A Puppy At My Heels (Alistair)

[ARTISAN KIM]

~ DAY ONE ~

“GOOD MORNING, MASTER!”

The guards did give Alistair a short warning before Artie knocked them aside like toy soldiers, barreled into the office, and flung himself at the Ringmaster. Being bombarded by a giant, overly-enthused puppy was an experience everyone would have with Artie sooner or later. When the chimera full-fledged greeted someone, there was no such thing as personal space or indoor voices. There was hugging, licking, sniffing, tail-wagging, and all the giggling that accompanied an Artie-esque greeting. Hopefully, Alistair would get used to it.

“I've been waiting all morning to visit!” he said, “I even ate breakfast extra quickly!” The chimera said this proudly, as though boasting some otherworldly achievement. Then again, considering Artie was always the first one into the dining hall and the last one out...voluntarily cutting his mealtime short was some form of miracle.

“And I made you a present, master!” he added, “I worked really hard on it!” As if the over-enthused whirlwind of energy wasn't enough, Artie began pulling objects from his duffel bag with the ferocity of the hurricane. Markers, crayons, a book on Chinese Mandarin, sudoku puzzles clipped from magazines, a slobbered-over tennis ball, a packet of calculus problems, and what suspiciously looked like chew toys were a few of the objects tumbling onto the office floor. Teddy was of course, safely tucked into the young man's jacket.

Artie didn't even pause for breath. He pulled a crumpled up piece of paper and waved it around, then thrust it at the Ringmaster. It was a crudely made, childish drawing of a smiling Alistair, Aveira, and Yuzki holding hands beneath a rainbow. What could he say? Artie was supposedly a genius, not an artist.

“Do ya like it? Do ya like it? Do ya like it?!” he asked, “Oh, I'm so happy to see you! Are you happy to see me too?”

Finally the chimera shut up...except for a happy, very canine-like panting noise as he awaited for Alistair's reaction.

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[ALISTAIR PYREWICK]

Bright morning sun gradually warmed the chilled desert. As the golden glow of dawn encased the seemingly featureless land, the residents of the special segment known at the circus began to breathe into consciousness. At only eight in the morning, many of the peculiar citizens were already at or finished breakfast. On the same hand, the leader of the circus itself was already four hours awoken in order to perform his duty.

In contradiction to the blissful environment surrounding the miniature empire, the office of the master himself was at its dismal, melancholic, trademark state. Everything in the room screamed archaic and dusty, despite the maid that had visited an hour ago. The thick velvet curtains sealed off the sunshine from outside, the chandelier lit in substitution of that and the normal fireplace. The ringmaster's silk glove wrapped around a quill pen, the delicate scripture purposes to fill out records. It was the same thing everyday- Check bills, check stocks, check the profits of the Pyrewick's inherited companies, see which oddity quirked out already today... Same old, same old. Following a hand cramp Alistair set down the pen before massaging his hand. The usual bland expression of permanent somberness was on his face as he did so. Sighing, he stood up and stretched. In a few paces he was by the window, his fingers uncurling to reach up to the hem. Slowly grasping it, Alistair breathed in and...

GOOD MORNING MASTER!

Wide blood eyes, one obscured by a loch of his curly hair, dilated as a bouncing young man stormed into his office. Books rustled on shelves, papers flew off his desk, the chandelier clinking like a wind chime at the sudden motion. Alistair flinched at the sudden visitor, his body curling up as he was greeted by inhuman licks and tackled to the ground. As he was not prepared for the sudden motion, Alistair kept himself in a fetal position without seeing the visitor. Things were being around, licks were bing received, and now he was being touched. Alistair was blind to the activity until the attacker had stopped and shoved a paper into his face. The pale man looked up from the corner of his eye to observe the picture.
Though it took a few seconds to decipher what it was trying to convey, a feeling of flattery replaced defense as he looked to the picture, a barely noticeable smile creeping to the corner of his mouth as he looked to the excited face beside it.

"Good morning Artie."

The greeting was a whisper as if it were scared to speak any louder. Alistair observed the mess now on the floor but ultimately disregarded it. He swiped the saliva off if his face with the back of his tuxedo sleeve. "The picture is lovely... Thank you." Alistair gratified sincerely. He stood up, dusted himself off, and walked to place the picture on his desk. "Thank you for offering to visit me again Artie... It is nice to have a change if pace, Hm?" The placid serenity upon his face was a clear indicator that he was just as pleased as Artie to have a companion.

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[ARTISAN KIM]

“You really like it?!” gasped Artie, “Really?! Really?!” More excitement and energy radiated from the chimera's body than he knew what to do with! Giggling in delight, Artie turned in small circles as his enthusiasm reached its peak. His tail wagged furiously behind him, as though it were trying to wriggle its way off his tailbone. “You're welcome!” he said, “I like visiting you already!”

In a flash, the young man skipped up to the office desk. He plopped into the same, plush office chair from his previous visit and squirmed to make himself comfortable. Except for the thudding of his tail against the chair, Artie was finally still. But even if his body was somewhat calm, his motor-mouth was running. He babbled about the conversations at breakfast, about what he ate – an insane amount of bacon even for a puppy, about how he'd licked PJ's wounds so they'd feel better, and whatever trivial tid-bits of the day that caught his fancy. The little moments always made Artie extremely happy, even if they seemed to annoy everyone else. Sharing those precious moments was the chimera's way of sharing his happiness with Alistair.

Soon, the report on breakfast was over. When hyped up and excited, the chimera bounced from one thing to the next...sometimes literally. He clenched the armrests of the chair in such a vice grip that the veins bulged along his arms and hands; it was an attempt to prevent himself from bounding at Alistair again. One flying-tackle-glomp-hug was enough for the day.

“Have you decided what you want to do during my visit today?” asked Artie. The chimera had taken into account the quietness of the office and the soft, whispering tone of Alistair's voice. Despite graciously lowering his voice several decibels, there was an undeniable quiver of genuine glee with each word. He really did try hard to become more “human-like” in the eyes of others. All he could do was hope that Alistair would see his efforts. “It's up to you – don't make me pick!” he said, “Let me know if you're even done with my visit already!”

He looked down at the floor, blushed, and added: “I know I can be a handful...so I won't take it hard if you send me away early. But I'll do my best to be good, okay? I think I'm getting much better! Sometimes I just get a little too excited, that's all.” Apparently, Artie's version of 'a little' was vastly different than the general term. “I just...I just have more happy than I know what to do with! Maybe it'll rub off on you, huh?”

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[ALISTAIR PYREWICK]

With the poise imbedded into his mind Alistair nodded, the faint smile on his face simpering. "I think I will search for a frame to place it in so it may not get soiled..." He thought aloud, though at a volume Artie could probably here. As soon as Alistair turned around he saw that Artie was up to his normal puppy-like behavior. Bounding over desks, knocking over things, panting and wagging... Alistair was doing to have to get used to this, wasn't he? No matter. His mentality made him unique, and one of the most major aspects that made him pleased was to see such a variety of diverse oddities.

He glanced at Artie to see that he was now in his chair, talking up a storm about every aspect of his day so far. On occasion, Alistair looked back at him to sincerely let him know that he was listening. All the while Alistair was tasked with cleaning his mess and filing records about the other oddities. His job was significantly more complicated than just siting in a fancy office all day. There were occasional phone calls, excessive bills, performance planning, dealing with the government, covering up for missing people... Really, no wonder he was so anti social. Artie was for once giving him a break, and whether or not this visit would go successfully was to be determined.

Once he finished, Alistair turned around just as he finished putting a book back. He looked blankly above him as he thought of something to do. But what? In a matter of a few seconds, it was decided. "Actually, I do have an idea." He approached the desk to face Artie and titled his head much like a curious child. "Occasionally I like to enjoy drinking tea in the morning... I do not eat human foods for sustenance, but having an occasional treat is nice..." A soft smile played at the corners of his lips. "If you wish, we could drink tea together. I could teach you some aspects of being a gentleman, if you truly desire." He offered. Alistair wasn't forcing him to change his ways, but seeing as he pretty much did these sort of things alone most of the time, it was nice to have a partner to have courteous conversation with. "We could even go to the balcony on the forth floor for some fresh air... Though, I have to be careful if it is too sunny outside. I do not wish to get hurt." Alistair concluded with a somber tone.

[ARTISAN KIM]

“Don't worry about the sun, 'cause I brought an umbrella just for you,” reassured Artie, “It's in my bag, along with some other stuff too. I would show you, but opening umbrellas indoors are supposed to give you bad luck.” He pointed to the overflowing duffle bag of toys, games, and miscellaneous treasures on the floor. Like the adventurers from his storybooks, Artie collected an array of objects from the amazing world outside a lab. Sometimes they were useful like books, and sometimes it was plain old junk. To Artie though, even a candy wrapper could be a treasure; if you held it up to the sky, you could study the magical way light bounced and shimmied on the wrapper. Everything perked his curiosity...and he wanted to keep it all.

“Can you really teach me?” asked Artie, now bouncing in his seat, “Will you teach me how to drink tea?” Excitable as always, it seemed. At least Alistair wouldn't have to worry about boring, sleepy mornings with Artie visiting. “I could be just like the real gentlemen in books!” he said. Oddities could catch Artie with his nose buried in a book, his mind off in some fantasy land. He only liked to read books with happy endings, as sad stories had him burst into tears.

“What do I have to do first?” he asked, “A gentleman would really impress Lilly! Oh, and it'd be so much fun!” Helping Artie grow from an overly-excited puppy to a proper, confident gentleman would take a miracle...or at least infinite patience on Alistair's part. Luckily, the chimera was willing to try. A willingness to improve was always the first step in learning something new, right?

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[ALISTAIR PYREWICK]

Not only did Artie confirm his offer, but he also offered to help out as well. The sun was Alistair's enemy, typical to him being a creature of darkness. Every time he had stepped out without proper protection it felt like he was being branded with a hot iron. All over his body. In other words, sunlight was one of the worst things for him. But since he had been promised an umbrella, he could proceed.

"Oh, um... You have my gratitude." He wasn't the most comfortable with sorting through Artie's bag, but he didn't have much of a choice did he? Alistair unzipped it and pulled out the umbrella, which luckily didn't look like it was for kids. Good. Alistair went back to his desk to grasp his top hat, an obvious relic from ringmasters before. "It will be my honor to do so, Artie." Alistair bowed his head in a respectful fashion. He dusted himself off and proceeded to the front door, gesturing smoothly for Artie to follow. "I will inform my staff to prepare something for us. Yuzki is off today, so I hope that my secondary support will meet his quality in workmanship..." Alistair mumbled the last part as he was thinking aloud. He opened the French style doors and smiled once more. "Genteel behavior is an art of its own, though it does not take much to master " Despite this statement held in some confidence, Alistair knew he himself had practiced the art since he was born. Could Artie cram twenty four years of training into his own mind in a short amount of time?

As they headed out into the miniature hallway and down the grand staircase, Alistair was greeted with bows and nods. He nodded solemnly back, his usual reaction despite the presence of Artie. "When you walk in a bipedal manner, if you alternate styles, it is a wise idea to carry yourself with decent posture and confidence." The small, colorless man demonstrated as he walked with squared shoulders and a straight-as-a-ruler back. "It may not have much to do with dining, but carrying yourself with poise does aid in outward appearance, though that is merely my opinion." The explanation carried throughout the forth floor hallway towards the door that marked the practically unknown balcony. With the edifice's aesthetic mastery, it was nearly second nature to act proper in it. Alistair's black heels clicked against marble-like floor, the duo passing through multiple renaissance-era paintings, each more beautiful than the last. As the two approached the door, two guards came from behind to open it. "Thank you." He gratified the two with sincerity. The two dismissed themselves, leaving Artie and Alistair alone.

Outside the manor there were two brass chairs and a glass table. Already, there was a silver tray with a few fancy looking cakes on it. "After you." Alistair offered, stepping aside to pull out the umbrella.

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[ARTISAN KIM]

Fascinated by Alistair's instruction, Artie stayed by the doorway and watched Alistair's demonstration. The chimera did his best to copy what he saw, but the result was more comical than dignified. Heck, it was outright ridiculous. Artie waddled after the Ringmaster like a stiff, uncomfortable penguin. One look, and anybody could see he'd need some work on being comfortable enough to walk upright. Even when he walked 'normally', the chimera stepped toe first and kept hunched over in case he'd need to spring on all fours for a quick getaway. Thankfully, his odd way of carrying himself usually went unnoticed; he rarely every walked calmly, always skipping and hopping his way around the circus.

That afternoon, he'd practice the walk countless times in front of the mirror. But not wanting to be left behind, Artie took a few skips before bounding out the door on all fours. Artie's body was more flexible than a human's, and the movement was more fluid and natural on him than even an actual animal itself. He sprang into the chairs with such force, it tipped. Clawed hands flew out and seized the edge of the table. The muscles in his arms, the ones that could crush and kill, rippled as he steadied himself. The chimera was no body builder, but he was strong – inhumanly strong. Being lean only made him quicker, faster, and more likely to get away with either neck crushing or surprise hugging depending on his state of mind.

Knocking over glasses as he went, Artie reached all the way across the table for the cakes. He plunged his hands into the pastries with glee, giggling and growling in delight as he stuffed himself with chunks of cake. There were more crumbs on his face and clothes than the table, but the mess he was not a pretty sight. Whenever he wanted to try a new kind of cake, Artie would stick his nose millimeters away from the tray and sniff. If the pastry met whatever mysterious chimera standards he had, then it'd be gone in an instant. Was Alistair really confident he could help this man?

Finally, Artie seemed to remember Alistair's presence and stopped his beastly little tea party. He smiled sheepishly, let his chin hit the table with a dull 'clunk', and sat on his hands to prevent himself from wrecking more havoc. “Can you really teach me? Do you think I'll prove myself if I learn all sorts of gentleman-y things?” he asked, “I-I didn't mention it before, but...um...” The chimera's dark eyes glanced down, and he swallowed with difficulty. “At breakfast, the Oddities told me that they have a few requests. They're asking you that...until they're a hundred percent sure I'll behave...” he said slowly, “Well, they want you to set up rules for me. Like I'm not allowed to be around children, that I can't be by myself – I guess they want a guard to babysit me, and that I can't eat meals with them.”

That was the way of Circo, wasn't it? It didn't matter if he was Carter's baby brother or even the Ringmaster's new “pet”, Artie had broken the ultimate family rule. Trust wouldn't come easy; traitors to the oddity family were never treated kindly. In an even smaller voice, he added: “I agreed to everything. Now, they just need you to enforce the rules.”

He sighed. “I think your family is afraid of me.”

The uncertainty surrounding the circus was thick, blinding his 'family' from seeing the kind soul struggling against his fate. Would he attack? Was his puppy-like demeanor all an act? Didn't most records on chimeras say they were manipulative, deadly creatures bred to be conscienceless killing machines? Most obeyed orders brainlessly, mindlessly. Was Artie any different? Or was he a threat to the whole circus? Artie heard arguments, talks, and rumors about him constantly; he wasn't oblivious to the chaos he'd caused. That's why Artie, the boy who never obeyed anyone but a worthy few, he'd accepted their terms.

Artie scowled at the tablecloth. “Everyone thinks I'm a monster...that's why you need to teach me everything! I want to be a gentleman more than ever! I'm gonna show them! I'll learn to be just like they are!” Determination bubbled in his voice, and a fighting spirit shone in his eyes. Is that why he'd so eagerly accepted Alistair's offer? “Please, master...teach me everything you know!”

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[ALISTAIR PYREWICK]

"Now, Artie, the first rule of gentlemanly behavior in a dining setting is-" The poor ringmaster shoved himself aside as Artie came bounding out in a heap of excited frenzy. As Alistair desperately clutched onto his parasol to prevent himself from being literally fried by the sun he watched helplessly as his 'puppy' went to demolish the quaint set up. "Artie! Oh dear please..." His words melted into futility as the chimera devoured the sweets he had set out for the two of them. A lazy hand was outstretched as if it were actually the key to stopping him. He hadn't had the time to guide his walking, let alone handle this ludicrous scenario. With a deep sigh, Alistair carried himself forward. This was going to be quite the hefty task.

"Well, I do believe that is the incorrect way to approach a light meal." The tone Alistair had used was filled with ambiguity, although it was clear that the statement was not out of distaste. He picked up an empty plate and observed it, the guard at the door sensing the issue. In a swift progression of seconds the scene had been cleaned up in order to make room for tea for the two of them. So much for the snacks. Of course, that wasn't the issue. As soon as Alistair detected his slight distress, he looked dead set at him.

Now, Alistair wasn't one to force his beliefs on others. He offered his lessons to perhaps boost his comfort in the circus, but was that the proper solution? With the news of the oddities suggesting their own rules to enforce, Alistair almost looked surprised. Who entitled them to do that? Alistair followed rules proposed by his ancestors. Even he didn't write any laws or make exceptions to existing ones. Now he had to write a code of conduct for an individual oddity? That wasn't going to happen.

"I forbid it." The words were plain, simple, and possessed a commanding air. Yes, he had assigned a guard to an oddity in the past. But that was when they needed adjustment. What exactly did Artie need? Alistair himself wasn't entirely comfortable with the fact of being his 'master'. Nonetheless, as his master, he would decide how he'd be taken care of.
"Artie, those rules are not necessary. You /are/ well behaved. Everyone in the circus has made mistakes. Your mannerisms and behavior may be foreign to some, but that is no reason for them to think you are any lower just by a single incident..." Though, the offer of apprenticeship might be an actual aid to him. He did not want to restructure Artie into something he wasn't, so what would be the verdict? Alistair grew quiet for a few seconds as he analyzed his choices.

"Well, what is it that you truly desire? To alter yourself of isolate yourself?" The question was proposed.
"If you sincerely and truly wish for me to teach you a more 'human' way, than I shall. But only if that is what you want." Alistair then looked down.
"My family for the most part is frightened of me as well... Even when I act this way..." His voice lowered its volume.
"Often those who are misunderstood are those the most alienated. The oddities are scared of what you did, not what you are... I have been in this position for only five years but I have witnessed the influx of hysteria associated with oddities I have had to give punishment to. Never once have I met one who had committed a heartless crime..." Alistair pulled out a chair and daintily sat upon it. Lowering his head to Artie's level, he cocked his head to the side.
"What is your true goal for yourself here? Why do you believe you are at the circus." A faint smile touched the corners of his mouth.

"And believe me, I know that a free sanctum is not the answer."

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[ARTISAN KIM]

“What I really want?” he gulped. The chimera's brow furrowed in concentration as he focused on the question, and surprisingly struggled to find an answer. Seldom people ever cared for what he wanted. Frustration now flickered in his dark eyes, which had been staring at Alistair in nothing but admiration ever since the 'I forbid it' line. Still, the creature searched with all of his heart for the truth. “Everyone forgets that I'm part human too,” he said, “So, I'm not really altering anything because humanity is already a part of me. It's been inside of me all this time, but I don't know how to bring it out. Please, Master Alistair? I really want this for myself.”

After living a life dictated by others, it was only natural for Artie to be curious about his identity. He wanted to know about the human side, the side of him he'd never had access to since the day of his birth. Only Alistair had the patience to work with the chimera from ground zero, and Artie knew he'd forever indebted to the man if they succeeded. “There was never any point in my life,” he said, “But I found this place and...and everything started changing.”

The creature licked his lips at the scent of tea, but was too involved in answering Alistair's questions to lunge after it like he'd done with the snacks. In fact...he was too involved in holding back tears to be lunging after anything. He looked to Alistair with happy, tearful eyes and a warm smile. “I know what it is,” he whispered, “I can feel loved here.”

Tears clumped Artie's eyelashes together as he closed his eyes, losing himself to his emotions. “The lady I call my mother didn't love me, she pitied me. I confused the feeling of being pitied with the feeling of being loved until I came here, 'till your circus taught me better,” he said, “But here, I can finally feel it. I have a reason to live now.” He brushed the sleeve of his jacket against his eyes and sniffed, doing his best to hold it all in. “I-i-it changes me too. Makes me a better person...less destructive, or antsy, or wild. All of th-that is why, why I believe I'm here. I want to feel the emotions humans do. I want...I want to be loved.”

He'd gone too long without knowing the feeling.


Behind the one-way glass, expert scientists monitored the progress of two male, humanoid chimeras. Both were children around the same age, between six and eight years old, and their abilities were similar. Normally, they wouldn't have placed essentially the same experiment together for analysis. But, what the men in white coats were interested to find out was the difference between their temperaments. One was a killer, the other was docile.

The smallest boy sat with his back to the glass, as though somehow sensing he was being watched. The bigger boy was sent in with a toy in his hands. He smiled at the smaller, and gave him a bubbly greeting. “Hello! My name is--!”

Growling. The smaller boy turned his head and locked eyes with the other boy, choking him with his gaze; glaring eyes were enraged, seething with hatred of the world around him, and devoid of a single drop of human intelligence. It was the cruel glare of a hungry animal.

The smaller boy dropped the toy, a pink rabbit plushie, in sheer fear. Out of all the chimeras, he'd never seen such a cruel look – even from the ones raised to be soldiers. And for such anger to be on a mere child? He'd never forget that look as long as he lived. Quietly, the bigger boy found a spot to play with the toy away from the rabid chimera. He'd be left alone if he minded his own business, right? Wrong.

Because now, Artie was interested in the toy.

From a distance, it looked like any squabble between children over sharing. Artie stomped over to where the dopey-faced child sat, gave him an angry look, then yanked on the plushie. The bigger boy held firm and pouted, protesting: “No, he's mine! You can't have--”
“Rrrrgh!”
“No! That's mine!”
“M-m...ma...Mi...”

Behind the glass, the scientists watched in shock as Artie struggled to speak. He'd never, ever spoken a single word. They knew he was intelligent enough to hunt, kill, and keep himself alive. But, the record books had him listed for nothing more glamorous than the IQ of a very obedient labrador retriever.

“You can't even say it right, stupid!” cried the bigger boy.

Artie didn't know what those words meant, but the tone of voice made his lips curl. If it weren't for the toy, he would've killed the nuisance a long time ago. It wouldn't be that hard either, judging by his porky body and lack of training. He was one of the favorites of this place, wasn't he? Artie /hated/ favorites. Once more, the chimera forced his throat and tongue to gurgle out parts of the word.

“M-mah...ma...ahhhng...Mi--”
“He's mine, you dummy!”
“Mi...ahn!”
“No, he's mine! Stupid--”

The childish protests escalated to shrieks of terror as Artie lunged for the boy's throat, slashing at it with his claws and then pinning the child down. Warm, comforting blood dribbled down Artie's hands as he snarled at his victim. He could hear the doors unbolting outside, their mechanisms delightfully slow; this gave him time to play! He bashed the child's head against the floor viciously, and sunk his teeth deep into patches of already bruised flesh. “Mine!” he snarled. The chimera shrieked as he felt something bite his skin, and pawed at the tranquilizer as his vision swam. Ugh, there was no time to finish off this annoying child! He left his bleeding playmate in ribbons, and stumbled over to where the toy lay.

Cautiously, he imitated the way he'd seen the other boy hold the toy. Nothing happened. He sniffed at it, but his nose wrinkled in repulsion. He tried chewing on it, but spat out the taste immediately. He didn't....play with toys. What was he supposed to do with it? Growling low in frustration, felt himself topple over so he was lying on his side. Curiously, he rubbed the fabric against his cheek and nuzzled it with his nose. He sneezed and snarled. He'd been hoping that the toy would make him feel what the other boy had felt: security, happiness, and love.

All he'd gotten was a tranquilizer to the butt.

He wouldn't be making that mistake again.


The memory ended, but Artie wasn't sure if it was a dream. Had that really been...him? It was before he'd met his 'mother' figure, it had been before he could even speak. This had been back when he was categorized as a weapon, before a woman pitied him and melted his heart. He had been remembering more recently; floods of memories had been attacking him ever since he'd let loose on PJ. But, the chimera had never recalled having been so spiteful, so cruel as a young child.

Artie felt a dull, aching pain spreading across his chest. Gently, he massaged the area with his palms and fingers to soothe the pain. Was it heart troubles again? He needed to be more careful when shifting. Or was it something else? Was it because of what he'd said? “Why does it hurt to answer you?” he asked Alistair, “I remembered something and...pain. I feel pain.”

If Artie felt love, he could also feel heartache. To soothe his aching chest, his palm continued to massage the area in small circles. But after the flashback, he blinked at his surroundings in confusion and almost appeared not to recognize Alistair. Instead, he sniffed hesitantly in the Ringmaster's direction in an attempt to identify him. Nothing. He couldn't quite place who...ooh, was that lemon tea? Luckily, the scent of tea brought Artie to his senses before he could freak out. “I didn't mean to be such a crybaby,” he confessed, “I don't get asked about what I want often, so it was a...a big surprise. Thank you, master. Please, please continue with the lesson!”

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[ALISTAIR PYREWICK]

The moment Artie seemed to struggle with the answer was the moment Alistair sat up straight as a pin. All Alistair knew was that he apparently had strongly desired bringing out his more 'human' side. This brought the question into the ringmaster's mind of 'What does he truly identify himself as'? He was a chimera, a mix of both animal and human. He acted much like either a wild animal or hyperactive child on a normal basis. Was that something he was not proud to be? Did he not want to be looked at as the excited creature he had became known as? What was his wake up call? The attack on PJ truly seemed to phase Artie from whatever he had coped with before. Artie was changing, struggling in this manner. Would he be successful in this attempt to become more like the other oddities?

It was at that point Alistair decided to appoint himself with the sole task of making Artisan Kim a human.

In silent awe Alistair watched Artie who had gone off into space. Once tears began to bubble at Artie's eyes Alistair took no hesitation to reach for his pocket. The pocket on his chest revealed a folded-up silk handkerchief. Honestly, Alistair had no purpose for it. He had never cried in front of others, except for in front of Artie. Still, he had regained himself before the fancy tissue had become necessary. In a gentle motion he folded it up and place it next to Artie in a hope that it would help. Alistair looked sheepishly down, unable to keep eye contact with him after giving him his gift. "You may have that..." He mumbled discreetly. It took him a few seconds to figure out what happy crying was. Artie said he had felt loved. What did that even feel like? Alistair looked down and tried to process the emotion. Love... So many craved it, so many would do anything for it. He hadn't had the personal experience with it himself but... It must have felt wonderful. Artie had supportive friends, friends that would be happy if he tried to change himself for the better of his own well being. If it was truly going to benefit Artie's entity and free him from the forced identity he had received at the lab, Alistair was going to give it his all. He was going to make this boy a man.

Once the boy seemed to regain himself, Alistair noticed that he seemed to be hurt. His... Heart hurt... Was that a metaphor? Was he truly in pain? "It is fine Artie... You were just remembering the past, correct?" Alistair tilted his head once more. "It is alright to feel hurt..." Once the smile of his came forth, a bit of lightheartedness came back to Alistair. Why was he masking his crying? By the looks of his face, it seems he just had an epiphany of some sort. What was wrong with that? "I understand." He clarified with a nod. With the table cleared up and the two now left alone with hot tea, Alistair could proceed doing as he promised himself.

"If this is what you wish, then I will strive my hardest to make you the best gentleman I can." With determination, Alistair quickly sat straight up with relaxed shoulders. He cleared his throat slightly as he set the ceramic pot in the center of the table. "Well, we can hold off walking until later... This shall be a gradual process after all." Alistair certainly didn't want Artie to become the stuffy old-geezer-in-a-young-body that he was. He admitted to himself that he as much too uptight. Artie just needed a fine line is all. He would still act like a chimera if he wanted to, but have the poise and confidence of a proper young man. "The first step in dining is to approach the scenario with a good mindset. Eat what you desire, but do not eat in excess. Choose your favorite foods and eat from them, and make sure to save some from the other oddities. In no way or form do I mind, though this concept was demonstrated from earlier... Which was a sort of test for you." Once again a faint smile shown through, though with a sheepish air to it. "As I have stated this is a gradual process... Though, the next time you visit the dining hall, would it not be lovely to see surprise from other oddities upon the reformation of your behavior? Now, I will try this again." Alistair looked towards the door, where he nodded at the guard. In a moment's time a small tray of miniature cakes were delivered to the table once more. After placing the tray down, the guard left.

"You may have one. Choose wisely."

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[ARTISAN KIM]

A childish, dumbfounded expression plastered itself on Artie's face. It took the chimera a moment to wrap his head around Alistair's explanation, and he cocked his head in thought. Had Alistair really tested him? The creature puffed his chest out with pride as his lips pulled into a proud, smug little smirk. “My master is the cleverest!” he said. There weren't any other 'masters' around that Artie could compare Alistair to, but the sentiment behind his statement was sweet. In a way, it resembled the way a young boy boasted about his father or older brother.

Artie would've bragged about Alistair some more, but his attention was focused entirely on the tray of cakes presented in front of them. He could only have one! What kind of dumb rule was that? Being a gentleman sucked! Nevertheless, Artie followed Alistair's instructions and set to work on selecting the perfect cake. The chimera's brow furrowed in concentration as he unceremoniously leaned across the table, and sniffed the tray. He drooled doggy-slobber style as he forced himself to grab a single vanilla cake with chocolate frosting. “Why are these cakes so small?” he mumbled, “I could eat a hundred of these.”

He crammed the cake into his mouth with a single bite, getting crumbs and icing all over himself in the process. The chimera was noisy as he ate too, smacking his lips together and growling in satisfaction. He wiped his lips against the sleeve of his jacket and ran his tongue over his fangs, mouth open in such a way that possible tablemates would get a good look at the deadly canines. Okay, so there was a ton of work to do with eating and basic table manners. At this rate, Artie might graduate from eating cakes and move onto a silverware lesson by July. But grabbing a single cake instead of devouring the whole tray was a baby step in the proper direction, right?

So what the heck was he doing now?

“Huuuuuuuuum. Huuum. Huuum.”

Was he...was he whining? Dang, he was good when it came to those freaking puppy eyes. It looked like he'd die of sadness if he couldn't eat another cake. That was another problem Artie had: not being able to accept the fact that sometimes, life didn't go his way. If he wanted something and he wanted it now, he'd get it no matter what. Begging was something he'd learned worked wonders around the circus! Who could resist such a cute, sweetheart face? Especially when his lower lip pushed out into pleading pout? And those rosy cheeks seemed so full and pinchable? Artie had mastered the art of giving the ultimate puppy eyes and gladly manipulated oddities for food or attention any chance he got. After all, what good were baby cheeks if he didn't use them? “Master, I want it,” he whined, “I want it! I want it! Can I have another cake, please?”

Already, he reached for a handful of cakes to stuff himself with. Nobody had ever had the heart to deny Artie when he put on such a show. At the very least, they would make a compromise in the chimera's favor. So what reason did he have to think Alistair was any different? He knew how to pull strings in a lab setting too, capable of playing the right card on the right scientist to gain access to some kind of privilege. In the labs, he'd done everything from playing stupid to using flattery.

Truthfully, Artie was somewhat of a spoiled brat.

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[ALISTAIR PYREWICK]

With the puppy-like compliment Alistair slightly blushed without the blushing aspect itself. He adjusted his parasol to latch onto the seat he was settled in, making extra sure that he would not be hurt. With that concern out of the way, he turned back to Artie and the tray of cakes. As Artie took one, Alistair followed suit with a miniature dark chocolate cheesecake. Though he had delicately raised it to his mouth, (one of the few finger-foods he allowed himself to eat by means of true intention) it was quickly lowered as he watched Artie devour the cake disgracefully. He really had to work on every single aspect with this boy, didn't he? And, despite the puppy look, he knew Artie was committed to this. It would be a long, arduous battle to 'humanize' him, but Alistair was nowhere near ready to let him win. Artie was going to learn first hand the way things worked at the circus. Not only would be become more like a man, but also learn the morals that his old 'family' hadn't given him.

Time to bring out the Ringmaster.

"No Artie." Alistair commanded sternly, much like an owner to a puppy-in-training. His previously soft eyes hardened like ice to show his intention to stop Artie from his behavior. "I said you could only have one, did I not?" Strictness not often seen face-to-face burst from his normal placid exterior. Artie wasn't going to get his way. He needed to learn that life was just like that. In all honesty however Alistair would have probably allowed him another for asking somewhat politely. Of course, he had taken it upon himself to reach for more treats, so no bonus for him. "Bad. Artie, you must not take more than your host has allotted you. You must think of others before thinking about yourself, do you understand?" The rose-red crimson in his eyes almost seemed to dissipate into blood with the severity of his passion for the current subject. The puppy eyes had not done anything to phase him. Cute, perhaps, but nothing more. They were a tool for Artie to get what he wanted. And Alistair saw through this.

The strict nature of his command however managed to loosen slightly. Was he being just a tad bit cruel? Perhaps. Nonetheless, he could use with actually teaching him some etiquette rather than watching him suffer. "Now, you may have ONE more. Just. One. But you must promise me," In a fluid, graceful motion, Alistair once more lifted the cake to his mouth. In a soft motion he took a rather minuscule bite. Slowly, as if to savor the taste, he chewed with his mouth close before ultimately swallowing. He sighed, before smiling ever so faintly. "You must eat exactly like that."

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[ARTISAN KIM]

If there was one thing Artie didn't want to do, it was displease Alistair. All it took was that look of unapproval and a stern, commanding tone of voice for the chimera to correct his unacceptable behavior instantly. Not to mention, Alistair's intense crimson stare was kinda freaking him out. Artie folded his hands in his lap, twiddled his thumbs, and lowered his head in apology to the Ringmaster. In all honesty, it'd take a few scoldings before Artie would get the hang of it. But hey, at least he was starting to get a vague idea that mealtimes weren't free-for-alls. “Bad?” he murmured, “Bad...”

Once Alistair gave him permission for another cake, Artie bounced out of his “I'm-so-sorry-master” state like nothing happened. He wriggled in his seat with excitement. Determination shone in his eyes as he mentally vowed to eat the cakes correctly this time, secretly hoping to receive a bonus reward for his cooperation. “I understand, master!” he said quickly, reaching for an expensive looking fruit cake, “This will be easy!” Just like Alistair, Artie managed to bring the cake to his lips in a confident, graceful motion.

Everything went downhill after that.

How do you eat a cake without making a mess? He picked off a single crumb with the edge of his teeth, trying to copy the way Alistair nibbled on food. Perhaps Alistair would see an exaggerated, caricature-like version of himself through Artie's sincere attempts at emulation. Meanwhile, Artie growled in confusion as he tried measuring out how much cake to eat on the second bite. He couldn't even taste anything! The chimera's jaws opened and closed, and he tried tilting his head at different angles to see if it'd help his judgment.

He devoured three-fourths of the cake in a single bite. At least he'd left a little bit of cake behind. Artie seemed painfully aware of what he was doing, and was doing his best not to make any mistakes. He managed to chew with his mouth closed, and very, very slow motion chewing at that, but still had the bad habit of growling whilst eating. Unlike everything else, the chimera didn't seem to notice he was so noisy at meals.

Okay, chewing was done! Now what? Whatever the next step was, it stumped him good. Artie decided to simply keep the food in his mouth, as Alistair had taken a long time to eat his cake as well. His deep, hazel eyes begged Alistair for a hint or sign on the status of his progress. Had he done it right this time? Hesitantly, he gave the Ringmaster a tight-lipped smile and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

“Can I swallow it yet?”

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[ALISTAIR PYREWICK]

Alistair felt a sense of satisfaction as it appeared the message hit home with Artie. He had agreed, and Alistair wasn't going to force him to provide a pinkie promise. He could finish the cake correctly, right? Wrong.

It all started to lose promise once Artie failed at mimicking Alistair. He took a good forth out of the small cake, while Artie was nibbling on crumbles! It took everything in Alistair not to exhale in distress. "You are allowed to eat more than that, you know...
Just do not stuff your mouth, or talk while chewing, or... Oh..." And then the cake was almost gone. Why did Artie have to be so difficult to teach? Alistair quickly picked up the soft inhuman growling. "Do not growl whilst eating. You may frighten those not yet accustomed to you..." He reminded Artie in a more passive tone. Still, at least he was chewing with his mouth closed, right? "Do not talk with your mouth full." He commanded as he began to speak. Too late. He had taken an extended period of time to just chew his food. While Alistair took about ten seconds, Artie took three times that amount. "Artie, between bites allot yourself ten seconds or so to chew your food. It may also allow you to listen to your conversational partner." The advice was lighthearted, slow internally Alistair was growing quite weary on instructing this boy. There was just so much to learn, could he even do it?

Insecurity began to plague Alistair. "Artie, I see that meal instruction has not been the most successful in learning... Are there any other topics that you are interested in? Perhaps we may work through those better..." Alistair mumbled while looking down. He adjusted his umbrella to prevent it from slipping. "Not to mention the sun is getting more intense..."

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[ARTISAN KIM]

This was a lost cause, wasn't it? The sheer number of rules regarding dining overwhelmed Artie, and the lesson had only included finger food! Not only did the results of the lesson discouraged and embarrassed him, but disheartened the chimera as well. There had to be another approach at teaching genteel behavior, right? Or was he truly incapable of commanding his human side? With a sigh, Artie sank in his seat and lowered his gaze to the floor. The confusing, illogical ways of human beings had stumped Artie once more. Feeling the slight tension and weariness coming from Alistair didn't help to boost the chimera's confidence either. “It doesn't even matter,” he grumbled, “I'll probably fail all the other lessons too.”

He pulled his knees to his chest, wriggled his toes against the chair cushion, and studied the look on his master's face. “Do you have something a little...easier?” he asked, “There has to be a beginner's lesson or something! All this gentleman stuff is ten bajillion times harder than I thought.” Then again, it'd probably be just as difficult to teach Alistair how to behave like a chimera. Now, that was something impossible! The very thought of training Alistair about the world of chimera etiquette made Artie giggle; he could almost picture the Ringmaster learning the fine arts of nuzzling and belly rubs. Maybe there was hope after all! Nobody got stuff right on their first try, right? Still, Artie remained a little hesitant to immediately jump into a new lesson.

“Usually after I eat, I'll lie down somewhere warm for a nap,” he yawned, “Can I sit in front of your fireplace, Master Alistair? You can still tell me all about gentleman rules and things, and I'll listen 'till I'll fall asleep.” The chimera slid out of his seat, skipped over to Alistair, and wrapped the Ringmaster in a hug. Artie was definitely more touchy-feely than some oddities liked, but his heart was clean and his intentions pure. “This lesson didn't work out,” he said, squishing his cheek against Alistair's shoulder, “But next time will be better!”

He sounded so hopeful...

He really believed in Alistair, didn't he? “If anybody can teach me, it's you! But let's take a break, 'cause I'm tired of trying to remember all these rules,” he added, giving the side of Alistair's face a quick nuzzle. Finally, he released the embrace and took a small step back to give Alistair a little space. Artie grinned at the older man; it was a killer grin, the charming kind that could have melted hearts if he had been born a normal human boy. In that moment, he looked so...normal. One couldn't see his tail, because he'd tucked it behind himself in respect. The fangs were still visible and his irises had a yellowish hue to them, but Artie didn't look as far away from human as he behaved. If only Artie could master the basics, then he'd be on his way to becoming a fine young man.

He tugged on the Ringmaster's shirt, “Come on, master! Can we bring the rest of the cakes with us, too?”

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