A Day on the Job
Finding a job can be hard. Especially one you really like. Thankfully sometimes you can get really lucky.
The last of the Christmas uploads!
This was two stories. Well a story and sequel that I ended up squeezing together. Despite Landies being my species I think this is only the second story featuring them. Huh. I'll have to correct that. As always comments welcome!
If you enjoy the story or are feeling generous you can support me HERE
Lucas wasn't in a hurry this morning. Why should he be? Lost his job and living on a shrinking savings account. Supposedly everyone was hiring but they sure as hell didn't seem to want to hire him. There was literally nothing for him to do but wait for someone to answer the many applications he had sent.
He stepped out of his house the very picture of a broken man. His morning hair stuck in every direction and wearing only a bathrobe over his underwear. Coffee clutched in one hand as bunny slippered feet smacked against the sidewalk on his way down to the mailboxes.
The neighborhood was pretty typical. Houses too close together. Cars sitting in the road because the garages were packed with peoples things. The neighbors were pretty good all things considered. He didn't know any of them but they waved, smiled and were nice. It was going to suck to have to sell this place.
At the mailboxes Lucas went for his keys. Only to find his pockets empty. Oh yes, that's right, he had left the keys on the kitchen counter. That way they would be clearly visible so he wouldn't forget them.
"Figures." Lucas muttered to himself.
For a moment he pondered the mailboxes. Trying to think of any way to avoid the horrible chore of walking back to get the keys and then returning. He sighed then sipped his coffee.
"Good morning!" said a man from directly behind him.
Lucas jumped, coffee flew. "Fuck!" A quick spin to confront whomever was behind him. "Got coffee all over me! The hell you think you're-"
He trailed off as he got a good look at the man. They were easily six and a half feet. A slender figure showed off by clothing tailored to an impossibly perfect fit. Long coat, shirt and pants predominantly black with elegant silver designs. Atop the man's head sat nothing less than a top hat which rested atop perfectly combed white hair. The man's eyes were a stark purple. He looked like something out of a fantasy movie.
"What the fu-" Lucas began but the other man cut him off.
"Lucas Mason?" The man asked.
Lucas answered hesitantly. "Yeah, that's me. Umm, who's asking?"
The tall man tipped his hat. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Avil. I believe you applied to work at my establishment last week?"
"Applied?" Lucas remained a bit mystified.
The other man smiled. "Yes. The Grand Journey! I believe you marked you would take any position." The man reached into his coat and pulled out what appeared to be an actual scroll. "Ah, yes, see here? Any position. Willing to work immediately. We do like that."
Lucas started to regain some composure. "Ok, so I think I remember that. Some Ren fair thing right? Look, do you often just show up in person like this? Wait, how did you know who I was?" He took a moment to look up and down the street. There was no one else around. Just a single sprinkler being overused in one yard. "And, where's your car?"
"Oh, not to worry Mr Mason. I will have my means of conveyance soon enough. The more important question is, can you start today? Right now in fact. I'm sure you will find we pay very well." The tall man returned the scroll to his coat.
"Wait, wait. Hold on." Lucas rubbed his head with his non coffee stained hand. "Was that a scroll? Like, rolled parchment. What is this? This has got to be a prank right? I'm just gonna head back home and you can just do whatever."
"I can see you're hesitant. I don't blame you. I'm told I can come on a bit strong. How about this? A single day working for me, paid ahead of time." Once more the tall man reached into his coat and this time produced a money roll. From the roll a small stack of one hundred dollar bills was produced.
The sight of money stopped Lucas, "Well, shit. I mean, you have my attention. How about we-"
"Do you agree then?" Avil insisted. "Work for a day and see if you like it?"
"But I don't even know what you want me to do? You know what, fuck it. As long as it's not illegal or something I'll try anything." Lucas held out his hand for the money.
Avil smiled once more. "That's the spirit!" The money was pressed into his palm along with a firm handshake.
When the handshake broke Lucas looked at the money in his hand, "This isn't counterfeit is it? You know, let me go get dressed. We can talk more in a bit. I take it you're not going to leave while I'm gone?"
In the blink of an eye the money vanished. It left Lucas to look down at an empty hand in silent surprise.
Avil answered, "You're not going to need to worry about clothing."
A tingling wave rose up from Lucas's chest. An intense rush of power that took his breath away. As the feeling spread through his body Lucas stumbled but managed to catch himself against the mailboxes. A surge of growth shot through him. Slippers split apart, robes ripped into pieces and his undies snapped. He was left nude in the cold morning air but he felt hot head to toe. Lucas's arms grew longer and bulked with muscle. His hands swelled in size even as his thickening fingers grew shorter. Thumb withered away and in place of an agile human hand a paw formed. Strong and sturdy. From reformed fingers short claws extended but then eased back to be hidden away in freshly formed sheaths.
"Fuck!" Lucas blurted. Unable to consider a more rational comment.
"Relax, enjoy it!" Avil took a few steps back from the transforming Lucas. "Few from your world get to experience this."
"Wazzz, hawwpninnggrrr." Lucas's words slurred as his face stretched forward. This was mostly his jaws as they elongated into a snout. His teeth shifted position and while doing so reshaped short but sharp. His tongue grew to fill in the space left by larger jaws. Long and flexible compared to the flat human tongue that had been there a moment before. The reshaped skull caused his eyes, now slitted and amber, to change position. The widened field of view came with a shocking increase in awareness of his surroundings. Along with his new eyes came a shift in his color vision. Some colors grew muted while others grew incredibly sharp. His nostrils flexed as he drew in a breath filled with strange smells he couldn't detect until now.
"You seem to be having a problem with your posture." The tall man strode forward. A hand placed to Lucas's back. "Let me help." With a firm push he sent the transforming man to stumble into the street.
Lucas struggled to catch himself but his balance had changed dramatically. With his upper body much heavier and nothing to grab onto, he fell forward onto all fours. Immediately he found it far more natural, far more comfortable. A cool wave flowed up his limbs as scales began to spread. They swept over his skin like a waterfall. It left him coated in a pattern of mottled gray. His limbs reshaped with the popping of bones but the brief moments of pain were nothing compared to the feeling of power that followed. Muscles swelled over a larger form that continued to grow.
Avil patted Lucas's shoulder. "Shhh, easy boy. Your change is moving along nicely."
Lucas didn't want it to stop. It felt wonderful. He tried to speak again but all he could manage was a grunt. Everything continued to grow. Lungs, heart, organs, all of it grew larger and stronger. Neck lengthened as new vertebrae formed and pushed his head outwards. Simultaneously he felt the end of his spine extend. More vertebrae formed to rapidly build a tail. Which added balance to the creature he was becoming. His head itched for a brief moment before horns sprouted. They jutted straight out the back of his skull. Twisted spires of dark bone.
Another tingle rose up from his chest. Once more his breath was stolen away. He shivered as the feeling spread through him. It lingered in places where the last changes were being made. His genitals reshaped, tapered and long. Girthy at the base. Then drawn inwards to be tucked neatly inside his body. A few final shifts to color as his paws and end of his snout further darkened to a charcoal black. The last of his scales formed to complete his natural armor. Which would both protect him from harm and insulate him from harsh weather. He shifted on his paws. Felt the cement cool and hard against his paw pads. A slow turn of head to look back at himself. No sign of the human he had been remained. Only a quadrupedal beast of scale and strength.
"An excellent example of a Land Drake. Or as you're more commonly known. A Landie." Avil walked around Lucas in open appraisal of the beast he had just created. Lucas was too distracted by the delights of a new body to care. New feelings, new inputs, new instincts, all fought for attention. It was impossible to focus. There was just so much!
Avil stepped back into Lucas's view. Leaned in close and smiled. "You're going to be popular."
The statement followed by a palm rub against Lucas's soft nose. Right between the nostrils. The direct attention caught Lucas off guard but he immediately relaxed. That felt so nice! He heard a rumble. His own rumble. A strange sort of purr as he enjoyed the attention. He caught himself and slowly eased his head back. Now, at last, he found his voice, "How?"
"How did I change you, you mean? Magic." Avil answered with an amused smile. "What else could it have been? Now go ahead and walk around. Feel your new self."
Lucas took a step. Oddly he couldn't quite remember what it was like to walk on two legs. His four legs felt natural, if a bit unfamiliar. He looked back at the tail that jutted out behind him. As he focused on it he found he could control it. Made it sway back and forth a few times. His attention went to his paws. Which he lifted, one at a time, to flex. Watched as claws slid from sheaths. Short and strong. Then returned to sheaths with hardly a thought. He took another step, and another. He walked in a slow circle. Then a bit faster. As he lifted his head, he felt his tail shift for balance. There was just so much more of him to feel! He walked over the shredded remains of his clothing and then, abruptly, stopped. It had caught up to him. They were still in the middle of the street. Right out in front of everyone in the neighborhood. His gaze shot up to the surrounding houses. To the yards. No one was around. That one sprinkler was the only thing moving.
Avil sensed his concern. "I have arranged, for this moment, to be unobserved. Everyone nearby is busy and your many noises have gone unnoticed. Now, I hate to push, but we should begin. My magic is not without limits."
"Begin?" Lucas asked.
"Of course. Remember the job? Oh, that money didn't really vanish. It's safely in your bank account." The man turned and clapped his hands together twice. With a sparkle of light a large carriage materialized on the road. Made of dark curved wood that flowed one piece into the next so perfectly that the whole carriage appeared to be made from a single large piece. Multiple doors were set flush to the sides of the carriage and it was supported by four great wheels. Through windows Lucas spotted plush seats of red fabric. The thing looked like it could hold eight or more people easily. In front of the carriage were two poles. Normally they would be set to the sides of a working animal but no such animal was here. Then the obvious sunk in.
"I'm going to pull this?" Lucas lifted his head, nostrils flared.
"Yes, that's the job." Avil replied.
Lucas rumbled, "It looks heavy."
"It is heavy." Avil replied, "But, as you are now, it won't be a problem."
There was more Lucas wanted to say but something about this carriage was familiar. He paced around it as he contemplated the feeling. He stopped up at the front by the poles whose ends lay against the cement road. Familiarity became a compulsion to stand in the proper place. Before Lucas thought better of it he maneuvered his new body between the poles where he imagined a beast like himself would be placed to pull the carriage. There he stopped, head lowered to look back and under himself. Lucas spotted a sparkle of energy at the front of the carriage where the driver might sit. He lifted his head to look over his back for a clearer view. A soft white light flowed out from the front of the carriage and through the poles. The poles lifted from the ground to hover at either side of him. There things stopped. A silent question hung in the air, pushed at his thoughts. Lucas understood. The carriage sought permission.
Head lowered, tucked into a bow. "I accept."
Light flowed from the poles over his body in thin lines. Light that began to transmute into warm well worked leather and polished steel. A broad strap formed around his midsection and pulled snugly tight. More light formed around the base of his neck and shifted into a sturdy work collar reinforced with expertly shaped metal. From these other straps of leather worked over his body. Quickly he was coated in a proper harness.
The last to be embraced was his head. Leather straps formed a well decorated bridle. The bit slipped between his jaws. Cool metal against his tongue. Broad spans of stiff leather rose up beside his eyes to form blinders. They kept his vision focused straight ahead. The reins snapped into place, the lines ran down through his harness to rest in the driver's seat. The harness made some last adjustments. Intent on making sure the fit was perfect for him. Even the bit moved a fraction in his mouth as the bridle resized itself.
Lucas found the harness was oddly easy to accept. As if he had worn it many times before. An eagerness to get going filled him. He pawed at the road, snorted and tossed his head.
"Lots of energy! We love seeing that." Avil commented as he climbed into the carriage to take position as the driver.
With a snap of the reins and a whistle he sent Lucas into a walk. The empty carriage was easy to get moving and once it was doing so he hardly felt its weight. As a beast of burden he was driven down the cement road where he was guided to turn left at the intersection. As he did the world changed. Under his feet cool cement became compacted earth. The Houses around him melted away. Replaced by the trees of a forest. The air smelled fresh and clean. Alive with many new scents to tease Lucas's newly sensitive nose.
Along a winding dirt road they traveled until a walled city came into view. This appeared to be their destination. The fields around the city were dotted with orchards and farms. It was while passing one such farm he spotted another Landie. This one was coated in green scales speckled with black. It wore a harness not too dissimilar to his own and was hooked to a cart being loaded with goods. The fellow beast gave a good natured head bob in greeting as Lucas passed. He would have stopped but a light snap of reins reminded him he had work to do.
The time traveling to the city allowed him to better acclimate to the harness. The cage of leather was, in some ways, intimidating. For it exerted a strong control over him. With a pull of reins the driver could bring him to a stop. Or with a slightly different pressure he would turn. He was literally tied to his job. As time passed, however, he found that it was easy to relax into his role. The pull of reins became something to respond to rather than to fear. Avil, his driver, never abused his power over Lucas so trust built easily.
All too soon they entered the city itself. The dirt road changed to wide cobbled streets. The place was alive with all sorts of creatures. He spotted people coated in skin, fur, feathers and scales. Tiny shops and large buildings blended together. His nostrils flexed, drinking in the rainbow of smells that came with the city. To a mind unused to this body it was wonderful and overwhelming all at once.
Avil brought Lucas to a stop before a tall building surrounded by gardens. It had to be twenty stories tall and each floor was a slightly different shape and size than the previous. Lucas had turned his head to stare at the building so it was no surprise that someone was able to sneak up on him.
"Hello!" The person stated brightly. "I'm Valic. An Urd'thin. Avil had to return to his duties so I'm your driver now."
Lucas's attention snapped down to the fellow who turned out to be a short red and black furred canid. They couldn't be any taller than three and a half feet. With short straight horns from the top of his skull, large ears and piercing amber eyes. The person wore a blue vest over a white shirt with brown pants and fine leather boots.
"Oh! Hello, Valic." Lucas rumbled, "I'm Lucas." To his surprise he could speak around the bit. Even if the words came a bit slow.
Valic gave a small bow and smiled, "It's great to meet you, Lucas. May I pet you?"
The question surprised him. There was something he never thought he would be asked in his life. "Sure."
The little canid stepped closer. Reached up to gently stroke Lucas's nose. Whose nostrils flared as he got the other creature's scent. Valic cupped his hand to Lucas's mouth. Resting in the palm was something that smelled good. Without a thought Lucas licked it from the little fellows hand. It was sweet and delicious as it dissolved on his tongue.
"What was that?" Lucas questioned, "And do you have more?"
Valic pet Lucas's nose again. "It was a sugar cube. Thought you might like one. I have a few more but want to make them last. So no more for now. Sorry."
"Alright." Lucas couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice.
This brought a laugh from Valic, "Ok, ok. One more for now."
Lucas happily licked the next sugar cube from the little canine's palm. A rumble rose into his throat in appreciation. Valic took some more time to pet Lucas, who leaned his head down to soak up the attention for as long as it was offered.
"Ok, enough for now." Valic gave Lucas's head a playful push. "We have work to do. Were hauling passengers today. Even if you're just here for a day you're expected to do the work required for this position. I can't promise I will be able to go easy on you but I will try when I can. There are three primary rules to remember. First, don't crap on the road. There are stop points for that sort of thing. Second, if you need to talk or you need something, wait till we make a stop and stomp a foot three times. I'll be up in a flash. Should it be a real emergency you can stop whenever. Third, you will also get regular breaks for food and water so don't worry about that either. Any questions?"
"Seems pretty simple to me." Lucas replied, "I guess I want to know. Why is this so easy to accept? I mean, I was a human a bit ago and now I am in this crazy place and it seems kinda normal to me?"
"That's just the glamor." Seeing the confused look on Lucas's face Valic explained. "It's a particular magic that comes with this carriage. Helps you adjust real fast to your environment. It's used on any new person shifted to a Landie. I will say, in my experience, that you're doing far better than most. Don't let that go to your head. Now, cmon, time we got going!"
Valic took up his spot in the driver's seat and got Lucas pulling once more. The day became a blur of activity with brief stops. The city was alive with so many fantastic people and places that even with the blinders he couldn't help but be distracted. Despite that he worked diligently. Fast paced when the roads were clear. Slow and measured when they grew thick with activity. His carriage was always filled with people who needed to go to one place or another. At one stop a small orange scaled creature called a kobold fed him an apple. Another time a minotaur child pet him and even shared their lunch. There were other carriages on the road being pulled by Landies like himself. They always offered a greeting or a bob of head as they passed. Lucas quickly got used to returning the gesture. Sometimes he spotted other types of creatures working as well. Hooked to carriages or just acting as a mount. The most impressive of which was a dragon who stood atop a raised platform. Its red scaled form saddled with a large enclosed seating area on its back. With passengers boarding the dragon like they might a private jet.
During breaks he was given a variety of food. At one location a feed bag full of lightly spiced sauteed meats was hung on his snout. At another he was given a giant bowl of salad. At the last break he got a sizable order of fish and chips. He found that with his enhanced sense of smell and a new tongue all the food tasted very different. As a human he hated fish but in this form he loved it.
When the sun started to head towards the horizon they stopped picking up passengers. Lucas was driven to a large building with its double doors already open. Just inside he was brought to a stop.
"Shifts over." Valic hopped down from the carriage and stretched a bit.
Energy flowed down the poles on either side of Lucas. He felt it sweep over him like it had when he was first harnessed. Leather and metal melted into light before flowing off of him and back into the poles. A single new piece remained. Where once had been a bridle now was a halter that hung loose on his head.
"Whoa!" Lucas snorted and then danced in a circle. He realized not only was the harness gone but the carriage as well.
Valic watched Lucas. "Bet it feels good to get out of that. Be able to move how you want."
"It feels strange." Lucas admitted. "Like, I miss it a bit but also it's really nice to be out of it. So, um, how did I do?"
"You need lots of work. Kept having to rein you in from distractions. If you didn't have those blinders on I think you would have pulled us right into buildings." Lucas felt defeated but Valic continued. "But that's the way all Landies are when they first work here. You just need some training and experience. You did just fine for the first time."
Lucas brightened. "That's great! Does that mean I-"
Valic quickly interrupted him. "Now, now, hold on. I'm just the driver. I can't say anything really. When you get home you will get an email saying if you're hired or not. Don't worry about that right now. I have a surprise for you. Cmon."
Valic took hold of the lead attached to Lucas's halter and led him deeper into the building. They passed large rooms that were clearly stalls. All empty. Till they arrived at a particular one with a door that was already open.
"Head on in." Valik smirked.
Within the room, at its center, two thick poles were set to the floor. Upon the poles sat a long horizontal cylinder. It was a bit smaller in girth than his own body and appeared to be coated in leather or something similar. Small marks from claws and teeth covered the well padded surface. A smell hit him. A warm, inviting smell. Nostrils flared and he opened his jaws just a little to help drink it in. A heat shot through his body to settle between his hind legs.
"It's a breeding mount." Valik explained to the increasingly distracted Lucas. "Have fun."
With a rumble Lucas strode into the room. His phallus, red with pink freckles, slid from his body. The intoxicating smell drew him in. He had to find the source. When he shoved his nose to the back of the breeding mount he found it. His eyes rolled back at the intensity of it. Tongue dragged over the surface of the mount and the hole he found there. His phallus stiffened quickly. Veiny curved meat stood at rapt attention.
Lucas's rumble turned to a growl. His head pulled back and tongue passed over his nose. Then he reared and shot forward with forelimbs on either side of the stand. The only thought in his head now was to fill that hole. In his clumsy attempts to mount the stand he jabbed the tip of his cock into it repeatedly. Smears of pre left all over it.
His extended claws left marks on the floor as he adjusted his position. Head turned to get a commanding bite into the stand. As teeth took hold his forelimbs tightened against the padded sides. With another thrust of hips the hole was finally found. The slick entrance parted by several inches of pulsing meat. He groaned at the feeling. His rear legs shivered. Rapid thrusts followed to drive himself deeper into the tight hole. Ridgid meat twitched in anticipation of a climax that rapidly approached.
For a brief while the only sounds in the room were that of a wild beast rutting. The Landie lost to his heat. Tooth and claw left his mark on the stand like many had before. Until, at last, he reached his peak. Throbbing meat twitched, then exploded with lines of cum. Pounding hips turned to short rapid thrusts as line after line of cum was delivered. Until, with a final groan, he humped his last hump. Briefly he remained mounted on the stand as he relished the pleasure of release.
He stepped back and his softening phallus pulled from the stand. A wet splatter as spent seed hit the ground. His length hung loose between his legs after his dismount. Another rumble lifted into his throat followed by a shake of his whole body. He sniffed at the stand. The scent that had driven him wild now mingled with his own smell. That satisfied something deep within him. Lucas could think again. As his phallus began to retract into his body Valic returned.
"Fun?"
Lucas couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Fun!"
"Knew you would like it." Valic motioned for Lucas to follow. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Lucas was brought to a new room. One with stone floors and grate covered drains. Warm buckets of water and large brushes were already here. Valik set to work cleaning Lucas. The grime of the day, as well as recent fun, washed away. Once cleaned he was thoroughly dried. A lightly scented oil was applied to his scales. It smelled a bit like wildflowers. Lucas nearly nodded off on his feet under such luxurious treatment.
From there he was led to his stall. A single room with a thick pile of furs along the back half. He flopped onto the furs with a great sigh.
Valic gave him a tiny wave. "Sleep well and have a nice trip home."
Lucas closed his eyes and drifted to sleep. He felt himself drift downwards. Flickers of his day turned into dreams. The work, the fun, the joy of a new form, the power of it. He found himself running on a field, the sun bright. Saw himself eating a meal at a campfire. Felt the delight of breeding with another like himself. The images blurred together and, as dreams often do, they became more feeling than images. Until an annoying sound crept into the dream. A blaring whine.
Lucas slapped the snooze bar and rolled over in his bed. Trying to adjust the covers against the chill. Covers that weren't there. Eyes snapped open as, for a moment, he lay frozen upon the bed. A slow roll onto his back then he sat up. He lifted his hands, looked at them. They were simple human hands. A brief scream. Then caught himself. Then laughed and caught himself again.
He turned on the bed, sat on the side of it. Spotted his bathrobe and underwear, unshredded, on the floor. His bed covers were also on the floor. He had apparently kicked them off during the night. He shot up from the bed and went straight to the bathroom.
"That happened?" He asked himself in the mirror. "That happened. No way that was a dream."
As he was completely naked he gave himself a once over in the mirror. There was nothing different about himself. No marks or anything to signify a crazy trip through another reality.
"Well fuck me!" Lucas blurted.
He took a good long moment to think about it. It had been way too real to be a dream. Too coherent to be a drug. The email! He needed to check his email but he had a more pressing issue first.
"I gotta pee." He announced to himself. "And I'm hungry."
Bowels were moved. Breakfast was had. Then emails were checked. Besides the spam one clearly stuck out. From The Grand Journey. The very people who had put him to work the previous day.
"I knew it! Real!" A laugh.
He opened the email. Eager to see if he had made the cut.
-A few months later-
"Yeah, thanks. I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Lucas, sitting in his car, chatted on his cell. "Oh no, no problem at all. Thanks for getting back to me. Ok. Alright. Thanks again."
With the call ended he turned the cell off and stuck it in the glove box. Today was the last day of moving. His house sold and what few things he wanted to keep were now in storage. That included his car. All the paperwork had been filed. All the bills had been paid. Everything was done. He closed his storage unit and locked it up. He had followed his directions to the letter. From here he had no idea what to do. He didn't even have a ride out of here.
A tingle shot through him. He cracked a grin at the familiar feeling. He had so looked forward to this! A sharp cough as his body expanded in a rush. Scales swept over him as limbs reshaped. He rose in height until his balance shifted and he dropped to all fours. Tail extended, neck grew longer. As with the first time it didn't take long for the human to be gone and only the beast remained. The Landie stumbled forward with the speed of it but caught himself easily. A shake of his horned head followed by a snort.
"Ready?" It was Valic. The little canid looked so out of place in the dull human world.
Lucas nuzzled up against him and Valic hugged his head. "Good to see you too, Lucas."
After a moment he gently pushed at Lucas's head. "Alright, alright. Todays going to be easy. You're going to be my personal ride on my day off! Don't worry, you're going to love the places we go."
"Bet I will. Let's go!" Lucas pranced in place. Filled with energy.
"Well c'mon then. Let's get to the stable. Find you a nice saddle."
As Valic walked away Lucas followed. With a ripple the both of them vanished from this world.