Butterfly (Open Thread)

[annon]

Annon backed away warily, as Rana moved forward. Every step of the way he had to fight the urge to just give in and let the man have what he wanted. Okay, the stranger was just a touch arrogant here, claiming nothing could hurt him. That could not be further from the truth according to Annon’s knowledge. His father had contacts in ‘high’ places and some not so high. Annon had always been disgusted by his father’s dealings with the not so ‘legal’ citizens of the country. Even there, his father knew some really big names.

“If you want to remain breathing, it might be advisable not to get involved with me. You cannot even begin to imagine what you are getting yourself into. I have been ordered to marry Pricilla and to keep order that is what I intend to do. Anyone who gets in the way of what my father wants tends to go missing, never to be found again, if you get my meaning. I don’t think you intend to hurt me, not yet anyway but if you get any closer I ‘will’ hurt you. I refuse to be the cause of another’s pain. Never again. So if you have any sympathy and survival instinct, you will turn around and pretend this meeting never happened.” Desperation to protect an innocent life, made Annon unusually forthcoming.

[Rana Mau Abyssin]

Rana shook his head. "I tried to be nice, mau, but... No. If you won't let me court you, mau, you're going to have to come with me, mau. I doubt that anyone you know has contacts all the way to Zerca. We will be going missing, never to be heard of again, but in a good way." He grabbed the boy, pushing the button that would have Nadira bring them back to the ship.

They reappeared in the cramped little vessel. There was a cockpit, a bed and a small cooking area, that's it. A female face appeared on the screen. "Mau, who's that and what are you doing?"

"It's my mate. Annon, this is Nadira, my annoying ship, mau. Nadira, this is Annon, mau."

"He looks confused. If you're just grabbing him and hightailling it back home, your mothers are going to tan your hide, you know."

"Shut up," he grumbled. "Maumaumaumaumau," he muttered, pressing controls.

[annon]

Annon was utterly terrified. Terrified, horrified and rather desperate. A horrid humming sound rang through his ears and his vision blurred as panic threatened to take over his sanity. His worst nightmare was coming to life. Again. He was being kidnapped. Terror flashed through his eyes as he backed away from Rana, stopping only when he encountered a wall.

He stared wide-eyed at Nadira. This kidnapper certainly was odd if nothing else. Years of training kicked in. One did not show one’s emotions, as soon as you did; you lost. A blank mask settled upon Annon’s features, hiding his inner turmoil and forcing his sheer panic into the nether reaches of his soul.

Annon was polite if nothing else. Manners were like breathing to him. Insulting anyone could lead to dire consequences in the life of an ambassador’s son. Maybe he could negotiate his own release. True, he didn’t have much hope for that. Not with kidnappers, but he could try.

He bowed to Nadira, as was customary when participating in a round of introductions. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, my lady.” Seeing that Nadira seemed rather reluctant he directed his request to her. “If you could please release me, I would be forever indebted to you. I shall grant whatever you are seeking. I have a substantial amount of cash available. If this is not about money but about some other form of gain, I’m sure I can speak to my father and in return for my life, acquire the granting of your request.”

[Rana Mau Abyssin]

"Hey, I'm just the ship," Nadira answered, glaring at her pilot. Talk to him. Although talking to a Zercan when he's found his mate is like trying to convince one of your planet's junkies to give up their drug of choice. Don't worry. You won't be harmed in any way shape or form." She sighed. Maybe I should explain... When Zercans find their mates, the rest of the world ceases to exist. Their mate's scent, the sight of them, everything about them becomes the only possible thing to concentrate on. They also feel a powerful urge to mate, to claim what is theirs so that no others can. Not that that could ever happen without your consent. So if he's brought you here, it's because he would rather die than live without you. You could probably talk him out of kidnapping you, if it involved you letting him stay with you at all times."

There was a constant mauing coming from Rana. The ship sighed, her eyes flicking over to him. "If you pet him and sweet talk him, he'll be putty in your hands, boy. But don't you dare break his heart. I'd hate to have a suicidal Mau on my hands. He's annoying enough as is."

[annon]

“Ship?” Annon enquired in confusion, now officially beyond confused. “Zercan’s? Mates? Claim?Die? Break his HEART!? He barely ‘knows’ me!” He shook his head, pinching himself. “This is crazy. Absolutely crazy.” He chewed on his bottom lip, mind racing rapidly through the information he had been supplied with. Sifting through the advise Nadira had given him, he came upon a temporary solution… He hoped.

He turned to Rana, hope in his eyes. “Anou… Rana-san? Could you please refrain from kidnapping me? I would me much obliged. You can come with me to go visit Satchi… I’m sure she’ll adore you. Ahe makes the most wonderful chocolate cake?” He offered, desperately hoping that this would work. He had no idea what would become of him should this stranger person succeed in kidnapping him. He was currently willing to offer Rana almost anything in order to gain the relative safety of others company.

[Rana Mau Abyssin]

"Mau?" He looked up, suspicious. "What is chocolate, mau?" He seemed interested. "And you are going to try and mate to the stupid girl, mau. I don't want you to run away, mau..."

"Ok, sit down, both of you," Nadira ordered. "Let's get some things straight: Mau isn't human. He's from another planet. Annon is human. He doesn't understand you, Mau." The zercan sighed. He got up, going over to Annon, purring.

"Ok, mau. As long as I get to stay with you always, mau. Maybe I could pretend to be your pet, mau?"

[annon]

Annon backed away, paling in shock. “Anou…Not human?” He whispered, looking extremely frightened. Getting up he continued to back away, trailing his hands along the wall, seeking escape. “Pet?” Annon shook his head violently.

“No. My father won’t allow that.” Annon’s eyes were wide, his body tense. His mind was racing in an attempt to find a solution to his dilemma. He had no idea if he believed the fact that Rana was not human. The thought was rather frightening. However, even if it was not true, the alternative was just as frightening. It meant Rana and Nadira were both insane.

“My father doesn’t agree with the concept of pets and I am obligated to do my duty in courting Pricilla.” He desperately tried to appease the two. “Please… let me go. You have nothing to gain by taking me.”

[Rana Mau Abyssin]

Rana shook his head. "I have a mate to gain, mau. And I'm not leaving you behind, mau. Nadira, takeoff, mau. He can come back and say goodbye later, mau."

"He's going to hate you," Nadira caroled, but did as ordered. The ship lifted off, Mau letting Nadira do the navigation, only monitering her. When they were in orbit, he went to soothe his precious future mate.

"It's ok, mau," he purred softly. "I know that it's a shock, mau, but I don't want you to leave. Really. I'll love you and cherish you, mau, and you'll be a lot more free on Zerca. And we'll have pretty, fluffy kits, mau..."

"Mau, we're entering High orbit. Do I set a path for home?" Nadira asked.

"Wait."

[annon]

Annon backed away from Rana, terror and uncertainty coursing through his veins. This could not be happening. This was his worst fears brought to life. True, for some strange reason he was absolutely fascinated with Rana. However, the situation, Rana’s rash actions and the sheer magnitude of what he thought to be impossible was overwhelming him.

He felt unbelievable anger run through his veins. Anger at the helplessness he felt. Angry that his right to protest and protect himself seemed to have been denied him. He continued to back away from Rana, his panic, uncertainty and rush of anger finding a target onto which to vent. “ Don’t touch me!” He spat. “Don’t come near me! If you claim to ‘love’” Annon spat the word, “me, cherish me, you would not be ‘kidnapping’ me!”

[Rana Mau Abyssin]

"If I didn't, mau, you'd leave!" Rana answered, sounding frustrated. "You said that you didn't want to see me, mau! I couldn't let that happen, mau." He reached out, actually pulling Annon against him and holding him, inhaling his scent contentedly. "I'd let you go back if I could stay, mau. But you won't let me, mau, so we go home, mau." He stroked the boy's hair. "I love you. I love you and I can't leave you, mau. Ever, mau. This was the only way, mau. Please understand, mau."

[annon]

“I never said I didn’t WANT to see you. I said I CAN’T see you. It would put you into danger, though right now, I don’t think I really care!” Annon struggled against Rana, making no headway and ignoring the sharp pang in his heart, fear and uncertainty driving him to forget all about decorum and how an ‘ambassador’s’ son was to behave. Damn it. Alien abductions were not in the manual.

“It’s YOU that doesn’t understand. This is NOT love. You just MET me! I’m sincerely sorry that I do not have the freedom to choose who I marry but that was determined for me the moment I was born. It is my DESTINY… I have no right to run from it! So I suggest you give up now and find someone better. Not to mention the fact that you are rather obviously MALE and the fact that you consider KIDNAPPING as a form of courtship!!!”

[Rana Mau Abyssin]

"I don't consider it courtship, mau, I consider it necessary!" Rana's hair had poofed out in annoyance as would a cat's fur.

Nadira, while they were fighting, had done some research on her pilot's intended mate. "Ahhh. That's why. Well, I think I see a way around this marriage issue... Oh and it doesn't matter that Mau is male. Most zercans are, his mothers are the exception, not the rule. And very few are the zercans who aren't in a same-gender relationship. You'll still hav3e kits. I can provide a zercan biology text for you if you like at your convenience. Anyway, all you have to do is convince your father that Mau is a VIP from a foreign country or from some conveniant organisation or other who wants you and will wreak havoc if he doesn't get you. It's simple. And it gives you two more time to get to know each other."

Mau's hair poofed again. His eyes went wide and pleading. IT was the sad kitten look. It rarely failed. "Please?"

[annon]

Annon’s eyes were drawn to Rana’s hair. The current state was rather fascinating. Thoughts of disgruntled hissing cats ran through his mind. “Do you scratch?” He asked before he could stop himself only half listening to Nadira, the rest of his attention concentrated on ruffled kitty in fascination.

Suddenly, what Nadira was saying filtered into his mind. “ Kits? What are those?.. Also, before you take that idea any further, I tried that already. I made my friend pose as a foreign dignitary who would wage war if he did not get me. My father can not pull out of the deal with Pricilla. His life and business would be in jeopardy.” A hint of bitterness seeped through his voice.

He turned back to Rana, looking apologetic, only to be met by the ruffled kitty look again. Added to ruffled kitty, was lost kitty. Annon hit his forehead with his hand in exasperation. “ I’ve owned several cat’s. I am well trained against that look, Neko-san (Mr Cat)” Annon couldn’t help it. He chuckled.

[Rana Mau Abyssin]

"Kittens. You know, mau, kittens. Little meows. THey're small and cute and fuzzy." Rana actually purred. "I only scratch mean people. Or when you give me a good reason to." His grin gave the phrase a double meaning. "I could take you away, mau. To somewhere we could be happy, mau. You wouldn't have to marry that girl, mau, or live up to anyone's expectations. "You could be you, mau, and not worry about what others think, mau." His hair stayed poofed at the sad kitten eyes were back. "And no one is guarded against that look, mau. Except my mothers, mau." He looked a bit defeted at that. "Please, mau? Your father would never know, mau. It would be a mystery, mau. You would have just disappeared without leaving a trace, mau."

[annon]

Annon shook his head at the attempt at cuteness that Rana was trying to achieve. Smiling he ruffled what looked suspiciously like cats hair. “Yes, you are cute. No it won’t get you what you want… I could always go fetch a hosepipe or something.”

Annon looked at Rana, speaking seriously. “I barely know you. How can you expect me to leave everything I know, even what little I do care about, and go off with you? I will miss, my mother, and Satchi. Not to mention the fact that I am rather convinced you are delusional. You want to have kitten’s with me… as in little furry miniature kitty cat’s if I understand you correctly.” Annon sighed. “I think you should consider going to see someone… I know several people I could recommend. I could go with you if you wish.”

((Yes... I know his mother is dead. He is refering to the japanese custom of honouring the dead and visiting their resting places as well as keeping a tablet in remembrance))