.

[Getting out of the hot spring back into the cold mountain air is...exceedingly difficult. It feels even colder than it actually is, to the point where even Vash- who has toughed out all kinds of nasty climates- begins to shiver from it. It gets better once Ain can dry them off, but even then he'd hardly call it ideal...it makes him wish he didn't get his hair wet. Even it just being a little damp is making things a thousand times worse. From there though, getting dressed is a simple task, and finding a cave to camp out for the night even simpler. It's a pleasant surprise to find that Ain can construct a fire for them, meaning they have both warmth and a little light to see by as Vash tosses their bag into the inner corner of the cave so it'll be safe from the elements just in case it rains overnight or something. This is all after he gets his arm back on, giving his hand a few experimental flexes to make sure everything is working...mostly okay.

It's still functional, but only just, if the way his fingers suddenly twitch every so often outside of his control is anything to go by. He decides to ignore that for now in favor of curling up with his favorite person in the world, tugging their blanket up further around them both as Ain drapes his massive wings over them like a second, heavier blanket.]

Haha, sorry...you know I'd take a turn if I could fly like you.

[He murmurs, nudging his nose against the side of Ain's neck as he shifts so that Ain can use his chest as a pillow in lieu of the hard cave floor.]

Don't worry about me. Just let me take care of you. ...goodnight, Vash.

[He's exhausted, both emotionally and physically, and he Needs A Nap. The Big Sleep. To that end, once Vash has rolled over and Ain's able to use him as a pillow... He's out. Gone. Zonked. And he will stay zonked well into the morning, only waking up when the sun is just the right angle to hit his eyes. By that point, they're three hours past "when the sun rises", the magical fire is still burning, and they have no food to eat. It's just them, a cave, and... starvation, he supposes.

They get up and they go. There's nothing else to do other than to put out the fire and go. The next time they take a break, it's several hours later, and they're forced to forage to survive. Mountain berries are, at least, food. Ain is burning so much energy that he eats most of the bush himself. Then, they fly again, then take a break at an actual town for the night, though this time they don't stay long due to the urgent state of Vash's arm. At the very least, they're able to get food, and yet again Ain eats way more than usual.

He feels like shit. He cannot stop eating, though, because that makes him feel worse. There are times he wonders if they need to slow down, until he glances at Vash's arm and never voices it.

Finally, about two days later, they make it to Ain's hometown. Not the one he was born in, but the one he was raised in, and it's... Maybe not a hometown as much as a home city. It's a huge, sprawling metropolis, where it's likely everyone knows of Vash the Stampede — but they have to contend with Ain knowing the routes in and out of the city that no one takes. The skies, for example. Where he flies them to within it isn't in the heart of the city, or even in a district full of wealthy homes.

No, they're going west, toward an outskirts bordering a thus-far unoccupied plains. A slum, by all measure, filled with people who society has failed. People in rags, people with nothing, people who don't care if a bird-pet and his criminal owner touch down in the middle of the dirt streets here. It's decrepit and perfect for those on the run.

Ain motions Vash onwards, through shelters set up between abandoned buildings and alleyways, through a park that's seen better days, and finally to a small building with a strange, unreadable sign out front that could easily be misconstrued as an art piece made up of Nordic runes. What it really is, is a marker, as will become apparent when Ain opens the door to let them in. It's dusty, with a countertop set up at the front that's long-unused, judging by the huge-ass spider taking refuge in a notch when they approach. The spider isn't what they're here for; Ain crouches and opens a hatch built into the floor back here, and ushers Vash down it. A walk through a dark tunnel leads to a doorway, which Ain opens, and finally...

They'll step out into an entire underground society filled with pets either no one wanted, or who didn't want to be owned. It's a slum, yes, but it's got electricity and running water, buildings set up like an underground city, and plenty of strays wandering about to do business. It's almost idyllic, and maybe would be so if it weren't hidden away, some secret never meant to reach the outside world.]

Surprise!

[Sleeping on the floor of a cave...really sucks when you've had an actual bed to sleep in for a solid week of your life. Vash is realizing now he was maybe getting too complacent and too used to the luxury, because his entire body is screaming when they wake that next morning, and not in the fun way. There's no time to complain or even think about it, really, as Vash snatches up their bag, Ain stomps out the fire, and they leave their little private hot springs behind to continue their journey. Maybe some years in the future, if they ever make it back to that mountain town, they can come visit this spring again.

Now, normally it's common practice for Vash to try to make sure he's got himself well stocked on food and water before going on long trips of any kind. Water is relatively easily replenished from natural springs and rivers, but food can be tricky unless you know where to find it. Storing up enough dried shit to get him through a week is usually the play...but between everything going on, he genuinely hadn't thought about it. It means they're forced to rough it even moreso than usual, and had they been afforded the time, Vash would have suggested they hunt a little further for something more substantial to eat. Even a few small fish from a stream would be better than a few berries off a bush, but...as long as Ain gets to eat his fill, that's all Vash cares about. He's the one getting them there, after all. He will survive going hungry for a few days.

Reaching the first real town is a relief, though it's a reminder of the place they'd stayed before fleeing to the mountains. Small, dingy, definitely not a place they're actually welcomed to be, but it does its job well enough. There's no time for sight-seeing or recreation, they simply eat, sleep, and move on.

Of course, Vash doesn't miss the way Ain begins to lag a bit. The way he seems more strained as he lifts Vash to carry him, or doubly exhausted when it's time to rest for the night. He feels guilty- why wouldn't he?- that Ain is the one having to shoulder the burden of carrying both of their weight, literally flying them miles upon miles to get to his hometown. And it's for his sake.

He'll have to make up for this somehow...eventually.

Still no time to think, because soon enough, they finally make it to their destination, and this...this is more like the cities Vash has grown accustomed to in the past years. Busy, sort of isolated in their own right, and very...VERY aware of his presence. He's already on guard as Ain sweeps over the buildings, ready to find someplace to hide themselves the second he touches down. That, however, turns out not to be needed, since they're not going to where he thinks they are at all.

The slum leaves Vash feeling plenty subdued as Ain sets him down on his feet, allowing the other to lead the way as they weave past the shelters and abandoned buildings. These sorts of areas are even more common than the metropolis, and it leaves Vash wondering just where exactly here Ain came from.

He soon gets his answer.

The reveal of just this...entire society hidden just beneath the surface is unlike anything Vash could have ever imagined. His jaw actually drops when he sees it, because it doesn't matter if it's a slum, or if it's back-alley and run-down compared to the world above. He never would have thought something like this could even be possible, and it's full of pets. Is it...only pets, he wonders?

Does Nai know about this?

He shakes his head to quickly push aside that thought, taking a tentative step forward as he lifts a hand to shield his eyes for a moment as they adjust from above-ground light to the underground.]

I...I can't believe this is here. This is where you came from?

Well— no, not here specifically. This is where I lived for a while in between leaving Ishmael and meeting you. It's only pets who don't want to be owned here. Well... Pets and one automaton.

[This place is better-maintained than it was when they were all kids. Either they have some other nerds on infrastructure here, or Eve is still around... And if Eve is still here that means others will be, too. Even though they all tend to fly the nest sometimes, something inevitably leads them back here. Something like... Needing a robot clad in white to fix Vash before he's broken forever.

Because that's what Ain thinks will happen, obviously.]

You won't find Ishmael or my siblings here. [They're banned. Probably. They shouldn't know about this place anyway.] They live further in the heart of the city itself, unless they've moved in the last few years. Haha, what do you think?

It's...amazing.

[An incredibly, awe-inspiring feat of ingenuity while also managing to be very, very sad. It's sad that Pets need to carve out secret societies for themselves like this just to live peacefully out of the societal norms they're expected to adhere to, either by law or pressure of their peers. It's this exact sort of thing that Vash knows Nai is fighting tooth and claw against...the fact this is even here would stand as proof to everything he'd been trying to convince Vash of all those years.

Humans don't care. They don't have to know about this place to still treat the Pets of society like dirt. Less than dirt, in some cases. It leaves Vash feeling conflicted, despite knowing that they're probably as safe as they could possibly be down here.

His shoulders relax a little as Ain explains this, gaze still scanning everything he can see just from where they entered down into it.]

Why did you leave?

Mm... A sense of adventure, I guess. I'd been cooped up all my life, so I struck out on my own to figure things out. Mostly... Me. Who I am. Or who I wanted to be, but I don't really have the answer to that yet.

[And he doesn't think he's ever going to find it. By nature, he's a drifter and copycat, doing whatever interests him as long as the other people doing it also interest him. Without either of those two factors, Ain gets bored, gets up, and walks away.]

You'll like it here, unless things have been shaken up since I left.

[Well. They might've been, if only because Ain is walking with a known criminal and some pets are recognizing that. Humans aren't supposed to be down here, after all; but enough of them recognize Ain to sort of stop themselves from saying anything.

They walk on, until they reach a little shop ahead — a shop lit up by golden string lights, with whirring machinery outside. Ain steps inside, causing a small bell to ding, and the first thing he says when he spots who's sitting at the counter is—]

Ms. Queen!

[Ms. Queen is very much an automaton at first glance, with a huge core embedded into her forehead and a generally robotic demeanor, offset only by her synthetic skin and soft-looking hair. She's reading when they come in, though she looks up... And does a double take.]

Ain... who is that?

A friend... boy... Who's a friend! Who's a boy...friend.

[they

Have not discussed that, have they.]

[…you know. Vash thinks he likes that answer better than learning Ain was ostracized or an outcast, or felt like he had to leave for whatever reason. Leaving on his own terms means that he never had to deal with any of that (lol. Lmao.), which Vash can be silently grateful for. He’s also very humbled that Ain would invite him here in the first place, especially when…it’s very obvious pretty much immediately that humans aren’t supposed to be down here, even though Vash is technically merely human passing.

And because Vash is always keeping one eye open for danger, he’s already recognized that people are looking at them. Is it with recognition? He’s not entirely sure…just that they’ve been noticed, which is a little nerve wracking in itself.

No time to ponder that though, because now they’re in a little shop and that is…not a normal human or pet or anything sitting on that counter, and uhhhh-

Vash quickly plops a hand- the prosthetic- on Ain’s shoulder before waving with his other, smiling at “Ms. Queen”.]

Ah, hello! I’m….yep! That’s me!

[He is the boy who is also a friend, but also screams Ain did you really just say that Vash is going to burst into flames-]

[Yeah he

he didn't ask if they were boyfriends but he assumes that's how it works. So sorry— at least Eve seems to have caught on relatively easily, though she's still moving around the counter to get a better look at both of them now. She's a short woman, five-foot-something, and she doesn't move in for a friendly hug or what anyone would expect a friend to do. She simply looks over them both — Ain registers it as scanning, but Vash likely won't — and then finally chooses to speak.]

The Humanoid Typhoon is your partner?

[Ain picks at the fur on his sleeves, looking elsewhere.]

He was framed. He's not a bad person.

[She stares between Vash, Ain's collar, Ain's face, and Vash's hand. Eve is not the sort of woman to take things at face value, but Ain isn't either; with that in mind, she breathes out a small sigh.]

Very well. My name is Eve. Your arm is damaged severely. I take it that's why you've been brought here? [She doesn't wait for a response.] And Ain, your current temperature is 38 degrees Celsius. Scans indicate a high likelihood of illness. ...what trouble did the two of you get into?

[Let's not talk about Ain's fever actually, he's trying to pretend he's fine— but either way, they're about to be dragged upstairs by one (1) robot who's had Enough already. It's been five minutes.]

[Well!

The exchange that follows leaves Vash...quite literally at a loss for words, his heart stopping every time something new is posed. The Humanoid Typhoon? Partner?? Immediately, it's as if all of his worst fears are realized in the span of a single moment. How could he be so naive? (Easy actually, for Vash) It doesn't matter that this society is underground and likely in hiding in its own right. They'd know about him, and guess who would be even more desperate for a 60 billion dollar reward? Virtually anyone and everyone living down here, including but not limited to whoever it is Ain happens to know.

Vash stiffens, his shoulders squaring as he prepares to just. Bolt, ready to grab Ain around the waist and throw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes to get out of here if need be, consequences be damned. "He was framed," is not a good answer, because the people hurt do not typically care for the idea of a fair trial. They either want Vash locked up permanently, or- more commonly- dead. It's the only thing that could make up for his "crimes".

To that end, Vash probably looks like he's about to burst into tears as Eve looks him over, standing there stiff as a board as he tries to wait out the moment to figure out what he'll need to do here.

But then...Eve just skips past that point entirely. She mentions his arm- which yes, is severely damaged and honestly it's a miracle he can move his hand at this point- and then she points out Ain having a fever, which finally gets Vash to look down at him with alarm because what the fuck, babe.]

W-well, I-

[He's unable to get a word in edgewise, because before Vash can do...anything, he's being tugged upstairs by Eve alongside Ain, feeling like his head might explode.]

[Ain leans over to whisper to Vash,]

It's okay. Ms. Queen is nice.

[Although he himself knows he's going to be interrogated later for this, Vash won't be, and that's fine. Their group makes some... decisions when it comes to friends and loved ones. And Ain also makes some decisions when it comes to his health, it's fine. The heat is radiating off of him, and he's trying to keep walking so that he doesn't worry anybody.

Where they're headed is through something resembling an apartment building, but underground. Were they to have gone down a different hallway downstairs, it would've been a workshop filled with various parts, bits, and bobs; Ain has a feeling they're up here because Eve is about to make him lay down as if he's on death's doorstep. Pfft. He's not that close to death, he's had two whole meals in two whole days and spent most of that time flying with heavy cargo, he's like, fine?

(Ain is not, in fact, fine. And they are, in fact, going to a room which he recognizes now as his old bedroom in their underground factory-apartment situation their group built up when they first moved here. If his head weren't foggy, he would've known that immediately.)

Vash gets instructed to sit down at a plain desk with a plain chair, nothing special about it other than some old photos on it — despite the disuse, the place has been kept dusted and clean — and Ain, meanwhile, is told in no uncertain words he's laying down and not to get up again. So.

He just. Does. He gets into a small, old, kind of creaky bed that no longer really fits him because he's six feet tall and his wings have doubled in size since he was last in it, it feels like... and then the sickness finally hits him in full force and he groans. Everything hurts. Everything is on fire.]

Stay here. He needs medical attention, and you need to not use that arm for now. I'll be back. Keep him awake.

[And, just in case either of them try to fuck off for some reason, Eve will leave two little drones here to watch them. Beebeep, they say. :3c]

[For obvious, and hopefully understandable, reasons, Vash still seems quite unsure and a little on edge as they're led upstairs, and it's only because Ain seems to trust this automaton that Vash even goes with her to begin with. He was hoping they'd be able to keep a low profile, but that seems to have already gone out the window...and it doesn't help that on top of that, he's now worried about Ain who has apparently been secretely dying this entire time.

Vash says nothing as they make their way, peering at their surroundings in silence as Eve leads the way up to said apartment building, which immediately strikes Vash as being a lot nicer than anything they've squatted at before. Not stellar standards by any means, but nice enough for what it is. He sinks into a cautious sit as asked, not yet looking at the photos but instead turning his attention over to Ain the moment Eve utters the words "medical attention", because that makes it sound like he IS actually dying.]

Ain!

[He's not yelling, he's just...hissing at him. Loudly. And looking very worried, which is probably what Ain has been trying to avoid this entire time.

Keep him awake?? Isn't that what she said? Aaaa.

At least Vash sure as hell isn't leaving, so the drones won't have to work too hard. If Ain tries to move a wing Vash will shove him back into bed, see to it that he doesn't.]

[Ain looks sheepishly off at the opposite wall, where there's a dingy old closet hidden away behind a sliding wooden door. He doesn't know how to decorate his space and it shows by the absolutely Nothing there is here; the photos on the desk were things his friends gave him, not anything he acquired himself. Then he left for a long time, so there's still... nothing, obviously. But he thinks this pillow might be newer and less moth-eaten than the one he had years ago, so that means someone replaced it while he was gone.

Friends always return to each other, they say. ("Who says that" someone surely.)]

Haha... sorry. I didn't want you to worry about it. Your arm falling apart is worse, right?

[Sir you have a 102 degree fever,]

We're safe here. I know you're apprehensive, but even if people know you, you're safe. We have all types of people here. Ex-mafia and ex-military... Ms. Queen wouldn't have brought you to my old room if she thought you were going to hurt people.

[And it really is more of a "room" versus an "apartment"; a dormitory or studio situation, nothing fancy, but definitely nothing awful.]

No it isn't!

[This might be the first time that Vash has seemed actually mad at Ain, and he's not even mad so much as he is...very worried. He'd sooner go without an arm outright if it meant that Ain was okay, it's not like he couldn't have Bradd help him get another one at some point. The arm isn't real! He'd survive without it!!

But it's also due to how keyed up he feels right now about everything, even though he's trying very hard to take Ain's assurances to heart. He exhales slowly, resting said broken prosthetic across the desk as he turns to actually survey the room for the first time, finally noticing the pictures on the surface of the desk now.]

...she must trust you, then.

[Because ex-mafia and ex-military are one thing, but Vash feels like his reputation towers over all of that.]

[...well. Ain is very taken aback by the sudden outburst, so he goes silent for a moment thinking of what to say. He sits up and takes his coat off, at least, and then his shoes follow after, and then he's lying back down to stare again at the blank walls.

In the meantime, Vash is free to look at all the cringe photos of Ain and his friends when they were dumbass teenagers. They're all framed on the desk, not-at-all faded, and clearly Ain is not too good at posing for photos. In most of them, he — and his stupid blue highlights — is standing there with his arms crossed, looking kind of like "??" at the camera. In one, a redheaded dog has her arms around his shoulders and is giving him a noogie, which is one of few instances where he's not actively "?????", and a boy who looks almost identical to her is throwing up a peace sign. In another, there's a younger-looking Eve next to a white-haired cat, both holding the drones that are currently beeping at Vash, and Ain's head is sort of awkwardly sticking out of the side of the frame. One can only assume this was his attempt at a photobomb.

Then there are a whole ton of goofy ones. Ain koala-ing onto a buff-looking exotic cat's back, and a smaller blonde dog looking Shocked at this whole thing while a blonde lop-eared rabbit woman reaches around him to steal whatever it is he's eating. The exotic cat has a robotic arm that's dissimilar from Vash's in that it looks more weaponized, but it's mostly-covered up by everyone else. Then there's one of a deer-woman with green hair, a black-haired fox girl, and a bird with the brightest purple plumage you've ever seen in your life at a restaurant. Ain's hand is in that photo and not the rest of him, and he's very much stealing a fry from someone's plate.

There are more like that, and the desk is only so big, so some of the frames are sitting behind other ones or haphazardly placed up on the wall because this man has No sense of interior design, even when managing so much as hanging up a photo.

After a few minutes, Ain bothers to speak again, and it's just one word:]

Sorry.

[Ain's response, or lack thereof at first, is a touch worrying. Did he upset him? Vash doesn't know...but he's afraid to press, so he lets the silence lapse between them as he looks over the photos on his desk, of which there are a surprising amount. Ain...really had a lot of friends, didn't he? Each one of them unique in their own way, and every single one of them a Pet, except perhaps for Eve depending on how you'd classify her. It reminds Vash of his room back "Home" on ship three, where he'd taped pictures of himself with the other members of the crew as he grew up. He only had one picture from his time with Rem and Nai, which he'd kept in the center of it all, frayed and burnt on the edges from the explosion.

He hadn't brought it with him. It's still back there...he hopes.

He smiles a little to himself as he looks at Ain over the years, wondering how much he's changed since the teenager with folded arms in the pictures. It seems like he'd grown into the personality Vash knows him to have today, no doubt in no small part thanks to these people he knew.

Vash's head lifts, turning back to look at Ain as he gives him that one-word apology. More silence follows, with Vash tightening both hands into loose fists.

He gets up after a moment, stepping over to sit on the edge of Ain's bed, his weight depressing the mattress. After a tentative few seconds of thinking it over, he reaches out his good hand and brushes Ain's hair off his clammy forehead.]

...I'm sorry. I know you were just trying to keep me from worrying. I just...

[...]

I can't have anything happen to you. I can't.

Nothing will. I'm fine. Just a little hot.

[He is sweating buckets right now, so "just a little hot" is an understatement.]

There was nowhere to stop along the way except for that one little town. I was still a bit under the weather when we left the first town, but we had to go, so I didn't say anything. Besides... we made it here, didn't we? I knew I'd be fine when we got here. A lot of the pets here know medicine.

[Really, what they're going to do is hand Ain a bottle of Nyquil and some water and food and be like "what the hell is wrong with you" and Ain will just laugh awkwardly. He doesn't know what's wrong with him; his priorities are out of whack. All he wants to do is protect Vash, and if protecting Vash means he's now got a high fever and will need to be pumped full of drugs, so be it.]

I love you, so I didn't want to—

[The door opens at that moment, with Eve coming back inside surrounded by two pets Ain doesn't recognize. One of them has food, and the other has a med kit he's clutching in his hands. Both of them give Vash a "?" look, and the girl holding the food says "oh no, I only brought food for one" with a guilty voice, but otherwise they're quick to move into the room and start fussing over the bird. Vash will probably have to scoot over.]

[Vash doesn't even have a chance to respond to the L-word being dropped again, even though it most certainly makes his heart shudder in his chest. He draws his hand away just as the door opens, looking over a bit sheepishly as if he's worried he'll be scolded for getting up from the desk. Sorry Eve he's WORRIED look at how WARM he is Ain is DYING-

He would have talked to Ain more, but now is the time to have him taken care of, so he'll let the topic lay for the time being. He shakes his head quickly, lifting his good hand with a soft "no no, it's alright, I'm not hungry right now" (which is. a lie, he's always hungry) as he carefully scoots over so they have room to work. He'll get up off the bed wholesale if they ask, otherwise...he'd prefer being close, if at all possible.]

[Honestly, it's just some pretty basic care. Mostly "what are your symptoms" and "what have you been doing", and Ain sheepishly explains that he's been flying for two days through snow and such to get here, and then Eve barks out an "of course that's why you're sick". But other than the high fever, nothing else is wrong, though they predict that he's going to have congestion here in a day or so as his body recovers.

Ain is ordered to stay in bed and rest and eat, drink lots of water, take medicine, and that's really all there is to it. He's got some kind of flu, but that's nothing that rest and attention can't fix. So he takes the medicine they give him, drinks water, and considers laying back down, up until the smell of food is too tempting and he winds up digging in.

Either way, Vash won't have to move very far, if at all. He can fret over his bird all he wants.]

Your name was Vash, wasn't it? [Eve begins, once the two medics leave.] May I see your arm?

[A flu...that's worse than the simple cold he'd recovered from before, but perhaps that just never fully went away in the first place. Vash knows that Ain can develop pneumonia if he isn't careful, so they're lucky they got here when they did. He just has to trust in the medics here, and trust that they know what they're doing in regards to Ain's care. Honestly, the fact he's actually laying still and resting will probably do half of the work on its own.

Vash glances over at Ain as he sits up to eat, his shoulders sagging a little with relief, before his attention is grabbed once more by Eve. He looks at his prosthetic when she addresses the issue of that, wincing at the way it seems to react to being acknowledged by just. Spasming, his fingers jerking outward beyond his control.]

Of course...um. Should I take it off?

If it's removable, yes.

[To Ain, it's obvious why she wouldn't expect it to be removable. It's not his place to say, but he does it anyway—]

Mr. Ancient and Mr. Half-Nasod don't have removable robot parts. Haha, I'm sure Ms. Queen wasn't expecting you to be able to take it off!

[No he doesn't explain further, no he doesn't use actual names, even when Eve chides him for it as she's looking Vash's arm over. Her two little drones float at her side, beeping sometimes, but otherwise not doing anything.]

Don't put words in my mouth, Ain. [But she's not refuting his claims of surprise, either. Most people don't have cybernetic prosthetics. Those that do usually can't just take them off, at least in her experience.] I can fix the damage, but it'll take some time. You have deep fractures running throughout the structure, not to mention the damage on the surface here. The reason it seizes on you like it did a moment ago is because the connection to your nervous system here is halfway severed.

PET PERSON MEME

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I thought I replied to this but I was actually yelling about Elsword

lifts you

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