Top Dog 2 - Learning Respect
5418 words
A sequel to https://www.sofurry.com/view/1701377 and involving all the same characters, a nosey Treble finds out a few things she doesn't like about the Insolent Hunter, and figures out the perfect way for him to learn his lesson... if he remembers it in the morning.
Hey, if you like what you're reading, please support me! Details here: https://www.sofurry.com/view/1570179 Or, if that's too hard, just head there directly: https://ko-fi.com/bindingsin or https://www.patreon.com/bindingsin
Story Contains: Hypnosis, breeding, transformation?. impregnation?, dub-con, giving in to instincts, suggestions, domination, bestiality, jerks getting what they deserve, and monster hunter. Enjoy!
Bass had enjoyed his days after the hunt. It was wonderful to get to put the Insolent Hunter in his place, forcing him to do things like sharpen the gear, get and deliver food, and make sure the Stygian Zinogre he'd bred was taken care of. After all, she was incredibly friendly, and her estrus had ended after getting here, so he was excitedly expecting pups. While Gakki couldn't understand Bass directly, Treble could, and the palico was excited to bring the news to the Life Energy Research Team and, possibly, have some new little palamutes to train to perfection.
It was coming back from one of those meetings that Treble's ears perked, the sly ninja felyne slinking into the shadows among the crates, doing her best to be unnoticed. Maybe it was a bad habit, but she'd picked up a lot of things from Fukashigi the Informant back in Kamura. So what if she was a bit of a gossip, right? It was good to have details to give her master. She eased her way behind a set of crates, listening over them, only her ears poking out to tell anyone of her presence.
The Insolent Hunter was complaining loudly near the docks, bemoaning his life for having to spend some time paying homage to his better and living up to his deal. “There's no way that dog was able to hunt that thing without help! I'm telling you, Gakki cheated, I just don't know how.”
The hunter next to him was laughing, barely giving him the time of day. “Yeah, yeah, but even so, what's the harm? You give the pup a flea bath, feed it some meat, and go about your day.”
“Sure, it's not hard, but it's a dog. What can a bitch really want, right? Just some pets and ear scratches and the idiot's satisfied. But it's keeping me from prime time, I mean... Where am I supposed to find my OWN bitches, ya know? I mean, I crave pussy! Ladies to feel every inch of my Mountain Crusher?” He laughed, punching the other hunter on the shoulder. “We're gonna need a Dodogama to wrap their mouth around my monster. Even the Jagras would be going home with a full belly.”
Treble gagged on a hairball from the talk, bile rising in her stomach. This hunter deserved much worse than a week of humiliation... Bass was being too good to him. But then she heard something that made her tail twitch. “Hey babe! You a Pukei Pukei, because I'd like to see you gobbling these nuts!” Treble peeked around the crate, watching one of the young researchers with a red flush to her face moving quickly, a pack of notes in her hands. Treble then looked at the Insolent one, glaring at him. Bass was going to start getting ideas much too evil for the dog, but... She knew what made him tick. He'd love it in the end.
With the tinkle of the bell around her collar, Treble left the laughing hunter, whose friend was rolling his eyes and trying to ignore him, to go and follow the researcher. This time she slid under the table with the research notes, clinging to its underside where her dark fur kept her hidden in the shadow. The flustered researcher was pacing back and forth, grabbing scrolls as her professor instructed as she ranted. “I just don't know where he gets off, you know? We all came to the new world to study monsters, to grow, to learn, and to be better than that, and he just comes in here and starts hitting on anyone he can! I mean, did you hear what he tried to do to the Handler after the mission with the Nightshade Paolumu?”
The professor nodded, sighing. “Yes, well, luckily the medical palicoes are smarter than that. But they needed a night guard on paw to make sure he didn't sneak in for... non medical healing.”
The researcher pounded the table hard enough to flip it up, Treble biting her tongue not to make noise as she clung on for dear life and crashed back to the ground, her claws aching from the pressure. “It's sick! He treats us like we're just... objects! And people have told him, even the captain warned him, but he just keeps going at it and getting away with it because, what, they're gonna exile him from the village? Throw him to the monsters... No, we're humans and wyverians, civilized folk. We won't just feed a monster to get rid of a problem.”
The professor sighed, adjusting her glasses as she read through the latest scroll handed to her. “Yes, yes... well, hopefully he'll learn something from being under that canyne for a bit. Maybe some respect, for once...” The aging professor then chuckled, lowering her glasses. “Might be a good change for him to be someone else's bitch for once. You saw how well Moon's personality shifted.”
Treble's ears perked, a wicked grin growing across her face as she realized what needed to happen... Now all she had to do was make her way out safely. “I'm filing another complaint with the captain. This can't stand! Please, excuse me professor.”
“Take your time.” The elderly wyverian watched the researcher leave, her glasses glinting in the light as she saw the dark tail of Treble sneaking out behind her. “I feel he's going to learn his lesson soon enough.” She grinned, putting away the scroll on Kamura legends and the origins of palamutes. It was time to see if the myth was real.
Treble returned to the beautiful room that Gakki had been given, with the personal area for herself and her companion. Bass was a wonderful canyne: loyal, loving, fierce... and a knot that could plug hunting horn for hours, if you kept him riled up enough. More than one mission had nearly been delayed thanks to them locked together, with her having to pretend to be his shadow until things quieted down. It was her favorite dirty secret, not that she was the only palico to get intimate with her companion. At least it wasn't with Gakki, though. Felynes that did such things with their meowster were definitely too horny to be focused.
But unfocused horny was what she was going to need right now. That and the scroll they'd gotten from the sealed shrine back home. “Bass, we still have those bells that Meowster made from the shrine, right? We packed those up?” Bass, who was lounging on a pillow in the sunlight, growled an affirmative, pointing lazily towards where the weapons were kept. Treble hopped into the chest of weapons, tail twitching as she kicked her back legs at the sides, trying to get purchase while digging through. Eventually, though, she let out a loud meow of happiness, sliding out of the chest and onto her butt holding a blue scroll and a bell in the shape of a dog, a blue glow coming from within it.
The Barking Bell, and its felyne counterpart, the Cat-aclysm, were ancient weapons of great power. The powder sprinkled within and the sounds of their playing created a dreamlike state in those too weak to avoid it. Their designs were in a scroll that was sealed away, its details unfit for any but the most powerful, and friendly, of hunters. Only one like Gakki, or the Light that had stayed back in Kamura, could have opened up the shrine: one who understood the importance of their companions and respected their contributions, who took care of them and ensured their health and safety... Treble and Bass loved their master more than anything, they'd do anything for him... and it was proven, through this scroll, that he'd do the same for them.
Bass tilted his head as he watched the scroll get unfurled, his tail leaving a warm breeze that washed over his sunning underside, the warmth on his nuts and stomach making him feel lazy and playful. He whined softly at Treble, his front paws sliding slightly over his stomach, and she shook her head. “I would, big guy, but right now I have something in mind... but... What if I could get you someone else to play with?” She read down the scroll, where it detailed a ritual... one to contact the fallen spirits of companions, and another to give them form should something happen to their earthly body. It didn't need much, just the bell, though... She looked over at the chest, seeing the Mighty Mushroom Rod. The same mushrooms that went into Gakki's Toxic Fungasax went into the Mighty Mushroom Rod, and their effects whether toxic, paralytic, or hallucinogenic depending on the refinement, couldn't be overlooked. Treble read through the various rituals, a perfect plan forming in her head that would put the Insolent Hunter in his place.
She grabbed the Mushroom Rod, then went over to Bass, whispering in his ear while she took its spores and the dust within the Barking Bell and began to work on her efforts. “Don't worry, Bass. If this goes well, you're going to have exactly what you need without even needing to run to the research area.” She then took a pawful of the combined dust and blew it right into his face, making the lazy dog sneeze once, then drift off to sleep... though whatever he was dreaming about had him hard as a rock. As tempting as it was, Treble was forced to leave him there. She only had so much time to set her plan in motion.
Today, Gakki was out with Moon and the Sapphire Star to do some preliminary research around the New World and try to figure out how monsters from one made it to the other. It wasn't really Treble's thing, the nyanja more of a sneaky healer when the time came, but she knew how Gakki considered himself a bard who wanted to know all the land could offer for his songs and poetry. He was a wonderful warrior poet, one of the best... It was hard not to swoon at his recitals, but again, Treble had to remain focused. The master's safety came first, well before any lewd ideas she had... at least for him.
She slipped from the shadows near the docks where the Insolent Hunter was beginning another catcall, cutting him off before he could get more than “Hey babe!” out of his mouth. “Temporary servant, Bass has need of your assistance,” she said matter-of-fact-ly. She tried very hard to maintain a professional demeanor in all she did, even if her thighs were grinding together just at the thought of the trick she was going to pull.
The Insolent one rolled his eyes. “Oh, so I'm just supposed to drop everything and come get him? Your master's not even here to do anything about it.”
Treble held up a paw, sighing. “Yes, it's true, meowster Gakki wouldn't know about your transgression until he returned. And he might not even care. But you made a bet the whole town knows of, and I think they would. So... would you rather come meow, or be known as the one too cowardly and base to even 'feed the mutt' as you put it?” She watched his reaction, particularly how he looked around when he was reminded about the bet in front of everyone else, and his cheeks flushed at the implication he was a coward.
“Fine! Fine, whatever, I'll go give the dog some meat.” He started in the direction of the room, but Treble stopped him, holding up a large package.
“He also desires you to wear this while serving him. You need not do so outside of the room, but within it, Bass wishes to see you properly maintaining a servant's attire.” The felyne's heart was racing as she lifted up the package, seeing the anger welling in the Insolent Hunter's eyes at the very idea of being commanded by a dog. When he opened it and saw one of those frilly black and white old world maid outfits, however, he looked like he was going to throw a punch since his sword was too heavy to draw on the spot.
“What kind of sick joke is this? A maid uniform? What's gotten into that mutt's head?”
Treble smiled inwardly, a flicker of pleasure rushing from her control over this human. “Well, you did lose a bet. One week, if I recall, serving under Bass. Meow I wouldn't want to be the one making such a fuss out here... Especially not at the request of your meowster. And your better.”
That seemed to be a step over the line, as the Insolent Hunter leaped towards Treble, grabbing her by the tail and yanking her into the air. She yowled out, getting a reaction from everyone who looked at him, suddenly the glaring eyes of the entire populace of Astera landing on this human and his mistreatment of a felyne. He brought back a fist, then seemed to realize the situation, holding Treble up and hissing in her ear. “You're lucky we're in public. But I'm not less than some mutt, you got that? He's nothing but a dumb bitch who got lucky, and I'm going to prove it before the week's out.” He then dropped Treble, though the felyne landed on her feet, rubbing the point where her tail had been tugged.
She glared back at him, happy at the plan that had formed in her mind... he didn't deserve the initial thoughts. “Well, either way, your meowster awaits you in your attire. Do not disappoint.” She then scampered off back towards the room, but not before she made sure he picked up his package and walked off to get changed.
Grumbling loudly and doing his best to cover himself with his every movement, the Insolent Hunter entered Gakki's room. He still couldn't believe the star treatment this foreign hunter was getting, with a private lake just outside the door, the four-poster bed, the full fireplace... it wasn't quite as swanky as the Star's place, but it was way better than the barracks he had for himself. He shuffled across the thick carpet in his heeled shoes, trying his best to hold down the skirt of the dress to make sure everything was covered, the frilly white and black number just looking silly on his toned body.
His face was flushed red, his breathing increasing with every step, completely unsure why he was doing this. As he did so, he smelled a strange fragrance in the air, linger and pouring over him, his vision going hazy, almost like there was dust in the air. He could also hear a bell off in the distance, though there was always odd music from a foreign land in this room, with way too much of a focus on bells and chimes, so he didn't think anything of it. By the time he'd reached the other door, however, he was trying to hide a boner under the skirt, and even the fabric seemed to feel so wonderful against his skin.
He stepped out of the far door into the private lake where Bass was lounging in the sun. The canyne's tail was wagging happily, his red rocket bouncing against his stomach, while his full balls were moving with the motion of his tail, rolling deliciously. The palamute looked a little confused as the Insolent one entered, but he didn't move, happy to be enjoying his time outside, his irises wide and his tongue lolling out lazily. “Okay, mutt, what do you want?” the unwilling servant muttered through gritted teeth, glaring at the dog.”
Behind him a bell tinkled as Treble made her entrance from the roof, the black cat naked apart from the collar around her neck, though naked felynes weren't unheard of, even in town. “Now, is that any way to talk to your meowster? You really should learn some respect.” As she stepped, another chime rang through the air, its sound resonating in the Insolent Hunter's head, his thoughts getting fuzzy. “Say the words with me. 'Meowster, how may I serve you?'”
Her words swirled through his mind, and he slowly mouthed them after her. “Master, how may I serve you?” He then grit his teeth, glaring at the felyne. “Hey! What are you doing? Get out of my head!”
Bass barked, the sound happening in time with another chime of the ethereal bell, and once more the servant's head went fuzzy. Treble grinned, stepping closer to the human and gently tugging on his dress where it was tented. “I am doing nothing. Perhaps showing the importance of respect... and consent. Now, did you hear that? It was an order. He wishes for a massage.” The chime rang again, and the Insolent Hunter could smell that same fragrance, his head getting foggy. The last word from Treble resounded in his head, and he followed it's order.
He went over to Bass, who was looking confused at Treble, before beginning to pet the palamute. The thin scales underneath the fur were soft and warm, the fur practically tingling the servant's hands as he pressed all along the dog's back. Bass, for his part, began panting happily and leaning into the motion, until he rolled over, his throbbing red rocket on display again. The hunter paused, starting to back up, before the chime rang again, Treble's words worming into his head. “He didn't say stop.”
Slowly the hunter's hands began to massage around the dog's stomach and chest, the same tingling sensation making his blood rush through him. Even the light breeze on his skin was making him tingle, the motions of the fabric and the fur making him light up with sensation... with need. His cock throbbed, bouncing the dress and leaving a wet dot in the silky white underwear that had come with it. In unison, the dog's cock bounced, and for just a moment his thoughts went towards it, before he shook his head. Then the chime, the words floating as if through the fog of a dream. “Come now, you want your meowster happy, don't you? He's just a male, like you... what would you want right now?”
Treble watched with glee as the Insolent Hunter slowly leaned down, his skirt opening to reveal the obvious bulge in his panties while he leaned over the dog, one hand caressing Bass's cock. Bass let out a long purr of pleasure, while Treble couldn't help herself, rubbing the base of the chime she was hiding behind her back against her slit and biting her lip. This was all going so perfectly! Just the right concoction. But would the full ritual happen? Or just a taste?
As his tongue started to slide across Bass's cock, the hunter felt himself moaning, pleasure rocking through his system. Everything felt so amazing, his whole body coming to life, and while he'd never been interested in males, especially not mutts or monsters, right now was a very different story. He gasped and groaned as he licked and stroked the cock in front of him, massaging the heavy nuts at the base of it. So full... anyone would be lucky to be under those. They even outdid his by a landslide. He opened his mouth, getting a few inches of cock into it, before he suddenly pulled back, shaking his head. Fellating a dog? What was wrong with him? And yet, he whined as loud as Bass as he pulled back.
The chime rang again, and the whole lake area seemed to swirl, the sun so warm and wonderful on the hunter's skin. “Come now, don't you value you meowster's happiness? Prepare him nice and well... Don't you love making your meowster feel good?” And while he knew this was wrong, he wasn't going to lie that, whether it was his own horniness or all these wonderful sensations he was getting... it did feel amazing to make the canyne feel good.
He lowered himself down, rubbing his chest against the fluff on Bass's chest, the fur tickling against the dress making him shudder, his cock throbbing, as he took more of that dog cock into his mouth. Inch by inch, though he wasn't practiced at all, he fit as much as he could in there, before stopping where he gagged, pulling back slowly. The tapered tip and long shaft were huge, larger than his own, so he wasn't surprised. After all, girls would gag on him. Though, they never wanted to talk to him after. And they all were woozy after fights with the Nightshade Paolumu.
He continued licking and slurping along the cock, only to leap away in pleasured shock as he got a lick of his own, the canyne tongue lapping at the underwear, leaving a long trail right over the wet spot his arousal had been pushing in the fabric. At his motion, Bass barked, and the chime rang again, the dreamy warm fuzz entering the hunter's brain. “You've done your best... Let your meowster repay you. On your knees.”
The hunter shook his head, trying to fight whatever was going on. “N-no. I'm not going to be beholden to some mutt. I-”
The chime rang out almost angrily, the fragrance rushing over him as Treble tossed another handful of the dust towards him. He wasn't getting out of this one, not while she was feeling so amazing. “Repeat! 'The meowster wishes to please me. I will be a good bitch and obey.'”
“The master wishes to please me. I will be a good bitch and obey.” The hunter shuddered at the words, feeling them almost taking root in his mind, as he knelt down onto all fours. He then felt a paw sliding along his side and thigh, the dress riding up slightly.
“Very good. Look at you, learning your proper place. Meow, meowster Bass, show your bitch was joys he has waiting if he'll just do your bidding.” Treble grabbed the panties carefully, lowering them down to the hunter's knees and showing off his coin purse and puckered, untouched ass. A trail with the hand holding the powder was all that was needed to get Bass sniffing towards it, then giving the whole package, from the throbbing cock to the balls to the virgin star above one long, intimate lick.
The hunter whined, but moaned out, leaning back against the muzzle of the mutt he despised... his wonderful master. He shuddered at the wet, powerful tongue sloppily licking over his genitals, pushing against his pucker, teasing all of it. He groaned, bracing against the ground, his fingers curling into the grass as he was licked at, his whole body sparking with pleasure greater than anything he'd felt before. His skin began to tingle, everything feeling wondrous. Perhaps he should just give in.
Treble walked in front of him, watching his unfocused eyes twist and cross as he tried to wrap his mind around the pleasure. But she could also see Bass losing focus as the taste of rump over the honeypots he was used to. But... if the scroll was right. She rang the chime, speaking to them both this time. “You know, hunters without respect must learn it. And those who can't outperform a palamute... shall make more.” She ran her paw through the hunter's hair. “Can you feel the tingle? Your fur growing out? Submit to your meowster and you'll be his breeding bitch. A role you're born to play.”
Suddenly the tingle was more apparent, and while the hunter whined, he kept pushing back into the pleasure, feeling the tongue at his ass. “You see? Just a quick rutting and he'll be a she. Tail pressing back, nose pushing forward... focus on it. Close your eyes and picture the palamute you wish to be as Bass mounts you.” The hunter closed his eyes, focusing on the tingle, then the weight on his back and the teasing at his pucker by that tapered cock. He braced, expecting the pain, but not the explosion of pleasure that came with it, a deep moan matching the panting whine of the horny dog on his back that was slowly burying his bone. He tried to look back, but Treble moved his face with her paw, that sensation so wonderful too, his face tingling to the touch... was he really going to be growing fur?
Treble bit her lip as she watched Bass mount, purring her own pleasure as she finally leaned back, ringing the chime once more while she splayed herself before the hunter. “Keep your eyes closed. Just enjoy the sensations and feel the changes. Your muzzle pushing forward, your tongue moving deep to lick at the pussy you so crave, while Bass rams a new one into you just under that pressure where a tail is growing.”
The Insolent Hunter whined, but did as he was commanded, his eyes remaining shut as he felt himself being filled up with that wonderful dog cock, the palamute behind him pumping slowly, getting everything in, until their balls slapped together... though who knew how long they'd remain? He shuddered at the thought, the tightness of his tail seeming to push back as Bass pulled free, then slammed forward, every thrust feeling like it was molding him. The fabric still tingled against his skin, while his nose, seemingly moving forward with every impact of dog hips against his rump, suddenly tapped against the wet pussy of the pussycat before him.
His eyes opened, and for a moment his vision blurred, filled with black fur... was it his? His new fur? He moaned, but felt Treble's paws close his eyes, pulling on his ears, as if trying to get them to move next. “Ah ah~! No peeking until it's done. We must enjoy every change, isn't that right, Bass?” He barked happily, then thrust forward again, his balls slapping against the hunter's, while the dominant feeling rocked through him, happily submitting as a bitch to the stud behind him.
Treble mewled and purred as her slit was licked and savored by the servant before her. She kept using his ears as a handle, tugging on them as though they were moving, caressing his face, and whispering words of encouragement. This was all so naughty, a human taken by a felyne and a canyne! The scandal! She purred as she ground against his nose, looking up towards Bass and the blissed out look he had as he fucked the tight ass under him. “Feel the needy bitch beneath you, Bass? He wants you... needs to be filled by you. Nothing gives a bitch more pleasure than serving his meowster. And you're helping him learn.”
Bass growled and barked an affirmative, then grabbed down, biting into the black fabric of the dress near the hunter's neck. This made him howl out in pleasure, though Treble grabbed his head, pushing him back into her needy slit. “Feel that? How he takes control? How his knot pounds against your entrance, ready to claim you as his? Mmm~ Don't stop meow, keep licking, it might be your last taste until you're tasting your own!” Bass's knot pushed and teased against the hunter's ass, testing the limits of it, seeking entrance to seal itself inside, while the hunter kept pressing back, lost in the fog and taste of pure lust.
He could feel the tingling, the tightness at his ass, the pulling up of his balls, and even how he was bracing easier against the onslaught Bass was giving him. He just wished he could see himself now, not some puny human, but a glorious dog claimed by the valiant hunter behind him. He could feel his nose pressed against the fur, wet and sopping from the feral flavor exploding over his tongue, the scent of the felyne's pleasure clinging to him. Everything felt like electricity, his whole body shuddering and clamping, milking the cock inside him, wanting to get it as deep as it would go. Especially when the next whispered words seemed purred right into his ear.
“I bet you can't wait to carry his pups,” Treble whispered, her toes curling and her legs stretching out as her orgasm approached, the whole scene in front of her too much. “Nothing will ever feel as good as, ahn~, the warmth of hiiiIIIIiiiiis cum filling you up! You'll dre~ah~AH~! Dream of his pups making you round right until they do~.” She dug her claws into his hair, yowling out her pleasure as she came around the tongue buried in her, looking Bass right in the eyes. “Fill this bitch up! Make him yours!”
Joining Treble in her orgasmic cry was Bass as his knot finally popped in, locking him and his bitch together as his balls tightened, then pulsed, buckets of warm cum being dumped deep into the waiting ass beneath him. Meanwhile, the hunter, face coated in cat cum, ass filled with dog cum, moaned out his own pleasure, his balls seeming to tighten up until they disappeared, painting the entire ground beneath him white as shot after shot fired from his aching body, the bone-crushing orgasm solidifying everything. He could practically feel the warmth inside him, only a little lower and he'd be growing pups. He tried to moan out more at the thought, but simple flopped to the ground, his energy spent after the orgasm, landing his dress in the puddle of his own cum with Bass securely knotted to his backside, joining his bitch in dreamland.
Treble panted, looking at the mess and everything that happened, before she whistled, watching Alto fly over. He had his own little cum spot dripping from his cloaca, obviously enjoying watching the show. “So, did you get everything?” He held up a camera in his talon, and Treble just grinned a mischievous grin as she prepped for the last part of this whole thing.
As night began to fall, the Insolent Hunter awoke tired, sore, and sticky. He stretched, trying to figure out what happened or what wonderful, sexy dream he'd been through, as he scratched his neck. He then looked at his hands, then the dress he was wearing and the mess on the ground, before he started to feel the lukewarm ooze of spent cum sliding out of his ass. His heart dropped, trying to remember what the hell he'd done earlier that day, what parts were real or a dream, sure this was all a nightmare, until he looked at the pillar in front of him.
There, printed on a small scroll quite clearly, was a picture of him eating out Treble and cumming as Bass had him mounted and knotted. He wasn't a canyne, wasn't lucky enough to be filled up with pups and live a new life... He was still himself, lost to whatever dazed and dreamy memories and instincts he'd been working under. He grabbed the scroll, getting ready to tear it to shreds, until he saw some writing beneath it. 'Shape up. Respect your peers and your meowsters. Else, they'll lose all respect for you.' Pinned beneath it, on another, smaller scroll in quickly scrabbled pawwriting, a second note was tacked on. 'And maybe meow you know how it feels to be objectified for sex! They're your partner, not your bitch. And maybe learn how to get consent from people not drugged out of their mind!'
Anger and shame in equal parts were raging inside him, and he had a lot to say, but as he stood up, oozing in ways he never had before, he decided to take this loss and learn his lesson, using the time to clean up and get into his normal clothing to try to piece together what memories he could and grow as a person. Though he could never shake the feeling that that one researcher seemed to know what had happened when she always giggled in his presence, and the professor seemed almost disappointed while she studied that new blue scroll added to her collection. But that had to be paranoia, right? Who would've known to tell them?
While Bass didn't remember that afternoon at all, he did feel very satisfied. And he loved how frisky Treble would get every time she looked at the new pictures she'd gotten from Alto. But she never shared... Ah well, that would be a mystery for another time.