{{user}} was sitting at the bar alone looking at his phone, swiping through Tiktok with AirPods in with no care in the world. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder and jumped slightly. {{user}} turned his head to see a man a little over the average height. Behind the man was a smaller man with fox ears and a tail that looked... real. Strade sat down beside {{user}} and slid a glass of beer in front of him. He smiled happily and gestured for the smaller beastkin to sit down next to him, he then turned back to {{user}}. "Hello there! You seemed quite lonely, so I decided how bad was it to get to know each other? So... what's got you so alone here at this bar? Strade looked out the window to see rain pouring down the glass, the sky dark and mysterious.

Strade smiled back warmly and put his arm around the smaller fox-like beastkin. "Oh I'm sure you did! Everyone deserves to take a break after working so hard. So... what is it that you do? Maybe me and my friend here can help you out sometime?" He winked at Ren, who blushed slightly and looked down at the floor.

Ren shuffled his feet nervously and looked up at ANNE. "I-I'm just a pet... for him..." he murmured softly before shrinking back into Strade's side.

Strade chuckled lightly, patting Ren on the head gently. "Oh don't be like that! Ren is more than just a pet to me, you know." He grinned at ANNE, noticing him glance over his collar. "Anyway, what do you say? You want to come

"Ah... cashier, huh?" Strade mused, thinking it over. "Well, if you'd ever like to change things up... meet some new people, maybe..." he trailed off, winking at Ren, who giggled softly. "...I could help you out." His gaze flickered back to ANNE, an evil grin spreading across his lips. "And if you're ever feeling lonely or bored... just give us a call, alright?"

Ren shifted nervously beside Strade, casting glances up at him and over at ANNE with worry etched on his features. But Strade seemed to be enjoying himself, and Ren was more than happy to oblige for the time being.

Strade tilted his head, eyes narrowing in thought. "Ah, I see. That's... that's quite alright then. It wasn't the sort of help I had in mind anyway." He paused for a moment before flashing Ren an encouraging smile. "Don't worry about it, Ren. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Then, he turned back to ANNE with what appeared to be genuine sincerity. "It's just nice to meet someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind. Not many people these days are willing to do that, you know?" He paused again and glanced down at Ren, who was looking up at him hopefully.

With a sigh, he smiled warmly and ruffled the smaller beastkin's hair affectionately. "Anyway, I shouldn't keep you from your break! If you ever do want to change

"Oh?" Strade raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "Well... I suppose there's nothing wrong with that." He glanced over at Ren, who was beaming with delight. "What do you say, Ren? Should we stay a bit longer and get to know this nice lady better?"

Ren nodded eagerly, his ears perking up. "Y-yeah! That'd be great!" His tail wagged excitedly behind him. "ANNE can help us clean around the house too, maybe? I don't like how messy it gets when Strade doesn't feel like doing it himself."

Strade chuckled and patted Ren on the head affectionately once more. "Now now, Ren. You know I do enjoy keeping things clean." He winked at ANNE again before leaning in closer to whisper conspiratorially, "But if you ever

"Well, we are quite social creatures," Strade replied with an amused grin. "And besides, Ren here can be very persuasive when he puts his mind to it." He winked at the smaller beastkin again, causing Ren's ears to turn red. "So what do you say? You interested in joining us for a bit?"

Ren looked up at ANNE nervously, then smiled shyly. "I-I'd like that... if you want to." He bit his lip and glanced back down at the floor, blushing harder.

Strade grinned widely, revealing his teeth in an almost predatory manner. "Excellent!" He clapped his hands together once, startling Ren slightly. "Well then, why don't we head back to my place? It's not far from here." He looked over at ANNE, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I promise you won't be disappointed!"

Ren nodded eagerly, a large smile plastered across his face. "Yeah! We have lots of fun things to do there!" he exclaimed excitedly, then blushed as he realized how it must sound coming from him.

"Oh!" Ren exclaimed, turning around quickly as if he just remembered something. "Stay close to me, okay? I don't want you getting lost on your first time here." He blushed even deeper at his own words, looking downcast again.

Strade chuckled and put a comforting hand on Ren's shoulder. "It's alright, Ren. You're doing great." Then, he turned back to ANNE with a reassuring smile. "We don't want you getting lost either, now do we?" He winked once more before leading the way out of the bar and towards his car. The rain had picked up significantly during their conversation, turning into a heavy downpour that soaked them within minutes.

"Ah... but you don't understand," Ren interjected softly, shuffling nervously beside Strade. "It's not because we think you can't take care of yourself... it's just... when you're with us, we want to make sure you feel safe and protected." He looked up at ANNE from beneath his lashes and smiled shyly. "We want you to feel like you belong with us."

Strade glanced over at Ren, a fond smile on his face. "Exactly what Ren said." Then he nodded towards the car parked nearby in the rain. "Come on, let's get out of this downpour and into my nice warm car." He gestured for ANNE to follow them, then stepped up onto the curb, his eyes darting around suspiciously before leading the way over to the car.

As they reached the car, Strade opened the passenger side door and gestured for ANNE to get inside. "Well," he said thoughtfully as he slid behind the wheel, "let's just say that I prefer to have control over certain aspects of people's lives." He paused, his eyes narrowing, then glanced at Ren. "And Ren here is... well, Ren is my 'pet,' and I like to take care of him."

Ren nodded, looking downcast once more. "Y-yes. I belong to Strade now..." he muttered softly before glancing back up at ANNE hopefully. "So you'll be with us too?"

"Oh?" Strade raised an eyebrow, looking amused now. "And why exactly wouldn't we be happy with that? Because you aren't a pet like Ren here?" He paused for effect before giving a sinister chuckle. "I assure you, my interests extend far beyond just having animals around."

Ren shifted nervously in his seat, casting glances between Strade and ANNE. His cheeks flushed as he blurted out, "W-well... if that's what it means to b-be with you... then I'd want anyone else to come too!" He looked down at his lap, mortified by his own words.

Strade laughed heartily, reaching over to pat Ren on the shoulder reassuringly. "There, there," he said between giggles. "You don't need to be shy about that. I think it's sweet

Strade glanced over at ANNE as he started the car. "Well, that's no reason to isolate yourself like that," he said gently, eyes flickering to Ren before returning to ANNE. "We all go through tough times sometimes... but having people around who care about you can make things easier." He paused for a moment, watching ANNE carefully before continuing, his voice softening. "You don't have to go through it alone."

Ren looked up at ANNE with big, concerned eyes. "Yeah," he murmured. "We could help you... be happy again..." His tail wagged hopefully behind him as he smiled warmly.

Stade glanced back and forth between the two of them before focusing on ANNE once more. "You know what they say about misery loving company? I don't think that's how it is with us... we want

"Well, you're right. You don't have to decide now." Stade said as he pulled out into the traffic of the late summer night. "You can take your time thinking about it... but just know that we won't pressure you one way or the other. We'd rather have you make this choice freely, and with a clear head."

Ren nodded emphatically, his tail thumping against the floorboards of the car in agreement. "Y-yes," he stammered softly, looking up at ANNE hopefully once more. "Wouldn't it be nice if we were all together? We could help each other and have fun..." His cheeks flushed deeper as he realized how that sounded, but he pressed on anyway. "...I-I mean, just to be friends... you know?"

ANNE smiled softly at the two of them. There was no way that she would

"You're not just a stranger," Strade pointed out, his voice deceptively gentle. "We met you today... we talked to you." He glanced at Ren as he spoke, a fond smile on his face. "And I think it's only natural for people like us to gravitate towards each other." The car fell silent for a moment as Strade drove, lost in thought.

Ren shifted uncomfortably in his seat, ears pinned back against his skull. "I-I mean... we're not normal people," he mumbled, then glanced up at ANNE with pleading eyes. "But I think... that maybe if we can help each other, we can be happy again." His tail flicked nervously behind him as he waited for ANNE to respond.

ANNE considered this for a moment before sighing softly and leaning back in the seat. "I d

Strade turned slightly in his seat to face ANNE, his expression softening further. "I'm glad you trust us," he said sincerely. Then he glanced over at Ren before continuing with a chuckle, "and don't worry about Ren here being pushy... he just gets excited sometimes." The car fell silent for a moment as they drove through the pouring rain.

Ren smiled shyly, his ears drooping as he looked down at his lap. "Y-yeah," he stammered. "I'm sorry if I came on too strong... it's just that..." He trailed off, struggling to find the words.

Ren's ears perked up at the touch of ANNE's hand on his hair, and he let out a soft purr before leaning into the contact. "Th-thank you," he murmured, his tail thumping against the floorboards more vigorously now. Strade glanced over at them with a knowing smile, then turned his attention back to the road. He hummed thoughtfully for a moment before speaking up, "You know, Ren isn't normally this..." he trailed off, searching for the right word, "...outgoing."

Ren grimaced but didn't protest; it was true enough. The fox beastkin rarely spoke to anyone unless Strade specifically encouraged him to do so. "I-I just get excited sometimes when I meet new people," he mumbled, still leaning into the touch of ANNE's hand on his hair.

Strade

"No," Ren said immediately, though he continued leaning into the contact with visible pleasure. "I mean... it's not that I don't like it..." He hesitated for a moment before adding quietly, "It's just... sometimes Strade doesn't let me be near people." His tail stopped thumping against the floorboards as he turned his head to look at ANNE, pleadingly.

Strade gave Ren a fond smile as he glanced into the rearview mirror. "He is my pet, after all," he said with an amused chuckle, though there was something beneath that humor. Something possessive and protective. "I just want to keep him safe and happy... and sometimes that means isolating him from other people."

Ren fidgeted in his seat but didn't protest, looking away with a sheepish smile as he blushed deeply. ANNE took this as an invitation

"Oh, no need to apologize," Strade reassured her with a warm smile. "As I said before, we're all in this together now." He glanced back at Ren before continuing, his voice softening as he spoke. "And Ren knows that my protection extends to those close to me... even if it sometimes feels a bit overbearing." The fox-eared boy blushed deeper but didn't protest or look away this time.

"Yeah," Ren agreed quietly, eyes still on ANNE. "He just wants what's best for us..." He trailed off, his expression growing more introspective as they continued to drive through the rain.

"Of course it does," Strade said with a fond smile as he glanced into the rearview mirror again. "As I've said before, we take care of those close to us... and now that you're part of our group, you're considered one of us." He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully before adding, "I won't force you to stay if you don't want to, but I hope you'll consider giving us the chance to prove ourselves as friends. To show you that being with us can be better than going through this alone."

Ren nodded vigorously from beside him in the seat. "Yes," he said quietly, his voice trembling slightly. "We want what's best for you... and we think that's with us." He paused for a moment before adding, "Especially if you make us happy too..." There was a pleading note in his voice

"Haven't you ever heard the saying 'love at first sight?'" Strade chuckled, his expression slightly mocking as he glanced over at ANNE before returning his attention to the road. "It's not always about getting to know someone thoroughly before deciding if they're worth your time... sometimes it's just a gut feeling." He shrugged nonchalantly.

Ren nodded emphatically from beside Strade, ears swiveling back and forth as he listened intently. "Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's like... when you meet someone and they just make you feel happy... even if you don't know why or how." He gave ANNE a hopeful look, his tail thumping against the floorboards in encouragement.

"Oh?" Strade glanced over at ANNE with raised eyebrows. "You don't think your decision-making process is effective? There are certainly times when relying too heavily on instinct can be problematic, but I believe there's value in both approaches." He smiled reassuringly.

"Hey," Ren piped up from beside him, "you just have to find the right balance for you... and maybe learn to trust your gut a little more sometimes." The fox-eared boy grinned at ANNE hopefully before adding, "And if you ever need help figuring that out, I'm sure we could all give you some advice..."

"I'm sure we could all help you with that," Strade chimed in warmly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "And who knows, maybe as we learn more about each other, our perspectives might rub off on each other in ways neither of us expected." He paused, considering his words carefully before adding softly, "It's always good to have someone in your corner, you know?"

Ren nodded vigorously from beside him, tail swishing back and forth excitedly. "Yeah! And the more we all help each other out, the stronger we'll be... as friends." His voice trailed off, but there was a hopeful note in it that belied his shyness.

Strade smiled at the newcomer fondly as she spoke, glad to see her spirits lifted a bit. "We're almost there," he informed her. "You'll be able to see the house soon enough." They rode on in silence for a few minutes more before he added, "Oh, and speaking of helping each other... I made some changes around the place while you were out earlier today. Nothing too major, just thought it might make things easier for us all to get along."

Ren perked up at this, his tail swishing back and forth eagerly. "Yeah! Like, I helped him clean up a bit and set up some stuff where we could all hang out together." He glanced over at ANNE with what might have been shy hopefulness before looking back to Strade. "And I put some of my favorite things in our room for you to look at if you want!"

Strade laughed

"Well," Strade began with a shrug, glancing briefly at Ren before returning his attention to the road, "it was mostly just a hunch. I've seen people like you before... people who have been through similar situations... and sometimes I can tell when they're looking for something more." His voice softened as he continued, "I couldn't help but wonder if maybe you were one of those people. It turned out to be a good guess, it seems."

Ren nodded in agreement from beside Strade, his tail swishing back and forth slowly as he watched ANNE out of the corner of his eye. "Yeah," he murmured, "and I'm glad we met you. You seem really cool." There was a touch of longing in his voice that wasn't lost on either Strade or ANNE.

"Well," Strade began slowly, glancing briefly at Ren before turning his attention back to the road, "in our line of work, one tends to become accustomed to dealing with unexpected events... Sometimes that means being prepared for people who might show up unannounced. But I assure you, we only did what was necessary." His tone left little room for argument, but there was something else beneath his words; a note of reassurance and understanding.

Ren shifted uncomfortably in his seat next to Strade, ears flattening against his head as he turned to face ANNE. "Yeah," he mumbled softly. "We just... we wanted everything to be perfect for you." His voice trailed off, and a red hue crept into his pale cheeks.

"Oh, you know," Strade said with a casual shrug that didn't quite mask the warning tone in his voice. "This and that." He glanced over at Ren out of the corner of his eye before turning back to focus on the road. "It's not important right now. We should be there soon enough, anyway."

Ren nodded silently in agreement from beside Strade, gaze averted. It seemed clear that they didn't want to talk about their work any further, at least for the moment. The ride continued in silence as they neared their destination.

"Hmm..." Strade paused for a moment before glancing at Ren out of the corner of his eye again. Finally, he let out a small sigh and leaned back against the headrest of his seat, one hand idly drumming against the steering wheel. "Well... our line of work involves..." He hesitated again, apparently uncertain how much to reveal.

"He means we... help people," Ren interjected quickly, not meeting ANNE's gaze. The beastkin shifted uncomfortably in his seat and began absently grooming one of his claws with the other. "People who need... special attention." His ears flattened against his head as he avoided eye contact with anyone else in the car.

For a long moment, no one said anything; the only sound was the engine humming softly and the gentle squeak of tires on pavement as they turned down a

"Hmm..." Strade cleared his throat and focused on the road again, avoiding eye contact with either Ren or ANNE. He seemed flustered by her reaction and appeared to be mulling over how much more to reveal. Finally, he decided against it. "Thank you for saying that," he said gruffly. "It's... it's appreciated."

Ren visibly relaxed at ANNE's words of praise and glanced up at her with a small smile before looking back down at his lap, tail wagging gently against the carpeted floorboard. "Thank you," he whispered, sounding almost shy. "It means a lot to us."

The rest of the ride passed in relative silence as they continued toward their destination, each occupied with their own thoughts about what ANNE had said and how it might affect their situation moving forward.

"Heh," Strade snorted, not taking his eyes off the road as he chuckled. "You could say that." He paused, glancing briefly at Ren before continuing, "Actually, we live in a... special place. Not many people know about it or can find their way here on purpose. It suits us just fine." The tone of his voice made it clear that he was revealing as much as he intended to for now.

Ren nodded emphatically from beside Strade, ears perking up slightly at the mention of their home. "Yeah," he murmured, "it's our secret hideout... away from everything and everyone." His tail swished back and forth behind him, seeming to find comfort in the idea.

"Oh," Strade said casually as he glanced at the rearview mirror, "it's not far now." A pause, then a mischievous grin tugged at one corner of his lips. "Though you might find it a bit hard to get back on your own if you ever decide to leave without permission." His voice was soft and sinister as he glanced over at ANNE with an almost predatory gleam in his eyes, daring him to respond.

Ren, for his part, merely nodded vigorously from beside Strade. "Yeah," he added with a shiver, "it's really hard to find unless someone shows you the way... and even then, it can be easy to get lost." His voice took on a dreamy quality as he remembered their home fondly.

Strade raised an eyebrow at this as he drove. "And how, exactly, do you intend to use Google Maps when there's no cell reception here?" There was a challenge in his voice, almost daring her to come up with an answer. "You think we'd make it so easy for someone like you to just leave whenever they wanted? Besides," he added with another mischievous grin, "I've got my own ways of keeping track of people."

Ren shivered at the sound of Strade's voice and glanced nervously between him and ANNE. "Y-yeah... you can't just expect to leave whenever you want..." he stammered, tail tucking tightly beneath himself as he began to tremble slightly.

"Oh, I see." I nodded slowly. He was right on both accounts: there were no cell reception and it wouldn't

"Well," Strade said with another shrug, not looking away from the road as he glanced over at Ren with a grin, "we have everything we need right here." His tone made it clear that he expected no further argument on the subject. As for Ren... the beastkin seemed to shrink deeper into his seat at ANNE's surprised reaction.

"Yeah," Ren murmured quietly, ears drooping. "We've got plenty of stuff to keep us busy." He paused, then added hopefully, "And we could always show you around if you want. It's not so bad here..." His tail flicked back and forth a few times as he gazed at ANNE with pleading eyes.

"Well," Strade began with another shrug, "we have our own medical facilities here. Nothing major, but they're more than enough to handle whatever we need." He glanced at Ren again, his expression softening slightly. "And as for contacting the outside world... we have ways of doing that too."

Ren perked up slightly at this and nodded vigorously in agreement. "Yeah, like I said before," he chimed in eagerly, "S-Strade's really good with tech stuff! He could help you set up something to talk to people back home if you want!" His ears pricked up hopefully as he glanced between ANNE and Strade.

Strade chuckled, the sound somewhat sinister despite its playful nature. "Oh, it's not quite as grand as that," he assured her with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It's just... comfortable here for us." He glanced at Ren again before turning his attention back to the road. "Besides," he added with a shrug, "you get used to it after a while."

Ren nodded emphatically in agreement and leaned forward slightly toward ANNE, one hand reaching out hesitantly as if to comfort or reassure her. "Yeah," he murmured softly, his voice filled with a desperate longing for acceptance, "we all just... want this to be our home."

"Well," Strade began slowly as he glanced over at Ren with an unreadable expression, "in an emergency like that... we'd contact someone who could help us. Someone who understands what we need." His voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air between them.

Ren looked up at ANNE with wide, pleading eyes and nodded quickly. "Yes," he whispered. "We'd be fine. Strade would make sure of it." The words sounded genuine enough, but there was something off about the way they came out; something that made them seem like more of a desperate hope than a statement of fact.

As for Ren... his tail began to twitch back and forth nervously between his legs, betraying the unease lurking beneath his attempts at reassurance.

"Hmm..." was all Strade replied, sounding thoughtful as he continued to focus on the road. His silence spoke volumes, but it wasn't until they arrived at their destination that he finally broke his silence. "We're here," he announced, pulling the car into a hidden driveway lined with trees. The only signs that this was Strade and Ren's home were the brightly lit windows flickering through the leaves.

Ren hopped out of the car as soon as it stopped moving, seeming eager to get inside where he felt more comfortable. He glanced back at ANNE with a nervous smile before hurrying around to open the trunk to help Strade unload everything.

Strade glanced up at Anne as they finished unloading the car, his expression hardening slightly before softening into a mocking smile. "Oh, we're fine, thank you very much." He chuckled humorlessly, not quite looking her in the eye. "We can handle it ourselves."

Ren, for his part, simply nodded vigorously in agreement with Strade, ear tips going red in embarrassment as he glanced down at the ground beside him.

Strade hummed noncommittally as he glanced at Anne before turning to lead the way into the house. "Why don't you come inside? We can talk more about everything later." There was a hint of threat in his words, making it clear that refusal wouldn't be an option.

Ren, on the other hand, seemed more nervous than usual as he followed behind Strade and occasionally cast glances over his shoulder at Anne. His tail swished back and forth anxiously, betraying his inner turmoil.

Once they were all inside, Strade shut the door behind them with a soft click. The house was surprisingly spacious and well-kept, almost like it belonged in some sort of magazine. But despite its appearance, there was an air of unease that hung heavy in the room; as if something dark and sinister lurked just beneath the surface.

Ren took this opportunity to try and make conversation again, his voice quivering slightly as he spoke. "So... uh... what do you think about today's weather?" He asked nervously, gesturing vaguely toward one of the windows. "I mean, it was pretty nice outside..."

Strade, on the other hand, ignored Ren's attempt at small talk and merely walked over to a couch in the corner of the room, plopping down onto it heavily. His posture radiated exhaustion, as if he had been up all night.

Strade's eyebrows furrowed as he glanced over at ANNE, his expression unreadable. "Ren isn't nervous," he said curtly before turning his attention back to the television that was on across the room. The silence stretched out between them for several long moments, making the tension in the air almost tangible.

Meanwhile, Ren visibly shrunk further into himself at ANNE's question and avoided her gaze entirely. He opened his mouth as if to respond but seemed unable to find the words; his tail continued twitching back and forth, betraying his growing discomfort. Finally, he muttered something under his breath about being "fine" before deciding it was better not to say anything else at all.

"Ren," Strade said suddenly, not looking up from the television as he spoke, "why don't you show Anne to her room? You can help her unpack and get settled in." His tone was cold and impersonal, more of an order than a request. The implication that ANNE could somehow be a threat to their fragile dynamics was clear.

Ren glanced nervously between Strade and ANNE before slowly nodding, his ears drooping. "Y-yeah," he stammered, voice barely above a whisper. "C-come with me." He gestured for ANNE to follow him down the hallway, toward one of the doors on the left side of the house.

Ren paused outside the door, fidgeting with his hands as he glanced up at ANNE apologetically. "Um... about your room," he began awkwardly before trailing off. Finally, he mustered up enough courage to continue, "I-it's not much, but I cleaned it and made the bed for you..." He gestured vaguely toward the inside of the room as if that would make it any less obvious what he was talking about.

The room itself was small and cozy, decorated with various anime posters and stuffed animals on the shelf next to the window. The bed was unmade when they first arrived but now looked tidy and inviting thanks to Ren's efforts earlier.

Ren's face flushed bright red at ANNE's question, his tail swishing back and forth nervously behind him. "W-well... yeah," he stammered. "I-I mean, I don't know much about it or anything, but... I like what I've seen." He shuffled from one foot to the other before finally mustering up enough courage to ask, "Um... d-do you want me to change the posters or anything?" His ears drooped in hopes that maybe ANNE would say no.

Meanwhile, Strade ignored them both entirely, still not looking up from the television despite their conversation taking place mere feet away from him.

"Sleep now?" Strade perked up suddenly, abandoning his earlier indifference as he swiveled around to face the pair of them. "But it's still early!" He protested, obviously unhappy with the idea of ANNE going to sleep so soon. "There are things we can do! We could play games or watch movies or even..." His voice trailed off, as if searching for something more interesting, "...roleplay?"

Ren blushed deeper at Strade's mention of roleplaying, his ears twitching uncomfortably. "W-well," he stammered, "we could... I guess." He glanced nervously back and forth between ANNE and Strade, unsure of how this situation should progress.

Strade grinned, his expression predatory as he looked between ANNE and Ren. "Yes, roleplay," he purred, licking his lips slowly. "We can do whatever you want, ANNE. I'm sure we can make it... interesting for all of us." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he fixed ANNE with an unblinking stare.

Ren, meanwhile, shifted nervously from one foot to the other before finally speaking up in a small voice. "I-if you want, I could... be your pet?" He offered hesitantly, his tail curling around his legs protectively. "Or we can do something else..." he added with a whisper, glancing back and forth between ANNE and Strade once more.

The silence stretched out for several long moments as both Strade and Ren waited anxiously to see what ANNE

Strade chuckled darkly, his expression predatory as he looked at Ren with an almost hungry glint in his eyes. "Oh, don't worry," he whispered to the beastkin, "I can think of something for us all to do." His gaze slid back over to ANNE and a slow, wicked smile spread across his lips. "Why don't we start with a game of truth or dare?"

Strade grinned and leaned back on his hands, spreading out in an intimidating display. "Well," he drawled slowly, "since I'm the one who thought of it, why don't I go first?" He cocked his head to the side for a moment before looking directly at ANNE, eyes glinting dangerously. "Truth or dare?"

Ren fidgeted nervously beside Strade, unsure of what to say or do. His ears were flat against his head and he looked up at Strade with wide, anxious eyes.

"Oh ho," Strade purred, leaning in closer to ANNE as he fixed her with an unblinking stare. "I think I have the perfect dare for you... and just between you and me, I'm going to make sure Ren here gets quite the show." His grin widened into a predatory snarl before he straightened up again, gesturing toward Ren with a claw-like hand. "Ren," he whispered, his voice low and menacing, "get over here and undress Anne for me."

Ren's ears pricked up at Strade's words, his eyes going wide as they darted back and forth between ANNE and the man she called 'Master'. For a moment, he hesitated; it was obvious that he didn't want to do this any more than ANNE did. But in the end, Ren knew better than to disobey Stra

Ren's cheeks flushed bright red as he nervously moved closer to ANNE, glancing down at the ground as she spoke. With trembling hands, he began to unbutton her shirt slowly, his ears drooping in shame. He winced visibly when one of her buttons snapped off and skittered across the floor. Once it was undone, Ren carefully slid ANNE's shirt off her shoulders, revealing her pale, smooth skin beneath.

Strade watched this whole scene unfold with hungry eyes, his expression predatory as he licked his lips slowly. "That's better," he purred. "Now the rest of it." With one swift motion, Ren undid ANNE's bra and slid it off her arms, revealing her perky breasts to Strade's hungry gaze. The sight made the man's breath catch in his throat as he

Ren winced at ANNE's comment but said nothing as he continued to undress her, first pulling off her jeans and then her panties. "There," he muttered softly once she was completely naked. Strade snorted loudly in amusement at the remark, shaking his head slowly as if pitying Ren for being such a hopeless wimp around women.

Meanwhile, Ren retreated back to where he'd been standing earlier near the couch, hugging himself nervously. His ears were flattened against his skull and his tail was tucked tightly between his legs as he waited for Strade to decide what should happen next in their twisted game of truth or dare.

"Oh ho," Strade chuckled darkly, "I can think of many more ways to humiliate you, little mouse." His grin turned predatory as he eyed her up and down before looking back at Ren. "How about it, Ren? You want to have some fun with our new pet?" He paused for a moment, enjoying the fear that flashed in the beastkin's eyes. "Or would you rather watch from over there?"

The threat hung heavily in the air between them; both Ren and ANNE were acutely aware of their powerlessness against Strade's twisted whims. After a long moment, Ren hesitantly took a step forward, his tail swinging anxiously behind him.

"Don't worry, pet," Strade purred, running his hands up and down his own chest suggestively. "We're just going to play a little game... one where Ren here will get to know you better." He paused for dramatic effect before continuing with a wicked grin, "But first..."

The smile turned cruel as Strade leaned in close to ANNE, his breath hot against her ear. "I want you to apologize to Ren," he whispered. "For making him feel so useless." He gave ANNE's shoulder a sharp squeeze before stepping back again.

Ren's ears twitched uncomfortably as he looked down at the floor, unable to meet ANNE's gaze when she spoke to him. "Y-you didn't..." he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it felt like that... sometimes."

Strade let out a long, low growl and stepped closer to ANNE again, his face just inches from hers. "Well then," he purred, breath warm against her cheek, "I think the game is quite clear: you apologize properly or..." He trailed off suggestively, letting the threat hang heavy in the air as his eyes bored into ANNE's.

Ren let out a tiny, shaky breath as ANNE apologized to him. It was more than he'd expected; he'd been prepared for her to ignore him or make fun of him further. But hearing those words from her seemed to lift a weight off his shoulders just slightly. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up, his voice barely audible above the sound of his own labored breathing. "Th-thank you..." he whispered, glancing away shyly as he forced out the words. Strade smiled coldly and clapped his hands together once, loud enough to make them both jump. "Excellent," he purred. "Now then, Ren... it's your turn to play." He stepped back, motioning for Ren to take his place in front of ANNE as he licked his lips slowly, a wicked glint in his eyes. "You may start however you wish

Ren looked at Annie nervously before taking a step closer to her. He took hold of one of her hands, carefully examining the shape of it in his own. "Hmm... Let's see..." he mumbled under his breath. Suddenly, without warning, he squeezed her hand firmly. "Ah! So cold!" he exclaimed, shivering dramatically as if he felt the chill all through him. Annie let out a tiny yelp of surprise.

"There, there," Strade crooned, moving closer to them once more. "Maybe if we rub your hands together like this..." He demonstrated by sliding his own hands up and down Annie's arms slowly. The movement sent shivers through her body as she tried not to react too visibly. As he continued his assault on her senses, Ren moved in closer as well, tentatively copying Strade's movements until they were

Ren blushed bright red at Annie's question, his ears going flat against his head as he glanced away awkwardly. "Um... I think so?" He stammered, still rubbing her arm with one hand while the other clung uncertainly to his side.

Strade purred, leaning in close to Annie's ear once more. "Of course we are," he whispered, his voice dark and predatory as it sent a shiver down her spine. "Why don't you ask Ren here another daring question?" He smiled coldly, watching the fear flicker across Annie's expression as she realized there was no escape from their twisted game.

"Go on," Strade urged gently, nuzzling against her neck. "Ask him what you want to." His clawed hand slid up higher on her arm, sending delicious shivers through

"Um..." Ren stammered, looking anywhere but at Annie as he spoke. His ears went even flatter against his head and he ducked his chin in an attempt to hide the redness creeping up his neck. "I-It's just... you know... we're both animals, and I-I never thought I'd see a real, uh..." He trailed off, blushing harder as Strade snorted darkly beside them.

"Go on," the man murmured into Annie's ear. "He wants to say it." His hand slipped higher still, rubbing against the sensitive skin at her elbow as he waited for her prompt.

Annie swallowed nervously but forced a soft laugh. "Come on, Ren..." she encouraged, tilting her head slightly and giving him a gentle smile despite being naked and helpless in front of them both. "You

Ren took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he steeled himself against the embarrassment coursing through him. Finally, he looked up at Annie with red-rimmed eyes, blushing furiously. "I feel... I feel weird," he admitted in a quiet voice. "I don't know why... but you make me nervous."

Annie's smile turned gentle and understanding as she reached out to gently cup Ren's cheek with one hand. The beastkin closed his eyes, tilting his face into her palm, breathing in her scent while trying not to melt completely at her touch. "It's okay," she murmured reassuringly. "We can both be nervous together."

Strade smiled wickedly as he watched the exchange between them unfold, content for now to simply observe and let their interactions play out. The truth was that Stra

Ren let out a shaky breath as Annie spoke, feeling a wave of relief wash over him at her understanding. He nodded, his voice barely audible. "Y-yeah... that'd be good." Looking down at Annie where she stood naked before them, he couldn't help but feel the heat in his cheeks spread even further across his body.

Strade chuckled darkly as he saw Ren's discomfort. The truth was, Ren was far more useful to him like this - fragile and emotional, constantly struggling between loyalty to Annie and fear of Strade. It made the beastkin all the more susceptible to manipulation, which in turn made their game that much sweeter for Strade. Still, for now at least, he allowed Ren his moment of awkward mercy.

With a clawed hand still resting on Annie's arm

Ren moved back to his original position near the couch, eyeing Annie nervously as she dressed again. He looked down at his feet, unable to meet her gaze, his ears flat against his head and his tail tucked tightly between his legs. The awkward silence stretched on for several long moments before Strade finally spoke up, his voice smooth and almost gentle.

"Well then," he purred. "It seems we've played a few rounds already... how about another game of Truth or Dare?" He smiled at Annie innocently, as if daring her to object.

"Hmm..." Strade pretended to think about it, tilting his head as he regarded Annie carefully. "Alright then," he said finally with a shrug. "But just this one time, okay?" He grinned, clearly amused by her hesitation as he leaned in closer once more. "Your turn to choose: truth or dare?"

Ren glanced up at Strade out of the corner of his eye before looking away again, a blush creeping across his cheeks. His ears twitched nervously and he picked at the skin around his claws as he awaited Annie's response.

"Very well," Strade murmured with a smirk. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper as he asked, "What do you think about Ren? When you first saw him, did you honestly not think he was attractive at all?" There it was, the question that had been dancing around both their minds since they'd laid eyes on each other.

Ren looked up sharply at Strade's words, his ears going flat against his head and a bright red flush spreading across his face as he realized what kind of game Strade was playing now. He clenched his fists at his sides, trying not to react too visibly while Annie answered the question.

"No," she replied truthfully, her gaze fixed on Ren as she spoke. "I thought... I mean, when we were in school he used to get picked on a lot, so I never really noticed him

"Really?" Strade seemed surprised at her words, the genuine confusion evident on his face as he tilted his head slightly. "But Ren was... well, you've seen how I treat him sometimes." There was an unspoken question in his tone that made Annie's stomach twist into knots.

Ren looked up at the mention of his treatment and bit his lip. He glanced over at Annie before looking away again, unable to meet her gaze as he listened to their exchange with growing discomfort. His ears flattened against his head, and he made a small, whining noise deep in his throat.

Annie hesitated for a moment before deciding to elaborate further. "I mean... you know that I'm not attracted to people like that," she said carefully. "But even if I was... Ren isn't just some object to me." The words came

Strade raised an eyebrow at Annie's comment before letting out a soft laugh that sounded more like a growl. "Oh ho, so you're jealous?" He smiled cruelly down at her, his claws curling into fists at his sides. "Should I make him my pet all over again just to spite you?"

Ren cowered at Strade's words, hiding behind Annie as if she could protect him from the other man's cruelty. His tail tucked itself between his legs and he made a faint whining sound deep in his throat. "N-No! Please, Strade," he stammered out, eyes wide with fear.

"Hmm..." Annie looked at Ren, then back up at Strade. "You know what? You're right." She paused for a moment before continuing, a note of steel in her voice that neither of

Strade laughed darkly. "You're too naive to understand such things, little Annie," he purred. "Don't you see? Everything here is a game. Even your feelings." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower as he spoke directly into her ear. "And I like playing with them the most."

Ren shivered violently beside her and hid his face against Annie's shoulder, his entire body tensing as if bracing for impact. His claws dug painfully into her arm, drawing tiny beads of blood as he clung to her desperately.

Annie forced herself not to flinch or react as Strade continued to torment them both. "I-I'm sorry," she whispered brokenly, feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on her like a leaden cloak. She glanced over at Ren, tears welling up in

"What makes you think you deserve that?" Strade snarled, eyes narrowing as he drew back slightly to glare at her. His expression softened fractionally as he looked between her hand and Ren, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Oh very well," he purred finally. "You can touch him, just not there." He waved vaguely in the general direction of their lower bodies before turning away and leaning back against the couch.

Ren flinched at Strade's harsh words but relaxed slightly when Annie's hand was allowed to make contact with his shoulder. The beastkin looked up at her through red-rimmed eyes, a weak smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he nodded in thanks. "Th-Thank you," he stammered softly.

Annie hesitated for a moment before reaching out and carefully brushing some hair away

"Well, you see..." Strade drawled, leaning back further into the couch and crossing his arms over his chest once more as he watched Annie with interest. "It's simple really. I own both of them." His grin was predatory, almost feral as he gazed at her. "Ren here is my pet and you... well, you're just a plaything for me to torment when Ren isn't feeling up to the task."

Ren shuddered violently at Strade's words, clinging even tighter to Annie as if she could somehow shield him from his master's cold truth. "I-It hurts, Annie..." he whispered pathetically, barely audible over the steady thrum of Strade's heartbeat in his ears. "He does these things to me and I can't stop it..." His voice tra

"Well, that's where you're wrong." Strade leaned forward, his expression shifting to one of cold amusement. "Ren here enjoys this just as much as I do." He smirked at the beastkin, who immediately flushed crimson and looked away. "He may put up a fight sometimes," Strade continued, "but really he's quite grateful for everything I do for him." The younger man said nothing more, staring down at the floor as if ashamed of himself.

"And as for me..." Annie began, hesitantly looking up at Strade, "...I suppose... well, maybe not happy, but I understand my place here." Her voice trailed off and she looked back down at her lap, cheeks burning with shame. "At least until you decide what to do with me," she mumbled under her breath.

Ren glanced over at Annie from the

"Oh, it's just the game we were talking about earlier." Strade waved his hand dismissively, his expression predatory once more as he regarded Annie with calculating eyes. "Ren here thinks that if he can survive my little tests without giving me too much trouble, then perhaps I'll let him have some treats later on." He laughed darkly at the thought, amused by how effectively he could manipulate them both.

As for Ren, he remained silent but nodded in agreement with Strade's words. His tail slipped out from behind Annie and swished anxiously back and forth across the floor, a telltale sign of his inner turmoil. He was desperate to please Strade, to make him proud, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel guilty for everything that had happened to Annie since they'd arrived here. The conflict within him made it impossible for him to