An Unexpected Visitor

Just as everything became situated, the door opened as Lili snuggled into the mixture of male who wasn't supposed to be here and blanket. Not as soft as normal, but comforting in its own way to cuddle into someone else. She was about to put on the more cute act, knowing just what tugged on the guard's heartstrings, but as the lighter colored skin with darkened colored hair came into the room she sat up a bit.

"Lilinaya, are you alright?" The deeper voice asked, one of few who'd even refer to her by name and not just madam or miss. Lili couldn't say she wasn't happy to see her brother, but under nicer circumstances would always be better.

"Dravmos, they've put you on the guard watch?" He seemed unhappy, which was to be expected as he was a more freedom loving person.

"No, I was just in the area and agreed to check on my sibling. Mother and father were very adamant when it came to litters sticking together. So are you alright?" He was what Lil considered nice but was more proper than the under dressed female, which Lil was used to and just laid back down as if settling back in. Much more comfortable in the lifestyle handed to her than her brother was. She always wondered why he came back, when he always seemed to hate it here, but she knew there could be many reasons to want to return varying from family to maybe even loving his own mistress. She was rather kind and let him wander as long as he returned to her, a loyal pet in a way. It left her wondering if that was all her family would be to the Krool household, pets.

"I'm fine, it was nice to see you at least." Giving a nod as Dravmos left, closing the door behind himself, Lil waited a bit longer as she gently kneaded the blankets her stowaway was hidden in. "So, what's your name now that it's quiet once more?"

Ezekiel felt himself blush hard when Lili cuddled against him (or the blankets, rather) so as to hide him. He did his best to control how hard his heart was beating, especially since it relates back to his breathing, and hyperventilating while trying to hide is not a good idea.

Everything slowed down once he heard the door being open though, his survival instincts kicking in once again. He partially listened in to the conversation, taking note of Lilinaya's name, [and oh, what a wonderful name it was], and he further understood from the conversation that this person is Lili's sibling. He found that intriguing for a minute. So it seems like Lilinaya isn't the only one 'working' under this particular owner, but her entire family is, too...?

He let his mind wander as Lili and Dravmos continued talking, and when Dravmos finally left, he felt himself relaxing once more. He was about to roll out of the blankets immediately after when Lili's kneading made him stop. What...what is she doing...? he started to wonder, a blush returning to his face.

"I'm Ezekiel..," he shyly replied to her question. "And I guess you're Lilinaya?" He paused all of the sudden, remembering her position as someone's 'pet'. "Am I allowed...to call you that?" he asked carefully, as he knows that some people might demand that others don't lightly use their names on their tongues.

Feeling the male start to move, eventually Lili stopped what her master called her ‘comforting actions’. Was it comforting to the person receiving or herself? She never thought to consider it, doing it often as a way to show calmness even in situations that weren’t all that pleasant to deal with. She dealt with all sorts of people when her master was home and had ‘guests’, and some were far from kind when it came to others. Selfish they were, and with the money under their name she was less surprised. Money did things to people, usually anyways.

“God’s strength.” She mused out loud, taking the blanket back to let the other be free to the less overwhelming heat there could be under the layers of person and covers. “You are correct, my name is Lilinaya. You can call me Lil or Lili.” Though, she didn’t expect to see Ezekiel too often or ever again after their encounter ended.

She tilted her head as he asked if he was allowed to call her by her name, a bit surprised he knew those sort standards for households like the one she was in. Strange really, but she knew people could come from all walks of lives and what they did outside their free time could be something entirely different. People could always meet a variety of others as well, or so she heard from Dravmos when he returned and told her of a few of the people he met when enjoying his free time from his mistress.

“You may, only workers of this household and ones I visit aren’t allowed to. My brother told me it was considered improper due to my rank. I don't have much of a rank though, so maybe it’s more from my master’s rank and his family.” At least, to herself she didn’t consider her above another worker. She was a mere house cat, a pet. She wasn’t one that took in etiquette training well though, not that it was taught to her seriously to begin with.

Ezekiel simply nodded after hearing what Lilinaya had to say, sitting up upon the bed as he did so, rubbing the back of his neck. He was still feeling shy at this point, still overwhelmed by Lili's scent and warmth. There might even be the leftovers of a blush upon his cheek.

He'd noticed then that he'd fallen into some kind of silence, unsure what to say, unsure what to do.

Most of all though, he felt conflicted. He knows of the life of the aristocrats, despite being only from a commoner family himself. After all, it is hard to escape such knowledge when he's the godchild of Umi'iro Lune, hence connecting himself to the entirety of the Lune family itself. And although the Lune family is...different..., thanks to Aozora Lune's humble background, he's still been exposed to this particular walk of life, especially the life of those rich people who are all fucked up and nasty.

He grimaced then, being reminded back to what Lilinaya meant with having a master and all that, how she's just a simple house cat and all that.

With those thoughts in mind, he couldn't stop his mouth from asking;

"How do you...live like this?"

Noticing that he might've sounded rude, he backed up and added,

"I mean, to be confined like this... I know it's not your fault... But I kinda wonder, are you not...sick of it?"

Tilting her head as she thought of the words, she was used to the more blunt and straightforward type so he was no different to her in this aspect. Time was money to many people, so beating around the bush was extra work that they didn’t want to deal with. She did let the thought bounce around in her head, but it was a simple answer she knew all too well.

“I’m taken care of by the family, treated rather well from what I’ve heard from others. It's boring but for a life of comfort some things are sacrificed, are they not?” She paused to think over her next words, knowing they had to be careful so not too much was exposed. “I know as long as I behave and accept the life given to me, it hurts less as well. I’m not fond of pain, I’m far too soft for that sort of thing.”

It all made sense to her at least, but behave and she got rewarded with a soft life, but she knew there was always more to the world. She heard it from her brother, she knew her younger brother was out there in that world as well, after running from the household and seeking freedom instead. She wasn’t sure she had the will to last if she left and failed, and she was comfortable enough to not think about it.

More silence followed after that. Indeed, to be able to obtain a life of comfort within the lust region is way better than freedom. Many warpas all over the Lust region would rather get a job in this industry, thanks to how much benefits it would give them.

Despite knowing all that though, it still feels off to Ezekiel. Perhaps it doesn't help that neither his parents are Lust-region natives, with his mother being from the Fraud region while his father is a different species of demon altogether. He's heard of their story though, of how they'd worked hard, living a life that doesn't fit their ideals, before finally getting to where they are today...

With feelings of passion towards the many painful sacrifices his parents had made before they were finally 'free', Ezekiel couldn't stop himself from saying,

"If it were up to me, you wouldn't have to be under the threat of pain at all..."

He gasped lightly upon realizing what he just said and pressed his lips together so as to stop himself from saying anything else. He turned his face away from Lilinaya too, not wanting her to see whatever expressions that he might've made.

Gosh he's so stupid, why is he saying stuff like this again?

His parents have told him many times over and over again, to not say things that'll put him into trouble.

Alas...if he were to be someone who's obedient to his parents, he won't be finding himself in situations like this now, would he?

Giving a half laugh, she couldn’t say this was the first time she heard something like this. Situations were usually different, in the moments sort of things after more adult like activities were completed, but this time was different. Ezekiel seemed embarrassed in a way, not sure of his own words. It left her wondering had he ever really interacted with someone in a more romantic or physical way. Not a question appropriate for their current time and one she figured would go unanswered unless Ezekiel decided to sneak in once more, something she herself wouldn’t suggest.

“It’s all wishful thinking in the end, I’m sure there are ways out but I am far too scared of the ‘what ifs’ that wait outside if I do. I merely have a different walk of life than most, and I’ve become okay with this.” She liked to think she was loved and adored as well, even if some part of her brain knew otherwise.  

God - if there is even a God - that sounded painful, Ezekiel thought, as he listened to the last bits of her words. He grasped onto the bedsheets below him, trying his best to control himself from saying the things that are threatening to spill out from his lips. Alas, it is part of his nature to be so reckless, so... unhinged.

He wouldn't have kept getting into trouble such as this if he were to be an obedient little man.

With whatever left of his control finally dissipating, he turned back towards Lilinaya, a fierce look of determination in his eyes. He eyed a lock of her hair that was closest to him, picked it up as gently as he could, then bowed down so as to press his forehead against it.

While this action may seem insignificant to the lady before him, to Ezekiel, this was a sign of affection, of adoration, and perhaps... of love. After all, this is how his parents keep expressing affection to one another (that is, other than kissing. Also his parents usually kissed the other's hair, but he thinks this might be too inappropriate to do to someone whom he barely knew, so he went for the forehead-touch instead. He might be a wild boy but he isn't that wild.)

"Come run away with me," he soon said to her, head still bowed. "I might be a commoner, but my home life is safe and secure. You won't have to be scared of any 'what if's', I'll keep you out of danger, I promise. You-" he swallowed a little before continuing, "-You don't even have to give me anything in return. I just... I want you to see how the world can be much better than just... this."

Such a selfish request from a lowly commoner such as himself, a voice of doubt whispered from the back of Ezekiel's mind. But he pushed that thought away with a hidden, resigned smile. After all, having selfish requests like this is perhaps, also, part of his nature..

Still for a moment as her longer hair was touched, she understood the sweeter of actions even if it was a rare occurrence in her life. A motion of affection, something to show he cared for her despite barely knowing her, less common in the household that thrived on money and lust. She was sure it was somewhere, the idea of love, but she knew few with such that she interacted with.

“Ezekiel...” She sighed, a look of sadness in her eyes as she wondered how to tell him things weren’t that easy. She suddenly perked up though, ears on alert as there was a louder male voice coming from the halls and slowly getting closer. “Oh no, master is home. Come, you need to go.”

Moving, she pushed Ezekiel back to the window where he originally came. Checking first to make sure there were no guards so he could make a more easy escape. She didn’t seem scared at all, but very on edge as the voice came closer and closer. She knew what she was supposed to be doing, and interacting with an outsider was not one of them. Ezekiel didn’t seem to want to go, but it wasn't a negotiation to her.

His question did give her pause as the louder footsteps and greetings of ‘hello young sir’ were dangerously near, *Can I see you again?* She wondered if this was what her brother had to deal with when on the outside, living out those moments of freedom away from captivity. There was only one real answer though, to her at least.

“You probably shouldn’t...” Watching as the half-blood was off, she turned to see her master giving her a curious look.

“Lilinaya, what are you doing?” His voice was harsher and not full of any sort of affection or love.

“There was something in the yard I found curious, welcome home~” Leaning up to give him a gentle kiss, he was unsure of her answer but accepted it easily enough as the open window was now closed.

Ezekiel felt electricity run up his skin upon hearing the voice as well, and when Lili told him that said voice belongs to her master, well....

It's probably a good thing that he has long bangs that could cover almost more than half his face, as the look in his eyes was absolutely menacing. It wasn't that he was making such an expression on purpose, but it was as usual, just something that he was used to doing. He's been in many fights, many squabbles, and all of them are for the same reason - to ensure the freedom of the warpas who had been caught by the trafficking rings that are prevalent around New Polsos. This person Lilinaya calls 'master', although different, to Ezekiel he is just the same as those people who are involved in those trafficking rings. 

Being touched and pushed by Lili brought him back to his senses, thankfully, and he backed up towards the window from which he came, but still with some hesitation. He asked if he could come see her again, despite knowing that he'll be met with rejection, and when he was sure that he only had a second left, he finally jumped off, soaring across the air and straight into some trees, hiding within their lush leaves. He turned back to look at Lilinaya one last time peering at her from where he's hidden, his eyes wide and honestly...afraid? Concerned? Worried? Even he himself wasn't sure. What he was sure about though, was the twinge in his heart upon seeing Lil's master come up behind her, and her placing a kiss onto his cheek. Was it jealousy? Or was it anger at the injustice of Lili's living arrangements?

...He'll try to figure that out later. 

For now, he continued watching until the windows to Lilinaya's room were closed, then he made his way out of the private area's compounds, slipping out of it more silently and expertly than he had when he'd first entered it. Instead of leaving immediately though, he instead cleaned himself up a bit, straightened up his clothes and hair, and began walking towards where the front gates to this area might be. 

He doubted that those traffickers from before were chasing him still, so he acted relaxed, as if nothing had happened, as if he were just a passerby. After all, he'll need to gather up some more information about this family who 'owns' Lilinaya. Any small information is fine, even just the family's name. 

He has *someone* who could help him out in a *particular* way, after all...