[The restaurant's hours are later in the day, so no customers go inside... which means there's no one ogling Felix and Dimitri is fairly at ease. He's even a bit amused to see the look Felix shoots that manager, though he's already mentally writing the job off upon seeing it.
But then he sees why Felix made that face.
Dimitri is immensely grateful that Felix is avoiding eye contact. He knows his eyes are probably bulging out of his head right now, and he doesn't even respond to the explanation for fear of what he might sound like. This ridiculous getup is going to haunt him too, isn't it?
As soon as people start taking notice, Dimitri's discomfort vanishes. Many of the Midas residents in this area know this restaurant's practices, and they know that Felix must be a pet if he's being made to stand out here. The whistling and cat-calling starts up quickly, though it vanishes just as fast when Dimitri's murderous aura grows too powerful to ignore.]
[Humiliation washes over him, hot as the blush that paints his cheeks at the cat-calling that follows.
The owner of the shop... Felix spares a glance in his direction, and it tells Felix everything he needs to know. This person never meant to hire him in the first place, and as for what reason, the nature of the words thrown in his direction seem to explain it.
Is there some sort of prejudice against pets looking for a job? It wasn't in the guides whatsoever, but then again... should he be surprised? It's just icing on the cake for the way "mongrels" are looked down upon in this society, to be honest.
He doesn't know what he'd do without Dimitri and the aura he's radiating. For however much Felix hates being reliant on others, he's not sure people would have respected his space without Dimitri ready to pounce, though all the same...]
This... probably isn't the right job.
[Felix keeps his gaze downcast, still unable to look Dimitri straight in the eye.]
[Dimitri glances inside the shop and gets a good look at the manager — a mongrel. He ushers Felix back into the building, following behind him this time for the sole purpose of attempting to murder the owner with the ferocity of his gaze. Honestly, he's tempted to hit him. He wouldn't get in any trouble for it... but that's exactly why he can't do it. Even now, attacking the downtrodden isn't something he has a taste for.
That doesn't stop him from snatching the offending outfit from Felix once he reemerges in his own clothes. Looking at the owner right in the eye, he tears the costume in two and drops it on the floor.]
[The warmth painting his face red does not leave him even as he takes off the offending outfit and dons his regular clothes once more. What a low for him to sink to, from the proud swordsman he is...
Then Dimitri snatches the outfit from him and tears it in half, much to Felix's shock and the owner's. Appreciated as the gesture is, considering Felix has thought of doing as much, his chest feels oddly tight, a familiar helplessness sinking in as a new realization settles over him.
You're nothing without Dimitri.
That sting in his eyes cues him that it's time to go, and run as far away as he can from this reminder he wishes nothing more of. So that's what he does, bolting out of the store and letting his legs carry him as far as they can.]
[Locked in a staring contest with the terrified owner, Dimitri doesn't realize Felix is on the move until he hears the door. He turns, expecting him to just be sulking outside... but Felix is running. Terror grips him when he recalls how dense these streets are, how the roads are made of a material that makes tracking someone in any traditional way next to impossible. The dread hits so deeply that he feels it in his bones. All of the people who were once close to Dimitri are capable warriors, and though he would worry for them, it was never like this. Any lower class citizen here is helpless, and Felix is a highly desirable prize for people who want to take advantage of that.
Dimitri runs after him.]
Felix!
[Felix doesn't respond. Worse, even — he turns the corner. He may be out of shape as far as battle goes, but Felix is more agile than ever now, and he's able to slip through a crowd more easily. Dimitri keeps after him regardless, managing to corner him after a minute or two when Felix turns into an alley in his quest to avoid people. The walls are high, but he's fairly certain Felix can jump them, so he quickly closes the distance and throws his arms around him from behind, pulling him back against his chest.]
What are you doing?! You know what these people would do with you if they thought they could get away with it!
[Anywhere is fine, Felix thinks. Somewhere with no people around, where he could wallow in peace. But Dimitri doesn't even allow him the opportunity to lick his wounds, pulling him flush against his chest as Felix fights an urge that had only come to him recently when he was forced to do certain things against his will--]
They already have. What difference does it make?
[Much to his horror, his voice cracks as he speaks, but hysteria has him spilling his thoughts the moment they come to mind, the threat of tears ever so present as he finds himself unable to wiggle free. Sucking in a breath, he gives up for the moment, going limp in Dimitri's arms as he hangs his head.]
Why do you care anyway? [Felix asks bitterly, swallowing in one last attempt to stave off his inclination to cry out his frustration at the unfairness of this world.] Isn't it better if you just leave me alone so you can go back to your own time faster?
[They already did. It's an ugly truth, one that Dimitri has been trying to avoid. Telling himself that selling him as "virgin" meant that they were minimal in their handling is the only way he can keep from tracking them down again and gutting them. His hold tightens, as if keeping Felix close now can somehow shield him from things that have already occurred.]
If we were back home, I would. I have been on my own for five years — I know you can take care of yourself, so I never looked back. But here...
[Dimitri's hold tightens, and Felix just surrenders, letting those tears flow as they may. They trail hotly down his cheeks, wet as they drip onto the front of his shirt as he hangs his head in lieu of being unable to reach out and wipe them away.]
You should consider it. [Felix sniffles.] I'll just be a burden to you.
[The guilt and shame of leaving Felix behind, potentially having Felix's ghost added to the ones whose cries pierce his skull — that would be a burden. Looking after Felix is nothing in comparison.]
Call it an investment if you like. If letting me shield you with my status here troubles you, then just fight that much harder when you return home.
[Felix hates it. How he has no choice on the matter but to agree with what Dimitri wants, especially when he's unable to make good on anything at the moment the way he is. On threats, on the urge to run away and leave this dependent way of life behind.]
Fine.
[So he curls slightly to his side, resting his cheek against Dimitri's chest indulgently as he tries to grab at what semblance of calm he can.]
[For all that Dimitri is willing to hold Felix still to keep him from running, once that hold turns into a proper embrace, he doesn't know what to do with himself. It was easy to hold him that first night, only half-awake and partially thinking it was all a dream. Right now, though, his head is perfectly clear and there's no questioning that this is reality. His hands twitch, wandering a little until he awkwardly settles them: one cupped against the back of Felix's head, the other resting at his waist.]
[Dimitri's heart races along with Felix's, the latter skipping a beat when Dimitri's hands finally settle. Strange. How easy it is to lean in and simply sink into that embrace, bringing to mind some bygone days, though that does not explain Dimitri's reaction to their closeness.]
Am I making you uncomfortable?
[That must be it, right? Felix hasn't really made a habit of allowing this closeness since he's gone ahead and turned to calling Dimitri a boar, among others.]
["Uncomfortable" is not exactly the right word for it, though Dimitri isn't sure what word he would use. Being called out makes his heart rate speed again, as does realizing that Felix is probably asking because those ears of his can hear it.]
[Felix takes another slow breath, glad that most of the tightness in his chest seems to have ebbed away.]
Should... we try looking for other jobs?
[He does not feel as enthusiastic about it and given the precedent their first try has set, Felix isn't too optimistic about any further trials panning out either.]
...not today. If being a pet means there are jobs you cannot take, we should find out in advance which they are. We can look it up back at the apartment.
[A part of him is hoping that they'll discover it's best for Felix to just stay in their assigned quarters, but Dimitri won't voice it. He just cards his fingers through Felix's hair a couple of times before drawing back to take out his palm reader and call a ride home.]
[With the noise of the city around them, Dimitri initially doesn't hear the purring. Instead, he feels it. Is this what people like so much about cats? He'd always been a little bit afraid to handle cats in his youth. They look so small and delicate, after all. Even puppies made him feel a bit anxious! He really likes animals, but only horses felt big and solid enough for him to be able to relax with them. This is actually... nice.
With most hover cars being automated, it doesn't take long for one to arrive. Dimitri lingers for a moment before turning to climb into the car, looking a little more like the boy used to be and a little less like a crazy murder hobo.]
[Somehow, crying out that frustration has exhaustion seeping into Felix's bones, and he's feeling unusually tired when they both climb into the car. Thinking nothing of it, he inches closer to Dimitri, resting his head on his lap as he closes his eyes. Drawing his legs close, he curls up and lets sleep lead him where it may, not wanting to think too much on how dependent he's going to be on Dimitri for the foreseeable future.]
[Though his initial reaction is to stiffen up (Felix's head is totally on his crotch?!), Felix's expression has him calming on that front almost immediately. He looks so small all curled up like that, helpless and exhausted. Dimitri knows he doesn't have any business getting involved with the living anymore, but what else can he do? There's literally nowhere else for Felix to turn. Even so, the thought of Felix becoming his little shadow all over again and then having to watch as Dimitri loses his mind and is then presumed dead for five years is... unpleasant.
He'll just have to do his best to keep some distance between them when Felix is feeling more like himself. For now, he'll just quietly stroke his hair with one hand and use the palm reader to tell the car to take a longer route with the other.]
[Felix only wakes when Dimitri gently nudges him at their destination. After which, he spends his free time curled up in his own room, listless after finding out what type of jobs pets could get. He only gets up for meals and when it's his turn in the VR room, unsure of what to do with himself given the lack of useful avenues available to him.
Well, there's still one left, but Dimitri does not seem interested in that, nor is Felix keen to push him into such matters.
Night eventually falls, and Felix tries to sleep his worries away. But with his room unusually cold, he struggles to find rest, and his subconscious leads him to the only available source of warmth in that suite.
Which is Dimitri. Chewing on his lower lip briefly, Felix gulps back his guilt and settles by the same spot he did on the first night, letting the warmth radiating from Dimitri's side lull him to sleep.]
[It's not a pleasant day. The reminder of just how this world sees Felix puts Dimitri in a poor mood, and he'll throw himself into training to keep his aggression under control. At the end of the day, he's ready to bathe and collapse into bed. As always, he is immensely grateful for how easy it is to actually fall asleep here compared to in his own world, even if it's currently resulting in some less than wholesome dreams about his current housemate. Dimitri stirs when Felix settles beside him, curling over to face him with a soft hum. The false starry sky above them is enough light to see him by, especially with Felix's skin being as pale as it is. With his impulse control and thought processes shot, Dimitri doesn't hesitate to let his fingertips trail down to the exposed portion of Felix's thighs, tracing nonsense patterns over his skin.]
[Just like that night, however, Felix stirs when Dimitri's hand dips down, the touch quite surprising. His eyes fly open when Dimitri sets to touching him, unexpected given the lack of interest Dimitri had been showing on the matter especially today.
Felix suppresses a shiver, drawing his legs closer and squeezing his thighs together. He'd be lying if he said it didn't feel good--because it does, and Felix isn't entirely sure if it is because of the person doing it or something else all together.
Besides, this is his purpose in this world now, isn't it? The pet of a so-called elite, dependent on his patronage...
His tail curls and swishes past his thighs as Felix relents, letting Dimitri do as he wishes for the moment. Worse has been done to Felix after all, and this one is downright comfortable, all things considered.]
Cold again? [he murmurs, snaking his other arm around Felix and pulling him in close — perhaps a little too close considering the state he's in. Having such enticing dreams has him already half-hard upon waking. As far as this can be considered "awake", that is. He's definitely not awake enough to try and hide it.]
[But this time, Felix is unable to hide his gasp when Dimitri presses against him--yet another unexpected turn of events given available information thus far.
Or is he, perhaps, misreading things...? It does not seem likely given the aggression between them, but who is he to judge who or what Dimitri might be dreaming or thinking of? His duty right now would be to serve and refrain from being more of a headache than he already is, so--
All he does is exhale softly against Dimitri's chest, shuffling a little closer.]
[Such a cute little gasp. Dimitri nuzzles in closer, hand sliding up to briefly fondle his ass before finding his real target: the tail. Once again, he curls it in his fingers, idly stroking the fur. The softness is pleasing, but he can't help also thinking it would make a good handle.
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But then he sees why Felix made that face.
Dimitri is immensely grateful that Felix is avoiding eye contact. He knows his eyes are probably bulging out of his head right now, and he doesn't even respond to the explanation for fear of what he might sound like. This ridiculous getup is going to haunt him too, isn't it?
As soon as people start taking notice, Dimitri's discomfort vanishes. Many of the Midas residents in this area know this restaurant's practices, and they know that Felix must be a pet if he's being made to stand out here. The whistling and cat-calling starts up quickly, though it vanishes just as fast when Dimitri's murderous aura grows too powerful to ignore.]
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The owner of the shop... Felix spares a glance in his direction, and it tells Felix everything he needs to know. This person never meant to hire him in the first place, and as for what reason, the nature of the words thrown in his direction seem to explain it.
Is there some sort of prejudice against pets looking for a job? It wasn't in the guides whatsoever, but then again... should he be surprised? It's just icing on the cake for the way "mongrels" are looked down upon in this society, to be honest.
He doesn't know what he'd do without Dimitri and the aura he's radiating. For however much Felix hates being reliant on others, he's not sure people would have respected his space without Dimitri ready to pounce, though all the same...]
This... probably isn't the right job.
[Felix keeps his gaze downcast, still unable to look Dimitri straight in the eye.]
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[Dimitri glances inside the shop and gets a good look at the manager — a mongrel. He ushers Felix back into the building, following behind him this time for the sole purpose of attempting to murder the owner with the ferocity of his gaze. Honestly, he's tempted to hit him. He wouldn't get in any trouble for it... but that's exactly why he can't do it. Even now, attacking the downtrodden isn't something he has a taste for.
That doesn't stop him from snatching the offending outfit from Felix once he reemerges in his own clothes. Looking at the owner right in the eye, he tears the costume in two and drops it on the floor.]
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Then Dimitri snatches the outfit from him and tears it in half, much to Felix's shock and the owner's. Appreciated as the gesture is, considering Felix has thought of doing as much, his chest feels oddly tight, a familiar helplessness sinking in as a new realization settles over him.
You're nothing without Dimitri.
That sting in his eyes cues him that it's time to go, and run as far away as he can from this reminder he wishes nothing more of. So that's what he does, bolting out of the store and letting his legs carry him as far as they can.]
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Dimitri runs after him.]
Felix!
[Felix doesn't respond. Worse, even — he turns the corner. He may be out of shape as far as battle goes, but Felix is more agile than ever now, and he's able to slip through a crowd more easily. Dimitri keeps after him regardless, managing to corner him after a minute or two when Felix turns into an alley in his quest to avoid people. The walls are high, but he's fairly certain Felix can jump them, so he quickly closes the distance and throws his arms around him from behind, pulling him back against his chest.]
What are you doing?! You know what these people would do with you if they thought they could get away with it!
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They already have. What difference does it make?
[Much to his horror, his voice cracks as he speaks, but hysteria has him spilling his thoughts the moment they come to mind, the threat of tears ever so present as he finds himself unable to wiggle free. Sucking in a breath, he gives up for the moment, going limp in Dimitri's arms as he hangs his head.]
Why do you care anyway? [Felix asks bitterly, swallowing in one last attempt to stave off his inclination to cry out his frustration at the unfairness of this world.] Isn't it better if you just leave me alone so you can go back to your own time faster?
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If we were back home, I would. I have been on my own for five years — I know you can take care of yourself, so I never looked back. But here...
[Dimitri shakes his head.]
Not here. I could never leave you here.
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You should consider it. [Felix sniffles.] I'll just be a burden to you.
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[The guilt and shame of leaving Felix behind, potentially having Felix's ghost added to the ones whose cries pierce his skull — that would be a burden. Looking after Felix is nothing in comparison.]
Call it an investment if you like. If letting me shield you with my status here troubles you, then just fight that much harder when you return home.
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Fine.
[So he curls slightly to his side, resting his cheek against Dimitri's chest indulgently as he tries to grab at what semblance of calm he can.]
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Am I making you uncomfortable?
[That must be it, right? Felix hasn't really made a habit of allowing this closeness since he's gone ahead and turned to calling Dimitri a boar, among others.]
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It was... unexpected.
[But not bad.]
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[Felix takes another slow breath, glad that most of the tightness in his chest seems to have ebbed away.]
Should... we try looking for other jobs?
[He does not feel as enthusiastic about it and given the precedent their first try has set, Felix isn't too optimistic about any further trials panning out either.]
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[A part of him is hoping that they'll discover it's best for Felix to just stay in their assigned quarters, but Dimitri won't voice it. He just cards his fingers through Felix's hair a couple of times before drawing back to take out his palm reader and call a ride home.]
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[Maybe Dimitri might be able to find more information on that, considering there was none of the sort when Felix tried to figure that out.
For the moment, he rests against Dimitri's chest, letting out a soft purr as he waits for their ride home.]
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With most hover cars being automated, it doesn't take long for one to arrive. Dimitri lingers for a moment before turning to climb into the car, looking a little more like the boy used to be and a little less like a crazy murder hobo.]
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He'll just have to do his best to keep some distance between them when Felix is feeling more like himself. For now, he'll just quietly stroke his hair with one hand and use the palm reader to tell the car to take a longer route with the other.]
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Well, there's still one left, but Dimitri does not seem interested in that, nor is Felix keen to push him into such matters.
Night eventually falls, and Felix tries to sleep his worries away. But with his room unusually cold, he struggles to find rest, and his subconscious leads him to the only available source of warmth in that suite.
Which is Dimitri. Chewing on his lower lip briefly, Felix gulps back his guilt and settles by the same spot he did on the first night, letting the warmth radiating from Dimitri's side lull him to sleep.]
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Felix suppresses a shiver, drawing his legs closer and squeezing his thighs together. He'd be lying if he said it didn't feel good--because it does, and Felix isn't entirely sure if it is because of the person doing it or something else all together.
Besides, this is his purpose in this world now, isn't it? The pet of a so-called elite, dependent on his patronage...
His tail curls and swishes past his thighs as Felix relents, letting Dimitri do as he wishes for the moment. Worse has been done to Felix after all, and this one is downright comfortable, all things considered.]
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[But this time, Felix is unable to hide his gasp when Dimitri presses against him--yet another unexpected turn of events given available information thus far.
Or is he, perhaps, misreading things...? It does not seem likely given the aggression between them, but who is he to judge who or what Dimitri might be dreaming or thinking of? His duty right now would be to serve and refrain from being more of a headache than he already is, so--
All he does is exhale softly against Dimitri's chest, shuffling a little closer.]
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This place has really done a number on him.]
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