#ttc8

Chapter Eight: Application

Ferusian Law, Third Sequence, Article 2: Law of Union

Ferusian citizens are entitled to membership with any Union, Guild, or other organization of representatives and beneficiaries within their field. Employers are required to comply with all local Union and Guild guidelines.

Unions and Guilds within Ferus are subject to all federal laws and regulations, and cannot impose guidelines that contradict them.

Employers failing to adhere to Union or Guild guidelines are subject to blacklisting, a legally-recognized form of employment prevention which disallows an employer from benefitting from the work of Guild or Union members.

Unions and Guilds are permitted to set requirements and criteria for membership, but cannot revoke membership without approval from a local employment office.

Unions or Guilds found violating any law are subject to disbanding or forced leadership change.

I woke up with a start, eyes snapping wide open and scanning the room around me. My den, quiet and calm, even the TV had been turned off. Looking around, I found my phone on the floor, ringing and buzzing. Picking it up, I squinted at the screen, light flooding the room from the now-active device. It was only my alarm, no phone calls to worry about. Six in the morning, time to get up.

I set the phone down on the chair arm, stretching with a pop as my back reacted to the movement. Something white caught my vision in the darkness of the room, and a glance revealed it to be a small set of papers on the coffee table, along with a sticky note. Moving to sit at the couch to read, I stopped short of actually sitting, making my way instead over to the light switch and turning it on before sitting down.

The sticky note was from David.

"Hey big guy, you seemed so comfy so I didn't wanna wake you! But you should really look through this! I did, and I'm jealous!!"

It was signed with his name. I always found his signature a little cute. He dotted the 'I' of his name with a heart, and the 'D' at the end always had a squiggle coming off it that circled his whole name. It made me smile, and I couldn't help but sigh a little. He was probably asleep, and no telling when he would wake up. I looked at the papers he'd left me to look at, realizing it was the application form Kaleb had given me.

David had gone and brought the papers in from the truck for me to read. I'd made a deal with Kaleb, and now David encouraging me, I had no choice but to at least consider the work. I glanced through at first, most of it was standard application jargon, but something caught my eye. It was inked in, not typed like the rest. Added under the rest of the benefits after the fact.

"Priority scheduling for any weekend performance with one week's notice."

I glowered, eyes locked on the words. A snarl built up in my throat, and I almost tore the paper apart then and there. Priority scheduling? Was he testing me? Or did he think I was stupid? Tylvin's creative fields, like my own DJ work, were under the jurisdiction of the Tylvinian Artist's Guild. The Guild had strict rules, I couldn't accept any work by a blacklisted employer and if an employer tried to cut deals with me specifically, under the nose of the Guild, it was reason enough to blacklist them.

Worse still, if I accepted a deal like that, it was grounds for immediately revoking my membership. They'd have to argue it to the government, but with such a clear breach of terms they'd have my membership revoked in a day or less. Kaleb was risking himself doing this...And if I accepted the deal, I would be risking myself too.

I growled louder, furrowing my brow. This changed a lot of things. I could cross it out...Or I could take it to the Guild, show them what he had written. I could turn him in for breaking guidelines. But if I did that to one of the richest men in the country, I'd be putting a target on my back for sure. I sighed, setting the papers down and deciding to think on it more later.

I stood, stretching until my back popped, then made my way around the chair and past the bar counter, into the kitchen. After rifling through the fridge, I put some bacon in the oven alongside sliced chicken, setting a timer before heading to my office for my morning workout. When the timer went off, I set aside my weights to go eat. After breakfast, and a quick shower, redressing quietly to avoid waking David, I sat back at the chair to review the application again.

I read over the entire form, top to bottom, cover to cover, and lay my head in my hands. It was a fantastic offer. The benefits, the pay, everything was hard to pass up. But I couldn't help but feel I was fine as I was. I might not be shopping from the wealthier sections of the store, but I was doing fine with what I had. House was paid off by the time my parents had me, I could cover my internet bill just fine, and I had plenty for gas.

I didn't need the job, or the benefits. It wasn't like I would ever need health insurance with my nature. I closed my eyes, thinking it over, or trying to. My thoughts were interrupted by a hand resting on my shoulder. I looked up and saw David, dressed in a t-shirt and his boxers, his eyes on mine and worry on his face. His tail was curled around his waist and I sat up, patting my lap. I knew that look, and the body language made it clear. He'd had a nightmare. I'd learned years ago his nightmares were nothing to sneeze at.

"Alright there, Davey?" I asked, patting my lap again. He sat quietly on my lap, resting his head on my chest and shaking his head. I wrapped an arm around him and sighed. "Which one was it this time, bud?"

He looked up at me with watery eyes, then looked back down. "It was Mom this time..." He said shakily. "She was...She wasn't herself."

I nodded. "D'ya wanna talk 'bout it?" I asked softly, trying to keep my voice gentle.

He shook his head again and looked over at the table. "Were you filling out the application?" He asked, his voice still shaky. It was my turn to shake my head, giving his back a pat.

"Was jus' readin', haven't filled nothin' out yet. Ain't too sure I got any reason t' take'im up on th' offer." I said plainly. David picked up the application form, reading over it. I half-chuckled as I noticed him tense up, no doubt his eyes had landed on the very same note I'd stopped reading at initially.

"Is...he serious with this?" He asked, seeming more awake now, his voice less shaky. I gave a shrug, shaking my head a little.

"I ain't got th'foggiest idea. Could be testin' my resolve, or morals. Could be dead serious. I was jus' wonderin' if'n I should cross it out an' fill it out that way." I replied, looking at the papers in his hands. He looked over his shoulder at me, half-suspicious.

"Wondering...Does that mean you were thinking of filling it out...without crossing it off, mister?" he asked pointedly, poking a finger at my cheek warningly. I let out a chuckle, then hung my head in shame.

"I'll admit, I was thinkin' 'bout it. If'n I take th'job at all, might be nice to have a nice, consistent place t'make my name." I admitted, glancing down and sighing. "But I can't help but wonder if'n I even need th'work. I got what I need, y'know? Ain't like I need more."

He relaxed against me, shoulders lowering, shifting back ever so slightly. I smiled at that, seeing him visibly forgetting the stresses of his nightmare. He leaned forward to lay the papers on the table again before standing up and stretching. He turned to face me, shirt lifting a little with the twirl he did, the briefest flash of his white underbelly, the grey hips the waistband of his boxers were that slightest bit too low to cover.

"Ryder Trayson, you are one thick-headed wolf, you know that?" He said in irritation. "You have what you need right now, but what about when you can't do music anymore? Your royalties aren't going to keep you in this house then, and you know it. And even THINKING about signing that form without crossing out the one part of the whole thing that could get you blacklisted and out of a job is nuts!"

His frustration shocked me. I leaned back a little, and I could feel his stare burning into my eyes as he spoke. His hands found his hips and he leaned over, glaring into my eyes.

"You're gonna cross that line out and fill out that application, and you're gonna rock that job, because if you don't, how are you going to save up? Hm? You're paycheck to paycheck!" He half-yelled his words, frowning at me.

I thought about what he'd said for a second, and sighed, leaning forward and resting my arms over my knees. "You're right. I know, I don't need it now but I might later, but th'question is whether'r not I need it bad 'nuff t'sell myself t'that bastard Kaleb. I ain't that desperate."

He stood upright, looking at me. His eyes softened, brows going up a little and his frown twitched, growing a little deeper. "Is that why you think I took the job at the café with him? Because I was desperate?" He asked, voice starting to shake.

I realized I'd struck a nerve. Taken away his stress so easily, and just as swiftly given it back. I was supposed to be his source of comfort, his friend, and instead I'd been the reason he was hurt.

"You know that ain't what I meant by it, Davey...Shit, I'm sorry man I wasn't tryna say nothin' t'hurt ya...I jus' meant- I mean t'say I was' jus' tryna say I wasn't sure if workin' for Kaleb was th'right play." I said, trying hard to keep my words steady. The last thing I wanted to do was make things worse.

He shook his head, moving to sit on the couch a couple feet away. I could feel the tightness in my chest, the quick pulse in my veins. He took it a lot worse than I'd meant it, and I had no clue how to make this better. He sighed, and I was worried things might get worse before they got better.

"It's fine. I just worry about you, big guy...I wanna know you're taken care of, and...And that you're okay," he said as he turned to look at me. "I care about you, even if you are a dummy sometimes..."

I nodded, looking away from him. I couldn't meet his eyes, not right now. Not after causing the tears that were welling up in them. Especially not when I didn't know how to make it right for-

I did know. I knew how to make it right for him. He wanted me to take the job. He wanted me to take the job the right way.

I reached for the pen, wrapping my fingers around it. I leaned over the table, my other hand holding the paper in place. I heard David say something, but barely processed it. Page one, filled out. Another word from David. Page two, done. Three, four, all signed and sealed.

I looked at the inked in line at the bottom of the last page, furrowing my brow. I didn't care why he put it there anymore. I growled, lips curling back as my throat rumbled, baring my teeth to the page.

He thought he could buy my loyalty with illicit promises.

He thought he could test my resolve with the idea of better treatment.

He thought he could intimidate me.

He thought wrong.

I dug my pen into the page, practically carving lines of ink into the page rapidly, hand shaking. By the time I was done, there were small scratches into the paper where the tip of the pen had dug in too deeply. I was grateful the other side of the page was blank.

I glared at the mark, a light growl rumbling up in my throat. I had half a mind to tear the paper to shreds, to destroy the source of my anger, destroy the symbol of Kaleb's intentions, his 'offer' to me. I was stopped by a soft touch on my shoulder.

I relaxed immediately, growl stopping in an instant. Looking over my shoulder, I saw David standing beside me, a hand tentatively on my shoulder. His brows were furrowed, his lips parted, eyes shaking slightly. Fear. David was afraid. I'd scared him.

"Ryder, it's...It's just paper..." He said hesitantly. I took a deep breath in, eyes flicking to the paper before returning my attention to David. He had woken up, groggy and scared. I'd made it worse, and here he was still trying to help me calm down.

I nodded, standing up and giving him a hug. I closed my eyes when I felt his arms wrap around me in kind, and I took in another deep breath. This little caxy was incredible. He was kind, and patient, and considerate. Trying to take care of me even while he was in need of comfort himself.

It reminded me why we'd been friends for so long. Reminded me why I was so in...So determined to keep him safe. I let go and smiled, heading for the kitchen. I heard a soft mrow from behind, and chuckled.

"I've done had breakfast, but y'ain't had nothin' but tears an' stress. Lemme make ya somethin', anythin' at all. Jus' name it." I said with a smirk. I rolled my head, popping my neck and pushing my thoughts towards cooking and away from all the stress, and other feelings.

"Are you sure? If you've already cooked today then it's not fair for you to have to cook again just cause I woke up later." He said softly. I chuckled, already looking in the fridge to find something he'd like. I got an idea, and grabbed the milk, heading for the cabinets next.

"I'm sure, man. Y'had enough stress. Y'really think I'm gonna let ya add t' that by makin' ya cook?" I said playfully. I knew he loved to cook, but I knew just as well that he learned to love it out of necessity. If I could take that away, even for a meal or two here and there, it was a win in my book.

A little prep time and a bit of idle chatter later, and David was sitting on one of the bar stools at my counter, chowing down on a bowl of cheesy tuna and pasta, tail swaying freely and happily. I was across the counter from him, leaned over and smiling, my tail wagging slowly behind me. I looked over to the clock and sighed to myself.

"Ain't it 'bout time for th'coffee shop t'open?" I asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. This was normally when David was heading out on his morning shifts, and I was more than ready to have those papers out of my house. The longer they sat under my roof, the more infected the home felt. I made a mental note to scrub the table they sat on once I got home.

"Hm?" He asked, mouth still full of pasta as he looked up at me with wide curious eyes. He swallowed hard, barely chewing the food in the process before nodding. I half expected him to say something else, but he just re-immersed himself in the food, taking another spoonful and shoveling it into his mouth.

I chuckled, shaking my head and standing upright. I headed for the coffee table, scooping up the papers and folding them, putting them in my pocket. "Alright, well I'mma head t'the cafe an' drop these off for th'lil prick. Y'comin' with?"

He nodded excitedly and swallowed another bite. "Yep! Mind dropping me off at the mall afterwards? I woke up to a text from Trace asking me to meet him and Moss in the food court today, I'll let him know I'll be there in about half an hour."

I gave a nod, smiling and heading for the door, grabbing my keys on the way. David started to skip after me and I had to put a hand up to stop him. "Much as I love th'view'a that ass, I don't love it enough t'let my best friend get arrested fer public indecency." I joked. He giggled, turning and wiggling his butt at me a little.

"You mean you don't wanna just stare at this aaaalllll day?" He joked back, and I rolled my eyes. He skipped off towards my room to find some of his spare clothes, and I headed for the truck. A little later and David joined me, and we headed for the cafe.

Kaleb wasn't there yet, if he was going to be at all, but I was able to leave my application with the barista. Another short drive and I was dropping David off at the mall. I'd intended to just drop him off and go, but the call with Davina played back in my head and I gave a smile.

"Hey, do me a favor, man?" I called out to David from the window. He turned, skipping back over and leaning on the door with a smile.

"What'cha need, big guy?" He asked curiously.

"When y'see Trace an' Moss, once y'all've had a chance t' talk a lil, mind sendin' th' pup out my way? Been a while since we got t' talk, jus' th' two'a us. Missin' th' lil nibling." I asked.

Oh no! Mod is doing the worst thing possible: supporting capitalism.