You Can Have It All, My Empire Of Dirt

they moved side by side, something a little more familiar for atlas as they made their way outside. it was a little colder outside than he would have liked and for a moment, he hesitated placing his feet on the grounds outside of the doorway before biting the bullet and doing it anyway. he wiggled his toes against the dirt before shrugging and carrying on, listening to bear as he spoke, “oh,” he mumbled, “so you see humans as like – equal or something? that’s… different.”

Watching Atlas hesitate for a moment, Bear paused as well. “Hold up.” He stopped them and started to untie his boots. “M’used to bare foot anyway.” Bear shrugged. “Gonna need’em back at the end but ya’ can haven em while m’with ya.” He explained passing them over one by one to the bare foot pet. “Guess so. Never really thought of em as anythin’but pack. Ain’t the case ‘round here I gather. S’weird.” He admitted before standing back up. the feeling of the dirt under his bare feet wasn’t an unpleasant one. In fact it was welcoming. Sort of felt like home.

his  ass  is  planted  on  the  concrete  ground  of  the  common  room,  bowlegs  spread  out  before  him–  his  toes  flex  within  issued  shoes  ;  surprisingly  he’d  been  very  good  about  keeping  the  clothing  he’d  been  issued.  decency  was  important  to  him,  at  least  in  public.  calloused  hand  pats  down  spikey  dirty  blond  hair  ;  other  rests  on  his  inner  thigh.  his  body  appears  completely  relaxed  despite  his  location,  despite  being  raised  into  a  monster  hunter  legacy.  ‘  is  there  a reason  you’re  staring  at  me  like  I  just  grew  two  heads?  ‘

For about a week now, Bear had been feeling aimless. He had no idea what he was doing or where he was going most of the time. Normally everything he did revolved around what the pack needed for the day. A pack that was a mix of humans and wolves. Which is why he ended up standing outside of Dane’s cell. He looked a lot like one of the men that Bear used to run with. It was a little uncanny actually. “Nah, its nothin’ bad jus-” He paused for a second. “Ya’ look a lot like someone I know.” Bear admitted after a moment. 

atlas paused as the other kept behind him, narrowing his eyes as he glanced back over his shoulder, “walk beside me,” he murmured, gesturing to the side, lips curving up slightly, “you don’t know your way around? there’s a place another elite took me, we can go there.” atlas padded barefoot down the hallway and started up the stairs, flicking his cigarette to the side when he was done with it and pushing his hands into the pockets of the hoodie. “so – I don’t understand, if you don’t think like them, why are you here?”

Nodding once, Bear quickly took to Atlas’s side as he was asked to do so. He was so used to walking jsut a step behind people. Normally he did this in a full fur coat and all fours. Everything about this place was just so different. “Nah. Don’t know the streets t’well yet. But tha’ sounds good’a me.” Bear admitted as he shrugged his shoulders. He was quite for a moment after Atlas spoke his question. “Come from way up north. Farther up than most folks go, I guess.” He started. “Some dragon-born or somethin’ came up and took all the humans we were livin’ with. We live together. Ain’t no other way of doin’ it. Half the pack was just gone an’ we came down here. Didn’t really have anywhere else t’go.”

he paused for a moment before pushing himself up off the bed, “it’s early, bear, but sure, let’s say it’s a good day,” atlas winked playfully, nodding his head, “that’d be nice…” eyes narrowed momentarily, “and you don’t expect nothing in return? seems a little fishy, you know?” atlas looked over the guard as he opened up and stepped out, moving around bear before sniffing him slightly, at least he smelled nice, even if he looked like the dirtiest elite he’d ever seen. “let’s go, then.”

For a second, Bear just stood there. Smoke in hand as the door was opened and he was allowed out. “Nah,” he mumbled as he breathed out a lung full of smoke. “Don’t want nothin’ ya’ dont wanna give me. Ain’t into tha’.” He assured the other male, even going so far to take a step back and give him some space to step out of the cell. he watched him circle once before leading the way. “Righ’behind ya’.” Bear nodded and started to walk with Atlas. “Don’t know where’d take ya’. Only been in this city a couple days.” He admitted as they walked down the hallway. 

atlas focused on pumping nicotine into his lungs for the first time in a while before looking back up at the elite, nodding his head, “it’s not fun, no. but… at least I wasn’t forced into something I didn’t wanna do, I think most of the people who catch me on a bad day though are quite aware I’ll bite their dick off if they try it.” his lips flickered up into a small smirk before the amusement dropped. his lips parted, ready to offer a sarcastic comment before deciding to bite his own tongue, “yeah, sure.”

Bear was sort of vaguely aware that he could buy one of these people and take care of them better but at this point he wasn’t sure that was a good idea. This world was all new to him. He felt like he could barely take care of himself let alone someone else. So a walk to stretch this guys legs was the best he could offer at the moment. Which didn’t feel like enough but maybe he could get some food in him too. “Glad I got ya’ on a good day then.” He pointed out in a half hearted joke. it fell flat but he waved to a guard anyways. “Can put some food in ya’ too if ya want.” He offered as well as the cell was opened. 

atlas’ features lit up as he leaned towards the other once again, taking the cigarette from his hands and bringing it to his lips. he took a large pull and moaned softly as he did, fuck, he couldn’t remember the last time he had a cigarette, “thanks.” atlas looked up when the other offered his own name, he thought about it for a moment before nodding, “fine, bear.” atlas smirked, leaning forward as he crossed one leg over the other and shrugged, “um – the last time I got out was around two weeks ago, had a bad fortnight, not very pleasant – in general, I’ve been in and out of a cage my whole life, in aeternum for the past… three years? maybe, I don’t know.”

“Ain’t nothin’.” Bear grumbled back when he was thanked for the smoke. Honestly, it didn’t seem like anything to him. He would have given Atlas the whole pack if he asked for it. There was shop that sold them on the way back to his place. Stopping in wouldn’t both Bear a bit. He probably would anyways just because his pack was running low. “Jesus. Two weeks?” He asked shaking his head a bit. “Sounds like hell.” Bear added. Being caged that long was his idea of hell. Maybe a lot more fire or just heat. He was so used to the cold. “You been in this place for three years?” Bear asked just making sure he heard that right. “Ya’ wanna get out? Go for a walk at least?” He offered hoping to do what littke he could for the human.

he looked away from the other for a moment as he seemed to look him over, a soft scoff leaving his lips as he shrugged, “most of you do, usually.” atlas responded, eyeing him up now as he crawled closer to the edge of the bed once again, “probably not, most of them don’t feel it, some of us don’t feel it but being human, with hardly any meat on my bones I can agree that it isn’t fucking right. I’ll die of pneumonia before anybody sees me without these tighty-whiteys.” atlas remained quiet for a little while before finally responding, “thank you.”

Being locked up like that made Bear’s skin crawl. He was used to having no restrictions on where he went and was the sort of person who would walk for hours in one direction just because. He picked up the habit from hunting. So he felt for the boy behind the bars. He hummed as Atlas spoke. “Don’t feel it much myself. Jus’kinda know it is.” Bear explained with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “Ain’t a problem.” He promised before his hand dipped into his pocket to fight a lighter and a smoke. He’d started the day he got to the city. A human habit apparently. Smoking had taken to him like a fish to water. “Gotta name?”

atlas sat shivering in the far corner of his cell, avoiding eye contact with anybody that approached, anybody that walked past out of fear that they may start a conversation – something of which he was in no mood for today. he stared at the same blank spot on his cell wall until a voice called out to him, gruff, a little hoarse but lacking the typical malice that snapping usually possessed. atlas looked up with tired eyes, surprised when he noticed what the other was doing.

he said nothing, just stared for a moment or two, weighing his options, trying to figure out if there was an angle that this elite was going to take before deciding that pneumonia was a less alluring option than entertaining when he wasn’t in the mood. he crawled up his bed, shifting off the edge slightly to reach over and grab the hoodie, “ why? ” atlas questioned as he pulled it onto his body.

Honestly, the verity that everyone had here still shocked Bear to this day. He had never seen someone with such bright hair before. It was almost shocking to him. The only thing he could recall that he’d seen with that colour on it was a fox and that was only during the spring when the snow melted for about a month before coming back with vengeance. He had to remind himself not to stair for to long before the guy looked over at him. He had nice eyes too. His skin was smooth and not ripped by the winds that often affected those up north.  Tipping his head to the side a bit, Bear shrugged. “Ya’look cold. Need another reason?” He asked before letting him that the hoodie and standing back a bit. “Don’t really feel it much but ya’ got nothin’ on and tha’ don’t seem right.” He added before crossing his arms over his chest. Besides, he realized that not everyone was able to stand being in cold, damp, conditions all the time. He was just used to it. 

“All my life,” Angelo admitted as he looked at the other. “What about you? You’re an elite, right? I bet you’ve gotten to see a lot of places.” Angelo said with a small pout on his face. “As lovely as these gardens are, a new sight would be amazing from time to time.”

“Is tha’ what they call us here?” Bear asked, as be breathed out a puff of smoke. He turned his head to the side incase Angelo didn’t like the smell or smoke in general. “Haven’t. Thought I had but been up north. Seen a lotta snow.” Bear admitted with a shrug. “Ya’ wanna go for a walk. Don’t gotta do nothin’ for me. Just walk. Tha’ work for ya?”

“The gardens?” A lock of horror came across his face. A place to cold for such scenery to be enjoyed was minded shocking to Angelo. “Well welcome to paradise then, my friend,” Angelo said with a cheeky grin as he looked at the other man.

Humming, Bear nodded his head slowly. He hadn’t ever seen anything as green. The flowers so bright. He tipped his head to the side when Angelo grinned at him. “Thanks.” Bear mumbled before moving to lean against a near by tree. “How long ya’ been here?” He asked as his hand snaked into his pocket. The one human thing he’d picked up on since coming to this city was smoking. His fingers grabbed a small box as he listened to angelo.

Angelo chuckled when the other apologized before quickly looking away. The half elf ran his eyes up and down the handsome, rugged man’s features before smirking. “I suppose I’ll let it slide this time.” Angelo joked as he continued basking in the sun as he tried to get his natural pale skin to tan. “What are you doing over here anyways?”

 Turning towards the boy a bit more, Bear nodded. He was beautiful. Fluffy hair and pale skin. He had to pull his eyes away from him at his question. Pulling a hand from his pocket, Bear pointed around the two of them. “Ain’t never seen somethin’ like this before.” He shrugged as he looked around the garden. “Too cold for nothin’a grow where’m from.” Bear added.

He should have known that, one day, this would come. His father wasn’t some powerful member of society, even as a pure-blooded faun his father was often the laughing stock of their social circle; he was often looked down upon for thinking he was the other’s equals. Riven should have known that one of these days his father would be betrayed and he’d find himself in some form of shackles.

With a sigh, he leaned back against the wall of his cell and ran a hand through his tousled brown hair; scratching at the base of his short horns that were, really, nothing more than curved stumps– that were the only thing he inherited from his father to show he was anything more than a human with a talent for music and a respect for nature. 

“This is the part where I beg isn’t it?” He questioned as he felt someone’s eyes on him. Letting his head lean back to rest on the stone wall behind himself, Riven licked his lips before letting out a sigh as he continued. “This is the part where I ask you to use me just so I can have a moment, or two, outside of these bars– right?”

The north, the deep north, it didn’t have a whole lot of anything in it. Bear had only ever really come in contact with other wolves and human beings. That far up, it was the only place that humans seemed to have the run of the place and only because these wealthy Elites didn’t ever feel like living up there. He couldn’t blame them. With out a thick fur coat or no were to go, why would you live in a place covered in snow ninety percent of the time? Why would you live in an endless blizzard? The sight of so many different looking creatures had Bear’s attention. His eyes flicking form one face to another.  Form dragon scales to faun horns.  He hadn’t meant to stair at the boy but he’d never seen someone who looked like him before. Humans in the north had long hair and skin recked by hash winds. They were build large to walk through two feet of snow and he was just so... different looking. Light eyes, short hair and smooth skin. Those horns that stuck out off his forehead- Bear had never seen anything like that. Not unless it was on a mountain goat he was trying to hunt. He didn’t know what to make of it and before he knew it the boy was speaking.  Stepping back, Bear shook his head. Shaggy hair falling in front of his face. “Nah, it ain’t like tha’.” He promised. “Jus’ never seen nothin’ like tha’ before. Didn’t mean’a stare.” Bear apologized. He wasn’t used to this high archy yet. That he was supposed to be higher up then these people. It didn’t make any sense to him. 

The half-elf  sighed as he looked around the place that he was relaxing in. Angelo had taken a liking to the gardens, and had thought he had found a nice and secluded place to relax in. But according to the person who was blocking the sun? Apparently not. “Do you need something? Or just enjoying the view?” Angelo asked the silhouette.

Walking around the guards, Bear wasn’t actually looking at anyone person. He’d come from the far north. Farther north than most people ever dared going. The sort of north were long grasses and pine trees were pretty much all that grew. He was nothing short of amazed at what could grow out of the ground. The colours vibrant and bold against the green grass and dirt. So when Angelo spoke, Bear blinked out of his thoughts and turned to look at the pet basking in the sun. He stepped to the side quickly. “Nothin’, sorry ‘bout tha’.” He grunted, eyes flicking over the male before moving past him.