Like Father, Like Son (Patreon)

School is over, school is over, thank God-almighty, school is over. And on with some Claimings. I had so much fun writing this.

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Like Father, Like Son

He watched the various submissives flit about the club, their bodies, dueling with the club’s strobing lights. When he had first come to gathering place of sexual exploration, the exhibition of bodies and the number of humans who expressed an interest in his tail surprised him. He had no problem using his tail for pleasure. What was the point of having a body, if not to enjoy its various functions? However, the variety of human pleasure had startled him.

The submissives startled him more.

The books that equated palteia with submissive had clearly been written by someone with a flawed understanding of either human or Rownt nature. Perhaps others were not as nuanced in their understanding as he was. After all, he had an uncommon ability to grasp the nuances of at least two Earth languages, and various regional dialects of Rownt. He was just grateful that Rownt changed more slowly, and that extended to their language. If Rownt had the same diverse city in of speech as humans did, he was not sure how they would ever cooperate as a planet. Perhaps that is why humans were so fractious compared to the Rownt.

But that was a topic for another day. 

Today, he was far more interested in a palteia. And he was not fool enough to confuse palteia and submissive. Those two concepts were as alike as a kawt and bulfa fruit. 

A human separated from the mass of dancers. Given the amount of skin showing and the pattern of leather adornments, this was a submissive. The visible line of muscle in his limbs and the symmetrical nature of his features indicated attractiveness from a human perspective and his darker skin made him appear calmer to Rownt eyes. The submissive approached him and quickly slid to his knees. 

This was a custom unique to humans submissives. Other Rownt suffered serious damage to their reputations when they had assumed that such a gesture implied a palteia in need, begging for protection. Takil had learned that a submissive who did this was less likely to be begging than he was to be seeking to advance his own end. And that end was very likely to include Takil’s tail. But today he had other concerns. He did not wish to play the part of the chilta for an hour or two because that was a child’s game, and he was no child. The silence grew annoying.

“What do you require?” Takil asked.

The submissive kept his gaze focused on Takil’s knees, or perhaps it was more accurate to say in the general direction of his tail. “I would serve you.”

“No.” Despite the fact that he understood that this was no palteia, Takil still felt that niggle of unhappiness at causing pain to one who was on his knees. Humans submissives were very dangerous in their ability to gain the outcome they sought. He would not underestimate this one or allow the posture to distract him from his profit.

“If I am not pleasing…” The submissive allowed the words to trail off, and he sank a little lower. Either he was suffering the loss of status and rank that failure inevitably led to or he sought to manipulate Takil’s emotions. Takil weighed his words. He had a child’s need to strike out at someone annoying him, but he gave his donation to the temple. He was ye-rank, and he would not disgrace his rank by reacting as a child.

Despite his own discomfort at complimenting another, Takil said, “You are remarkably pleasing, and I suspect enough men have said that to you that your ego has no need for my attention. And since I am here for business that does not involve you, seek other prey.” It was not phrased as a human might, but there was a limit to Takil’s maturity. He would not be more polite than that to another adult who interfered with his trade.

The submissive looked up, but he kept his head tilted to the side as he studied Takil’s face. After a second, the submissive stood gracefully, his body angled away as he scanned the crowd. 

No doubt he would find someone else to play chilta for the evening. Takil had enjoyed that game himself many times, but play acting was for children and ye-dalit. Takil was neither.

As the submissive abandoned his chase, Takil turned his attention to the server who provided alcoholic drinks to those gathered at his station. Amryi . Between serving those who sought refreshments, Amryi  watched Takil.

Amryi  showed signs of age that even Takil’s human father did not after hundreds of years. Amryi ’s hair was mottled with white and when he frowned, his skin lacked the elasticity to move freely, creating folds in the dark skin that reminded Takil of a Grandmother.  

Amryi  had seen Takil entertain submissives, but that had been years ago. Since Takil had returned to Earth, he had earned his first title. But Amryi  was not Rownt. He had not seen how servers on the Calti would now bring him meat. He did not understand that Takil had moved out of the common rooms of those without titles and into a room of his own. 

Takil wondered if Amryi  formed theories to explain Takil’s lack of interest. Amryi returned to serving those at his station, and Takil watched the dancing humans with very little interest. After reading stories that had speculated on the relations between Ondry and Liam, Takil had experimented with a variety of pleasures. 

Those had all resulted in human gratification, but Takil had ranged from bored to uncomfortable. Some of the acts were unpleasant enough that Takil could not imagine Ondry performing them, although he likely would if Liam enjoyed them. However, Liam would never enjoy something that displeased Ondry, and no chilta could keep a secret from his palteia. Certainly after hundreds of years Liam would have noticed that Ondry did not like certain acts intended for pleasure.

Takil had decided that human speculation was largely incorrect. He had also found that most human submissives were deaf and blind to the pleasure of the dominate. The few true palteia Takil had found already had chilta. Either they were curious about Takil’s ability to give pleasure and a chilta approached Takil asking for assistance in helping provide pleasure or the palteia was hesitant but hoped to please a chilta by performing with Takil.

Those pairings were far more pleasurable. Making a true palteia happy gave Takil satisfaction, even if he did have to watch the palteia he pleased leave with another. But those encounters were rare, and Takil had stopped coming to this club for many years. Only a public announcement of the death of the owner had brought him back.

As time passed, the music grew softer. Many patrons took that as a signal to leave. The floor grew less populated, and the lights grew harsher. Now only a few people at tables remained, and Amryi left his serving station to visit each table.

Amryi gave Takil an incomplete smile as he approached the table. Only the corners of his mouth moved. “We are closing soon.”

“I will wait until everyone else has left,” Takil said. He was not surprised that Amryi  did not challenge him. He moved to the next table to ask those individuals to leave. The others wandered out and Amryi turned the lights on so they glared off the worn floor and showed the frayed edges of the seat fabric. Takil waited. No doubt Amryi had work to complete in back, and Takil would not disturb him.

It must have been an hour before Amryi appeared again. He took off the white fabric intended to protect his clothing and left it on the bar before he approached. He stopped at the table and looked at Takil.

Silence.

Takil tilted his head. Since Amryi was higher ranked, it was polite to allow him to start, but he continued to stare until Takil was unable to ignore his own discomfort. “Qii has died,” Takil said.

Amryi  sucked in a quick breath.  “That was rather blunt.”

Blunt. Ironically, that was a synonym for harsh or hard or sharp. Takil warmed in embarrassment. He had not meant to cause distress. “The death was published,” he said. He could not pretend to not know about a public event.

“It’s call an obituary, and yes, Qii did pass. My brother would be very surprised to know you noticed him. Complimented, but surprised.”

Again, the silence grew uncomfortable. Takil had not imagined this awkwardness. Again, he tried to fill the awkward silence with simple fact. “He was chilta.”

“He… what? No. He wasn’t into sexual games.”

Takil began to doubt his own eyes. He had come to this club for years, and he has seen Qii and Amryi. He had seen how they worked together and cared for each other. “He loved you.”

“He was my brother. I don’t know what Rownt get up to, but trust me, there was nothing sexual there. He had a wife and children.”

Takil began to see the shape of the misunderstanding. Humans did tend to assume sexual connection where none existed. “Chilta is not sexual, but a Rownt would not serve as chilta for one genetically related.” The blood-relationship between Qii and Amryi complicated the issue. Takil had no idea how it might affect a palteia to never chance allegiance—to go from the nest to a titled adult with the same person at his side. His heart ached for Amryi .

“But I thought chilta was a dominant. That’s what the books say.” Amryi rested his hand on the chair opposite Takil and leaned forward.

“A chilta is one who cares for another.”

“Like a parent? No fucking way did you just imply I’m a child.” Amryi  crossed his arms over his chest. The gesture was familiar, but Takil only saw it when his Liam was supremely angry.

Takil held his hands out with the palms up. “I am communicating poorly.” And he was showing his lack of experience so badly that he was most likely pale enough to embarrass himself if any Rownt were to see him. “You are not child just as the human who raised me is not child. But Liam is a palteia. Ondry is a chilta.”

“Wait. You’re Liam’s son? Liam Munson? The Liam Munson? Holy fucking shit. We’ve had a celebrity in the bar. Qii would have given his left nut to put that on his flyers.” Amryi  smiled brightly, but the expression quickly faded. No doubt the loss of his chilta pained him still. Takil dreaded the day when one of his parents died because he knew the other would be inconsolable. Some said that the gods could not separate a true chilta and palteia and one would follow the other into death rather than life without the other. Takil feared that, but his parents had hundreds of years left.

“I’ve had a long damn day, and I don’t understand this conversation. Can you say what you have to say so I can go home?” The life appeared to drain from Amryi ’s frame.

Takil’s heart ached for Amryi . He feared this palteia had found no one to serve. When Takil had first come to this club, Qii had welcomed him, but Amryi  had guided him. He had smoothed the way for Takil to meet submissives and had laughed when Takil had made childish mistakes. When Takil missed his parents more than a Rownt with a title should miss the nest in which he had been raised. Amryi  had felt familiar.

“I wish to know you have a chilta to see that you are protected. I wish to know you do not suffer.”

Amryi  stared at him for a long time. “What?”

“I am concerned that you are well.”

This time the silence was longer. Amryi  eventually sank down into the seat across from Takil. “Seriously? That’s why you’re here?”

“Yes.”

“To check on me?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you care?”

Takil paused. The answer as so obvious that he should not have to say the words, but the question suggested he did. Humans were confusing, even for one raised by a human. “Because you are palteia,” Takil said.

Amryi blinked faster. Takil had no idea what emotion that might indicate, but the gesture was pronounced enough that it must have some meaning. Takil would have to ask his Liam what it meant. Eventually Amryi rubbed his hand over his face. Takil did know what that meant. Liam often did that when Takil did things which, when he looked back, he could admit were remarkably foolish. He had once disassembled the water filtration system in their bathing chamber to see how it worked, and his actions had necessitated stopping the ship to effect repairs. Liam had rubbed his face often that day.

“Humans care for all people equally,” Takil said, although he knew this was a Rownt generality which did not apply to individuals. “Rownt care for palteia and largely dismiss the needs of all others,” he explained.

Amryi gave a barking laugh. “Qii did approve of the Rownt streak of mercenary. He was happy when Rownt came back to Earth because he said that any species smart enough to try and cheat his neighbor honestly was a species that could be trusted.”

“Qii was wise,” Takil said, although compliments did not sit well in his mouth. At least Qii was not alive to hear and take offense at a ye-ranked youngling daring to offer those words.  Takil suspected Qii had been the equivalent of ka-ranked, so he would have every right to take offense. Amryi had a right to take offense in Qii’s name, but his wrinkles deepened and he took in another sharp breath. Distress. He was feeling distress. The pain made Takil wish to fight, but one could not fight death, not even to return a chilta to a palteia.

“I don’t know why you believe you have to worry about me, but I’m fine. I’m not one of these palteia you think you have to worry about.”

“You are palteia because you cared for Qii’s success more than your own.”

Again, Amryi gave a strangled laugh. It was a strange sound. “Yeah, I guess I did. I guess it never occurred to me that the old bastard might go and die on me.”

That was illogical. Ondry always said that when humans appeared illogical, it meant that they knew some fact that they had not shared.

“Rownt always care about palteia.” Takil might have added that they felt for palteia the same as they felt toward children, but that sentiment upset Liam, and Takil had learned to keep palteia and children far apart in his mind.

Amryi shook his head. “What do you want?”

“To make sure you are taken care of,” Takil said. He hesitated before risking his status by giving a more honest answer. “To take care of you.”

Amryi stared at him, his eyes wide as he searched for some truth in Takil’s face. Takil tried to keep his expression open and maintain a steady gaze so Amryi could read the truth in his words.

Slowly, Amryi started shaking his head. “I know you guys like submissives, but trust me, I am not one. I see what you do with your tail, and I’m horrified. I’m an asexual. I don’t want anything going up the down chute, and the only thing I want to do with my penis is piss. Sometimes I might enjoy a little relationship with my left hand, but that’s as far as I’ll go, and I don’t go there often. So whatever weird thoughts you have about wanting a relationship,” and he wagged his finger between himself and Takil before finishing, “you can think again.”

Takil widened his eyes in confusion. “What does non-procreative sex have to do with relating to one another?”

Amryi blinked fast again. Perhaps the gesture meant frustration because Takil was certainly frustrated with this conversation. He knew humans better than any Rownt alive outside of Liam and Zach, and yet sometimes he felt as if he did not understand them at all. 

“Your palteia have sex with tails, right?”

“My Liam does,” Takil said. “But it is not sex when there are no genitals and no children are intended. It is pleasure. Non-procreative pleasure. But I do not know of any other palteia who enjoys pleasure with a chilta.” He assumed most shared ilsil, but that was not the sort of pleasure humans associated with tails or sex or even relationships. They paid people at spas to perform human ilsil. To pay for such an intimate act felt profane.

“Wait. So chilta and palteia—it’s an asexual thing? Really?”

“Most have sex outside the chilta-palteia relationship,” Takil said. “If no female chooses them or if they are female and they find no suitable males in the area, then they will be asexual.”

Amryi snorted. “Asexual doesn’t mean you’re not having sex at a particular moment. It means you don’t really want sex. Or at the very least, you aren’t going to go out of your way to have it.”

“Would asexuals engage in sex if they wished for children?”

“Maybe. Some of them.”

Takil nodded. “Then Rownt are asexual. Unless I want a woman to have an egg using my genetics, I am uninterested in sex.” And given how many high-ranked Rownt lived on the Calti, Takil was unlikely to have sex any time in the next century or two. However, Ondry had ensured that their genetic line would continue and by the time Takil was ka-ranked, he would have Grandmothers pulling his tail.

“But. Seriously? You’re fucking asexual?”

“We are not fucking,” Takil said, “unless we wish for children.”

“I… uh…” Amryi sighed and rubbed his hand over his face again. Takil did not understand what he had said that would warrant such a reaction. “Look, it’s been a damn long day. Why are you still here? I want to go home and sleep.”

“I am here to make sure you have a chilta who will make sure you take care of yourself. I want to know you are safe and happy.” 

“Happy.” Amryi gave an unhappy huff. “I’m not ever going to be happy again, so you can give up on that.”

Takil nodded. He would expect as much of a palteia.

“Will you leave now?” 

“Do you have someone who ensures you take care of yourself?” Takil asked. Amryi would not love a new chilta quickly. He would mourn Qii, and since he had never transferred his loyalty, that mourning might last far longer than a Rownt would suffer given the same loss.

Amryi stared at Takil, and Takil gazed back. Waiting. The longer the silence continued, the more Takil believed that Amryi did not have anyone. To be palteia and alone was unthinkable.

“What do you hope to accomplish by sitting in this fucking bar and reminding me that I don’t have anyone at home? Qii’s wife didn’t even want me staying in the fucking house once he’d died. And what the fuck are you going to do about any of it?” He stood so fast that his chair flew backward and clattered to the floor. Takil recognized fury and pain. The two emotions were not so different on human and Rownt faces.

“I will wait until you choose someone or I will bring Rownt food and teach you of our tastes so you can learn to make drinks that Rownt would enjoy. And then I will show you the strength of my commitment until you agree to come with me and run a serving station on the Calti.” Takil was risking his pride by saying as much. Amryi was much more highly ranked. And while Takil was likely older, by human reckoning of lifespan, Amryi was the elder. He had run a successful business. He had proved himself.

Takil was a youngling who struggled to make his donations to the temple. However, he was the one who saw the pain in Amryi’s eyes, and he would not leave until Amryi had a chilta. The likelihood that Amryi would choose him was low, but no Rownt would walk past a palteia without offering. Not unless that Rownt were palteia himself.

Actually, given the palteia need to soothe and serve another, two palteia might try to comfort each other, although Takil had no idea how that would work.

“You want me to what?” The anger fell away, but Amryi took a step backward.

Takil nodded. “I know I do not have the rank to offer to one as successful as you, but I will come every night and I will make my offer until you choose another chilta and I know you have rejected me.” Takil stood and walked toward the exit.

“Maybe I don’t want anyone, did you think of that, fuck-wit?” Amryi called after him.

Takil turned. “I had not. A Rownt palteia would never choose to be alone. It would not be healthy because they would not care for themselves as a chilta would care for them. It would make it difficult for them to work their trade. If a human palteia is happy alone, tell me. If you are happy alone, tell me, and I will not return.”

Takil waited.

Amryi stared at him. Silent. 

“Tomorrow I will bring gasha berries and kaile. Rownt favor the taste.” He turned again toward the exit.

“Come at three so we can experiment before the bar opens,” Amryi called.

The skin around Takil’s eyes tightened. “I shall.” He would have to rearrange some trades, but that was a price he would pay.

“And I’m only doing this to steal some trade secrets. I want to know how to attract rich clients.” Amryi yelled as Takil opened the exit door.

Takil turned and bowed. “I would expect no less from a well-respected server of ka-status.” Forming a smile that felt unnatural to a Rownt mouth, Takil prayed to long-dead gods that he could earn this one. Failing that, he hoped that someone of high status would notice that Amryi needed someone to pay attention to him. No palteia should go into his last years along. Takil would label himself ye-dalit if he allowed this one to.

“Fucking turtles, strange to the end,” Amryi said as he picked up the chair he had knocked over. But he didn’t turn his back on Takil, which gave him some hope. Now Takil had to trade for gahsa berries, and given how far they were from Prarownt, that would be a dear trade indeed. Maybe the Grandmothers had some. He was still young enough that they allowed allowed him to steal a little from their plates. He was not above abusing that privilege. Not in these circumstances. 

A Rownt would trade away pride for a chance to be a chilta. Nothing was worth more.