In Tykhe's Grasp

REVISED Chapter 2: The Saviour

by time_to_occur

Tags: #dubious_consent #m/m #m/nb #multiple_partners #ownership_dynamics #scifi #3rd_person #ownership

Consent is paramount in real life. I do not condone non-consensual acts.

[NOTE: This chapter has been substantively rewritten from the original version! Inspired by Ai no Kusabi, Blade Runner, and Altered Carbon. Generally, this is more about D/s Owner/pet dynamics and slow mind-control transformation kink, with some sex. Narrative/plot-driven. Caveat emptor, and enjoy!!]

If you like my work, you can follow me on twitter! I'd also love to hear your comments.

When Aristotle got the call from Campus Security, he immediately interrupted his lunch meeting with those same lab researchers who had been guaranteed to be out of the office for Autolycus's heist. He chose to go down in person to investigate. It was important enough. The researchers were on his heels when they heard that it was their lab that had been broken into.

As Aris viewed the security footage in the private transport on the way there, the researchers told him exactly what had been on the computer that the thief had accessed.

Footage of his pet, Mouse, being used as a test subject for Project Mnemosyne. Aristotle seethed.

He paused the footage to look closer at the intruder. Was that Jasper — Rhys' Jasper? It was around then that the head of security told him that Rhys had been the one to notice something amiss. Thank Olympus for that man. Rhys had probably only noticed because he had a hard-on for the cute young thing.

Aristotle felt a pang of regret that his dear friend had fallen for a grifter. It was a shame that Jasper would soon be going to jail.

---

Rhys had waited for the security team to have things well in hand before he entered the lab. Seeing Jasper lying on the ground with his arms cuffed behind his back, Rhys felt torn. He had helped to stop whatever nefarious activities had been about to take place, but aiding in Jasper's capture made that accomplishment feel hollow. Rhys looked down at Jasper and sighed audibly.

From his position facedown on the ground, Adrien recognized Thamyris Fairmount's voice. When he came near to his face, he thought that the Coin was going to kick him. But then he didn't, and Adrien let himself release the tension a little...as much as he could with his arms cuffed behind his back and his legs locked together. *'What the hell is he doing here?'*

"What a shame…" Rhys said before turning to leave the room. As he passed by the security guard, he remembered an important detail.

"He had a fake mole on his face today, maybe a half-centimetre long," Rhys said from a few paces away. "I noticed it on the way here. It might be some sort of spy technology."

He heard Rhys speaking with someone else — heard what Rhys said about the mole on his face. Tiresias damn his eyes. How much had he been staring to remember such a minor detail? But then...maybe that was just some Coin memory thing. What else could it be?

---

A few minutes later, Aristotle arrived. Rhys heard his friend before he saw him. The distinct, rhythmic sound of hard-soled shoes on the polished tile gave him away. The security team leader hustled over to stand at attention and greet him. "Sir, we caught the suspect without issue thanks to Mister Fairmount."

"Great, that is excellent to hear." Aristotle approached a worried-looking Rhys and touched a hand to his shoulder. "Thank you for calling Security, Rhys. I'll handle it from here. You can head off — I'll see to it that everything's secure."

"Of course," Rhys answered with a smile at Aris' thanks. "But, if it's all the same to you, I'd like to wait here for you. Consider it moral support."

Aristotle smiled a bit absently at his friend. "If you insist on waiting — I shouldn't be too long once I see him off. It's imprisonment for him — this lab's research is practically considered a national secret. It seems that you put a stop to things before he managed to do very much damage. You've done both me and this institution a great service, friend."

Something about Aris's certainty made Rhys uneasy. Not knowing what else to say, Rhys responded quietly to his friend, "...You're welcome, Aris. You know that I wouldn't let harm come to you or yours."

None of this felt right anymore.

Entering the room where the intruder was being held, Aristotle assessed the young man lying helpless on the floor and felt a thrill at the sense of power that ran through him. "Hmm...You know, little thief, this is one of the only labs in this building that you could have burglarized that would get you more than a slap on the wrist and a record. I have to assume that you saw what's on that computer."

Adrien remained motionless, unresponsive. If they already had him and considered his guilt a foregone conclusion, then the least that he could do was not give up Seth or Fawn.

"You can talk to me...Really, it's your only choice if you want any leniency. You were at the concert last week. Casing the joint? Who told you to come in here? Why?"

Adrien couldn't think of a thing to say that wouldn't make things worse. But at least he could misdirect. He raised his head painfully to speak. "Heard there was a lot of fancy gaming and computer equipment in here, and that there was only the one door guarding it. Thought I could sell it."

Aristotle didn't believe the thief for a second. Jasper didn't have bags or any equipment that would facilitate stealing expensive — and bulky — VR equipment. And to hold Rhys' attention, he couldn't be that much of a fool.

Aris made a small noise of pity. "Poverty makes your kind do desperate things. Not to worry, out of respect for Rhys' feelings toward you, I'll send you to one of the nicest prisons. Three meals a day and plenty of activities to keep your mind and body active. Such a shame to wonder what might have happened between you and my dear friend, if you were an actual pianist and not just a confidence artist."

Aris gestured to the guards. "Get him on his feet. Transport is already being arranged."

One of the researchers came up to tell him that nothing was missing from the lab, but that one of the computers had been open to a video of the Lethe trials for Project Mnemosyne, with the screen turned off. It was impossible to say what the young thief had seen. It was possible, one of the researchers admitted, that they had left it open themselves because they had been editing that same experimental footage that morning.

---

As he waited for Aristotle, Rhys listened to the exchange between captive and captor from the hall. He tried to ignore Aris's comments about his feelings toward Jasper.

*'What does he know about it? Aris is not a mind reader,'* he thought. Without really examining the thought further, Rhys ascribed the growing blush in his cheeks to anger, not embarrassment. He took out his datapad to try and distract himself further, but an idea was blossoming in his head. A foolhardy one. Yet, he could not dislodge it from his thoughts.

With a sigh, Aristotle stepped back out to greet his friend, giving him a small wave with one gloved hand. "It'll all be over soon."

As Aris approached, the sound of his heels steady and distinct, Rhys acted like he was not paying attention by thumbing through notifications on his datapad. When Aristotle spoke, Rhys looked up at his friend with a smile, shut off the holographic display, and placed the projector stick into his pocket.

"About that," Rhys responded once Aristotle was close enough not to need to raise his voice. "I have an idea, assuming you didn't get anything out of him. Shall I walk you to your next appointment and explain?"

Aristotle smiled at his friend, but it barely touched his eyes. He was holding onto some negative feelings around the almost-discovery of Project Mnemosyne — it was both classified and likely to be controversial if it became known what they were doing with the project in that lab. "Sure, Rhys, you can walk with me. I'm just headed to my office to call the police."

"All right then." Rhys smiled back as he fell in with his friend. "I was thinking, some thugs slipping into your labs must be a huge security risk. And, judging by how little time you spent in there with Jasper, I can only assume that he is not cooperating." Rhys took a breath to stop himself from rambling. "Next, you will call the authorities, and you will lose at least some access to him. You will not be able to find out what else was happening here. Now, what if I could help you with that?"

Aris slowed his walk a little. He intended to have the prison soften the thief up a little before going down there and interrogating him. But he cared for Rhys, and for Rhys' feelings. That was clearly why Rhys was bothering to interfere, so he wanted to hear him out. But he couldn't imagine what his friend had in mind that would be better than his own methods. "I suppose I would have less control over the outcome. What's your suggestion, Rhys?"

"It is simple," Rhys explained, "You need information from him, and I am out of practice. Why don't you give him to me for a while? You can let him think I am asking you for leniency, and I can use that to encourage him to open up. If it fails, then I just give him back to you and let the law handle it."

Knowing that wouldn't quite do, Rhys decided to reveal a little more than he would usually like to. "I normally would not even bother, but…" he ran a hand through his hair and looked away from Aris's gaze for a moment. "I find him attractive. Very attractive in fact. I would hate to see that go to waste in a cell."

It was a ridiculous proposal. Aristotle could never agree to it. But...

...Aris's gaze softened, and he turned toward his friend, stopping in the hallway. He leaned over to pull him into a hug cheerfully. "You really like him! Awww! You've got a crush on my criminal!"

Rhys tensed as his arms were pinned to his sides in the hug. Aris was acting absolutely *ridiculous*, making them both look *ridiculous*, but Rhys didn't want to hurt his chances at getting what he wanted, so he didn't protest. "Would you mind keeping it down a bit? I would appreciate it if you at least didn't let the kids outside in the quad know."

Aris stood back, placing his gloved hands on his cheeks. "You finally found someone worth making your pet. And he's obviously spirited — it'll be like breaking in a wild stallion."

He considered for a moment. Was there any way for him to give Thamyris what he wanted in this situation? Perhaps...perhaps if the pet remembered who had hired him, and who he was working with, but not what he had found?

"On one condition."

Rhys straightened his jacket again once Aris released him. "What? You want in on it if he is hung like a stallion, too?"

"Ha! No...maybe..." said Aris, raising an eyebrow at his friend. "The condition is that you let me have some insurance. No need for you to try and extract information from him. I'll handle that before I turn him over to you. I want to perform a minor operation on him. It'll safeguard the information that he might have seen in the lab. Otherwise...I'm afraid it simply isn't safe to release him into your custody."

This took Rhys by surprise. *'An operation that can safeguard information? What new techniques has Asclepius blessed these researchers with?'* Rhys narrowed his eyes, now cautious for his prospective pet. "I am not sure I understand what kind of operation this is. Will there be any risk of injury to Jasper?"

Aristotle's head tilted to the side, mock hurt in his voice. "Now, Rhys, would I have suggested this if I thought that the risks of injury outweighed the benefits? You shouldn't notice any negative side effects, except perhaps a little tiredness and disorientation when you first take possession of him. But that should wear off shortly afterwards."

While Rhys didn't feel entirely comfortable with an operation he didn't understand, he trusted Aristotle. Besides, he was no doctor, and he would still trust one to operate on him, if needed. "Very well. I accept."

Aris turned on his heel, already heading back toward the lab, his tone transforming from serious to lighthearted. "Okay, let's get to it. How exciting! Thamyris is getting a pet! Now go home, and I'll personally deliver your new boy when he's ready."

---

From the moment Adrien ditched the transmitter, Kaze had been moving as fast as he could. First, he cranked the mic sensitivity to the max, and then he threw himself into slipping past the university's cyber security so that he could get access to their surveillance cameras. It was risky, but Kaze needed to see what was happening in there.

Kaze was having a harder time getting in than anticipated. He would continue, but first, there were other things that he had to do to help his friend.

Thamyris Fairmount's voice in the background suggesting what type of bug to look for made Seth freeze. Fucking Fairmount would know Adrien and would be able to associate him with the concert where they had cloned the card. That was the last nail in the coffin -- not even Autolycus could talk himself out of this. After a few seconds, he burst into action, prepping the vehicle to leave at a moment's notice, and the whole time he kept a finger on the switch to cut all communications with Lycus' gear. Seth couldn't help Adrien if he was traced and caught himself.

Next, Kaze sent a flurry of messages calling for backup and advice. First, he tried to tempt their employer with the type of info Lycus had found:

*'We found something shocking and important, but the job went wrong. We have what we need, but Autolycus just got caught. I can't extract him. What can you do to help?'*

Without waiting for an answer, he tried to reach Julian and Nova. They were the only ones that Kaze trusted with this kind of vulnerable request.

*'ALL HANDS ON DECK! Job went wrong. Lycus in cuffs at Brandywine U. Can you get here? I don't know how to get him out.'*

As he dug back into hacking the security cameras, Kaze was surprised by an alert on his computer. He already had a response, and it was from their employer.

UNKNOWN SENDER: *'I am aware of the situation. While I cannot act directly at this time, I will provide you with information should it come my way and do what I can to safeguard your colleague's life.'*

Their employer already knew info that Kaze didn't and might be able to gain access to more that Kaze couldn't. Who the hell was this guy?

---

Aristotle was looking down at the young man on the gurney when the graduate student technician arrived. He turned to the researchers and raised a gloved hand toward the observation area. The scientists exited the room, except for the technician.

"We will of course record the procedure fully. I'm told that you are the one with the most up-to-date training on the recently developed protocols for operating Mnemosyne's Lethe mode?" said Aristotle.

Adrien continued to jerk a little on the gurney. "Hey! You should be giving me over to the cops! This is a violation of my rights! Where are the authorities?!"

Meanwhile, Adrien tried to surreptitiously work the multitool out of his wristband, which they had not bothered to remove. He recognized the name Mnemosyne from the holovid that he had seen on the computer. If he turned his head, he could just see the scorpion-tail-like chair, with its many adjustable metal supports. He did not want to end up in that chair.

Aristotle exchanged a glance with the technician. "You needn't concern yourself with anything the subject says. This is for the continued survival of the Project and everything you have achieved so far. Do you understand me?"

The technician hesitated only momentarily before nodding. After all, this was Aristotle Brandywine. "Yes, Sir, Mr. Brandywine."

Listening to the exchange, Adrien tried to work faster, but then the technician came over and he stilled himself. "This is unethical. This is wrong — you know it is."

"I'm just doing my job," said the technician, pulling out rounded medical shears and pliers. "Now, I'm going to cut off your clothing and remove any jewelry to prepare your body for the chair. You'll need skin-to-surface contact."

Adrien squirmed, but there was little that he could do. The cold metal of the scissors whispered across his abdomen and up his chest as the first cut was made. He shivered when it stopped at his collarbone and reversed directions to cut across his chest and through the arms of his shirt. The technician was efficient, not lingering, but simply pulling away the pieces of the shirt and moving on to his pants and underwear.

They came away together, with the technician cutting through both layers, exposing Adrien to the cameras and the observers in the next room. To his surprise, his dick seemed to like the attention and he had a semi. He swallowed hard as the technician removed his shoes and socks and slowly moved up his body until he cut off the wristband and took out Adrien's ear piercings.

The technician offered no soothing words, and Adrien was sort of grateful for that. It might be worse if he had. He was well and truly fucked — that was becoming all too clear.

Adrien watched as the technician left his view and returned with more tools, including what looked like an injector — it was a smooth barrel with a sleeve over it, no visible sharp protrusions, that could be plunged to give one or more injections. He cleaned his hands with a gel-like substance and also cleaned Adrien's inner elbow. He raised the injector and showed it to Adrien, as though he cared about his comfort and understanding. "This will prevent you from moving throughout the procedure. You'll be alert, but still. That's very important, as even a random twitch or scratching an itch could disrupt the scan or the following procedures, and trust me, that's a quick path to brain damage. You're much safer this way."

With that, he pierced Adrien's skin and injected the needle's contents into his veins. As the chilled substance spread through him, Adrien felt a heaviness settle over his body. As promised, he still felt extremely fucking alert.

The technician went out of view and Adrien heard him preparing something unseen, clattering away at a keyboard. He then came back over, raised the gurney with the press of a button and transferred Adrien's immobilized body onto Project Mnemosyne's scorpion-tail chair.

Now that he was immobilized by the drugs, Adrien was secured to the chair so that he wouldn't fall out of it. It didn't take long for the tech to finish with the restraints, and then the machine started up. Adrien hoped that they wouldn't shove him into virtual reality. That stuff had always nauseated him, full dive or not. He suspected that they would, though, based on the setup.

When the lights came on, they were not as bright as he feared, given that he could not look away. His eyes still burned. As though reading his thoughts, the technician came over and gave him some kind of eyedrops that kept the surface of his eyeball moist. The lights began to flash in a slow, attractive pattern, lulling Adrien's conscious mind into a sense of calm. He recognized that he was being hypnotized, but he literally couldn't shake himself out of it, and his internal freakout and fear only went so far. It seemed like the drugs he had been given weren't just to keep him still.

The pattern continued until he could hear the steadiness of his own breaths and the slow, even beep of the monitoring system as his body relaxed. Then, the technician came over and began to apply sticky pads to various parts of his body. He brought down a full helmet of nodes rather than sticking down individual patches on Adrien's head. There was clearly virtual reality integration inside of the helmet, and his stomach was already lurching in anticipation.

The helmet covered Adrien's face entirely. As the technician fiddled with it, small earbuds came to rest deep within his ear canals, and the eyepieces refitted themselves over his eyes until no light passed around their rim. Inside, the throbbing, sensual lights began their patterns anew, keeping him calm and entranced. It was a small mercy that they weren't very bright, and Adrien felt his eyes adjust.

He heard the technician speaking through the headset and wondered if this was intended as a kindness too, so that he might know how things were progressing and stay calm. But then, he realized that keeping him calm was to the technician's advantage. Whatever they were doing, they needed him in this state.

"Initiating baseline scan of subject's neural map, no stimuli except pacifying visual pattern."

Adrien wasn't sure how long the scan took — time seemed to be passing at a rate that he could not fathom, but it seemed soon when the technician spoke again.

"Mnemosyne has identified short-term and long-term memory centers. Requesting confirmation of the length of time of erasure."

Adrien felt his heart rate jump at that. He felt scared — they were planning to erase a part of his memory, just like the person in the video. They had said that it caused brain damage with repeated use, but the technology was experimental. What if they were wrong? Would his brain be fried by the end of this?

"Confirmed. Mnemosyne is set to erase sixty minutes of memory, including this procedure."

Adrien badly wanted to squirm. Being helpless, lying here, all he could do was beg his body to move. Then, the VR headset activated and new, wild patterns of colours flashed before his eyes.

"Beginning neural stimulation."

Suddenly, Adrien found himself reliving the events since he had entered the university so vividly that he immediately became disoriented and confused. Alongside this, he could still see the flashing lights. When they reached the current point, the memories began again, but they were somehow...dimmer...less distinct. Less vivid. Again and again, the memories played, and Adrien knew that he was losing more and more of them.

Finally, he could not remember anything before the present moment from the moment he walked into the university. He was dazed, disoriented, could feel the drool running out of the corner of his mouth and down his chin in soft little drips that he couldn't control as he could not move his lips.

"The newest scans indicate that all but the procedure itself has been erased. The procedure is ninety-five percent complete."

And then, he heard another voice...Adrien thought that he recognized it, but could not place its cultured tones. A Coin, probably. "Before we finish the procedure, let's give Rhys a little gift. It's harmless — there's no further risk of damage, correct?"

"Y-yes, Mr. Brandywine, as you say. There's no risk of damage with that particular program."

"Excellent."

The full-dive virtual reality scene began suddenly. There was a golden-haired man — the soloist from the concert. Thamyris Fairmount. He came in close and Adrien could smell him — he smelled delicious, like all of his favourite scents in one bouquet. Soft words teased at the edge of his consciousness, barely perceived.

'...You trust this man. Thamyris. Your new Owner. You will be good for him, tell him what he needs to know. You will allow yourself to develop positive feelings for him. You trust him to take care of you. He owns you now. You will be his pet. You will develop feelings of love and devotion over time, and it will be so, so easy to allow those feelings to flourish...'

He felt a soft hand at his cock, slowly pumping him alongside the words. Hands teased his naked body, feeling warm and reassuring after the cold and terrifying procedure. Warm hands wiped away the drool at his chin and played with his nipples, slowly rubbing at them and the pectoral muscles underneath. The touches alternated between firm and feather-light.

'...Your new Owner...you'll tell him everything that he needs to know...you trust him to take care of you...'

In his receptive state, without the ability to even moan in response, Adrien was helpless to do anything other than receive those words, those visions of the man to whom they pertained. In the simulation, it was this man, Thamyris, who stroked him and toyed with him. It felt good. It felt right.

And then, the man leaned over and though he was out of Adrien's vision except for his brilliant golden hair, the thief felt his mouth on him, tonguing his balls and lapping at his shaft, covering his cock with warmth and delight.

That long tongue lapped up and down his shaft. That mouth engulfed him, swallowing him to the root and working his length. With no ability to reciprocate, to even indicate he was enjoying it, Adrien had to let the overwhelming sensations wash over him. He couldn't even twitch.

And then he came. He didn't see where his semen went, and then the lights returned, pulling him straight back down into that tranced state.

His vision went black then, though he wouldn't remember that later, nor anything else that he had witnessed in the Mnemosyne Lab.

---

The whole drive home, Rhys's mind was humming with the excitement of the preparations for the addition of a pet to his household. There was so much to do! He would have to plan the training, VR and otherwise, arrange for sleeping quarters, and, most importantly, there were protocols to set in place with… His eyes shot open with a sudden realization. Philemon! How could he have forgotten to tell Lemon? Rhys immediately started a call.

Philemon Schumacher, 'Phil' to his friends, and 'Lemon' only to his closest friend, briskly walked the hall of the multi-level apartment he worked in. He was on his way to inspect the batch of laundry that had come back that afternoon. The contractor's performance had been lacking for a few weeks now, and he was definitely going to nip that problem in the bud. He wasn't halfway there when he received a call. Philemon answered with a thought. "Hello—"

"Lemon, it's me! I am on my way home," Rhys interrupted. "I have news. Big news! I am getting a pet!"

Philemon stopped for a moment, at a complete loss for words. "Tha— Wai— Really? Tonight?" Philemon couldn't remember the last time he had heard Rhys this excited.

"No. Well, I do not think so. It depends on when Aris is done with him. Probably in the morning. But, Lemon, here is the best part, remember the cute student I told you about from the concert? It's *HIM*!" Rhys exclaimed, lifting his fists, clenched in triumph. "I will tell you all about it soon, but we need to set up. Get a guest room ready to hold a completely untrained pet. I have got to let you go for now. See you soon!"

*'Well, this is unexpected,'* Lemon thought, trying to shake the shock of it. The call had ended before Philemon had the opportunity to answer his employer back, further surprising him. He knew what he needed to do. The laundry would just have to wait. He spun on his heel and nearly ran back to the way he came.

---

Aristotle delivered a dazed Jasper to Rhys' apartments some hours later. The boy was practically sleepwalking — which was a side-effect of the sedatives. He made sure that Jasper was nicely dressed in an adorable outfit that highlighted his form and the colour of his hair and eyes. He laid the new pet out on Rhys' couch. "Here's your new pet! All ready to go."

Philemon had had the time to calm Rhys down and help him to collect himself. Rhys now wore a calm, controlled smile as 'Jasper' shuffled in. Even dazed as he was, he was adorable.

Rhys wanted to sit by his side, but Aristotle took Rhys by the arm and gently pulled him into another room. He lowered his voice to almost a whisper, but the soundproofing was decent in any Coin's apartment. "Now, he won't remember anything from after he walked into my school this afternoon. It's up to you to let him know how he got here... and up to you what you want to tell him, especially since you're the one responsible for his capture."

Rhys was surprised and a bit worried by Aris' words. "That all sounds good, but how did your therapy make him suppress his memories so fast?" he probed. "That must be some research. Are you sure it worked?"

"It's a new kind of VR therapy," said Aris blandly. "It's very effective. This latest iteration has been 95 percent effective, except in one case where a physiological anomaly caused interference. If he remembers, you just let me know, and I'll handle it."

"This new therapy sounds promising. When do you think I will see it out on the market?" asked Rhys.

Aristotle tried not to appear as cagey as he had to be around the topic of Project Mnemosyne. "You know how it is with human trials. Probably years before it'll see the light of day. Your pet will probably be up soon, so I should go. I'll see you Friday at brunch."

With that, Aris clapped Rhys on the shoulder before letting go so that he could proceed to the sitting room. He paused and called back. "Though I suppose there may be a bit of a change in plans from our usual shindig given what's lying on your couch right now." Aristotle broke into a sunny smile. "What name are you going to register him as?"

Rhys smiled at Aris' question. "I was thinking to keep 'Jasper,' since I feel it fits him quite well... Do you have any other suggestions?"

Aristotle smiled. "Jasper is very nice. What about Clover? It suits his eyes, and he's got to have four-leaved clover stashed somewhere for the fact that the most eligible bachelor in the city chose him as his very own."

"You're too kind," Rhys' voice was dripping with sarcasm. "But I wouldn't want to seem immodest. Besides, 'Jasper' is what I am used to calling him." Rhys's voice lowered. "Thank you. You did not have to do this for me, but you did. I will see you Friday."

Aristotle waved a hand, still smiling, though the expression in his eyes softened. "Rhys, this is the least of what I would do to see you happy, my friend."

---

Adrien was completely sprawled on the couch, splayed like a ragdoll. His head felt heavy, his tongue thick, and his throat dry. He didn't feel fully in control of himself. What had happened after he had entered Brandywine University? Fumbling around, he brought one hand to the other and pinched the webbing between his thumb and forefinger painfully, trying to muster up some adrenaline. His green eyes flew open.

Looking around as subtly as he could, Adrien did not recognize where he was. He felt his face and couldn't find the mic. He felt inside his ear canal, but there was no earpiece. Not trusting himself to get up, he called out a soft, raspy, "Hello?" to the empty room... only to realize at second glance that it wasn't empty. A well-dressed man was standing unobtrusively to one side — so still that he seemed to blend in with the furniture. "...hello?"

"Good evening," Philemon quietly answered back to the pet. "Are you feeling any better? How is your head?

Almost back to full awareness now, Adrien glanced down at his body to find that he was wearing almost nothing. There was a thin, skintight bodysuit of some soft, woven material covering his body. It was emerald green, accented at the shoulders with subtle ruffles of fabric that accentuated his chest. A reinforced panel with some sort of fastenings around the edge covered his crotch. He blinked, licking his lips to prevent his mouth from falling open. Why didn't he remember anything? Better from what?

This was clearly someone's servant. Was he still somewhere within Brandywine University? He needed to be very careful about what he said. "I'm terribly sorry. I don't remember meeting you before. Where is this, exactly?"

Philemon smiled. The poor man couldn't know. He strode across the room until he was only two meters from the couch. He noted that the pet tensed as he stepped toward him. "No, that's not surprising. We've never met. But don't worry, my goal is to help you to acclimatize. I am Philemon. I'm glad to meet you."

And that was when Thamyris Fairmount walked into the room.

"And you're in my city apartments in the Sky District," Rhys called as he entered. "Welcome home, Jasper. How's your head? I understand you suffered quite a blow."

"What?" Adrien blurted out. He was in Thamyris Fairmount's house, which Fairmount had just called his alias' *home*, wearing a ridiculous outfit, and with everyone telling him that he ought to have a headache from some kind of blow to the head. Maybe he *was* concussed, because this was one fucking trippy hallucination, by Tartarus and Asphodel. "...that is to say...what happened? What do you mean, home? I got hit in the head?"

"So I was told. Apparently, it was a security guard at the university. The doctors wondered if you would lose some of your memory, given the head trauma," said the Coin. Rhys moved to sit in the chair across from Jasper, then looked to Lemon. "Would you get us something to drink, please?"

Philemon nodded. "For a head injury, let's keep it simple. Hot tea, cold water, and a few salted wafers. Easy on the stomach." In one smooth motion, Philemon turned around and stepped away from the conversation.

The Coin turned back to Jasper. "Don't worry, Jasper, it is all right. I know that you are a thief. You were caught sneaking into a research lab. But I have chosen to welcome you into my home all the same."

Adrien felt a kind of panic rise inside of him. He was trapped. He was injured. Head trauma. That could be seriously bad. He ignored Philemon's departure, lost in his own thoughts. His eyes flew up to meet Rhys's, shocked at the casual revelation that he knew he was a criminal. He lowered his gaze almost immediately.

Adrien wondered what he had said that made the security guard crack him over the head. It didn't matter. He knew he was capable of plenty of snark, and if it had hit the wrong way, well...

So many emotions and thoughts flew across Jasper's features in those few seconds: fear, embarrassment, confusion… Rhys felt bad for Jasper, despite him having brought this down on himself.

Adrien rose to his feet a little unsteadily. He felt the need to move, to get a change in perspective. "Why am I here? What am I wearing?"

Rhys held a calm expression. He did not want to worry Jasper any further. "So you don't remember that either, it seems. Don't worry, I will tell you everything, but first, walk me through what you *do* remember."

Adrien felt frustration at his impotence in the situation flood through him. His chest muscles tightened. He took a deep breath. Eventually, he sat back down, drawing his knees together and crossing his arms. What did Thamyris Fairmount have to do with all this? Why was he here now? Adrien was missing a major piece of the puzzle. Were they trying to keep him off-balance, maybe?

"...I don't remember anything after entering the school."

This was…*very* selective memory loss. Was something else going on? Or was he just unlucky and had lost his short-term memory, like a black-out drunk? He didn't know what Rhys knew, and he had to protect Seth and Fawn as much as he could.

Rhys was patient, but it seemed he would need to prompt Jasper to help him along. Leaning forward, Rhys placed his elbows on the armrests, and his chin lightly on his clasped hands. His voice was measured and clear when next he spoke.

"Nothing else? You are sure?" Rhys sounded almost disappointed. Almost. "Alright, then. I believe you, but perhaps we can jog your memory."

Adrien tensed a little. He had to make Rhys leave the subject alone as soon as possible to keep Seth safe. Again, he wondered why he was here. The outfit chafed against his skin — it seemed like something a pet would wear. What in Tartarus had he agreed to?

'Jasper' lowered his eyes, still gripping his arms to his chest. "I'll tell you the truth. I was paid by an anonymous someone I met on the HoloNet to get hold of a keycard and enter the lab, take some files off the computer, and bring them out. They told me no one would be there. I don't know who they were..."

He glanced up at Rhys.

"I... was casing the place and getting the keycard when I...when we met. I was going to do the work that night, but I was having such a good time talking with you. I'm sorry."

*'Now we are getting somewhere,'* Rhys thought. He didn't think this was the whole truth, but it did fit the situation well. Rhys tried to keep his mind off of Jasper's attempt to pull at his heart. Jasper almost definitely had to be a career criminal to get into a restricted area like that and to play it so cool at the concert.

*'This also explains why he was trying so hard to get away from me at first. Then as the night went on…'* Maybe Jasper really had enjoyed Rhys's company.

He sat back in his seat again, relaxed. "I cannot condone your thievery. But, be that as it may, I have an offer for you. You avoid prison by joining my household for a yet-to-be-determined period. And, should you provide answers about who put you up to this theft, that will improve your bargaining position when we sign the contract."

*'Shit.'* And there it was. Rhys wanted Adrien to agree to "join his household" — he wanted a pet. The shock was open on his face, and Adrien didn't do a thing to hide it. What point would there have been in that?

It made sense for him to agree. He had a far greater chance of being able to escape from Rhys than from jail and any agreement they made would surely be for a shorter term than a prison sentence. This could be a good situation for him.

A part of Adrien wanted to shut down and stop feeling the mess of things rushing through his brain, and that part won out, in the end. He returned his face to a carefully neutral expression. "I...am very grateful, Mr. Fairmount. I see that it is to my benefit to accept. I wish I had more to tell you. The person from the HoloNet used a codename. We never met face-to-face. They transferred some of the money ahead of time to prove that they were serious."

Adrien's impression of that night, ending with him being given Rhys's business card, the same card that Julian had snatched from him at the bar, had not been mistaken. Rhys was now saving him by offering him this opportunity. There was kindness in that. Adrien decided that he could trust Rhys to hold up his end of whatever deal they made.

It was evident that Rhys had made his point to Jasper, or whatever his new pet's legal name actually was. They both understood now that Rhys knew about Jasper's past and had made him this offer despite that.

"There is another aspect to this that you should consider," Rhys said, shifting to a softer tone. "You will need to stay with me for a long while. You may want to contact family or friends to advise them of your whereabouts. Should we reach out to anyone for you?" Given Jasper's profession, Rhys knew that this might be a sensitive subject, but it would be cruel not to address that concern.

*'For a long while...'* He wondered briefly how long it would be before Rhys lost interest and discarded him. A few months? A decade? He wanted to look away, but there was something about the way Rhys was looking at him... Adrien focused on those eyes, trying to decipher the meaning of that look, as he quickly considered who he might be able to contact.

Seth probably already knew that something had happened, but would probably be looking for him on the prison admission list, not on the pet registry. He might set up a HoloNet alert for Adrien's various pseudonyms, including Jasper. The truth was that anyone Adrien sent a message to would probably have their communications monitored indefinitely. Fawn was probably already being watched. But how to both use Fawn as an easy out and avoid Fawn trying to pass a message to Seth that could get them both in trouble? Well, that was in the wording...But no, he couldn't trust Fawn to handle this. He was an amateur.

"I don't think that there is anyone that I need to reach out to," Adrien finally said. He tugged uncomfortably at the tight shirt that he was wearing, frowning. "They'll know what to do without me."

Rhys detected a slight hesitation in Jasper's words, and his soon-to-be-pet was shifting in his seat. Something was still bothering him, and Rhys believed he knew what it was. "I do not want you to worry too much about all this. While this is certain to be an enormous change for you, please keep in mind that there will be a contract in place to protect you."

Rhys softened his voice further, "I also recognize that there could be people who were depending on you. If it suits you better, there are ways you can support them from here in a more discreet manner, if required. Either way, you can still send as much of your pay as you like out to whomever you wish."

It was legitimately sweet of Rhys to go through the trouble of comforting Adrien this way. If the situation had been as they were pretending it was, it would have been a kindness that Jasper was unlikely to forget in these early, uncertain moments. He went with that feeling, projecting gratitude and sincerity onto his face. "...Rhys...thank you. Thank you for being so understanding."

"It is no problem. After all, your well-being is my responsibility now." He let that sentence hang in the air for a moment. "This will be a period of acclimatization for you. I am sure this will make it easier for you. Just let me know when you are ready to send that message."

Adrien couldn't deny the shiver of arousal that went through his body when the supremely confident Coin, in that suave voice of his, with that assuredness, told him that his well-being — essentially, he, himself, was Rhys' responsibility going forward. It hit a lot of the right buttons. Adrien was a natural switch, but he rarely trusted anyone enough to sub or bottom for them. He couldn't stop the blush that coloured his cheeks.

Rhys leaned back and crossed a leg over his knee.

Just then, Lemon slipped in from the side with a tray of beverages and a plate of crackers neatly arranged around a pile of tea biscuits. Adrien looked up to the servant as he entered. He was attractive — all Coin servants generally were — and seemed almost as self-assured as Rhys himself.

"Ah! Thank you." Rhys smiled at his servant as two cups of tea were poured. "I was just going to explain to Jasper how things are going to be around here."

Philemon smiled pleasantly. "Of course." He turned to the newcomer. "As you may have surmised, I mind the household when Sir isn't home. At such times, I will be in charge of you."

"Well, I am fairly independent. If you have to mind me, I'll try not to add too much to your workload," said Jasper firmly. He could have bitten his tongue, but he wanted to be very clear about what dynamic he was hoping for.

"As you like," Philemon said, non-plussed. It appeared the newcomer was willful. Philemon didn't mind. He was certain that Jasper would adapt in time. "I will see to it that the preparations for your arrival are in order. Again, welcome home, Jasper."

Rhys quietly observed the two conversing. Jasper had a fire in him, and the Coin couldn't help but be excited by the prospect.

"Thank you," said Jasper as Philemon left the room. He looked back toward Rhys and crossed his arms, covering his discomfort with a bit of bravado. "So, what comes next, Fair— er, Rhys?"

*'Calling me by my first name so soon? How forward,'* Rhys thought. He would need to consider exactly what he wanted Jasper to call him. They would need to come back to this topic another time. At the least, Rhys was glad Jasper was no longer using his last name without an honorific.

"The adjustment period we've been alluding to is not just about where you'll be living and getting your meals. You must be registered as a pet, which requires a physical and psychological exam, you will need a wardrobe, and of course, before we can really celebrate our new arrangement publicly, you will need at least some basic pet training."

Adrien grimaced internally, but Jasper just nodded. Pet training? A psychological exam? It all sounded pretty damn unpleasant. He felt apprehension rise in his chest but tried to keep his answer as neutral as he could. "Thank you, I guess."

"Of course. It is no trouble at all." Rhys went on. He was smiling excitedly. "I have already called ahead with my tailor. We will be heading over tomorrow afternoon to get that out of the way, and I have arranged for the first part of the medical exam tomorrow evening. There is no point in delaying, and the sooner you have a clean bill of health, the better." Rhys unexpectedly stopped and furrowed his brow in thought. "Now that I think more on it, you'll need your strength if we are going to get all this done tomorrow."

He looked back to his new pet, picking up a biscuit as he stood. His smile was proud and eager. "Why don't you concentrate on resting for now? Finish your tea here, and then just head right through there, and follow Philemon to the end of the hall. He'll get you settled in for the night. You just try to relax. You've nothing to worry about anymore."

---

Rhys and his servant, Philemon, treated Jasper's arrival as celebratory. They welcomed him home and told him about all the "wonderful" things that the coming months would have in store. This was the normal way of things — most pets were eager to join a Coin household. It was meant to be an honour, a joyous occasion. If the Coins manipulated their way into a pet's heart, what of it? That was just the game of seduction, wasn't it? What humble plebeian wouldn't be honoured and star-struck at the attention of a demi-god come to earth to scoop them up and carry them to the Heavens, like Hermes himself?

Despite Adrien's somewhat unique situation, none of them had yet acknowledged that he might have some more...complicated feelings about all of this. That night, Adrien settled into his rooms by pacing through them. Finally, he changed out of the sexualizing outfit that some unknown person had picked out for him, no doubt after discarding his cheap clothing and doing gods knew what else while he was unconscious. He then pulled on the more sensible shirt and pants that Philemon had set out as nightclothes. Adrien felt his skin tingle at the sensation of the soft, luxurious material. Just having the fabric against his skin felt like a caress. It was breathable and warm, and Adrien found himself letting out a soft cry of surprise at the feeling of it. It was easily the most comfortable clothing that Adrien had ever worn.

For some reason, it was the pyjamas that pushed him over the edge. He felt his gorge rise and he was overcome by emotion. He found himself blinking rapidly as tears filled his eyes. Knowing that he was probably being watched, he threw himself face down into the pillows — they were so fucking soft — and wept. He wept until his eyes stung and felt dry and swollen. Then, he fell asleep. It was the sleep of exhaustion, and he did not dream.

---

There were a lot of moments with pets when you had to do things you would rather have avoided. And so, it was very difficult for Rhys to resist going to Jasper that first night to try to reassure him. It was a moment where Jasper needed to work through his emotions and adjust to his new reality. Even if Jasper's weeping was difficult to listen to, Rhys was glad to hear it, to know what his pet was feeling in that moment. He supposed it was a good thing that Lemon only got the microphones working in time for Jasper's arrival and not the cameras. The sight of him might have driven Rhys straight to Jasper anyway.

Without a word, Philemon entered the study and walked quietly over and placed the small tray on the table beside where Rhys was 'reading.' Rhys gave the smallest of nods when the refreshments appeared beside him. He barely moved at all. But, that nod at a time when he was so distracted and distressed showed a degree of appreciation most wouldn't recognize. Even in that moment, Rhys noticed and 'thanked' Lemon for his care. The way Rhys' eyes were unfocused, he certainly wasn't reading. Philemon knew he had to be listening to Jasper with an earpiece under that long hair.

Philemon had read up on this. The first few nights would be the hardest for an unenthusiastic pet, and for any owner who gave a damn. As a result, he wasn't surprised when he passed by the door to Jasper's bedroom and heard a muffled sob. He sighed. *'I suppose it can't be helped.'*

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