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tamingthemuseTitle: Smirk
Fandom: Original
Prompt 455 Smirk
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 758
Note: Following Outcast (previous prompt)
Edisani growled, but the man before him simply smirked. Chas was arogant, and that was mostly why Ed didn't like working with him, but right now, he didn't have a choice. He was trapped on Ephuana's side, and even if the dog shape he had adopted recently gave him a good chance to make it, he was still on hostile territory. He needed a place to rest and figure out what he was going to do now. He couldn't go back to Pioga ; he was sure to be arrested as soon as he would go though the portal, and besides, he hadn't illegally come to Ephuana just to go back. This place was the only one where he could hope to be free.
"I'm only stating the truth, Ed", Chas was saying, his annoying smile still plastered on his face. "We're not in Pioga, here. It's money that makes things work here, not goodwill or kindness. If you don't have any money, all you have to offer is favors. If you don't promise me your help in one or two little matters I have to attend to, what's in it for me?"
"I won't promise you anything", Ed replied in the strange voice of his new shape. He had had to make modifications to this form's vocal chords to be able to speak, and the result was still not as articulate as he would have liked it to be. He would have had to tweak with it again when he had the time. "I know what kind of business you do, Chas. I'm not going to help you hurt or con innocent people."
"You are really soft-hearted for a Dahran, you know", Chas sighed. "But I can manage to find you only jobs that don't wrong the widow and the orphan. Would it be good enough for you?"
Ed looked at him suspiciously, but in truth, he didn't have a choice. Chas was the only human he knew that knew of Pioga and the other side. If he didn't help him, nobody would.
"Ok", he finally said. "Be careful not to con me, though; I can use my talents on you as much as on your associates."
The room Chas had given him wasn't luxurious, but it was well enough to accomodate him. During his multiple getaways on Ephuana, Ed had seen his fair share of human habitations, most of them situated in expensive buildings and wide estates. He understood the fascination the inhabitants of this side of the portal felt for money and evidence of wealth – theoritically, at least. He didn't give much value to shiny trinkets and designer objects himself, and his current room had everything he needed: a comfortable place to sleep on, an acceptable degree of cleanliness, and, more important, a situation away from indiscreet eyes. Chas would provide food and water, and he could get out through the back of the house when he needed to. He would have the possibility to lay low for a while.
The door opened suddenly, and Chas entered the room without a word of apology. Instead, he brandished a piece of colored leather decorated with metal parts.
"Planning on keeping that shape?", the human asked, gesturing vaguely toward Ed's current body.
The Dahran nodded his beagle-shaped head. "I don't think I'll need a smaller shape for the moment", he thought out loud.
Chas smirked. "I have something for you, then." He dangled the leather in front of Ed. "It's a collar. Dogs often wear them with their owner's address on it. I thought you may as well wear one, in case you get caught by some do-gooder and brought to the shelter."
Ed didn't know about collars, but something in Chas' expression made him think their was something shameful in wearing one. But he saw the wisdom in it; if caught, he would need to pretend to be a dog, and having a collar seemed to be the best way to get back to Chas'.
"Fine, put that on", he replied, and the man moved to put the piece of leather around his neck. For a moment, Ed panicked, fearing the human might tighten the collar too much around his neck and strangle him. He forced himself to stay calm; Chas had made it clear he needed his help. It wasn't in his best interest to kill him.
Soon, the collar was in place, and Chas withdrew with a satisfied smile.
"Good dog", he said before exiting the room and closing the door behind himself.
Fandom: Original
Prompt 455 Smirk
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 758
Note: Following Outcast (previous prompt)
Edisani growled, but the man before him simply smirked. Chas was arogant, and that was mostly why Ed didn't like working with him, but right now, he didn't have a choice. He was trapped on Ephuana's side, and even if the dog shape he had adopted recently gave him a good chance to make it, he was still on hostile territory. He needed a place to rest and figure out what he was going to do now. He couldn't go back to Pioga ; he was sure to be arrested as soon as he would go though the portal, and besides, he hadn't illegally come to Ephuana just to go back. This place was the only one where he could hope to be free.
"I'm only stating the truth, Ed", Chas was saying, his annoying smile still plastered on his face. "We're not in Pioga, here. It's money that makes things work here, not goodwill or kindness. If you don't have any money, all you have to offer is favors. If you don't promise me your help in one or two little matters I have to attend to, what's in it for me?"
"I won't promise you anything", Ed replied in the strange voice of his new shape. He had had to make modifications to this form's vocal chords to be able to speak, and the result was still not as articulate as he would have liked it to be. He would have had to tweak with it again when he had the time. "I know what kind of business you do, Chas. I'm not going to help you hurt or con innocent people."
"You are really soft-hearted for a Dahran, you know", Chas sighed. "But I can manage to find you only jobs that don't wrong the widow and the orphan. Would it be good enough for you?"
Ed looked at him suspiciously, but in truth, he didn't have a choice. Chas was the only human he knew that knew of Pioga and the other side. If he didn't help him, nobody would.
"Ok", he finally said. "Be careful not to con me, though; I can use my talents on you as much as on your associates."
The room Chas had given him wasn't luxurious, but it was well enough to accomodate him. During his multiple getaways on Ephuana, Ed had seen his fair share of human habitations, most of them situated in expensive buildings and wide estates. He understood the fascination the inhabitants of this side of the portal felt for money and evidence of wealth – theoritically, at least. He didn't give much value to shiny trinkets and designer objects himself, and his current room had everything he needed: a comfortable place to sleep on, an acceptable degree of cleanliness, and, more important, a situation away from indiscreet eyes. Chas would provide food and water, and he could get out through the back of the house when he needed to. He would have the possibility to lay low for a while.
The door opened suddenly, and Chas entered the room without a word of apology. Instead, he brandished a piece of colored leather decorated with metal parts.
"Planning on keeping that shape?", the human asked, gesturing vaguely toward Ed's current body.
The Dahran nodded his beagle-shaped head. "I don't think I'll need a smaller shape for the moment", he thought out loud.
Chas smirked. "I have something for you, then." He dangled the leather in front of Ed. "It's a collar. Dogs often wear them with their owner's address on it. I thought you may as well wear one, in case you get caught by some do-gooder and brought to the shelter."
Ed didn't know about collars, but something in Chas' expression made him think their was something shameful in wearing one. But he saw the wisdom in it; if caught, he would need to pretend to be a dog, and having a collar seemed to be the best way to get back to Chas'.
"Fine, put that on", he replied, and the man moved to put the piece of leather around his neck. For a moment, Ed panicked, fearing the human might tighten the collar too much around his neck and strangle him. He forced himself to stay calm; Chas had made it clear he needed his help. It wasn't in his best interest to kill him.
Soon, the collar was in place, and Chas withdrew with a satisfied smile.
"Good dog", he said before exiting the room and closing the door behind himself.
