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Councillor Langston, a tawny, long-haired Canine who had led a largely sedentary life, sat with his chin against his desk. He had never been in such a position before, and everyone who noticed gave him a wide berth.

"Councillor?" a young page, who hadn't noticed, asked. "Are you feeling tired?"

"No, no... It's just - have I anything scheduled for tomorrow? After lunch?"

She glanced at her clipboard, as if it had listed what she'd never been told. "Nothing, sir. Are you going to help out those workers who'd threatened to leave?"

"Something like that. It's in the planning stage," he mumbled.

At another desk in the room, another Councillor who had listened to them sniggered. Langston pretended not to hear.

**

He entered on time, hoping nobody outside had noticed him. The lighting was dim throughout, save for a lamp at the front desk. Waiting with the attendant was Dunstan: a stocky, chestnut-coloured Equine with white hands and black hair. He wore only a short, pleated skirt, a strip of fabric around his chest, and a ribbon in his hair; all a dark shade of violet.

"Ah, Councillor. I'm glad you're back. Please follow me."

As he was led down a different path than last time, he asked, "Before Ireline threatens me, you can tell me honestly: why did you allow this to happen to you? Why did you want to become someone's... Someone's pet?"

Dunstan snorted with laughter. "Honestly? I'm still ashamed to admit it. I always will be."

"Then is that why-"

"Of course, you could always ask me nicely."

They stopped. "Dunstan," he sighed, "would you please tell me why you wanted to be abused by someone forever."

He snorted again. "I'm sorry; it's still funny. Actually, I first came here because I wanted to abuse someone else. I was always large, mostly," he paused to adjust his skirt, "and thought I had to choose between being a bully or a big, clumsy oaf. I thought, as a male, that I was entitled to solely female gratification like I was entitled to food or restful sleep. Ireline showed me how wrong I was, and," he looked at his hooves with a wistful smile, "I love my Keeper. That's why I allow myself to be owned."

They continued in silence until they came to a thick door. It opened with an expected creak, and Dunstan led the Councillor inside.

Its floor had a a rug as thick as the padding on its walls. It only contained a cabinet, a stool, a comfortable chair, and throne at the far wall. Ireline, a short brown Stoat in a dark purple greatcoat lounged in it, eyes closed.

"Sit."

Langston took the chair, and to his mild surprise, Dunstan sat on the stool.

"I'm glad you chose to return, Councillor. Let me answer your questions, put your fears at ease-"

"I'm not afraid," he interrupted.

"Of course not," the Keeper cooed. "But you may be tense. Before we begin, I just want you to relax. Please, stretch out in your chair, look me in the eye, and relax." Their voice lowered to a deep whisper, and he almost sank into the chair as he stretched out in it.

"That's it... Isn't it all soft and cozy?"

"Yes, thank y-" he interrupted himself with a long yawn, but never broke Ireline's steady gaze.

"Gooood," the Stoat droned. "If your eyelids are feeling heavy, you may close them. I just want you to relax. Would a nap make you feel good?"

He nodded, and let his eyelids shut. He could still feel Ireline looking at him, and kept listening, as if he was in a lucid dream.

"That's it. Sink deeper into the chair, and feel good. Please, try to open your eyes, until they grow so heavy that they have to stay shut."

He tried, and felt as if he was floating away. It was something he'd never felt before.

"Now, let all your worries and cares just float away. Your title; your identity; your name. Does everything feel much simpler now? Just nod."

He did.

"Do you feel good? Just nod."

He did.

"Now take how good you feel right now... And double it."

He did, and laughed softly to himself.

"Very good," the Keeper cooed. "Now, remember that feeling. Whenever anyone calls you Pet, I want you to remember how good simplicity feels."

He smiled, happy that simplicity felt good.

"Now, feel the rug with your feet. Isn't it soft? Do you want to feel it with all your paws? Just nod."

He did.

"Good Pet. When I wake you up, I want you to feel how soft the rug is with your hands, too. That will make you happy, and that would make me happy. As you run your fingers through Dunstan's hair, let the awareness spread through you."

Dunstan's soft, well-brushed hair touched his hand, and a refreshing wave washed over him, waking him up. He yawned again, stroking Ireline's pet Horse as he gradually woke up. Ireline was still looking at him in the same way as they'd begun.

Then he flopped out of the chair to feel how soft the rug was with all his paws at once. It was as soft as promised.

"Good Pet. Kneel before your Keeper."

He wanted to get up and refuse. Or rather, he tried and couldn't. He couldn't hold his tail still, he couldn't stand until he was finished touching the rug, and he couldn't even feel indignant. He was a good Pet.

"Yes," they laughed, "be a good Pet and feel the rug with your chin!" Ireline stood and put a foot on Pet's head. He looked left and saw Dunstan adopt a similar pose, kneeling before his Keeper.

"Now, tell me you feel good."

"Yes," Dunstan gasped.

"...Yes," Pet whimpered. The pressure on his head was released.

"Shut it, Dunstan. Now Pet, tell me how else you feel."

"...Afraid."

"Why?"

"You harm each other and tell yourselves it's a game."

"I understand. That was even the case when you were little, I'd heard. Now, it's one of our duties to watch for that, and excise it. What we do now isn't harm as you think of it. Searching for truth, persevering through hardship... Strengthening bonds. And fixing injustice, even within ourselves and each other. So," they continued, "Afraid of anything else?"

"...When you want me to meet Nightshade."

"Ah. The Lord of Pain? He isn't good at talking, or making up titles for himself." His Keeper crouched down to pat his head. His tail started again. "But he is very careful. She tortured you with your manners; I tortured your mind; he'll torture your body. Then, you'll return for a final examination. We don't want you to hate us. We don't want anyone to hate us. He'll just help you understand. He won't do any worse to you than I did, or Gallowtail. Do you feel better?"

"Yes... Keeper."

"This is the power they have over me," Dunstan whispered. "This is why I stay."

"And I didn't even use any equipment at all," the Stoat smirked. "Though I could. What do you think, Pet? Wouldn't you look adorable in a frilly little skirt? Dunstan will help brush your hair."

"Oh, please, Pet? If you've never been cutesy before, you should try it!"

Pet glanced at the closed cabinet, then back at his Keeper. They were leaning over him, about to stand up and open it. All he could do was squeeze his eyes shut and yelp out, "No! Please, no..."

Ireline laughed once. "So. You refuse the pretty clothes and accessories we have for someone your size? Then Ill keep that in mind." They leaned back again and gestured to the chair. "Please rise, Councillor, and sit. On the chair, I mean."

He got up unsteadily and flopped into the chair. "I just said no, and you respected me? So I can refuse any of your... Your tortures?"

"You came in here claiming we treat people like things, that we think it's fun to break things one owns. You refused to listen to what we told you, so we decided to show you, and have some fun. But yes. I listen. I think I'm good at it."

"Then, what if I were to refuse to stay?"

"I'd love that!" Ireline relaxed in a slouch. "You return, keep shamefully quiet about your time with us, everyone knows you were just trying to make an issue only you could resolve. Either way, you lose nothing but your pride.

"But you will return," they didn't bother to look the Councillor in the eye, as if their toe held more interest. "Because you still think you're right; that you can resist what no one ever has. Not even me."

"Wait, you..?"

"It's true," Dunstan smiled softly. "Ireline originally came here as a pet. I came later, but I helped them be the Keeper of Woe. And I am their pet, for ever."

"Yes, you love to help. Oh, and Councillor? We won't hold you here. To isolate you from your friends, to lock you up without even taking you for a walk? You'd go insane. So go, return home and think about things. Ask others what they think. You'll be back next week."

Langston stood up. "I have to!"

Ireline didn't. "You want to."

The stuffy Dog paused, then turned and slammed the door as he left. As his footsteps faded, Dunstan put his head on Ireline's leg. He got a gentle petting in return for his devotion.

"Is Gallowtail still blaming herself for last week?"

"No, Keeper. She's blaming you now."

"Hmm, for once, she took a suggestion of mine."

They sat in contented silence together, until Dunstan spoke up again. "...Would you like something to eat?"

"Sure. Let's go."