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Actually had the next one done first. It wasn't as long as I was expecting and it may end up sucking. But I think it's an important one.\n\nSorry, no sexy times... THIS time.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Yeah I wrestled hard with this one. Actually had the next one done first. It wasn't as long as I was expecting and it may end up sucking. But I think it's an important one.

Sorry, no sexy times... THIS time.", "writing": "Collared Chapter 40: Baht Mitzvah\n\nBy TerraMGP\n\n\t``I don't know why she picked these shoes.'' Gretchen shifted herself this way and that. The mostly stable three-inch heels on her dress shoes wobbled awkwardly into the asphalt of the parking lot. Every little step in them sent pain up her achilles tendon and straight to her lower back. Not to mention how the toes pinched her too-wide feet in on themselves.\n\n\t``Are you saying your Mistress picked wrong?'' Justin chuckled. Much as Gretchen hated to admit it, he cut a dapper figure. Her Master had pulled his hair back into a neat ponytail and was decked out in a blueish-grey suit jacket with a deep blue shirt and metallic copper striped tie. A mix of borrowed, Goodwill and Kohl's that was utterly the result of Mistress Hui's hard work. But he did wear it well.\n\n\tGretchen, meanwhile, did not. Grey faux-velvet with a gossamer neck wrap to match, cut into the most flattering shape her dumpy body could manage. The goddess of a red panda had spent far more time on the simple one-shoulder dress that hung shockingly comfortably on the chubby mole. But it was still awkward as hell to wear. Because deep down Gretchen knew it was just dressing up a dumpster fire.\n\n\t``Regardless of her talents, I just wish my family could get by without dressing up for these things.'' she sighed.\n\n\t``Well it is a big deal, right?'' Justin was quick to remind her.\n\n\tThe mole maiden nodded and looped one arm around his. The other did its best to carry the functionally useless handbag her Mistress had scored at Goodwill and apparently designed the whole outfit around. It was, theoretically, a better way to carry her phone than the hoodie pocket she usually used. But there wasn't space in the tiny thing for much else and it made no sense why anyone would rely on such a thing.\n\n\tIn fact none of this made sense. Sure she was family, but she wasn't living with her parents anymore. To not invite her when she was under the same roof would have been a slight against them. But now she had college. She was away. The rest of the family had an excuse to cut her out of these things. Sure it might `look bad'. But she already made them look bad, right? Why fuss over details like that?\n\n\t``Hey! You ok?'' Master's voice was... more calming than she cared to admit. Some small part of Gretchen still resented that it wasn't Mistress here. That she wasn't on Hui's arm. That she wasn't able to show off the adorkable little goddess of hers to her parents. Yet the feeling of Master's strong paw on hers. The way it stroked over her digger claws and her knuckles. The warmth of it, the tenderness. It was at least enough for her to realize how badly she was shaking.\n\n\tGretchen took a breath. Then another. A handful of deep calming gasps. She then paused to take a normal one and make sure she didn't have to dig her inhaler out of her little silly purse. Thankfully the integrity of her lungs was maintained. At least for now.\n\n\t``You sure you want to do this?'' Gretchen muttered. The words to herself as much as they were directed to him. ``I know we're already here. But if you're feeling anxious I can-'' A firm kiss silenced the words. A firm paw gripping the tip of her muzzle between thumb and fore knuckle. Cool blue eyes fixed on to hers.\n\n\t``We'll be fine.'' The otter all but cooed ``You are still mine, after all. We're not lying or anything. Just think of this as me claiming what's mine. Once your parents know you're spoken for then you can relax. Right?''\n\n\tShe wanted to say yes. In truth the best Gretchen could do was smile meekly and nod. ``Thank you, sir.'' She muttered. It was a surprise how gallant he was. Was gallant the right word? It was something the poor girl decided to contemplate after this nightmare. They just had to sit though the ceremony, give Cora the switch game Master had stuffed in his jacket pocket and then take off. A perfectly normal, simple, innocuous family interaction where contact with her parents could hopefully be minimized.\n\n\tThis was going to be a disaster.\n\n--------------------\n\n\tThe snack table was a funny thing. Any time a buffet table was set up at one of these events it seemed to carry the general tone of an events wealth and sophistication. For example, a fun Halloween party with a repurposed colander full of chips and dip offered up still in its container. One with cheap grocery store cookies and half the candy that was supposed to go to trick-or-treaters all laid out with cans of pop and solo cups.\n\n\tA smile crossed Gretchen's lips as she recalled it. The smile fading just a bit as she looked over the offering here. Kosher pigs-in-blankets and mini spanakopita. The trays laid out had things like lox, rye bread, mini sandwiches and other more `traditional' foods for the `grown ups`. But also rather exquisite sushi and fare meant to appeal more to the gathered kids.\n\n\tIt almost seemed unfair. Most of the functions her little cousin seen thus far in life would be more akin to this. Large spreads catered by teams of professionals. Beautiful and likely the result of very hard work. But somehow soulless. Or maybe it was just a bit of projection. She gazed at the table from her hidden little spot against the opposite wall of the event hall. Her Master had insisted he would get her some punch, but right now he was lost to her in the crowd, and again she felt alone. Stranded in a place she didn't belong. Fidgeting in fine sheer fabrics and her silky neck scarf while clutching her absurdly small handbag in those awkwardly over-large digger claws.\n\n\tShe didn't belong here. Granted, she didn't belong anywhere, but especially not a place like this. She knew the types of people here. Kids being pushed into following along as clones of their parents, surrounded by business acquaintances and people who largely hated each other outside of what they could `offer' each other. She could just imagine the talk of `altruism' and `utilitarianism' going on among the various middle aged men gathered. People seeking out her father for his philosophical take on how to rationalize their third trip abroad in a year while homeless people scrambled to either find reliable shelter or flee the state in the face of the coming winter.\n\n\tShe could see her uncle mixed in to the crowd. It was a rather sure thing the Asian man he was speaking to wasn't family. Maybe he was here with his kid. But then would Angie have any friends her parents didn't approve of? And would they approve of anyone they couldn't use later in some way?\n\n\t``Not here with your date, Digger?'' The words froze her in place. One of Gretchen's paws darted to where Justin's might have been. It grasped air. Two deep shuddering gasps and she turned. There, before her, a well groomed mole on the further end of middle age. Slightly portly with thick brown hair and neat downy fur. His massive digger claws were still perfectly manicured, lacking the cracks and worn points which might come from hard work.\n\n\t``He went to get some punch.'' She glanced around the room once more hoping to find where exactly Justin has vanished. \n\n\t``We were hoping to meet him.'' Another voice. A far less overweight mole woman in a dark suit jacket and light blue blouse put her paw on her husband's arm. Gretchen's mother wore that smile. That obnoxious smile Gretchen had watched her whole life. Not `fake'. But content in self-assurance and brokering no room for questions. Wendy Bergfeld took a few steps around her daughter and the eyes that matched the younger mole's so perfectly began to size the dress up. I'm going to guess he's pretty important if you dolled yourself up for him this much.''\n\n\t``I didn't- I was trying to look nice for Cora, mother.'' Gretchen did her best to keep her tone even and non-confrontational. God, she was out of practice with that.\n\n\t``Well I'm just happy to see you taking some more care about your appetence. Credentials are vital but you know you need to keep yourself presentable without help if you want to keep up in the professional world. It's like I always tell you-'' Soon the matron mole's words were blurring into each other while Gretchen the various compartmentalized portions of her self slowly hutting down one by one. \n\n\tThe lecture continued, and as it did the older woman made her way around behind her daughter. Beautifully trimmed and conditioned diggers began to pick and clack away working at the already carefully styled mop of brown headfur. Words and sensations blurred into a familiar suffocating pillow of white noise. All at once she was a child again, brushing her diggers nervously over her muzzle while her mother fidgeted and fussed.\n\n\t``I really would like to talk to this young man of yours.'' Her father mused from behind his wife ``What did you say his major was again?''\n\n\t``Engineering.'' The word muttered with a hollow whimper.\n\n\tHer father simply hmmed. A long drawn out noise of unspoken disapproval. The sound of his diggers clacking in contemplation. A familiar sound that filled her with a familiar dread. Wherever Master was she knew it was best for him to stay away. And at the same time there was the scared little mole maiden screaming in side of her to save her.\n\n--------------------\n\n\tGretchen knew she shouldn't be agitated at her Master. It wasn't the place of a slave after all. Just because he wasn't her perfect goddess didn't mean she had any right to disrespect him. Plus, well, she had to admit her feelings for him had been growing. Still it felt almost inexcusable leaving her right before her parents showed up. The sooner she got this whole hell over with the better. If they were going to give her shit for him, it may as well be now.\n\n\tShe did eventually find him, though. Or rather, she found the punch bowl at the refreshments table. He was there as he said he'd be. Though the small gaggle of tweens gathered nearby felt a bit off.\n\n\tIt only felt more off when she realized who was at the head of the throng.\n\n\t``So you guys really just get to do whatever you want?'' The wide eyed mole girl with the pretty braids chirped. Cora, the birthday girl. The newly minted woman of the hour. She stood tapping her digger claws around a plastic cup of sherbet punch while Justin tipped a bottle of vernors into it in a silly mockery of someone spiking the drink.\n\n\t``I mean it's not all fun and games. Especially not for your big cousin. She's working on two degrees, after all. Hella smart. But it's not like you have to stop having fun once you get out of high school, right? Like, I remember when we had a big dart gun fight, and-''\n\n\t``You have dart gun fights?'' One of the other girls snickered\n\n\t``Well yeah.'' Justin shrugged as he carefully carved a hunk of the sherbet block floating in the middle of the punch. Or at least the best one could manage with a ladle. ``Dart guns. LARP stuff. That's where you do this fun roleplay stuff out in the city. Ohhh and then there was that time we went on a date to see a laser rock show up in GR. We kissed in the rain just under an overhang. She looked so cute, even if that kinda feels silly to say.''\n\n\tThe girls all swooned at the story, and a few even blushed. It wasn't the reaction one might expect from a bunch of tweens. Or maybe it was. Maybe this was normal and Gretchen just didn't have a point of reference.\n\n\tRegardless, she made her way up to the man and wrapped her arms around his. ``Having fun?'' She winced and tugged his arm firmly. She knew it was a stupid territorial gesture. She knew these girls were no threat to her. Hell, she wasn't even the one who held his heart. Still, she scowled at her little cousin and the gaggle of girls in party dresses behind her. Silliness be damned, tonight he was `her' man. \n\n\tJustin looked back at her with that roughish smile and just like that her resolve shattered. She slumped down with her cheek pushed firmly against his arm and looked down at the floor. The worst bit of arm candy one could imagine. Like some big, chunky, grandma-candy flavored... something. Probably licorice. Nobody actually liked licorice.\n\n\t``So what else do you guys do when you're not in class?'' The birthday girl whimpered ``I mean you must go on tons of dates, right?''\n\n\t``Not tons.'' The otter shrugged ``To be honest we're all pretty tired. School and work are big things. Really it's just nice to have someone bring me lunch every once in a while. Or to have her rest her head in my lap after a long day scouring the library for reference materials. I donno if college is really as exciting as you girls think.''\n\n\tThe handsome otter boy passed a cup of punch over to Gretchen. She quickly snatched it up and downed about half the glass in one gulp. She had expected made-up stories. Past events with Hui to fill in the gaps or outright lies as a way to bullshit her family and make things seem convincing. Why was he focusing on all the stupid things she did? On all of these tiny, silly little details? And how was he making them all sound so important? So special? It almost even made it sound like she mattered.\n\n\tMaybe that's just how good he was. But so long as it kept up the ruse, that's all that really mattered. Right?\n\n--------------------\n\n\tThe slow dance. It probably wasn't a tradition at every coming-of-age birthday, but it was for most of them Gretchen had seen. Budding romance between two kids who were too young to statistically end up together. Swaying around the floor like a couple of dorks while the adults all ohhed and ahhed. \n\n\tIt was enough to make any sane fur wanna puke.\n\n\t``They look cute.'' Justin smirked\n\n\t``They look like normies.'' Any need for explanation was quickly cut off by a sharp swig of saccharin sweet punch. \n\n\tHer Master was making no effort to hide the massive grin on his muzzle. Mistress found it charming, so Gretchen knew she should as well. It felt like someone trying too hard at a Han Solo thing. She then looked at the runty barn owl boy in his ill fitting little suit and designer glasses he absolutely didn't pick out. It made her wonder just what pop culture characters Cora's little suitor would use to train himself. Probably that anime with the guy who's eyes were always wrapped up or something. \n\n\tIt was cute though, loathe as she was to admit it.\n\n\tIt was never something she had, no matter how hard her parents had tried. Little baby-Gretchen was already antisocial enough to chase all the boys away. Girls, too. But if her parents had been cool with that she'd be here with Mistress and not Master. Probably.\n\n\t``So who does this song anyways.'' Justin's words yanking the sulking young woman back to reality. ``Jewel? I'm pretty sure it's Jewel.''\n\n\t``Sixpence none-the-richer.'' Gretchen sighed.\n\n\tJustin cocked his head and twitched an ear. His glasses sliding back on his muzzle. ``You sure? Pretty sure this is Jewel.''\n\n\t``It's not Je-eep!'' Before she could finish, Gretchen was yanked forwards by her Master. A few quick, sharp movements to position her arms around him, and his around her. Before she knew it she was dancing. Swaying awkwardly and looking up into those cool blue eyes. ``What are you doing?'' She hissed quietly.\n\n\tBy way of answer Justin nodded towards the dance floor. Some of the other little couples had joined in with the birthday girl and her lucky boy already. None of the `actual' adults, naturally. Some of whom were looking on at the college-age duo with mild disgust.\n\n\tJustin didn't care though. He just gazed at her and only her. His arms around her as he rocked and stepped awkwardly, leading her along though the remainder of the song.\n\n\tThe song's chorus once again kicked in. Leah Nash, and not Jewel, once again repeating the soft `Kiss me' at the end. As she did, the birthday girl leaned in to nervously peck her date on the beak. Gretchen couldn't help herself. She all but swooned at the adorable display. Her eyes finally wandered back to Justin, who wasted no time in doing likewise. His lips pressed to hers and gifted her a soft, deep kiss under the shifting dance floor lights.\n\n--------------------\n\n\tFamily photos. Why hadn't Gretchen thought of them? Or rather, why hadn't she anticipated little Cora might want her in them? \n\n\tObviously it was because Gretchen sucked. She knew that. Everyone knew that. Cora's refusal to accept that right now for some god damn reason was cute, flattering even. But it also left a key vulnerability.\n\n\tMaster was with her father!\n\n\tEvery moment of the photoshoot was a twitching anxious mess. It didn't help that her mother and aunt both wanted to carefully position everyone. Six months since the last time the family had done a big get together was apparently all the time it took for Gretchen to forget how insane it could all be. Now there she was, dashing though the thinning crowds on these stupid three-inch heels with all the speed her frumpy gait would allow.\n\n\t``That`s essentially the core of what we`re talking about here. It's about maximizing and optimizing the good you do in the world. Let's see. Ah, here's an example. Where did your father go to school, Justin?''\n\n\tGretchen froze. The slightly stooped figure of her father seeming to loom over the otter lad, despite the latter being about an inch taller.\n\n\t``He didn't.'' Justin shrugged between bites of an horderve \n\n\tThe older man nodded to the comment with just a few shades of disapproval coloring his face.\n\n\tThe otter boy didn`t seem to notice this, instead snacking away on the small treat. ``Technically he got his GED at the votech, but that's more just where they were holding it, I guess. He was gonna go after mom got her RN. But by that point...''\n\n\t``I see.'' The middle aged mole was slowly eyeing the boy up when Justin turned to put another snack on his plate. His smile didn't fade, but Gretchen could see the disapproval in her father's eyes. ``And what about you? Gretchen said you are going to Western?''\n\n\t``That's the plan.'' He nodded ``But I gotta finish saving up enough. Not sure what I'm going to do when I graduate, but this is Michigan so an engineering degree has to be worth something.''\n\n\t``Well it can't all be about money.'' the older man scoffed ``Granted money is important. But college is the perfect time to get some cultural enrichment! To break away from all of the stigma's you might have in a small town.''\n\n\tJustin shrugged calmly ``I unno. I mean it's great to have access to actual tools and labs to work in, but I did intern in a bike shop a bit. So I've got at least a bit of a grasp on some of the more advanced stuff. But if we`re talking more esoteric theoreticals, I`ve honestly gotten way more out of wiki dives than I think I ever did in actual classes.''\n\n\t``So you feel practical experience is more important than theoreticals?'' There was a harsh note of judgment in the older mole's voice. \n\nNot that Justin seemed to notice. He simply shrugged once more and cast his eyes around the room distractedly. ``I mean I'm not a fan of Roboute Gilliman. But I think theoreticals and practicals are both important. But I also think it's easier to learn the theory on your own. You know?'' \n\n\t Whatever point Gretchen's father had been looking to make, it had clearly just bounced off of Justin. An outsider like him may not have noticed the horror and abject frustration under his calm mask, but she did. She knew the way his smile turned crooked, the way he squinted just a bit behind those thick and overly-small glasses. The small tremor of his brow.\n\n\tBut the smile itself never faded, even as he put an arm around the young man. ``So tell me, Justin. Who would you say is your favorite composer? I know my little digger always loved Paganini growing up. But I confess Schubert has always been my personal favorite. I also liked Wagner when I was very young, until. Well. I'm sure you know all about that.''\n\n\t``Yoko Shimomura.'' Justin's answer blunt as a mace to the face, and without any seeming awareness of the distress it caused the older man.\n\n\t``I see.'' the stock answer once again filled with near imperceptible confusion and consternation.\n\n\tJustin, however, had perked a bit. His smile growing wider. ``Yeah. I mean I'll admit I'm a metalhead. But considering what she's done for the industry I think she deserves to be considered top tier. Never mind that her compositions are always iconic. Sure she did Kingdom Hearts, which already makes her god tier. But I remember trying out Legend of Mana on an emulator and I knew it was her even before looking it up. I can't imagine anyone holding a candle to her. I mean I guess Nobuo Uematsu comes close. Final Fantasy games always have a good OST after all. Though now that I think of it I know he stopped doing those at some point, and I'm pretty sure Shimomura-san has done more. Not that it's a competition or anything.''\n\n\t``Justin!'' The name felt so wrong in Gretchen's muzzle. The poor girl slammed herself into him, wrapping both arms around his free arm and burying her face in his shoulder. ``We really need to get going.'' The mole maid whimpered.\n\n\t``You sure?'' He blinked ``I mean, I don't mind hanging here if you want to visit a bit more.''\n\n\t``I would'' Gretchen lied ``But I, you know, I gotta finish that paper tomorrow. If we don't leave now I'm going to be up all night.''\n\n\t ``I mean we can stop and get some melatonin gummies or something on the way back if you... oh'' he blinked ``Yeah, sure. No problem. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Bergfeld.'' Justin turned and nodded to the older man before stumbling along behind his `date'. Gretchen's stubby legs and loping gait somehow pulling the taller boy along at shocking speed, out of the venue and away from danger.\n\n--------------------\n\n\tRoads all looked the same to Gretchen. She was fairly sure they weren't on a highway at this point. The lack of overpasses told her it wasn't I-94 at least. Probably. She'd had a lot of time to think about it though. She'd had time to think about all kinds of things. Everything but what she knew she needed to think about.\n\n\t``I'm sorry.'' she muttered meekly\n\n\t``For what?'' Justin shrugged.\n\n\t``My dad, for one.'' The words Gretchen had been expecting to utter all night. Somehow that didn't help the way she thought it would. ``I know it was a pain in the ass dealing with my family.''\n\n\tJustin simply shrugged and leaned himself back firmly into the driver`s seat. ``You act like you didn't warn me. Besides, They didn't seem too bad. Your dad had a lot of questions for me but I kinda assume that's pretty normal.''\n\n\t``Assumed?'' She whimpered\n\n\t``Well yeah. I knew Hui's parents way before she and I dated. Mrs. Sang has fed me, cleaned bloody noses, even yelled at me a few times. She was always like an aunt if she was anything. Mr. Sang too, though he's pretty laid back.''\n\n\t``My folks are not that.'' the mole sighed.\n\n\t``Nah. They're a bit uptight. I'm also just some stranger to them. Not the neighbor kid. Some questions are to be expected.'' He seemed so calm about it. So casual. He went back to flipping though his station presets on the car's ancient FM radio without so much as a second thought about the evening.\n\n\tGretchen shifted in her dress and leaned against the window. Her eyes tracing large leaping vaults over every one of the little reflectors-on-a-stick that stuck out along the roadside. Her mind conjuring the same frantic little stick figure man it had since she was little. The one she half-imagined everyone had. Or some variation of it. She didn't want the distraction, though. What she wanted was to scream. Almost half a year now she'd lived with her Master and for all Mistress' talk of his unhinged and volatile nature it was maddening to see how often he just let these sorts of things slide. \n\n\tIt was never a very effective distraction. Not in her childhood, and certainly not now. She tried to focus on the little imaginary man leaping and bounding his way along. Yet every time she did the poor girl found her mind going back to her parents. Her mother's incessant perfectionism. Her father's passive and flaccid condescension. That hard plastic smile both of them wore no matter what was going on around them.\n\n\t``Didn't it bug you?'' The words spilled from her lips before she could stop herself.\n\n\t``Did what bug me?'' Justin's face remained firmly stuck to the road, his fingers gripping the wheel loosely as he finally seemed to settle on a rock station he wanted.\n\n\t``My Father!'' the words screamed. ``The way he talked to you. You know he was looking down on you, right? The way he was talking to you. The questions he was asking. Every single one of them was designed to-''\n\n\t``Yeah, I know.'' Justin shrugged. His tone still ice calm. ``Like I said, I'm sure a lot of that was normal. But I'm not stupid. Well, not `that' stupid. Imposter syndrome be damned.'' He cocked a half smile and sighed. ``But I'm not dating him. I'm dating you. I'm probably not as smart as what he expects or wants. I'm not as smart as you or Hui either. I know that. He asked me some questions and I answered him. If he doesn't like that then sucks to be him. Probably gonna suck for him even more when he finds out his little girl's in a polycule.''\n\n\tThe over-dolled young woman sat there with her jaw agape. It took everything she had to finally turn her attention back to the road and slump into the uncomfortable mess of dress and bucket seat. ``So you knew?'' She muttered\n\n\tJustin nodded\n\n\t``A-and you weren't mad?'' her voice now a dull whimper.\n\n\tJustin's smile grew a tiny touch. ``Like I said, fuck `em. Now if he'd taken some cheap shots at you, then I'd have something to say. But I'm not going to fuck up your cousin's bi day just because some guy I don't know thinks I'm shit because I'm not an effective altruist or whatever the fuck. Not my fault the guy never read Marx''\n\n\tThere was a loud noise. It took a few minutes for Gretchen to realize its source. Her sinuses now screaming in pain due to the laugh she'd reflexively stifled. She gripped both diggers over her face and much to her own shock could feel a smile pulling at the corners of her muzzle. A real, genuine smile. Something that hurt like hell.\n\n\t``What's so funny?'' Justin spared her as quick a glance as he could given his preoccupation with the road before them.\n\n\t``Nothing, Sir.'' The mole maid muttered. She spared looks at him now and then. Fleeting things. Bashful things. A cascade of thoughts rolled though her head faster than she could grasp them. No, not thoughts. Feelings. Implacable things without words. Things that were making her normally cold heart throb in a way only one other person ever had. \n\n\tIt took quite a bit of work to force the smile away. Only then was she willing to drop her paws, and she wasn't quite sure it was fully gone by that point. ``I uh, I do want to ask though, if you don't mind. I think... I think there's something I'd like for us to talk about. Something I think is important.''\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Collared Chapter 40: Baht Mitzvah

By TerraMGP

\t``I don't know why she picked these shoes.'' Gretchen shifted herself this way and that. The mostly stable three-inch heels on her dress shoes wobbled awkwardly into the asphalt of the parking lot. Every little step in them sent pain up her achilles tendon and straight to her lower back. Not to mention how the toes pinched her too-wide feet in on themselves.

\t``Are you saying your Mistress picked wrong?'' Justin chuckled. Much as Gretchen hated to admit it, he cut a dapper figure. Her Master had pulled his hair back into a neat ponytail and was decked out in a blueish-grey suit jacket with a deep blue shirt and metallic copper striped tie. A mix of borrowed, Goodwill and Kohl's that was utterly the result of Mistress Hui's hard work. But he did wear it well.

\tGretchen, meanwhile, did not. Grey faux-velvet with a gossamer neck wrap to match, cut into the most flattering shape her dumpy body could manage. The goddess of a red panda had spent far more time on the simple one-shoulder dress that hung shockingly comfortably on the chubby mole. But it was still awkward as hell to wear. Because deep down Gretchen knew it was just dressing up a dumpster fire.

\t``Regardless of her talents, I just wish my family could get by without dressing up for these things.'' she sighed.

\t``Well it is a big deal, right?'' Justin was quick to remind her.

\tThe mole maiden nodded and looped one arm around his. The other did its best to carry the functionally useless handbag her Mistress had scored at Goodwill and apparently designed the whole outfit around. It was, theoretically, a better way to carry her phone than the hoodie pocket she usually used. But there wasn't space in the tiny thing for much else and it made no sense why anyone would rely on such a thing.

\tIn fact none of this made sense. Sure she was family, but she wasn't living with her parents anymore. To not invite her when she was under the same roof would have been a slight against them. But now she had college. She was away. The rest of the family had an excuse to cut her out of these things. Sure it might `look bad'. But she already made them look bad, right? Why fuss over details like that?

\t``Hey! You ok?'' Master's voice was... more calming than she cared to admit. Some small part of Gretchen still resented that it wasn't Mistress here. That she wasn't on Hui's arm. That she wasn't able to show off the adorkable little goddess of hers to her parents. Yet the feeling of Master's strong paw on hers. The way it stroked over her digger claws and her knuckles. The warmth of it, the tenderness. It was at least enough for her to realize how badly she was shaking.

\tGretchen took a breath. Then another. A handful of deep calming gasps. She then paused to take a normal one and make sure she didn't have to dig her inhaler out of her little silly purse. Thankfully the integrity of her lungs was maintained. At least for now.

\t``You sure you want to do this?'' Gretchen muttered. The words to herself as much as they were directed to him. ``I know we're already here. But if you're feeling anxious I can-'' A firm kiss silenced the words. A firm paw gripping the tip of her muzzle between thumb and fore knuckle. Cool blue eyes fixed on to hers.

\t``We'll be fine.'' The otter all but cooed ``You are still mine, after all. We're not lying or anything. Just think of this as me claiming what's mine. Once your parents know you're spoken for then you can relax. Right?''

\tShe wanted to say yes. In truth the best Gretchen could do was smile meekly and nod. ``Thank you, sir.'' She muttered. It was a surprise how gallant he was. Was gallant the right word? It was something the poor girl decided to contemplate after this nightmare. They just had to sit though the ceremony, give Cora the switch game Master had stuffed in his jacket pocket and then take off. A perfectly normal, simple, innocuous family interaction where contact with her parents could hopefully be minimized.

\tThis was going to be a disaster.

--------------------

\tThe snack table was a funny thing. Any time a buffet table was set up at one of these events it seemed to carry the general tone of an events wealth and sophistication. For example, a fun Halloween party with a repurposed colander full of chips and dip offered up still in its container. One with cheap grocery store cookies and half the candy that was supposed to go to trick-or-treaters all laid out with cans of pop and solo cups.

\tA smile crossed Gretchen's lips as she recalled it. The smile fading just a bit as she looked over the offering here. Kosher pigs-in-blankets and mini spanakopita. The trays laid out had things like lox, rye bread, mini sandwiches and other more `traditional' foods for the `grown ups`. But also rather exquisite sushi and fare meant to appeal more to the gathered kids.

\tIt almost seemed unfair. Most of the functions her little cousin seen thus far in life would be more akin to this. Large spreads catered by teams of professionals. Beautiful and likely the result of very hard work. But somehow soulless. Or maybe it was just a bit of projection. She gazed at the table from her hidden little spot against the opposite wall of the event hall. Her Master had insisted he would get her some punch, but right now he was lost to her in the crowd, and again she felt alone. Stranded in a place she didn't belong. Fidgeting in fine sheer fabrics and her silky neck scarf while clutching her absurdly small handbag in those awkwardly over-large digger claws.

\tShe didn't belong here. Granted, she didn't belong anywhere, but especially not a place like this. She knew the types of people here. Kids being pushed into following along as clones of their parents, surrounded by business acquaintances and people who largely hated each other outside of what they could `offer' each other. She could just imagine the talk of `altruism' and `utilitarianism' going on among the various middle aged men gathered. People seeking out her father for his philosophical take on how to rationalize their third trip abroad in a year while homeless people scrambled to either find reliable shelter or flee the state in the face of the coming winter.

\tShe could see her uncle mixed in to the crowd. It was a rather sure thing the Asian man he was speaking to wasn't family. Maybe he was here with his kid. But then would Angie have any friends her parents didn't approve of? And would they approve of anyone they couldn't use later in some way?

\t``Not here with your date, Digger?'' The words froze her in place. One of Gretchen's paws darted to where Justin's might have been. It grasped air. Two deep shuddering gasps and she turned. There, before her, a well groomed mole on the further end of middle age. Slightly portly with thick brown hair and neat downy fur. His massive digger claws were still perfectly manicured, lacking the cracks and worn points which might come from hard work.

\t``He went to get some punch.'' She glanced around the room once more hoping to find where exactly Justin has vanished.

\t``We were hoping to meet him.'' Another voice. A far less overweight mole woman in a dark suit jacket and light blue blouse put her paw on her husband's arm. Gretchen's mother wore that smile. That obnoxious smile Gretchen had watched her whole life. Not `fake'. But content in self-assurance and brokering no room for questions. Wendy Bergfeld took a few steps around her daughter and the eyes that matched the younger mole's so perfectly began to size the dress up. I'm going to guess he's pretty important if you dolled yourself up for him this much.''

\t``I didn't- I was trying to look nice for Cora, mother.'' Gretchen did her best to keep her tone even and non-confrontational. God, she was out of practice with that.

\t``Well I'm just happy to see you taking some more care about your appetence. Credentials are vital but you know you need to keep yourself presentable without help if you want to keep up in the professional world. It's like I always tell you-'' Soon the matron mole's words were blurring into each other while Gretchen the various compartmentalized portions of her self slowly hutting down one by one.

\tThe lecture continued, and as it did the older woman made her way around behind her daughter. Beautifully trimmed and conditioned diggers began to pick and clack away working at the already carefully styled mop of brown headfur. Words and sensations blurred into a familiar suffocating pillow of white noise. All at once she was a child again, brushing her diggers nervously over her muzzle while her mother fidgeted and fussed.

\t``I really would like to talk to this young man of yours.'' Her father mused from behind his wife ``What did you say his major was again?''

\t``Engineering.'' The word muttered with a hollow whimper.

\tHer father simply hmmed. A long drawn out noise of unspoken disapproval. The sound of his diggers clacking in contemplation. A familiar sound that filled her with a familiar dread. Wherever Master was she knew it was best for him to stay away. And at the same time there was the scared little mole maiden screaming in side of her to save her.

--------------------

\tGretchen knew she shouldn't be agitated at her Master. It wasn't the place of a slave after all. Just because he wasn't her perfect goddess didn't mean she had any right to disrespect him. Plus, well, she had to admit her feelings for him had been growing. Still it felt almost inexcusable leaving her right before her parents showed up. The sooner she got this whole hell over with the better. If they were going to give her shit for him, it may as well be now.

\tShe did eventually find him, though. Or rather, she found the punch bowl at the refreshments table. He was there as he said he'd be. Though the small gaggle of tweens gathered nearby felt a bit off.

\tIt only felt more off when she realized who was at the head of the throng.

\t``So you guys really just get to do whatever you want?'' The wide eyed mole girl with the pretty braids chirped. Cora, the birthday girl. The newly minted woman of the hour. She stood tapping her digger claws around a plastic cup of sherbet punch while Justin tipped a bottle of vernors into it in a silly mockery of someone spiking the drink.

\t``I mean it's not all fun and games. Especially not for your big cousin. She's working on two degrees, after all. Hella smart. But it's not like you have to stop having fun once you get out of high school, right? Like, I remember when we had a big dart gun fight, and-''

\t``You have dart gun fights?'' One of the other girls snickered

\t``Well yeah.'' Justin shrugged as he carefully carved a hunk of the sherbet block floating in the middle of the punch. Or at least the best one could manage with a ladle. ``Dart guns. LARP stuff. That's where you do this fun roleplay stuff out in the city. Ohhh and then there was that time we went on a date to see a laser rock show up in GR. We kissed in the rain just under an overhang. She looked so cute, even if that kinda feels silly to say.''

\tThe girls all swooned at the story, and a few even blushed.  It wasn't the reaction one might expect from a bunch of tweens. Or maybe it was. Maybe this was normal and Gretchen just didn't have a point of reference.

\tRegardless, she made her way up to the man and wrapped her arms around his. ``Having fun?'' She winced and tugged his arm firmly. She knew it was a stupid territorial gesture. She knew these girls were no threat to her. Hell, she wasn't even the one who held his heart. Still, she scowled at her little cousin and the gaggle of girls in party dresses behind her. Silliness be damned, tonight he was `her' man.

\tJustin looked back at her with that roughish smile and just like that her resolve shattered. She slumped down with her cheek pushed firmly against his arm and looked down at the floor. The worst bit of arm candy one could imagine. Like some big, chunky, grandma-candy flavored... something. Probably licorice. Nobody actually liked licorice.

\t``So what else do you guys do when you're not in class?'' The birthday girl whimpered ``I mean you must go on tons of dates, right?''

\t``Not tons.'' The otter shrugged ``To be honest we're all pretty tired. School and work are big things. Really it's just nice to have someone bring me lunch every once in a while. Or to have her rest her head in my lap after a long day scouring the library for reference materials. I donno if college is really as exciting as you girls think.''

\tThe handsome otter boy passed a cup of punch over to Gretchen. She quickly snatched it up and downed about half the glass in one gulp. She had expected made-up stories. Past events with Hui to fill in the gaps or outright lies as a way to bullshit her family and make things seem convincing. Why was he focusing on all the stupid things she did? On all of these tiny, silly little details? And how was he making them all sound so important? So special? It almost even made it sound like she mattered.

\tMaybe that's just how good he was. But so long as it kept up the ruse, that's all that really mattered. Right?

--------------------

\tThe slow dance. It probably wasn't a tradition at every coming-of-age birthday, but it was for most of them Gretchen had seen. Budding romance between two kids who were too young to statistically end up together. Swaying around the floor like a couple of dorks while the adults all ohhed and ahhed.

\tIt was enough to make any sane fur wanna puke.

\t``They look cute.'' Justin smirked

\t``They look like normies.'' Any need for explanation was quickly cut off by a sharp swig of saccharin sweet punch.

\tHer Master was making no effort to hide the massive grin on his muzzle. Mistress found it charming, so Gretchen knew she should as well. It felt like someone trying too hard at a Han Solo thing. She then looked at the runty barn owl boy in his ill fitting little suit and designer glasses he absolutely didn't pick out. It made her wonder just what pop culture characters Cora's little suitor would use to train himself. Probably that anime with the guy who's eyes were always wrapped up or something.

\tIt was cute though, loathe as she was to admit it.

\tIt was never something she had, no matter how hard her parents had tried. Little baby-Gretchen was already antisocial enough to chase all the boys away. Girls, too. But if her parents had been cool with that she'd be here with Mistress and not Master. Probably.

\t``So who does this song anyways.'' Justin's words yanking the sulking young woman back to reality. ``Jewel? I'm pretty sure it's Jewel.''

\t``Sixpence none-the-richer.'' Gretchen sighed.

\tJustin cocked his head and twitched an ear. His glasses sliding back on his muzzle. ``You sure? Pretty sure this is Jewel.''

\t``It's not Je-eep!'' Before she could finish, Gretchen was yanked forwards by her Master. A few quick, sharp movements to position her arms around him, and his around her. Before she knew it she was dancing. Swaying awkwardly and looking up into those cool blue eyes. ``What are you doing?'' She hissed quietly.

\tBy way of answer Justin nodded towards the dance floor. Some of the other little couples had joined in with the birthday girl and her lucky boy already. None of the `actual' adults, naturally. Some of whom were looking on at the college-age duo with mild disgust.

\tJustin didn't care though. He just gazed at her and only her. His arms around her as he rocked and stepped awkwardly, leading her along though the remainder of the song.

\tThe song's chorus once again kicked in. Leah Nash, and not Jewel, once again repeating the soft `Kiss me' at the end. As she did, the birthday girl leaned in to nervously peck her date on the beak. Gretchen couldn't help herself. She all but swooned at the adorable display. Her eyes finally wandered back to Justin, who wasted no time in doing likewise. His lips pressed to hers and gifted her a soft, deep kiss under the shifting dance floor lights.

--------------------

\tFamily photos. Why hadn't Gretchen thought of them? Or rather, why hadn't she anticipated little Cora might want her in them?

\tObviously it was because Gretchen sucked. She knew that. Everyone knew that. Cora's refusal to accept that right now for some god damn reason was cute, flattering even. But it also left a key vulnerability.

\tMaster was with her father!

\tEvery moment of the photoshoot was a twitching anxious mess. It didn't help that her mother and aunt both wanted to carefully position everyone. Six months since the last time the family had done a big get together was apparently all the time it took for Gretchen to forget how insane it could all be. Now there she was, dashing though the thinning crowds on these stupid three-inch heels with all the speed her frumpy gait would allow.

\t``That`s essentially the core of what we`re talking about here. It's about maximizing and optimizing the good you do in the world. Let's see. Ah, here's an example. Where did your father go to school, Justin?''

\tGretchen froze. The slightly stooped figure of her father seeming to loom over the otter lad, despite the latter being about an inch taller.

\t``He didn't.'' Justin shrugged between bites of an horderve

\tThe older man nodded to the comment with just a few shades of disapproval coloring his face.

\tThe otter boy didn`t seem to notice this, instead snacking away on the small treat. ``Technically he got his GED at the votech, but that's more just where they were holding it, I guess. He was gonna go after mom got her RN. But by that point...''

\t``I see.'' The middle aged mole was slowly eyeing the boy up when Justin turned to put another snack on his plate. His smile didn't fade, but Gretchen could see the disapproval in her father's eyes. ``And what about you? Gretchen said you are going to Western?''

\t``That's the plan.'' He nodded ``But I gotta finish saving up enough. Not sure what I'm going to do when I graduate, but this is Michigan so an engineering degree has to be worth something.''

\t``Well it can't all be about money.'' the older man scoffed ``Granted money is important. But college is the perfect time to get some cultural enrichment! To break away from all of the stigma's you might have in a small town.''

\tJustin shrugged calmly ``I unno. I mean it's great to have access to actual tools and labs to work in, but I did intern in a bike shop a bit. So I've got at least a bit of a grasp on some of the more advanced stuff. But if we`re talking more esoteric theoreticals, I`ve honestly gotten way more out of wiki dives than I think I ever did in actual classes.''

\t``So you feel practical experience is more important than theoreticals?'' There was a harsh note of judgment in the older mole's voice.

Not that Justin seemed to notice. He simply shrugged once more and cast his eyes around the room distractedly. ``I mean I'm not a fan of Roboute Gilliman. But I think theoreticals and practicals are both important. But I also think it's easier to learn the theory on your own. You know?''

\t Whatever point Gretchen's father had been looking to make, it had clearly just bounced off of Justin. An outsider like him may not have noticed the horror and abject frustration under his calm mask, but she did. She knew the way his smile turned crooked, the way he squinted just a bit behind those thick and overly-small glasses. The small tremor of his brow.

\tBut the smile itself never faded, even as he put an arm around the young man. ``So tell me, Justin. Who would you say is your favorite composer? I know my little digger always loved Paganini growing up. But I confess Schubert has always been my personal favorite. I also liked Wagner when I was very young, until. Well. I'm sure you know all about that.''

\t``Yoko Shimomura.'' Justin's answer blunt as a mace to the face, and without any seeming awareness of the distress it caused the older man.

\t``I see.'' the stock answer once again filled with near imperceptible confusion and consternation.

\tJustin, however, had perked a bit. His smile growing wider. ``Yeah. I mean I'll admit I'm a metalhead. But considering what she's done for the industry I think she deserves to be considered top tier. Never mind that her compositions are always iconic. Sure she did Kingdom Hearts, which already makes her god tier. But I remember trying out Legend of Mana on an emulator and I knew it was her even before looking it up. I can't imagine anyone holding a candle to her. I mean I guess Nobuo Uematsu comes close. Final Fantasy games always have a good OST after all. Though now that I think of it I know he stopped doing those at some point, and I'm pretty sure Shimomura-san has done more. Not that it's a competition or anything.''

\t``Justin!'' The name felt so wrong in Gretchen's muzzle. The poor girl slammed herself into him, wrapping both arms around his free arm and burying her face in his shoulder. ``We really need to get going.'' The mole maid whimpered.

\t``You sure?'' He blinked ``I mean, I don't mind hanging here if you want to visit a bit more.''

\t``I would'' Gretchen lied ``But I, you know, I gotta finish that paper tomorrow. If we don't leave now I'm going to be up all night.''

\t ``I mean we can stop and get some melatonin gummies or something on the way back if you... oh'' he blinked ``Yeah, sure. No problem. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Bergfeld.'' Justin turned and nodded to the older man before stumbling along behind his `date'. Gretchen's stubby legs and loping gait somehow pulling the taller boy along at shocking speed, out of the venue and away from danger.

--------------------

\tRoads all looked the same to Gretchen. She was fairly sure they weren't on a highway at this point. The lack of overpasses told her it wasn't I-94 at least. Probably. She'd had a lot of time to think about it though. She'd had time to think about all kinds of things. Everything but what she knew she needed to think about.

\t``I'm sorry.'' she muttered meekly

\t``For what?'' Justin shrugged.

\t``My dad, for one.'' The words Gretchen had been expecting to utter all night. Somehow that didn't help the way she thought it would. ``I know it was a pain in the ass dealing with my family.''

\tJustin simply shrugged and leaned himself back firmly into the driver`s seat. ``You act like you didn't warn me. Besides, They didn't seem too bad. Your dad had a lot of questions for me but I kinda assume that's pretty normal.''

\t``Assumed?'' She whimpered

\t``Well yeah. I knew Hui's parents way before she and I dated. Mrs. Sang has fed me, cleaned bloody noses, even yelled at me a few times. She was always like an aunt if she was anything. Mr. Sang too, though he's pretty laid back.''

\t``My folks are not that.'' the mole sighed.

\t``Nah. They're a bit uptight. I'm also just some stranger to them. Not the neighbor kid. Some questions are to be expected.'' He seemed so calm about it. So casual. He went back to flipping though his station presets on the car's ancient FM radio without so much as a second thought about the evening.

\tGretchen shifted in her dress and leaned against the window. Her eyes tracing large leaping vaults over every one of the little reflectors-on-a-stick that stuck out along the roadside. Her mind conjuring the same frantic little stick figure man it had since she was little. The one she half-imagined everyone had. Or some variation of it. She didn't want the distraction, though. What she wanted was to scream. Almost half a year now she'd lived with her Master and for all Mistress' talk of his unhinged and volatile nature it was maddening to see how often he just let these sorts of things slide.

\tIt was never a very effective distraction. Not in her childhood, and certainly not now. She tried to focus on the little imaginary man leaping and bounding his way along. Yet every time she did the poor girl found her mind going back to her parents. Her mother's incessant perfectionism. Her father's passive and flaccid condescension. That hard plastic smile both of them wore no matter what was going on around them.

\t``Didn't it bug you?'' The words spilled from her lips before she could stop herself.

\t``Did what bug me?'' Justin's face remained firmly stuck to the road, his fingers gripping the wheel loosely as he finally seemed to settle on a rock station he wanted.

\t``My Father!'' the words screamed. ``The way he talked to you. You know he was looking down on you, right? The way he was talking to you. The questions he was asking. Every single one of them was designed to-''

\t``Yeah, I know.'' Justin shrugged. His tone still ice calm. ``Like I said, I'm sure a lot of that was normal. But I'm not stupid. Well, not `that' stupid. Imposter syndrome be damned.'' He cocked a half smile and sighed. ``But I'm not dating him. I'm dating you. I'm probably not as smart as what he expects or wants. I'm not as smart as you or Hui either. I know that. He asked me some questions and I answered him. If he doesn't like that then sucks to be him. Probably gonna suck for him even more when he finds out his little girl's in a polycule.''

\tThe over-dolled young woman sat there with her jaw agape. It took everything she had to finally turn her attention back to the road and slump into the uncomfortable mess of dress and bucket seat. ``So you knew?'' She muttered

\tJustin nodded

\t``A-and you weren't mad?'' her voice now a dull whimper.

\tJustin's smile grew a tiny touch. ``Like I said, fuck `em. Now if he'd taken some cheap shots at you, then I'd have something to say. But I'm not going to fuck up your cousin's bi day just because some guy I don't know thinks I'm shit because I'm not an effective altruist or whatever the fuck. Not my fault the guy never read Marx''

\tThere was a loud noise. It took a few minutes for Gretchen to realize its source. Her sinuses now screaming in pain due to the laugh she'd reflexively stifled. She gripped both diggers over her face and much to her own shock could feel a smile pulling at the corners of her muzzle. A real, genuine smile. Something that hurt like hell.

\t``What's so funny?'' Justin spared her as quick a glance as he could given his preoccupation with the road before them.

\t``Nothing, Sir.'' The mole maid muttered. She spared looks at him now and then. Fleeting things. Bashful things. A cascade of thoughts rolled though her head faster than she could grasp them. No, not thoughts. Feelings. Implacable things without words. Things that were making her normally cold heart throb in a way only one other person ever had.

\tIt took quite a bit of work to force the smile away. Only then was she willing to drop her paws, and she wasn't quite sure it was fully gone by that point. ``I uh, I do want to ask though, if you don't mind. I think... I think there's something I'd like for us to talk about. Something I think is important.''

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