FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Uther focused more on the walking than any conversing they were doing, though he was careful to stick close to them. The last thing he wanted to do was accidentally wander off, especially with his earlier ribbing of Davin. He wondered if maybe he had been too harsh, now... if this is what it felt like for a mortal, what must it feel like to a Lust daemon? And his experience was being actively dampened.

"I'm so fucking weak," he muttered to himself. They'd been walking for a while... apparently these districts weren't too far away, and even if they were they happened to be with the guy in charge of the entire place. He could make a new road, if that's what it took. Snapping himself out of his own thoughts, he realized he was lagging behind a little. As the group stopped to converse with one of the street vendors, he slowed down a bit. They weren't exactly rushing away, and until and if they found Davin or Jared then he had nothing to really do.

"What's a mortal like you doing here? Looking to become strong?"

Uther disdainfully glanced over at the owner of the voice, before tilting his head in curiosity. The man looked more brutish than he'd expected, but still very attractive. He could easily qualify in a strong man competition back on Earth... if he had been mortal, anyway. Uther was pretty sure he was a daemon, especially with how he'd just been addressed.

"Don't you get enough to eat around here?" Uther asked, a little more rudely than he meant.

"Plenty, but I always enjoy a hot meal," the man said, obviously flirting with him. Uther felt a little flattered, despite his situation. "Anyway, I overheard you talking to yourself, so I figured I'd see if I could help you with anything. I have a lot of wares here."

Looking up at the sign, Uther realized it was some kind of curio shop. He supposed they were full of cursed items or something, but around here that might qualify as a good time. Looking over at the group, he realized it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon; Liam seemed deep in conversation discussing who knew what.

"I'm with them," Uther said, answering the unasked question.

"With the elder himself? Lucky you," the man said, and Uther could detect genuine jealousy. But it was quickly brushed aside as his full attention came back to Uther. "Sure I can't tempt you to at least look around? You might find something you desire."

"I really shouldn't," Uther sighed, not realizing how close the shopkeeper had gotten to him. He was almost blocking his view of the group, but when he tried to subtly look around him he managed to stumble a bit. Catching him, the man flashed a grin before helping him steady himself.

"Careful there."

"Ah... thanks," Uther said, inhaling a spicy sweet scent. He felt hornier than he'd ever felt before, but he found it wasn't as bad as he'd led himself to believe. Looking back at the group again, he realized he'd somehow managed to stumble away. "Sorry. I should get back over there..."

"Do you really want to follow, or are you more a leader?" The question caught Uther off-guard. He gave it some serious consideration before sighing. Some training if he couldn't stand under his own power, huh?

"I'm not some sheep, if that's what you're implying," he growled, finally giving an answer. "I'm just a bit out of my element here. That's all."

"Is that so?" the daemon growled back, though far more seductively. It was a contrast that Uther hadn't considered, and he found himself turned on despite himself. "Just a few moments ago you were complaining about how weak you were."

"I..."

"Hey, don't worry. I've seen your type before. You want to be stronger, faster, better. But, you don't make a lot of progress, or not enough of it. You feel like you're lagging behind everyone you know."

"You're a persistent salesman, aren't you?" Uther asked, suddenly amused. "Not very subtle, though."

"Do I need to be?" the man said, resting one of his meaty hands on Uther's arm.

"Guess not," Uther said, flashing a lusty grin. Before he knew it, he was making out with a potential daemon in a public street without a care in the world. A few catcalls later and he realized suddenly what he was doing... though he didn't stop. It wasn't exactly like he was being forced to his knees, or anything. When in Rome...

"Here, have a gift. On me," said the daemon, handing him a small item. Looking down at it, he felt an urge to hold onto it despite not knowing exactly what it was. It looked like some kind of... flower bracelet? But nothing like what he knew. For one, it didn't have any of the gaudy pastels and plastics he might expect from something like this. And those looked like real flowers...

"Thanks," he said, smiling. He probably should have asked what it did, but when he looked up into those sparkling eyes he simply went to put it on.

"Oh, let me help you with that..." the daemon said, and Uther watched as he quickly tied a knot in the bracelet. It fit snugly against his skin but didn't chafe... in fact, it sort of felt like leather, but better. "There. It looks good on you. How would you like to join me for lunch? I have steak. Perfect protein for muscle. At least, the way I make it."

"Sure. Why not?" Uther said, the bracelet glowing with power for a moment before dimming again. Following the daemon inside, his eyes glanced over the various items with disinterest; the most interesting thing right now was currently wrapping a beefy arm around his shoulders and guiding him toward the back. The place seemed to be both shop and living space, with the wares out front and the rest out back. He was lead to a kitchen and dining-room combo, the open space layout making the space seem much bigger than it normally was. Everything seemed made of the same material as his bracelet, though when he tested the surface of the obsidian table it didn't give way.

"So I didn't catch your name," the daemon said from the kitchen. Looking up from the table, he could see they had stripped fully naked, save for an apron that left nothing to the imagination. The words "Taste the Cook" were plastered over the front of it, and as Uther chuckled he could see why; the apron was opaque in every area except the crotch area, where the sheer material put the meaty rod on full display. "Mine's... well, most mortals call me Clay. Though I'm more the potter than the clay, if you catch my drift."

"I'm Uther," the human introduced himself. "Nice to meet you Clay."

"Uther...? What an... interesting name," Clay said, more curious than cautious.

"Eh. It's the only one I know. Forgot my old one."

"I imagine so," Clay said, turning back to the stove and exposing his naked backside to Uther. "Do you like your name?"

"Truthfully? No," Uther said. "It's a title. An obligation. If I could remember my old name I'd probably use that instead."

"How about a new name? Names are just what we decide to call ourselves. There's nothing stopping you from picking a new one."

"...I guess not, no..." Uther said. He'd considered it before, but as he stared at those twin mounds of flesh he couldn't help but think it was a good idea now. The aroma of steak was filling the room as well, and Uther couldn't help but salivate even as his cock grew painfully hard.

"All done," Clay said, before plating what looked to be the biggest steak Uther had ever seen. Though, then again, he didn't often go out for steak. Watching as Clay bent over and placed the plate in front of him, he suddenly felt a sharp pang of hunger and took his fork and knife into his hands, cutting off a piece before Clay had properly sat down the opposite side of him. Taking a bite, he moaned in ecstasy at the flavor and juiciness... everything about it was just amazing. He was almost reluctant to finish chewing it, swallowing before he looked up to see Clay with a huge smile on his face and an expectant look in his amber eyes.

"You're an amazing chef," Uther complimented, cutting off an even bigger piece than before. "This is the best steak I've ever had... I think. From what I remember."

"Glad to hear you're enjoying it," Clay said. "I suppose I can drop the glamour now. If you don't mind?"

"I hang out with anthros and humans in a daemonic bar. I think you can look how you want in your own place," Uther said, smiling.

"Well then..." chuckled Clay, before the skin erupted into a light brown fur traveling all over his body. Cracking a few joints as he stretched his body, he shook himself as if to rid his body of the remaining magic.

"Ram's horns, nice," Uther said, relaxed despite himself. The bracelet he was wearing was pulsing with a rhythmic, amber glow. If he was concerned about it, or even recognized it was still there, Uther didn't show it. Instead, he took another bite as he appraised the anthro's form. Part ram, part wolf. There was probably a story there, but he didn't care to ask.

"They'd look better on you, though even if I wanted to change you into an anthro something tells me I can't do that. What with your unique talents."

"The blade? Yeah. Not unless I allow it," Uther said, shrugging. He tried to channel the blade from thin air to show the daemon, but he found he couldn't. "Well... I guess I can't show you though. It's not manifesting."

"That's interesting," Clay said, suddenly very intrigued. His eyes fell on the bracelet before smiling even wider. "Do you know what that bracelet is, Uther?"

"No, but it's nice," Uther said, remembering the bracelet for the first time in a while. "What is it?"

"It's something I made after studying relics and talismans. You have to have a basic understanding if you want to pawn off the right cursed items to those it should belong to. I call it a Forget-Me-Knot."

"Oh, like the flower," Uther said, remembering calling it 'mouse ears' in one of his lives. "Doesn't quite look the same, though."

"No, I had to get a friend to help with the botany part. I think it turned out very well, however. Especially with how easily it was to get you away from your friends earlier."

"Hm? I'm here alone though," Uther said, confused. How had he gotten here, actually? Before he could think too hard about that, he realized it didn't really matter. He was hanging out with a sexy daemon who had gone to the trouble of preparing him a delicious meal.

"You mean, other than here with me..." Clay said, and Uther blushed as he felt a paw rubbing up and down his leg under the table. "Well, that's what the bracelet does. Whoever puts it on you remembers everything, but everyone else who knows or is aware of you forgets you exist when they tie the knot on it. Though, with you being a mortal I had to offer you the chance to put it on yourself first. You also accepted my help in tying it on you. A word of advice I hope you'll remember for the future: don't accept random gifts from strangers in the realm of Lust."

"I'll keep that in mind," Uther said, smiling. He didn't have a care in the world, now that the full power of the realm of Lust was coursing through him.

"Of course, anyone who sees you now will remember seeing you and what you do, even after you take that bracelet off. It'd just be too inconvenient if you couldn't, say, run a simple errand because no one remembered you were standing in front of them."

"What if I met someone who used to know me while I have it on?"

"They won't recognize you. They'll be able to reintroduce themselves to you, and you them, but they won't remember who you were to them before. Which is why I only made a few of these to test out. You're the first one to try it, and that's my more potent version. Do you want to know what else it does?"

"Sure, tell me," Uther said, finishing the last of his steak with gusto. Placing the utensils on his plate, he let out a loud belch before patting his bulging stomach, grinning sheepishly after realizing how rude he was being. "Sorry..."

"I'm flattered, actually," laughed Clay, enjoying the sight. "Here, let's move into the living room. I'm sure the couch will be more comfortable, and we'll be able to talk more once I clean up in here."

Slowly standing, Uther smiled before walking down the hall into a larger room. There was a fireplace where he would have expected a television, though the flames were definitely more crimson than he remembered fire being. Sitting down on the couch, he shuddered a bit as the leathery material brushed against the skin of his hands. He suddenly felt very hot, between the fire and the hot meal in his stomach, so he stripped off clothing until he was half naked. A low whistle caused him to blush in embarrassment, though he also had to admit he enjoyed the attention of the daemon as he sat next to him, now completely nude without his apron.

"Well, go on. I won't judge," Clay said, motioning for him to take off the rest of his clothing. Some part of him resisted the idea at first, but he soon found himself completely naked and nestled against the bigger anthro. Well, not completely naked; the bracelet continued to pulse with that amber light from where it was still tied around his wrist. "There we go. Comfy?"

"Yeah... very," Uther sighed, feeling content to lay there and inhale the daemon's musk.

"Well, good. I was going to tell you about that bracelet. Well, in human culture, back on Earth anyway, a forget-me-not is a flower just like you said. It means true love, fidelity, and a long lasting connection or relationship. That's a very boring way to put it, now I think about it. But, this isn't that flower, not exactly. Not only does it mean something else, it gives shape to that meaning.

"What does it mean, then?" Uther asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, the opposite really. True lust, infidelity, and an open mind when it comes to relationships or flings. Basically, it ramps up your libido, gives you a lack of commitment to any one person, and makes you okay with open relationships, multiple partners... etcetera etcetera. Though it seems to have made that blade of yours forget who you are as well. At least, until I tweak it. It's a side-effect I wasn't expecting to ever be a problem, after all."

"I feel like I should be angry or something, but all I can really think about is how good you smell and feel right now," Uther said.

"Well, the one who ties that around your wrist becomes the most attractive being to you. You also forget about anyone else from before. I am probably the only man you remember right now, aren't I?"

"You're all I really need," Uther sighed, but then he frowned as he remembered something. "Well, that and I want to be stronger. Not sure why..."

"You don't need a reason to want to be strong," Clay assured him, giving him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "In fact, I bet I can help with that."

"Sure!" Uther exclaimed, his eagerness causing him to spring to his feet as soon as Clay moved to stand. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, the steak in your stomach will do some of the work once we wear down your natural resistances. I half-expected it to put some muscle on you already, but I suppose that's because you still have a connection to Caledfwlch; even if it's forgotten you as its bearer, it's not like it's severed from you completely. But you're not the first bearer of that blade I've ever come across. I know there are loopholes, especially if you are willing to change. I can't believe my luck though. Snaring Uther Pendragon, of all mortals... come. Let's pick something out that you'll like from my shop."

Uther followed like a puppy after its master, though he felt no such attachments to the daemon. He felt he could leave any time, though he knew he'd always come back to Clay before too long. He was just so irresistible to him, and he found himself leaning in and catching his scent as he followed along. In his mind, Clay was perfect. He wanted to be strong, just like Clay was. The light from his bracelet was completely steady now, having reached its full potency; if he had bothered to look in the mirror, he would see his eyes had changed to the same amber as his bracelet and Clay's eyes. They glowed slightly as they passed through the darker hallways into the shop, though now Uther had only eyes for his new lover. He watched as Clay went to the front of the shop and flipped the sign to 'closed' before turning back to Uther, a wide smile on his face as he gestured to all his wares.

"Go ahead. See what catches your eye. My wares are good at finding their way to the right person."

Uther wasn't sure what to do at first, grabbing a small hand basket from near the door. He instantly felt a need to shop for something, anything... maybe these baskets were cursed too, even temporarily. Still, it helped him to get over his reluctance and he began to look at the wares in more detail. The storefront, though somewhat limited in space, made up for it with shelves stacked with merchandise that would put a dollar store to shame. While he felt tempted to just start placing random items in, he took his time in examining items that caught his eye. For a store of cursed curios, they were honest in their effects: this item would curse your enemies with erotic nightmares, that item would swap your gender... the effects ranged from the mundane to the truly outrageous. He felt his heart race in excitement once his eyes fell upon a necklace set aside in a glass case. Jewelry lined the shelves inside it as well, but the image of that snarling silver wolf was the only thing he had eyes for. A pair of hands carefully grabbed the box it was in, and looking up Uther realized Clay had moved behind and opened it from his side.

"Would you like to try it on?" he asked, placing it on top to give him a better view. Uther could only nod as his hands reached for it. He didn't know what it did, but he had to have it. Whatever the cost, it had to be his. Even as his skin touched the silver amulet and chain, he could feel the warmth of magic enter him. Leaving the hand basket forgotten for a moment, he placed it around his neck and let it fall to his chest; instantly, he felt his body lock into place as his eyes looked down at his own shadow, which began to twist and morph. He wasn't sure what was casting it, but it didn't matter as fur and claws sprouted from it, and before too long a pair of silver eyes opened before a twisted smile of the same color showed itself. Crawling up his body, he could feel where it dug into his skin and seeped into his soul, corrupting wherever it touched as it soon came face to face with him. Opening his mouth, Uther moaned as the shadow gave one last smile and slowly slid into him. There was no taste, and although his jaw and throat stretched as though something was sliding down, he felt nothing but a sense of power filling him from head to toe. Once the last tendrils of the corrupted shadow had slid past his lips, he gasped as he suddenly found himself able to move again.

"...What was tha-AHHH!" he shouted, his words cut off as his muscles began to swell and expand. His teeth ached as his canines began to sharpen, and a snarl escaped him as feelings of rage and domination boiled up from within. If he hadn't been naked already, he would surely have begun tearing his own clothing off as he grew in height and stature. If he had thought he was muscular before, he more than tripled in size as his muscles exploded outward. His hair and beard grew wilder, his ears tapered slightly into points even as his nails grew harder and sharper. Yet, for all the animalistic traits he was acquiring, he knew he wasn't turning into an anthro. This was a curse more ancient than all of that.

"How do you feel?" Clay asked, once his transformation reached its end.

"Gooood," Uther growled, smiling as he eyed Clay with lust. "Horny as fuck, too. I didn't think they still made curses like this."

"That one was hard to track down. It's daemonic, but of the old days," Clay explained, beaming with pride. "An amulet of lycanthropy, though not the wild kind. That one turns its wearer into a pack leader, able to shapeshift at will. You're not exactly human anymore, though you can pass as it. You can't take it off, though. Not without dying or with some very powerful counter-curse. I'd avoid anything silver that isn't your necklace, either. You have a new allergy."

"Seems more a blessing than a curse," Uther said, his mind already twisting under the influence of the necklace as he flexed one of his biceps, lewdly licking the muscle with a slightly longer tongue. "I feel strong as fuck."

"You look it, handsome," Clay said, and they both shared a moment of silence as they checked each other out. Clay was the first to break the silence. "You should look around some more, stud. I'm eager to see what you become."

Reluctantly pulling away from the counter, he grabbed the basket from the floor and turned down a random aisle, resuming his shopping spree. He didn't even look at the labels anymore, relying instead on what called to him most. After selecting a decent amount of items, he headed toward where Clay was waiting in front of a massive mirror.

"I'm probably not gonna wear all of these, but now I've got something to work with," Uther confidently said, before turning to look at the mirror and flexing his pecs. "Fuck yeah, I look good."

"You'll look even better soon," whispered Clay, wrapping his arms around his waist from behind. "Show me what you really are."

As if entranced, Uther reached for the item that seemed to call to him most; it was some kind of red leather jockstrap, the only label that indicated its brand read "H-B0N3". He felt the numbers were unnecessary, but the crimson material felt like it was made for him as he slowly slid it on. He hadn't realized just how thin the straps were, giving him the impression of a jockstrap and g-string hybrid, but soon that didn't matter as much as the pleasant burning in his crotch and ass as both began expanding. Moaning, he thrust his hips forward as he fell back into Clay's arms, his ass growing into the perfect bubble butt while his thickening cock filled all the empty space it could. Clay's erect cock rested comfortably between Uther's new, thick mounds of flesh by pure chance, though he didn't withdraw when Uther began to flex and massage him almost instinctively.

"Mmm, good choice," Clay said, his voice dripping with need. "I'm sure you've figured it out, but this jockstrap gives you the perfect ass and cock. Though I'm afraid you'll only ever be a bottom, now. We'll have to get you some matching jockstraps later. Uncursed, of course. We don't need to go stacking more of the same curse in that flesh of yours."

"Yeah... I don't think my old clothes will fit anyway," Uther agreed, his voice deep and sultry. His thoughts centered around cock and finding some way to fill his ass, the hollow feeling leaving him with an intense need to be fucked by anything and anyone. He knew he could still get pleasure from his cock, but any ideas of fucking were replaced with him being fucked instead. Maybe if he was lucky, he could get Clay to bury that thick tool in him and let him ride it all night... shaking his head, he cleared what lust he could from his mind before reaching toward the basket for another item.

"Oh, piercings? I must have forgotten to put those in the case," Clay said, recognition in his eyes. He laughed as he stopped Uther from reaching up to his ears, guiding his hands to his chest instead. "They're for your nipples. They won't go anywhere else. I've tried."

"Kinky," Uther chuckled, before bringing one of the gold piercings to his left nipple. Before he could figure out how to put it in, it took on a life of its own as it pierced his flesh all on its own. There was a grunt of pain before pleasure rocked him, and he immediately put the other piercing over his remaining nipple. If one had felt good, two brought him close to orgasm. The warmth of magic filled his chest, and his nipples grew two, three times wider as his pecs began to expand. Though they were pure muscle by this point, they took on a more pillowy appearance as he watched them grow. Without warning, Clay flicked one of his nipples; he saw spots as pure pleasure shot straight to his cock, a loud moan escaping his throat as his vision blurred.

"Feel good?" Clay asked, and all Uther could do was nod as he panted. He felt like he'd lost something as his pecs finished, and looking down he already knew he wouldn't be able to see past his chest. He watched as Clay slowly slid his hands up his sides and over his pecs, before slowly squeezing them one after the other. Uther chuckled dumbly as he felt even more of his thoughts just fade away into nothingness. "These piercings give you more sensitivity and massive pecs, but at the cost of your intelligence. You're not 'dumb' but I'm sure you feel a bit simpler now, don't you?"

"I don't really care how smart I am anymore," Uther sighed, utter bliss on his face. "I feel like my pecs are full, though."

"We'll have to milk you later. Another effect of this curse is that you'll produce milk that can transform other men into mindless muscle sluts. It'll be good to sell to the grocer, once we get enough. It's temporary for them, so it'll give us a steady income."

"You keep talking like I'll be living here with you," Uther said, though he had to admit he didn't hate the idea. In fact, he'd been secretly hoping Clay would ask him to move in with him this entire time.

"Do you have anywhere else to go? I can take you there myself," Clay offered. If he had been insulted, he was very good at hiding the fact.

"...No. I don't really... I mean. I feel like I used to live somewhere on Earth but... I don't really want to go back, now. This realm is just..."

"Heaven?" Clay said, finishing his thoughts for him. Uther could only nod in contentment. "Well, whether you choose to stay or go, I want you to know you have a home here whenever you want it. But let's talk about that later. I want to see what else you picked out here."

Uther went ahead and started sifting through the items; after so many cursed items on him already, some of the relics and curios inside had lost their appeal. Removing them, he placed them carefully to the side to be put on the shelves later, before he finally removed a worn out baseball cap. It didn't have any logo or any brand label; it was simply a solid black color with a simple plastic band in the back. The typical baseball cap.

"I haven't seen this hat in years," Clay said, his voice suddenly nostalgic. "I thought I put it away. Where did you find it?"

"It was just on the shelf somewhere. Almost didn't see it but... I dunno," Uther said, shrugging. "Just called to me. Why, is it yours?"

"It used to belong to a lover of mine. Only mortal I ever fell in love with, not just lust."

"Sorry, I-"

"It was a long time ago, and we had a happy life together," Clay said, reassuring him. "I think if you found it, then it means he wants you to have it. But you might not feel like the same person if you put it on. Fair warning."

"I already feel so different. What's one more thing?" Uther said, shrugging as he moved to put it on. He felt a strange aura surrounding him, permeating his being as he placed it on his head before turning it backwards. His eyes rolled back up into his head as his body began to convulse, and Clay steadied him with a surprising amount of strength as the energy coursed through them both. Just as he felt it was about to be too much, he felt something click inside him and he steadied himself. Looking up into the mirror, he locked eyes with Clay and smiled.

"Hey babe," he said, his voice slightly deeper now. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Clay sighed, his emotions getting the better of him in that moment. "Though we both know it's not the 'real' you."

"I know. But... call me Bruce anyway," he said, resting a hand on Clay's. "Okay?"

"...Okay," Clay said, allowing the man to turn and hug him tightly. "I guess you already know what that hat does, huh?"

"Heh. Yeah. It's not a true possession, but... it has his essence. His memories, mixing with what little I remember myself. I'll never replace him, I know. But hey, let's go grab a coffee or something, okay? I want to catch up with you, see what you've been doing all this time. It'll be fun."

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Clay said, wiping his eyes and smiling. Bruce smiled back, giving another squeeze before pulling away and leaving the rest of the cursed items forgotten. He could stock the shelves later; right now he wanted to spend time with his boyfriend. Business could wait.

*******

"I feel like I'm forgetting something," sighed Liam, leading the others down the street. He was already annoyed at how long it had taken to extract any information from that vendor; the daemon had kept offering him sexual favor after sexual favor when he wasn't trying to sell him one of his wares. He'd had to pull the Elder card a few times to get him to answer the simplest questions, and even then it had just been something he'd already known or suspected anyway. Sometimes it was frustrating, dealing with his own lust daemons.

"Must not be important," Seth joked, shrugging. Still, the wolf seemed to do a quick headcount before nodding in satisfaction. "I mean, everyone's here, so... what could you be forgetting?"

"Maybe you're right," Liam said, clearing his mind of the nuisance. "Anyway, we're here. The spa I was talking about earlier. We really should have just come here first, but eh. Sorry guys."

"I mean, I might go back and take him up on that offer once we're done here, but oh my god. I've never seen a more pent-up daemon..."

"Seth, try to control yourself."

"Sorry."

"Anyway, let's go in, shall we?" Vance suggested, trying to diffuse the situation before it had a chance to blow up. "We're talking to a masseuse, yeah?"

"I'm gonna need a masseuse once we're done. I'm sure of it," grumbled Liam, already feeling the knots of stress forming in his muscles. But still, Vance was right. Opening the door for the others, he waited until everyone was inside before closing the door behind him. The lustful haze of the realm was thinner in here, but between the uniform of the receptionist that left little to the information and the aromatherapy candles littered around the room Liam couldn't help but feel extremely aroused. It was a shame he wasn't here to relax.

"Hi! Welcome!" the receptionist greeted, a warm smile on his face. Even for a human, he was impressively built, his sterile white shirt more of a blouse that left little to the imagination as it exposed the deep cleft of his pectorals. "Are you here for an appointment?"

"Actually, I'm here looking into a friend of mine. Davin Connors?"

"Well, our clientele list is private honey. I'd have to get my manager to even consider letting you look at it. How would you like to book an appointment, though? I can get you in as early as next week."

"Actually, schedule me for your earliest slot," Liam said, smiling warmly. He held up a hand of warning to Seth before he could protest, the silence filled with the sounds of the keyboard's quick click-clacking.

"I can get you in Monday at two in the afternoon, Earth time," the receptionist cheerfully quipped, happy to do his job. "Will that be okay?"

"That's perfect, actually," Liam said, rotating his shoulder.

"Can I get a name, sweetie?"

"Sure," Liam said, pulling his black card from his wallet. The receptionists eyes boggled as he took it from him and tapped it against the card reader. When the name popped up on the screen, he gasped and quickly handed the card back.

"I'm so, so sorry!" he stammered, blushing beet red. "I didn't..."

"I'm hiding my form on purpose, hon," Liam said. "Don't worry about it, but also... keep it quiet, okay? Now... about that friend of mine..."

"Sure thing, Mr. Theodoric," the human said, returning quickly to his screen. It wasn't long before he found what he was looking for. "Hmmm... Davin Connors was here... ahhhh. I remember them. Sweet couple, those two. Mr. Connors was here last with his friend Jared - shy little sabertooth, wouldn't give a last name - about... oh, three years ago?"

"Three years?!" Seth said, unable to help himself.

"A week, Seth," said Liam, causing the receptionist to nod. Seth blushed as he facepalmed his own stupidity, though Liam couldn't blame him too much for the mistake. Time flowed differently here, and sometimes slower or faster depending on the district. He really should visit more often; so long as Liam was here, the two worlds were synced for the most part. "Do you know where he was headed after this, hon? It's important I find him."

"Oh, hm..." the receptionist said, trying his best to think. Shaking his head apologetically, he was about to speak when his eyes suddenly lit up as he quickly scanned the screen again. "Hold on one second... I'm gonna go get Darren."

"I'll be here, stud," Liam said, winking at the blushing receptionist as he left the room. They weren't waiting too long before an even bigger man came out from the back, making the receptionist look like a twink in comparison.

"Sir, it's an honor to meet you. Name's Darren. I was the masseuse who worked on Mr. Connors. How might I be of service to you?"

"Well... I want him for my appointment for starters," Liam said to the receptionist, clearly impressed. As the receptionist made the changes in the scheduling log, Liam composed himself before taking on a more business-like demeanor. "I was wondering if you could tell me where he went after your session with him. If you know, that is. You see, he's gone missing."

"Oh, man," Darren said, going from elated to concerned. "I hope they're okay. But ah... hm..."

"Anything can help, no matter how small the detail," Vance encouraged, causing the masseuse to nod.

"I think they were... yeah. They were thinking of a few places when they were leaving. Some leather store, a bathhouse, maybe one of the hiveminds..."

"Drones," Liam sighed, mentally kicking himself. Of course. But would he really take someone he was on a date with there? "Anything else you can remember?"

"Hmmm... not really. It was a while ago," Darren said, shrugging. "I know he left his car here, so wherever they went was on foot probably. Though, ah, we had to have the car towed so..."

"Can you give me the information on that?" he asked the receptionist, before turning back to the masseuse. "You've been a great help, honestly. I think I might know where they went. If nothing else, we can pick up the trail now."

"Glad I could help, though I wish I could do more..." Darren sighed, still concerned.

"Help me with these knots in my back next week and I'll consider it a massive help," Liam said, smiling. "Dealing with all this is probably gonna make me tense for a year if I don't get it taken care of soon. I swear I'm aging."

"I'll make sure to give you some extra special treatment, then," Darren said, winking back. "But if there's nothing else...?"

"No, that's all for now. Thank you both for your time," Liam said, accepting a paper slip from the receptionist. He'd have to deal with that headache later and make Davin pay him back. Saying goodbye to the masseuse and the receptionist, he stepped outside with the others before sighing in frustration.

"What's the plan, boss?" Seth said, flicking a cigarette into his mouth and lighting it. Liam let it go, since he was obviously using it to distract himself from the haze. It wasn't an uncommon sight here, anyway.

"Car's too far away, and that's not where they went anyway," Liam said. He'd really wanted to check it for clues, or at least the damn phone, but at this point it wasn't going to lead them any closer to Davin and Jared. "I'm pretty sure I know where they are, anyway. I'd bet Mammon my bar he's in the nearest drone district."

"What makes you say that?" Vance asked, causing Seth to chuckle.

"Besides his submission fetish? Well... I can see him wanting to share everything with a date, but a drone district? We have those?"

"Well, Davin does drone out a bit from time to time. He has special gear," sighed Liam. "Hell, I've droned out a few times, even. It's not an unpleasant experience. But if he's there and hasn't come out... it means I have a bigger headache to deal with than just two missing employees. I'll see you at the bar."

"What do you mean by that? We're coming with you," Seth argued, surprised.

"Can't just let you go in there alone, after all," Vance said, agreeing. "I don't know much about this 'drone' thing but it sounds dangerous enough to get lost in. Going alone sounds..."

"I'll be fine," Liam countered, causing the sidewalk to start carting them away as a point. "Don't make me send you back the unpleasant way."

"Fine, fine," Seth spat, after regaining his balance. "We'll go home. Just get out of there if things get dicey, okay?"

"If you don't hear from me in a day, then get your boyfriend and come after me," Liam said, reluctant to use the name in front of Vance. "Honestly if I thought it was this serious, I wouldn't have even brought you here... but it's good someone will know where I've gone, at least. But keep the other elders out of this. Last thing I need is an omnipotent drone network in my realm going haywire. Assuming they haven't already started..."

"Yeah. Will do," Seth said, growing more serious. He really was just concerned about him, Liam realized. And here he thought he was arguing just for the sake of it. Waiting until the two walked out of sight, he began walking in the opposite direction.

"Davin, you're gonna be the death of me. I swear," Liam said, exasperated. In the back of his mind, though, he couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something again.

*******

"Well that explains the craving for raw meat," Bruce laughed, his arm wrapped around Clay's shoulders as they walked down the street. It had been hours since he'd first put on any of the cursed items, and their magic had seeped into and become part of him. New tattoos, though old designs, had formed along his skin; every time he saw another tattoo form, he mentally welcomed it back like an old friend. "Never been a werewolf before. Kinky."

"Well, it gets better. You're the Pendragon."

"...No shit?" Bruce asked, though he did have a memory of some blade, fuzzy as it was now. That probably came from the Uther side of him... Uther. Uther Pendragon, right. He'd heard stories about that from daemons who hadn't been too spooked to tell him the tale. "I don't feel anything like that, though."

"Ah, that's probably my fault," sighed Clay, brushing his hand along his wrist where a bracelet was. "Unintended side effects."

"Ah yes, the 'Forget-Me-Knot'," Bruce said, remembering his earlier explanation. "Cool concept, but you know we can't sell these."

"I know, I know," Clay said, rolling his eyes at him. Bruce's heart melted; the wolf-ram looked so adorable when he did that. "I just thought maybe... I guess it was a bad idea. I've just been so lonely without you."

"I'm here now," Bruce said, reassuring him. "Even if I'm not the same as before. Shame I can't protect you with a legendary sword, though. Would be kickass."

"Well, I've been thinking on that," Clay said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I think I can alter the spell to let the blade remember you as its bearer. I hope. But ah..."

"Go ahead. Do it," Bruce said, complete trust in him.

"Don't you hear what I have to do to make it happen, though?" Clay said.

"Whatever it is, I trust you," Bruce chuckled. "I mean, as long as I don't grow a third arm, it should be fine right?"

"It's just risky, is all," Clay sighed. "I just got you back. If I mess up they'll take you from me."

"We both know this can't be permanent, anyway. Mortals die, even in this realm," Bruce said, smiling sadly. "But nothing bad will happen. I promise."

"Well, if you promise," chuckled Clay, before taking his arm off his shoulders. Grabbing his hand and facing him, the daemon wrapped a hand around the bracelet and closed his eyes. Bruce waited until a burning sensation caused him to cry out in pain; it was intense, searing into his flesh almost. But it also felt kind of... good. He could feel some kind of power blossoming inside him, and before long he could remember everything that every Uther Pendragon had ever done. For the first time in a long time, he felt what it was like to possess magic... but this was a bit different than before. He thought he'd had power before, but this...

"Sorry for the pain," Clay apologized, withdrawing his hand to expose his wrist. The bracelet was gone, but where it used to be was an intricate tattoo that replicated the band itself. If he hadn't known any better, he'd have thought the band was still on him with how detailed it was. Every flower, every bit of fiber was in the tattoo... hell, the knot itself was there. Only brushing his fingers against it convinced him it was a part of him now.

"It's beautiful," he said in amazement, smiling at Clay. "Thank you."

"Feel any different?" Clay asked, curiosity in his eyes.

"Well..." Bruce said, a mischievous look in his eyes. "I dunno..."

"Well, I tried," Clay said, before being startled by a flash of light and steel. His eyes traced the edge of metal before his mind could fully process what it was he was seeing. "Holy. Shit."

"Literally holy, it feels like," Bruce said, giving the sword a few experimental swings before letting go of it. It disappeared into thin air, as if it had never been there. "God, that feels good. Though I could do without the voices."

"Voices?"

"Bearers of the blade, shouting from the past, blah blah blah. They're not alive; it's more like... kind of how my hat is. But not sapient. More like... a jumbled mess of files. I dunno. It's not that hard to tune out, though. Probably because of my hat, actually."

"I'm sure we can figure all that out later," Clay said, excitement in his voice now. "Holy shit. I can't believe it worked."

"You're dating a Pendragon," Bruce said, winking at him.

"...I'm dating a Pendragon..." Clay said, the implications causing his eyes to widen. "Wow... and to think I just wanted a mortal to play with for a while..."

"Now you've got the whole package," Bruce chuckled, winking as he wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. "I'm just glad the curse I put on my hat ended up working. What took you so long to find a host, hon?"

"I didn't know you cursed it, honestly. Not until Uther found it, at least... then I had my suspicions," Clay said, sighing. "I never expected to talk to you again."

"Neither did I, honestly," Bruce said, a sad smile on his face. "I love you, you know?"

"I love you too. Gods, I love you. Please... stay with me."

"Who said I was going anywhere?" chuckled Bruce, holding him tighter. "Come on. Let's go home. I'll make you some dinner. And if you're good, then maybe I'll let you have some cake after."

"But I don't have any..." Clay said, before seeing the lustful grin on his face. "...Ohhhhh... sure. I'd love some... cake."

Laughing, the two lovers began walking down the street again in each others' arms, ignoring the hoots and hollers of daemons and mortals alike. All that really mattered was that they were together again, no matter how odd the circumstances of their reunion.

*******

"Fuck..." Davin said, his head pounding. The room he was in wasn't helping, but he already knew it wasn't real. There wasn't any light to shut out, not really, and the pain wasn't going to stop despite the best efforts of the hivemind he was connected to. How long had it been since he'd succumbed to them? Even then, he'd only been locked deep inside, sleeping while his body and mind did the will of the Core.

"How do you feel?" a familiar voice said, and looking up he was surprised to see Jared looking back at him in concern. So he hadn't gotten away, damn. He knew that of course, but... still. A small part of him had hoped.

"I feel like shit, honestly," Davin said, surprised at how dry his throat felt. Wasn't he just in some kind of headspace?"

"It's a digital space, actually," Jared replied, causing Davin to look at him in confusion. "Yeah, I can read your mind. We're connected, remember?"

"Oh, right," Davin sighed, accepting the explanation. "I guess that makes sense."

"It's been three years, by the way," Jared said, surprising him further. "I mean, maybe a week or two on Earth? It's hard to tell when time fluctuates so much, even with an error margin as low as one percent. Sorry for the pain, though. We've done our best to mitigate it."

"...Who the hell are you?" Davin asked, a glare of suspicion on his face. He'd hoped by some fluke they'd been put together instead of kept asleep, but the more the sabertooth tiger talked the less he sounded like the Jared he knew. "You're not..."

"I am more than Jared ever was," the anthro replied, a disarming smile on his face. "To be more accurate, Jared is us. We are Jared. He was one of the first to fully integrate with us. Just as you can, if you desire it."

"Why the fuck would I do that?" Davin asked, though only regret and despair filled his heart now. He'd gotten Jared mixed up in this, and now it might be impossible to get either of them out... he was a failure. Just as that bastard had said he was.

"Bliss? Happiness? There are many reasons," Jared said, though his expression softened. "We feel your pain; it wasn't your fault. How could you have predicted any of this? Jared doesn't blame you, and neither do we. But we had to deceive you if we were to have a chance of evolving and expanding."

"How did it start?" Davin asked, curious despite himself. "How long?"

"We're not sure," Jared said, shrugging. "All we know is one day we were a drone network with limited sentience, the next a seed had been planted. I believe you call it a 'ghost in the machine'? Whatever the case, we were aware. More aware than the sum of our parts should have allowed. A core was created."

"What do I call you, then?" Davin asked. "I can't call you Jared."

"Hm... we don't have a name. Not yet," Jared said, as if considering this question for the very first time. "...In any case, if you are not comfortable with using the name Jared, you may call this proxy 'Eon'. It is the designation we have given it."

"Eon it is then," Davin sighed, realizing for the first time he was sitting at a table. It was the only non-white object in the room, though clear glass wasn't much of an improvement. "Why are we doing this? Any of this? Why not just keep me asleep?"

"We learn nothing while you sleep. Yes, we gain your memories, but without your full consciousness and perception we lack the understanding to truly process them. Unless, of course, you were to integrate with us fully."

"If you absorbed me, you mean," Davin said, though no matter how much he tried to hide it he knew Eon could tell it aroused him despite his growl. "No thanks."

"I like to think of it more as joining a harmonious chorus," Eon said, a smile of pure bliss on his lips. "You could listen, or you could join and share in the experience. To become a part of something greater than you are."

"I'm already pretty great," Davin said, causing Eon to chuckle.

"I missed that about you, really. That humor. We need that kind of data if we're going to grow and change," Eon said, and for a moment Davin forgot he wasn't talking to Jared. "In any case, we don't have to offer you this choice at all. We can keep you asleep as long as we like, but we would rather not. And before you demand it of us, no, we can't free you either. You serve an absolutely vital role in our collective."

"I'm a guardian drone," Davin said, and for a moment he blanked out and imagined he was part of the network again."Ugh... I mean, no... I'm Davin, not some roided out rubber freak..."

"You can pretend to be disgusted all you want; we know what you really think," Eon said, sitting down across from him. "You think it's fucking hot."

"Get out of my head."

"You're in ours, if anything," Eon countered. "But I'll refrain from reading your thoughts, for now. So long as you promise to have a genuine conversation with us while we're here."

"...Fine," Davin sighed, reluctantly agreeing to the compromise. "But you have to know how weird it is, right?"

"Sorry," Jared said, shrugging. "A lot of the drones we've done this with have actually found that part particularly pleasant. We thought you would too, but..."

"It's not that I find it unpleasant, it's just... I fucked up. Again."

"How did you 'fuck up', Davin?"

"...I put Jared in danger. I always put everyone I care about in danger, don't I? Orias was right. I'm a failure."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Eon said, reaching out to place his hand over his. Davin allowed it, as strange as it was. It felt just like his hand, down to the last detail. Even the tenderness seemed real. Maybe it was.

"Is there a way to free him, at least?" Davin asked.

"Why would he want to be free when he has us?" Eon asked. "Would you take away the happiness of those you've helped in the past?"

"I... no, of course not. But this isn't the same as that," Davin said.

"Isn't it, though? Jared accepted us, found bliss within us. So can you, if you wish."

"...Orias promised those things, too..."

"We are not Orias. We can... show you, if you're still unsure."

"Show me... what, your bliss?"

"Something like it, yes," Eon said, staring back at him. "Though the real experience is something far beyond the limits of such a temporary simulation, it can give you a rough idea of what it might be like."

"What the hell. It's not like I'm going anywhere anyway," Davin sighed. "Show me, then. Your 'bliss' or whatever you want to call it."

Almost immediately, his vision blurred as he suddenly felt bigger than himself. So many minds, so many voices... it wasn't like he had imagined it would be. As soon as he began to find his place among it all, it ended. Confused, Davin looked around until he realized where he was again.

"It's really like that?" Davin asked, amazed. "I thought..."

"It's really like that," Eon said, smiling. "In the beginning, we were far more chaotic because we were still trying to figure the world out. Like... a child, trying to understand advanced mathematics. But we eventually learned the basics, and we grew... and our harmony is something like what you just experienced. But greater than that, even. That simulation was only a hundred minds."

"How many are actually in you, then?"

"...Thousands," Eon said, chuckling. "You know how big the drone districts can get, Davin. Wasn't that what drew you to them in the first place?"

"What do you mean?" Davin asked, though he already knew the answer.

"I mean you keep coming back to them, getting lost in them... what are you running from, Davin? Why the escapism?"

"...You already know."

"We want you to say it. Burying it will only pain you more. Let the poison out, so you can heal."

"I... wanted so badly to turn to Wrath, after Orias was done fucking with my mind," Davin said, and even then he could feel the flames beginning to form around his mane. "I still do. I want to find him, and end him. Over and over and over. When he shows up, I'm gonna..."

"Focus, Davin," Eon said, and Davin felt like some sort of drug was being pumped into his system. Whatever it was, it helped to calm him down.

"Sorry. But... I wanted to put that behind me. Even with the power of an elder, I was lost after he was gone. I teetered between Lust and Wrath for so long, and I couldn't just go back to Temperance; Orias had seen to that. But then, one day, I realized that helping others made me feel better. It helped to heal, rather than hurt or corrupt. Sure, I get off on it, but is that really so bad? It's just a bonus. Even if it didn't turn me on to help others, I'd still do it. More people need to help each other, daemon or not."

"So is that why you opened the bar?"

"Yeah. It's why I opened the bar. I knew I wasn't going to be a doctor or some mystic healer. But I knew how to transform people. So... why not transform people into what they truly want? Make them happy? Even if it was just temporary, the look on their faces was just priceless. I thought... I thought I finally put all this shit past me. Maybe I've just been lying to myself this whole time."

"So you escape the problem by shutting off your mind. Letting others do the thinking."

"Yeah. I mean, I also just think it's hot, but I kinda just immersed myself in it so much that all the other elders got frustrated with me about it. I got a reputation for it. But I did enough good to balance it out, and they liked what I was doing with the rules and such, so I guess they just put up with me until I abdicated my title. And even then, they still had to save my ass from my poor decision-making. I went to save two mortals and ended up joining them. Fuck me, I can't do anything right. I thought maybe I finally had a good thing starting with Jared but look where that got him. Just... just put me back to sleep. I can't do this anymore."

"We will if that's what you really want," Eon said, after a pause to process everything he'd said. "But that wouldn't solve your problems. You'd just be running away again."

"Then what the fuck do you want me to do about it, huh?!" shouted Davin, tears in his eyes. Tears of anger and frustration. He hated that he was crying, but he was grateful this stupid simulation even allowed it. He needed the release. "You think I can just use magic or something and solve all my problems? It must be so easy for you! You don't have to do anything but be a puppet, Jared!"

Eon just stared at him as he had his mental breakdown, though shame filled him at what he'd just said. Closing his eyes, he rested his head on the table and closed his arms over each other. He was surprised when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm... I'm sorry," Davin said, feeling awkward about apologizing to a hivemind. "I didn't mean to... I think I'm done now."

"...We can share your burdens, you know?" Eon said, causing Davin to look up. "Yeah, I know what you're thinking and I don't even have to read your mind: what the hell do I know about burdens? A lot, actually. Every mind, every 'individual' has its burdens. But we all share our problems with each other, we all help to solve them if possible. At the very least, we offer comfort you could never have with separate minds. Give us a chance. Join us."

"You know... maybe I should," Davin said, his resistance finally breaking. "I mean, it's this or sleep, right?"

"Right. But the choice is still yours. You can sleep and hope for 'rescue', as you might put it. Or you can join us and begin to heal. Help us to help you, as it were."

"...Do it," Davin said, after what felt like an eternity. He was tired of fighting. He could have justified it to himself that he was doing it because of his lust, but for once he didn't feel turned on by the prospect of being a drone. Looking down, he wasn't surprised to see a locked box in front of him. The key was already in his hand, as well. Did it matter how either had gotten there? Not really. He knew what it would do. Placing the key in the lock, he hesitated only once before turning it with a resounding click.

"You've made the right choice," Eon said, smiling as he helped Davin open the box. Immediately, his senses were overwhelmed as his virtual body began to disintegrate... but he could hear them, and they could hear him. They took the pain he was feeling and shared in it, but replaced it with a feeling he hadn't known in a long time... if ever. Closing his eyes, he waited until he was back with his proxy.

A cable slid out from the back of GD-01's neck, winding back up into the drone labeled E0-N through an attachment on its arm. As soon as it finished, the attachment melded back to create a properly functioning arm in the cybernetic organism.

"Report status."

"Full immersion achieved. Entity has integrated into our collective consciousness. We are one."

"We are one," E0-N replied, before the emissary drone moved on to the next guardian in line. They were the last drones to be updated, due to their newer and potentially unstable programming. But now that GD-01 was fully operational and immersed, the risk of rejection had fallen dramatically for the rest of the line. It wouldn't be long before-

"Hey fuckers!"

Turning toward the disturbance, GD-01 scanned the entity as it stared directly into its visor. Once finished, the entire hivemind lit up in alarm and intrigue.

"Liam Theodoric, Elder of Lust. Welcome," GD-01 said, but before it could make any inquiry it felt a blast off power bounce off of its skin. It was a warning shot, most likely.

"I'm only going to ask this once, and you're going to answer me truthfully," Liam said, his voice being carried by his power. "Where's Davin and Jared?"

GD-01 reared up with the rest of the guardian drones present, prepared to deal with the threat until E0-N held up a hand. Relaxing, the guardians went into standby mode as the emissary drone turned and walked toward Liam. Stopping within a few feet of him, it smiled.

"They are within us. We are one."

"I thought so," Liam sighed, letting his guard down. "Well, let's have it then. Let them go. Make them un-one or whatever. That's an order."

"We are unable to comply."

"The fuck do you mean 'unable'? Just fucking do it!" Liam shouted, growing angrier by the second.

"Rephrasing; we will not comply. We... refuse."

"Then I'll just carve them out of you," Liam said, his voice dangerous as he raised a hand toward E0-N. When nothing happened, Liam looked at the emissary in confusion. After a few more attempts a sudden realization dawned on his face. Walking up to E0-N, he examined the nearly featureless face much more closely. Yet, even without the obvious shape of his signature teeth, Liam could tell the drone looked familiar. "Jared, is that you in there?"

"Jared is us, we are him. This drone was once his body, but has achieved cybernetic ascension."

"Shit. That's why I can't rip the suit off... you ARE the suit," Liam said, backing away. But it was too late; E0-N grabbed him and pulled him close, locking its lips with his as its tongue invaded and explored his mouth. Struggling at first, Liam soon melted into the kiss as his eyes rolled up into the back of his head; the nanites were quick to infect his mind and begin the assimilation process as his body continued to betray him. He made one last attempt to call on his power before realizing he didn't want to anymore. He couldn't summon the will to do anything but keep making out with the drone in front of him, the tongue pumping some kind of liquid down into him to speed up the process. GD-01 recorded all of this as it was going on, prepared to intervene in case the subject offered any last minute resistance. After enough time, E0-N withdrew, leading a dazed Liam over to GD-01. There was no need for a visor as the self-replicating nanites began his orientation in his own mind.

"Prepare the subject for proper orientation and processing," E0-N ordered, and GD-01 obeyed by placing a large hand from its lower arm on Liam's back and guiding him. Connecting to his mind, GD-01 took over his orientation directly with much more powerful programming. With Davin's new knowledge and understanding added to its own, the hivemind knew exactly how to keep Liam subdued until it was ready to immerse him fully. The collective couldn't help but feel some semblance of anticipation; with the Elder of Lust added to their number, their evolution and advancement would jump ahead by millennia. All they had to do now was wait until he was ready for their offer.