In Tykhe's Grasp

REVISED Chapter 5: Acclimatisation

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 heavily revised from the original. Special thanks to Evan Jackson for his help with editing!]

As per usual, Donovan “Nova” Fullbright had to pick his partner up at the start of what was bound to be a long, cold night. He, Julian, Hayakaze, and Autolycus, who was currently missing after a botched heist, often worked as a team, having built up some trust between them across different jobs. Hayakaze was their hacker and getaway driver, 'Lycus was the face and thief, Julian was a bit of a jerk-of-all-trades (the little bastard), and Nova was usually the muscle, though he had as much skill as anyone else with subterfuge. Now, they were headed over to Kaze's for something that their favourite hacker refused to talk about over any other channel. Mysterious.
 
Nova’s blue Spirit Highwire, a battered mag-lev sports car, slowed to a stop just past the streetlamp by the entrance of a large highrise. Considering Nova had let his partner know he was almost there, he expected Julian to be already outside. He might have been a tiny bit concerned, except he soon caught a glimpse of blonde hair moving toward the building’s front door from the inside.
 
“That took forever,” Nova joked as Julian slipped into the car. “What was the hold-up?”
 
Julian sunk into the worn seats of Nova's ride with a sigh. "A virtual reality call with a potential new client ran a little long. They wanted full encryption instead of the usual back and forth. Did Kaze give you any more details about what he needs?"
 
With a smile that said that he was worth waiting for, Julian synchronized his eye implant and connected through a virtual private network to Nova's car. He began to play a playlist of his own, switching over from whatever Nova had been listening to. 
 
It took him a moment to realize it, but Nova was gently bobbing his head to the music. Julian had subtly changed it again. He grinned a bit. 'I should probably have never let him sync up to this thing.' 
 
“As for Hayakaze, he didn’t say much to me. I’m guessing from your question he didn’t give you much either.” Nova’s eyebrows raised. “But don’t go burying the lede on me,” he said as he pulled the car out onto the road. “A new client? What kind of client? How’d it go?” Nova was always on the lookout for more work. And since Julian had a knack for finding it, he was good to keep around.
 
"Well, I'll let you know if I need any backup, but, like I said, full privacy. What kind of freelancer would I be if I promised privacy then blabbed to you first chance I got, huh, Nova?" 
 
Nova bit his tongue when Julian started to prattle on about privacy. Julian grinned knowingly. Deciding magnanimously not to tease Nova any further, he spilled the beans.  
 
"It's a security gig for a big Coin event. One of those fancy shindigs where they introduce new pets to Coin society. It's big enough that their usual complement of security doesn't quite do it. Plus, they don't want big burly guards. They want cherubic cuties like me that can hide in plain sight but still get the job done."
 
Nova rolled his eyes and smiled. “Well, if they want anybody sitting out of sight who knows what they’re doing, I’d be happy to take their money.” He paused, replaying Julian’s last comment in his head. “Hey, wait a minute! Are you saying I’m not cute?” 
 
---
 
A few minutes of banter later, they were outside of Seth's building. Julian caught the door as someone else was leaving and went to the elevator. It was out of service, just the way Seth liked it, since it gave him more time to react to unwanted visitors, so he went for the staircase. 
 
When they arrived at Hayakaze's door, Julian slipped a mint into his mouth and let Hayakaze know they were there without knocking or ringing the doorbell.
 
Hayakaze was surprised that Julian and Nova were already at his door. He hadn’t even noticed them arrive on his security camera. ‘Wow, I must really be distracted.' He hopped to his feet and opened the door for his visitors. “Thanks for coming. Come in.”
 
"You look like shit," observed Julian helpfully. "You look like Prometheus' liver after the bird is done with it, man. Have you been sleeping?"
 
Even as tired as he was, Seth couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Thanks, Julian, you’re a real peach.” 
 
Julian fake-curtseyed at him as the young hacker moved over to the standing desk to grab what was left of his energy bar before turning to drop onto his well-worn couch.
 
Nova watched Hayakaze carefully. He seemed off somehow. And Julian was right, Kaze had definitely lost some sleep. As the trio emerged into Hayakaze’s main living space Nova noted the wall screen had dozens of different images and files displayed, overlapping each other. The subjects seemed to mainly be a Coin and... Autolycus. “You found him?” He tried to hide his excitement. “You found Autolycus? Already?”
 
Julian’s discerning eyes scanned the myriad images. That definitely looked like Adrien. “And who's this Coin?"
 
Seth calmly watched his guests come to the realization that he himself had slowly worked towards for gods knew how many hours. “Yeah, it seems like I did. Now we just need to decide what the hell to do about it,” Seth said, ignoring Julian’s question for now.
 
Nova only settled his attention on the Coin after Julian pointed them out. 
 
“Is this guy holding Autolycus? For a guy caught stealing such sensitive info, 'Lycus doesn’t seem to have a lot of safeguards around him,” Nova thought aloud. “He’s out in the open without restraints, so that’s odd too...” His eyes widened, and a hint of a smirk crept onto his face. “No way...Is he really playing a Coin like this?” 
 
Nova’s mind ran wild with the possibilities that Autolycus could be working towards. ‘If he’s doing what I think he is, then our friend's got more guts than Prometheus will ever grow.’
 
Julian shook his head gently, trying to read the expression on Autolycus' face. It was a screenshot taken from a security camera. Still high-quality, but blurred by motion. "Playing them how, what's the play? Maybe he just saw an opportunity to live the good life and went for it."
 
But they all knew that didn’t sound like ’Lycus.
 
"Is Autolycus' ass really that sweet? He was able to avoid going to prison by offering it to… Thamyris Fairmount? The harpist?" Sifting through the data, Julian placed a finger to his lips. He was morbidly curious about seeing his friend in the fancy trappings of Coin pet fashion. He glanced back at Nova and Kaze. "I guess you're the only one that would know, Kaze. Anyway, I'm up for anything and you know it. If Autolycus needs rescuing and I can hold it over him for...forever? I'm in."
 
Kaze tried to ignore the suggestion, however likely, that his closest friend and some Coin were fucking. But, he couldn’t help but respond when Julian said that Kaze and Autolycus slept together. It prompted a strange feeling in his stomach, remembering the way that Adrien and the Coin had spoken to each other during that stupid recital. “No, I actually wouldn’t know.”
 
“It makes sense,” Nova continued. “Autolycus gets caught and makes a deal to be a pet instead of going to jail.” He smiled at the hacker. “And if I know Autolycus, he’s either waiting for a rescue or playing an angle to grab something expensive and run.” He glanced back at Julian. “Either way, I want in on this, too.”
 
"Fuck you both, this is serious." Kaze stood back up and left no time for a response. “Since you’re both willing to help, we can get this operation moving. The first order of business is contacting him discreetly. We need to figure out how to do that.”
 
---
 
After a few hours of exploring and eliminating possibilities for contacting and rescuing Autolycus, they had not yet settled on a solution and they were starting to hit a wall.
 
Eventually, Julian rose to his feet and stretched out his neck. "Hey, 'Lycus is safe for now, right? He seems fine with that Coin. So let's take a break. Can't come up with a brilliant plan or act on it if you're exhausted, Kaze."
 
Seth didn’t want to stop, but he had to admit to himself that he’d been going for a long time now. He leaned back in his seat rubbed at his face with the heel of his palms. “Okay.” he sighed, “Sounds good.”
 
As Julian left, Nova watched Seth. He seemed tired and deeply concerned. The way he fell back in his chair and stared at the ceiling, it seemed like he was on the verge of giving up hope, too. 
 
“Energy bars and beer breaks are all good and well, but when’s the last time you ate real food? Or slept? Or drank water?” Nova hoped the concern in his voice came through clear. “Do me a favour and listen to Julian this time. Try to remember that you’re no good to ’Lycus if you’re a wreck. Caring for yourself is caring for him now.”
 
Unsure what to say, Seth continued to sit in silence for a moment. “Y-yeah...” was all he managed to get out before Julian came back into the room with a few beers from Seth’s fridge and passed them around. 
 
"How have you been holding up, man? I know it can't be easy to have your apparently platonic life partner get kidnapped by an untouchable rich dude."
 
Seth sipped from his drink before he responded, but he still resolved to not take Julian’s bait. “As worried as I am, I guess I’m kind of relieved.” Seth surprised himself. “Considering that not long ago I was wondering if he was dead, I’m kind of glad he’s...being cared for.”
 
Julian crossed his arms and reached up to scratch the side of his face. "Yeah, that's fair. It's good that he's alive and not in prison. Though...ah, never mind." For once, Julian shut his mouth as he thought about the fact that Autolycus might be even more untouchable in the care of a Coin than in jail. "You should get some real food and some rest."
 
Nova quirked an eyebrow when Julian essentially mirrored what he himself just said, but then he quickly put it out of mind. Of course, they had said similar things. They were thinking the same thing because it was correct.
 
Seth looked quizzically at his guests, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Listen to you two, it’s like you had this conversation planned out.” He raised his hands in defeat. “Alright, alright, I’ll take a break and get some rest. I’ll kick you out when I’m done eating and get some sleep. We can pick this up in the morning, okay, mom and dad?”
 
Not knowing what to say, Nova bit his lip, hoping Julian would chime in first, so he didn’t have to.
 
"Always hoped I'd have a kid someday, but a criminal son? I'm disappointed," said Julian, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "All right, let's get you some food, kiddo."
 
---
A few weeks earlier…
 
At the sound of Jasper’s soft gasp in the virtual reality session, Julian turned his head toward the newcomer and then immediately looked away in disappointment. “Gods damn it, you’d think they’d send me someone interesting every once in a while.” He tossed back what was left of his cider, and poured himself another. “Alright, let’s get this over with. What’s your story?”
 
They were in the very bar where Julian had stolen Thamyris Fairmount's business card from Adrien, taking it to make an unsuccessful prank call to his factotum. The likeness was spooky. 
 
Flushing, it took Jasper a second to remember that Julian was just a construct and didn't recognize him, no matter how familiar the context. He wondered what Julian was supposed to calibrate for them. At least he knew how to handle Julian. "I'm a new pet and I'm here for calibration, same as everyone else you probably meet. What's it to you? You got a cider there for me?"
 
Rhys smiled immediately at Jasper’s response. The reaction was much more in line with what he saw of Jasper when they first met. ‘This just might show me more about who he really is.’ The new owner kept a close eye on his pet’s every move.
 
Julian half turned to Jasper and eyed him with derision. “Kid, what side of the bar am I sitting on? I’m not pouring you any drinks.” He faced the bar again and took another long drought. “And I know you’re a pet, genius. I didn’t ask you why you were here, I asked you what your story was. You guileless turbo-subs normally come here with one of a few stories.” He leaned back in his chair and sighed exasperatedly as he counted on his fingers. “Cowards trying to run from messes of their own making, fools who can’t take care of themselves and need constant supervision, insatiable sluts who either can’t get enough or don’t have any self-control, or, most commonly, lazy assholes who can’t be bothered to put any effort into life.” Julian shrugged. “Whatever the case, few of you ever know what you’re getting yourselves into. So? Which are you lacking? A spine, a brain, a cock cage, or willpower?”
 
Jasper rolled his eyes at Julian's usual tricks. "Man, you're going to have to learn some new tricks, Ju-- you common thug. I know your type well. The truth is that you'd probably love to be a pet if anyone would have you, but I can see that you don't exactly have the most scintillating personality."
 
Reaching behind the bar, Jasper grabbed a bottle of whatever was close at hand and opened it. He took a virtual swig and found that he'd grabbed the grenadine. He knew that wasn't Julian's fault but it still felt like it. Not wanting to give Julian the satisfaction, he swallowed the sip and put the bottle back, checking the labels more carefully now. 
 
"Don't throw this back on me. I asked you a question, pet," said Julian like the word was a slur, tilting his glass toward Jasper like a microphone.
 
Julian had put his finger right on how he had gotten to this point, but...Jasper didn't think that the truth was an option here. "I never intended on being a pet, if I'm honest. But the right opportunity with the right person came up. Now then, do you have anything to say worth hearing, or are we done here?"
 
Julian chuckled. “Man, you’re never going to survive among all those bleached snakes. Too bad for you. You’re already in Troy, Helen. You’re not getting out of this without your ten years of suffering and fear behind your high walls.” He glanced over and gave a vague gesture at Jasper with the glass in his hand. “I bet you don’t last out the year. I wonder if they have psychologists good enough to piece you back together after you break under the weight of a few Coin cocks.”
 
After Jasper’s reaction to Orion and the change of personality in this simulation, Dr. Constantine still wasn’t certain if there was a problem. He knew that this last scene could bring certain things to light that the others could never hope to. It seemed to be working already, as Jasper was stumbling over his words at one point. He double-checked the controls to make sure Thamyris was still locked out and then increased the hostility of the simulation again.
 
“And I’ll have you know my personality is absolutely delightful, so long as I’m not forced to spend time around walking gloryholes,” Julian snorted. "Have you given this any thought at all? Or do you live your life the way you mix your drinks, grabbing onto the first thought that comes into that dumb little brain?"
 
Julian was a master of precision — he wielded his words like a stiletto knife, never usually expending more than he needed to get his point across. This Julian spoke so much and so quickly, so adamantly, that it was as though he had lost his cool and grown angry. ‘Methinks the barfly doth protest too much,’ thought Jasper. This was not Julian, even though it was a surprisingly convincing facsimile of him. He hadn't realized that Julian had taken a gig like this — gotten his personality copied. With that in mind, Jasper's anger and frustration bled out of him, and the virtual reality personality lost all power over him. 
 
Julian's words were still clever and brutal, but now, they made Jasper laugh. "You are beautifully scathing. I'm impressed. And I don't need anything from you. My Owner will take care of me. I'm just here for tech calibration, from what I understand."
 
Rhys watched carefully, confused at what he was seeing. This simulation was supposed to draw out fear, shame, guilt, anger, or any number of negative emotions, but it didn’t seem to be working. If anything, Jasper seemed to be calming, and even enjoying himself now. Would this be a problem? Rhys glanced up at the doctor, and it was clear that Constantine was only barely able to hide his consternation and frustration.
 
That’s when Rhys began to smile. He realized that there was something unique about his new pet. Jasper was strong. Cool under fire. This program wasn’t made to calibrate for someone like him. His inborn qualities, his life on the ground level, and his intelligence were breaking the doctor’s simulation apart. His new pet was better than the others. More reliable, and controlled. And now Jasper had given himself over to Rhys. ‘I could not have picked a better pet. He is one in a million.’ He looked at the near-naked man in the center of the room with pride and admiration.
 
“Good.” Julian chuckled. “I’d really rather not help you. Let your shiny new owner ‘take care’ of you, for all the good that will do you. For as long as you remain yourself, anyway.” He took another drink and still didn’t bother to turn toward Jasper. “I wonder how long it takes for it to start.”
 
Jasper had been looking away, uncaring. It was the same old song until Julian began to talk about...remaining himself. There was nothing that Jasper feared more than losing himself, even if he had taken on another name as armour. 
 
His head snapped around, and he tried to play it off casually. A simulation wouldn't give him information about pet training procedures, would it? He reminded himself once again that this wasn't a person, but an artificially intelligent map of one. "You're just trying to goad me. Get to the point or get lost. What do you mean, remaining myself? For what to start?"
 
The holographic simulacrum rolled his eyes. “Oh, so now you want help. Fine.” He swivelled on his stool to properly face Jasper. “Why do you think you don’t see any pets leave their new lives? There’s got to be some that don’t fit in as well as they hoped, right? So where do they go?”
 
By the time that both Owner and Doctor clued into what Julian was saying, it was too late. Their eyes met. The Doctor looked exasperated as Rhys finally figured out what this slip of a blond was on about. The last thing that either of them wanted was for Jasper to be infected with those silly rumours. That would only lead to additional anxiety for him. Constantine whipped his eyes back to the screen and began working to slow the hologram’s conversation, and Rhys rose to his feet.
 
“Do some like being away from the ground so much that they put up with it? Do they like the financial security? Sure,” Julian went on, “But not all of them. So why don’t they come back down? Because they have nothing to come back down to. Not anymore.”
 
‘It’s all right,’ Rhys told himself. ‘Jasper won't be taken in by that ridiculous conspiracy theory.’ He took a deep breath.
 
The doctor had altered the settings, but there was only so much change the program could force into the conversation while making it still seem natural. “Why don’t you go ask other pets about what they feel for their old friends back home?” Julian offered. “See if you can put the pieces together.” He turned back to his drink. “Anyway, you’re too dense to learn anything from me. Go on, kid.”
 
With that, the room became increasingly hazy, and then slowly dimmed to blackness. The machinery turned off and with a jolt, Jasper could feel the weight and pressure of the VR gear again. Rhys was at his side to help him with the gear. Despite what he had just heard, Jasper let him, grateful to have someone waiting for him. 
 
---
 
Coming unexpectedly out of VR after such a long day of tests had left Jasper feeling a bit woozy. He barely registered the concern on Rhys'sface as they pulled him out. Jasper had questions about what Julian had said in there, but he wasn't about to ask them in front of the doctor. He trembled, thinking of Julian's words. There was no doubt in his mind that there was some truth to them. 
 
So, when the doctor finally declared that Jasper's calibration data was sufficient and he was allowed to go, Jasper gratefully climbed back into the car with Rhys. Once they were inside, Jasper turned to him. 
 
"So...the person in the last calibration scenario. Julian. I knew him — know him. The real person," said Jasper, grinning. "But the program didn't really behave like him. It was way more intense and way less clever."
 
For a moment, Rhys was silent and staring. Then, his face split into a grin and he laughed. "That explains your reaction and why Doctor Constantine couldn't get the data that he expected!" Rhys restrained his laughter and steadied himself before continuing. “That last scenario was meant to see how you would react to stressful stimuli in VR, so it was necessary to make you feel uncomfortable and scrutinized.” The Coin’s grin never faded as he reached over and gently cupped Jasper’s chin in his hand. “It seems you are too clever and resilient to have the standard procedures work on you. You are simply incredible, my pet.”
 
Flinching uncertainly but forcing himself to stay still as Rhys touched him, Jasper leaned into his soon-to-be-Owner's hand a little, his expression soft. "Thank you." He paused, licking his lips, then smiled again. "I can't believe you torture new pets by forcing them to have a drink with that guy in a slum bar." 
 
Rhys moved his hand to caress Jasper’s cheek in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. “Yes, the calibration is always supposed to be odd, and somewhat difficult. They try to ‘push your buttons’ to measure your reactions, so it makes sense, no?” Rhys explained.
 
"I guess so," said Jasper a bit distractedly. Rhys's gloved hand felt good on his skin. Better than he thought it would. Jasper was blushing, but he steeled himself to ask the question that was on his mind. "The things he was saying at the end...it almost sounded like he was confirming that pets get...brainwashed. We have rumours about that down in the slums, but it's hard to know what to believe."
 
‘Ah, there it is,’ Rhys thought to himself, ‘I had hoped he would not wonder on this overmuch.’ He withdrew his hand and slid along the seat to be closer to Jasper. “Coins know of those rumours too, of course, but there is nothing to them. While I will not disagree that many pets never return permanently to the ground level, each pet has their own reasons for it. 
 
To his surprise, Jasper regretted the loss of Rhys's touch. He looked up at the much taller man as Rhys slid toward him. "What kinds of reasons? Julian is right. This must not be a fit for everyone."
 
Rhys sighed, but knew he had to approach the topic with care. “You are right, of course. Some people find that they want nothing to do with this life, but they almost universally recognize it after only a short time. That being the case, it is still simple for them to back out of the process.”
 
As he spoke, Rhys laid a possessive arm around Jasper's shoulders and Jasper found that he didn't mind.
 
“When a pet has already been with a Coin for a long time, there can be myriad reasons,” Rhys went on, “Other than the ridiculous notion of ‘mind control’, the most common rumour I hear is that the pets become somehow corrupted by the money and extravagance of this lifestyle." He paused, then scoffed. "It is not just that money changes people. Though I suppose it must.” He readjusted himself in his seat and tried to look Jasper in the eye. “The social circles up here, Coin circles, we put a great deal of emphasis on personal freedom and being true to yourself. That is rarely an option for most, especially those who come from circumstances like yours.”
 
"Why would that matter?" asked Jasper, distracted by the weight and feel of Rhys's arm around him.
 
“Think about it like this. Imagine finding something you truly love to do. Something that you never knew you needed in your life.” Rhys had been thinking about this moment since they left the office. He tried to make certain it didn’t come out sounding rehearsed. “Something that made you feel safe and free for the first time in your life. Truly free. Then, you come to realize that the people you knew before would never understand it. They would never think of you the same way if they knew. They had not lived it like you had.” He paused to let his pet consider. “Tell me, Jasper, after coming to understand your true self, and being accepted for it instead of shunned, would you hesitate if given the chance to return to your previous way of life?”
 
"Are you talking about all the sex that Coins and pets supposedly have?" Jasper felt doubtful about Rhys's explanation, but he nodded slowly as though he believed him. He had a feeling that the Coins had other techniques of persuading pets, but he couldn't say why he thought that. "I guess...the ties that bind are weaker if they're tying you down."
 
“That is a great way of putting it,” Rhys gave a relaxed smile. It seemed like Jasper was finally starting to understand.
 
The light rain that dappled the automatic car and the soothing weight of Rhys's arm, combined with the stress of the day and the Scopolamine cocktail that he had been given, started to make Jasper feel drowsy. He yawned, covering his mouth as much as he could. "Sorry, I'm feeling pretty tired. Do you mind if I just...shut my eyes for a while?"
 
Rhys couldn’t help but enjoy Jasper’s adorable yawn and fading expression. ‘Lovely,’ he thought. ‘Just lovely.’ “Of course, pet. But we don’t have any pillows so... Ah, here.” Rhys took off his suit jacket, turned it inside out, folded it up and placed it over his thigh. He looked at Jasper, smiled, and gently tapped his leg invitingly.
 
Jasper flushed, knowing just how close he would be to Rhys's junk, lying down like a pet cat in his lap. But he was so tired, and there would be the jacket between them. So, after a long pause, he crawled forward on the car seat and laid his head down. The jacket, which had been near Rhys's long, well-kempt hair, smelled strongly of him. Jasper took an involuntary deep breath, the scent filling his awareness. He fluttered his eyes sleepily and finally let them close.
 
After he gave Jasper a moment to settle in, Rhys gently caressed his upper arm. When Jasper was visibly asleep, he moved his hand to Jasper’s hair, petting him gently. As he stared down at his beautiful new pet, he felt a glow of warmth within his chest, but he was too concentrated on his Jasper’s soft breathing to think much more about it.
 
---
 
Rhys was almost disappointed when they finally arrived home. He moved to fix his pet’s hair, but when Jasper shifted his upper body, Rhys pulled back, leaving it mussed. “We are home. Feel a little better now?”
 
The hyperalertness that lived in Jasper's bones hadn't allowed much more than a bit of dozing through the drive. It was still a bit of a shock to come back awake and remember that his head was in Rhys's lap. He was surprised that it had felt so comfortable and even more surprised that he found himself reluctant to leave it. "Thank you. I do."  
 
Jasper reflected on what Julian had said earlier...being a pet was already changing him. He was acting so gods-damned submissive, so acquiescent and meek. He was already rejecting his own name and personality to try and be more pleasing to Rhys. 
 
He reminded himself that the night that he had first met Rhys, it had been more or less as himself, though perhaps on his best behaviour. That was what had charmed Rhys, right? So maybe he needed to relax a little and allow some of himself back in, lest he lose himself further. 
 
“Come along, Jasper,” Rhys said softly, standing outside the car. “I do not plan to leave you in the car all night.”
 
Up until the moment that Rhys spoke, Jasper had not realized how distracted he had been by his thoughts of Julian and what he was becoming. He smiled sheepishly at Rhys and grasped the edge of the seat to pull himself out of the car. "Yes, Rhys. Sorry for woolgathering."
 
Rhys’s expression was calm and patient. “That is entirely reasonable. It has been a busy day,” Rhys said as Jasper stepped out of the car.
 
Rhys’s voice changed slightly once his pet was standing beside him. It lost much of its softness and some of its warmth. “The day is winding down now. I want you to walk close to me,” he said. Rhys pulled Jasper in closer by guiding the pet’s hand into the crook of his arm, and then gave it a gentle squeeze. “Like this.” 
 
Jasper swallowed a surprised noise, a bizarre feeling welling up in his groin. A slick, innervated heat. The thought that Doctor Constantine must have drugged him came back to him. He was horny. "Yes, Rhys. I can do that."
 
The doors whispered open as the pair approached. Rhys continued, “We will eat shortly. Whenever we are both home, we will take our meals together. That is how I like to run my household.”
 
The day before, Rhys had seemed easy-going in the extreme. Jasper had mixed feelings about the additional layers and rules that Rhys was beginning to add to their..."burgeoning" relationship. On the one hand, the structure was helpful given that Jasper didn't know a ton about pet etiquette except the sensationalist stuff he heard in the slums or as part of his work. On the other, there was a certain condescension in having rules set for him that way. He put those thoughts aside for now and looked up into the elegant architecture of Rhys's apartment building. This was the first time that he was entering it on his own two feet. 
 
---
 
Philemon was waiting by the door as Rhys entered. 
 
“Welcome home. Supper will be ready in ten minutes. Just enough time to change,” Philemon said with the matter-of-fact pleasantness that only a professional could exude with such ease. “Will there be anything else?”
 
“Excellent,” Rhys answered without hesitation. “Thank you, Lemon, that will be all for now. That is, unless you need anything, pet? It has been a long day for you.”
 
Philemon turned his attention to Jasper, silently approving of the close physical contact the pet had with Rhys. It was quite the change from the weeping of the night before. The factotum's face was the picture of patience, carefully pleasant with just the hint of a smile colouring his otherwise neutral visage. "Perhaps it will please you to know that some of your wardrobe from the tailor has already arrived. You'll have plenty to choose from for dinner."
 
Looking between Rhys and Philemon, Jasper thought carefully before speaking. "I don't need anything, thank you."
 
"Well, then, let me escort you to your room and show you how I've arranged your clothing," said Philemon.
 
When Jasper released Rhys’s arm to follow behind Philemon, he was surprised to find he felt disappointed to leave his Owner behind. He wondered what made him feel so comfortable around Rhys, a Coin, the kind of person he had often derided. Ultimately, it was a good thing. The less complicated the transition to this new life, the better.
 
Rhys watched Jasper as he left with Philemon for a moment and sighed contentedly before turning away towards his study. 
 
---
 
The thief-turned-pet knew that there must be staff in the kitchen preparing the evening meal, yet the apartment was silent except for the echo of Philemon's steady, confident steps in his sensible dress shoes. Jasper looked around, the gilt crown moulding on the ceiling drawing his eye toward the end of the hallway. Exhausted, he was startled when Philemon spoke. 
 
“I understand that the evaluations were long today,” Philemon said in a polite, yet respectfully distant manner. “I hope that everything went well in the end?”
 
"It wasn't what I expected," said Jasper. "But it's over now and I guess that's what matters." He paused. Hesitated. "Say, Philemon, you know Rhys pretty well, right? Have you been working here long?"
 
Philemon lifted his gaze for a moment as he thought back. “I have been managing the Fairmount household for over ten years now,” Philemon answered. “And yes, I believe I do know him well. Despite Thamyris Fairmount being my employer, I feel confident in calling him a dear friend. Why do you ask?”
 
"Well...I want to be a good pet for Rhys, but I don't know if I have the...the temperament for it. I feel like I have to act differently than I normally would. Any advice? Maybe something about what he likes?" Pleasing Rhys had become important to Jasper in a way that struck him as too much, too soon, but he couldn't deny the desire. He supposed that was what infatuation was like.
 
Jasper’s openness and vulnerability surprised Philemon. He took it as a positive sign, but it was hard for Philemon to put a concise answer into words. Rhys was the training expert, not him. 
 
“I hope you don’t think I’m dismissing your concerns when I say this, but I think you are worrying too much,” Philemon said, trying to sound supportive. Pushing a new and untrained pet too hard would not be wise this early on. Philemon would not allow another Marin to happen on his watch. “If you are here now, then Rhys has seen something that interests him within you already. You just need to polish those parts of yourself into something that is uniquely you. Rhys is not seeking a typical, unremarkable pet. He looks for the exceptional and wants to train his candidate to reach the highest level of achievement that they can.”
 
"Right," said Jasper, his worry only increasing. The idea that he was somehow going to be a standout, special pet was a lot of pressure, especially under the circumstances. But then, he thought back to Rhys — his face, his lap, his charming insistence at the recital, his care at the clinic — and felt warmth radiate through his core. "Yeah. I guess I just need time. Still, is there anything I should know? Things to avoid or be careful about?"
 
Philemon wasn’t certain what would be the best advice to give. He barely knew Jasper. He could, however, think of something that would help Rhys. “Don’t approach the subject of any previous pets for now,” Philemon said. “He will disclose that information to you when he feels ready. Beyond that, he will appreciate your patience and willingness to learn and change.”
 
"I'll try to be patient," said Jasper, turning in the doorway as they reached his room. "Thank you, Lemon. I think that I'm okay from here."
 
Though Philemon’s reaction wasn’t very evident, someone other than Rhys calling him “Lemon” felt distinctly uncomfortable. He pushed that thought out of his mind for now to hold back a chuckle at the fact that the pet thought he could prevent his owner’s favourite servant from entering the bedroom anytime he liked. Amusing. “I’m sure you can, but you should know that I have taken the liberty of organizing your new wardrobe,” Philemon said. “I also set out a few items that I thought might suit a quiet evening at home.”
 
Reluctantly, Jasper moved from the doorway and let Philemon show him the outfits. Philemon was efficient and left as Jasper began to change into the 'loungewear' that the factotum had laid out for him. Jasper spent what felt like a very long while staring into the mirror, looking at the way that the clothes that Philemon had chosen softened and changed his appearance. Eventually, he pulled himself away and left to meet Rhys in the dining room.
 
---
 
Rhys sat in his stately personal study, trying to manage all the messages he had received throughout the day. A few acquaintances of his were absolutely gobsmacked to know that he was seen about with a pet, but easily half of all the messages were from Aristotle. It was sweet of him to be so excited and encouraging.
 
The new Owner left most of them for later, as he could not concentrate. His mind kept drifting to the coming meal with his new pet. A few minutes later, he was waiting in the dining room, a deep vee-neck now showing off his pronounced pectorals. 
 
Just as Rhys had seated himself, Jasper came into the room looking rather shy, his hands wrapped around his abdomen, which was bare to just below his own pecs. He was wearing one of the loungewear outfits that Rhys had made for him. When he locked eyes with Rhys, Jasper moved his hands away from his body, raising one arm in a little wave. "Hello, Rhys."
 
“Good evening, pet,” Rhys answered. His eyes roamed up from Jasper’s midriff to his face. The sight of what might have been uncertainty in Jasper’s eyes sparked a realization in Rhys. He did not know Jasper enough to read him. Despite the draw that Rhys already felt towards him, they had not been able to spend much time with each other, one-on-one. ‘Well, I suppose this is as good an opportunity as any,’ Rhys decided.
 
The Coin motioned for Jasper to approach. “I am glad we finally have some leisure time to ourselves,” Rhys said. He invited Jasper over with a pat on his thigh. “Come. Let us get acquainted now that any airs can come off.”
 
For a moment, Jasper found himself balking at sitting in another person's lap. He had a flash of earlier today, napping with his head in Rhys's lap, and a little voice told him that the threshold had already been crossed. He nodded to Rhys and crossed the room, climbing onto Rhys's knee, uncertain where to look. Rhys helped him position himself sitting toward the table so that the Coin's body surrounded him. Jasper's posture was tense. 
 
"It has been a bit of a whirlwind," offered Jasper, shifting his position a little. It was hard to get comfortable in Rhys's broad lap; all of this felt so unnatural. And reflecting on the day only made it worse. 
 
Rhys nodded sagely. “Yes, but you handled it well.” He gently rubbed Jasper’s back with one hand. “For now, though, let us steer away from the day's events,” Rhys’s words were clearly an order but did not feel stern or unkind. “I would like to talk about us.”
 
Jasper had suppressed his instincts to defend himself at Rhys's sudden touch to his back. Now, he forced himself to breathe and unclench his jaw. "'Us'? Like, our future together?"
 
“Our future does not worry me. I am more interested in knowing each other better tonight.” Rhys took a long breath as he decided where to start. “I -- we have not shared other aspects of ourselves. For example, I obviously enjoy music. I also like social games, stage plays, rock climbing, and good food in good company.”
 
"Right. I guess it won't all be sex and debauchery," said Jasper, half-seriously. He put a finger to his lips. He thought about the small, subsistence garden on his tiny balcony and all the time he spent running away from people. "I like gardening and uhm, parkour. Which is sort of like climbing. Maybe we can try it together." 
 
"Gardening?" Images came to Rhys of his balcony covered in a beautiful line of brightly coloured flowers to accent the view of the skyline. How unexpected but entirely welcome. “That is definitely something I can make available to you. We can discuss the details later. And, while I have never heard of parkour, I'm sure it will be enjoyable to try.”
 
Jasper had a hard time picturing this elegant, glove-wearing man climbing a building, but then again, he had mentioned rock climbing as a hobby. He wondered what Rhys wore to climb. Again, he shifted in Rhys's lap, unsure where to place his hands and folding them across his body. "I can't say I've had much occasion to pick up many hobbies. But I think I can get behind the other things you said."
 
Rhys was surprised at how relieved he felt after Jasper’s answer. He hoped this talk would set a precedent for open communication between them. “I am glad to hear it,” Rhys said. “Though, if you find that you do not enjoy something that I do, make certain I know. I would hate to bore you.”
 
"There are a lot worse things than being bored. Like being in prison." Jasper paused, self-conscious. "Actually...since I don't remember, why did you decide to help me? Taking me on as a pet is going a lot further than just keeping someone out of trouble."
 
A soft, warm laugh left Rhys’s lips before he could even think to stop it. He was not entirely certain how to answer the question, but he would try. 
 
“When we spoke at the concert, you were the only person who showed no interest in getting something from me.” Rhys wrapped a reassuring arm around Jasper. His enhanced natural strength led to him unwittingly pulling his new pet a little closer. "As we continued to speak, I found myself charmed by your quick wit and irreverence. When I saw that you were in trouble, I remembered the potential that I had seen in you. And I chose to leverage my position with Aristotle because of it."
 
Rhys placed his hands on Jasper’s shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. “And of course, I did not like the idea of you having all that fun in prison without me,” he added teasingly.
 
To Jasper, it felt like Rhys was moving directly into touching and using his body however he wanted. He had understood that would be a part of all this pet stuff, but he hadn't expected the transition to start so soon. He gave a low, nervous chuckle of his own and placed his hands overtop of Rhys's trying to regain just a little bit of agency and control. "Right. Well...again, I'm grateful. I'll do my best."
 
Rhys was pleased to see Jasper returning his affection. “Think nothing of it, pet,” he answered. “I have full confidence that you will adapt well, in time. After all, your role at your previous job was to play pretend and adapt. Is that not what you were doing at the party?”
 
Rhys paused, worried that his last words might come across as an insult to Jasper's integrity. “Er...What skills from thievery do you think will be useful as a pet?” Rhys didn't approve of his crimes, but he had to ask. “Since I know little about that... field of expertise, anything you can tell me would help me to guide you.”
 
Taken aback, Jasper pulled his hands back into his own lap. "You're right. That's what I was doing. I have trained to be socially adaptable and to hide my emotions when needed. I guess that'll come in handy." Jasper sighed. "I wasn't deliberately aiming to deceive you, though. I wasn't trying to manipulate your feelings. I promise."
 
After a pregnant pause while he considered Jasper’s words, Rhys tried to reassure him. “I know. I was never your goal, only a distraction. Hiding your emotions and concerns from me will not be necessary anymore. Still,” the Coin redirected, “those traits will be useful in the social world here. Your skills are not likely to get rusty.”
 
"Is Coin society as high intrigue as the holovids show?" said Jasper, grinning up at Rhys. "Cutting each other with the language of flowers and a veneer of politeness?"
 
Whatever Rhys would have answered was briefly interrupted as two servants, followed by Philemon, arrived with their food.
 
“Ah, wonderful!” Rhys exclaimed. He turned to Philemon with a broad grin. “I have been looking forward to this. I worked up quite the appetite today.”
 
“And we’ll be all too happy to oblige,” Philemon answered. He felt some stress lift from his shoulders when he saw how close the two were. Things seemed to be going well. “For this evening the chef has prepared a tenderloin steak for you.”
 
As they had not been instructed otherwise, the servants placed the plates in front of each chair, despite Jasper being in Rhys's lap. The side dishes were artfully arranged on their own plates. Philemon followed behind them and deftly placed and filled two glasses of wine. “I made sure to choose a pairing that suits the meal, and the occasion. Something from your reserve, Rhys.”
 
"Thank you, Lemon. Please cut a small piece of steak off of mine, won't you?" said Rhys. When Lemon obliged, Rhys leaned over, took it between his fingers, and held it to Jasper's mouth. "Go on, pet. Enjoy. I want this first bite to come from my hand. Then you can go to your own seat — I do not intend to spoil you."  
 
Jasper felt humiliated and almost shoved Rhys's hand away from his face. He wasn't a dog. But then, he gave a small resigned sigh and carefully took the bite of steak from between Rhys's fingertips. It was hard to know how to feel about Rhys — about all of this. Rhys was trying to show him kindness and help him make the best of his new situation, in his way. It made Jasper feel like an asshole to be standoffish and judging him internally this way. 
 
But this was all so strange. He chewed the steak thoughtfully. It had to be fucking delicious, of course. He rarely had the chance to eat anything beyond lab-grown meat, let alone whatever cut of heaven this was. He didn't want to poison a legitimately good chance at making a life here, but he had always resented the Coins. Sometimes, Rhys felt exactly like all the rest, and sometimes, his every action was a surprise. 
 
Right now, there was a strange warmth in his stomach, a desire to please Rhys that confused him. How could so much change in so short a time?
 
“There is another small learning opportunity here,” Rhys said, interrupting Jasper’s thoughts. “You and I are eating together, at the same table, and speaking freely. That will not always be the case. If we attend certain functions, parties, or whatever else, there may be an expectation that you will act differently. I will advise you ahead of time when this is the case. Now, go to your seat, please.”
 
"I've seen the way pets behave at some of your events," said Jasper as he slipped off of Rhys's lap and into the place that had been set for him. "Not saying I won't try, but they barely act like people. They're like..." He grasped for the least offensive word that he could find for the simpering little protocol subs. "It looks humiliating."
 
Rhys should have expected something like this. There were bound to be aspects of being a pet that would seem obvious to a Coin, but foreign to Jasper. He would need to be conscious of these things. “If it was at a Coin event, then I do not doubt it. They were most likely pets with a proclivity towards humiliation, or simply exhibitionism,” Rhys answered easily. “Not to worry, pet. I would never purposely force you into something if you had no interest in it.”
 
"Then what did you mean? You said I'd be expected to act differently — not sit at the same table, not speak freely?" Jasper's brow furrowed. 
 
Sensing that his pet was worried about the topic, Rhys considered the question before answering. “I am sorry, Jasper, but protocol and occasional restrictions are part of being a pet. I hope you will be able to adapt to that without much difficulty or stress, but you will need to put up with it until you do.” Rhys laid what he hoped was a comforting hand overtop of Jasper's, then continued. “If it helps, you could try to see it as a form of code-switching. Consider how differently a government official and their aid would act in their office as compared to in a high-level meeting with superiors.”
 
Rhys hoped this made as much sense to Jasper as it did to him. “Code-switching and protocol are everywhere. People tend not to realize it when they are already used to a specific situation. Does that help clarify?”
 
Jasper sighed, tension knotting itself in his chest. Knowing what could happen to him as a pet and being faced with the reality of it were two different things. He tried not to shut Rhys's words out. "Thank you for explaining it to me." 
 
“Of course, dear Jasper,” Rhys said. He tried to think of a way to put Jasper more at ease. “The next time I am invited to one of those events, I can give you a more detailed example. They are usually just themed costume parties, each with unique protocols. I used to have a wonderful time when I went with my—” A pained expression briefly crossed his face. “My friends.”
 
Rhys's pain was unexpected. Of course, Jasper understood that Coins were (mostly) human, with the usual feelings, but they led such privileged lives. The idea of them feeling any sort of deep upset when they could just pay to make things go away was not usually something that Jasper thought about. His voice hushed, Jasper looked up into Rhys's eyes. "What happened to your friends?"
 
Closing his eyes, Rhys took a deep breath to steady himself. He did not want to discuss this now, but perhaps that was precisely why he should do it anyway. Rhys placed his fork on his dinner plate. “Years ago, I was enthusiastic and overconfident. I made a foolish mistake, and someone important to me paid the price.” He opened his eyes again and turned his carefully controlled expression to Jasper. “My friends never forgave me.”
 
Jasper's expression was sad, sympathetic. Rhys didn't seem to want to get into the mistake, so Jasper focused on the other part of it. "You don't see them anymore? They haven't forgiven you even after all these years? How long ago was this?" Jasper was a little indignant on Rhys's behalf! Trust Coins to be dramatic and insist on holding grudges against each other. "Maybe they should grow up." 
 
Just as Rhys was about to answer, he burst into laughter at Jasper’s sudden ire. “Oh, you have it right for one of them,” Rhys said, collecting himself. “But due to the severity of the issue, I understand their reactions, and I do not begrudge them their anger. In their place, I would be wary as well, even after ten years.”
"Must be pretty severe," said Jasper, cutting into his steak. "But how do you know that they're still mad at you?" He shook his head. "Sorry, that's none of my business. Why don't you tell me about some of your other friends? I imagine I'll meet some soon."
 
Rhys began to brighten at the question. “Yes, in fact, I was hoping to formally introduce you to Aris tomorrow over breakfast. He is excited to meet you!” Aristotle was being completely supportive if a bit of a pest. Considering the circumstances, Rhys could not blame him. “In fact,” Rhys added, turning his gaze upward as he consulted his ocular implant’s interface. “I will send him an invitation now, and book us a table. You will love it.”
 
There was something about Aristotle Brandywine that made his heart beat much faster. It had been the same during calibration with the facsimiles of Aristotle's pets. The feeling was akin to dread. But Aristotle Brandywine was his new Owner's best friend. He would have to learn to deal with whatever it was and move past it. He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I would be happy to meet your friends, if you think I won't embarrass you. As to whether I'm ready...I've got all my vaccines and I've had my doctor check-up, so there's no risk of anyone catching any slum-rat diseases off of me."
 
“Oh, thank Asclepius,” Rhys said dramatically. “What would our genetically enhanced immune systems have done if not?”
 
Rhys almost had his glass to his lips when he stopped short. “Of course, Aris has responded already. He will bring a pet along as well so that you can be socialized. That will be good for you, I think.”
 
"Great. Okay." Jasper let himself get excited at the prospect of meeting new people, maybe even getting the chance to chat with another pet. He wondered what they would be like — if they would be as insipid as those that he had met who were trying to find a contract; if they would be trained like the courtesans in the old stories; if they would look upon him with disdain for not even having aspired to this life but somehow having found himself in it... 
 
Then a thought occurred to him that stopped Jasper in his tracks. Would he already be expected to be ready to service Rhys and others sexually? Pets were available to their Owners any time, any place — that was known. But what about him and Rhys? He had to ask. "Can you...tell me a bit about what's expected of new, untrained pets? I suppose they're not that common...?"
 
“Pets with as little training as you are certainly a rarity, but there is precedent,” Rhys answered as though it should not be a concern. “As with any pet, technically you should be able to do whatever I ask of you, but mistakes are acceptable, and corrections will be made. It is my responsibility to make a judgment call based on what I think you can do. Which brings me to tonight.” The Coin shrugged almost apologetically. “I am already beginning to understand your personality, but I will need to get more familiar with your abilities and probe your limits.” 
 
Jasper found himself thinking back to Dr. Constantine's office, nodding slowly. He had expected this to happen, even if he hadn't known how soon. It was time to fulfill his purpose as a pet. Sure, pets were also arm-candy and companions but their primary purpose, the reason that they commanded such a high price, was this. Rhys wanted to fuck him. Probe his limits. 
 
His feelings about this were...complex, and he wasn't sure that now was the time to unpack them. He felt strangely excited, exposed and sexualized by Rhys's words in a way that he didn't have much familiarity with. But he also felt resigned and apprehensive. This was, in a symbolic way, his crossing into actual petdom. He was going to fuck his Owner tonight. The thought made him harden immediately. 
 
"I understand. I'll do my best."
 
It was easy to see the tension in Jasper’s shoulders, but Rhys was encouraged by the excitement in his eyes. Rhys needed to help calm any internal confusion. “I know you will. And I do not expect this all to go perfectly at this early stage. We will... feel each other out.”
 
Jasper nodded, trying to remind himself that this probably wasn't that different from regular sex with another person, regardless of the dynamics of the situation. "I uhm..." He smiled shyly up at Rhys. "I look forward to feeling you out."

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