Hello, and welcome to The Care and Keeping of Your Pet! As you surely know, a pet is a big responsibility, and we're so glad you've decided to be a concientious master. A safe pet is a happy pet, and this handbook is certain to keep your precious lifelong friend as content as can be.
The history of the animal person is a long and difficult one, with their origins not being known even to this day. However, scientists believe that despite our common appearance - most animal people have humanoid forms except for the ears, tails, and sometimes teeth - we share no common ancestry, even if the ascent of this species corresponds with that of the homo sapien. We gained dominance over each breed thousands of years ago, beginning with the dog type, who have long been considered "man's best friend." Most breeds these days are docile and perfect for owners of any speed.
Of course, it is our duty as the superior species to take care of these animal creatures, and this is inherent in their genetic makeup. Everyone knows that an animal person, when matched with their correct human master, is loyal for life - a true "soulmate," if you will. Far be it for us to turn this away! Ever since the Great Domestication, these intelligent and loving animals have served us as friends, workmates, guardians, servants, and sexual companions and will for years to come. Despite recent hubbub from so-called "Pet People's Rights Activists," this way of life is wholesome and good. Scientific research shows that the natural desire of the pet person is to be owned and cared for by a human.
So, it's your first pet. What do you need to know?
 As previously stated, pet people come in as many breeds as you can possibly think of. By far and away the most popular are the dog and cat types, but exotic birds and lizards have been gaining popularity among trendsetters from L.A. to Tokyo!
All pet types are best suited for certain jobs, and when hunting for one, it is best to search for a type that suits your needs best.
However, a "True Match" - when a pet person bonds with you and only you for the rest of their natural lives - comes naturally, and sometimes takes time before you can find the pet you will be able to give a forever home to.
According to all current research, pet people are completely sentient and like us in many ways. However, it is important to remember that they have many animalistic and feral characteristics. Do not be foolish and think that your pet is a person, despite the facts that many are clothed and may be allowed to read, write, and have "hobbies." Some traditional pet owners may eschew these frivolities, and that is within their right.
Pet people age more quickly than humans, at least physically, and many types have long lifespans. It is not uncommon for pets to be passed through the family. When getting your child their first pet, it's important to keep in mind that just because the pup is tiny now, a grown pet can be jumpy around a small child.
It is important to train a pet. Discipline will be necessary. This does not make you a bad owner. Failure to train early will result in a rebellious pet. Training is especially important if you want your pet to serve as a household servant.
Remember, your pet will be extremely protective of you, especially if you are Truly Bonded. It is best to socialize them early. A socialized pet is a perfect family pet.
These days, unowned and unbonded pet people are allowed to live as strays or "Frees" in certain designated areas. Some even hold "jobs." This is against their best interest, and owners who adopt these strays are to be rewarded. Still, the best place to get pets are from liscenced kennels or breeders.
Some masters find it beneficial to participate in activities with their pets, such as shows and other competitions.
Finally, much has been made about the sexual relationship between pet and master. This is a normal facet of the bond, and humans are sure to find pet people sexually alluring. But beyond that, it is only responsible and prudent for owners to care for their pet's needs. It is a well-known fact that the libidos of pet people are remarkably strong, and when they go into heat, it is usually more convenient for a master to relieve them. There is no risk of pregnancy. All rumors of hybrids are urban legends.
Despite this, masters must remember to not view their pets as romantic partners. Humans should stay with humans.
With that said, thank you and welcome to your first day as a pet's master! |
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bakerstreet2016-08-24 08:51 am
i can't believe i wrote worldbuilding for this
In the case of Genji, he's a case of a natural, if awful, accident. A bad run-in with a dog had left him on the brink of death; he would have died, his owner having nowhere near the funds for the level of reconstructive surgery necessary to keep him alive, if a more... wealthy patron hadn't decided to step in and offer a hefty sum for a transferal of ownership. A white rabbit was something of a rarity already; throw in cybernetics and Genji had turned from a rarity into something entirely one of a kind. He'd been rebuilt with all the latest tech and given a covering bodysuit and metal hide that would accentuate his lithe build while hiding the unsightly scars that covered the remainder of his flesh. Now he spends his days as the arm candy of a mob boss, sitting quietly at his side, attracting envious or downright covetous stares. Forced to be nothing but a voiceless feature as his owner works out deals that harm others while putting more money in his pocket.
Genji often comforts himself with the idea that his original owner agreed to the transferal of ownership out of their love for him, not wanting to see him die even if it meant losing him, but most days he isn't so sure.
He's tired of all of it. He gets beautiful gifts and nothing but the finest of everything, but it's all bribery or nothing more than a way to make competitors jealous. He's a thing, not a being. So when he sees an opening - his owner is out of town, but had been forced to leave him behind, an event that doesn't happen often, and his guards are being less than attentive - Genji makes his escape. His expensive cybernetic limbs allow him to slip out a window and fall to the ground below without worry of injury, and they make simple work of climbing the wall surrounding the property. After that, he runs as fast as he possibly can, not bothering to stop until his lungs are burning. He finds himself in the dingiest alley he's ever seen, alone for the first time he can remember.
The first thing he does is tear the collar off his neck, uncaring of the millions that must have went into its make, and through it to the ground. After that? Well. That's where everything falls apart. Because Genji has never been on the streets before, and it's already sinking in that maybe he should have thought this through a little more.
Nevertheless he steels himself and moves. He keeps to the shadows, slinking along, ears up and on the swivel for any remotely suspicious noise around him.]
I can't believe you did it WITHIN AN HOUR
The day they'd taken his collar from about his neck and gave him a pack to hold his things and shut the door in his face was the scariest of his life. He'd hung around the property until they'd called the police to have him removed, and from that point on?
Jesse had ran, and found he was damn good at it. He'd been a scrappy, scrawny thing, but eventually he came into his own. Ended up in something of a gang with the other outcasts and misfits, the bad dogs and naughty kitties and failed exotics with behavioral problems. He'd gotten brawnier from all his scuffles, filled out and turned into the protector of the group slowly cycling out into something entirely new. The guard dog with the heart soft enough to take in those who'd once been like him. By this time in his life, he's found himself a ridiculous serape and an even more ridiculous hat, and he'd lost an arm to a scrape with the government's brutal denomination of animal control to have it replaced with some clunky metal thing, but it got him around. And it held his dick when he went to piss on the corner of a building, well-hidden in the shadows of the alley and pleasantly buzzed from company still carrying on some bawdy song or another to a bad country tune and stolen alcohol leaving his cheeks nigh on ruddy before he's shaking off the last couple drops and going to zip himself back up.
The long white ears swiveling his direction are the first things he notices when a figure comes skating around the corner in an oddly silent ruckus, sure the color is only so bright seen through the smoke of his cigarillo. He nearly zips himself up in his jeans with a little "Whoa there!" before he's wiping his hands on his pants, holding them both up in peace. There's a hefty revolver tucked in the back of his jeans but otherwise he just has a dark button-down with the sleeves rolled up beneath his serape, hat tipped back from where he'd been resting his brow on his organic arm against the wall. ]
Easy now, kid. Someone chasin' you?
[ He's already puffing up some despite the friendly drawl, long tail fluffed and ears perked straight ahead for any sound where they splay out the sides of his hat, chest swelling as he all but leans forward, on-guard. Surely some part of him was hunting dog, some part shepherd. His attention draws behind the white rabbit and he's wary, ready to insert himself between any oncoming attackers and the small fella that about interrupted his territorial business. ]
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A dog. A stray dog, at that. Just like the one that had mauled him and caused everything to go wrong in the first place.
Despite the friendly tone of voice Genji is absolutely terrified for one long second, not even registering the question. All he sees are bared teeth, all he hears are pounding feet and crazed snarling behind him. The sound is so real that he snaps out of the freeze in order to snap a look behind him into the shadows, but there's nothing there. When his head turns back to the unfamiliar dog, he hasn't moved from the spot. The perked ears and attentiveness aren't exactly reassuring, but the fact that his focus is past Genji is somewhat soothing on his nerves. He's still wary - the dog is bigger and taller than Genji, at the ready, and Genji already has one foot turned in case he finds himself needing to run - but he's not outwardly hostile. Not yet. It's... something.
One ear slowly lifts from its flat, frightened position, back to attentive listening. The neon red glow of his visor stays fixed on the dog in front of him. Despite the fact that his plating and bodysuit offer him more protection than the dog's odd getup, Genji feels uncomfortably naked in comparison. Another few long seconds of silence follow before he finally answers in heavily-accented English.]
No.
[Despite the answer, he casts another uncertain glance back over his shoulder. At least he's hoping nothing is chasing him. He wants to believe he got a good head start on any attempts to search him down. Maybe he should keep running, just in case.]
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It sure don't look that way. Now I ain't gonna hurt you, but I will ask you kindly to be honest because I'll let you know right now, I have some kids not far from here and I don't want them to get caught in the middle of nothin'.
This'll hide your scent a bit. Why don't you come on back to the fire and we'll get you somethin' hot to warm you back up. Couple of kids, a stray cat, and... man, I don't even know. I think the other guy's a hamster.
[ The flourish of his fingers waving away the topic about say how invested he is in who this stranger may or may not be, but the one beside him? Yeah, Jesse's no dumb mutt. His cybernetics on top of being a rabbit at all already let him know how important he must be to someone. He's not just some regular runaway.
The collar in his hands is also quite something. Not anything he could just throw away lest he lead a trail, not something he could easily pawn. All he can do is hold onto it and keep it close. Jesse has the wherewithal to pretend not to notice these things. ]
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The mention of others, however, has Genji tilting his head away, staring back off into the darkness. Avoiding the dog's eyes in shame. Even as one mechanical hand comes up to hesitantly grasp the edge of the fabric draped around him, barely holding onto it, he's speaking.]
I should not be here, then.
[Genji is more than aware of the danger he presents, lingering around anyone. There's no question that he'll be chased down. He's a beautiful and expensive plaything with far too much money sunk into him to let escape without consequence. He's certain that the second the guards notice him missing that his owner will be called, that a search will go out. It probably has gone out already. If he gets caught, he has no doubt that anyone around him would get hurt. It's an awful, chilling thought, and Genji suddenly wants nothing more than to pull the fabric tight around himself and disappear in it.
He resists the impulse, taking a second to steel himself before he's pulling the fabric back off his shoulders to offer it back to the dog.]
I will leave. I am sorry for troubling you.
[He needs to make more ground anyway, now that he's caught his breath. He needs to get away from innocent people who could be caught up in something that doesn't involve them at all.]
no subject
Those long ears keep tipping back and he glances behind him, drawing the mutt's gaze to follow. He looks significantly more curious, tail perking up every time only to relax back down when he realizes nothing is there. ]
Now hold on, you seem like you're in real trouble here. I can't in good conscience let you just walk off like this; you aren't botherin' me one bit.
[ The rabbit's shedding his serape and handing it back, and Jesse only takes it from his hands to arrange it back over his shoulders. He's stubborn if little else. ]
I'm not tryna boss you around, but you're new 'round here and don't know. I'm just a stray same as you, and I'm always around the cities in the area offerin' my protection. No one'll be hurtin' you while I'm here. You hold onto that and get warm. We can just check in with the others and I'll help you find somewhere safe outside of town; how's that sound?
[ He almost slings an arm around the kid. Almost, but he does manage to refrain, instead just tipping his chin off in the direction they can go. It's just out of the alley and down to the left one street, taking them into a market cul-de-sac where the sound of children whispering and the crackle of the fire will greet them. All within sight and earshot of where they emerged. No tricks. Jesse keeps an ear swiveled back to listen behind them, eyes darting between. Nothing about the rabbit was dishonest, so he'll do his best to give the poor guy some peace of mind. ]
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You do not understand.
[It's not some other strays, or even animal control that Genji's only heard talk of. These men are cruel and ruthless and Genji is more than certain they would have no qualms with crippling or killing anyone they think helped Genji get away. Or, if a pet happens to fit certain criteria, capturing and carting them off for even worse. As much as he tries, Genji can't stop his shudder at the thought or the way he pulls the fabric around himself a little tighter.
But he has to make the dog understand. So Genji makes himself stare the dog straight in the eyes, his voice firm and steady, to do what he can to drive the point home.]
The people who are chasing me are mob. They would kill you, or worse, for assisting me.
[This dog doesn't know him. Surely his own hide is worth more than some strange rabbit he just met?]
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Really now, kid. As if anyone else would have the money flow around here to own something as exotic as a white cyborg rabbit. Everything about this kid's mods were elegant and sleek. He was made to look pretty. It wasn't raw functionality like his scrap arm. It wasn't cute or easily upgradable. He was svelte. Sexy. It was intentional and it was no one's choice to do themselves because of the attention i would garner their entire lives.
Then there's disgust and he's tugging the serape he'd tried so hard to push away tight about himself, engulfed in the dog's scent and warmth permeating from where it'd come straight off his back. Jesse softens to it. The instinctual want to nose up under his hand and offer a head in his lap is hot on his heels and he has to wrestle his animalistic nature back down. Reassure him another way— with his words. Like a human. ]
Yeah, I know, kid. Ain't nothin' I haven't dealt with before. I'll show you all my impressive scars some other time. I can feel the coffee addin' hair to my chest from here.
[ And he tips his hat to the kittens with an exaggerated bow, acknowledging nods to the hamster and the older woman. Feline, most definitely, but once something regal. The remains of her tail swished idly behind her, showing signs that it had once been luxuriously thick and near as precious as rose gold, long. She is also quite clearly hard of hearing and enjoying life all the more for it as the kids call his name over and over, delighted.
Jesse's quick to shush them even as he bends down for them to run full-tilt at him and raise their arms and jump, grabbing onto a bicep each as though he were a jungle gym. He growls playfully, gives some low little "boof"s, and spins them around as they shriek. He exchanges words with the middle-aged man about mob searches and laying low for a while, and the elderly cat is already serving up hot chocolate for Genji and offering him a mug. Still sharp as a tack, that one. ]
Right then, that's the game plan. Y'all can catch up with Holly and Samson at the other square tonight and spread the word. We'll get outta dodge.
[ Yeah he's not leaving Genji much of a choice. He's stuck with the mutt, who's gathering up his bag and a few stray items being used by the others. Namely his other copper mug and one of the other blankets laid out. The pattern is similar to the one on his serape and the other rolled up and strapped to the bottom of his pack. ]
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He doesn't protest the dog's clear intentions to insert himself into Genji's troubles. In fact, Genji doesn't say a word. He slinks up to the group after a second at least, standing on the fringes, awkward and out of place with the fabric wrapped tight around himself to hide his expensive cybernetics. Doesn't say a word, barely looks at anyone, unsure of what to do with himself. Of what to make of... everything. Something as small as being offered a drink has him pausing longer than it should before he silently shakes his head. He hasn't removed his faceplate in company outside of his owner in... never. Removing it before strangers, even to accept a gesture as small as this, is unthinkable.
His silence continues as the dog finishes packing his things. It's only when they're moving away from the group, Genji trailing after this utterly unfamiliar stray who's decided, for no good reason, to stick his nose where it could easily be shot off, that he finally speaks again. His voice is decidedly small when he does, his eyes - or the visor, at least - on the ground.]
Why?
[He's a single rabbit, a pet this dog met only minutes ago, and one who was dragging deadly trouble along behind him. It doesn't make sense to stick his hide out for him when he'd already had a group to watch over, no matter how temporary the arrangement. They were the safer option. They had to be.
Genji wants to protest, wants to yell, wants to throw the fabric in the dog's face and run right off before there was ever a chance to catch him. He doesn't want to be responsible if something happens. But he also doesn't want to give up the fabric now wrapped tight around his body, or the company of someone who wants nothing more than to help him. He hadn't realized how deeply he'd missed the simpler, warmer life until now, and it makes him glad for the faceplate that hides his expression. He can only imagine how he must look.]
You have no reason to do this. You have every reason not to.
no subject
It's that quiet voice that gets him. His heart feels about as full as a tick on a hound that the kid even had to ask, but he didn't seem as though he's had much of a life outside of being a pet. He remembers the feeling; fresh out of a home and thrust on the streets, not knowing how you're gonna get by. Always feeling like just around the corner's someone hunting you. Hell, even now he got those willies late at night when he knows he oughta be alone but something sounds out of place. His ears perk and he goes still, waiting for whatever it was to pass. It always did, save a couple times it'd actually been someone waiting to jump him.
There's a million and one emotions bubbling up in the rabbit beside him and Jesse doesn't rightly know how to answer for a long few moments. He paws at the nape of his neck like he may kick something loose, giving a few more moments of respite when Genji tacks onto his question, and finally, the mutt gives an easy shrug. That hot chocolate's gonna go to waste if it cools any further, so he'll be taking a few good swallows and let it warm his bones. ]
It's just what I do. I had a home once too; got dumped when I wasn't some cute lil thing anymore and started to grow up, both ears standing and I went from somethin' unique to somethin' boring. Teenagers, you know. Always gotta have somethin' to show off.
Worse yet, I remember being some dirty kid about ready 'ta starve on the streets because no one would have a thing to do with me. Wouldn't wish that on anyone. Now the moment I say this I imagine you're gonna wanna turn tail and run, so just hold your horses and hear me out. You and I both know you ain't cheap. Just about anyone who's anyone in the pet business will be tryin' to get ahold of you if they see you. Even some other animals like us lookin' to make a quick wad of cash. They're like to get themselves killed for tryin' but they probably wouldn't know that. Then there's animal control always out and about— look, point is, the world ain't as pretty as it should be once you're outside of those walls and your collar's off and you don't belong to no one anymore. Least, not in town. But I can show you somewhere safe, and you can move on from there if you want. Don't gotta tell me or anyone where you're goin'.
...Here I been draggin' you around and didn't even give you anything to call me. I'm Jesse McCree. Sure you don't want any of this hot chocolate? It's only gonna get colder out.
no subject
It feels awful that he's forgotten that kind of thing. That he was so deeply entrenched in a dark world where nothing ever came without a price that he's still baffled and wary about this help and the price he'll have to pay for it.
The brief silence that follows in the wake of Jesse's offer of the hot chocolate likely says enough. Genji does want some, but whether he wants it doesn't matter or not. He is absolutely not going to dare removing his faceplate in front of a pet he's just met. That, at least, has nothing to do with wariness and everything to do with not wanting to expose his damage to another, to show them exactly why he's covered head to toe. He's hardly going to inflict that on someone else.]
I will be fine. My suit will keep me warm.
[He really doesn't even need this... cloak? - but Genji is going to be hard-pressed to part with it at this point. It means more than warmth now. It's the first act of kindness he's been given without anything being asked for in turn. It's a reminder that outside of the walls of the mansion he was caged in, there are kinder people. He'll return it, of course. Eventually. But he's more than content to hold onto it as long as the dog is willing to suffer being parted from it.
Genji is hesitant on giving his name, but after a few seconds he realizes how foolish it is. It's not as though his name will give away anything that isn't already known at this point. If Jesse wanted to turn him back over to his owner, he could have done it and washed his hands of this mess already.]
Genji. And... [A pause. Then, softly, but genuinely:] Thank you. For helping me.
[Genji still isn't entirely certain how any of this will pan out, but it's good to have someone on his side at all. He's nervous about it, but the warmth of simple concern and protection are quickly burrowing into him.]