chainless DISCONTINUED

9 - Descent

trigger warnings // mentions of death, delusions, dissociation.

-

Ra chews on the piece of ham, ignoring the amusement in Puffy's eyes as she watched over them.

Techno left to go and grab what food they needed for the rest of the journey at the back, Puffy allowing it since the owner still wasn't in. It wasn't like he was the one who took inventory. "Where are you guys traveling to?"

"The capital." Answered Ra simply, mouth full. He barely understood table manners.

"There is a lot of great work to be found there, you are going to fit in." She pets him on the head, feeling the brunt of his horns underneath the hood's fabric.

"Work?"

"That is why you are going to the capital, is it not? Hybrids are raised there to take on jobs that humans can't do. It is quite common." Ra furrows his brows, pausing his meal.

"...uh yeah. That's why." 'Remember.' He had to remind himself, no one was supposed to know the real reason. No matter how nice this woman hybrid was- He couldn't risk losing someone again. Puffy turns to go and help a customer who walked in, taking their order and pouring a glass of scotch for them. Her white curly hair bounces every time she turned her head, swaying with the movement. He could see her curled horns decorated in jewelry, flaunting her hybrid features with pride. Ra glances at his reflection in the window, then at Puffy. She was a sheep hybrid, like what his peers at the institution thought of him to be- Was it because he was biologically male? That made him look so different?

He stares at her nose, her round ears hidden behind all of the hair, the shorter stature- Nothing was matching up with him, the only resemblance he could see were the beginning of his horns growth and the black and white color scheme they shared on their skin.

But- nothing else.

"Miss Puffy?" He calls for her after a minute of silence. Puffy turns, holding the bottle of scotch in her hand. She excuses herself from the customer, striding over to him, and leaned on the bar. "What do you need? More juice?" She asks him, referring to the apple cider next to his hand on the table. He shakes his head, "No uh- What type of hybrid are you?"

"I'm a sheep, Thinhorn Sheep if you want the actual breed."

"...Actual breed?" His head tilts and she nods, "Yep! There are different breeds. Like for example, if you are a cat hybrid, there are subcategories. You aren't just a cat hybrid, you could be a Siamese Cat Hybrid." Ra slowly nods, taking the information in. 'Maybe that's what their problem was? I'm just a subcategory of a sheep?' He thinks to himself.

"Is it common?"

"Of course it is. Any hybrid can be a subcategory of something." Puffy's head turns at the sound of Techno walking back into the bar from the back, hanging off of his shoulder a heavier rucksack than they came with. "Like him- He isn't just a Piglin Hybrid, he is a Brute Piglin Hybrid." Ra nods. Does he think he understands now? It was odd though. How didn't he know of this before, when he grew up among hybrids? Among adults who would categorize them the moment they were found.

The boy didn't dwell too much longer on it, Techno spotting some money from his pocket and placing it on to the bar table. "For the meal." Puffy takes it, counting the coins, glancing at the window from the corner of her eye. "It's getting late soon, are you sure you don't want to hold it out here?" Ra jumps off of the barstool, fixing his sleeves.

"...Hold it out?"

"Full Moon Night," Techno answered Ra. "And yes I'm sure. It's my job to protect him, a few undead isn't going to bother me." 'And we are on a time crunch, can't afford to spend the night.' Techno places his hand on Ra's head, guiding him to walk towards the front door.