Midge the Neko - Boyxboy -complete- - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Scott ran out of the bathroom naked, dripping all over the floor. "MIDGE!"
"What is wrong? How can I be of service?" he asked alarmed, jumping to his feet.
"Come in here with me, please!" He grabbed his hand and scurried back into the bathroom, freezing. He released Midge's hand and jumped back into the still-running shower. "Damn it's cold out there. Sit down, we need to talk."
"Out here? Or in the shower?"
"There, wait, no... I mean yes, there. I won't be able to think with you in here and I almost have it. I have an idea. Are you with me?"
"I am not sure that I am because I am out here but you say this is your preference? The rug is wet, may I sit on the toilet seat?"
"Of course, I don't care. Or on a towel, whatever. Listen, are you ready?"
"I do not know what is going to happen, so I can not be certain but I will do my best."
"MIDGE! You drive me to distraction silly boy. Listen, there's nothing wrong, I've been thinking."
"Oh, alright." he said, from his perch on the seat. He pulled his legs up and wrapped his tail around them.
"So this whole 'ownership' thing started me thinking about 'I love Lucy'. Have you seen that show?"
Midge was not often speechless but he was now. Often he wasn't sure how to properly phrase what he was saying so as to be proper, but the thoughts were always there. He decided that no matter how long he spent with Scott, he might never understand how his mind worked. "I do not think so."
"Okay, are you familiar with marriage?"
"Yes."
"Familiar with 1950's housewife with the dominant husband type of marriage?"
"Less so, but I do know it has changed recently, right? Some are more relaxed."
"Exactly, so the old version seems a bit similar to ownership. Is it? Is it close enough that you could tell me the similarities and differences and maybe, just MAAAAYBE I could wrap my head around this?"
"Perhaps. There are similarities."
"Okay, so tell me everything in comparisons. Like, in marriage you wear rings but instead you would wear a collar, right? Do they symbolize the same things? This is what got me thinking about it, so is that right and are there other things like that?" he asked, his words tumbling over each other.
"You are very excited. I will do my best. Yes, in marriage the ring is a sign to others that you are married, right? And that you are committed so yes, I think it is the same. But there are many differences, it is not like marriage."
"Keep going, what are other similarities and differences?"
"In marriage you are expected to only have one wife or husband and to be faithful to them, that is not the same. A master may have sex with and love anyone they like. They may have other Nekos. Some Nekos are owned by married couples."
"But you couldn't, right? Seems a bit unfair to you, but a lot of marriages are unfair too, I guess. And selling you or giving you to someone else would be like getting divorced?"
"Yes, I think it is similar."
"And that's why you said you'd be sad if you had to take the collar off when the visit was over."
"Yes. It would mean you did not want me any more."
"But you once told me that you would never run away if you were owned, that you would not be bad. What if you wanted to leave? What if YOU wanted a divorce?"
"I would not."
Scott sighed so loudly that it could be heard even over the water beating against the stall floor. "Not okay with that part."
"Would you want me to leave?" he asked, perplexed.
"If you were unhappy or lonely and I.... I mean I don't WANT you to, but I would want to know that you knew you could."
"I am sorry Si-Scott, I did not follow that time."
"Why would I ever want to sell you? I get to have you and whoever else I want, right? I mean, in your version. But what if I ignored you, fell in love with someone else and mistreated you? You would want to leave and I would want you to be able to."
"Would you not know if I was unhappy? And then you could sell me."
"Of course I would know, I think. Wait, maybe not. I don't know, no, I don't know if I would. You're really good at seeming okay even when you're not, I think. You said you got used to it. If I wasn't paying attention, I might not see it. Would you tell me? I could never sell you, but I'd let you leave."
"I guess you could tell me that if I was unhappy, I should talk to you."
"Wait, so I could make rules that made it more fair, even if they went against what you... what you think of as ownership?" He turned the water off and reached out an arm, grabbing the towel from the rack and drying off.
"You have made many odd rules already and I do my best to follow them."
"I feel a little bit like I rubbed a genie lamp and if I don't phrase things exactly right, neither of us get what we want."
Midge stood when Scott opened the door and followed him into the bedroom, curling up on the bed while he got dressed.
"I never thought I'd consider marrying someone I've only known two weeks. This is crazy." He pulled on his jeans and buttoned up his shirt. "I'm not sure a relationship of less than equals would make me happy, long term. I don't know if, in time, you could trust me enough to be what I need."
"I do not know if I would please you. I would do my best."
"Oh Midgey, I know. It's not... that sounded harsh. Come here." Scott sat on the bed and motioned him to come in for a hug. "How do I know how our relationship would change? How we would change and grow? We're so young. How do I know how I would feel in a year, or 5, or 10?"
"I am not sure anyone does. It is not possible, is it? To know?"
"But you seem so sure."
"It is the best of my options, by far. It is not a hard choice for me. That is a huge difference between us."
"What are your options, Midge?"
"You could decide to not claim me and we continue like this until you are tired of me, or I displease you. Perhaps it is a long time, perhaps not. I live each day with joy but uncertainty. I worry each time we go out that someone may try to claim me, or take me from you. But I am comfortable, and happy, and will gladly continue this way if you choose. Or you can claim me, and make me yours. I will have a home, and be of service."
"Until I'm tired of you."
"Yes, of course. You may do with me as you wish. Or you decide now that you do not want me. I leave and whatever happens, happens. I do not know. But it is not my choice, what happens.
"But you want me to collar you?"
"Yes, if it is your wish."
"Will you act the same? Would you hit me with your tail when I tickle you too much? Would you keep trying to NOT call me Sir? Would you be happy?"
"I would... if those things please you I would continue."
"But what pleases YOU? You must have things YOU want. You can't just want to please me. I get that it makes you happy but if I want to get a dog or make you sleep on the floor or eat cat food, THAT would not make you happy even if it DID please me, right?"
"I would do those things."
"But it would not make you happy, right? You do not WANT to do them?"
"I would prefer not to."
"Okay, so why can't you SAY that? Just say what you mean. When I ask if you want collared you need to answer me in a way that I can understand, that tells me how you really feel. You can't just agree to everything whether you like it or not. So can we please try again? Do you want to belong to me?'
"Yes" he said meekly.
"Will you still want to tell me your feelings, smack me upside the head, call me Scott, be my friend?"
"Yes"
"Would you like me to bring you home some Cat Chow for dinner?"
He paused. "It would not be my first choice... I mean no, I would not."
Scott sighed, feeling like he'd just won a boxing match. He was sore, and bruised, but this was a major victory. "Thank you, although a 'fuck no' would have been much closer to what you were thinking, I'm sure. I have rehearsal but I'll be back, okay? I would invite you but it's not just us four today. Maybe we both need a little time to think, too. At least I do." He tilted his chin up and gave him a quick kiss. "Call me if you need me, okay?"
Midge followed him into the living room. He'd never been so forward with a human before. He'd been beaten and starved for much, much less but somehow it was what Scott prefered and he didn't seem at all angry. No, it pleased him, that was obvious. He waved good-bye as Scott opened the front door and smiled at him. Good-bye Master.