THE AUCTION

 

SYNOPSIS: The day of the big auction has arrived. As everyone takes their places, tension is high. The Sweetmeadows and Jasper's old gang have high hopes of being able to rescue Nova and Julian. But, even their extensive resources are tapped out when they face the collective forces of Coin lust and greed arrayed against them. 

 

---

 

The night of the auction had come. Marin felt like a stone was lodged in their stomach. No matter how many times they had gone over the plan, there was so much that was out of their control. Even so, over a decade of experience as a pet helped Marin to keep their outward expression cool. As the three of them — Marin and the Sweetmeadow twins — traversed the crowded corridor at the auction house entrance, the oversized ornate doors opened to the auction hall. 

 

Marin smiled gleefully, glancing between the Sweetmeadows. Their enthusiasm would ring false to the right ears, but it was fine for their surroundings. “Are you two serious about buying me a friend?”

 

Calix put an arm around Marin and pulled them in closer. “Would I lie to you?” Calix asked, kissing Marin affectionately on the cheek. “If we see a pet with the right temperament, why wouldn’t we?”

 

"These rich fucks better not start a pissing contest and outbid us," muttered Seth in what he probably thought was too low a whisper to be picked up by the flesh-toned microphone on his jaw. It was the same model Adrien had been wearing when he was captured at the University. Seth just didn't have experience being out in the field instead of behind his computer or in the van outside. 

 

Seth had admitted to Marin that he had never used one of these mics before. He would be somewhere on an upper balcony, way back in what Marin had heard Iskios call the "nosebleed" seats. 

 

Iskios, already seated in the gallery above the auction hall floor, laughed. "Hey, keep the line clear for official business, Kaze."

 

“And maybe we should try avoiding making comments that reveal any of us are on the line at all,” Anthix countered. “That type of coordination can get us ejected from the auction.”

 

Realizing that they might have hesitated a moment too long with their focus on their conversation, Marin took the last few steps toward the attendants at the doors. “Sweetmeadows, party of three, please!”

 

“Welcome!” the bright-eyed woman beamed at the charming little navy-haired pet. “Your table is ready. Right this way, please,” she said, gesturing for them to follow with a white-gloved hand.

 

Marin hooked each of their arms into one of Calix's and Anthix's, then followed the attendant. While Iskios and Seth watched from above, the Sweetmeadows were soon seated at a round dining table, set up for full-course dining. Having arrived fashionably late, they had time things such that the auction was just about to get underway. 

 

They had all agreed that though Orion was their insider, the team would refrain from contacting them unless it was an emergency. Orion had already passed along a lot of information, including the order in which the pets would be auctioned. Orion would be last, a surprise addition to the catalogue. Once their participation was announced, it was likely that at least some people would try to save their funds to bid on them, even if Orion would only be theirs for a seventy-two-hour period. Marin had explained to a confused Iskios that this was a matter of status. As in, Orion conferred status to those he played with. Marin could tell that Iskios thought that was a very strange way to spend money indeed. 

 

---

 

Aristotle heard the music of three familiar laughs and instinctively turned his head. Rhys was here, backstage, with his slum pet, Jasper, and Aristotle's Swan. Swan was half-dressed, applying a golden lustre dust to his cheeks. Jasper had gotten some of the dust on the bridge of his nose. But, despite the attraction of the two well-formed bodies in their revealing attire, Aristotle's eyes fell on Rhys, part of his hair braided into neat plaits along the edge of his skull, the rest held back by those braids in a curtain of curls, his friend's bright cerulean eyes intent on Jasper's face.  

 

Aristotle released the breath that he had been holding and took in another. "Rhys, darling! Jasper!" 

 

Jasper's eyes turned toward Aristotle, and for the merest fraction of a second, he betrayed a micro-expression — one of anger. If Aristotle had not been able to instantly replay it on his implant, he would not have been sure that he had seen it. But then, Jasper was smiling brightly. Aristotle mentally filed the information away for later. 

 

“Aris!” Rhys was beaming. His long hair seemed to glow under the stage lights. The regular staff buzzed invisibly around his handsome friend. In a few strides, Rhys's long, powerful climber’s legs brought him to Aristotle's side. Rhys embraced his dearest friend. “We were hoping to catch you before you went on stage. I cannot believe the big day is finally here.”

 

With practiced grace, Swan took Jasper by the hand and led him to their Owners. “Kyrios, can you believe Jasper has never been to a pet auction before?”

 

Looking again at the makeup on Jasper’s nose, Aristotle pulled out an embroidered handkerchief and raised it in one hand, pausing a moment before leaning in and pressing the fabric to his skin. He buffed the mark away with a firm, confident hand. "This is the correct event to remedy it, Jasper. I do hope you'll enjoy yourself."

 

Aris drew back, folding the handkerchief with the gold dust inward and handing it to Swan. "But, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to find your seats. I have to check in on all of the auction lots and see to my other duties as Master of Ceremonies."

 

He did not wish to spoil any of the surprises in store. He knew how Jasper particularly admired Orion. And, he did not want Jasper to feel awkward about the trend that he had started with slumborn pets. The two he was auctioning tonight were also from Jasper's neighbourhood, based on what Rhys had told him, and Aristotle didn't want any friction just in case Jasper happened to know them. 

 

A look of disappointment briefly crossed Rhys’ features before disappearing again. “Yes, of course,” he answered. “But I will see you at the afterparty so that I can give you my congratulations, yes?”

 

Aris felt a warmth in his heart at his friend’s encouragement and confidence in him. “Perish the thought of even calling it an 'afterparty' if I am not graced with the presence of Thamyris Fairmount. Give me some time after all is said and done for the administrative side of things, then come find me.”

 

With a wave of his hand, Aris called Swan to action. “For the moment, I really must get back to work. Swan, sweeting, guide them back to the auction hall before you finish your preparations.”

 

“Yes, Kyrios.” Swan tugged gently on Jasper’s hand, nodding politely to Rhys. “Come along, please.”

 

Rhys let himself be guided away by the willowy dancer. “See you soon, Aris,” Rhys called back. 

 

Aristotle smiled beatifically at his dear friend's retreating form before turning with a purpose and made his way into the dressing room hallway. While there were some communal stations like the one that Swan had been using, it was well-known that some pets, whether because they were divii or because they had more delicate constitutions, needed the privacy of their own room. As he passed through the communal area, he caressed the nape of a neck here and cupped a cheek there. 

 

He knocked before entering the first of the auction lots that he wanted to keep a special eye on. 

 

"Uh, yes?" came an uncertain voice, deeper than most of the delicate pets preparing themselves backstage. 

 

"Nova, I'd like to come in. It's Aristotle Brandywine, your sponsor."

 

“Hello, sir,” Nova answered dutifully. “Please, come right in.”

 

Aristotle stepped inside the dressing room and found Nova already dressed, admiring himself in a full-length mirror. 

 

The former criminal's outfit was masterfully designed to show a combination of the hard edges that Chiron, his trainer, had deliberately not smoothed and the soft vulnerabilities that they had uncovered. His upper arms were encircled in thick black leather bands. His chest was framed by a gladiator harness and his ass and crotch were equally wrapped in black leather bands. Overtop of it all, he wore a long, translucent white lace chiton that stopped mid-thigh. The lace pattern was squarish and masculine. His face was painted for war, a band of smoky dark blackish-blue framed his eyes horizontally from temple to temple, his lips also stained a deep blue-black. 

 

"You look well, Nova. This suits you," said Aristotle, and stepped up behind him. Nova, although he could still see Aristotle in the mirror, tensed up.  

 

Nova tried not to gulp. “Thank you, sir. Your stylists are very talented.” He hesitated to say more but felt compelled. “I was just practicing the poses that Chiron taught me.”

 

"There's a good lad," said Aristotle, smiling as he reached around Nova and cupped his firm chest. "Practice makes perfect. You want to be alluring for the audience."

 

A breath hitched in Nova’s lungs. He didn’t want this, but his cock hardened in the leather codpiece all the same. Nova didn’t know how to say ‘no’ to Mr. Brandywine. “Then I’ll keep working on it. There’s not much time left.”

 

Aristotle prevented his pout from reaching his face. It was a shame that it was better to dispose of Nova and Jewel quickly. He wanted to gloat by filling the thieves with his seed — after they begged for it. Instead, he ran his hands down Nova's sides before pulling them away. "Too right, Nova. I have other pets to check in with. Practice well for me."

He turned and left the dressing room. Two doors down from Nova's room was his accomplice, the foul-mouthed spitfire who had become so much more pleasant since Aristotle's factotum had done what others could not. He was unsurprised to find Eurylochus in the room with Jewel when he entered.

 

“Good evening again, Mister Brandywine,” said Eurylochus. His gaze never left the kneeling Jewel’s face as he gently wiped the cum-slick corners of the pet’s mouth and fixed his makeup. “What can we do for you?”

 

Jewel perked up and turned to the door when Aristotle’s name was spoken. The movement revealed that Eurylochus's semi-hard cock was still hanging out of his trousers. 

 

“Yes, to what do we owe the honour?” Jewel asked eagerly, with just a hint of mischief.

 

Aristotle smiled, his eyes catching Eurylochus's. At least one of them was getting to lord their victory over these awful thieves. Julian had been particularly intransigent, the worst kind of truculent. And now, if he wasn't in the presence of a Coin, he felt uneasy, sad, even a little sick to his stomach. He craved Coin attention. How thoughtful, how humanitarian, for Eurylochus to provide it. 

 

"Oh, I just wanted to make sure that you had everything that you needed ahead of the auction, pet. But I can see that Eurylochus is taking very good care of you indeed."

 

Jewel’s grin widened. “Yes, I'm all set. I feel completely comfortable in his...” the pet glanced down at the glove holding the cumrag. He gave Eurylochus a pleading look. “Hands?”

 

With a confident, neutral expression, Eurylochus answered, “Yes, we have the time. I expect an orgasm will calm your nerves for the stage.” He turned back to Aristotle. “That is, unless I'm needed elsewhere, Sir?”

 

"I've got everything else well in hand, Eury. You can use yours here, so long as Jewel is presentable in time," said Aristotle, just as casually. Jewel and Eurylochus made a good match. Aristotle would have preferred if they could have kept Jewel close to home. But, it might lead to issues if ever an investigation were to occur. After all, Jewel was evidence of the power of the Mnemosyne.

 

Aristotle ruffled Jewel's hair gently, without mussing it, and went for the door. It was time to see to the final private visit that he needed to make before the auction started. 

 

As he approached the last dressing room, Aristotle could hear Orion’s voice through the open door. From the entryway, the Coin could see Orion stretching his arms and shoulders while he sang. The celebrity pet smiled up at Aris but kept singing. Aristotle quietly took a seat across the room and listened. 

 

In recent months, it had become a rare thing for Aris to just sit and enjoy a performance. His business endeavours often took all of his attention. Orion's voice held him in gentle thrall the whole way through. 

 

He smiled contently as Orion finished the song, and clapped enthusiastically. “Magnificent, as always!” Aristotle beamed. “Thank you for letting me sit in on your warm-up. I didn’t recognize the song and decided not to cheat using my implant. What was it?”

 

"Oh, it's an original composition. I co-wrote it with this incredible artist, Orpheus reborn, really, but not the type to seek notoriety or fame. I'm sworn to secrecy. We were each other's muses," said Orion, approaching Aristotle and sitting on the armrest of the plush armchair. "I'm just about ready to begin. And you?"

 

Aristotle narrowed his eyes playfully at Orion and brought his hands to his hips. “Come now, are you trying to tease me with a secret I can’t know? Such cruelty born of such beauty!”

 

"My reputation would be ruined if my admirers did not believe in my absolute discretion, Mister Brandywine," said Orion, bringing an index finger to their sensual, full lips. "After all, we wouldn't want to lessen my value as the surprise final lot of the auction, now, would we?"

 

With an exaggerated sigh, Aristotle deflated into his seat. “Yes, I suppose you’re right,” the Coin said. “I could never do that to you. We still have a minute or two before we should head to the stage. Is there anything I can help you with, dear?”

 

---

 

Jasper watched the curtain come up from the wings, his eyes on Orion and Aristotle. He would have to give a speech soon on behalf of the Argent River Restoration Project. He watched Orion masterfully pretend that sharing a stage with Aristotle as joint emcees didn't make them feel ill. Maybe it didn't. Orion seemed good at compartmentalizing, from the little that Jasper knew of them. Whatever. He was just grateful that Orion had agreed to help.

 

Both Aristotle and Orion were beaming broadly. Aristotle spoke first, of course. As soon as he spread his arms apart, the crowd grew silent. 

 

"Welcome, dear guests, to the twenty-second annual charity auction sponsored by the Brandywine Group. This year, the funds that we raise will go to benefit the Argent River Restoration Project, a worthy cause that seeks to depollute the Argent River and make the water potable once again, with the very pleasant side benefit of beautifying the shoreline and returning ecological balance to our most important local body of water," Aristotle said, barely seeming to need to breathe. "I, Aristotle Brandywine, will be one of your Masters of Ceremonies for the evening, alongside our very own Orion."

Aristotle raised his hands in the air in Orion's direction and began a gentle clap, which the crowd swiftly turned into a roar of applause and cheering. 

 

Orion stepped forward and curtseyed, giving a little twirl. Their short, loose-fitting tunic caught the air and opened wide enough to tease the onlookers with a glimpse of his soft, smooth skin. The asymmetrical length of it exposed the globes of his naked ass at the back, but was just long enough at the front to preserve his "modesty". The laces of their golden sandals criss-crossed up their legs, stopping at the knee to leave the thighs bare. 

 

Orion's eyes raked over the crowd alluringly, as though they could see anything past the bright stage lights. The makeup around Orion’s eyes shimmered, drawing people into their gaze. "Hello, dearest guests.” When Orion spoke the crowd fell silent instantly. “I'm just delighted to be one of your hosts for tonight. How could I resist you all? In fact..."

A display rolled down behind Orion with the order of the auction lots for the evening. The last slot was currently darkened with a large star aligned beside it.

 

“I managed to convince the ever-gracious Aristotle to offer you all a little something extra,” Orion said conspiratorially. “I hope you’ll all put some of your funds aside for later, as the last lot up for auction tonight is...” They turned to look at the board. The star on the display lit up and slid sideways revealing Orion's name written in gold. “A full weekend — seventy-two hours — with yours truly.”

 

The rhythmic applause was thunderous. After almost exactly a minute, Aristotle raised a gloved hand and shut it gently. The applause stopped and the room was once again silent. "I do hope that you will all show the same warm enthusiasm for our other lots. We have some incredible pets offering their contracts today and I know that you, our distinguished and distinguishing audience, will give them the attention that they deserve." 

 

Aristotle smiled broadly at the audience, who, though silent, were clearly ogling Orion. “We’ll be bringing out our first lot of the evening for this wonderful charity in just a few minutes. First, we have with us the inspiration and architect of the Argent River Restoration Project and my dear friend, Jasper of Fairmount House!"

 

Jasper stepped out to polite applause. He was dressed in something closer to Coin fashion than that of a pet. He wore epaulettes and a long, ankle-length cape over an open jacket with coattails cut in the latest fashion. The translucent organza of his shirt and the cut-out panel for his stomach were the only concessions to ensuring that no one would ever mistake him for trying to imitate a Coin. He was wound as tight as a bowstring, worried for his friends and angry at Aristotle for taking them. It was only long years of training in high-risk social situations that made it possible for him to speak at all. Jasper cleared his throat and tried not to rush his words. 

 

"Good evening, honoured guests. I stand before you tonight because the Argent River needs you. And, although you don't know it yet, you need the Argent River. The fragile ecosystem of the river has been in freefall for decades and is nearing collapse. Should that happen, many of the people that you rely on to do the work that makes your standard of living possible will have to move, leaving New Argent City with a labour shortage.

 

"Further, amenities that you enjoy will no longer be accessible locally. This will lead to higher import costs and send the message to the rest of the world that you are not fit to care for the land on which you live. But, I don't believe that. Now is your chance to become the stewards of the Argent River that we all so desperately need, by contributing to this auction, joining our list of monthly donors, and spreading the word about the Argent River Restoration Project. 

 

"Thank you for your generosity. I won't take up any more of your time. Please enjoy the auction and give generously." 

 

Jasper left the stage to lukewarm, dutiful applause. 'Fuck these Coins.'

 

As Aristotle retook the stage, he couldn’t let the mood stay so sullen. With Orion by his side, he gazed around the room, attempting to make eye contact with as many people as he could. 

 

“Sobering words,” Aristotle said. He raised a hand and gestured at the grand displays around them. “Too often, I attend events like this one and it becomes easy to forget the reason I am there in the first place. I welcome Jasper's much-needed reminder.” The Coin smiled warmly at Jasper's departing form.

 

Aristotle’s grin turned playful as he faced the crowd again. Before he continued, Aristotle used his ocular implant to increase the speaker volume slightly and pull attention back to him. “This strikes me as an excellent opportunity to reveal my contribution to the cause. You see, I did my own research into the Argent River and I was able to confirm everything this initiative has claimed. If anything, they are underplaying the negative effects. As a man of science, the data has convinced me to throw my weight behind this cause.”

 

A gentle nudge from Orion’s elbow stole Aristotle’s focus. “On with it!” Orion laughed as he chided the Coin, “We’ve got a schedule to keep!”

 

“Very well, very well,” Aristotle threw up his hands in defeat. “You all know that every year I donate half again as much money as the auction brings in. This year, for this cause, I will be doubling that amount.” Orion’s eyes widened, and a murmur spread through the audience.

 

“You heard me right, my friends. Every bit you give tonight will be matched by me, from my personal funds. And,” Aristotle gave a conspiratorial wink, “If you don’t consider me a friend, then it would seem that you have just been presented with an excellent opportunity to take me down a peg, no?” The crowd’s murmur became a chuckle.

 

Orion clasped his hands together and bounced in place on the balls of their feet. "Oooo, the more they spend, the poorer they make you..."

 

Standing up, Rhys began the thunderous round of applause that circled the auction house. Jasper clapped half-heartedly beside him. 

 

---

 

"...Sold! Pomelo's contract goes to Andromache, drooling over the rail of the upper left private box. What a beautiful match they'll make!" teased Orion. 

 

A soft, round pet with warm pinkish skin and bright magenta hair stepped off the rotating platform at the centre of the stage and gave a smile and a wave to a woman at one of the round dining tables on the ground floor. Then, they disappeared back into the wings to wait for their new Owner's payment to go through. Then, the contract would be signed and the fun could really begin. 

 

A tense energy thrummed through Calix's back and thighs as he sat there, doing nothing, waiting for the men he was meant to rescue to come on-stage. Pretending to enjoy himself had never been his forte. Luckily, Marin was doing enough for both of them, excitedly nattering about each of the pets and their outfits, reading aloud from the catalogue about their personality and specialties. 

 

Calix huffed quietly as Marin pretended to be disappointed yet again that they didn't make the cut with their lowball bids. What an actor.

 

Anthix patted Marin on the shoulder reassuringly. “That one was close. Maybe the next one.”

 

The lights dimmed and shifted to a dim red spotlight at the center of the curtain. A low rhythmic drumming began to swell from the silence. 

 

“Our next lot is what you might call a big ticket item. A pet that truly embodies his namesake, meet Asterion!” called out Aristotle. 

 

There was a pause in which the drum beats intensified, swelling and speeding up. As the crescendo rose, the curtains were torn apart and tossed aside in one swift movement. A mountain of a man stood in their place, causing the heavy rigging that held the drapery to shake audibly. His short, buzzed hair showed the winding lines of labyrinthine tattoos across the sides of his scalp. The wide, burnished brown collar around his neck sported two iron D-rings, front and back. Dark metal chains ran from those rings down to the prominent bulldog harness and the iron cuffs on his wrists.

 

A matte black and excessively tight set of briefs outlined his muscled form, which was comfortably layered in fat. The most striking thing about this Asterion was also the smallest: a tiny iron-coloured restraining device that must have been made of some other composite around the bulging softness of his cock. This minotaur might not be in the labyrinth, but it was caged.

On stage, Orion fanned himself dramatically. He ran up to Asterion, who immediately picked them up and lifted them above his head with one hand. Orion gave a whoop of excitement and spread out all of his limbs. 

 

"Get a good view, folks, that tunic won't be hiding anything now!" Orion said gleefully. 

 

Asterion sold for more than any of the other lots to date. 

 

---

 

Having met Nova before did nothing to protect Calix from watching the man step on stage completely transformed. Calix felt a mixture of lust and shame flood his body. He wanted this man. The man that they were supposed to rescue, the man that had sat in his twin's living room and explained how his friend had been stolen and possibly brainwashed into becoming a pet. Calix wanted to fuck him. 

 

He shifted in his seat, and Marin edged closer, resting a hand in Calix's lap directly onto his hardening cock. Marin was completely unselfconscious about the whole thing. "He looks delicious, doesn't he, Calix? This one. I want this one!"

 

Calix nodded and refocused his attention on their goal, trying to dispel the image of Nova's biceps bound in black leather bands. He made their first bid. "All right, blue-eyes. Let's go all in on this one."

 

As the bids appeared on-screen as well as through the live feeds available to those with implants, Nova flexed and preened on-stage. 

 

"Nova comes to us from the ground-level of New Argent City. He's a bodyguard, attendant, and lover all rolled into one," said Orion. It was the first introduction that came across as scripted to Calix. Was Orion upset? "Beneath that tough exterior is a pet looking for a guiding hand." 

 

The bids were already rising quickly. Jasper's Golden Lattice Ceremony had introduced a craze for slum pets of a certain calibre — tough, unvarnished, a little dangerous. Calix bid the cost of a small watercraft, staring at Nova's Apanchomene's stone. Marin tightened their grip around his arm. 

 

Focusing purely on the stage, Calix waited for the bidding to slow down before continuing. He was only dimly aware of the furtive glance Marin shot to Anthix. 

 

“I thought you wanted this one, Calix,” Anthix said, their tone playful and unconcerned. “Shouldn’t you be bidding?”

 

"Yeah, what the fuck, Calix," muttered Seth from the nosebleed seats.

 

"Strategy, my dear ones. Watch and learn," said Calix, with a confidence that he was surprised to actually feel. If they wanted to be able to afford both of their targets, they needed to play the game cautiously. As the bidding began to slow, Calix dropped a bid that shot the price up by another thirty percent.

 

There was a long pause in the bidding, and a hush from the emcees on-stage. 

 

The next name to top the bidding display shocked Calix into a stiff silence. `Merit - House Brandywine` had just outbid him by a sizeable amount. On-stage, Orion tutted. 

 

"Aristotle! You're not taking this one for yourself, are you?" they chided playfully. 

 

"Oh, Heavens, no, Orion, but I do give my pets a budget in case they want to try and bring home a new friend," said Aristotle with a wink. 

 

It was clear to anyone with half a brain that Aristotle had instructed his pets to jump in for the larger lots and keep things interesting if the bidding slowed. Nobody in the audience minded, it all being for a good cause. But, for the first time, Calix doubted their plan.

 

If this continued, there would be no way, even with their considerable resources, for them to afford both Nova and Julian. They simply did not have the liquidity.

 

In the gallery above, Seth had apparently already seen the writing on the wall and done the math. "Fuck this shit. Did you hold back anything at all when we talked about this, Sweetmeadow?" 

 

Calix knew that Seth was only worried, but it was hard to hold back his frustration. "No. You think a Coin would pass up an urge to boast?"

 

 

“Going once!”

 

“If I bid again and go too low, people might still outdo me,” Calix whispered to the others. “This is going to have to be our last bid.”

 

“Going twice!”

 

Seth’s voice came through the line clear and cold, “Do it.”

 

“Yet another substantial bid from Calix Sweetmeadow!” Aris declared, beaming. “Something about Nova here has truly captured these bidders' attention.”

 

Orion was practically bouncing as they approached Nova and took hold of his black-banded bicep, twining their limbs. “How exciting!” They turned to the crowd. “Do we have another bid?”

 

There were a few murmurs, followed by silence. In that silence, Orion started the count again. "Going once...going twice...!"

 

The rush of blood in Calix's over-engineered ears made the big, platinum-haired Coin feel as though he was underwater. Orion's voice was muffled.

 

"Nova's contract has been sold to Calix Sweetmeadow! Congratulations!"

 

---

 

From high up in the balconies where Seth was watching, Julian's form on the stage was slight and minuscule. He looked fragile. Seth hated it. A pit of worry had solidified in his stomach, a second one forming in his throat. 

 

After Nova's auction, after the news that the Sweetmeadows almost definitely wouldn't be able to cover the cost of winning Julian's contract, Seth had gone into problem-solving mode. That had allowed him to keep calm and focused as the Sweetmeadows gathered what extra funds they could without arousing suspicion. Orion had kicked in, too, but money left traces where it traveled. 

 

Desperate, Seth had tried to contact the...benefactor...that had tipped him off to the existence of Mnemosyne and had paid for evidence of it. That was the job where Seth had lost Adrien, his Prince of Thieves, his Autolycus. He told his contact that Julian was living proof of Mnemosyne's effects. He all but begged for the funds to acquire him.

 

But, his contact never answered.

 

And then Julian had arrived on-stage, looking small and conquered. He wore sandals laced up to the top of the knee. A bright gemstone covered each point where the laces crossed. His belt was a polished golden chain, and from every link a string of gold coins and jewels hung down, shifting and sparkling with every step. From the waist up, Julian was bare, though his skin shimmered with what might have been diamond dust. This carried over to his face, which sparkled and shimmered. The overall effect made Julian look soft. Innocent and pure. Seth gave a bitter laugh at that thought.

 

Orion's voice cut through the noise of Seth's thoughts. 

 

"Please welcome Jewel to the stage! You could say that Jewel was once a diamond in the rough, looking for someone to polish him up. Hailing from the streets of New Argent City, this delicate, innocent-looking thing still has quite the dirty mouth when you get him going. The ideal home for Jewel is one where he gets to spend lots of time with his Owner, as he feels most comfortable with an authoritative presence to ground him."

 

As Julian started to strike various provocative poses, Seth had to look away. But he couldn't mute the audio without putting himself at risk of missing something. 

 

“I see you’re bedecked in a whole lot of coinage, Jewel,” Orion asked with a playful curiosity. “Are you trying to send a message to our audience?”

 

"Thanks for asking! I think it should be obvious that I love Coins. That's the main thing. But, also, I just really want you all to know where to look for my best features. Do you like my hips, Oree?"

 

Julian's tone was breathy. Simpering. Seth's lip curled in disgust. 

 

"Julian has to be putting this on, right, man?" said Iskios uncertainly through Seth's earpiece. 

 

"No, I don't think he is," answered Seth grimly. "What the fuck." 

 

"Hey, we're still going to try," said Iskios as reassuringly as he could. "Maybe, at this point in the auction, people will be saving their money for Orion, like we planned."

 

Iskios was right. They weren't going in with nothing. With Orion's extra funds, they just might be able to afford the contract if people were tapped out enough from the previous auctions or waiting on Orion, the big prize. 

 

"Yeah. Maybe," murmured Seth.

 

He had missed a bunch of Orion's follow-up questions to "Jewel", but that was probably for the best. The bidding was about to start. 

 

A smug smile snuck its way onto Aristotle Brandywine’s face. “Another fantastic pet is up for bid. I can’t wait to see who winds up wearing this Jewel on their arm. Let’s begin! Do we have an opening bid?”

 

The words hadn’t even left his mouth before a bid appeared on the board. It was triple the minimum ask.

 

“Well, now,” Aristotle said, laughing. "A little eager, aren't we, Daedalus?"

 

Whoever the fuck Daedalus was, he apparently had it bad for "Jewel". There was a long, pregnant pause as everyone else in the room evaluated the move. Finally, someone else bid just a little more than Daedalus had. Immediately, another bid from Daedalus replaced the amount. 

 

Seth’s eyes scanned the crowd. He couldn’t tell who Daedalus was. Anthix sounded hesitant over the comm line. “This is… unexpected.” 

 

Anthix threw an amount up on the board. It wasn't all that they had, but it was close. 

 

“What a wonderful match for you, Anthix!” Orion called out. “Jewel would make an excellent model for you.” Seth wondered if that was an attempt at dissuading others from trying to win Julian’s contract. 

 

It didn't dissuade Daedalus. 

 

Seth let out a frustrated groan. Was he using some sort of automated bidding system? The cost mounted aggressively once again, and Seth knew they were basically out of runway. 

 

"All of it, Anthix. We have to try," whispered Seth, mostly to himself. 

 

His heart sank as Anthix did exactly that, and Daedalus outbid them yet again. It was over. 

 

That seemed apparent to everyone else, too. Nobody else countered Daedalus as Orion counted down. 

 

"It seems like you were really waiting to snipe someone here toward the end of the auction, weren't you, Daede?" laughed Aristotle. Fuck, Seth wanted to punch that smug asshole. The crowd laughed with him, transmuting their shock at Daedalus's aggressive bidding into good humour. 

 

"Our crown Jewel goes to the talented and inventive Daedalus! As with all our lots, we'll settle up backstage after the show and then you can carry this precious little gemstone home with you in your pocket," said Orion, perhaps a little flatly to Seth's ear. 

 

"I'm sorry,"  murmured Iskios in Seth's ear. 

 

Seth didn't answer. He didn't answer anyone else, either. Instead, he left the auction house as quickly as he could without attracting more attention. He just couldn't fucking take any more.