Like a Ton of Bricks [Lovi + Gupta?]

[Deleted]

When Lili's father brought up the issue of tags and chips, the former she was able to handle. After all, they didn't hurt anyone and even though Lovino had found them irritating, he seemed to adapt to them. There were plenty of dark little secrets Oliver failed to mention to his daughter, though why he never did so she will not understand. As her father he should be the first person to know how she feels about certain things, unable and unwilling to harm anyone and feeling guilty when such a thing had to happen.

Today, in fact, was one of those guilty days. Oliver decided to finally spring upon his daughter a brutal fact of owning mutants: the chipping.

What for, she asked him. His response was ridiculous. She had in Lovino all the faith she could possibly feel for anyone. He seemed relatively happy with her and had no reason to run away, even as the days of the short contract slipped away and it became brutally obviously that their time together would not last much longer. Chipping, according to Oliver, was a way to ensure that mutants could be found once they left. In that case was there even really a point to the tags? Most mutants could remove them if they escaped and then they could disappear.

She had no idea if Lovino knew this was something that had to happen, or if he was completely oblivious and it was up to her to break the bad news to him. She could not be deceptive and take him there without spilling, she was much too easy to read, and as she carried him in her arms to Gupta's shop, a place she had been to often for the purpose of petting his animals, she divulged to him the awful fact of the situation.

She silently resolved she was never going to get another mutant. It wasn't obvious when it wasn't her having to do anything herself, but owning Lovino had opened up to her a world she wanted no part in. To be honest, she found the entire thing barbaric. All of these precautions to keep in check mutants who she could expect a majority of were rather kind, or at least mildly good-natured. Lovi had a vicious temper, but once he calmed himself down and allowed himself to get to know someone, he was hardly dangerous.

Then again, his only power was turning into a cat, so...

"Lovino... I don't want to do this." For once, he felt heavy. She wanted a friend, but so far their relationship was just one betrayal after another. She had argued with Oliver, loudly. Not this, he was going to hate her, he was going to leave hating her. She inhaled deeply, sighing. 

"Father said either I take you, or he will." It was all her fault... she should have researched. She should have known there was no happiness to be had in this industry. Only pain. She mocked his voice. "That damn animal's going to cost us money if you don't chip him and there'll be hell to pay if you make me do it for you." 

Ass. Lovino's not an animal. God forbid Oliver touch him.

"I know it won't make it unhappen," she resumed, "but when we're done we can take a look around and I'll get you whatever you want." Heck, she'd take him out to eat something ridiculously expensive if that was what he wanted. Anything to make this ache in her chest go away - anything to make sure Lovi didn't come out of this contract regretting every moment. He'd been through so much already and she wanted to give him something to feel good about... 

Word Count: 631

Tags: Lovino Vargas

Notes: bwarahghgh baby <33

made by MISSO for use on IoF

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

Lovino had been sleeping peacefully when Lili had suddenly came to him, almost in tears. He was confused, unable to understand why the girl that was always smiling and petting him in the best spots, looked like a young child trying to not sob in spot. The tear filled gaze also reflected what seemed like fear and guilt, and Lovino was unable to comprehend.

He didn't know anything about the chipping process that was deemed necessary for owning mutants. In fact, he was under the impression that the tags were humiliating and animal-like enough that he never even considered even thinking of the possibility. The cling clangs of the tag were annoying as hell and at times he would stop in his tracks just so he didn't have to hear them, but that didn't mean he was unable to deal with it himself. Over time, he learned how to slowly block the noise out from his mind.

He had learned to not talk back to Lili, figuring it would never work his way anyway. He used to ask to be allowed to take walks on his own, to scratch the walls when his claws itched (ah that felt so good, and he still did it behind her back, but she didn't need to know that), and learned to talk nice so she wouldn't start bawling at spot. That was always annoying. She was nice, and Lovino was glad he was able to get a contract with her, but humans in the end were all the same it seemed.

So when he was lifted into his human's arms, Lovino was unsure what to do. He mewled in question, the noise coming out almost instinctively, and tilted his head towards her as he was carried outside. He relaxed in her arms, having enough trust in her to know she wouldn't hurt him by dropping or suddenly throwing him. A soft purr rose in his throat knowing he was in safe arms, and possibly in hopes to calm her from her near sobbing state.

After what seemed like forever, Lovino found that they were in front of a pet shop. He narrowed his eyes slightly, debating on whether changing to his human form right at that spot to claim he had no business here, but hearing her say she didn't want to do something made him stop. Followed by those were was that her father, Oliver, Lovino learned his name was, was going to take him if she didn't. This confused Lovino even further.

He remembered hearing the loud arguing when he was in Lili's bedroom, spending his normal time relaxing. He would be lying to say he wasn't concerned when that was happening, but at the same time, he knew better than to budge himself into the fight between the two. Oliver, he knew, would not take kindly to such 'heroic' attempt from him.

Hearing her mock her father's voice was far from comforting. If anything, it caused Lovino's ears to flatten in distaste, though the words did in fact pierce him a bit. He would cost money...? For what? What was... 'Chip'? Unsure of what it was, he kept quiet about it and purred when she seemed to go deeper into her own depressed state, rubbing his head against her chin trying to comfort her.

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Lovino muttered when he heard her say she would take him or get him anything he wanted. Why? What was this 'chipping' that would cause such kind act from the human? Confused, he glanced back up at the pet shop. Thoughts of turning to his human form for now have faded away, figuring he'd let Lili snuggle his soft fluffy form for now as he tried to put the pieces together...

Chipping...

What the hell was that...?

Word Count: 638

Tags: Lili & Gupta

Notes: Drama o3o

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[Deleted]

Lili paused mid-step and stood still in the middle of the sidewalk. A woman brushed her aside roughly and it was then that she stepped over into the shade of the nearest overhang. Oh, God no. He had no idea what was about to happen. It might have been simpler if he knew the process and that it was just one of many he'd had. But this being new? That frightened her. After building up the relationship the last thing she wanted was for Lovino to have to endure this in the thought that his trust was being stomped upon. Perhaps it was better to explain now, and not when they got to the petshop and he was expected to do the procedure blind.

"You hate the tags. I know you do." she breathed and after a moment she continued with her walk towards Gupta's store. "But, as it turns out... there's another thing they want you to do."

Another thing they wanted residents and owners to do to effectively break all spirits or hopes of freedom. She trusted Lovino to not leave her behind and if he wanted, he could trust her to never intentionally hurt him. This was an awfully jerk move anyone could force her to do to him. "These... 'chips' I mentioned... If you were to run - and, Lovino, trust me in that I would never think you would - these chips make sure that you can be identified and returned."

That was what the tags were for, right? Granted, if the tags were ripped off there would then still be a way to identify Lovino, but having one but also the other seemed pointless and redundant to her. Oliver was vague, maybe she was missing something and there was some other ulterior motive going on.

"... And they're required. If a cop stops me on the street and scans you and you aren't chipped, I could get in trouble." She continued, her voice dropping low into a whisper. "They might take you away from me, put you back in a cell, or fine me more money than I can afford and THEN take you away. They might transfer ownership to my father and then I can't protect you... I don't know. He said something awful would happen."

None of those things were appealing. The risk of losing Lovino to the system sooner than she had to was not something she wasn't to press. Gupta's shop came into view, just down the street. She held Lovino closer, more securely and nuzzled her face into his fur. "This is an awful thing to do to anyone. The tags are humiliating enough. You've no animal. I mean--" That was something weird to say when he was a cat at that very moment. "You're human enough to me to know that this is wrong."

She could only imagine him in pain that she couldn't protect him from.

Word Count: 497

Tags: Lovino Vargas

Notes: this gon' suck ene

made by MISSO for use on IoF

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

There was more to being a stupid house pet to a human? Lovino wanted to stop Lili from continuing after just hearing that there was more to the process of being owned by humans at this point; as if the tags weren't humiliating enough. As another woman bumped shoulders with his human, Lovino hissed and bristled his fur visibly, threatening the woman and trying to tell her to watch where she was walking. With a hesitant glance afterwards he listened as Lili continued to explain, not liking one bit of what he was hearing.

They needed to chip him so they could identify him if he were to run? What was wrong with humans!? It's not like the government allowed dangerous mutants to stay alive in the first place; what the hell were they so worried about!? The narrowed eyes stared ahead at the pet store in front of them, and he couldn't help but to tremble slightly. He wasn't sure if it was from anger or fear; anger from knowing he was no more than a pet after all, and fear from imagining how painful this process could be. If he remembered correctly... Weren't tiny little machines put into animals in this process of chipping...? He heard about it, but always disregarded himself from it, figuring it was never something he had to worry about.

Hearing Lili say that she could get in trouble and her listing out all the things that could happen if they were caught and he wasn't chipped, Lovino couldn't help but to want to vomit a hairball. All this was so sick and disgusting; how could humans live knowing this was happening to mutants? And that they were the very cause of it to begin with?

In the end, he was an idiot for trusting into this human. She was no different from others; she didn't hurt him physically herself, but made others do it, but that didn't make a difference for him. As he lifted his head to read the sign advertising the chipping of mutants, he felt blood run cold in his fluffy body. The tags that clinked under his chin reminded him of his current position, making him finally flatten his ears and twist his body in Lili's hold, desperately digging his claws into her shirt and mewling. "I won't run...!" He claimed, his whiskers pulling back and tail tucking in between his back legs in utter fear, "I promise... Please, let's go home... I don't want to be here. I'm a person, just like you are! This is bullshit and you know it too! We can just say it happened, alright? It's not like anybody's going to know if I stayed inside the house, right?"

Word Count: 455

Tags: @secretfudgebox & @egyptiangod

Notes: Just carry him in xD;

template made by MISSO for use only by PUCHI

[Deleted]

Watching Lovino recoil in terror at the prospect of what was to happen made Lili feel like the world’s worst person. Indeed, by default of being human, that was exactly what she was, obeying law without question, never bothering to disobey rules for the sake of someone less fortunate, who didn’t deserve the scrutiny he had to face every day. She’d known Lovino long enough to know that he probably wouldn’t have run, even if given the chance. The risks were too high. He could end up dead somewhere, or put back in a cell. He could pass himself off as a stray without any issues, but sometimes it really just paid to be human.

She stood in front of the pet store, hesitating as she looked up at the sign displaying the shop’s name. Her gaze fell towards the windows, which had signs for mutant chipping and shots and… things that one would expect one would give only to an animal. He was entirely right; she knew this was wrong. If she didn’t, she would not be so bothered by what she was being told to do to this poor man in her arms. Lips pursed, her mind raced, trying to… think of some way out of this! A clever lie! A way to make sure he was never found! If not her, however, then it would be someone else. Someone who would own him after her, and it would likely not be a conversation leaning heavily in his favor.

Lili had no idea what to do with herself. She was already there, and if someone saw her simply walk away without going in—was it even anyone’s business to report her for not going in? What did they expect she was there for? If her father were to ever find out, he would take Lovi to the shop himself – and it certainly would not be as gentle as it would be with Lili.

If it was going to happen eventually, for his benefit… it should be her. She was willing to spoil him to make up for it. But that wasn’t going to fix it, was it? He was still going to leave this story surely thinking she had betrayed him! Indeed, that might as well have been what happened. She felt as though trusting in her was a flimsy waste of time, making promises that she could not logically keep due to the simple fact that she was one girl facing the monsters of social stigma and expectation, knowing what was right and what was expected clashed terribly in her morality.

This was not something she wanted to do, but in the end, what choice did she have? If not her, then Oliver. She was a terrible liar, and he knew this. He would ask her, and know the truth despite her attempts to cover it up, but if she did not try…

She inhaled deeply, trembling. Maybe… just maybe for once, it would go her way. She believed Lovino wouldn’t run, and for this decision she was about to make, she sincerely hoped that her trust was not being misplaced. Lili took a timid step backward and turned to leave, unaware that her apprehension at the entrance of the pet store had lured its owner towards her.

"I don't want to do this to you," she repeated. "I'd never want to."

Word Count: 551

Tags: Lovino Vargas @egyptiangod

Notes: ALRIGHT DEE I LEFT YOU AN OPENING. I hope this works!

made by MISSO for use on IoF

[Deleted]

Word Count: 513

Tags: Lovino Vargas and @secretfudgebox

Notes: Sorry it's short

Chipping animals was something Gupta learned to do not long after coming to the city, having a pet shop had been something he decided would be enjoyable enough to do for a living. Learning to chip the animals was necessary as Gupta wished to be able to perform any task needed so that if someone quit or were fired he could pick up the slack to keep all in order. The business had been successful enough but the government decided to change that by enlisting him into chipping the mutants that were auctioned off. The money earned from that made his business less stressful as he had a guaranteed amount whenever there was an auction as all mutants purchased had to visit him to be added to the system if they didn’t lust for countless fines and possible arrest for not obeying the government’s decree.

Being only one given the task of chipping the mutants some accused Gupta of finding some sick pleasure in causing the beings pain. His job seemed an idea that no one that wanted to free mutants understood. Never did Gupta claim to love his job or even pride himself in the chipping of the mutants. The Egyptian only did as he was told by the government to avoid any trouble. It was unwise to argue against the government when given a task and allowing any information to leak from his system easily could end with his arrest.
To the freedom fighters he surely was seen as an enemy. No different from the government they once tried to destroy.

Not wishing to treat the mutants as animals Gupta had equipment found in a human hospital installed to prevent cooperative mutants from having to be held down to a cold metal table as if they were some sort or animal. Given the chance Gupta attempted to make the ordeal less painful but depending on the owner this wasn’t always possible. Occasionally Gupta wasn’t even permitted to talk directly to the mutant having to ask the human any question he needed answering. Depending the length of the ownership and the age of the mutant some questions were unable to be answered by the human but Gupta had to respect their wishes.

Noticing that a young girl had come to the entrance and seemed to look petrified if not ready to bolt. Calm steps were taken toward him and gentle eyes look upon her and the small creature held in her arms. “You must be Ms. Zwingli,” he kept his voice soft not wanting to startle her. “I am Gupta Muhammad Hassan, the owner of this shop. Your father called ahead telling of your arrival.”

Glancing toward Lovino a gentle sadness appeared in his green eyes. “I’m sorry he did not share your name with me. I will try my best to make this as easy as possible for you.” Looking at the two he waved them forward heading to a room in the back of the shop where not only he could do the procedure but they could speak in private.

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