Twenty-Two

When their Executive Aircar landed, the waiting droids immediately secured the perimeter, Iason in his blue the very image of the Tanaguran Aristocracy, who next assisted his curiously hooded prince out, Riki further hidden beneath the long cape that the Blondie had made him wear.

"I don't get why I have to go in like this," asked the Pet, knowing that the elites of Eos must have certainly seen him countless times already. He wasn't really one of a wallflower ever since no matter how hated he had been, or how aloof and apart he had decided himself to be.

"Well aren't you going to be making a Coming Out of sorts in the Pet Auction? I don't want to spoil that," which also meant the Blondie most certainly wanted to show him off there…that's why he'd gone through all the trouble.

Riki could only grunt, having always had a pet peeve for these dubbed Coming Outs, remembering the trauma of his second return where he'd been humiliated then skewered alive by the Blondie's hard dick after all the wretched festivities had done. "Asshole."

Iason laughed. "It won't be like how you'd remember it," he assured him. "I promise, my love."

--

So the reunion was not really one he appreciated but was inexorable, Raoul, being the only other Man besides Katze - naturally - that Iason trusted with his life and, now, that of his Pet's. Riki still eyed him with such suspicion however, though that had been certainly expected, as the Blondie appeared, the door of the lab sliding open for him and automatically sealing him in where the Exclusive was waiting naked the waist up.

There was a thick leery feeling in the air, palpable enough that one can run a las-knife down and cut it, as Riki felt nothing but abhorrence, the thought of being in the same space with the other not exactly the mongrel's cup of tea, for obvious reasons…

' Don't get me started, ' the Pet thought to himself as the other's blue eyes washed over him.

He just didn't like Raoul. He didn't like all the other Blondies. As if Iason had not been enough, they made his life in Eos, one way or another, into one great Sheol of difficulty, superstition and doubt.

The Biochemist could perhaps count the times he's had a direct encounter with the Pet, some not having any actual conversation, some, like after the incident with Mimea and after Riki's awakening when the other thrashed and fought him, only marked by definite conflict, the root perhaps having to do with him, Raoul's, obvious opposition to Riki's being at first, though right now one can say that he is his Neu-Jupiter's biggest support.

"Pet."

"Raoul."

The Blondie had always had the firsthand privilege of watching the Pet's development, albeit behind a monitor screen most of the time, the evolution of him from being the simple thrash mongrel that he was to the Exclusive that he is now. Riki had always been a shock in the System, the Achilles that toppled even the pivot of Tanagura and challenged as like a stigma the norm, an evil presence the sort that could shatter the stereotypical mold as easily as he could make one of his own. Just like Iason, he ran his own way, and because of him, Iason broke all the rules. But then it was also because of him that his friend was able to return.

"I can tell by your apparent distaste that you do not really like to see me."

When had it been never? The Blondie got onto Riki's nerves as easily as Kirie had once tested his patience. Something about Raoul was off and was still a cause for the Pet's doubts.

"I can say the same of you."

Yes, it was a mutual feeling wasn't it? Raoul surprisingly smiled. At least they did not have to be hypocritical about it, what Iason said that he loved this one, something he still could not understand.

"Yes. But then whatever opinion I have is not to be an issue here, for fact, is out of the question. Because although I don't entirely agree, as all elites, we know how important you are now, thus we of course have accepted defeat."

There. He stated a fact. At least this would perhaps make the next few hours civil between them both, enough that Raoul could actually work. He gave Iason his word that he would tolerate Riki to a certain maximum extent, bearing in mind the other's covenant as an Exclusive.

To Riki, Raoul was the polar opposite of Katze to a degree. And by how much he appreciated the latter, that's by how much he detested the former, though he was glad that at least now things were a bit clear between how they truly saw each other. Blondies can be complicated when it came to expressing their genuine emotions, choosing to be automatically cold as if that's that. Though he did want to clarify something further with Raoul.

"I didn't start a war with you enough that you have to admit any form of defeat," said Riki. "I didn't even ask for this to begin with."

True enough. It was Iason who took the mongrel in by force, and, although Raoul could only perhaps think in terms of theories, was the reason that Riki is alive now and perfected. Who else could have accepted Jupiter's proposition but Jupiter's favourite 'son' who turned out to be the biggest prodigal in the bunch? He sighed.

"Don't think me cruel Riki," Raoul did not want to debate with anyone whose belief was heaven and earth in opposition to his; whose opinions could not be swayed even if he was struck dead on the spot. "I don't want to start an argument with you."

All the Blondie wanted now was to likewise understand as much as Riki wanted to understand his situation. That aside, the sooner they proceed with the purpose why they're here, the sooner all questions will be brought to light.

The Pet seemed to be in agreement as he turned away, crossing his arms over his bare chest. Marked by Iason's persistence, honed by the tumultuous years they spent together, he had become a total beauty - all of them knew this to be true, but only Iason could admit to.

The rest of them were secretly afraid that Riki would have that same effect on them as he had with the heir, though yes it had already begun that they were easily seeing it now, the more they spent time with him, just how appealing he was. Unnatural as even manufactured pets didn't and couldn't develop these 'unforced' qualities. He was the plaything who would fight back, given an opening, a natural pedigree that came with the planet.

"Bring it then. We both don't have all day, do we?" Riki turned back to him with a challenge.

"Impatient aren't we? Your branding of course follows the check-up, and it might sting a bit."

He's received even harsher consideration from Raoul in the past; what more is there to appall him here?

"Whatever..."

Riki looked away again. He seemed to have something else running in his head, but Raoul wasn't the one he would definitely want to talk about it with. His obsidian eyes misted over with a confusion he didn't try to disguise. These were very lovely eyes.

The Biochemist smiled again, secretly this time. He reconsidered what many had believed, even Iason, before: the Pet had a lot of endearing qualities, just rough along the edges like they are supposed to be he guessed, bred into him by Ceres, the world he'd risen from.

But wait. What was he saying? Why was he imagining such nonsense?

Riki seemed to notice that and grimaced when the Blondie all but looked at him. Raoul stopped himself from thinking about that. This was disastrous. To see Riki as something more would be a catastrophe waiting to happen.

"All right then. Lie down and keep still, Pet," ordered the other suddenly, voice taking on that cold. "Let me do my job..."

--

It had been late when the implanting of the new ID was over, Riki now marked with the emblem of Neu-Jupiter, a rather lovely coat of honour supposedly, tattooed just at the base of his very spine.

As opposed to what Raoul promised, it was painless, the Pet still able to walk quietly up the even quieter corridor away from the Blondie's personal lab, Raoul likewise there and escorting him but was trailing a bit behind, which was okay, since right now, he didn't want to speak with him. In truth, he wanted to be alone, keeping his head down, his hood low, as a testament to his want for some solitude.

After this afternoon's revelations, he was all too exhausted of the Biochemist's presence, just perhaps in need of peace to let all the facts he'd been told settle in. Furthermore, what he also needed most was his Master…

From where he'd turned to head towards Jupiter's Tower, the meeting having been steered to a lower vault there at the moment with Aisha leading the Council, no longer waiting for the other Blondie to take him to his lover, Riki was glad to see that Coincidence had taken his side, when unforeseeably, he had caught up with a parade involving the Blondies, the said Council as they were now called, off to debate again regarding Tanagura's issues in private, with Iason walking in their midst in his distinctive blue robes.

The Blondie was a quiet presence in the sea of his own kind, his face alone surfacing into Riki's notice and blurring everyone else's even as the astonishing procession progressed, all the other elites stopping to note and pay their respects to the robed superiors. The Pet sighed. He just stood there and held his breath, not knowing how to proceed or how to get Iason's attention. Above that, he somehow felt confused, once more feeling a deep stab inside his chest in the familiar signs of depression.

What he'd found out was not really shocking, and he somehow braced himself for it enough that it would certainly not scar him for life, but then...then...he can't help but feel defeated at the moment.

Raoul had described them to be "Two of a Kind" - him and his Iason - which equates to the fact that they were alone in the world now too. How does the latter feel about that? Sure enough, as Riki figured, he knew of it already before this appointment was made…

The System flickered.

Iason stopped before the fluctuations, for the others present now a sign of disturbance, but for him was an indication and extension of his Pet's emotions. And true enough, when he scanned the area, he'd found Riki there, at the topmost part of the grand staircase this part of the building, just looking at him with that fallen expression on his face under his covering robes.

Neu-Jupiter paused, returning the glance, prompting the rest of his entourage to stop and observe as they'd likewise found him in silence, seemingly trying to figure what was being communicated between Master and Pet. The two had looked at each other too quietly that even the other elites present held their breaths.

"Anything wrong Pet?" Iason asked, and despite the apparent distance and the inaudibility of it, the Pet shook his head with a frown far off, hearing that clearly still it appeared.

Raoul had surfaced behind Riki, and was surprised to find the scene unfolding, following to where the Exclusive was staring only to meet up with Iason's own gaze.

Neu-Jupiter pried, "Then what's the matter?" as glances passed from him to the Pet, anticipation obvious from the curious crowd.

To the surprise of all those present, Riki did something dumbfounding, displaying a capability particular only to the Exclusive of the god of Tanagura.

He ran to Iason, but not simply by his legs but by his wings had he sped, too fast that no one was able to follow until some manner of wind just blasted past them and next they'd found Riki in Iason's open embrace, the Master gently enfolding his Pet as if he'd expected that.

Iason was the only one perhaps, based on the confused looks on his brothers' faces, even Raoul who was now realizing he'd been left alone on the steps, that Riki had all but flew into his arms, unfurling his wings and using them to catapult him through the venerable retinue where he picked his way easily between, folding them back to streamline his movements and then withdrawing them at the last minute to land straight into his Master's hold.

Very smart and very impressive...How many times had his Exclusive been practicing this little trick and saving it for the occasion?

"What just happened?" the Blondies were asking each other, baffled, unable to guess what had taken place in those split seconds.

The only traces of it were a few fallen sable feathers scattered on the carpet, and the obvious displacement of the Pet who now plastered himself to his Master with utter credence.

Riki simply buried his face into those robes, inhaling the familiar scent of his beloved, arms draping loosely around the Blondie's waist though the hands clasped needily. He would stay here and stubbornly refused to be told otherwise, his emotions making the System respond, the lights flickering as an indication.

"What's the matter?" Neu-Jupiter again repeated, this time running his hands to soothe the tension upon Riki's shoulders. "Did it not go well with Raoul?"

Actually, everything had gone perfectly, the check-up and the branding, Jupiter's Mark now an evident part of Riki's anatomy beneath his hooded robes, like some work-of-art made by laser and machinery unto his skin. It was a splendid distinction, better than the holy seal of Tanagura although there was little distinction between the two now: they both meant Neu-Jupiter.

The System continued to fluctuate. The rest of the Council look on in concern as the Pet seemed to be making Tanagura lose its control again. At this rate, there would be trouble in the framework. It was quite easy for the mongrel to do that now.

"Iason…" Aisha began but Neu-Jupiter gestured for silence. He waited for Riki.

"I missed you, is all," the Pet muttered, his Master the only one to hear that, though afterwards, he'd lifted his face to show the Blondie that this was the truth.

Yet his obsidian eyes held that certain sadness which obviously enough was affecting the System, though after a few, Riki has taken a hold of it, unconsciously or otherwise, knowing well now how it was done, and only the subtlest of tremors beneath the System surface remained to be felt.

Iason still figured though that it was time for a bit of preventive maintenance.

"Come with me then," he meant that as an invitation, Riki's willingness an answer to both the question of leaving and to the relief of a proceeding quickie the Blondie had in mind. Some comfort, and the Pet was just dying to receive it.

Even before the others could stop him, Iason had urged his Pet a different direction with a swish of his robes towards his Tower, their Tower. Aisha asked Raoul when he'd joined their Class, "Do we even need to stop them?"

The other Blondie just shook his head in response.