Daedalus had chosen the delivery option for his new pet. He was alone now in his city apartment. He had sent Cirrus over to a friend's house so that Jewel would be able to settle in without the pressure of having to socialize with someone other than his new owner immediately. 

 

Aristotle and the people in his employ had a reputation for promptness, so it was no surprise when Daedalus's implant alerted him to guests at the front door exactly on the hour. 

 

Approaching the door, Daedalus waved away one of his staff who was moving to open it. “Thank you, Leukippos, but I’ll get it.” 

 

With a slight, practiced bow, they disappeared through a doorway and back to their work.

 

Daedalus was almost annoyed at the punctuality. There was a great deal to do to prepare for his new “pet”, and he hadn’t managed it all before the drop-off. Daedalus stopped at the entryway, straightened his collar, and opened the door.

 

Jewel was centred in the frame, wide-eyed and staring up at Daedalus, who was tall even for a Coin. Jewel, on the other hand, was closer to five feet than six, and looked smaller with the way he was carrying himself at present. Daedalus breathed in his delicate, almost innocent-looking appearance. 

 

Eurylochus, Aristotle's factotum, stood beside him. "Hello, Daedalus. May we come in? I have matters to discuss with you as part of this hand-off." 

 

Daedalus smiled kindly at Jewel before taking his hand and pulling him gently inside. "Yes, come on in, both of you."

 

“Welcome to your new home, Jewel,” Daedalus said, beaming at his new acquisition as they walked. “My office is just in here. Please make yourselves comfortable.”

 

Glancing around the room, Jewel tried to get a sense of the man who had bought his contract. The workspace was moderately sized, by Coin standards, and minimally decorated. The space was dominated by a large drafting table with tinkering tools hung on a board on the wall and a large cabinet that probably held more tools and materials. There was also a stately desk pointed toward the doorway. Jewel moved towards one of the two chairs in front of Daedalus’s desk before Eurylochus stopped him, holding out an arm in front of his chest.

 

"Kneel," said Eurylochus as he sat. 

 

Daedalus quirked an eyebrow as he took his chair but said nothing. He watched Jewel sink to his knees beside Eurylochus with attentive deference. 

 

"You know, we've met before, Jewel. I assisted in the recording sessions for your virtual reality clone. Welcome to your new home."

 

Jewel bowed his head. "Thank you, Sir. I'm afraid I don't really remember...I'm sorry."

 

"That's all right. That was a long time ago! Let's just get things squared away," said Daedalus, infusing as much kindness as he could into his words before turning his gaze to Eurylochus. "I thought I took care of the paperwork yesterday?"

 

"Yes, the paperwork is handled. You just have a few complementary decisions to make about customization," said Eurylochus, speaking as though Jewel were not kneeling directly beside him. "There are functional modifications as well as some cosmetic options to discuss."

 

"Go on," said Daedalus. "I'm eager to hear about the possibilities given Jewel's origins."

 

"Well, to facilitate training, Jewel's vocal cords were modified to keep his voice at an appropriate volume. My recommendation would be to make vocal control permanent through a nanite injection, offering you the option to adjust the volume of his voice at will, and even mute him."

 

How often had his friends wished that the old Julian had come with a mute button? Jewel had to hold back a laugh. Part of him felt as though he ought to be horrified, but really, he just found it funny. 

 

"Ah, hmm...well, it's always good to have options. Yes, let's go ahead and make that modification permanent."

 

"Noted," said Eurylochus. "Again, to facilitate training, Jewel has also had modifications to his throat and anal tissues. They're considerably more elastic than the average person's to accommodate large objects. While that is standard for pets, if you want to train him the old-fashioned way, the modifications can be reversed. It will take a few days before the effect fades, but then he'll be as tight as ever."

 

"That won't be necessary," said Daedalus. There was a playful glint in his eye. "I quite like the feature. Saves time and effort."

 

"Excellent. And, lastly, are there any other cosmetic changes you'd like to opt for? Eye or hair colour changes, modifications to any part of the pet's body?"

 

Daedalus raised a hand to his long red beard and stroked it thoughtfully. "How long do I have to decide on cosmetics?"

 

"Ninety days, after which such modifications, while no longer free, are still discounted due to your employment at Brandywine University and due to Jewel having been trained at the University's pet facilities." 

 

"Excellent, thank you. That'll be all for now, Eurylochus. I'll get back to you if there are any cosmetic changes that need doing. Do you have what you need with you to perform the vocal cord modifications?"

Eurylochus was careful not to clench his jaw as Daedalus dismissed him like a servant and smiled instead. He removed a capped injector from his pocket, a sleek metal tube with a serial number engraved onto the side. "Oh, yes. It won't take but a moment. You can do it yourself, if you like." 

 

Daedalus’s eyes lit up with apparent glee at the offer. “Absolutely!” He turned to his pet and held out his hand. “Jewel, dear, bring me the injector.”

 

Eurylochus handed the injector to Jewel, who felt a sudden, powerful impulse to stab his trainer with it so that the factotum could see what it was like to lose your voice. It passed. Jewel carried the injector to Daedalus, palms turned up to cradle it.

 

Daedalus took the injector and then pulled Jewel into his broad lap. Jewel felt small in this giant's arms. Daedalus swept Jewel's hair away from his neck. "Right here, then, in the trachea?"

 

"Any area of the throat will do. The nanites are programmed to find their way to where they need to go, but it is recommended to do it near the site where they're meant to end up," said Eurylochus. 

 

“Don’t tense, pet,” Daedalus cooed. His broad hand caressed Jewel’s throat as it slipped up under the pet’s jaw line. Gentle pressure forced Jewel’s head back, exposing the soft, vulnerable skin of his neck. Jewel let out a moan and shivered at the warmth that touch spread through his body. Using the little finger on his other hand, Daedalus lined up the needle tip with the meat behind his new pet’s jugular. Jewel barely felt a thing when Daedalus pulled the trigger.

 

"Well, then, that's everything for the hand-off," said Eurylochus. "Be a good boy for Daedalus, Jewel." 

 

Jewel exhaled the deep breath that he had been subconsciously holding and settled back into Daedalus's Herculean arms, looking up at his new Owner with a curious sort of devotion even though he had just arrived. He looked to Eurylochus, a pang at leaving his trainer running through his chest. "Thank you, Sir. I will be. I promise." 

 

"I know you will. Goodbye, Daedalus. Goodbye, Jewel," said Eurylochus. "The two of you should get acquainted. I'm more than capable of letting myself out."

 

But Daedalus rose to his feet with an almost defensive speed, scooping Jewel up into his arms into a bridal carry. Jewel felt those powerful muscles rippling under his new Owner's skin and felt even smaller — but also safe, protected. "Nonsense! I'm not so lust-struck that I can't walk you to the door, Eurylochus!" 

 

That felt odd to Jewel. Did Daedalus not trust Eurylochus to be alone in his home? They had the same employer — maybe there was some sort of competition between the pair? But, they didn't seem to know each other like that, either. They were formal with each other. Jewel wasn't dumb, even though his training had made him feel all horny and fuzzy and needy. Nothing else added up. Daedalus had something to hide. 

 

Unperturbed, Eurylochus fell in beside Daedalus as they walked. “Shall I tell Aristotle to expect you and your new pet at his celebrations for the festival of Phelos Hermes, or will you be taking more time to teach him your protocols?”

 

“He seems like a smart lad,” Daedalus mused, “I feel like I can have him ready by then. It will be novel to bring two pets at once.”

 

Stopping at the door, the big man smoothly shifted Jewel up into a (mostly) comfortable position in one arm so that he could shake Eurylochus’ hand.

 

Daedalus was beaming. “It’s been a pleasure. Please give my regards to Aristotle. He already knows not to expect me at the lab for a few days while we acclimatize.”

 

“Likewise,” Eurylochus responded simply, and was gone.

 

Once the door closed, Daedalus took a long, deep breath and let it out slowly. Jewel felt the man physically shift. His large, barrel chest relaxed. A mask was coming off. Should Jewel be worried?

 

Daedalus gently, effortlessly placed Jewel back on his feet. The quiet of this Coin’s home felt foreign during the moment that Daedalus let pass. He just looked down at his new pet and gave his most comforting smile. 

 

Jewel was just about to crack a joke to cut the tension when his Owner finally spoke, “I have decided to register you as 'Julian'. It is the only name that suits you. You no longer answer to Jewel. Have I made myself understood?”

 

Jewel's breathing caught in his throat, a pit as large as Sisyphus's boulder lodging itself in his diaphragm. No. This felt wrong. Wrong. He raised his hands to hold his head. This was a direct order from his new Owner. It was just a fucking name. What was the matter? "I-I—uh...yes. Yes, Sir." 

 

“Good.” Daedalus spoke in a soft and neutral tone in hopes of keeping Julian calm. “I’d like to start with some questions over drinks. Come along.”

 

As Daedalus led his new pet through his home, Jewe—Julian noticed how strangely quiet it was. Normally, a Coin would have at least one person on staff around at all times, but there was no ambient sound. Some of the lights were even dimmed.

 

The lights of a sitting room brightened as Daedalus approached. Much like Daedalus’ office, it was sparsely decorated. Or, at least it was in comparison to most other Coins whose living spaces Julian had seen. Two tall-backed, plush armchairs near the center of the room bookended a small side table. Daedalus motioned for Julian to take a seat as he turned towards a modest bar cart in the corner. “Make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink? Tea? beer?”

 

Julian shook his head as he took a seat. He found that he missed Eurylochus's presence so much he almost felt sick to his stomach. Or, maybe that was just the nerves at finally having an Owner. "No, I just want to...well, get on with things, if that's all right. I'm not great at small talk. Just tell me your preferences and expectations, and I'll do my best to meet them." 

 

Daedalus poured himself a glass of whiskey and took a sip. He savoured the pleasant taste. Despite Julian not wanting anything, Daedalus still brought a glass of water to the table, along with his whiskey. “For later, then,” he offered.

 

“There is a type of machine,” Daedalus began, “that looks like the chair from an antique VR suite, but with a segmented arm that folds down over your head from behind. Do you remember seeing anything like that? Do you remember sitting in it?”

 

Julian felt that nervous boulder of tension slide a little lower into his stomach. His mouth went dry and he picked up the water glass, taking a slow careful sip. He could see the chair in his head. "It's all segmented. So that you can move any part of it exactly where you want it to go. I remember it."

 

He closed his eyes for a moment. "I did some training in it, a few times. At the University. It made me...happy. Happy I finally decided to embrace being a pet." 

 

“Do you remember what happened in that chair?” Daedalus asked. “What it did to you?”

 

"Like you said, Sir, it's a virtual reality training rig. It just uses that funny chair," said Julian, raising a hand to the whitened hair at his temples and rubbing, the illusion of the tattoo on his wrist truly making it look as though he were in bondage. He didn't seem to notice the gesture.

 

Daedalus nodded, his eyes flicking up to follow Julian’s hand. “It’s called the Mnemosyne. It is something completely different from VR.” He leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs. “Tell me what you remember from when you were inside of it.”

 

Julian's eyes shut tight. He shook his head, which was already throbbing strangely. "No. No, I don't want to think about it. Please." 

 

“The Mnemosyne can affect your memories. I don’t think that everything you have done in your training was consensual.” Daedalus let those words hang in the air for a moment, letting Julian catch his breath before he continued.

 

“I want to help you remember,” Daedalus said, trying his best to keep his tone warm. “That’s why I bid on you. I can guide you, but I need you to try to remember. I’m responsible for your well-being.”

 

Julian felt like his chest was being squeezed tight. He felt his eyes well up. "I just want to be a good pet for you! You know, suck your dick, take it in the ass? I don't want to think about my training — it's done with. I'm here with you now." 

 

“You are here with me now, yes. You are my pet.” Daedalus gave a resigned sigh, then kneeled down in front of Julian, gently enveloping the smaller man’s hands with his. “Be a good boy and tell me why you don’t want to think about your training.”

 

Julian searched his brain for the words to explain. He shook his head mutely, but kept trying. He was a good boy, damn it. He wasn't going to fail at the first obstacle. "...I'm a good boy now. But...but I wasn't always. I don't want to think about that. I was so wrong. Even though I wanted to be a pet, even though I signed a contract, I was such an assh— a jerk. It hurts to think about it. Makes me feel awful." 

 

With a gentle squeeze, Daedalus pulled Julian’s focus away from his memories. “It’s okay, Julian. You are a good pet. I’ll take care of you. For now, I will help you relax and settle in. We’ll start with a nice hot shower. How does that sound?” Daedalus slid one arm behind Julian, then the other under his knees, then stood up, lifting his pet with ease.

 

---

 

Daedalus had been so focused on winning the auction that he had assumed that the strange lace-like circuitry patterns across Julian's skin had been part of a costume. Now, he realized that Julian was covered in full-body tattoos that danced around his most sensitive parts. The ornate cuffs at his wrists and collar at his throat appeared three-dimensional even after a second and third glance. Daedalus admired the artistry even as he took note to ask Julian, when he had progressed further, whether he wanted those removed.

 

After talking a little more with the pet as they undressed, Daedalus realized that there was no getting around letting Julian serve him. On the one hand, he had expected it and accepted the necessity. On the other, Julian was a beautiful, arousing man, and Daedalus had plenty of libido to recognize that with.

 

Once Daedalus set him down in the shower room, Julian grabbed the hem of his shirt as if to pull it over his head, then paused and turned, grinning lasciviously. “Would you rather strip me yourself?” 

 

Already, Julian was trying to hand over power and control to his Owner. Daedalus had to find as many small ways to hand that control back as he could. Daedalus stepped back to give his pet space, leaning his extra-large frame against the tiled wall. “No, Julian,” he said reassuringly. “Go at your own pace.”

 

"I can keep up with any pace you like, Owner," said Julian, even as he pulled the shirt off without further fuss, followed by his shorts and socks. Once naked, he turned to Daedalus, pouting with his eyes and lips together: a soft, barely noticeable moue of his lips and a wide-open, sky-blue glance that was anticipating heartbreak. "Shower with me? I can never reach my back properly. Please, Owner?" 

 

The term ‘Owner’ felt wrong, and Daedalus knew that he’d need to change that as well. For the moment, he would give Julian what he wanted.

 

Daedalus chuckled softly. “That sounds nice.” He slipped off his shirt, turned, and hung it on a peg by the door. “After all, it’s built for three;  it would be a waste not to,” the brawny Coin added while he took off his loose-fitted trousers as well. Now fully undressed, he turned and looked back at Julian’s lithe, toned form.

 

Julian bit his lip, staring back. His eyes slid along Daedalus's thighs and his whole body tightened with desire. He had only ever felt this way with Eurylochus before. The need to kneel. The need to serve. 

 

He submitted to the feeling. He slid to his knees in the shower, looking up at Daedalus. But then, how was his owner, Daedalus, meant to wash him? He used the wall of the shower to pull himself back up to his feet, blushing. 

 

“A little eager, aren’t you?” Daedalus asked. He stepped past his pet and turned one of many small handles affixed to the walls. A warm rain began to fall evenly from the entire surface area of the ceiling. “Let’s start with an invigorating rubdown, first.” When the Coin lifted his hand to another wall, a stone tile slid away, revealing an array of colourful bottled liquids and three fresh cloths. Selecting one from the cubby, Daedalus beckoned Julian closer.

 

Julian, still blushing bright pink along the pale features of his face, stepped forward into Daedalus's radius like an addict who knew his next hit was coming. Because that's what he was; because that's what Eurylochus's training had made him: addicted to Coins. He was permitted to keep these thoughts, even through all those rounds of training he didn't remember, because Eurylochus wanted him to know, not in a metaphorical way, that he owned him, no matter who bought his contract. Eurylochus had been the one to make him bow.

 

Daedalus opened a bottle of body soap for Julian to smell. It was a distinctly grapefruit-like scent, complex in both its sweetness and bitterness. Julian nodded to him, and Daedalus squeezed some out onto a wet cloth. Daedalus worked the soap into a lather and turned Julian away from him. He began to soap up Julian's back half, tracing over the intricate patterns of his tattoos. 

 

Julian stood there, enveloped in warmth and well-being, eyes closed, feeling the pleasure of the warm, wet cloth sliding across his skin, the tingle of the soap, the pressure of Daedalus's experienced touch.

 

The comfortably rough texture of the fabric left a trail of goosebumps behind as Daedalus slowly moved it over Julian’s sensitive shoulders. Julian inhaled sharply and made an attempt to remain still as his Owner explored his body. The anticipation of his touch was almost overwhelming. The skin on his arms tingled before Daedalus even touched the cloth to them. Daedalus scrubbed Julian's dense, compact upper arms, continuing down his forearms to his wrists, with the illusion of cuffs that barely broke even when Daedalus was touching them, to each individual, sensitive finger of his delicate hands. Julian squirmed but managed to keep the parts of his body that Daedalus was touching at the moment still. 

 

As the cloth moved down his spine and onto his ass, Julian couldn’t hold back a shudder of pure physical delight, the shiver running up his spine. The thought of Daedalus enjoying these touches as much as he did made him harder. 

 

Daedalus was learning the curves of Julian’s body, paying close attention to what made him squirm the most. Once he reached Julian's feet, Daedalus rose, letting the edge of the cloth drag against Julian’s body, all the way up his arm to his collarbone. Daedalus wrapped both of his arms around Julian, pressing his larger form into the pet's back. His big, hard cock settled against Julian's lower back, his belly pressed to Julian's shoulder blades. 

 

With that gentle yet firm grip, Daedalus held the pet in place and brought the cloth up to caress and tease his neck. He leaned over so that Julian was nigh-enveloped among his pectoral muscles and strong arms. 

 

Once, being surrounded in that way would have freaked Julian out as much as it made him horny. Once, being surrounded by a Coin that way would have had him biting and scratching. But he was different now. Becoming Jewel, even if he was back to being Julian again, had given him a new appreciation for the well-formed body above and around him. He felt good. Better than he had in a long while. Safe in Daedalus's arms. 

 

Daedalus, for his part, just hoped that he could recover all the parts of Julian that had been smoothed away under Mnemosyne's relentless, quiet violence.

 

Julian chose that moment to press his ass and back up into Daedalus, giving a breathy moan. He twisted his neck to look up at the large, powerful man, his expression deeply eager, needy. "I'm your pet. Take your pleasure with me, please, Owner." 

 

“I already am,” Daedalus smiled, but it didn’t quite touch his eyes. “I don’t need to make love to you on the first night you are here to take my pleasure. Touching your body is already a delight, and patience is a virtue.” 

 

In an effort to distract the coerced pet, Daedalus brought the cloth up from Julian’s chest, caressing his neck and cheek with warm, soapy water. The Coin was trying to walk a very fine line between not hurting Julian with rejection and not objectifying or sexualizing him too much. It was a balance that Daedalus wasn’t sure he could manage.  

 

With a groan of displeasure, Julian wriggled his torso enough so that he was facing Daedalus properly, relieving the awkward position his neck had been in. "Patience may be a virtue, but did you really get yourself a new pet to be virtuous? It's my first day here. Let's celebrate. Let me show you what a good pet I am, that you've made the right decision in claiming me for your own. My Owner. My Coin." 

 

An eyebrow shot up at that. ‘So I’m your Coin, am I?’ A hopeful tension welled up in Daedalus. To him, it sounded like a part of Julian’s old personality was asserting itself, which he had to encourage. He tried not to think about how much of that was just an excuse to fuck the hot little twink.

 

Daedalus tossed the cloth aside. “Well, If I must...”  The burly redhead lifted Julian at the hips and turned him the rest of the way around so that the small blond's legs straddled Daedalus's lap. He tilted Julian's chin up and closed the distance between their lips. 

 

Smiling into the kiss, Julian reached up and slid his fingers into Daedalus's hair, among the braids, pulling Daedalus closer still as Julian pressed his tongue into his mouth. He would back off if Daedalus took the lead, as Eury had impressed upon him that he must, but for now, Julian wanted Daedalus as close as his new Owner would allow. "Mmmm..." 

 

Daedalus had to let Julian guide this as much as possible, but it took conscious effort for Daedalus not to take control. He accepted Julian’s agile tongue and supported the pet’s back with his strong, broad hands.

 

They revelled in each other's kisses for a long moment, until Daedalus broke off and looked down into Julian’s eyes. “Where do you want to go from here, Julian?”

 

The mindfucked pet did not break eye contact as he slid down Daedalus's body until he was kneeling between his legs. Julian hefted Daedalus's big cock and pressed his cheek to the glans. "I want to rub this cock all over my body. Mark me with your scent. Claim me." He nuzzled the tip and slid it across his cheek, leaving a trail of clear pre-cum, then lifted the length of it to press his nose up against Daedalus's balls, inhaling the powerful musk of his sweat.

 

Daedalus laughed. He dabbed his finger on the tip of his cock and sucked the precum off of it. “Mmm, I can help you with that.” Reaching down, Daedalus took Julian by the hair and pushed his face into Daedalus’s shaft. The Coin couldn’t help but smile at the little "uhnf" of surprise Julian let out from the sudden contact with his thick, pulsating cock.

 

In a smooth, gradual motion, Daedalus guided Julian’s cheek and the corner of his lips up along his shaft to the cockhead. Daedalus held him there for a moment while Daedalus slid a single digit from his opposite hand up his full length, forcing the pre out. Daedalus dragged his new pet's face through his free-flowing pre-cum, the clear slippery substance clinging to the down on Julian's cheeks.

 

The expression on Julian's face was ecstatic: lips parted, eyes closed, jaw slack. He gave another moan. The slick pre-fuck on his cheeks smelled amazing and the wetness of it felt like more of a mark than any of the tattoos that covered his body now. He let Daedalus manipulate his body across that big cock some more. Sometimes, Daedalus moved Julian across the cock; sometimes, he glided the cock across the surface of Julian's skin, always trailing that shiny wetness behind. Daedalus's cockhead brushing up against his sensitive nipples made Julian shudder and bite his lower lip. 

 

As the precum cooled but stayed nice and wet, the slight breeze in the room kissed Julian's skin. 

 

When Daedalus had trailed his cock all across Julian's body, rubbing his scent and slick all over, Julian found himself face-down on all fours in the luxuriously large bathroom. Daedalus's shaft was nestled between his soft thighs, moving back and forth gently, spurting more pre-cum to ease the way. Julian's eyes were shut tight, his ass moving back and forth in time with the gentle thrusts, eking out every little bit of pleasure from the act that he could for both of them.

 

“That’s good, Julian.” Daedalus paused his thrusts. “Keep fucking me like that.” Reaching for a bottle of bodywash on a nearby shelf, Daedalus took a palmful and reached around Julian to slather it over their cocks.

 

Daedalus placed a hand on Julian’s back to stop his movements. “I’ll be taking over now, pet.” The barrel-chested man slid back and lowered his hips, lifting Julian into his lap, straddling Daedalus's length. He angled his freshly lubricated cockhead upward, then took Julian by the hips. "Now, take both of your hands and hold our cocks together."

 

Julian did as he was told, pleasantly dazed. His hands formed a tunnel around both their shafts. Satisfied, Daedalus lifted Julian's entire body, his long cock sliding between those thighs and cheeks up against Julian's smaller dick. Rather than thrusting, he moved Julian's body against him, up and down, turning Julian into his sex toy, just like the ones he designed in his lab. 

 

Julian's whole body flushed. This was everything that he had hoped for: his Coin Owner taking control and using his body for pleasure, being used as a masturbator for the biggest Coin he had met so far, feeling overwhelmed, marked and owned...Fuck, it was hot. 

 

The rhythm was merciless — Daedalus seemed to have no problem manhandling Julian up and down for as long as would be required. His big, fat cockhead kept leaking down onto both of their shafts, the bodywash mixing with the pre and frothing up from the friction, the bubbles tickling their skin. Julian threw his head back against Daedalus, helpless to keep in the needy noises coming from his throat. 

 

And then ———! Julian's pelvis seized. He started to cum, writhing in Daedalus's arms. He groaned and gasped, already oversensitized after the first few shots, but Daedalus didn't stop thrusting and Julian didn't let go of their cocks. He hadn't been told to. His forearms shook with the effort of keeping them in place. "Fuuuck! Fuck! Please...please, it's too much! Fuck, it feels too fucking good!"

 

"Good boy," repeated Daedalus, chuckling. He kept moving Julian's body against his cock, holding him tightly. "I won't drop you. Just enjoy it."

 

And Julian gave up control of the experience, letting Daedalus decide how long it would go on. "Hnnnhhggh...fuck..."

 

Eventually, Daedalus slowed, then stopped. "Good boy, good pet. I'm so lucky to have you here with me, Julian." He held Julian tight against him, practically cooing. "You enjoyed that. I loved seeing you feel such pleasure." 

 

Julian flushed, feeling a little embarrassed in the afterglow. "Yeah. Yes. Thank you." He paused. "I guess we need another shower, huh?"