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bakerstreet2017-10-15 09:58 pm
vivalaopenpost) wrote in bakerstreet2017-10-15 09:58 pm
Pet People
The AU!Pet Person Meme (Shipping & Smut)
| >> premise | |
| 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 conscientious 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 sapiens. 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?
With that said, thank you and welcome to your first day as a pet's master! |
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!| >> how to play | |
| Needless to say, The Care and Keeping of Your Pet is a bit biased and full of propaganda, but it gives a good idea of the world your character is now AU's into. They are either a pet person or a human master, and what that means for them varies. So are they a devoted pet or a rebellious animal person looking to buck the system? A generous master or a cruel sexual sadist? Just a normal pet owner? Most likely they're something in between, but when you're raised in this world, it's difficult to see anything different on the horizon. Rules
|
Levy | OC | OTA
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I can go with either newly caught or raised in captivity, depending on what you feel like most, here! Probably starting at something like breaking in so they can get a feel for each other?]
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The tinkling noise of several waterfalls could be heard the moment he stepped inside the large room - some from the three fountains, some from the water feature covering one whole wall, and one falling into the aquarium that took up the greater part of the available space. It was a familiar, soothing place, and nothing looked any different than it usually did...
Which wasn't surprising, even if the aquarium had had a new addition put in a few days ago. Birthday present, as it were, and while driders, bats or naga were more normally what dark elves would look for in pets, Adisa couldn't say he minded what he'd gotten. Not when he'd been fascinated with the sea and everything in it since he was little.
But, one could think his aunt would've found a proper breeder instead of apparently finding someone to catch a wild Mer. He wasn't a trainer. And the comment about 'something special, like you'... he knew his aunt meant well and loved him, but that was a little... unnecessary, wasn't it?
Scoffing softly and turning away from glass that made up one of the aquarium's four walls (predictably unable to see anything but the fish that always were in there), he crossed the length of the huge display and went up a stair disguised behind a rock feature, ending up on a small stretch of 'beach' to the left of the waterfall.
Three days, and no one had seen hide or... well, tail, of the Pet, him or the caretakers that otherwise cleaned and fed the aquarium, and Adisa had decided for a slightly different approach.
So he sat down, the fine, white sand soft between his toes, and pulled a pastry from the basket he'd brought with him. Not that he was about to toss it in the water, and he didn't even know if this one would be interested in 'normal' food (what he'd read said it was individual), but that was no reason not to try, wasn't it?
Even if, so far, his new Pet hadn't made a appearance for any of the times he'd come to spend in here.
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By the time he'd been brought to the aquarium, he was emotionally and physically exhausted. While he hadn't been killed as soon as he'd been hoisted onto the deck of the poacher's ship, Levy had assumed that it'd happen eventually one way or another. If not on board, then maybe on land.
But it never happened. Instead he was moved into a container of some kind, with strange, clear walls, and promptly left alone. No one came to hurt or kill him. Occasionally someone would come close to the walls and peer in, but he was always careful to stay hidden away, just in case. He wanted to know where he was and why he was there, but more than that he wanted to go home.
It only made sense that one day his luck would run out. He'd always been warned not to venture too close to the surface. The stories all ran the same lines; Merfolk who did leave the safety of the depths more often than not never came back. But Levy had done it so many times, the warnings had begun to fall to the wayside. He'd be fine, he wasn't a child - he'd come back safely every time before, why should this time be any different?
God, he felt so stupid. He should have listened for once. Not that feeling sorry for himself would help him now. After a couple of days, hunger began to mix with his fear like oil and water. He was given food, but he didn't touch it. He just stayed tucked out of sight, hoping that he'd eventually wake up.
On the third day, something different happened. This time, he saw someone enter the space and make themselves comfortable on the stretch of sand. Someone with something edible.
For the first little while, he barely moved. Just watched, examined, before deciding to take a closer look. He didn't come back to the water's surface yet, his movements slow and nervous as he tried to keep himself as concealed as he could. When he eventually did peek his head above the water, he was careful to try and stay hidden between two rocks; much, much closer than he'd been before, and hopefully still unseen.
Not that he had many places to duck back into if he was caught. Maybe they'd get bored and leave, maybe they'd leave the pastry behind? He didn't want to risk approaching them for it, despite his stomach's protests.
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Even as he caught the first flickers of something darker moving underneath the surface, quickly switching between what hiding spots there were available, Adisa reminded himself of that. It might be a Pet, but it wasn't a trained one. He kept his sight on the colourful school of fish darting in the shallower water while he ate the pastry - couldn't, however, help a slight twitch of one long ear when a head slowly and carefully broke the surface, partially hidden between two rocks.
Don't otherwise react.
Instead he kept his eyes on the fish, throwing a few crumbs that had fallen into his lap in their direction, and, without watching, picked up a second pastry from the basket, putting it on his knee.
Nowhere close to being available to the Pet, unless he came close enough to snatch it, but it should be obvious there was more food than just the one pastry he was eating.
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Submerging himself once more, he swam closer, staying underwater as he tried to work out which would be better to try and grab for; the basket or the lone pastry. Probably the latter, though the entire basket did get some consideration.
In one very messy but very quick movement, Levy had pushed himself out of the water long enough to grab the pastry off of Adisa's knee. It was probably already soaked, but that didn't matter much; as long as he got it, it was a win.
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And, quick reflexes Adisa might have, but they were not quite that quick. Not when he got startled, busy with jerking back as he was sprayed with water.
"Ah, curse it!" Ugh. He wasn't soaked by any means, but he was wetter than he'd planned to be today. Throwing a look out across the surface, he frowned. He needed to revise his strategy.
"That thing's wet now, you know!"
There'd been some comments that had indicated the Mer hadn't reacted to the voices around him, but whether that meant he was just ignoring everybody or something else, was hard to know. He was inclined to think the first, for now at least.
The next pastry, decorated with surface-grown strawberries, he kept in his hand. And pushed the basket behind him, to make sure it'd be harder to reach.
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It was a little wet, but mostly fine - not that he really cared. The Elf was eating it, so this he knew had to be fine, right? It smelled even stranger and better now that it was in his hands...
Sharp, serrated teeth had it ripped to shreds and demolished in seconds, and soon enough he was peering back around at the Elf, yellow eyes narrowing when he realised that the basket with the rest of the food had been moved further away. Being seen was no longer a concern for him now; no, that damn basket was his new focus now.
That failing, he could just eat the other fish. But now that he'd tried food from the surface, that suddenly had far more appeal.
After a few seconds more thought, he warily swam back to the beach, pushing just his head out of the water at first, eyes flitting between Adisa and what he could see of the basket behind him.
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But no; he kept his spot, turning away somewhat to study the moss that grew on the rocks lining the top edge of the aquarium when Levy looked back at him. It was easy to see the moment when the Pet noticed that he'd moved the basket, and he almost smirked at the narrowed eyes. Patience.
And of course Levy could decide to eat what was in the aquarium (though hopefully he'd mostly keep to the food the caretakers would come with, because Adisa would very much like the aquarium to remain stocked with fish and not lose them all to the Mer now inhabiting it), but... it seemed he was interested enough in the food he'd brought to come swimming back.
Watching him from the corner of his vision and keeping his amusement over the way the bright eyes flicked between him and the basket he'd moved, Adisa brushed some of the hair falling along the side of his face over a shoulder, and carefully broke off a piece of the pastry he was eating.
"Would you like some more?" He held out the piece, even generous (calculating) enough to sacrifice one of the strawberries for this, and, after a beat or two, tossed it in Levy's direction. He wasn't foolish - he'd seen those sharp teeth, and while hand feeding was an idea, not one he would chance until the Pet was more settled and trained.
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The Elf said something then, but Levy didn't pay much attention to working out what. He kept his attention instead on the food in Adisa's hand, and was just as fast catching it when it was tossed in his direction as he had been only moments before.
This time he stayed closer to the beach, still wary of the Elf but also fascinated by the strawberry; this was different to the pastry, firm, juicy when he bit into it-
And sweet. Totally unlike anything he'd had before, and now something he needed to try again. The rest of it disappeared in the next second, his stomach relieved to finally not be empty but also urging him to get more. Somehow.
He could ask for more, one way or another. He didn't want to be here, didn't want to have to interact with the person who took him from his home and his family, but he needed to eat. So this time when he returned to the edge where the water lapped and the sand began, he purposefully held out one hand, palm up. Asking, demanding - expression suspicious but also flickering with more nerve than he had before.
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"Hungry, hm?" Adisa said, head cocked, as he reached back into the basket and drew out a round, sugar-dusted thing. It'd be filled either with some sort of jam or flavoured cream. "I know they've fed you..."
But be that as it may, he handed over the pastry puff, making sure to move slowly and keeping an eye on any possible reaction, while finishing the strawberry pastry himself. He wasn't quite generous enough to give up the whole of it.
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Why he'd been given it he wasn't sure; as far as he knew, the Elf was the reason he was here, the one who'd had the nets cast that day to catch, if not him, another of his kind. So why did he want to keep him here? What was the point? The idea of being a pet wasn't a familiar one to him, nor had the notion of being 'trained' crossed his mind.
Whatever was happening here, Levy was liking this particular part well enough. Ripping the pastry clean in half, he eats half in record time, practically without tasting it. The other half he inspects, already having decided he likes this almost as much as the first one but wanting to know what filled the centre, what it was made of, why he'd brought so many in the first place. Maybe this was an apology?
No...no, it didn't feel like that.
Glancing back at Adisa as he chewed thoughtfully, he wondered if there was a way they could communicate, a way for him to ask to be taken home.
Or if there was a way he could distract Adisa long enough too push himself out of the water and grab the basket into his keeping. It wasn't as if the Elf couldn't have it back. It'd just be decidedly more empty is all.
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Well, he was eating now, which was a relief, even if pastries certainly weren't that nutritious a breakfast... But you had to indulge sometimes, didn't you? Especially when, if not charming the Mer, he was at least gaining some sort of initial ground to work from.
"I assume it's to your liking, so far." Quirking an eyebrow, he reached behind him and took out another puff, this one for himself - and maybe it was as easy as that, the Pet not trusting the food he'd been given because he didn't know if it was safe. It was a wild-caught Mer, after all, not a properly raised and trained one. It was enough to almost make him sigh in annoyance, though he could admit to some pleasure in having managed even this much. "And probably rather different than what you usually eat."
Now, whether he was being understood or not he wasn't sure, he'd not seen any sign one way or another. That could be worked on, and for now, he didn't exactly mind - he was well used to listen to himself being the only one to make noise, even if that was usually singing.
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Either way, he'd plan for the worst case scenario; that half that he'd yet to practically swallow whole he held in his teeth as he disappeared amidst the rocks, where he proceeded to hide it away. Out of the water, of course - but somewhere he knew he could find it later. Just in case it was the last of the offerings for a while.
Hauling himself up onto the rock, he peered over the top of it, knowing he didn't need to conceal himself but still regarding Adisa with suspicion. He wanted to know why he was here; when he was going to let him go, if he was at all.
That wasn't an idea he liked so much. This environment was...adequate. Maybe. For someone smaller than him. But it wasn't the open ocean, and Levy was only going to get bigger. Practicality aside...who would he talk to now, if he wasn't released back? He hadn't considered that really until now. What if he'd been brought here with no intention of being taken back?
When he next dipped out of sight, he headed back under the water, not intending to resurface, not today at any rate. He had the now very real possibility of being trapped here to wrap his head around.
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When he dove under and didn't resurface, at least not immediately, Adisa took a book from the basket and settled down the read, at least for a while. He finished the pastries he'd brought for himself, which meant there was a number more left... and while he didn't leave them all when he got up an hour later, he did leave a few on the cloth that had covered the basket's bottom and put it near the edge of the beach.
It would have to do for today... honestly, despite some vague annoyance that he hadn't had a better result, if he was realistic about things, it'd probably gone better than he could've hoped for. He could just as well have been yanked in. Or gotten a few scratches when he handed the pastry puff over.
It could have been worse.
He didn't let it go three days until the next visit - no, he came at the same time the next day, another basket with him. Fruit, this time, not pastries, and while the fruit was mostly grown here underground and thus lacking that particular taste sun-ripened fruit got, they certainly weren't bad, either.
Settling in the same spot and this time taking out a platter and uncovered it to reveal cut up pieces of fruit, Adisa frowned out over the still surface. He hadn't seen anything when he'd passed the glass wall, but of course the Pet was still in there. He'd just have to wait... and eat his breakfast.
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Needless to say, the pastries didn't survive to see the following morning.
As always, Levy kept to the shadows and out of sight as much as he could; if Adisa was the person who'd brought him here, he didn't want to particularly see him anymore than he had to. If more people entered the home and tried to peer in and spot him, he didn't know about it. He kept to himself, spending a lot of his time alone with his thoughts. He missed his family. He missed the space and the exploration the ocean offered, he missed hunting.
What would happen if he tried to break the clear walls that kept him contained here..? He could certainly try; his tail was powerful and heavy, the hooks sharp...maybe if he did that, they'd be forced to let him go?
Or they'd kill him. But really, if this was where he was destined to stay, maybe that wouldn't be so bad. After only four days he was starting to get cabin fever. When he thought about being here a month from now, six months, a year...it made his chest hurt, made panic drip into his gut.
Perhaps that was why he was still drawn to Adisa when he came and sat on the beach like he had the day before. It was something to do, a break from the tedium. This time when he pushed his head above the surface, he was less secretive about being seen, more curious about what the basket held this time. Not the same as yesterday, evidently.
Swimming up to the edge, still with several feet between them, Levy examined the platter of fruit from the little distance, eyes narrowing when he caught Adisa's eye.
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He didn't bother to smile, or do much of anything this time, just watched - and remembering the hooks on the tail and the very sharp teeth, wondered if it wouldn't be worth it to switch to live food for anything that wasn't cooked or prepared from the 'surface' (surface to the Pet, anyway). Again, Adisa thought while suppressing a sigh, if his aunt had at least gotten him a bred and trained Pet, worrying about live feedings and trying to start from this level wouldn't have been something he'd have to think about.
But, he was starting to get attached to the fierce beauty of the Mer, so after a huffed exhale that he told himself was not a sigh, he picked up a quince slice and held it out.
"Would you like to try this?"
He still didn't know if the Pet simply didn't understand any spoken language, was ignoring anything he said (on some level, not surprising if so), or there was another reason for lack of response in this area, but until he knew, he'd at least continue to try.
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Should he try talking to him..? He didn't particularly want to, but he was starting to go crazy having no one to communicate with. He was well aware that Adisa wouldn't understand him - the sign language his kind used was different to Human signing. He had no idea what Elvish signing looked like - but it'd be something. An attempt.
Gesturing to either ear simultaneously, he followed it with a sharp, cutting motion to either side. To him, it meant 'cannot hear' or 'no hearing', but he didn't know how the Elf across from him might interpret it.
He didn't stop long to check though; once he'd said it, he grabbed the offered food from Adisa's hand, and put it through the same inspections he did the pastries the day before, licking this thoughtfully before trying to eat it whole.
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"Ah---" twitching his hand closed in surprised reaction at the quick grab, he rubbed his fingertips against his palm, watching Levy first inspect the the piece and then attempt to shove it whole into his mouth. He couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You may want to try and bite a piece. And chew, perhaps, as well."
Even if it was now clear the Pet was deaf (and, again, something that could've been avoided), and talking to him was thus quite useless, he at least knew why Levy hadn't tried talking, so far. The question was how to overcome it. Teaching the Mer Elvish sign language was a possibility of course, and there were other methods to assist in communication, too... But he could admit to being curious to learn something no one else (above water, anyway, even if they were technically underwater) knew.
Frowning as he thought about it, he picked up pieces of a chopped-up pineapple ring, one after the other. This wouldn't have an immediate solution, but... there was at least an easy (or, easier) point to start. Well, hopefully give a start. He'd been wondering about what to do about a name, but a wild-caught Pet would have one already - maybe he'd be willing to share?
So after chewing (hah) on that, Adisa picked up a few pieces of orange, but didn't hold them out. Instead he waited for the Mer to be finished with the piece of quince and then pointed to him, cocking his head in what he hoped was an obvious question.
sorry for the delay!
After rather unceremoniously finishing the slice in practically one mouthful, Levy turned back to Adisa, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand as he watched him point, noting his expression. Asking...if he wanted more? Or if he wanted whatever he was holding?
And so, after a long moment's hesitation, he replied to - and really spoke to - the Elf for the first time; pointing to himself, he then tapped his left palm with his right hand three times, before pointing to the orange pieces and bringing his fist in towards himself.
I want more. I want that.
No worries! Whenever you can c:
"Ah. These?" Opening his hand he showed the orange pieces and nodded slowly. Honestly, he'd intended to try and use them as a reward if he could make the Pet tell him his name, but until he could reliably ask for it, it might have to wait. Which was quite annoying, but... he'd simply have to think about it. "All right."
Another nod, and this time he also held out his hand in offering for Levy to come pick them up, no matter that this was kind of frustrating. Be patient. That's what he had to tell himself, and what he clearly would have to try to be, for now. At least until he could figure out a better way to ask what he wanted to know.
It really wasn't what he wanted. Just because he could be patient didn't mean he liked it. (Which was probably at least a little visible on Adisa's face, no matter how much he was trying to come across as patiently open.)
bless u
Well. If Levy knew the strange orange fruit was intended as a reward, like he was a pet? Like he belonged here?
This would be going very differently.
The sharp, citrus taste of these pieces took him by surprise, but he still finished them all the same. Only this time, he didn't wait to be passed something else. This time he pushed his upper half right out of the water, supporting himself on his left arm while his right reached for the entire platter, trying to drag it closer or into the water entirely.
Is he trying to get a reaction out of the Elf? Definitely. Did he purposefully try and get as much water as he could on Adisa in the process?
Quite possibly.
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"Was that entirely necessary?!" Adisa growled, a few white strands plastered to his face while large swathes of fabric was now generously wet, if not completely soaked. A little flushed in annoyed anger - he knew they were still making sure the Mer was being fed, and there would be a switch to live prey in a day or two, as soon as could be arranged, so there was no reason to go yanking the whole platter away.
Not that there wasn't another, smaller, one in the basket (there was even a bowl of sweetened cream to go with it), but that was hardly the point. Not that he tried to yank the platter back as he stared the Pet in those bright eyesm his own narrowed, but he made sure the platter stayed where it was as he picked up another piece of fruit with his free hand, sleeve dripping with saltwater, and held it out.
"Here."
I'm sorry Adisa he's a little shit when he's bored
And Adisa's reaction does indeed entertain him. Slipping back into the water with another splash, Levy just smirked back when he resurfaced a second later and caught the narrow-eyed staring. Hey, if he was going to be kept here, he was going to have fun if and when he could.
Reaching out, he took the offered piece and ate it in one, hesitated, and then reached out again. This time, it was to take hold of the soaked fabric of Adisa's sleeve, with not much thought going into how hard he tugged on it.
This was another thing he didn't understand about the surface; clothing. Why bother with it? Why did everyone's look so different, what did it feel like? The latter at least he could start to find out now, with curious fingers rubbing the material and trying to liken it to anything familiar to him.
Adisa will survive even if he didn't quite ask for this xD
at least he's not in the water? yet??
I feel like that "yet" is the key here, somehow
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