ATH Not-So-Temporary Thread

[Lady Mimicry]

"Nevin," Koga called, "wait!" He almost followed, but hesitated. Hell, what did it matter? He wasn't so hairy anymore, big deal? Kicking off his sandals, Koga ran after Nevin, hoping to catch him before he'd gotten too far.  

[Felixitous]

Of course, Nevin discovered that running on two legs was much more difficult, and tripped and fell in the street. He inhaled sharply and grabbed at a skinned part of his arm, then tried to get up again.

Dammit. He preferred being a dog.  

[Lady Mimicry]

Falling unexpectedly resulted in Koga tripping over him. He tumbled, but quickly righted himself. "s**t, are you okay?" Without wait for an answer, he tackled Nevin, knocking them both over.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was just...caught off guard. Please don't leave, I'd miss you too much." It was true. He couldn't imagine going back to his dingy little apartment without him. It'd be too weird, too lonely. Well, he'd have the milkman, but who the hell would want that?  

[Felixitous]

Nevin recoiled, trying to pull away. "No, you'll just end up hating me. It always happens. I shouldn't be this way, ever. It makes everyone hate me." He suddenly remembered when his father had bargained him away, how his mother had said, "It's for the best." He knew they would only rush into each other's arms once he was gone and try to create a new child, a better child. He pulled his knees to his chest. "Go away, please." Then, he whimpered, "It'll hurt less that way."  

[Lady Mimicry]

"No," Koga whined, "if I lose you, who'll I talk to? The milkman? Forget that. I wouldn't have anybody to cuddle up with beside the fire. It'll only hurt more if you leave..."  

[Felixitous]

Nevin looked up at him shyly. "But it'll be weird now. You won't be able to look at me the same way again. You'll know I'm not...whatever." He didn't even know what he was to begin with, let alone what he pretended to be. A dog? A man? A monster?

He was terrified of what Koga might think of him. Trigger already couldn't recognize him, and they'd been together almost their whole lives. He remembered being in love with her at first, dreaming of the day when they might marry--

But he'd never had the courage to show his real face. Then again, he was both. Which was real any more? He rarely used this one. He didn't even really know what he looked like.

Oh no--what if he was ugly? Koga surely couldn't like him then.  

[Lady Mimicry]

Koga shrugged, drawing small doodles into the dirt. "It doesn't matter right now," he mumbled, "we'll work something out." Smiling, Koga added, "I'll have to buy you a bed, atleast."

Clothes, toiletries. He wouldn't have a pet anymore, he'd have a roommate. It didn't bother him at all though because he'd atleast have the company. "Lets go back to the beach."  

[Felixitous]

Nevin smiled and hugged him. He didn't know what to say. There were no words for how much he appreciated him and loved him--

It suddenly occurred to him that there was a distinct possibility that he could drive that damn milkman away for good.  

[Lady Mimicry]

Koga returned Nevin's hug, sighing happily. "So," he said, "do you wanna go back? To the beach? Or do you wanna do something really exciting? Like shopping?" He laughed, pulling Nevin to his feet.  

[Felixitous]

Nevin shrugged. "I...I dunno. I've never done either when I wasn't walking on four legs." He blushed and looked at him. "You decide?"  

[Lady Mimicry]

Taking Nevin's hand, Koga led him away from the beach. "I think I'll take you shopping, okay? You can't wear one set of clothes for the rest of your life." Looking him over, he added, "Besides, I think my clothes would be too long on you."

Elsewhere, Zero stepped from the parasol to find Trigger. "You alright?" He asked, knowing she'd been down lately about Nevin.

Taboo yawned, bookmarking her page and stretching across Logan's shoulder. "I love this series," she said, "but I can never finish a book in one sitting. Can you?"  

[Felixitous]

Nevin smiled and blushed. "'Kay." Despite the way it had started, today was turning out pretty well.


Trigger nodded, sighing. "Yeah. Just saw Nevin. He's...he's got a new home now. Also? He's human. Or humanoid." She sat down on her towel again and readjusted her bathing suit. "Whatever. He'll be happier there."


Logan nodded. "I read all the time, so I've gotten pretty fast." He liked that she liked the book. She'd been his muse, of sorts. It was good to know that all his time hadn't been wasted.  

[Lady Mimicry]

Several hundred dollars later, Nevin had himself a full wardrobe and they'd have someone delivering a bed later. As they approached Koga's apartment, he sighed, "Great. Guess who..."

"Logan, I'll be back." Opening the stitch at her stomach, she slipped the book inside for safe keeping. Then, sliding down Logan's arm, Taboo scurried towards Trigger. Now seemed like a good opportunity to ask for a big body. Maybe she'd say.

"Trigger," Taboo whined, "can I ask a favor?"  

[Felixitous]

On the way back, Nevin was mostly quiet. "I--thank you, but this is too much." He felt bad. He should have just gone home, or told Koga he could just stay as a dog so he didn't have to get anything extra, but it was hard to stop Koga once he got started.

As they approached the apartment, though, Nevin stopped looking so shy. He was going to do something this time. He wasn't going to let this continue.

Nevin, standing at 5'4" and weighing more than a petite man at 5'4" should, marched up to the milkman and glared at him.

"You. You aren't welcome. Leave."


Trigger looked at her, still looking a bit sad. "Yeah, you can ask. Doesn't mean I can do it, but if it's within reason, I'll try. What's up?"  

[Lady Mimicry]

"I'm not, am I?" The milkman asked, towering over Nevin. He'd never felt so tall before. Must've been that he wasn't in uniform.

"Who are you supposed to be?"

Thinking quickly, Koga said, "m-my boyfriend! I'm sorry if I've...lead you on or something, but we've been together for awhile and I-I'd feel really guilty if we kept this going..."

The milkman visibly shrunk. "So, it didn't mean anything?" Koga frowned and nodded, a blush creeping up his neck. "Afraid so."
***
Taboo shuffled her feet, leaving tiny indents in the sand. "Well," she began, "I want a body. Like Dietrich has, but with a face. I'd miss my little body, but I don't wanna be tiny anymore."