doggone

[repeatedprayer]

[In the time following his departure from Tabito and Manabu's company, the alias "Grey" has wound up sticking.

Not that everyone calls him that, he's used a few other aliases since then, but it's what he's wound up thinking of himself as. If Grey had taken the time to think about it a bit more he might have picked something with a little less connection to Rezo's name, but it's still leagues better than thinking of himself as "Rez- wait, no, just a copy." And maybe that's why he's felt significantly calmer since he left Sairaag.

By his own standards, Grey has been laudably well-behaved; sure, he's been mostly doing under-the-table psychic work, often on behalf of criminals, but! He's been trying to keep a low profile so it's usually things like clairvoyant spying rather than anything violent, and he's been making a point of not doing anything that directly impacts the galaxy railways.

It would be extremely awkward if Manabu Yuuki had to try and arrest him, after all.

He's found himself frequently thinking about Manabu, much to his annoyance. He has no serious expectations of ever seeing Manabu again, so it's simply a waste of mental bandwidth to find himself wondering what Manabu is doing right now or where he is, or to reminisince over their incredibly brief acquaintanceship. Grey can only suppose that because Manabu was the first reasonably normal person he got to know after leaving Sairaag that Manabu is going to stick out in his mind for a while.

And it's probably because of the real estate that Manabu is hogging in Grey's mind that he's been very aware of every mention of the SDF that crosses his path. He hasn't exactly been tracking the SDF's activities deliberately, but he does pay attention to the news and the SDF frequently winds up in there, even if Manabu's name in particular isn't normally dropped.

Until the day it does.

SDF Officer Taken Hostage By Pirates]

* * *

[It's taken several weeks of investigating, but Grey has been able to track down The Huntress's client, a Dr. Parish and associates. It must be a small galaxy, because Dr. Parish is someone Grey knows. Sort of.

Rather, Dr. Parish was a colleague of Rezo's who collaborated with the man on chimera research (and other unsavory things) in the past. Not only that, the man was an ardent admirer of Rezo's superior psychic prowess, and desperate to improve his own meager abilities.

He'd had quite a shock when Grey approached him in town, but after the initial surprise it had been sickeningly easy to convince Dr. Parish that he was the real Rezo. Grey can only surmise that the man wants to believe too badly to let himself be properly suspicious. It had only taken a day for Grey to be invited to tour Parish's laboratory.

The lab's located on the grounds of a former Marquess's estate, a ways out of town and secluded by trees, a high wall, and a long drive. Grey's done a little recon before, but actually being here is different, especially since he has to navigate by cane at the moment. Grey is doing his best to politely nod and smile as Parish guides him from room to room, explaining their work and occasionally handing him things to examine himself.

But evidently Parish realizes that "Rezo" isn't entirely interested, because he stops partway through an explanation of some stem cell experiments he and a few others have been working on to say "Of course, the really interesting specimens are kept in the basement floor."

Grey already knows this. He hopes his expression seems the right sort of eager.]

Interesting?

["Something along the lines of what we did in the past. Would you like to see them?"]

Nothing would please me more.

[Grey can practically hear Parish's delighted grin. To soothe the surge of irritation, Grey reminds himself that he's going to kill this man before the end of the day and allows Parish to guide him out into the hall and to the basement entrance at the back of the building.]

Comments

[siriusly]

[Manabu's skin still feels tingly after-the-fact, his tail floofed up from the initial surprise. he peeks over his shoulder owlishly, ears perked.]

About the SDF...?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's gaze softens at Manabu's look. It's a relief that he's looking less mopey. Grey then turns to go retrieve the book in question.]

Right. I thought it might be easier if it were a subject you had some familiarity with, rather than a book about "girls getting married," as you put it.

[Once he's retrieved it from the stack of entertainments, he holds it out for Manabu to examine. Most of the back is devoted to positive reviews, but there is a brief blurb about Officer Alexanderson of the Kapteyn Platoon (not a platoon that has ever existed in reality) facing off against a serial killer stalking the Galaxy Railways. (Possibly a thing that has occurred before because the Galaxy Railways is a wild place.)]

[siriusly]

[Manabu takes a few tentative steps away from the kitchen area toward Grey, stopping short when he turns around to offer the book.

tactile books...man, Grey's not handled one since, what, the historical museum back on Tabito? also with Grey. he hums curiously as he considers the cover and the back. well, it's not an official manual or account, that's for sure...there's no official insignias!]

Someone just...wrote up a story about the SDF, huh. [guess that's not so strange; there's been TV shows before, too.] Hopefully it's not completely cheesy. [or made up.]

[repeatedprayer]

Some people will write about anything.

[Even something as strange and uninteresting as the SDF!

Grey's really not sure if even that'll be enough to keep Manabu's interest, but hopefully it'll keep Manabu from clawing at the walls for at least a few minutes.]

I also picked you up a hat and a rope to try on.

[Pause. That sounds weird.]

To tie your tail down with. We might as well see if it'll work before you actually need to go out.

[If it's too painful or leaves an undisguisable bulge in the back of Manabu's pants, they may need to think of something else.]

[siriusly]

[has Grey looked around? despite the long time away, he can see the walls are immaculate and unclawed. that's restraint. Manabu's a hero.

he blinks belatedly at the talk of the rope. tie the...oh.

right.]

...Makes sense. [it's a blunt reminder he's now a freak, but it still makes sense.

it better work, because he can't really imagine any alternatives beyond maybe wearing a skirt, and he is not secure enough in his masculinity for that one.]

[repeatedprayer]

[And Grey would like to keep those walls immaculate, thank you!

Seeing as Manabu is resigned to the situation, Grey goes ahead and fetches the hat and cord, bringing them over to Manabu. The hat he hands over first- it's made of a nice, soft material.]

Here. Put this on while I get the rope out.

[Not weird at all!!!]

[siriusly]

[this is all very normal and not to be reflected on. Manabu considers the hat with a thoughtful frown. maybe if he had something like a captain's cap...he'd always dreamed of wearing one of those!

ah, well.

it feels a little weird once fitted properly on his head amidst cowlicks and the ears, muffling sound a smidge. it smushes some of his hair into his eyes, which means a lot of fidgeting and adjustment to push it all out of the way.]

This should work okay...

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey fetches the kitchen scissors while Manabu finangles with hair and ears and hat, and soon has the rope free and coiled around one hand. Afterwards he gives Manabu's head a long look, walking around Manabu in a half circle.]

You might want to give it a look in the mirror later, but I think it looks fine.

[It's a little bit lumpy, but not so severe that it looks like Manabu's got anything other than hair under there. And the vast, vast majority of people are unlikely to pay it much mind.

Grey fiddles a bit with the robe and starts to step behind Manabu.]

Now as for your tail-

[He glances at the appendage in question and abruptly remembers how things went the last time he grabbed Manabu's tail.

Grey opts to hold out the rope to Manabu instead.]

...Why don't you try tying it down yourself?

[siriusly]

Er-- [right.

yeah.

he clears his throat, reaching and grabbing at his errantly-swaying tail in his hands.]

How about I just hold it down? And you loop that once around until I can free up my hands.

[repeatedprayer]

Alright. Let's try that.

[Grey glances down. Kneeling directly behind or in front of Manabu feels risky, so he opts to crouch beside Manabu's leg instead. He takes one end of the rope, and begins to wrap it around Manabu's thigh, and thread it between his legs.]

Could you spread your... Just enough to get this through?

[Why this. Why him. Why them.]

[siriusly]

[a sassier person could rib Grey about how much his hands have been all over him. as it stands, Manabu's just embarrassed, awkwardly shifting his posture to accommodate the move while clutching at his bristling, tingling tail.]

Uh, just...just hold it loose a sec-- [so he can shove said tail through the loop.] And pull it tight?

[repeatedprayer]

[Never has Grey had more reason to appreciate that Manabu's not a particularly sassy person, let's be real.

Grey himself doesn't try to sass or tease, following Manabu's directions in as business-like a manner as possible. He sidles partway to the front of Manabu so that Manabu will be able to grab both ends of the rope when he's done, and as Manabu asks...]

Like this?

[...He pulls that rope tight, so that the tail will hopefully be pinned against Manabu's leg.]

[siriusly]

Gih-- [the twinge is uncomfortable, but brief - like hitting his elbow on something. the tip of his tail twitches in protest, but can't really do much else even after Manabu takes the remaining cord from Grey.]

It doesn't feel great, but... [it's like tying an arm to himself.] But it should work out? Hopefully?

[boy his balance game is going to be so off.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey gets to his feet, visibly relieved that they've managed this without too much humiliation involved.

Well, not too much for Grey, anyway. He watches Manabu finish tying off the tail, then suggests:]

How does it feel when you walk around?

[siriusly]

Good point...

[he wraps the remaining cord around and ties a loose double knot before straightening, closing his eyes before turning his head to look forward.

after a bracing breath:] ...Okay.

[he'll start walking. two steps in the vertigo hits and, without the tail for balance, the wobble is substantial.] Uoh--

[repeatedprayer]

[The good(ish?) news for Manabu is that Grey is watching him very carefully the whole time, so there's no chance of Manabu actually faceplanting. As soon as Manabu starts wobbling Grey darts forward, wide-eyed, and wraps an arm around Manabu's torso.]

Easy, Manabu. Did you get dizzy again?

[...Kind of a "no shit" question, but hey.]

[siriusly]

[he sags against Grey after that catch, bringing a hand to his head.]

Y-yeah...sorry. It wasn't that bad all day, I swear. Maybe it's the ears? Or the tail... [or both?

either way, it's frustrating. isn't this backward progression?]

Dammit...

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey hums, staying still so that Manabu can keep leaning on him.]

I don't think covering your ears under that hat would be enough to affect you, but I've heard that many animals rely on their tails to aid in balance.

[Which may mean that Manabu has to start doing balance exercises with the tail bound.]

Once you've recovered from this dizzy spell, let's do some more physio.

[siriusly]

[he straightens up.] I'm fine now. [mostly. he's just impatient!]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey looks down at him, eyebrows raised.]

You certainly bounce back quick.

[Still, Manabu doesn't look too terrible, so Grey decides to take him at his word. He begins to help Manabu walk to the bed.]

Alright, we'll untie your tail and get started...

[siriusly]

[Manabu unties the tail, already feeling a bit less nauseous for it...and that feels strange to be relieved to let it swish free.

at least until physio.

a few minutes in:] I'm kind of amazed...you haven't gotten sick of having to walk me around, hold me up...[grab him? in his sleep???]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey happens to be holding up Manabu's head when the other man makes his observation, leaving Grey momentarily nonplussed as to how to respond.]

...Well it isn't as if you're heavy.

[Grey would rather chew his own leg off than admit to it, but he actually quite likes touching Manabu. Even apart from the fact he's lusting after the unfortunate man, there's just something pleasant about Manabu that makes physical contact soothing.]

What brings this on? Do you find it bothersome?

[He slightly regrets asking immediately after he does so, because he suspects the answer is "yes," at least, in that Manabu clearly finds it embarrassing.]

[siriusly]

N-no, not-! Erh-- [turned his head too fast. give him a second.]

I mean! I don't like feeling like dead weight, obviously, I just meant--I figured it was bothersome for you, you know?

[repeatedprayer]

[Absently:]

Slower, Manabu.

[The copy sort of takes his own advice, taking a little time to consider his actual response. They've already had similar exchanges, so rather than directly deny it, Grey opts to give Manabu another question.]

Do I seem bothered to you?

[siriusly]

Er... [...]

No...I guess not. [which is weird, right?] But I guess that means...throwing out all that stuff about, uh, not...not wanting to have anything to do with me. After this, I mean. Right? [he peeks out the corner of his eye after turning his head, peeping past some stray hair.]